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

[chaosvessel]

[He blinks for a moment, frowning. Of all the things Vincent had been prepared for, being introduced to the concept of the multiverse was not one of them.]

Junon, originally.

[magneticfields]

[ Erik cracks a smile. ]

Then we're even. I have no idea what that is. Is it a city? A country? A planet?

[chaosvessel]

A city. It...might have been a country once, but the Shinra Corporation runs things now.

[magneticfields]

[ That statement earns a grimace. ]

So they've given up the farce of a representative government and just handed it all over to the corporate interests? I'm sure it didn't take long for that to form one massive monopoly.

[chaosvessel]

Apparently. [Look, man, he'd been sleeping at the time.]

...though things are changing.

[magneticfields]

Things are always changing.

[ Erik says, feeling weary. ]

Very rarely do they change for the better.

[chaosvessel]

They change for the better, depending on your perspective.

[magneticfields]

You sound like somebody who's been on the winning side more often than not.

[ Erik drawls as he has definitely not found himself the victor very often. Unless "managing to survive the latest genocide" counts as a victory. He taps his index card on the table. ]

So. What is your favorite color, Vincent?

[chaosvessel]

Define 'winning'.

[He shrugs.]

Blues. [Surprisingly.] Why?

[magneticfields]

Coming out on top. Profiting. Usually off of the slaughter and suffering of the many. The ones the deck is stacked in favor of, to help weather those changes.

[ He taps the card on the table. ]

Oh, I don't know. It's just on the suggested list of questions to help break the ice.

[chaosvessel]

Twice...which is less than I've lost.

[The wins were when they mattered most, it was true, but they were necessary after...the losses. Everyone's was. He'd been their parents and original.]

...wasn't it already broken?

[magneticfields]

[ Erik nods, duly impressed. His instinct is to be dismissive of anybody younger than him, unless they happen to be mutants. Everybody else is dilettantes and poseurs. But to readily admit failure speaks of a maturity that many of his peers lack. ]

We've spoken in general about various philosophies. But does that give you the same sort of insight as knowing... [ he scans the card ] What do you look for in a friend?

[ He's amusing himself at this point. ]

[chaosvessel]

[Vincent certainly finds himself questioning where these 'conversation questions' come from.]

I don't. They find me.

[magneticfields]

[ Erik laughs softly. ]

You simply attract them with your effervescent charm and scintillating conversation.