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

[photoshooter]

[As tears stream down his stupid face, Prompto shakes his head and flaps his free hand kind of meaninglessly. Oh, maybe he's... miming drinking from a cup? Is there milk anywhere? Who knows what he wants, though, he's an idiot.]

[shiritai]

[ Well, Violet sure as hell doesn't. She just watches this whole pantomime for a moment and then her brow furrows. She's... making a visible attempt, at least? ]

You... would like me to bring you some water?

[ And instead of just going and doing this, she just stays right there and waits for his response. Rest in pieces, Prompto Argentum. ]

[photoshooter]

[FURIOUS NODDING, plus a muffled whine to the tune of please.]

[shiritai]

Understood.

[ She doesn't quite salute, but she makes a jerky little gesture with a hand like she wants to and then thought better of it. ]

Please wait here for a moment.

[ And off she goes, leaving Prompto to his fate. Unbelievable.

... okay, no, she's back before too long with a nice tall glass of water that she offers to him once she stoops back down to his level. ]

Try to drink with small sips. If you swallow too much down at once, it may upset your stomach.

[photoshooter]

[He whimpers an agreeable 'mm-hm' and does his best to follow the directions. Small sips. He can do that. He feels like his tongue is going to burn straight through the roof of his mouth and incinerate the contents of his skull.

Eventually, he manages to gasp out:]

Thanks. I... I think I'm not dying.

[shiritai]

Was there some sort of issue with the food?

[ She's not exactly sure why else he'd be all but rolling around on the floor in obvious agony. He'd requested water, so it probably isn't as serious as poison, but and overreaction like that can't simply come down to taste, can it? ]

[photoshooter]

[Oh, Violet, honey. Nothing about taste is simple.]

It's waaaaaaaaaaaay too spicy! Like, explode-your-head spicy! Who can even eat something like that?! It'd melt a hole in your stomach!

[shiritai]

Was it a case of intentional sabotage?

[ No, Violet, Prompto just has no sense of self-preservation. ]

[photoshooter]

[Prompto Is Just an Idiot.]

No... I guess not. It was labeled, but I didn't think they really meant it...

[shiritai]

[ ... well now you've got her worried that she's going to eat some curry and then immediate die. ]

Which pot was it in? I would rather not serve myself a meal that will cause me such severe discomfort.

[photoshooter]

The one that says it's as hot as a thousand suns.

[And so, the one anyone who takes labels seriously can judge him for trying.]

[shiritai]

[ There's a long pause and even though she doesn't say anything... and her face doesn't change... you can feel the judgement coming off her in waves. ]

Was that not reason enough to suspect the dish might be too spicy for your taste?

[photoshooter]

[Ah, judgment. Prompto finally feels At Home.]

I didn't know they meant it literally!

[shiritai]

So you decided to test it yourself and experience the taste first-hand.

[ J U D G I N G ]

[photoshooter]

How else would I know if it was any good? Noct's a big baby, he'd never try anything spicy unless he had to.

[Sue him for having a sense of adventure!]

[shiritai]

... Was it any good?

[ Surely no curry can be worth this level of abject human suffering. ]

[photoshooter]

I... couldn't really taste anything beyond sheer, spicy pain.

[So yeah. No. Not for mortal consumption.]