TDM 001. WELCOME TO THE CITY

[headandhand]

» 01. WELCOME WAGON

Wow, what a bunch of new faces! The city of Dualis hasn't seen anything like this in a long time, and they've seen some pretty crazy things. Chances are you're seeing some pretty crazy things, too, unless you're used to a lot 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 first 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, then 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?

» 02. A BUG IN THE CODE

Remember how the Head mentioned that whole plague thing? Well, don't worry, this isn't that.

It is, however, a really, really terrible flu circulating through the residents of Dualis. Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting, hallucinations and even in some cases seizures. Bad news, all around. Luckily, this is something the Head knows how to deal with! Time for vaccinations, everyone~

The vaccination process is pretty straightforward: just head to your local clinic and get innoculated! You'll be in and out in less than ten minutes, MedDualis is pretty efficient that way. There isn't even a copay. The MedDroids will tell you, however, that there might be some minor side effects** to watch out for, including physical reactions and odd dreams, but don't worry--those will wear off within forty-eight hours. Nothing to concern yourself about! Of course, if that worries you, you could always run the risk of getting the flu--or passing it on to your loved ones...

**Possible side effects include: Gender or sex change, positive or negative size change, appearance alterations, shared dreams, and mild telepathic links, among others. Please contact your local MedDroid if these symptoms become too severe, or other side effects such as death occur.

» 03. TANSTAAFL

Well, you're settling in just fine, and the basic accommodations and amenities are okay, but maybe you've got a hankering to see that new VR Film: SHARKS IN SPACE 85: BLACK HOLE SHARK DO DO DO DO DO DO DO. Or maybe you want some sweet new duds to wear around town, or even just an actual slab of steak. Sorry, those cost extra, pal, which means it's time for...

JOB HUNTING.

Fortunately, Dualis makes this pretty easy! There's a job fair on this week, down at the Central Hub! Plug your certifications and skills into any of the EmployMe terminals in the Dualis Central Hub, and the computer will auto-generate a currently open job that it feels you'd be best suited for. No resume writing or lengthy application process required! Of course, whether or not this job sounds like the right job for you is another matter...but hey, how could an AI with millions of years of learning be wrong? Time to get started, or try and switch waivers with another unhappy new employee--but be warned, some unforeseen consequences may occur if you try swapping identities with someone else...

Comments

[silentnarration]

It's only been a month but it's still way too long. Hearing her voice and her laugh is an immediate relief and comfort. He can worry about her being stuck here later, at the very least she won't be alone and he's not just talking about himself.

He lifts his head to follow her touch and also look at her, smiling tight but fond.

"I missed you," he admits and then he's looking at a point away from her eyes because saying these things is still new to him. "It's not safe here... but I'm happy to see you."

[etherealsage]

He missed her? Rinoa is pretty certain she saw him not too long ago. Like earlier that morning before he had to be busy with commanding Garden things. Since when has he been so sentimental? Not that it's unwelcome. If anything, it just reminds her of how different he is. He's definitely not the same Squall he was when they initially met.

But she supposes she's not exactly the same Rinoa either. Funny, how things like that turn out.

"Awwwh, aren't you being sweet," she replies with a grin. Although it doesn't take long for that to rapidly melt away. Did he just say what she thinks he said? "...What do you mean it's not safe here? I mean, I saw Nida here earlier and he seemed... fine..." She looks sceptical, but Squall is either overreacting for her protection, or there really is something going on.

[silentnarration]

It's been a little stressful, walking a bizarre tightrope around Seifer and Nida with their understandable reservations towards him, while still maintaining a strange, new, and amicable friendship with them (not to mention his ever-constant rivalry with Seifer). It's a lot to take in alongside settling in in a city he doesn't want to be in. So he's just really happy to see her. She's a familiar presence he's come to treasure even if he's working on expressing that better when he's not excited or emotional.

He looks down between them as his own smile fades along with hers, awkwardly but carefully taking her hand in both of his. He keeps his eyes down and shakes his head slightly.

"Nothing bad happened yet but it will." He's sure of that much. "A bomb went off during a festival to try and kill the mayor. There's a group fighting the city but they're in hiding." He frowns. "I don't know what's going on yet but we're stuck here for now. And I don't have my gunblade or my GFs." He sighs before another thought brings the frown right back. He looks at her with some confusion.

"You didn't know I was gone?"

[etherealsage]

Her gaze drops onto their hands. It's not a particularly common occurrence that there's a closeness between them like so. Not that it's nonexistent. Squall has his moments and Rinoa eats them up gratefully when they appear, but she tries not to expect too much out of him. That he chooses to do this now, however, implies that it's really for getting her attention.

He must be serious.

"...Oh..."

There's an odd kind of familiarity to what he tells her. As if it's almost like they haven't left Garden and a world of political turmoil behind. "I see. Well, I... guess that means we should try to stay out of trouble. If we can manage it." Somehow trouble has a way of finding them both and truth be told, Rinoa has been known to jump headfirst into it.

Squall's question snatches her attention once more. "I—well. You... weren't, really. I'm pretty sure I just saw you this morning? But you had some... paperwork or something you had to read through? I tried to get a straight answer out of you, but you were elsewhere."