edgeoflife | Summer Solstice

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Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice Fair

The sun is shining, the Mognet is working again, and the summer solstice fair is here! The WRO hopes to makes this an annual thing, but this is the first year they're doing it. Everything you could ever want from a fair is here and open to the public.

*Fair Rides: Ferris wheels, a mini rollercoaster, that thing that looks like an octopus and spins around--the WRO spared no expense to make sure everyone would have fun here today. There's even a gravity ride that takes you up to the top of a pole and then drops you!

*Food: So much food. So much unhealthy food. Funnel cakes, hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, you name it. And it's all fairly cheap too, since the WRO promised to pay for half of what the merchants sell!

*Carnival Games: And most of them aren't even rigged! The Gold Saucer donated games for the fair and there are so many games. There's your standard shooting games, some basketball games, a dunk tank, hoop tosses, you name it. A few are rigged, though, so buy beware! There's also a few card tables set up in a tent for those who like their games a little less wild.

*Speed Dating: ...yeah, the WRO has no idea. This came with the Gold Saucer stuff, along with a Cait Sith and Moogle mascot pair that will coax anyone they can into sitting down and participating.

*Job Fair: With the influx of new arrivals, both native and Streamers, some employers see a golden opportunity to get some jobs filled! In one corner of the fair is another, mini-fair fill with tables and presentations on various workplaces: the WRO, ShinRa Tech, the volunteer emergency services of Edge, and the Highwind Air Taxi Service, just to name a few. Anyone of working age is welcome to wander in and have a look around.

Of course, the fair is taking up the entire center of Edge, so there's lots more to see and do!

[[Feel free to make your own top levels! Welcome to Edge of Life!]]

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Laslow smiled wryly. "I will as best I can. I've never been in a place like this, either."

"At least you know about trash in cities."

It wasn't much, but Reno had to put his hope in something with these two.

"Here's an information packet, our main number for any questions -- and someone will call you in the next couple a' days once we get those swords." Reno smiled. "And a good dance floor."

But honestly, that was just for his own benefit.

"Probably," Cloud shook his head, frowning a little. He was just relieved he'd met 'his' Zack beforehand, otherwise his reaction would've been... far less contained. He'd been surprised enough as it was, but that was easier to handle.

(Not that Zack would've minded, he was sure, but that... wasn't the point.)

"I was just glad to see him," he said, and tried not to think about the fact that while Zack (and him) and survived the reactor here, it was only for four more years, and then...

"... what's a Turk doing manning this, anyway?"

Cloud cocked his head, determinedly pushing away those thoughts to focus back on Reno instead.

"Hati," Isa repeated. "Hmmm. I like that. Thanks." Later on, he'd look that up and see what the name meant, and find that it was perfect for a moon dog plush, even if it was too cute for a name so fierce.

"I'll present it to him as well. If things go poorly then you are welcome to point the finger at me."

ShinRa Tech was a public face. Vincent was hardly seen, but people were already nervous about him. He was a stranger who came in and out of Edge from time to time and unsettled people. Easy enough to blame.

"You should get back to your table. Get your hands on some of these Streamers. they could be useful and you can keep a better eye on them."

It really rather was, but Cloud smiled anyway.

"No one can say we didn't try," he said, feeling kind of silly, but maybe that wasn't a bad thing.

"You're right about that." Ia smiled. They're young. They're allowed to be silly. And he doesn't think much about how silly the whole naming a plus was.

"Well, i should probably get going. I'm supposed to meet up with Lea later. It was nice meeting you." He held out his hand to shake Cloud's.

"It was," Cloud agreed softly, taking Isa's hand. It was actually a little weird, how it'd worked out - so far - with both Lea and Isa. It wasn't something he was used to, even if he had, admittedly, not tried much with the troopers in his squad or anything.

He'd been so focused on other things, anyway...

"Later." Isa nodded, scooped up Hati and his jacket in one arm and his garbage in the other and headed off. Cloud was the only new friend his own age he now had in this city. He should work on changing that.

Well don't worry, Judy. You might not be able to pick up bigger weapons here too, but you can make friends who can. He nods at her assuring explanation.

"Riku. It's... it's nice to meet you." Should he shake her hand-- er, paw? He's not really sure how to go about this, and even if he does shake her paw, he could hurt her easily.

"You're new here, right? Do you need some help getting around?"

[Riku's gaze drops at that, expression turning into a weird mix of humbled and saddened and maybe a little shame.]

Yeah... I know. That's what everyone keeps telling me.

[Three times. Riku's only fought him twice, and a third be counted when he defected from Sephiroth. It doesn't look like these people faired any better from their battles against him than Riku or Zack did.

Still, the answer makes him scoff at himself, snorting out a lifeless laugh.]

Yeah. I'm sure I didn't help with that.

[Being dead...

A small part of him deflates like a balloon, face falling. So in both versions, she dies, more than likely at the hands of Sephiroth here too. That's actually quite heartbreaking.]

Oh... well. I'm glad you came back. [The words are stiff when they come out of his mouth, but he means them and even attempts a small smile.]

"That's the idea." Ironically, since Vincent distrusted them all... Reno resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That was just one of the benefits of being one of the heroes who saved the world, he supposed -- you could make ridiculous, contradictory demands such as see everyone as a threat while hiring them. Right.

Well, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. At least that Laguna character seemed promising.

Reno gestured toward the center of the festivities. "Rufus is gonna be at the pavilion. I'm sure security'll let you pass."

"This? That is a good question."

Reno shook his head and shrugged, gesturing at the table.

"Guy who's supposed ta' be switching in for his shift is running late. I'm startin' to think the bastard got quote-unquote lost and found his way to the bottom of a few beers instead." And Reno was clearly exasperated for it. "I know it isn't the most interesting thing t' do here, but c'mon! I have other things to do!"

Like eating crappy fair food. But also security.

Reno sighed. "But, on the bright side, I guess I get t' meet a bright young cadet like you. Looking for a job?"

Cloud couldn't help it; he snorted, hiding a suppressed smile behind a hand. That did sound really possible, especially when there was rides and food and... well, alcohol around the place, and it was rather warm.

Not as hot as Midgar summers could get, just yet, but still more than warm enough.

"Sorry," he said softly, but there was suppressed amusement still in evidence. The question made him sway back on his heels a little though, and he crossed his arms.

"... maybe. Like what?"

He was pretty sure the new ShinRa didn't keep an army on hand, after all. If he'd want to work for them at all, but it didn't hurt to ask. Wasn't like he'd have to decide anything now.

That was a smile -- Reno was sure of it. He hadn't seen Cloud smile in... well, he wasn't sure if he'd ever seen Cloud smile. The rare times he'd seen Cloud as a Shinra grunt, the kid had his helmet on and Reno hadn't cared. And since then, Cloud hadn't had much of a reason to smile. Seeing it now, Reno couldn't be too upset.

"Well." Reno gestured to a seat in front of the table with a smirk. "If you're thinkin' we don't have an army -- and I'm sure you are -- you're right. We're a lot smaller, a lot more focused. But there's obviously always a need for security where cutting-edge technology is bein' developed."

[ She watches his expression carefully, sighing again after a few seconds. He doesn't seem too surprised...does that mean her counterpart died as well? Oh, Sephiroth, why. ] Thanks. Sorry to bring up something depressing like that. There are much, much better things to talk about.

He sat down a little hesitantly, but figured it couldn't hurt. Nodding, grinning wryly, Cloud silently admitted to having been thinking just that, but well. Couldn't fault him, right?

Tilting his head a little, Cloud hesitated for a moment, glance flicking from the tabletop and back up.

"Wasn't 'security' what the army, SOLDIER and the Turks were?" Cloud asked finally, dryly. A few months ago, he wouldn't have been that cynical about it, because well... he did believe it, then, but even from what little he'd found out so far here, and what had happened in Nibelheim, that wasn't true any longer.

"... what sort of technology?"

Did he expect a completely honest response on that one? Not really, even if ShinRa had cleaned up its act.

Rude was just as curious about everything involving all these new people, animals, and what not being brought into their world. But he had to hope it was nothing terrible or he'd lose his damn mind contemplating all the reasons. He wasn't the one assigned to investigating the Lifestream (for now at any rate,) so it wasn't his job to do more than keep abreast of the situation. He listened to and read reports on the findings, but so far there hasn't been anything resembling an explanation for why.

"It would be great. Then again, we have two Clouds and two Zacks. It's possible there could be a Sephiroth from some other reality that's comparably docile." Though Rude hoped that not even that would come through the Lifestream. The uproar it would cause among the citizens of Edge would be chaotic at best.

[A faint frown mars Cloud's expression.]

What's wrong?

[He knows that expression. He's worn it himself quite a few times.]

You're not him.

[It comes out bluntly, Cloud shaking his head now as he glances away.]

You may look like him but you aren't him. I was..I didn't know what to expect at first but he would have made a grand entrance, destroying whatever he could. You didn't.

Reno winced slightly. "Ouch, man." But Cloud was right, of course. He shook his head.

"Yeah, Turks are still special." Because of course he was special. "But no army, no SOLDIER, none of that global 'security' power."

He even allowed himself to make air quotes.

"So when I say security, I mean really, like, fuckin' security guards. I ain't promisin' you glamour, but at least your trainin' isn't all goin' in the toilet." Reno shook his head. "Any promisin' business, and especially anything Shinra does right now, always has a risk a' someone wanting to ruin it or steal shit. That's just the way the world is."

"Now, technology..." Reno smirked. "Couple different projects in the works. Some are still confidential t' employees while they're in development, obviously. But, y'know, everything is about improvement, everything is about accessibility -- like, developing a more efficient engine, or better phones. Hell, maybe we'll restart the space program."

Of course they still were. Cloud barely kept from rolling his eyes, wary still. At least the rest sounded... okay. Good enough, maybe. 'Glamour' was something he'd had thoroughly had to drop, considering how the whole thing with SOLDIER went... maybe just as well, even if the failure still stung.

The point about his training, though, that was true, and he'd been thinking of ways to keep it up. It'd be a waste not to, whatever else. Nodding slowly, Cloud snorted a little over the comment that that was just the way the world was.

"That would be cool. The space program, I mean," Cloud said quietly, cocking his head, "... I'll think about it."

...It's nothing.

[He's not entirely sure that he should spill his feelings to a complete stranger, especially one who seems as well respected as Cloud is here. But being in a world like this, a place where Zack Fair was deceased, just fills his mind with what-ifs and sorrow.

And then there's the whole clone deal. Riku listens quietly to the explanation, raising his head a little and nodding. No, he doesn't destroy everything in his path, unless it's by accident.]

Thanks, I guess. [He half shrugs and takes in a deep breath.] Not everyone... sees it that way though. They have a right to worry. You do too.

Reno paused. He hadn't thought about that. A "normal" Sephiroth? One that hadn't been totally screwed up, didn't try to take down the Planet -- maybe even was conceived normally? What an idea.

Everyone would hate him.

"Poor bastard wouldn't stand a chance," Reno murmured in agreement, eating another zeppola and shaking his head.

Everyone should be more worried about what made the Lifestream do all of this--they should be more worried about who's behind it all. There are still a lot of unanswered questions.

[If anyone did know, they were keeping it to themselves which wasn't surprising. Secrets were a common thing here, especially if ShinRa or the WRO were involved.]

It's not going to be easy, though. People are going to be suspicious for awhile but..just hang in there. Alright?

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Summer Solstice

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