[Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside

[Rebonack]

Hoarders Bookstore

Into the store shuffles Jupiter, who is currently in the form of hundreds of tiny boxes, arranged into a roughly humanoid shape, like an 8-bit sprite given life. He looks around for any books labelled "Biology", or possibly "How to be Human".

((Eep, sorry. I just now noticed your post.))

There's certainly a section on biology! Or rather a section on science in general with a sub-section on biology. The latter could probably be found in the self-help section.

As Jupiter begins his search a peppy young half-green dragon with a name-tag that reads 'Emerald' approaches him. She's generally human in general build, though with a stubby tail and a membranous crest in place of hair. "Hello, welcome to Hoarders! Can I help you find anything today?"

No doubt she knows where to look!

[UncleWolf]

[Monkey Business Wear]

...
Corsets. Corsets on a... humanoid ant. Aaaaargh. Michalson keeps a straight face, but internally he's punching himself for getting into this. It'll be a hard thing to endure.

After a while they probably have a few nice corsets picked out. The ever smiling sales men continues to speak. "Now, let's look at some caparisons for your body. They're usually the easiest things to deal with for individuals who are unaccustomed to clothes."

Pat selects a pair of corsets, one all black, and the other one a deep red with brass inlay. She continues to wear the latter one as she follows the tailor-monkey.

[ThirdEmperor]

Hoarder's Bookstore

"Yep! I'm looking for a book called "Biology"." Jupiter says, attempting to pull a random book from the shelves with his stubby, fingerless hand. "How do these things work?"

Zombie A-Taco-Lypse

"Jusht put the lid back on the crate. Thish ought to be enough." Strahd says, chopping up the killer tomato and tossing it's diced carcass into a bowl, along with the remains of the other ones he's killed today. "You have any experience cooking?"

[Rebonack]

[Hoarder's]

"Well..." Emerald replies slowly as she takes out a book and opens it up. "You just open them like this and read what's inside. The letters encode the information that's in the book. You know how to read, right?"

Her expression suggest that she believes the answer will be no.

But that won't stop her from trying to be helpful!

And maybe sending the guy to that place that sells memories and stuff.

Then he could buy some and read!

And if he can read he can buy books!

Or!

"If you can't read we could try getting an audio book for you instead, sir."

[ThirdEmperor]

Hoarder's

Jupiter stares at the little squiggly lines on the page. "Er, where's the writing?" He asks, poking the book in the hopes that doing so will magically cause it to start making sense. He actually can read, but his world was two dimensional, so "reading" is considerably different there.

[Rebonack]

[Hoarder's]

Emerald just stares at the flat-man blankly for a few seconds.

Then touches her finger to the page.

"Right there. The black things are the letters."

This is probably going to be really difficult.

And/or frustrating.

But that's just one of those things people who work with the public need to deal with. Sometimes customers are clueless!

Anywho!

The half-dragon smiles pleasantly and readies herself for further explanation.

[ThirdEmperor]

Hoarder's

"How can that be writing? It's only one color and it's too small to read." Jupiter asks, poking the book some more. "You people are weird." Poke. Poke.

[Craftworld]

Zombie A-Taco-Lypse

"Jusht put the lid back on the crate. Thish ought to be enough." Strahd says, chopping up the killer tomato and tossing it's diced carcass into a bowl, along with the remains of the other ones he's killed today. "You have any experience cooking?"

Jake closes the crate, careful not to lose any body parts to the tomatos. He then looks at Strahd and shakes his head meekly. "No sir, I don't, I was looking to be a 'Moron Herder' as the bulletin board put it. I can teleport so that should help me get around to different people more quickly."

[Rebonack]

[Hoarder's]

Emerald...

Really had no idea what to say at this point.

Obviously this product isn't going to be of any use to this customer. And as such another route must be taken!

"An audio book it is, then. This way sir."

And with that she'll take him over to a station where people can download audio books! She points out a display of various devices for downloading the information onto.

"These machines will read the book to you. And then you can just listen to it rather than reading it. It might be more suited to your unique nature."

[ThirdEmperor]

Zombie A-Taco-Lypse

"Oh. Huh. Guessh you're probably qualified. Your job ish to keep the zombiesh w- working. Shtop em from eating their own brainsh, walking into wallsh, that kinda shtuff. Think you can do that?" Strahd says, picking tomato seeds out of the salsa.

Hoarder's

Jupiter, curious, picks up one of the audio tapes and holds it to the small hole in his skull that serves as an ear.

[Darklord Bright]

[Just Outside the Mall]

Skaan is meandering a bit outside, seemingly searching for something amidst stacks of crates and barrels. She yanks on an open crate, causing a few of the smaller ones above to topple clumsily as she tugs it out, climbing inside. Finding herself unable to lift it, she gives a small noise of displeasure before climbing out again, searching for something else.

A small cardboard box is lifted, and she puts it down over her head, blinking for a moment, before shaking it off back onto the ground with a soft thud. A mess thoroughly made, the crab-girl seems to have been unable to find whatever she was looking for, and wanders aimlessly through one of the back doors - through a few halls obviously not meant for mall-goers - and into the mall proper.

[Food Court]

Sniffing, she catches a whiff of many different smells of foods. Her head darts around immediately, looking for the sources of the smells, and she notices with some degree of nervousness that there are quite a number of people here. The crab-girl squeaks softly to herself and ducks down to avoid catching eyesight, crawling down under a table and clinging to the metal pole beneath. Where had she gone? There are too many people, and too few places to hide...

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

Poor little crab girl. With a box on her head.

A very big thing is coming toward her hiding place.

"Hm?"

The ten foot tall crustacean like person kneels down next to the table, trying to get a look at the little girl.

"Hyu hokay? Hy- ahem, Are you lost?"

[Darklord Bright]

[Food Court]

Skaan, seeing the large man kneeling down near her, ducks behind the pole that keeps the table standing. Peering around the other side of it with a tilted head, she makes a scratchy noise at the back of her throat in response. The crab-girl ducks back behind the pole before poking her head back around the other side.

Cautious, but slightly curious, she regards him from her hiding place.

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

The significantly larger (but still crab like) man examines the little girl carefully.

"Ken you talk? Can you understand me? Are you hurt?"

Honestly, no one could mistake Banclaw for a human. The head shape is all different, and the voice is definitely not human.

He would look concerned, but it is hard to do that with tusks and red compound eyes. As it is, he is not making any threatening motions... but he can be seen as scary.

The overalls may mute the effect a bit.

[Neon Knight]

Pat selects a pair of corsets, one all black, and the other one a deep red with brass inlay. She continues to wear the latter one as she follows the tailor-monkey.

The tailor monkey bot 2000 the presents several caparisons; the type of cloth horses wear under plate braiding, although these are stylish and fashionable. Monkeybot assures her that whichever one she likes, she can find a matching version for her upper body.

[Darklord Bright]

[Food Court]

Skaan's brow furrows at the words. How do you respond to multiple questions with different answers when you can't speak? She only barely comprehends languages as it is, by her understanding. Shifting, she peers around the opposite side of the pole again, tilting her head with a short gurgle.

[The Bushranger]

Erin's Emporium

So they set off again, entering the Emporium. Adir looks for someone to help them out, and considering the door rings a bell, help should be by any moment.

Indeed, Kara is behind the counter, and looks up with a smile at the two as they enter.
"Hello, can I help you find anything?" the young woman asks.

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

"I won't hurt you. You know... nod?"

He nods, to demonstrate.

"Can you understand... You know what I am saying?"

The poor little thing is confused and Banclaw is worried about it. He's pretty sure she is lost...

[Darklord Bright]

[Food Court]

She nods with a short squeak. She seems to be risking glances at the rest of the court from time to time, watching the various people cautiously, as if she expects them to do something - though what, it's not certain.

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

It's not hard to guess her. This is a big, scary place. Not a lot of good hiding places. She's watching for big, crazy things. That want to eat her.

Don't overload the poor thing...

"Are you lost?"

[Darklord Bright]

[Food Court]

Skaan looks back at him, giving him a small nod with a confused and slightly terrified expression on her face. She isn't sure what this place is, but it's big and open inside, and she doesn't have a shell to duck inside of for safety. At least not all the strangers were scary.

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

"hokay, I think we go somewhere, safer, an we talk, and we see if we can find a place you know, kay?"

He stands up and steps back.

[Darklord Bright]

[Food Court]

She moves carefully up onto her feet, keeping a bit low as she moves towards the big crab-ish man. She's still not really sure what to make of this whole thing, but so far he hasn't been too dangerous.

[Lost_Deep]

Food Court

He...

Oh, crud.

Now what?

He will lead her outside, to a little park area. It has more hiding than the food court.

Think, think, think....

[Murkus]

Erin's Emporium

"Um, yeah, I'm looking for a particular Helldiver model?" Adir describes in more detail the particular model number and a description of the suit itself. Likely without all the decorative pieces.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Pet Care]
It's legit.
She takes her bag and receipt.
Leaves? Huh...
Well, thanks.
She'll go with Talina.

"Have a nice day."

Talina will let the fey climb onto her back again, if she wants to, and will leave either way, heading back into the main plaza.

[Gullara]

[Erin's Emporium]

Sakura nods in greeting to Kara, but stays silent for the moment. She just listens curiously to what Adir is buying.

[Beans]

"Have a nice day."

Talina will let the fey climb onto her back again, if she wants to, and will leave either way, heading back into the main plaza.

She climbs back on and goes with her.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Main Plaza]

They probably start wandering again, then.

"So, is there anything else you need?"

[Beans]

[Main Plaza]

They probably start wandering again, then.

"So, is there anything else you need?"

Nycca shakes her head.
Nope. Wha'bout you?