001

[fightforastar]

Who: Tifa and YOU!
Where: The Plaza
When: Afternoon
Style: I'll match~
Status: Open!

[Among the newcomers in the plaza this afternoon is a woman in a soaked white top and miniskirt--probably not the most fortunate outfit to show up in, but her attire isn't exactly foremost on her mind. Having obtained a towel, she's currently trying to get her long hair dry as she looks around.

This isn't the first time Tifa has wound up in a city with no sky, without knowing quite how she got there. But she's never heard of this one, and neither has anyone so far heard of anything like Shinra or Meteor. That alone makes it almost too good to be true.

But something very essential to a good dream is missing, the same person who'd been absent when she'd first stepped onto the bridge of the Highwind only minutes ago. Everyone had tried so hard not to call attention to it, but... She forces it out of her mind before she can dwell on it for long.

Right now she needs to learn what she can, so she scans the faces of passersby with the intent of picking out someone who looks like they know more than the somewhat vapid native who handed her the towel.]

Comments

[chosen_gigolo]

[The afternoon finds Zelos as most of the day has; standing in the doorway of the host club, watching the goings on in the plaza. He hadn't chosen the location for this reason, but it's still an excellent vantage point to watch all the arrivals.

And sometimes, the view is very nice.]

Hey there hunny! You look a little lost.

[aim_exorable]

[Well, she could always try the seven feet tall and then some (not even counting his long horns) gray individual who is quickly striding through the plaza, fiddling with some device on his arm. He's really passing through the plaza briefly on an errand.]

[However, despite his concentration on his device, he manages to spot her and quickly assesses her situation. He sharply changes his course to pass by her. Tifa may spot a flicker of strange cards in the air with images on them, a flicker of a mathematical problem across them, and suddenly there's a cloak in his hand.]

[Sylladexes are handy things.]

[Not wasting any time, he drapes it across her shoulders.]

I suggest a change of clothes.

[If only for practicality's sake. Besides, don't humans view a woman's bare chest with some strange cultural unease...? Humans are weird.]

[fightforastar]

[Tifa looks over. She's not sure how she feels about being called 'honey,' but she'll give him the benefit of the doubt and try a smile.]

I guess I am a little. This isn't anywhere near Junon, is it?

[fightforastar]

[Never mind where the cloak came from. The closest thing Tifa's seen to this... person? is some of the things Vincent turns into. She takes a step back at his approach, unease plain on her face and her hands fisting. But the fact that no one else in the area seems to bat an eye at his appearance tempers her reaction.

He certainly doesn't seem hostile...]

T-thank you..

[Well. She's fought alongside stranger, hasn't she?]

[aim_exorable]

If we are all trapped here together, common courtesy is something best kept to.

[A shrug, and he turns to point in one direction.]

If you go along that path, then you will find the Welcoming Committee's building. They should have a few things to welcome you here along with a pamphlet that explains some things of this place. You are now in Vatheon.

[Blunt and to the point.]

[fightforastar]

[She's not much used to common courtesy, but it does put her at ease a bit. Not completely of course, but she's less openly wary of the giant grey man.]

Does it happen so often that they need all that?

[A welcoming committee and pamphlets... It makes it sound like some sort of vacation spot.]

[aim_exorable]

Once a month, as a matter of fact. It rarely deviates from the schedule we have managed to figure out.

[It looks like he might be here for a few minutes more yet. He lets his hands fall away from each other; it would be rude to continue messing with it while in polite company.]

Leaving here is a bit more unpredictable. No one has managed to understand what triggers it, if anything at all.

[fightforastar]

...I see.

[No known way to get back? That isn't what she wants to hear.]

How long have you been here?

[aim_exorable]

Myself? [People seem to be asking that a lot.] By now, it must be close to a year.

You don't have to worry if you have something of vast importance going on back on your homeworld, however. When you return, everything will be as if you never left. Until that happens, this place is... accommodating, if nothing else.

[fightforastar]

How do you know that for sure? That everything will be the way you left, I mean.

[aim_exorable]

That is what people have told us. Not too long ago, my matesprit- my lover returned back to our homeworld. He confirmed it. There have been others.

[fightforastar]

[Tifa nods and then manages a small smile.]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep you with too many questions.

[aim_exorable]

I have nothing but time, Miss. [Even if his life has been rather hectic as of late.] I could escort you to the Committee, if you wished. There are some things the pamphlets don't have included.

[fightforastar]

[She's tempted to decline, so she can have a few moments to herself, but she quickly thinks better of it. Once she is by herself again she knows she'll just start brooding. Instead she draws the cloak more securely about herself.]

I'd appreciate that.

And it's Tifa, by the way.

[aim_exorable]

I am Darkleer. Just Darkleer.

[Gesturing for her to follow, he starts off towards the committee building.]

What is often forgotten to be mentioned is that we are being monitored and used in part of an experiment, although we have not come face to face with them.

[fightforastar]

[Her smile slips at that.]

What sort of experiment?

[aim_exorable]

From what I can tell, Miss Tifa, they are observing something to do with the coral, although I cannot tell if it is their fault or if they came upon it. Every so often, an event will occur.

Your thoughts may be put on display in a bubble of sorts which follows you, you may change species.. There are numerous things which could occur. They only last for one week, and then all returns to as it was.

[fightforastar]

And you haven't met those responsible.

Do you have any idea where to find them?

[aim_exorable]

No, unfortunately. We have found remnants they have left behind, but we only know how to contact one lone intern who seems to be more on our side than anything.

Just recently, we were able to gain access to a laboratory they recently left behind. Myself, among others, are working on hacking through the computers there.

[fightforastar]

I have a little experience with that. Maybe I can help.

[It would give her something to focus on at least. She could really use that right now.]

[aim_exorable]

Really?

[That earns his attention, and he pauses for a moment.]

Do you have experience with hacking?

[fightforastar]

A friend of mine taught me a few things. I'm no expert, but an extra hand can't hurt, right?

[aim_exorable]

It certainly wouldn't. I will have to speak to the individual I am partnered with, but I will let you know. Her name is Roxy Lalonde, if you are curious. You can contact us over the SFCs.

[As they come to a stop by the committee building, he pulls out his own.]

These devices here.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Here's one very not vapid native. Rinoa can actually be seen hurrying around parts of the plaza, getting things together for the party she's throwing later that night. At some point, one of the candles she's hauling around slips out of her grasp and rolls towards Tifa.]

Ah, no!

[fightforastar]

Of course.

[It makes sense he'd want to check with his partner-in-crime before bringing her into it, even if they are on the same side. She nods on seeing his SFC; she saw hers when she woke, though gods know where she's keeping it.]

Funny shape for them, but I think I can figure it out.