Summer Solstice

[lifemods]

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!]]

Comments

[shinra_dog]

Reno shrugged with a smile. "Can't ask ya t' do any more 'n that. But you would be an asset, Cloud. I'd love t' have ya."

Knowing how "his" Cloud grew up, the younger one had a great untapped potential for good things.

[darkbreak]

[Riku just nods. There's nothing in those statements that he can argue with. He's lived most of his life under the suspicious and judgemental eyes of others, with that changing only within the last few years. This place is no different, just a little more vocal than what he's now used to.

Still, it's reassurance and as much as Cloud is a stranger to him, every little bit helps. He looks back up at he older man, voice firm and even.]

...You think this could be his doing? Or that somehow Sephiroth caused this?

[It's not his style at all, unless the Sephiroth here is a different man. But the clone wouldn't it past him to somehow orchestrate something from beyond the grave again.]

[darkbreak]

There's a bit of a grimace on his face. Riku was always a little wary around Turks when they weren't Cissnei, and Reno had a talent for getting on other people's nerves too. That made him one of Riku's least favourite people.

But he is reminded of his place here at least. A land of familiar faces but where he is the stranger.

He sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. "A Streamer," that was easy enough to admit but the rest? Riku briefly glances around at the crowds of people before continuing. "...And someone's science experiment, because they thought it would be a good idea to create more copies of Sephiroth."

There. Happy now, Reno?

[darkbreak]

[He's hoping that he doesn't look too put out by this news, but somehow, he tries to smile. Aerith, in either of their worlds, wouldn't want him to feel too bad about it. Or so he likes to hope.]

It's okay. I'm just... sorry it happened here too. [There's something in his posture and tone that sounds a bit more relaxed now. He's trying, and aside from teasing the hell out of him, she always had that affect on him.

Oh boy. What does she want to talk about now?] Like what?

[darkbreak]

[The grimace-like smile is met with a similar one of Riku's. He's trying, and his intentions were originally good, but it's obvious that this isn't the place or the time. And that Riku isn't the right person to tell that story either.]

I'm sure if you ask, he wouldn't mind telling you. [Zack has a way of explaining things the right way to people, and in a case like this, he's lived through it all. Coming from Riku, it would just be hearsay.] When you want to...

[If Cloud wants to at all.

The rushed tone doesn't quite register with Riku. Either that or he chooses to ignore it. The question itself makes him glance off to the side, not entirely out of nervousness, but the answer isn't going to line up with what Cloud knows.

...But the blonde's going to find out anyways, so he might as well dive in. With a deep breath, he looks back over at his companion.]

He used to. I've... seen him use it, but he hasn't used the Buster for a couple of years now. He picked up the weapon of someone we knew and has been using it ever since.

[backwatertrooper]

[Letting out a soft breath, he nods. He really does need to ask, if nothing else so he'll know better what to avoid or hopefully minimise stumbling into. He's just avoided thinking about the difference in years between what he knows and what both Zack and Riku knows and where this Planet is.

It's just a bit unsettling.]

... oh. [Cloud cocks his head, mostly curious and a little confused. The way Zack had talked about it in Nibelheim... He opens his mouth and almost asks 'why', but he changes his mind at the last moment. That's probably tied in to the question he needs to ask about what he's missed, and... and he's not dumb; he knows when Zack got the Buster Sword, and who had it before him, and 'picked up the weapon of someone we knew' was pretty telling.]

He put it away, then..?

[darkbreak]

Uh... no. Not exactly. [His lips quirk a little, and Riku rubs the back of his head awkwardly. Back on their version of the Planet, he might not be so shy about admitting his inheritance from Zack. But this Planet is so very different and certain people from it might be offended if they knew.

But then again, this Cloud wasn't from this world. Maybe he'd be okay with it? Riku fidgets a bit, suddenly shy.]

He... gave it to me to use. Just before we fought Sephiroth.

[backwatertrooper]

[Had he expected an answer like that? Maybe, somewhere, he had. Because while he's surprised, it's not by that much. Cloud stares for a few moments, silent and unsure what to say - what he thinks of it.

Then a thought occurs to him and he smiles, just a little.]

You know... that sounds pretty fitting.

[Not just the Buster Sword being used against Sephiroth, again, but Riku being the one to use it, considering what he was.]

[darkbreak]

[Riku just blinks at first at the comment. Fitting. Maybe he's right. Riku's never really thought too deeply into the meaning of it all (a monster like Sephiroth being destroyed by his own clone), but he's been told similar things before. At that point in time, Sephiroth wasn't just Riku's originator.

He was someone that just had to be stopped.

Riku ducks his head a little, but the relaxed and awfully sincere smile on his face is noticeable. When he received the Buster Sword, it wasn't a very high time in his life, but he was proud to carry it. Proud to have such a symbol be passed down to him.]

...He pushed it on me, actually. I didn't really want to take it, but he insisted.

[A mutter;] Stubborn old man...

[backwatertrooper]

[Cloud tries not to fidget, but when the smile appears, he relaxes, feeling relieved it'd been taken well. This will take a little bit to get used to, but... Riku's okay.]

He doesn't really take 'no' for an answer, no... [Cloud agrees softly, shaking his head and not noticing the small smile on his face.]

[darkbreak]

[The same sentiments can be said for Cloud. That and its nice to feel a little more relaxed. This place is virtually a planet full of eggshells and to feel at ease around someone he doesn't really know, it feels nice.

Especially for a topic like this. He only received it after he defected both Zack and Sephiroth, and Aerith was murdered. After he made all of his mistakes. It wasn't his finest hour.

He chuckles lightly.] What, has he conned you into stuff too?

[backwatertrooper]

Nothing as big as taking the Buster sword. [He shakes his head, pulling at the scarf around his neck - it's getting hot, so he should probably just put it away soon for now... since he actually can do that. It's not a uniform scarf, after all.]

Though... I guess becoming friends count. [It's said quietly, Cloud not really looking at anything at all, eyes soft. It's not as if he really expected anything beyond that initial mission, no matter how well they seemingly hit it off. Or at least he'd thought so, he doesn't have much experience, after all.]

... he sort of got conned into paying for lunch for another couple infantry once, though. They invited themselves along. [He snorts, amused again at the thought, but definitely won't mention that Zack then turned that around to try and make friends for him.]

[shinra_dog]

Reno's eyebrows rose. "So you are a clone?"

Well, he could appreciate the kid's discretion. He studied the boy with furrowed brow. "Why aren't you -- y'know -- lookin' for 'Reunion'?"

Because every other clone, "failed" or otherwise, seemed to only seek out one thing: Jenova. And this guy would appear frighteningly, well, normal.

[gardeningaia]

Well, you. You know me, or someone very like me, but I don't know much about you. What sort of things do you like? What's your favorite hobby?

[ Background questions have always been kind of iffy for Aerith given her background, and she's pretty sure it'd be the same for Riku. She is curious about him, though...so she asks about preferences. ]

[darkbreak]

Me...? [How did he not see this coming. Of course she's curious about him. The problem is that he doesn't actually know how to answer that proper. There's plenty of things he likes and doesn't like, but usually it when they present themselves.]

...I don't really have any hobbies. [Unless 'kicking ass' qualifies, but he doubts it does. His eyes wander around the room, clearly unsure on how to answer this question.

A listless laugh as he looks back at her.] I don't like questions like these? Not good at them. But... I like learning new things?

[Gods, that sounds pathetic on so many levels.]

[darkbreak]

A working functional clone. Riku diverts his gaze from Reno when he sees that expression. It's a common one, but still makes him feel like a sideshow when it happens.

"Hell if I know," he shrugs. Before this place, he had just dealt with the Remnants and that gave him enough "Reunion" shit for a long while.

Plus, Sephiroth was fairly normal too before he went on a batshit rampage. He just shrugs. Reno's just going to deal with his answers for now. "You can always talk to the WRO for details too."

Because their discovery that he didn't have those cells anymore were a surprise even to him.

[gardeningaia]

[ Aerith does laugh a little. Sorry, Riku, you're just giving Cloud a run for his gil at being the worst for small talk. ] Well, learning new things can easily become a hobby. Maybe it'll lead you to one.

[darkbreak]

[Oh boy. That laugh has him planting his head into his palm, cheeks flushing with colour now. Sometimes he wonders why he didn't get Sephiroth's coolness and charm.]

Y-yeah, I guess. I just... I haven't had a lot of time to figure things out.

[gardeningaia]

Well, take a break for yourself! No one knows what's going on here just yet, so we might as well relax.

[ This may not apply entirely to her, as she figures she's probably going to need to be the one to figure out what happened with the Lifestream, but that's all right. She's taking her break now, while getting to meet the new arrivals to Gaia.

She likes this one. ]

[darkbreak]

Heh, I'm not all that sure that I know how to relax.

[A joke. A bad one on his part. He's never, ever relaxed in his life, mostly because he's certain that being in Mako stasis doesn't qualify.]

I suppose we can, but it'll have to be figured out eventually.

[A beat, and another thought crosses his mind. Talking about figuring this all out kind of bums him out a bit. Not because of the situation or opinions on whether it should be fixed. But the lack of info.]

...I like flying though, if that counts.

[shinra_dog]

"Oh, I will." And he very much intended to. Gaia couldn't have another bunch of strange clones and Remnants wandering around again, unchecked, causing trouble. Reno felt slightly better that Reeve was documenting all of this, but it still gave him the willies.

"I've got my eye on you, kid. So try t' stay outta trouble. Other'n that..." Reno's gaze fell upon the target game again. "Nice shooting, yo."

[darkbreak]

"You and everyone else on this Planet." Riku sighs, glancing away before settling on the target game. It's not meant to be a snarky remark, but his tone might make it pass off as such.

Besides, the reports might make a mention of how compliant he was, even if he's not fond of scientists. Zack was the one making all the fusses. Damn old guard dog.

But still, he may as well try to make nice with the Turks here. Riku nods back at Reno with a quirk of a smile. "Thanks."

[actuallypolite]

"He would be eaten alive." And it would be no fault of his own. He would be paying for the sins of the Sephiroth that had lived here. Rude felt a little bad for the hypothetical normal Sephiroth. Not that there was any point to voice it as it hadn't happened yet, and possibly wouldn't.

[gardeningaia]

That's a thing for you to learn, then.

[ Since he likes learning new things and all. Her expression shifts a little at his comment about having to figure out the situation--eventually.

If he traveled with AVALANCHE...there's no chance he doesn't know what she is. ]

...Eventually, yeah. I don't really know much of anything, yet.
[ A little worrying, since the Lifestream doesn't act up like this over nothing. But she'll figure it out! ...In time.

She smiles wistfully at the mention of flying. ]

I like flying too! Or I think I would. The taxi service was nice, but I really want to go on the deck of an airship, feel the wind rushing past.

[shinra_dog]

Reno's face screwed up into a twisted cringe as he thought about it. Never in a million years did he think he'd ever feel bad for Sephiroth, of all people. And yet, that's what was happening.

"Ugh, I'm actually feeling bad for this fake Sephiroth now," he admitted, his nose wrinkled. "Sephiroth. Gods, that's fuckin' weird. New topic, man."

It almost made him lose his appetite. Almost.