SHUSH LEVI I AM THE BEST LEADER.

[bufudine]

Who: Serph, Cielo and YOU!
Location: Starting in the plaza! Anywhere else is fine, too.
Time: During the daaaaaay
Style: ANYTHING GOES.
Status: OPEN

[ Hello dear Vatheon, how are you? Good? Good, because you've got two rather oddly dressed guys in your plaza. They don't seem to be bothered at all by the fact they're dripping wet, though the one with the dreadlocks is carrying a submachine gun. Every now and again, they converse with each other, but they don't seem aggressive.

Approach? ... Well, even if you don't, they will be approaching you. ]

Comments

[bufudine]

[ Ah, it's a name. Serph will file that information away for another time. Maybe they'll meet this "Chitose" in the future.

After Cielo finishes his description, Serph simply nods. He doesn't add that the song Sera sings can calm their demons; at this point, he's still wary of this world. ]

She is our comrade.

[zelda_hylia]

[Zelda softens a little. Are these two marching around like that because they're worried for their friend? That makes it more acceptable.]

I have not seen a girl like that. It is extremely uncommon for people to arrive here in a pair to begin with, in threes is unheard of... I'm sorry. Here, stay there just a moment.

[She ducks into the welcome center. When she comes back out, she offers some towels and the brochure to them.]

[rainbowarch]

[Huh? Radio? Brochure? Cielo takes both the towels and the brochure from Zelda, holding one of the towels out for Serph to take. He's never seen a brochure before and never read much, (there's very few things to actually read in the Junkyard) but Cielo is perfectly literate. He opens it up and starts going through all the text.

It's a lot of information to take in at once. Lots of things stand out to him, but the line about tattoos is one of the most prominent one. There's also many words that he's never seen before in his life, yet he knows the definition of them. Once he finishes, he folds the thing back up (incorrectly, but at least he didn't rip or crinkle it) and hands it to Serph.

If anything, this confirms they're not in Nirvana.]

Maybe we gotta change plans, eh Serph?

[bufudine]

[ He keeps an eye on the stranger when she briefly leaves, guarded; he doesn't know if she's bringing reinforcements. But he relaxes a little when it becomes apparent she's not doing anything threatening at all. People here really are quite at ease, compared to the Junkyard.

Serph takes the towel offered to him and proceeds to dry off his hair while Cielo's reading the brochure. When Cielo hands the piece of paper over to him, he goes through its contents, and he, too, spots many words he's unfamiliar with yet knows the meaning of.

...It's a very worrying brochure.

He gives Cielo a small nod. But he wants confirmation about their comrades, before changing plans. Though, if this stranger is a foreigner, then if the brochure is to be believed, she has an Atma, too... ]

Have you seen anyone dressed like us?

[ If not... well, maybe they should establish a base, in case the others do arrive. And ask about this 'working' thing. ]

[zelda_hylia]

Not exactly. Here, you two should have these somewhere on your person.

[Zelda digs out her SFC, pulling up the residency list.]

It is a fairly short list. Do you see anyone you know?

[rainbowarch]

[Cielo pats both of his packs and sure enough, the pointy Decabria-looking thingy is in one of them. It's not very hard for him to figure out how it works and he finds the list she shows them and starts going through the names.

A? No Argilla. G? No Gale. H? No Heat. S has Serph's name, but not Sera's. And just to be sure, he goes through the entire list a second time, this time looking for the names of other people he knew in the Junkyard. Nobody. Though there were a few names he was pretty glad were absent from the list.]

No one.

[bufudine]

[ Serph also searches his pants his pockets, and finds the communicator amongst the various items he has. Somehow, he gets the feeling his keycards are far less useful here. He doesn't search through the list like Cielo is, though; he's still keeping an eye on the stranger.

When Cielo says none are on the list, Serph is certain he's checked thoroughly; he trusts Cielo to do things properly, after all. It seems the best they can do is wait... until either they're returned to where they were supposed to be -- though where that is, Serph is unsure since the Junkyard... exploded -- or their comrades are brought here. Neither of these options are appealing, but Serph is determined to ensure they survive. ]

What is a job?

[ He says this earnestly, like he really doesn't know. Which... he doesn't. ]

[zelda_hylia]

[What is a job? Seriously? Zelda manages to keep a polite smile on her face as she answers.]

Let's see... a "job" is when you do tasks for someone else and accept payment in return for it. Does your society not have arrangements like that?

Zelda deserves an award for putting up with these two for this long. WE ARE SO SORRY

[rainbowarch]

[So, if he's understanding this right, you do something for someone else and they give you something for it. He can't fully grasp the concept, however, because jobs weren't a thing in the Junkyard.

Cielo knows he has to stop thinking in terms of the Junkyard because this isn't the Junkyard, but...it's hard. The Junkyard and its laws and the war was all he knew for the longest time and now he and Serph were in a place where everything was obviously different.]

Not really...maybe it'd be easier to understand if we saw it ourselves, ja?

[Verbal explanations can only go so far, especially for people as ignorant as them.]

YEAH THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY DUMB poor Zelda's got her work cut out /)_(\;;

[bufudine]

[ The closest equivalent Serph can think of is when they had fought other Tribes and had been rewarded with Macca on their Tag Rings for victory. But he's finding it hard to believe 'jobs' are the same as fighting for survival in the Junkyard. Especially when he hasn't seen much sign of battle in this "Vatheon".

He nods, silently agreeing with Cielo's proposal. Sometimes it's much easier to understand through observation than through just words. That's why they had that interactive map in the strategy room otherwise no one would be able to understand Gale's plans of attack. ]

They're not dumb, they're ignorant. She can tell the difference <3

[zelda_hylia]

Very well, then. I suppose a more thorough explanation is in order. Many societies evolve into a specialist society. No one person has all the skills needed to make society function. Let's take a doctor for example - a person who cares for the sick and the injured. It is a highly skilled job and requires a lot of time and training. The doctor can put in all of that time because he is compensated for his job with money that he can exchange for food, clothing and shelter.

[She pauses.]

Are you with me so far?

They are trying so hard ; A;

[rainbowarch]

[That, Cielo can understand. A doctor was a medic, but you had to pay them. Good medics were something every Tribe needed. (But shouldn't there be a lot of people with healing magic here though? If they have tattoos, then they must have Atma...) Though...]

But why do you need to pay for food and clothes and shelter?

[For them, money was used only for battle supplies. And...the food thing. Yeah. You don't...buy demons to eat here, do you?]

And how do you get the money? Does it go to your tag ring?

[He lifts up his left hand to show Zelda the ring on his middle finger. Clearly you just get money put into your ring, right?]

And where does the money come from anyway?

[There doesn't seem to be a Karma Temple to award it. TOO MANY QUESTIONS.]

It's like dealing with fully grown children! ; A;

[bufudine]

[ Serph knows very well that no one person has all the skills needed. That's why everyone in the Tribe had different roles. Strategist, scout, sniper, strong arm, guard... everyone has things they're better at.

Since Cielo's asked a bunch of questions he'd like an answer to as well, Serph's just going to let Cielo ask the questions for him and listen to the response. IT'S JUST LIKE CANON! ]

Re: It's like dealing with fully grown children! ; A;

[zelda_hylia]

[She looks at Cielo curiously. Why do you need to pay? He must be part of a tribal or family oriented society of some sort.]

In large societies, people require payment in exchange for their work. It's impossible to know and trust everyone, after all, so an exchange of goods and services is inefficient. Exchanging money that can be traded for anything is far easier. The money is handled by the current leader of the government. Here in Vatheon, your card will accumulate money as you work.

[Zelda takes out her own card to indicate what she's talking about.]

Of course, most of this explanation is merely for academic purposes. You do not need to worry overly much about working in Vatheon. We are mostly provided for. You will only need money to buy items from other worlds. Since we are torn here away from our worlds, the locals allow us to stay in any of the residential areas for free. Necessities are free as well.

[rainbowarch]

[The card is Vatheon's equivalent of a tag ring. Gotcha.

There's no Tribes here, but that doesn't mean you can trust anyone. If both sides gain something from an agreement, anything from money to goods to services, then you should be able to trust them, because it's in both your favors, right? And yet, people here also give things away for free?]

Oh, okay. I think I'm starting to get it.

[He taps his head with a finger. All this thinking in such a short time is tiring. How does Gale do it?]

...still weird, though.

[bufudine]

[ ...Society? He guesses that's a group of people. But, impossible to know and trust everyone-- pffffff Serph would give you a good run for your money.

Oh, government is a Tribe, right? Weird that the leader would handle all the money, but not all Tribes are run like his.

Serph can tell already there's going to be lots of things in Vatheon that they won't be familiar with. He thinks it will be best if they had some of these 'starfish tokens'; if they can obtain things from their world, at least they know for certain what those items do. Safer than eating questionable things, anyway. ]

How do we... 'get a job'?

Haha, she thinks they're kind of cute.

[zelda_hylia]

You simply apply for one. If you're wanting Starfish Tokens, I would suggest working part-time at one of the local shops. It is mundane work, but easy enough. All you have to do is ask the owner if there are any positions open.

[Zelda grabs two of the many readily available towels and holds them out to the pair.]

Here, so you can dry off a bit.

They have that effect on people

[rainbowarch]

[Being wet doesn't bother Cielo in the least, but he takes one of the towel and starts drying his hair off anyway.]

Thanks...anything else you wanna ask, Serph?

They are the most adorable cannibals she'll ever meet :3

[bufudine]

[ Getting a job sounds easy enough, though there's the matter of telling the foreigners apart from the locals. ...Well, it's not like they can't ask a stranger if they have a tattoo.

He's already dried his hair with the earlier towel and as far as Serph's concerned, that's all he needs to dry, so he doesn't take the extra towel. But he does give a small nod of appreciation. ]

Your name.

[zelda_hylia]

[The fairies had their uses - being able to tell foreigners on sight was one of them.]

My name is Zelda. It's a pleasure to meet both of you.

[So long as you don't go pointing the gun anywhere.]

[rainbowarch]

Zelda, huh? Pretty name.

[He'll keep this thing under control. Cielo might cart this submachine gun wherever he goes, but he only uses it when he has to. Instead Zelda, you get a smile for being so nice and helpful!]

I guess I already told you Serph's name, ja? I'm Cielo.

[bufudine]

[ Zelda... woman with yellow hair and Pixie ears. He can remember that.

Serph gives her a small nod. ]

Thank you for the help.

[ Most people would smile when giving thanks, but this is Serph, master of the lineface. ]