IC INTRO - MARCH

[phantasmods]

Sometime after the showdown, those with communication devices from the station will all get a collective message -

Okay, everyone come back! We might need to do a final sweep or two of the beach, but it looks like most of the Fissure is stabilized! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Everybody go ahead and come back up - and bring anyone else you found with you! I know I saw a couple new faces on the drone cameras. (*･▽･*)

Also, if you get a chance, check out the new door leading out of the residential area! It's a surprise for all your hard work. (´◕ ◡ ◕｀) There's also food in the kitchens if you're hungry and want something warm!

With that in mind, grab your new friends and go ahead and come on back.

STATION EXTERIOR

Upon returning to the station, the first thing most will probably see is Up, standing on the rooftop to congratulate everyone on a mission accomplished and also handle any questions the new arrivals might have that haven't gotten answered yet. They stand tall and graceful beside the ramp... Most of the time. Occasionally, one might catch them trying not to fidget with the belt that now hangs fashionably askew on their hips.

For those who want to seek out the surprise Charm promised, there's a second ramp leading down off the far side of the roof, as well as the door he mentioned on the network. Both lead to the shiny new viewing deck, with its mismatched furniture, half-roof, and view of the beach.

Charm himself is here, long android limbs spread across one of the lounge chairs as he fiddles with one of the wind element crystals in his lap. It occasionally reacts and blasts the tails of his red scarf in random directions, but he doesn't seem to mind.

STATION INTERIOR

Those adventuring to the kitchens will find that there are four large pots arranged in a line beneath a set of heat lamps on the stove. Three contain curry - labeled "mild," "spicy," and "the fire of a thousand suns" in neat handwriting - while the last contains plain rice. An assortment of mismatched bowls and utensils sit on the counter nearest the pots. (Welcome to Keystone Station, you'll have an easier time finding matching cutlery at your local Goodwill.)

In the common room, meanwhile, the boxes of clothes and trading post are set up again. Those who investigate something fluffy in a particular box on the end of the couch may discover a girl and friend taking a nap...

Comments

[nightcure]

[ what the hell is this thing ]

... Uh. Hey there?

[photoshooter]

That's Jo! I call her Jojo. Isn't she cute? She's an awesome possum.

[Yeah Noct do you think you're going literally anywhere without a freckle child surgically attached to you]

[nightcure]

[ He is absolutely not complaining, at least!! ]

She's pretty cute, yeah. [ He grins at Prompto, teasing. ] Figures you'd pick up some weird animal.

[photoshooter]

Hey! [Shove.] Yeah, I picked up you, didn't I? Anyway, she's not mine. She belongs to Top!

[trashcats]

[Somebody's ears are twitching.]

[nightcure]

Are you calling me a weird animal? Rude.

[ Oh. Oh no. That's actually cute? Kind of reminds him of... ]

She's just kind of like a cat, isn't she?

[photoshooter]

Kind of! She's really sweet. [Softly, to Jo:] Morning, sunshine...!

[nightcure]

Man, what I'd do to have a camera right now...

[ But he crouches down, watching Jo. ]

Hey there, Jojo.

[trashcats]

[Jo lifts her nose out from under a dark green shirt and HELLO FRIEND FURIOUS SNIFFING.]

[photoshooter]

Jojo, meet my best friend, Noct. Noct, meet Jojo! And speaking of cameras...

[Prompto grabs his and eagerly waves the two of them together. Picture time, picture time!]

[nightcure]

[ Oh man okay this is happening. Noct can't help but let out the lightest laugh. ]

Should've figured you'd have it handy. Alright, where do you want me to stand?

[photoshooter]

[He grins and adjusts his glasses.]

Right there's fine. Jojo, is it okay if Noct holds you for a picture? She's nice, she let me hold her and pet her when we first met.

[trashcats]

[She doesn't exactly comprehend the idea of posing for a picture, but she's climbed up on top of the green shirt at all the attention.

> Pick her up, Noctis?]

[nightcure]

[ Oh hell yes. Noct gently lifts her up, much like he would a cat. ]

Thanks, Jojo. Alright. [ He's smiling as he turns to Prompto, mostly because she's so goshdarned cute. ] Ready when you are.

[photoshooter]

One, two, three--smile!

[Snap! Prompto knows it's perfect even before he sees the result, and he leans in at Noct's shoulder to show him.]

Look at that, your face doesn't even look weird! Jojo, way to work your magic. You oughta be in movies.

[Have a happy scritchie, Jo.]

[nightcure]

Wow, my face never looks weird.

[ Offended!! But Jo gets a scritchie from Noct, too. ]

She's a good girl.

[trashcats]

[SCRITCHIES this is a happy possum who is just gonna rub her head against Prompto's hand because yay scritchies.]

[photoshooter]

[He is loved and chosen. Prompto smiles, dopily happy and not afraid to show it.]

Anyway, you can get a spare outfit out of these boxes if you need one. ...Wait. Do you? Do you have all our stuff?!

[nightcure]

[ Noct gives Josephine another lil scritchie, then puts her back down in her soft and warm bed. What a good girl. ]

Yeah, I do. [ Doink, did you ask for some contact lenses? Noct hands 'em over. ] Now you can look like less of a nerd again.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto kicks him in the ankle a little, but takes the lenses excitedly.]

Oh, man, lucky! Wait, hold on, can you--

[He palms the lens case for a moment, puts a hand on his camera, and then, doop doop doop doop, his gun and bedroll and everything else he was carrying (except his camera and phone, which, of course, he can't ever put down) disappears into Bahamut's pocket space.

He lifts his fist to heaven triumphantly.]

I never have to carry anything ever again.

[How's it feel to be loved, Noct?]

[nightcure]

Oh, I see how it is. You're just happy I'm here so I can be your pack mule again.

[ But even though he sounds annoyed, he's watching Prompto with a grin. ]

What, no thanks? Keep being rude to me and I'll dump all your stuff.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto grins right back and sticks his elbow in Noctis's ribs.]

Thaaaanks, Noct! My hero.

[<3 <3 <3]

Some of that stuff you can dump in my room anyway, if you really want. Oh, you should take the room next to me! I think it's open. Or it was when I last saw it, anyway.

[nightcure]

Hey! I just got out of a battle, I'm still recovering.

[ He elbows Prompto right back, with a little huff. ]

Yeah? Consider it taken, then. What are the rooms here like, anyway?

[photoshooter]

Ehhh, they're okay. They've got their own bathrooms and stuff, and enough room for a bed and a couch. But no windows.

[It's actually kind of driving Prompto crazy, all that matte silver metal and no light. No air.]

I can show you if you want.

[nightcure]

No windows? Man... Too long here and I might go crazy.

[ He says it lightly, but it's probably absolutely true. Oops. ]

Yeah, that'd be great.