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[sub][h1][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MTNbUrP.png[/img][/center][center][color=black][b]A K A I A[/b][/color][/center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5333243][center][color=bca346][b]A K A I A [/b][/color][/center][/url][/h1][/sub]

[center][sub]The Ruined City | Outskirts   ·   Evening
In collaboration with: [@Medili][@Force and Fury][@FunnyGuy][/sub]
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It was sometime after their departure from the city that the group arrived at a small cluster of buildings. Six to be exact, all roughly the same size and looking to have once belonged to each other like a family. One in particular had been of interest to Akaia, specifically as the home to some unknown thing she assumed Lysandra might like to get her hands on. Knowing full well that she was the type to tinker, the Sidhe had some time ago stumbled across the place and made a peculiar discovery that seemed to require a more... human touch. She could think of no one better.

A small discussion led to the party split again, this time with much less apprehension than before. With the danger long past and less than half the trek remaining on their journey home, the urgency in their travel had tapered off and most were agreeable to a short breather. Of the commune, it would be Erik, Cerise and of course Lysandra who would accompany Akaia to the building at the end of the chain. The others kept watch as they made their way over.

[color=bca346]"In here."[/color] She had said once inside the doorway, gesturing for them to follow. She stood at the edge of a shadow where the day's fading light struggled to reach and where from outside it was little help in identifying what the place might have been in its past life. Besides encroaching flora and some debris that looked to have been recently displaced, the only other items of interest were a series of letters above the door. Starting slightly left of center was an "R" and an "E" followed by a gap and then a "D". Pieces of the alphabet that could be combined in any number of ways to form any number of words. But what had held so little significance to Akaia was more than enough to deduce something specific for another. As Erik and Cerise followed the girl through the door, Lysandra took a moment to study the letters.

[color=7FFFD4]"Record...?"[/color]

Although said mostly to herself, it was enough for a Sidhe to confirm what she already knew and also enough to elicit a giggle out of a certain Cerise. [color=DE3163]"Curious indeed. I wonder what building this once was."[/color] She said, peering inside with the others.

Pitch black shadows peeled away to reveal a space that had once been used for retail. It was dirty and dry but mostly very empty. The counter directly across from them was covered in a thick layer of dust along with a number of objects of various sizes and degrees of neglect. Along most of the walls were shelves that looked to have once held magazines, or in this case, vinyl sleeves. Nearly all were missing but here and there were small piles of unwanted albums or broken records. Hanging on the back wall behind the counter were a number of sleeves still intact save for one that was very obviously missing. In its place was a dirt free square stain.

[color=gold]"Looks comfy.”[/color] Erik sarcastically commented with a grin, to which Lysandra replied with a warning. [color=7FFFD4]"Don’t get too comfortable."[/color] She said, rolling her neck and shoulders and stretching some as she looked around. Her more observant studying noticed the missing record from the wall. [color=7FFFD4]"Unless you wanna spend tonight sleeping beside the Lost."[/color]

[color=gold]"Hmm... At least I'd have company."[/color] He mumbled back. After a moment, all three found Akaia again.

[color=7FFFD4]"So, Flower Power, what was it that you wanted to show me?"[/color]

[color=gold]"If it's a record player…"[/color]

[color=DE3163]"Right, right, what did you want to show Lys, Kaia? Surely it’s something interesting, yes?"[/color]

Akaia looked at each of them in turn, her tired eyes regarding their question with the answer to their ask clear in her mind's eye. She wanted to sleep, but an anxious curiosity from Lysandra and the unmistakable excitement from Cerise kept her focused on what she truly wanted. What she'd always wanted. Despite her more materialistic losses that day, she knew temporary holes were easily filled with time and other things. Sleep too would find her soon enough. It was a fear she knew well that was harder to suppress and she only knew of one way to do it. So when she smiled in reply to their searching, it was a smile of genuine contentment. Exhaustion was pushed aside in favor of empathy and Akaia very quickly led them around the counter.

Tucked in the corner and on the ground was an object covered in a sheet that was oddly enough, less dusty than the junk surrounding it. Judging by the shape, it looked to be about a foot tall and a foot and a half wide at the base and as if nothing more than a simple box. But as she bent down to grab the corner of the fabric covering it and pulled it away, the gift underneath was anything but simple.

The wooden box was indeed plain on top but was also covered in a complicated layout of buttons and knobs on the front. In the center was a gauge of sorts; encased in glass was a red needle that seemed to follow a series of steadily increasing numbers. Underneath that needle was a digital number display that was currently grayed out. On both sides of the gauge were a series of buttons and below them were three knobs. Two of the above reliefs read "Volume" and "Tuning". Just below them was an elongated and thin rectangle that looked as though it could be opened and flanking on either side of the entire setup were two large recessed speakers. Everything but the speakers were framed in a gold-plated panel.

As the lid of the box was lifted, the others were treated to what appeared to be a large black circular disc and a peculiar looking arm sitting just above it. Lastly, on the side of the box was a barely visible rectangular shaped hole with a number of exposed wires sticking out.

Akaia looked at Lysandra with a hopeful, expectant look in her eyes.[/color]