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

1

[chained_sword]

[The woman had been watching the girl since she sat down, and frankly? Kethali isn't impressed. She sits there, just short of glowering, far from amused. This place is a pain, this situation is stupid, and the only reason she hasn't gotten up and left is because there is coffee. She likes coffee. The greatest invention of the new world. Way better than wine. Then again drinking water and not getting sick was a pretty nice too.

If this place wasn't pissing her off so much, she might have started the conversation, played at being nice. But really, what's a bored demoness to do when she's been ripped from the greater part of her powers? Angry is the only option left to her at the moment.]

Kethali. And that's it? I sat here for ten minutes to hear you say you like to draw? Give me something to work with here, kid.

1

[really_sketchy]

[Naminés shoulders tense at the harsh clipped words. She really is trying her best but it doesn't feel like it's enough. Uncertainty and guilt knot uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach but she tries again, speaking in that same softly delicate voice.]

I do not have many memories. [Despite looking like she's sixteen.] Only a year or so of my own and I had been working then. I don't have many hobbies but I've seen many worlds through Sora's eyes.

[She might not have memories of her own but she's had access to Sora's memories.]

I like the beach and I want to collect shells. There is a legend there, on Destiney Island, that's the beach that I know. If you eat this fruit with another person, then your destiny's become intertwined.

[chained_sword]

[Seriously? Kethali sighs and moves her hands into her lap, interlacing her fingers. What she'd give for someone more interesting. She does raise an eyebrow at the idea that the girl only has a year of memories and most of what she knows comes from someone else. That's something that even Kethali can't do, and she's pretty good with picking people apart.]

You don't look that young, kid. And legends don't really matter much here. Still, if that's what you got, fine. You want an interesting legend? Ever hear that Nero fiddled while Rome burned? Totally over played. The guy didn't actually do it the whole time. The smoke distressed him faintly. He was an ass.

[really_sketchy]

I know. It is a strange story.

[Her fingers lace nervously in her lap as she tries her best to think of something more to say.] I haven't heard that story.

What is Rome? [Naminé pauses and then asks.] And an ass?

[chained_sword]

[By Hades this girl doesn't even... Wow. And they used to say all roads lead to Rome.]

An ass is your butt. You're sitting on it now, missy. And Rome was the greatest city-state, and city, Earth ever knew.

[And Kethali will fight anyone that EVER dares to sass her home.[

[really_sketchy]

[She looks down at her butt as if considering the definition carefully.]

How is someone a butt? Does that mean that you sit on them?

[Earth is somewhere else she doesn't know but that doesn't surprise Naminé. There are many worlds that she knows very little about.]

Do you like Rome? It sounds like a wonderful place.

[chained_sword]

[Oh dear gods, she's precious. Oh, now Kethali can definitely see entertainment factor in this. So she puts on a smile and leans forward a bit.]

Oh yes, that is very accurate. In fact, you really should just sit on people who are butts until they start behaving like a nice person. Anyone is rude to you? Sit on them. It's for the best. It helps them learn.

[She sips at her coffee and smiles.]

Yeah, it was great. All the gods, the architecture, the bath houses. A roman citizen like me? We could walk any road across the whole empire and fear no harm. It was lovely.

[really_sketchy]

[Naminé leans forward as well, matching Kethali's motion.] Sit on people who are not acting like nice people. [She nods her head.] Okay.

[She isn't sure how someone might be rude to her or how she'd sit on them being as small as she is but she takes the advice to heart. Naminé is learning so much today.]

That sounds lovely.

A bath house is a house you bathe in, right?

[chained_sword]

A little yes, a little no. I mean, it's more than that. For one thing, bath houses were communal, though men and women were often separate, more or less. Only the wealthy could have one to themselves or only their household inside their actual house. They were a public service, really.

They were these beautiful, glorious really, public structures.

[At last Kethali is smiling and she means it. Lifts her coffee and takes a sip before gesturing with the mug. She could go on about Rome for hours, even if she had been rather poor. Nostalgia, it's a powerful thing.]

In fact, some were as big as a few city blocks. Well, city blocks were smaller then. You had your warm rooms, your hot rooms for sweating yourself clean, cold rooms for rinsing and oiling and scraping.

The closest modern approximation is the modern spa, and maybe a sauna to some degree? Japanese bathhouses are slightly similar too.

[really_sketchy]

Really?! Was it as big as a castle?

[Naminé doesn't have a lot of context for larger structures or buildings but she's imagining something as large as Castle Oblivious but less cold. It isn't difficult for the ex Nobody to let her imagination stretch, at the very least, she had Sora's memories to look back on.]

I would have liked to go to one. I have not had many baths.

[She hasn't had a body for all that long...]

I haven't been to a spa or sauna... sauna's are hot, right?

[chained_sword]

[Chances were that there might not even be moons as big as Castle Oblivion, but Kethali doesn't know that. She instead considers the sorts of castles and palaces she's seen and the ones that people tend to think of. And after some consideration she shakes her head.]

Not in the sense traditionally depicted in the media. But when you mean castle as more like a fortification, yes, a small one. But only the very biggest public baths are like that.

Still, showers tend to be more efficient if you don't have a spa these days. People don't tend to care about things like a proper bath these days. The ones in houses are so MASSIVELY small. You can barely soak and find surfaces for the candles and the like. But the water is purer.

[Well now she wants to find a spa with a sauna.]

Yes, saunas are hot. If I find one, I'll take you, kiddo.

[really_sketchy]

I see. I think I understand.

[Castle Oblivion is a very special castle though Naminé doesn't know that yet. It was the only castle she'd personally seen or knew well. It was an endless castle, one that literally folding into oblivion in order to protect the Land of Departure.]

Thank you.

I hope there is one here. If I find one, I will let you know.

[She's going to go looking for one.]

[chained_sword]

Sounds like a plan, kiddo. But really, you've got a lot to learn if you don't know what spas are. Or to sit on people, right?

[That one she wants to hear about the kid using. Because it's going to be hilarious.]

[really_sketchy]

Right.

[She nods her head while a warm pleased smile stretches across her lips.]

I'll keep learning and one day, maybe I can teach someone else too.

[chained_sword]

Teaching isn’t all that great, kid. People just don’t listen. 

[And empires fall. Again. Sucks to be more or less immortal.]

[really_sketchy]

I hope... that isn't true.

[Her heart tightens uncomfortably just as the ten minute buzzer sounds.]

[chained_sword]

[Kethali shrugs and waves the kid off.]

Run along sweetie. Play nice with the other kids. Unless they are rude. Then sit on them. 

[OOC: that was fun. Have great namine times in game!]

<3

[really_sketchy]

I will.

[She smiles.]

Thank you.