2018-03-22: We Should Be Just Fine
- Log: We Should Be Just Fine
- Cast: Dean Stark, Avril Vent Fleur, Rebecca Streissand
- Where: Meribia - Merchant's Row
- Date: March 22nd 2018
- Summary: The trio reunite after their brief separate expeditions on Lunar and share what they've learned. A plan of sorts is made.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
It was a heck of a trip, on all possible levels, when Dean, Avril, and Rebecca had learned that that flash of light after the big battle in the Elw Ruins had sent them to Lunar, of all places. Dean had never really *doubted* people who'd claimed to come from the Silver Star, but at the same time, being from another planet is just so far outside his scope of things he can wrap his mind around that he just... never really thought about it. Now that it's become his and his friends' reality, they've got to get a handle of what their new home-for-the-time-being is like.
So far, Dean is optimistic. If the people from Lunar ended up on Filgaia, and everyone on Filgaia ended up on Lunar, then there's sure to be a way back to Filgaia, sooner or later! For now, they just need to get the lay of the land and find other friends and get a grip on things. That's why the trio had split up for a bit, to try to gather information and get a feel for the land--and now they're back in Meribia, in an inn in the merchant's district (paid for by Avril, who came into a decent chunk of money) where things are so chaotic and colorful that even three strangers like them don't stand out. They've gotten an inn room, and together they sit near a window overlooking the noisy grounds.
"This place is actually pretty nice, huh?" Dean remarks, smiling as he looks out said window. "This world, I mean. Meribia too! But I never really imagined what the *moon* would be like. And then it turns out it's green and wet and full of people! It warms your heart, huh?" He smiles over at Avril and Rebecca, presumably seated nearby. "So anyway! Who wants to go first? I can if you guys want!"
Describe what he'd found since they'd split up, he means. He just sort of assumes they're on the same page.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
It was a startling event when all was said and done, that's for certain. In the span of a few heartbeats, they'd gone from limping their way across the Pleasing Garden with Rebecca's assistance to landing quite suddenly in the middle of a busy port town on the Old Moon.
And what's more...
This place, too, was familiar, if only distantly so.
...Perhaps it was possible she had been in a town like this once, long before.
Seated at the little table tucked in near the window, Avril sits placidly, gazing down at the octagonal disc of the artificial Medium set out before her.
That... man, the one she met in the sewer, had seemed rather surprised by it. Or rather, by the explanation of it.
They didn't know of the Guardians here, did they...
"Yes, it is rather pleasant, is it not?" She smiles slightly, lifting a hand to her mouth to briefly stifle a little laugh. "Though, Filgaia has its charms as well. But..." The smile fades, somewhat. "...There's so much of the Malevolence in the air, even here. Do the people here really not notice it at all?"
She shakes her head in the end, nodding when Dean directs the subject towards what they've found.
"I had met up with Matilda who had been looking into the sewers beneath this city. I had wondered if, perhaps, there might be some significance to our appearing here, so I accompanied her." She pauses, then shakes her head again. "...We did not find anything that could be connected to our transit here in the depths, however, but our exploration was not entirely without reward. We do have a place to stay thanks to it, for now."
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.
Rebecca has to admit, when the idea of splitting up was presented - she was real skeptical. Thinking it could only end in disaster. That she'd end up posting 'Lost' posters of Avril and Dean's faces all over the Moon, eventually moving on to milk cartons.
Do they even have milk cartons!? Is something she wonders as an aside.
Ahem. Anyhow - and then she'd have to go on a lengthy quest to find her lost friends. But anyhow apparently it all worked out and they've somehow all been reunited without a hitch. She found herself looking at Dean and Avril's faces both in turn, beaming with a little bit of pride. And yet - when Dean speaks she snaps back to attention, "It really is... it's got kind of that rustic charm? I mean this whole world does... everywhere I go I see people thriving."
Meribia is supposed to be a big city on Lunar - and while it may not compare to what she heard of Lailah Belle or saw in November City it doesn't seem lesser either. Just- "It's a little different from what I'm used to though..." She looks Avril's way nodding in agreement on Filgaia having its charms, "...Yeah. I'm enjoying myself right now, but sometimes I find myself missing Filgaia a little already." After a moment, "Maybe they're just used to it? The malevolence I mean... sorta like how folk get used to living in the desert."
Brushing a hand back through her red hair, "Uehihi... it kinda does... warm my heart I mean."
When Dean asks who wants to go first though, she was about to volunteer, but Avril does so first, and Rebecca listens, a bead of sweat appearing on her forehead, "Ahaha... the... sewers." She chuckles awkwardly, "Well I'm glad it was... rewarding rather than..." She clears her throat after trailing off awkwardly, mentally noting that she's not gonna split Avril up from the party if she can help it. Even if it all worked out... she can't help but feel bad for not having been there to look out for her. She considered it her resonsibility after all!
"... otherwise. Well I guess then I should go next!" She says while raising a gloved finger, "So we're on the continent of Meribus. Which is apparently the continent closest to the Goddess Althena's seat of power - Pentagulia. That's the closest thing to a central authority around here. Each city and town is like it's own City-State... without a real standing military other than Althena's Guard. More like a town guard and Militia takes care of all local matters."
Looking back and forth between the two she lowers her voice a little, "Althena's Guard is real strict - they have bans on music, dancing, and liquor in effect almost everywhere, so I thought maybe it'd be like Veruni controlled zones back home. But it's not really like that? The people are a little more free - and pretty content other than occasional grumbling. There's like this intense sense of gratitude towards their Goddess though, which helps. Oh and Arms? They're kinda unheard of - not taboo or nothing but... just not a thing? So people don't know what to make of 'em. But anyhow - I went as far as Vane! I couldn't believe my eyes, it was an actual magic city that floats in the air!"
For a moment there's a sense of childlike wonder, before reality seems to set back into her, "Once I got up there though, it was really kinda run down. It's not any fancier than one of the towns back home. They say it used to be all grand, like the seat of all magical power in this world... but it's kinda fallen out of favor ever since Althena's Guard started rebuilding. All the same - it's a good place if we need information on anything on this world! It has a well stocked library - and most places don't have that because most books have to be copied by hand up here."
Sure she saw most places too, but she decides to cut herself off right there, "That's the good stuff. I have more... but it can wait." She then looks eagerly Dean's way. Hoping he's found out something equally as useful... and proves he's grown. Like she hopes, "Alright Dean, hit us! What'd you dig up while you were away?"
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
Who knows? It's not impossible. They've far from explored all of Filgaia, and as far as Dean's concerned, if there's people jumping back and forth between worlds now, it could've happened in the past, so people from Lunar might've always settled on Filgaia and made towns using Lunar architectural techniques. And maybe people from Filgaia brought Golems to Lunar!! It's so exciting, thinking what kind of different innovations and AWESOME ROBOTS an entire other world might have!
(Nobody tell him.)
Dean grins at Rebecca. "I know, right? Big cities like this one aside, the towns further out kinda remind me a little of Capo Bronco. Except way greener! Except for the part where they don't have Heal Berry orchards just outside of town. But they've got a whole bunch of other crops to make up for it, huh?" Capo Bronco's also fortunate enough to have a stream running right through town, making growing their own crops a lot more feasible than it is in other parts of Ignas.
His smile fades, though, when Avril mentions Malevolence. "There is? I still can't sense that stuff at all..." He blinks thoughtfully at Rebecca's suggestion that they might just be used to it. "Maybe. I think some of them must just be unable to see it, though. I got the impression that only some people see it when that stuff got explained to me." In truth, the vast majority of people can't see it, particularly on Lunar--though they can see its effects, in the same way one can't see the wind but one *can* see tree branches wavering.
Still, Dean nods, perking up at the mention of Matilda. "So she's okay, huh? That's good to hear. And yeah, that's something, Avril!" Then Rebecca chimes in with what she found out--and it turns out it's quite a bit. Frankly, it's hard for Dean to take all that information in all at once; it helps that a fair chunk of it aligns with stuff he already knew from Filgaia, so it's just a matter of re-contextualizing it. "The Goddess Althena... I knew a guy named Corwynt who was really enthusiastic about her," he muses. "I wonder if he's here too. I bet we could ask him more about it." It sounds like Althena's a lot nicer than the Veruni, in any case, if people like her so much. And as Rebecca continues on, eventually getting to Vane the floating magic city, Dean breathes, "Woah!!" with eyes sparkling. "You found out so much, Rebecca! That's incredible!"
But now it's his turn, and lucky for him, he's got some stuff to dish! "Okay!" he says with enthusiasm. "So first I ran into Lydia, you know, Asteroid, except she doesn't have the Asteroid head anymore, and she introduced me to a local named Cless Al'Vane who looks *exactly like* this guy I know from Filgaia named Claude--seriously, they could be twins! Anyway, they were going to explore these ruins near a town named Lastonbell and they invited me along, and we went through, and there were a lot of dragon statues and stuff, 'cuz I guess dragons are really popular on this world? Anyway, at the end, there was a big stone map, and Cless scanned it with his ARM!" Dean beams.
"Oh," he adds, "and Cless invited me to join his mercenary group, Brave Phantasia, but I didn't want to sign up without talking to you guys about it first." He scratches his head. "I dunno about mercenary work or anything like that... But they seem like nice people, so it might be a good way to earn some money while we're here. I bet we could ask him if we could look at his scan of that map, too!"
...He doesn't appear to have cottoned on to the incongruity with a Lunar local having an ARM, even after Rebecca *just* got done talking about how ARMs are just not a thing on this world.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Yes, I would say it was akin to some of the places to the east of Ignas that we visited, were it not that they were so rare even then. It's certainly a change from the deserts." She tips her head in a nod when Dean comments on Malevolence. "Yes. It's... rather substantial here in the city, in fact. Nevertheless, it doesn't appear to be, ah... as overwhelming as some of the locations we encountered it on Filgaia." Faintly, she frowns, faced by a riddle that confounds her. "I wonder why that is so... Perhaps if we were to travel more, I might be able to better compare the two."
But if most of the people living here can't feel it, either, then...
"Yes, she appears to have made the journey without incident, herself. I would suspect that most of those we crossed paths with in the Pleasing Gardens may also be here on Lunar, but whether we all were transported to the same place or not..." She shakes her head. "I cannot say for certain."
Rebecca offers a nervous laugh on the subject of the sewers. Avril, for her part, merely tilts her head to one side, as if baffled by her friend's reaction. "Is something the matter, Rebecca? We did not meet with much danger, if that is your concern. I believe the worst obstacle we faced was a rather, ah, explosive slime..."
Well, and the fatberg, but some horrors are best not dwelled upon if possible.
Somewhere beneath Meribia is now a Golem's leg jammed halfway through the walls.
In silence, Avril listens as Rebecca divulges some actual, useful lore of the land that she's obtained in her own explorations.
"Hmm. Drinking alcohol is prohibited by the Goddess? How odd, we met a man in the sewers who claimed to be the Goddess's servant, while clearly being intoxicated."
Again, it bears noting: Avril, knows what 'being drunk' means, did not understand marriage.
Her brow creases as she considers this mystery with due care. "...Perhaps that may be why he was in the gutter," she concludes, finding a... sort of an answer for herself.
A flying city, though...
"Perhaps we should go sometime, ourselves?" she suggests, turning a brief glance down at the Medium resting before her. "They may know more about whatever it was that brought us here. That library, perhaps? I..." Her gaze lowers, perhaps somewhat guiltily. "...After what we saw from Berserk in the Pleasing Garden... I'm concerned about the fate of the rest of the statues. Can we say that was the only one they had bent to their will? If it is possible, we must return to Filgaia."
But that weighty pronouncement aside: it's Dean's turn now to tell a tale, one of a town and ruins far to the south.
"Oh, Lydia. She accompanied us to the sewers. She appears to be doing well." Especially when compared to before. "Lastonbell..." she murmurs, as if attempting to place where she heard that name before. ...Has she heard that name before, somewhere?
"Twins?" she asks, briefly interrupting his story. Something doesn't seem quite...
"A big stone map, that he scanned with his ARM?"
She glances over at Rebecca and frowns, as if threading the needle in a fashion. "Rebecca, you did just say that ARMs aren't found on this world, did you not? ...Dean, it's possible he was lying to you."
She has narrowed her eyes, in fact.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.
Not the most resonant individual herself, Rebecca considers what Dean has to say, considering it surprisingly insightful, "That's a real good point Dean. I mean I heard everyone on this world was born with magic and it was so common here so I figured... they see that sorta thing better." She seems thoughtful about it. It felt logical to her but the idea that most people don't definitely feels more so. "Well you'd be the best judge Avril. I'm not any good at feeling that kind of stuff on my own?" She nods, "Right. I'm sure you'll get a better feel of what it's like the more of this place that we see."
Holding up a hand, she waves it a little nervously, "Ah no nothing's wrong. It's just... a sewer wouldn't be the first place I'd think to look for something important for our trip. But it all worked out - and what you found is helping pay for our journey? So it's fine!" With Avril it's always a gentle touch. She can't even imagine being hard on her.
Before she mouths after - 'Explosive slime?' ... She makes a mental note to make certain to do Avril's laundry seperate from everyone else's next time.
"I don't think people obey it too well... and they're not scared of being like - carried off for disobeying or something? People have a hard time letting go of their vices, even priests I guess! But wow... I guess no matter where you go, you'll stumble into drunks at the worst of places." Clapping her hands together, "I'd love to show you around Avril! And hey if there's something about a way back to Filgaia - we might find something about Johnny Appleseed too?"
That may be way too much to hope for, finding it on another world. "I mean if the moon is linked to Filgaia... it's not out of the question right?"
Rebecca starts nodding when Dean is talking about who he ran into. The cadence of her nodding slows when Dean mentions the guy looks exactly like some Filgaian he knows. And has an ARM, which he scanned a map with. Rebecca's mouth parts a little bit as if she's connecting the dots and unsurprised that Dean isn't... but a little disappointed.
Dipping her head with a hand against her forehead, "Yeah Avril. You're definitely right. Dean - that guy is obviously this Claude guy you know then! People from Lunar don't have ARMs! And mercenary work? Well - I mean you've got a good point, it could be a good way to earn some money but... you have to be real careful and do your research when signing up for a group like that. You say they're nice - but what if it turns out they're like the Geohounds? The kind of people who will get their hands dirty doing anything."
On the other hand though - she thinks Dean has shown remarkable restraint not just signing up without asking them first. So she gives him some credit, she was just hoping for more. And so she exhales, takes a step back - and even allows a smile, "I'm not saying it's a bad idea... we could use the money after all... just... we need and ask some questions first. And it's hard to do that if they're really run by a guy from Filgaia when we're on the Moon. Means we're not able to scope out what their reputation is like."
She drums her fingers down on the edge of the table, "Still if he's from Filgaia, maybe he was looking for a way back... and that stone map might be relevant to that. So even if we don't join up - maybe we can trade information there."
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.
Dean frowns and nods as Avril describes the Malevolence in Meribia as compared to some towns in Ignas. He doesn't know the difference either way, so he has to take her word for it--but Dean trusts Avril's word implicitly. "Traveling around sounds like a good idea," he says. "It's not every day you get to visit another world, anyway! We should look around as much as we can!"
Then Rebecca praises him, and he grins. "It *must* be a good point if even *you're* saying so!" he says. "That's another thing I bet we could learn a lot more about if we asked the right people." People got transported to all different locations... Dean would like to say that makes sense, but it honestly doesn't really. Still, as long as the others are safe, that's what's important. Instead, he just nods at Avril, then blinks at Rebecca. "Yeah, the sewers aren't *great*, but between Avril and Matilda, I'm sure they could handle themselves," he says. Exploding slime notwithstanding. He grins and nods when Rebecca chimes in with her soft touch, then adds, "Though, if you're ever in a pinch, you know you can always call for us and we'll come running, Avril!"
Alcohol, though. He hadn't thought of it much when Rebecca mentioned that part, but... "Oh yeah--now that you mention it, Avril, wasn't there that guy who tried to pick a fight with me in the middle of the streets when we were trying to run away from the Guard, that day we first got here? He *reeked* of alcohol!" Dean points out. "I guess not everybody follows along just because the Goddess says to..." And, now that he thinks about it, Althena's Guard aren't all great people either. Didn't they put those bounties on Hiro and Lucia and everyone, even though they're perfectly nice people? Though, Rebecca's suggestion that maybe they'll find out more about Johnny Appleseed on this world gets a thoughtful look. "Yeah... If we did, wouldn't that prove that people have been hopping between Lunar and Filgaia for a long time? It's worth keeping our ears open for!"
"Ooh, yeah! I totally wanna check out a flying city!" Dean enthuses. "How d'you think they make the *whole city* float? Do you think it's all magic, or d'you think there might be Golems involved?! Ooh! Or maybe they have MAGIC Golems here! That would be so COOL!!" But Avril brings up a sobering possibility--that maybe that anti-Sealing Staff that Berserk had wasn't the only one. The idea sends chills down Dean's spine. "Oof, yeah, you're right... I wonder if Riesenlied or Noeline would know anything?" All the same, he nods firmly. "Don't worry, it's definitely possible! People came from here to Filgaia and from Filgaia back to here, so we just gotta figure out how!"
Then Dean recounts his story, and both Avril and Rebecca come to the conclusion that this Cless was, in fact, actually Claude all along. "Whaaaaat?" he utters, blown away. "But why didn't he just say so, then??" It's like they only met once or twice before! He grimaces when Rebecca weighs in extra heavy on the criticism. She's not wrong, but-- "Hey, that's why I didn't sign up!" he protests, hands up in surrender. "I know what you're saying, I know there's some bad mercenaries out there..." The memory of the Cascade Gang looms over all their heads. "But these guys didn't do anything bad, and besides, Lydie's with them, and she's a nice person!" He lowers his hands. "Still, if you guys don't want to do it..." But then Rebecca says it's not necessarily a *bad* idea, just that they want to ask more questions first. Dean nods. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. We can all get together and talk it out and figure out what we're doing." Whether they join Brave Phantasia or only trade information. "And there's not gonna be any bounty hunters going after Avril here, but we also don't know this world as well, so safety in numbers, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
And at that, Avril smiles. "Yes, I would like to continue to travel with the both of you, even to the Moon and back again. Hee hee..." Even if their quest(s) back on their planet are important, there's... something to be said for the detour in life.
Avril lifts a hand to her chin, tilting her head to one side. "To be honest, I'm not certain I would have, either, but they were rumored to be ancient, and they were difficult to locate... Between Matilda and the others, however, we did manage to find something. Something is always better than nothing."
It's better than attempting to pawn their personal possessions, at least, and they do have a room now.
"Oh, yes. I will keep that in mind." ...On the subject of slime...
Perhaps it may be generally a good idea for them to all consider a change of wardrobe, besides.
But that may be best left for their next shopping trip.
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, Dean..." A thoughtful expression crosses her face, before she nods. "Yes. Even in the most law-abdiding places on Filgaia, there were still those who would commit crimes. It is the same here, I suppose. I have also heard that it was not always such, with the prohibitions handed down by the Goddess. Perhaps it may simply hard for some people to adjust."
Back in Ignas, after all, people drank liquor like it was water.
"Do you think so?" This is voiced to the statement regarding Johnny Appleseed. "It may be a faint hope, but nevertheless... you are right, I cannot cast even a faint chance. Perhaps the name may be familiar to someone here."
And hopefully be more than liquor or a long-dead man. Something more recently connected, perhaps...
"Hmm. It may be possible? A Golem's leg came out of the wall in the sewer, so perhaps..." she muses aloud, in the wake of Dean's irrepressable excitement over his most favorite of topics.
Granted, it also came out of the wall when she pushed the button, so there's more than a few questions at hand on this one.
"...It's possible they might know more." She wears, for the moment, a sober expression. "I do want to take my time and travel along with the both of you, wherever it may go... and perhaps, there may be no threat, or no way to easily return. Still, let us keep this firmly in our minds and see what we can learn."
Collectively, Rebecca and Avril assemble the pieces of Dean's puzzle. "Ah... Rebecca--" Avril breaks in, shaking her head. "He cannot help that he was tricked. If anyone is to blame, it is the person who commited the trickery, not the person who was fooled."
She's quiet for a brief patter of seconds, then ducks her head in a nod, as if to consider what Rebecca's suggesting. "...Yes. Let's learn more and then we can make a decision. It may not be a bad idea." Her lips purse as she thinks it over. "It's possible he may be looking for assistance to getting back. A temporary alliance may be in order."
And it isn't as if Claude is technically a stranger to her, just someone she doesn't know beyond a face and a name.
<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streissand has posed.
Avril's smile heartens her a great deal. But even more when Avril makes the light joke and the little laugh over it. It makes her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, "Hee hee... I'm glad you've got such high spirits about it Avril! We may be a little off track but... well I can't think of anyone else I'd rather go to the moon with!" Like this does put her dream of being scouted out by the Circus on hold but... how many people got to do something like this!?
Rebecca enjoys praising Dean - when he deserves it. And she loves that Dean likes her acknowledgement that much. "Right?" She says with a big grin, knowing with Dean there's nothing backhanded about things like that. He's just not that kinda person. Whereas she echoes his thoughts about Avril calling for them if she's in trouble, "Exactly Avril. We'll always be there to back you up. Even if it's... explosive slime."
Rebecca crinkles her nose, "I remember that guy. Couldn't do much to help since Lucia was having a rough time... I wanted to put him on the ground though." Dean's weakness may be a crying girl and Rebecca knows it, but she also knows she can be a bit of a softy when it comes to that too. Especially after Lucia saved them all by transporting them off the Pleasant Garden! "Yeah exactly Dean!"
Putting her hands together, "Apparently they say it's the Goddess' blessing? I dunno how true that is but it sounds impressive!" But then sweatdrops, "Dean you really have a one track mind.. I didn't see any golems around there..." But she reluctantly admits, "I guess it's possible they have golems somewhere though? I saw people doing some impressive magic in the streets. So maybe that kind of thing is something they can do here?" But when Avril mentioned it came out of the wall - "Wait really!? In the sewers?" She expects nigh immediate effusiveness from Dean, and there's this light sigh, "Guess Dean's gonna be like a little kid in a candy store on this world too if there's golems around."
She holds up a hand, "Hey you're in luck! I know exactly where Riesenlied is. She's in Vane. I saw her not too long ago - as well as Mikaia and Janey. The two kids are having a blast here." Part of is that Rebecca was surprised how well Demi-humans are treated around here? It's kind of nice. "So we could always meet up and trade leads on ways back to our world." Plus she's glad it's less likely the other Metal Demons might come calling here.
Rebecca groans at Dean's reaction to the revelation of deception, "It's probably so he can fit in - or because he was trying to trick you... or I dunno the guy! The point is he pulled the wool over your eyes." Rebecca isn't certain whether Lydia is a nice person, given who she hangs with, "Even nice people don't always do things on the up and up..."
But Avril points out it's not Dean's fault, "Well..." She wants to relent, because it is true. "I just think Dean needs to be a little less trusting Avril and cultivate a healthy sense of skepticism. It's part of growing up! But you're right. It's not his fault the first time." Finally she adds adds cautiously, "... if the three of us are together we'd probably be okay making a temporary alliance with someone."
In other words, if Rebecca was there to look out for the other two... they could take care of themselves of course in a fight but she's more worried about their naivete making them weak to fast talkers. "If the worst happens we can always just back out."
And then - another bright side, "Hey that's right. We've pretty much got a free pass here without worrying about some low-lives hassling her! So long as we keep a low profile and don't flaunt things... like our ARMs..."
-=-=-
Rebecca was responsible with her money. She always had been. And yet she'd come up just short outside of Vane. Enough for a meal but not for room and board. "Guess I'm sleeping outside tonight..." Her foot strikes something, making a metallic sound. Rebecca picks up the empty can just outside of the refugee camp. Twisting it around in her hand. Some people saw garbage. "...unless."
But maybe she should see opportunity.
***
Rebecca plugs her sixth shot into a can to keep up the aerial juggle in front a small crowd of clapping kids and adults as she lands lightly on the ground. The can clattering down a few moments later. A few silver pieces followed into her hat. That at least paid for room and board, and maybe another meal or two... not a bad trade for one full clip. Smiling and waving at the kids... she could already she could hear some of the grown ups speculating if the weapon she used in her routine was magic or not. Picking up the hat she mumbled, "So much for a low profile."
-=-=-
"...too much." Rebecca says with an awkward smile. "We should be just fine."