#bellworks

Junelezen Day 5: Job

The Gala is finally here, and everyone’s invited. Come in your finest clothes wearing a mask, and prepare yourself for a night of fine dining, dancing, and deliberation! For this party doubles as one last opportunity for the A11Y robots to prove to Gridania that, against their nature, they too can be gentlerobots. Just because they’re built for destruction doesn’t mean it’s the only thing they’re capable of.

Summary:

Bellator and Zephyr, patiently taught by Heartwood and Bellworks over several moons, perform spectacularly! They show off learned poise and their mistakes are charming, as opposed to destructive and terrifying. From making it through a course meal, to dancing for the delight of the guests, and finally impressing everyone with their eclectic fashion - the A11Ys show they are, indeed, gentlerobots. 

If this had been a fair fight, you would’ve won, but that’s the kicker. This never was a fair fight, and the games the upper class play are rife with deceit. 

Sensing that the A11Ys are about to earn Gridania’s goodwill, Glephort puts everything on the line for one last risky gambit. Predicting that the robots’ true loyalties lie with Florus, he presses a fake dagger against Florus’s neck and baits an attack from Bellator. Once shown A11Ys unpredictable nature and destructive capabilities, the public opinion sways back to Glephort’s side. However, since Zephyr didn’t fall for the bait due to having its memories of Florus encrypted, Gridania comes up with this ultimatum.

Zephyr can stay. Bellator can stay if its memories of Florus are also encrypted. Otherwise, Bellator cannot be allowed to reside in Gridania. A grace period is given to allow a decision to be reached about Bellator, but during that time, other machinations would come into play...

The last step before the fancy Gala is to ensure the A11Ys are appropriately dressed! Accompany Florus and the robots as they get their measurements taken and determine which designs to go for. In the meantime, maybe you’ll also get suited up too? For Heartwood and its allies have been extended an invitation to the Gala as well.

Summary:

Outfits and masks are picked out for all, free of charge! Awkwardly, Ser Glephort is encountered in the prop store and, after mocking the party (and making it very clear he expects the A11Ys to make fools of themselves), the stuck-up man picks up a fake dagger and leaves. Hopefully, what happens at the Gala will prove Ser Glephort wrong.

This was, perhaps, folly. But the gates to Ishgard were open to the wider world for the first time in an age, and she knew not how soon they’d close again. Eliane had to strike out on this venture while she still could.

And so down to Ul’dah she flew, itself presently a nation in chaos, laden with the one thing she knew they all understood: gil. And with that gil, she purchased a humble compound that she hoped to turn into a branch of her bustling manufactory at home.

Thus the Bellworks was born -- and thus began Lady Eliane Dufresne’s misadventures in Eorzea.

Teach robots to be fancy, keep them from being kicked out, wipe a smirk off of some stuffy smug noble’s face...Cravs swears that there’s benefit for Heartwood somewhere in there. She’s not taking their plight personally at all, nope! Of course not!

(she-totally-is-oh-my-god)

The next lesson for the robots (and Heartwood) is about dancing! Show off your best moves, give them inspiration, and help the robots gather data in order for them to come up with a routine that will dazzle the judges!

Summary:

The A11Ys’ first attempts at dancing destroy the floor and cause earthquakes. But after everyone’s patient instruction, dance data and inspirations are given to the robots, and a routine involving a merry little jig and hats is agreed upon. Henceforth, can the robots be seen practicing in the yard, for the Gala is just two moons away. Toe heel, toe heel, left right...

Although the A11Ys have stopped harassing Gridania with their “pranks,” Ser Glephort (the butt of the robots’ mischief) has still pressed charges. Everything seemed in order for the A11Ys to be kicked out, until Cravs interjected:

“What’ll it take to convince Gridania that the A11Ys ‘ave learned their lesson?” “Nothing short of a spectacular show of genteel manners!”

Ser Glephort didn’t mean for this to be taken so seriously, but from it, Cravs managed to strike a crazy deal. In a few moons, the A11Ys will be invited to a fancy gala and if they’re able to convince the attendants that they’re polite, respectable, and calm, then they can stay! Which seems impossible, and probably why Glephort agreed to this in the first place. It’ll be hilarious to watch them fail...

Either way, this buys the A11Ys extra time in Gridania. The first lesson is in eating etiquette! Learn alongside the robots or teach them a thing or two, and come with an empty stomach.

Since Florus is out of commission, an odd gobcat chef from the Bellworks offers to help! Join Munchix and try to teach Bellator some table manners.

Summary:

Despite a rocky start, the class is a success! Convinced that ‘fine dining’ is a game, Bellator has improved leaps and bounds. Now to give it an actual mouth, so it doesn’t have to smash food into its snowy exterior.

Full Logs >Here<

Cravendy...has bought a book, ‘Table manners for Dummies.’ Experience the true meaning of learning and teaching on the fly alongside Zephyr.

Summary:

This class is a catastrophe. However, most agree that it’s more because Zephyr lacks hands/arms to eat properly with. Maybe the arm the Bellworks makes for it could help it succeed next time?

Mischief from one A11Y fans the flames of the other...so Cravs wants to try separating them. Come join your preferred pair and get to know each A11Y on an individual level! What makes each one unique, and is it finally time to give them their own names?

Florus accompanies the Roader in fixing the holes it punched through the neighbor’s walls.

Summary:

The Roader A11Y is named Zephyr! Surrounded by friends, it helps fix the damage it caused and learns that creating takes much longer than destroying. Although it still holds a grudge against Ser Glephort, you get the sense it won’t cause further trouble.

Full Logs >Here<

Cravendy accompanies the Snowman in herding chocobos back into the neighbor’s stables.

Summary:

The Snowman A11Y is named Bellator! Heartwood helps walk it through why harassing Glephort’s chocobos is bad, and then helps it feed and return the birds back to their stables. Although it still holds a grudge against Ser Glephort, you get the sense it won’t cause further trouble.

With the Bellworks helping out with catering, Cravs is determined to throw a legendary party...without alcohol. Somehow. This cake-filled event will serve two purposes - introduce new members and friends to each other, and introduce the A11Y conundrum to all present! Don’t know what A11Y is? Well, all will be made clear the day of.

Summary:

It was supposed to be a meet-and-greet with the A11Ys and their creator but, as a textbook example of the A11Ys’ truancy, they’re nowhere to be found. Even a room full of cakes isn’t enough to lure them! A spontaneous talent show is tossed together at the last minute, as FOMO is an even more powerful bait than cake. Although everyone leaves with cake trauma, it works. The A11Ys and Florus are back at Heartwood.