TDM 002. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.

[headandhand]

» 01. I LIKE TO PARTY AND BY PARTY I MEAN NAPS.

Look at all of these bright, shining new faces! There’s even a few less bright, less shining faces, but hey, this city welcomes all types. Chances are, if you’ve just arrived, you're seeing some pretty crazy things, unless you're used to an eye-blinding amount of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis,
and welcome to your monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating! Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! But don't be too shy, you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right? Who doesn’t like friends?!

This month’s event is held at the brand new RoCocoa Cat Cafe, a sparkly new establishment that caters to children and the young at heart with iced and hot cocoa drinks of all kinds, delicious pastries, age-appropriate live music, and of course many friendly kitties who love to lounge in laps. The cats are of all shapes, sizes, and colors, including some who may look a little different from what you expect, or may look like an ordinary cat but are actually anything but ordinary underneath that adorable fur coat. All cats in the cafe are adoptable, of course, for those who meet a new furry friend and just can’t bear to go home without them!

So pull up a chair, get to know your new neighbors, and enjoy a sugary treat or two with the resident furbabies. You might just meet your new two- or four-legged best friend!

» 02. TO TAG OR NOT TO TAG, THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Welcome, one and all, to a long-running time-honored Dualis tradition: the annual city-wide Dualis Marker Tag Competition! For this entire month, all participants who accept the challenge will be given a marker and set free to tag any other participant in the city by making a mark on their skin, while attempting to avoid being tagged themselves. Careful, though - the ink marks last a very long time, so you’ll have to wait until the competition concludes to wash everything off.

Markers come in all colors, even fluorescent, glitter, and glow-in-the-dark, and you can use however many markers your inner child’s heart desires. These markers will leave marks even on people who have chosen not to play, but you can easily purchase an armband, headband, or similar accessory that says NONPARTICIPANT if you so desire. Marking nonparticipants is considered extremely bad form and wins you no prizes, but "misfires" do still happen sometimes. It’s usually considered polite to offer a mistaken nonparticipant that you’ve marked a small reparation, like coffee or a more adult beverage.

Safe zones do exist! Any establishment can put out a sign that marks it as such - signs in shop windows, chalkboards outside bars, and the like; many do this, just to keep the general chaos and injury/property damage liability down. Tenants of private residences typically agree that their spaces are also safe zones, but that's up to y’all to hash out.

Have fun! And maybe try not to put anyone’s eye out, yeah?

» 03. TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT, THE BITTER AND THE SWEET ...

Looks like the Head’s been clued in to the quaint alien custom known as trick-or-treating. Is today Halloween? Who cares! You get free candy! Free candy for you, free candy for you, everybody gets free candy!

And rather than make citizens work for that free candy by traipsing around in costumes, the Head’s decided to cut everyone a little break and just have bowls of wrapped sugary delights placed strategically throughout the city. You never know where you’ll find them, or what types of candies the bowls will contain - chocolates, of course, and jellybeans and hard candies of every flavor you can think of, and treats you’ve probably never seen before now. Ooh, is that a snoobloo-flavored truffle? Only one way to find out! Eat it.

The treats are not poisoned or otherwise dangerous, but some do have a trick up their wrappers. Candies may cause temporary side effects: minor appearance changes, enhancing or reducing senses, sudden mild development of extranormal abilities, or loss of control over abilities you already possess. Some sweets are just regular treats and produce no effect except maybe cavities, if you don’t brush your teeth. Effects will remain until another candy is consumed that either induces a different effect or nulls the current effect and simply tastes nice. Enjoy!

Comments

Aerith Gainsborough | Final Fantasy VII Compilation

[floweroftheslums]

01.

A. To come from the last sensation of her life on Gaia to suddenly being thrust into a city that reminds her far too much of the city that lived above the plates of Midgar leaves Aerith stunned. Especially when she knows where she was before and where she's woken up here, it's all a bit much for her to handle and she looks around. She can't help but place her hands—hands that suddenly respond again to her mind—against where she vaguely remembers the blade of Masamune appearing before passing out.

There is nothing there and she's not sure that's okay, but dwelling isn't really her style. She'll deal with things when she's not completely overwhelmed. When she gets the message about a way to get to meet other people around here, well, it's not like she's going to ignore it.

Walking through the doors of RoCocoa Cat Cafe is like stepping into the Forgotten Capital for a moment. There's so much to see, so much to take in all that once that she's not sure where to start. But when a cat, she think it's a cat if you ignore the spikes sticking out from where a tail should be, starts to rub against her leg, she bends over to pet the creature.

"You know, you remind me a certain someone," she tells the the black, spiked creature as she gets a better look at it. "Even down to the pretty blue eyes."

B. After spending some time with the cat that she's taken a liking too, Aerith takes the cat over to a table and orders a drink. She and her new companion perk up when someone sits down across from them.

"Hello. Isn't this place a great deal of fun?"

02.

She's still not comfortable enough around this city to join in the event. That's not going to stop her from watching, however. She has an armband that rests under right above her elbow that says she's not participating in the game.

So, when she's tagged anyway, it's not surprising that she yells out.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! Does this even come out?"

03.

There's a bowl of candy on a counter and she can't help but be intrigued. "Oh, sure, it can't do anything permanent, right? The lady siad that it's perfectly safe and that they're free."

Aerith raises a hand to her mouth and hums. "I'm not sure. Should I?"

04.

WILD CARD! Pick something, or hit me up at makochan to discuss something! Let's have fun!

1A

[legacy_blade]

It's where Zack comes for his morning cup of hot cider, mostly because there are fluffy things and he knows better than having too much coffee. He didn't want to turn into, like, an executive or something. He pauses, though, when he hears a voice that almost sounds familiar. A voice that makes his heart ache in all the right ways.

He just... Can't help the hope as he approaches the woman and tries to keep too much hope from his voice.

"Well, if dark, spiky and pretty blue eyes is your type, maybe you'll let me buy you a drink?"

/screaming and unintelligible sobbing

[floweroftheslums]

Nearly five years have passed since she last heard that particular voice. It's one that she's been unable to forget, despite the fact that she hadn't spoken to its owner. Slowly, she stands up straight and drags her eyes across his body.

He's fine. He's whole.

It's him.

A strangled sound dies in Aerith's throat as she sees the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. When she meets those pretty blue eyes, tears spring to her own, unchecked.

"Mmmm, maybe," she manages to say, attempting a teasing smile despite the desire to throw herself at him and cry.

I've been stalking the TDM since it went up, waiting for this moment.

[legacy_blade]

See, at least one of them can resist the urge to throw themselves at the other. Because Zack? There's no way in hell that he can. Because he knows that face. Knows those eyes. Missed that smile. So he just moves, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Loose so that she can break free, but enough to reassure himself that she's there, in his arms.

"I'm sorry. I didn't wear any pink. I know we promised to wear pink when we saw each other next, but I didn't..."

He didn't think of so very, very many things.

I had to rewatch CC to refresh some points and now I'm crying!

[floweroftheslums]

The moment that he touches her, she buries her head in his chest and the tears come harder. She doesn't care. She doesn't care. She doesn't care about anything but those familiar arms around her as she dissolves into a mess.

At his words, she shakes her head and mutters into his shirt.

"It doesn't matter. You're here."

It's not the Lifestream, which she's pretty sure they should both be in right now. But she also knows that this isn't Gaia. All of the irritation at being pulled away from those she knows are waiting for her is gone now. This... This is what she's wanted and waited five long years for, being in his arms.

"It took you long enough, you know."

That was literally me last month. I sobbed

[legacy_blade]

"I know. I didn't even know how long until I got that last letter of yours. It found me, in Banora. I came back as fast as I could but..."

But it got complicated. He squeezes her harder.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home. I really tried."

I made Ami watch with me, so at least I didn't cry alone!

[floweroftheslums]

"In Banora? But I thought..."

She pulls back a bit, still staying in the circle of his arms, so she can see his face. It's been too long.

So long.

"You only got the last one? But I gave the others to Tseng. He was supposed to..."

She frowns, tears stopped momentarily as they talk.

"I met Cloud."

I heard

[legacy_blade]

He never saw Tseng. He never managed it. But knowing the guy, he'd probably kept them, waiting. Too bad.

"Guess you'll just have to, you know, tell me all your dreams and wishes in person."

Speaking of, as much as he hates to do it, he pulls away from her, mostly to offer his hand. Going to guide her over to one of the couches so they can sit together. And maybe have the cute cat around too.

"I heard. He's a good kid, right? I'm just... he's gotten so different since recovering from the mako poisoning I guess. There's still some of the guy in there, I can get him to laugh and tease, but geez, you'd think I was hanging out with Tseng or something."

I mean... she was there?

[floweroftheslums]

She lets out a small laugh, amusement actually making her shoulders shake this time.

"I guess I can do that. Although, you know, my wishes haven't really changed in all this time."

She's only wants to spend more time with him. When he pulls away, she starts to grab for his shirt to keep him close. Until she notices his hand. She takes it in her own and lets him lead her to sit down. They're definitely joined by the cat, but her attention is for him alone for the time being.

"He's very sweet, yes. I wish I'd met him before it all. I remember you talking about one of the recruits, that was him, right?"

[legacy_blade]

"Yep, that was Spike," Zack agrees, and when the cat is in their laps he reaches out carefully to pet it. Cute thing. Maybe he should get a pet. "My little trooper buddy. My best friend, other than Kunsel. Hell, I guess you could say even more than that, given all we went through. Not that Kunsel isn't great. I know he was still alive when I got free, I got some messages from him. But I could never send one back."

If he had, might he be alive back home now, rather than dying to protect Cloud? Who knows.

"Did you keep selling flowers?"

[floweroftheslums]

"I'm sure that Kunsel would have appreciated to hear from you."

She knows from personal experience that if she'd heard from him before being alerted by Gaia that he'd returned to the Lifestream that she would have been very pleased. Beyond it, even.

At the mention of flowers, she lets out a soft sigh. "Until I met Cloud, yes. Actually, he was my last customer. Before I left Midgar."

[legacy_blade]

"Yeah, he said you were going with him to try and stop Seph. I'm sorry I didn't take care of that issue better when I was in Nibelheim. I shouldn't have died without making sure there was really peace."

He'd stopped Genesis at least. He hoped. Cloud hadn't mentioned anything about the guy.

[floweroftheslums]

"No."

She reaches both hands up to grasp Zack's face fiercely, her eyes hard and set so he knows how serious she is.

"You can't always be a hero. As wonderful as you are, you can't always do everything yourself." She softens her words with a caress to the scar on his left cheek. "I don't want you to be anymore than who you are. Okay?"

[legacy_blade]

See, this is part of why he likes her so much. She's so good, so pure, and so lovely. Zack smiles and closes his eyes, leaning into her touch.

"Thinking of you helped me make it through all of it. Thinking of you and trying to save Cloud. I was going to bring him back to Midgar and we'd do a odd-job work in the slums when he got better."

[floweroftheslums]

Between his words and his leaning into her touch, she's reminded of all the times they've spent together. Too few and too short for her liking, but all enjoyable.

"So long as it isn't flower carts, I think you'd've done fine." It's a nice fantasy, to be sure. "And what do you think I would have been doing while you and Cloud were off gallivanting around?"

[legacy_blade]

"Hey, my flower carts were awesome."

Don't get down on his skills. That was the first thing he'd EVER built. Which meant he was fucking amazing. But he smiles, leaning back to think about his life if he got to live with his best friend and the lady he loved.

"Well, I don't know. Whatever your heart wanted. I'd make it come true."

[floweroftheslums]

"They were...something. I would have liked something a little bigger, maybe a bit nicer." She's still teasing, but she loved that dumb cart. "You know, I still had it when I left home. It's in my mother's shed."

As if she'd get rid of anything he ever gave her.

Which... makes her reach her hand up to check on the bow she's worn for the last seven years. It's become a bit of her security blanket, a connection to this man who is saying sweet things that hurt.

"Do you remember the letter I gave you the last time we were together? Just those tiny wishes."

[legacy_blade]

All those years later she still had it. That could move a guy to tears. Like the bow that he looks to with her gesture, and he smiles softly.

"You... you can have all the time with me you like, Aerith. But I think you should come up with more wishes, because I'd like to fill them for you."

She's worth fighting for the wishes of.

[floweroftheslums]

Of course she still has the cart. It's not like there were a lot of people in her life who were as important to her as Zack always has been. From the first moment where he fell through the roof of the church in the Sector 5 Slums and landed near her flowers, she's been unable to get him out of her head.

The bow and the cart were reminders every day that he was real, especially when he went missing and Tseng had no idea where he'd gone to or what had happened.

"Hm, I don't know. I always want to spend time with you. No matter what we're doing." She puts a finger on his lips and smiles brightly at him. "Although, I would like another date."

02 - this won't be awkward at all.....

[sanephiroth]

The same rule breaker will suddenly find his marker swiftly taken from his hand... and his cheek marked before the marker is returned to him. Sephiroth carries on towards Aerith as if nothing happened, ignoring the sputtering teen. He's dressed in a patterned outfit that's a far cry from his SOLDIER uniform, casual and more grace with elegance.

"Are you all right?" The smooth deep voice and even his expression are devoid of the megalomania she's familiar with. There's no recognition either. He's aware of Zack's girlfriend in the slums but not what she looks like. To him, they've never met.

Nope, not at all!

[floweroftheslums]

Aerith turns to thank her defender but freezes completely in place as she takes him in. She doesn't need for him to be in his SOLDIER uniform. The hair and eyes are too well known for her to not recognize him.

She takes an unconscious step back before standing to her full five-foot-three-inch height. "I'm fine," she says, her voice bordering on curtness. "Thank you."

She hesitates, wondering if she's safe from him, her hands coming up to cover the area just below her breasts.

"Sephiroth."

03

[really_sketchy]

"Are you going to try it?"

Naminé had walked up behind Aeirth as she began to vocalize her internal debate. She was still new to most foods, sweets and holidays but Naminé found it fun to partake when she could. In this case it meant eating the candies set out at each business. In this particular instance her usually blonde hair had been changed to a light lilac.

"This happened to my hair when I ate one. It is not usually this color." She pinched a strand of purple hair between her thumb and forefinger and teased it experimentally. "I don't think it's permanent."

[floweroftheslums]

"I don't know."

Aerith looked over at the new voice and took in the girl. She appeared almost as young as Aerith herself had been when she'd met Zack the first time. Ancestors, that felt like ages ago and that another girl fell in love with the first boy to call her an angel.

"Oh? What color is your hair normally? I'm not sure that I'd look good with purple hair, but..." Green eyes strayed back over to the bowl of sweets. "What harm can it do if it's not permanent. Maybe we can start a trend? What do you think?"

[really_sketchy]

Naminés cheeks flushed a soft pink as her bright crystal blue eyes focused down at her feet. "My hair is blonde." She didn't think it was permanent but she missed her hair color. It had been one of the few things that belonged to her and no one else.

She wasn't used to having very much.

"A trend? Like... a style?" She looked up at Aeirth, her expression shifting to a thoughtful stare. "Maybe. Then everyone would have changes?"

2

[whosthemonsternow]

Yes, South seen the armband. Yes, she knows what it means. But, to be fair, she was on a tagging rampage, and none of that really clicked when she swiped an electric purple, glow in the dark line on the poor unsuspecting woman. She probably should've been paying more attention, sure, but it's not like she stabbed the chick!

"Whoops, didn't see the band." She lies- but only somewhat! She seen it, but didn't register it until after the tag, so, definitely not her fault! "Chill the fuck out, it's washable and not going to poison you or anything, Miss Priss."