aerialassault | 006 [Action/Audio]

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006 [Action/Audio]

[Action: Locked to Souji Okita]

[Consciousness crept upon him slowly, like a migraine. It slipped in through the window panels with the sun and stung his eyes, but for once Cliff did not want to awaken. He instead rolled over with a groan, burying his face under his arms and promising himself another ten minutes.

But a nagging sensation in the back of his mind kept sleep at bay. He knew in his gut that it was something important, something that was blue and white...

...Fayt.

His eyes snapped open as he crashed into the memories. The dogs and the cultists were all a blur, but the spear stood out in his mind. It was only when he sat up that he registered the not-entirely familiar surroundings and the warm body lying by his side.]

[Action: Locked to Fayt Leingod]

[He messed up, and there was no way to fix and forget about the mess that he had left for everyone to deal with in the battlefield that was once Zompania. It was afternoon by the time he returned to his apartment in the ground building, wearing a fresh set of denim jeans and a comfortable tee-- both of which fit because of some miracle. The dark shades he wore were new, as was he bag he carried by his side that contained the clothes he borrowed off of Souji and yet another set of loose white pants to add to his small collection.

Entering as quietly as he could manage, Cliff did a once-over of the apartment to make sure that things were still mostly as he left it. The Vac whirred and hummed patiently as it made a pass over the carpet, and Cliff found himself smiling.

At least that was still functioning.

After throwing his belongings into his room, he made for Fayt's. A quiet knock was the only warning he gave before he nudged the door open...]

[Audio: Open to All]

Yo. It's Cliff.

[It was dark by the time he reached for his journal, but he didn't care. There were plenty of other people that he wanted to see, but there was no way he could go visit them all in one day.

This was the next best thing.]

Can I get a headcount of who all's here and a tally on the damage? And, is the bar open?

[He'll be heading there later if he get's confirmation. For once, he plans to drink unil the damage doesn't look so bad.]

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[It was just as well that she was patient. It took Cliff some time to get there, due to the distance between the Ground Building and Good Spirits, but he did arrive before she had to wait for too long.

He stood in the doorway and looked around the room, trying to find that bob of white hair that he knew belonged to Karis. Finding her was harder than he had expected.]

[In the spare time that she had, Karis ordered up a bit of food before Cliff's arrival, just some fish sticks.

She's stuffed her face with them by the time he does arrive, and thankfully, Cliff's taller frame is quite easy to spot.] Mrmm mmm! [Karis waves her hand high up in hopes that he'll spot it, unfortunately her voice doesn't carry over all that well due to having food stuffed in her cheeks, enough to where she looks like a hamster.]

[...she looked like a hamster, alright. Or someone who hasn't had a proper meal in a month and was determined to make the most of it, no matter how silly she looked in the process.

It was almost adorable.

Grinning, Cliff pushed his way through the crowd and slid into a seat nearby, quickly ordering himself a beer and an order of whatever she had before he settled in.]

Well. You sure look happier than the last time we met!

[She quickly goes through her mouthful of fish sticks.] Well, it's what having a great amount of sleep does to me. [And a bit of alcohol, her drink's halfway gone.] I've got quite a bit of energy that I'll need to use up again sometime soon. [Whenever she goes back to the battle dome, she's been neglecting her training since the draft.]

[Cliff just laughed, glad for the lighthearted distraction from how serious everyone else was today.]

We'll need to find a way to fix that, then. [He said, raising his glass in a silent toast when it arrived before taking a generous sip of the cold liquid.

It hit the spot.]

[She can't help but raise her glass as well.] Well, if you've got any ideas already, I'm willing to hear them! [And there goes another fourth of her Going Merry.]

[Cocktails weren't his thing, so he had no idea how strong that drink she had was...but, in watching her, he had a hunch that it was made of some fairly potent stuff.

Whatever they came up with might have to wait a couple of days.]

It's getting hot out-- I was thinking that a beach trip would be in order sometime soon. People could, I don't know, go swimming and play volleyball and stuff.

B-beach trip!? [The mention of swimming left Karis a little nervous.] Sounds like fun, though, uh...what's volleyball?

It's a game, with a ball and a net. You punch the ball over to your friends on the other side of the net and hope they punch it back. If it hits the sand, you lose points.

Pretty basic, really.

[He shrugged and took a generous draw from his glass, carefully watching the young person on his periphery. What was wrong with the beach?]

You punch it? [She's attempting to imagine how it's played, but gets nowhere close to the actual thing. All it does is leave her with the most confused expression she can muster.] Wouldn't you want to wear some sort of protective gear for that though?

[Space pirate doesn't know how to swim.]

[Space pirate can learn how to swim...but, that wasn't part of the current conversation. Cliff downed more of his glass and set it down with a heavy clack-- it was heavier than expected, and he tried not to wince in embarrassment.]

Not really, but 'punch' might be the wrong word. You kinda...close your hands in front of you and bop it over the net. That make sense?

Yeah! I think I get it now. [Not quite actually, but she's got a better idea.] Is this game normally played on the beach? It sounds like you can play it almost anywhere.

So long as you've got the net and the space, you can play it anywhere. Playing it on the beach is just normal...I think.

...You don't get to the beach too much at all, do you?

[She swirls her drink.] I've never actually been to one to be perfectly honest. Only types of places I've been to were cities, castles, snowy areas, desert areas, field areas and space. [She takes a long sip.]

[Cliff found himself grinning despite the oddly stilted descriptors she used.]

Space? Really? I haven't met too many others here who've been there! Feels weird sometimes, knowing that the things normal for you back home aren't even close to being invented for lots of the people in this town.

[She sets her drink down and nods in agreement.] Yeah, it does, but it's also fun to find out about what someone else's world might have, but yours doesn't have.

I know, right? I'm just glad we've still got some of the conveniences here, like heating systems and showers. One of the last worlds I was on before I got here didn't even have a proper electricity system, so a hot shower? You had to boil water and pour it in the tub!

There's still planets in your world that don't have electricity!? [By the archmages.]

Oh, tubs...I had to use one of those not too long ago when my shower suddenly downgraded. [Which was annoying as hell.] So I know exactly how much fun they are. [The last three words just drip with sarcasm.]

Yeah-- they're protected by law too, so we can't interfere with how they'd develop on their own...

[Headscratch. He gulped down more of his drink.]

Makes it frustrating when you accidentally crash on one, that's for sure! At least they had wheels and tubs....sheesh, tubs.

What the heck is up with the showers downgrading on us, anyway? It ain't fair!

Hmm, that's probably for the best then. [Something new could be brought to the table that way?]

Tubs are really annoying. [All aboard the tub-hate train!]

I'm not sure, but it drives me up the wall. [She takes a quick sip.] And it's not only been the showers, there were some days that my pistol turned into a dinky little slingshot!

[He could change topics-- he didn't yet know Karis well enough to safely inquire about her discomfort with beaches...but, shifts and tubs were always a neutral topic.]

Oh, man. That must've been annoying! I've just had stuff like with the showers and my hot coffee going cold.

...sheesh. I hope I don't get to my gauntlets one day and find them made of wood!

Glad to hear that your food hasn't suddenly spoiled when you're about to eat it then. [It's only happened to her once so far, but Karis has been cautious about her food ever since.]

Though don't count on anything to not suddenly downgrade. [She swirls what's left of her drink.] Everything's fair game in Luceti. [And she downs the remainder of her drink.]

[Cliff downed the remainder of his as well, ordered another of the same, and gladly began to dig into his food when the steaming, breaded sticks arrived.

...they weren't half bad either.]

Oh, trust me. I know. Been here for about a year and a half now. [He spoke between bites, clearly enjoying the meal.] At least you haven't had to deal with the stuff they pull in the winter yet, have you?

[Karis also orders another drink, another Going Merry.] I'm guessing any of the stuff that happened before February? Then no. I arrived just in time for the Valentine's day stuff though. [Which actually wasn't so bad.]

[No, none of them were terrible-- at least, not for him. But, they sure could be annoying.]

So you've had a little taste of it. Not bad. I just figre that it's fair to warn ya that there's a string of holidays that are popular on Earth, starting from the late fall and lasting into the spring. The Malnosso, the guys who like to play with the shifts on us sometimes, are also fond of these holidays...and, they like to share it.

...sheesh. Now I'm wondering what they'll do this year.

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