Expiation - Network

(some of us love our vlogging, our youtubeing, tik-toking-- and since here it's a known fact that peter parker happens to be spider-man, well, that means he gets to turn his tablet on while he swings through the winter wonderland that aldrip has come. whoever is watching gets a very nice view of aldrip from the tallest buildings, the snow twinkling and sparkling beneath him as he goes from building to building until he stops at the tallest one.

the camera pans and switches to his face, hair a mess of curls from all the wind that it faced and he smiles. it feels good to smile.)

So, I heard this thing, right -- this guy from the pizza shop told me, I don't know if he's lying or what, but apparently? Apparently, there's this superstition that we aren't supposed to leave our home during the solstice or something? But I'm curious - did someone go out last year? Did something happen? And if we go out... Well, actually, who's going out, first of all?

(the camera switches again, so he can film the skating ring from above-- someone just fell on their ass, and he sucks teeth because that must have hurt.)

Ooooh, ouch. Well, wear a helmet, don't get sick, invite me if you have eggnog! Friendly neighborhood Spider-man, out!

(the boy and his vlogger knack are back, and this time, the stem club room is not half as empty as it used to be. he turns the video on, a little chuckle escaping him as he casually walks up a wall, until he's upside-down standing on the ceiling.)

Hello, Aldrip! I, uh, meant to totally do this a little while ago, but you know how it is, right? Totally crazy, super insane, this whole Gnosia thing that went down! Unbelievable, right? I'm still figuring things out in this place, and it seems like it's things that just happen sometimes? First that staircase that never ended, and now this, I'm not sure what to expect-- oh, right, anyway, so! This is the STEM Club - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics!

(introductions for each of the stem members roll out, and can be found in the comments.)

Well, Aldrip, we have several projects ongoing here, all very science-y, so - we can definitely use all the help we can get, so if you wanna give us something new to make, or help us, well, come meet us at the Clubs building, go straight, then straight, more straight, then left, then... Then it's right, and you'll see a laboratory. It's us, okay? Knock and we will be with you.

Uh, we're out!

[ ooc: Characters who have had significant interaction with Jim Kirk, Spock, Gwen Stacy, or Peter Parker, or who interacted with the Dark Web Player Plot may consider themselves already in possession of a Dark Web communicator. Today, it lights up for the first time with an incoming message. ]

✦

ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION

✖

>> Hi all, Jim Kirk and the STEM crew here. We've got a lead we're chasing on the current state of things in Aldrip, and we could use some hands. >> Consider this the call to action we've all been waiting for. If you're interested, find us at the STEM open house. >> I can't promise it won't be dangerous, but if we work together I know we can nail these bastards. >> Kirk out. >> COMMUNICATION WILL WIPE IN 60 SECONDS

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[ ooc: Upcoming STEM player plot information can be found here. ]