Andromeda's Questionnaire

DORÉ LAKE OBSERVATORY SET TO CLOSE IN COMING MONTHS

By STEWART MICHAELS

Due to faulty supplies, inadequate funding, and lacklustre returns, Doré Lake Observatory, located near the similarly named Doré Lake, Saskatchewan, is set to close its doors permanently on XX-XX-2022. Beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting construction, and ending with the unfortunate destruction of its primary telescope, Doré Lake Observatory's brief existence has been nothing short of frustrating for construction teams and researchers alike.

"That thing is cursed," says lead architect F. Jeremiah, "given all of the weird stuff that's been happening these past few years, I wouldn't be surprised if we somehow managed to build this thing on some sort of ancient graveyard or wizard's domain or some other cultish thing. It's been issue after issue ever since we started working. Pandemic, bear attack, electronics failing, this, that, new problem after new problem, repeated at infinitum. I'm glad it's being abandoned, it's not worth the trouble."

This sense of relief is shared by the researchers of Doré Lake Observatory, as described by A. Williams who, in an interview, said:

"The general consensus is that we're glad to see it go. Sure, it's not easy to say goodbye to something that you put so much of your time into, but I think we'll all be happier once this is over. It gets pretty lonely out there, you have to drive for hours to find even the slightest sign of civilization, and even then there's not a lot to do once you do find people. The stars were nice though, that'll probably be the only thing I miss."

While the eventual fate of the observatory is still unknown, early sources say that it's likely to be left where it is. Estimates suggest that the savings potential of repurposing the observatory's construction materials do not outweigh the costs of demolition. As such, it is expected that the observatory will remain where it is now, left to the mercy of the wilderness for the foreseeable future.

NOTICE

If you are considering stealing money from the tip jar, please reconsider. Our humble shop is only able to stay afloat thanks to generous donations such as these. While the bills and coins in here may seem small, they really add up over time. If you are in desperate need of money, then we encourage you to ask our staff for help. We might not have much to give you, but we will do whatever we can to help. 

From the staff of Meadow Lake Convenience Store

Thank you for your donations! Any amount helps!

Just so you know, this is about you, little thief~

No it's not :)

PROJECT PERSEUS - PRIVATE. CREW MEMBERS ONLY!!!

MISSION: Establish a consistent and universally applicable method of personal space traversal.

MOTIVE: Numerous scientific studies have determined that space is very cool.

CREW:

• Commander Andromeda - Our brave leader and wondrous founder. She's the brain, brawn, heart, soul, and greatest asset in our operation.
• [MORE COMING SOON... hopefully]
•  
•  

PROBLEMS:

• No method of traversing the low atmosphere, much less the cosmos.
  • POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:
    • Ask Mr. The Friend to build another spaceship, preferably a permanent one.
    • Gain more magical powers. First figure out where the magic is coming from (likely related to the contract that Mr. The Friend had me sign).
• Insufficient funds.
• Insufficient resources.
• Significant lack of crew members.
  • POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:
    • Ask Mr. The Friend to join. He has demonstrated excellent ability in the field of astronomical engineering (built a temporary spaceship out of nothing).
    • Ask Ms. Danya to join. She's very nice :)
• Space is incredibly vast and empty.
  • POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:
    • Bring a lot of books, board games, and other in-flight entertainment to make the long journey more bearable.
    • Worm holes.
    • Teleportation? Evidence indicates that this can be accomplished through magic.
• Space is very dangerous.
  • POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:
    • Become willing to sacrifice lives. After some reflection, the commander has determined that this is not a viable solution.

Hello, Mrs. Sentori. Is now a good time to talk? We were hoping to ask you about your daughter.

Ask away.

Wonderful! Can you tell us about how she was acting on the day before she ran away? Were there any oddities, arguments, or any other hints that would have perhaps... Shall we say, "foreshadowed" the events that were to come?

She was angry, like always. She came home from school, refused to eat dinner, shouted at her father and I. Then she went up to her room. I didn't see her again until we checked the security cameras the next morning. Her father would've seen her last, he went up to say goodnight if I'm not mistaken.

Can you elaborate on the shouting that supposedly occurred between the three of you?

What is there to say? She's always yelling at her father and I. She's doesn't respect our authority, never has. It's always something new with her, I don't think that anything that we said today was anything out of the ordinary, same goes for her.

Hm... I see.

What?... Oh, you think it was MY fault, don't you? I've given her everything that she's asked for, you know. Every book that she's begged for, every device that she wanted. I've done everything for her. Don't you DARE blame this on me. 

Ma'am, her teachers have said that she's a pleasure in school, and her friends-

So you're blaming ME? You disgust me, blaming a mother for her child running away. What is wrong with you? Get out of my home. GET OUT!

Apologies, ma'am.

To Chelsea Sentori

I want you to know that it was your fault. I ran away because of what YOU did. Every argument you forced upon me, every time you refused to make me food and sent me to bed starving, threatened to toss my school work into the fireplace, all of that. All of that and more, THAT is why I no longer live with you, and THAT is why I don't call you mom anymore. Don't pretend that it wasn't your fault, you and I both know the truth. I hate you, so, so much, and I am not lying when I say that the wilderness has given me more love than you ever have.

From Abigail

[This letter was scribbled over, and later tossed into a fire, incinerated beyond recognition]

To Dad

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry that I've put you through this. It was never your fault, you did so much for me, and I'm so thankful for everything that you gave me. It was always mom who was the problem, it was never you. I want you to know that I am okay, I am safe, and I am not alone...

I've changed. Strange... Strange things have been happening recently. I... I can't tell you about it. Not yet. I don't know enough about it myself, I'm sorry. Someday, I will tell you, I promise. I promise that I will be back someday. I love you, and I miss you.

From Abby

[This letter was sealed in an envelope, handwriting on the cover indicates that the intended recipient is "Benjamin Sentori." It has not been delivered, instead residing in some dark corner of the observatory]

To Arctic

I am writing this on Saturday, XX-XX-2024, and if you're reading this, I have run away from home. You know why. I know where I am running away to, and it is far, far away from here. I don't know if I will ever return by choice, and I doubt that anyone will be able to figure out where I went. So, I want to tell you this, and you have to promise to never, ever, ever tell anyone else this. Burn this letter (BURN it, do not just rip it up) after you finish reading it. I'm risking a lot by telling you this, but I trust that you won't tell anyone. I am running away to Doré Lake Observatory, the one that was abandoned a few years ago. If you ever need me, I'll be there, and if I'm not there, just wait until I return. We'll see each other again, I promise!

From Andromeda

P.S. I changed my name, but don't tell anyone, it's our secret, no one else should know!

[This letter was hastily shoved inside an envelope, and swiftly thrown inside the bedroom of Arctic Beaning, where it was later incinerated beyond recognition]

 nah the lions got this 

 ITS THE SUN??? THEY CAN'T KILL IT??? 

 its a lot of lions 

 You are being so unreasonable right now, I hate you 

 do you know how big a billion is? 

 They literally couldn't even bite it, it's made of plasma, they can't bite plasma! 

 nerd 

--Today--

 BRO 

 What's up? 

 that test 

 It wasn't that bad, the backside was pretty tough though 

 THERE WAS A BACKSIDE??? 

 Lmao no 

 fucker 

 the lions would still win 

 Brb Chelsea is calling me 

 your just afraid of the truth 

 oh wait your being serious 

 ... 

 i mean you got like 100 on the test 

 surely she wont be made about that 

 ... 

 abby? 

 Can I come over? 

 yeah, you wanna sleepover? 

 Yeah 

 that rough huh 

 I'll tell you about it when I get there 

 you wanna play smg2 when you get here? 

 I just 

 I just want to sleep 

 that sounds lame 

 are you sure you dont wanna go stargazing on the roof? 

 ... 

 I'd like that 

 yeah you would 

 Thank you 

 anytime 

 now get over here 

Name: Abigail Sentori

Date: XX-XX-2023

Class: English 8 - Mr. Cruise

---ROMANTIC POEM PROJECT---

ඞ

Prompt:

Write a love poem. Your poem must include:

• 1 Metaphor
• 1 Simile
• 1 Idiom
• 1 Instance of Hyperbole

Your poem can be directed towards whoever you want (Tip: They do not have to be real).

200-300 words

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who do I direct it to:

• The Moon
•  
• Idk
•  

WHO IS HOT??? LMAO ARO/ACE SKILL ISSUE SHUT UP

• arcti
• WHY DID YOU WRITE THAT IN PEN I CAN'T ERASE IT
• the crewmate/'-- STOP
•  

Metaphor ideas:

• My love for you is the cosmos; that is to say, never ending
• You are my world, and I, the moon, can't help but revolve around you
• damn girl are you space? Because I wanna explore your depths  NO NO NO NO DON'T USE THIS ONE DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT
•  

Similes:

• uh
•  
• your as~ i\ v- LET ME WRITE ITS FUNNY I SWE/\l--\
•  

IdioT

• I'm doing this at home :(
•  

[On a notebook with the words "DREAM JOURNAL" written on the cover, the following entry resides]

Payphone Nightmare - December XX, 2024

I had another nightmare last night.

This time, I was walking towards the payphone at Meadow Lake in the middle of the night. Despite not saying it out loud, I knew that I was planning to call Luciole for a second therapy session. I started dialling her phone number, and when I picked up the phone to start talking to her, I heard her shrieking. It sounded horrible, like she was actively being burned alive or something. I tried asking her what was happening, but she didn't acknowledge me. I was looking around, trying to think of something that I could do to help, but nothing was coming to me. Then, without warning, she hung up.

I stood there for a few seconds, completely terrified, then the phone started ringing. I desperately lunged at it and put it up to my ear, and I heard Luciole's voice again. She was unnaturally calm and it sounded like she was... Singing? I don't know how to describe it, but it was really off-putting. I asked if she was okay, and she told me that she was, but Luciole died. So I guess I was talking to Aria? I didn't really acknowledge Luciole's death much in the dream, which was weird.

Anyways, Aria started berating me, yelling at me because Luciole died after hearing what I said about her in my audio logs. She told me that I was wrong about "Them," wrong about my explanation of her psyche, wrong about anything and everything. Then she moved on to complaining about all the other inaccuracies in my logs. None of it made much sense. She told me that Ollie was made of sauce, not clay. She told me that Grungo's name is actually pronounced as "Groon-go." She told me that I forgot to mention "Doug," don't know who that is. She pointed out a lot of other errors, but I can't remember most of them. None of them were particularly true, I think.

Aria went on and on, I kept telling her to stop and that I was sorry for getting everything wrong, but she didn't ever listen to what I was saying. At some point, I couldn't take it, so I hung up. There were a few moments of silence, and then I heard some groaning noises behind me. Looking out into the darkness, I saw about a dozen zombies crawling towards me. Their faces looked familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen them from. I tried to run, but there were so many and I didn't know where to run. I tried to fight back by shooting my Aurora at them, but it just wasn't appearing. Right before they closed in on me, the telephone rang, and without any other options, I picked it up.

On the other side of the line, I heard Arctic's voice. I think she was describing how purchasing things from stores works? I'm not sure, it sounded weirdly casual, and she wasn't responding to anything I said. While Arctic was talking, I turned back to the zombies, and one of them was standing right in front of me. I felt a searing pain in my arm and neck as the figure loomed above me, and then my vision went black.

When my eyes opened, I was back at my old house. Then I just started walking around. I went upstairs, into the bathroom, into my bedroom, into the living room, into the kitchen, just aimlessly wandering. It felt like I was looking for something, but I couldn't find it. I remember my breath being really frantic while I was walking around, almost as though something was chasing me. There wasn't anything or anyone there though, I was alone in the house, I'm confident about that. I just kept walking until eventually the dream faded away and I woke up.

PORTABLE SUN PURCHASE RECORD

#1 - Saffron

December XX, 2024.

Deal:

1 Portable Sun in exchange for $75,000.

Notes:

Saffron responded almost immediately after I set up the Offr. Very direct but seemed friendly enough. Gave me a phone number for any future purchases to avoid the Offr tax. Unsure if making deals outside of Offr is viable unless Saffron lives nearby or has some means of coming here. In person deals are risky as it opens up the possibility of my location being discovered by other people. Also reveals that I am a child, which might make people unwilling to trade me certain things...

This deal alone has already changed my life for the better. I'm no longer poor!!! I should buy like... A burger.

Phone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX

#2 - Marianne

December XX, 2024.

Deal:

1 Portable Sun in exchange for $75,000.

Notes:

Very brief conversation, didn't seem interested in discussing much. Gave me a phone number in their opening message, likely for any future deals. Still unsure about the viability of deals outside of Offr.

I have so much money now!!! These things have been selling like hotcakes, I could probably retire now!... Not that I have a job...

Phone Number: XXX-XXX-XXXX

#3 - Ollie

December XX, 2024.

Deal:

1 Portable Sun in exchange for 1 Living Bracelet.

Notes:

This was Ollie! I know him! I guess he learned how to make some more clay creatures! The bracelet can summon three pegasi made of clay. He wrote a little message onto the bracelet too :)

I need some names for these guys... I'll come back to that later.

#4 - Janus

December XX, 2024.

Deal:

1 Portable Sun in exchange for $75,000 and a motorcycle.

Notes:

100% a contractor. I have an inkling that the other two buyers (not including Ollie) were contractors, but this person definitely is. Seemed intent on purchasing a Portable Sun, didn't seem to have much to offer however. Ended up offering a motorcycle in addition to the usual price. Janus was nice enough, gave off the vibe of being tired and a little jaded, but definitely not mean by any means. Mentioned how transport for jobs dries up after a while. This will likely happen sometime soon, as Janus has done 5/6 jobs compared to my 4. The name Janus is worrying considering its mythological relationship to the two-faced god of the same name. This might just be a coincidence, but... I mean, no one uses their real names on this website (except for Ollie, I guess), so why choose that name? It's weird, but I don't exactly have any reason to distrust Janus for the time being. They did offer me solid advice for going about these jobs, so I guess I can trust them? I should keep an eye out in case I see them on any jobs.

Well... I guess I should start learning how to drive this thing... I need a helmet first.

#5 - Chucks Trucks and Crucks

December XX, 2024.

Deal:

2 Portable Suns in exchange for $500,000.

Notes:

WOAH. THAT'S HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. I'M RICH!!!

I didn't actually learn much about this buyer. I think it's some kind of truck dealership? I don't know what a "cruck" is, but I mean, how could I say no? That's half a million dollars!... Why would a truck dealership need two Portable Suns??? Is this a legitimate business? Something about it seems off, but I guess it's really none of my business. I'll ask a few questions and see what I can learn, I suppose.