1887/Local Shinki Expo 2015

Local Shinki Expo 2015
Date of Scene:	26 March 2015
Location:	Techno Urbania
Synopsis:	Spring 23AU Shinki Expo happens in Techno Urbania.
Cast of Characters:	29, 119, 236, 276, 279, 368, 707

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Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    A large banner welcomes guests to one of the convention halls found in the more futuristic districs of Urbania.
    WELCOME TO THE AU 23 SPRING SHINKI EXPOSITION
    The convention hall itself looks like a converted aircraft hangar, with a cavernous interior space packed with visitors, vendors, and of course tiny robots known as shinki. Good thing it's so airy, otherwise all the electronics and people around would make this place uncomfortably warm. The center 'stage' is the large MMS booth, where one can purchase a variety of shinki, spare parts, and other stock items for the small robots. Holographic displays, polite clerks (both human and shinki) help the throngs of people with questions and purchases. Around this are smaller booths that sell customized costume armor, booths belonging to clubs of shinki enthusiasts, helpful shinki adoption agencies, and more! For visiting shinki themselves, there are elevated walkways to keep them safe from human feet, such that the booths have two fronts; one for people, one for shinki. Near the entrance is a large doll-house like display where the shinki can relax while their masters are inside if they wish.
    As people and shinki enter the convention hall, helpful pamphlets are given to those attendees who lack smart devices, while those with the tech gadgets can scan a QR-like code to get the convention schedule and map.

Jinxel (119) has posed:
     Jinxel must be a curious sight to the various convention goers, being a pastel-colored pony amidst the crowd of humanoids. Even curiouser still is the fact that there is a Shinki riding around on her head between her ears. An MMS Type Nurse - Brightfeather model in fact by the name of Selena.

     "Well, here we are Selena!" Jinxel says as she moves her head close to one of those walkways so that her little Shinki can dismount, "I hope we find something good here."

     Selena, not geared up with her additional armor pieces, smiles and nods, "Thank you for bringing me here Master. You really didn't have to."

     Jinxel waves her hoof dismissively, "Nonsense Selena, you're my friend, and shopping together is just something freinds do."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"Come on Master, you've been working much too hard lately! It won't hurt you to take a short break." Saiga wasn't strong enough to physically drag her keeper around, but vocally had pretty much the same effect until Tesla finally gave in, as much as she had insisted she needed to be prepared in case Rex called for her assistance.

All the same Tesla probably did need the break. It's just really hard to get a busy mad scientist/evil mastermind to do so, making it some what of an accomplishment that Saiga even got her to go finally. "You really are a persistant little pest when you want to be," she jokes as she takes one of the handout maps.

It still gets Saiga to beam cheerfully. "As your lab assistant it is also my job to make sure you don't overwork yourself."

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
Xiaomu scans the QR code on her way in - practically even before she's really finished registering - and is skimming through the schedule as she collects whatever other free swag is available up front. Most of it is probably brochures and promotional materials, but hey, you do NOT go to a convention and pass up the free stuff.

The Shinki-scale walkways seem to amuse her, as she can't help but smile while looking at them. She's going to have to be careful not to crash into any of them, but that shouldn't be a problem as long as she's paying attention. Oddly, the sight of a pastel-furred pony trotting around doesn't seem to get as much of the sage fox's attention as the Shinki themselves do.

And while she's looking plenty, she *is* trying not to stare. She's heard some Shinki on the radio, just hasn't had a chance to see them in person before.

Auron (236) has posed:
    A Shinki convention? Not that unusual, but Auron has found himself with nothing to do today, and he has enough to afford a ticket to this. Having had a Shinki once, Auron knows what to expect of Shinkis. But not what to expect of a convention! And he's curious, so... off he goes.

    He isn't wearing his usual attire, with the samurai-like haori over it. Fact, he looks remarkably normal, with a short-sleeved button-up shirt and black slacks. But of course he's still wearing those heavy boots of his.

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    It's a strange thing when Kari actually blends into the crowd. For the most part anyway. She's driving (slowly) around a remote controlled red wagon/cart on the convention floor with The List. That's a list of parts, very specific parts, her Master has requested for projects. Small boxes are in the cart, from various vendors. The only reason Kari might be recognizable is the fact that her Howling armor's boots have weird little skate things on the side. Plus she's the one making vroom vroom sounds as she directs the cart with her drone controller.

    Free swag indeed! As Xiaomu expects, most of these are pamphlets or catalogs, though the Kemotech booth is giving out button pins of Maochao, Howling, Pomock, Partio, Gabrine, and Renge (which they designed and produce for MMS). Some of the other manufacturers have free merchandise as well, such as Union Steel giving out keychains, another havning out little pocket flashlights, etc.
    Jinxel does get a few looks. Mostly a mixture of befuddlement and amazement. A few people stop, ask questions about what kind of place Jinxel is from, how she and her shinki like being together. At least ONE person seems to believe that Jinxel is some kind of advanced robotic horse (well, it /is/ a cyberpunk part of the Multiverse) and that its amazing that they could replicate a pony so faithfully.
    Tesla and Saiga may find some of the 'tuner' booths interesting, where they talk about improving the performance of the shinki without violating the rules set forth by governments and MMS proper. There's also an awful lot of costume armor being sold to the little robots, as well as a few booths that seem to be... shinki fashion shows?
    Among the booths, as Auron enters the hall, is one with a few large TVs and a crowd of people. This is where people have gathered to watch replays of past Battle Rondos, as well as the highlights of the contenders' careers in such. There's even one screen showing the bouts that shinki participated in during the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Jinxel (119) has posed:
     Eeehehehehe... heh... n_n;

     For the most part, Jinxel manages to take all the questions and inquiries in stride, though the one person who mistakes her for some horse robot does catch her off guard. You'd think that after all this time, she'd be more used to people gawking at her for being a pony.

     Watching all this, Selena shakes her head, "Perhaps you should have stayed at home, Master. I could have handled the shopping myself."

     "No, it's alright," Jinxel says with a sweatdrop on her brow, "It gave me an excuse to get out of the house for a bit. It's always a bit hard to get away during the winter when most everything is snowed in. Besides, you might need some help bringing your purchases home, and the ground is too rough for those carts." Then she turns to her Shinki, "What're you looking for anyway?"

     "Just some replacements and upgrade parts to help me do my job better," Selena says, then asks, "Has your friend gotten around to making that outfit by the way?"

     "Oh, you mean Rarity? I haven't had a chance to check yet. She's always so busy with her seasonal lineups and I don't want to nag..."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Tesla Armadia stands at the back of the gathering, listening idly but mostly musing to herself. She doesn't really give a crap about 'legal regulations' herself but if she twiddled with Saiga too much she wouldn't be viable for compatition. It was out of an idle curiosity of how people do it more than anything else.

Sitting on her shoulder, Saiga was actually even more bored with it. Because she didn't really worry about how she worked, just as long as she was able to do it. Her attention is drifting a bit, which is why she's the one that hears the familiar voices chatting. She shifts a bit from Tesla's shoulder to wave at Selena and Jinxel. "Hi guys!"

Auron (236) has posed:
    Hello there, what's this? Auron pauses at the TVs, shifting out of the way of the main flow of foot traffic. He'd missed most of the WMAT unfortunately, so he'd missed the Shinki fights in it. This is definitely something that interests him, then. Thankfully he's reasonably tall, so a large crowd shouldn't make it too difficult to see. For that reason, he stays at the back of said crowd as he watches.

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
Well, at a convention like this, all of the swag really is going to be marketing of one sort or another. But the more creative the swag is, the better!

So Xiaomu is arranging some of the button pins on her vest's collar - not really in any particular order, although Maochao seems like it might be a favorite of hers down the line. The keychain goes into a pocket, because you can never have too many keychains; if the pocket flashlight has a ring or strap or something, it'll get hooked onto the keychain.

And then Xiaomu has to backpedal in a hurry so she doesn't go tripping over a little red wagon. "Whoops!!" she yelps, flailing a bit as she leans AWAY from Kari and her cargo. "Sorry, I didn't see you at first! You okay down there?"

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Kari looks like the Howling on the button, except for those things on her leg armor. "Oh, I'm alright! Are your shins okay? How about your ankles? They look like they got a workout when you didn't fall." She says in a strangely cheery voice. "It's a good thing you didn't fall, miss, because then you would've gotten hurt! And then there'd be EMTs, and then an ambulance, and then amnesia. ... No, that's soap operas. Sorry!"

    The WMAT TV is showing a match between Vervi (a Vervietta model shinki, noted as being very rare) and Shizune Nakamura, taking place in Papaya Island Stadium at night. Announced by Pinkie Pie, no less. It /has/ been edited for content. 'We've got our opponents getting themselves ready to beat the tar out of each other. Oh who's gonna win? It's just so exciiiitinggggg!' is the bit that catches the ear. It's the beginning of the bout apparently, with Vervi and Shizune exchanging greetings and wish each other luck.

Jinxel (119) has posed:
     "Oh! Saiga! Miss Tesla! Hello!" Jinxel replies with s she waves a hoof, "I wasn't expecting to see you two here today! Decided to get out of the lab?"

     Selena turns and politely bows, "Hello miss Armadia. Have you been well?"

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"Pfft," Saiga snorts as she rolls her eyes cutely. "More like I had to drag her out. So to speak."

Tesla turns her head a bit when she hears her name. "Oh, hello there. Saiga insisted I take a break, yes. And I suppose she is right. Otherwise I wouldn't be of much good when I'm actually needed."

"You can thank me by getting me a cool souvenier or something."

Maxine Sandberg (279) has posed:
Maxine decided to look into the Shinki convention herself. It didn't hurt to look into technology from other worlds, and Fundroids has there own small robots after all. Though she notices Tesla along with her shinki almost right away. This would be a bit awkward if there many Confederates here, but she has no intention of starting a fight. She can't but to smile upon noticing Kari though, "It seems like you get hired to promote technology quite a bit don't you?" This is the second time she's ran into the shinki doing so.

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
Xiaomu stops and blinks at Kari, a frown slowly setting up shop on the foxgirl's features. That wasn't some kind of insult, implying that she should have fallen, was it?

... well, public places are a bad venue for picking a fight, and Xiaomu hasn't had nearly her fill of exploring the convention yet, so she just grins at Kari. "My legs are tougher than they look, don't worry about me! I was more worried about you, honestly - I mean, a Shinki might be able to handle a full-size human landing on them, but it'd be terrible if I landed on your wagon and crushed everything you've been spending so much money on ..."

Biiiiiiiiiiiig grin as she says that, too. "Anyway, yeah, no harm done, thank you for worrying about me. It's my first time seeing Shinki in person, so I'm kinda buzzing about it!"

Auron (236) has posed:
    Conversation will eventually win out over the TV, and as Auron hears Xiaomu's semi-familiar voice from the radio, he turns to look in that direction. Xiaomu-- and Kari as well-- might hear his footsteps, soft thuds under the hum of the crowd before he speaks up. "Shinki are stronger than they may appear," he says quietly. To note he doesn't have one with him, but he seems to know a little, at least.

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Honestly Kari wasn't picking a fight so much as displaying concern in her own way for a person. "Oh it's okay. They're packed well for shipping. And they're all for Master, she asked for a lot of parts! Okay, there's one thing there I bought for myself, but it's cloth and it'd survive getting fallen on." First time seeing a shinki? "Really?" Kari sounds surprised. "Hope you're having fun, miss! There's a lot of shinki, and Master is working on designing some new ones. She already built me some custom armor... But I'm not allowed to wear it if I'm not in battle. It's too dangerous because it shoots grenades and has a really big gun."
    Auron's shadow falls over Kari and she looks backwards and up.
    "Oh. Hello!"

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
And so Xiaomu circles back around to recognizing exactly where Kari is coming from; she's placed enough orders online for various things that she can fully recognize the importance of products being safely and properly packaged. "Ah, that's good to hear then!" she smiles. "I'm Xiaomu, it's good to make your acquaintance."

Cue an Auron. "Both of you," she amends without missing a beat. "So, if I were looking to get a Shinki ... companion? Ally? What *is* the right word, anyway?" she wonders. "Given Shinki are sentient, it seems a little wrong to just talk about them like objects of ownership ..."

Then again, Kari had no qualms about talking about her 'Master,' so ...

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
The pony and her shinki go back to their browsing, so Tesla and Saiga go back to meandering from booth to booth as well. Admittably it was nice to do something that was, in comparison to the normal eccentricities of life, calm and 'normal'. Yes, a busy convention is normal in comparison to the type of stuff she normally does.

Mel (29) has posed:
Walking along the elevated walkways, keeping mostly to herself for the time being and blending in with the throngs of other Shinki, comes a meticulously well-kempt gynoid wearing military-esque attire. The black and white patterned, form-fitting, uniform she wears is vaguely German in design - with a pressed sailor's collar and overlaying starkly pink dress tie. Her pixie-cut, salmon, hair is unadorned by her usual black naval cap today - yet even so the style of dress the gynoid wears is reminiscent of air force attire. Appropriate to the setting, though almost assuredly by coincidence.

Her rose-colored eyes seem to be affixed to the very large screen overhead - and the visual display of WMAT thereupon - even as she wanders the pathways aimlessly about. 'Shinki are stronger than they appear', alright. This one especially. In fact, she literally walks right past as Auron says this... but she doesn't stop to comment. Just idly glances at him for several seconds in passing, as if to assess him before turning and having a seat on th guard rail of the walkway... and staring up at that screen again.

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Kari is not entirely sure why she's getting attention from three people know. She sort of remembers Maxine from when she was doing advertising things for a video game store, so she waves to Maxine. "Oh, I'm not promoting technology today, miss, I'm getting stuff for my Master."

Auron (236) has posed:
    Auron nods to Kari in greeting. "Hello," he offers in return. "I hope you and your master are well?" He's gotten better at this 'small talk' thing, too. Xiaomu's question gets a tilt of his head. "Companions, generally," he answers. "I believe the way it works is that Shinki are allowed to be sold so long as they're not activated. Before that, they're objects. Once they're active, they're considered people. There's also the Virtual Master Program if you want to see if Shinki ownership is for you."

    Mr. Exposition just can't give the teaching gig up, it seems.

    Though he also notices Mel-- he's good at knowing when he's being watched. He turns in her direction and offers a nod of greeting.

Maxine Sandberg (279) has posed:
"I see, that would explain the wagon." Maxine nods at that, "I'm personally interested in all types of robotics, but getting a Shinki would be a bit of a conflict of interest." There's things she can't get let get out after all. "That and shinkis would likely draw suspicion where I'm from." That seem to be too self-aware to legally exist where she's from.

Mel (29) has posed:
Every now and again, the salmon-haired Shinki in German air force uniform looks back at the throng of strangers discussing Shinki... and then back to the screen. Though she hears every word, she really ins't keen to jump into others' conversations, and be a busy-body, but when Auron mentions that Shinki aren't considered 'people' until they're activated - she seems to take exception. "...Shinki are never 'objects'." Her synthetic voice is soft as rose petals, but it has hardened quality to its tone that might make her seem anything but dainty. "That's a dangerous mentality, it's when people think hinki are objects that they are thrown away as soon as they're inconveinant..." There's a biting edge to her voice, but it fades as she trails off.

She diverts her eyes to the screen again, then, and begins to tug at her tie...

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Kari beams. "I'm Kari Wolf, nice to meet you!" She says to Auron and Xiaomu and Maxine. "She's doing very well, mister. Designing new shinki." She kind of just watches the exchange of people for now...
    She listens to Mel. "Most people I've met don't treat us like objects, more like people. And if I meet somebody who thinks I'm an object, I'll object!"

Auron (236) has posed:
    "I said 'considered'," Auron specifies gently, looking back and over his shoulder at Mel. "As in 'in this state it is legal to buy and sell them'. Once they're active it's not. I don't consider them objects either." He pauses, gives a gentle smile. "Still. My apologies. That was a rude thing for me to say." Kari's statement gets a nod as well. "You'd have plenty of company," he assures her. "Including me."

Mel (29) has posed:
A furtive glance is afforded Auron as he clarifies his intent. The Shinki smoothes her tie with a gloved hand quietly, before acknowledging it softly, "...I see, I am sorry for my part too." Her shift away again, diverted quickly to the TV but, there's a genuine apologeticness to her tone. "...You're not wrong." And she ends it at that, picking herself up from the guard rail and slowly walking away toward the booths in the background.

The walk between the floor center, where the various Shinki booths are arrayed, is a long one for her indeed. Not just because of her size either. The tankiest Shinki seems to just slowly meander along, casting curious lingering glances this way and that... yet not really paying much attention either. It's because of this absent-minded way that she wanders that she doesn't really even notice she walks right of the elevated pathways and into the human ones.

...and eventually someone's... boot?

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Tesla Armadia glances down as something bounces against her foot. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I in your way?" she takes a step back from where Mel is, then stoops down to help the little robot girl back up.

"Hello!" Saiga waves to the other shinki from Tesla's shoulder. Fortunately she's not wearing her actual loader gear, so it's just an entirely normal wave.

Maxine Sandberg (279) has posed:
"Well, that's partly why I don't get a shinki. There's some people where I'm from would see them as objects and not people. I'm trying to change that but it's not something that will happen overnight." Maxine sounds a bit frustrated by that. She looks a bit uneasy as Tesla closes in on them. The two of them have fought out in the past after all.

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
You'll have to excuse Xiaomu, she just got distracted by a virtual Shinki fighting game while Kari was dividing her attention between conversations.

"So ... yeah, so once Shinki are activated they're people, no argument there," says the sage fox otaku, getting her brain back into the conversation. "Although with that said - why do Shinki want to fight, and why would a Master want to put her Shinki in harm's way in the arena?"

It *is* a question she's been wondering about. Certainly she can imagine reasons that would motivate a Shinki to gear up for combat, whether for 'sport' or for real combat, but she wants to hear some Shinki on the subject.

Mel (29) has posed:
The meticulously dressed, tie wearing, Shinki spills over backward after practically faceplanting into someone's boot. As her body rolls back, that pressed salmon-colored tie flies up and lands squarely over her eyes. For all of about a moment, she just lies there... stunned and sprawled. But then...

"Huh. That happened apparently."

Then the voice comes and she sees the outline of a hand beyond the boundaries of her tie, the shadow of which nearly blots out the overhead lights.

She accepts the help standing up.

"Uh.. thanks." She dusts herself, before affording the Shinki and her owner an embarassed smile in turn. "Sorry!"

"...And I wasn't even drunk this time." She mutters to herself quietly afterward.

Xiaomu's question, a bit faint admittedly as Mel was walking AWAY from the rest at the time, still draws a sidelong glance. "...Because... it's fun?" It was, actually, but she might not be the most unbiased Shinki... being one DESIGNED to have her face smashed in regularly after all.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"Competative combat is like a sport for shinki," Saiga chimes in as Tesla stands back up, holding onto the scientist's head to brace herself with the movements. "But fighting isn't necessary. Sometimes we just work to help our Masters do their jobs, or take care of the housework for them, or whatever else we feel will be useful."

Noticing Maxine and her wary look, Tesla just smiles faintly and gives a nod in her direction. One scientist to another and all that. Just because she's a mastermind doesn't mean she doesn't have manners!

Auron (236) has posed:
    "Shinki battles can also be holographic," Auron adds, to everyone else's answers. "Like in the Ring of Philosophy in Njorun. Simulated damage and no one is injured. Exhibition matches or tournaments, it can keep things from getting too 'real', if desired. Some do fight, without the holographic projectors, for their masters. For sport or profit, or to protect themselves and their masters."

Mel (29) has posed:
"Pretty much." Mel adds, with a soft nod. Well, at least the 'sport' bit. "We all have different functions though. Some of us are made for fighting, or singing, or delivery, or..." She gestures quietly with a gloved hand in the air, as if to say that list goes on and on... "...well, lots of stuff." She glances briefly at the nearest wall at the Master talk though. "...Yeah..."

...But then, Auron's commentary draws her back. "Right. Actually, Shinki battles are SUPPOSED to be mostly holographic... but not everybody obeys regulation. Not even Shinki really." Such is the way of sentient creatures. "...I don't really need 'em, especially with my exoframe. But I'm kinda designed to be able to be hit by a bus and survive..." She scratches at the back of her head sheepishly.

It doesn't take long, though, before the tankiest Shinki's eyes are wandering again. "...'m upposed buy a new costume while I'm here, aren't I?." It's almost a mumble again. "...something cute for work, I guess..."

Xiaomu (707) has posed:
Xiaomu nods, taking in the answers that come her way regarding Shinki combat. "Thank you," she answers Mel and Saiga with a smile. "That does make a lot of sense - and I'd guessed that 'for fun' was a part of it."

Her smartphone chirps at her, and she pulls up the convention schedule. "- oh, on that note, there's an exhibition match I wanted to check out, get a taste of seeing Shinki fight ... I presume they wouldn't put on an exhibition match if they didn't want people to see, anyway? Given what we were just talking about ..."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"Technically, I'm designed for helping with construction and manufacturing, but I still enjoy a good brawl on occasion." Saiga makes a cute little boxing motion with one fist. "My small size does help me get into places in machines my Master can't though."

Maxine Sandberg (279) has posed:
Maxine smiles back at Tesla feeling a bit relieved, she's glad they can put their differences aside for one day for the purpose of science. "Well, that's certainly more than I can handle. Though I'm sure you could likely destroy a bus." The tiny robot looks pretty well-armored. "Yes, a small set of hands would come in handy sometimes when working with delicate technology. Though, I know other things are difficult at that size." Maxine still remembers the time she spent shrunk down.

Mel (29) has posed:
"Nn.." Mel glances at Saiga before she departs toward the costume booth and grins, "I bet. Actually, a Shinki made for construction's probably pretty tough too, huh?" And then over her shoulder to nod at Xiaomu quietly, before turning again to acknowledge Maxine, "Hm... maybe?" Random thoughts of blowing up a bus flash through her mind, and then her face contorts into a 'yeah right' expression privately. Not much purpose to to that otherwise amusing image. "...probably. And yeah, being small has its advantages. ... Well, I gotta find a Kappa costume. Later!" She throws up a hand to wave vigorously at the lot of them before turning to walk away. Leaving them only her potentially very confusing taste in costumes to fill the gap!

(Kappa: )