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]

[Hoo boy, indeed. Prompto's streaming eyes widen and he drops his bowl with a clatter. Rather than stand, he just scrambles away on the floor, turning over to look at her with his hand still over his mouth and his heart like a jackhammer in his ears.

After a moment, he shakes his head, still staring up at her like this prim and proper woman's going to pull a chainsaw out of her skirts and carve him up.]

[newlawtolight]

[A gentle sigh, as she goes to the nearest sink, carefully taking up a glass and filling it with nice, cool water. Thank goodness she is still wearing her gloves.]

I truly mean you no harm, dear.

[She delicately places the glass on the floor for him - a few feet away, of course, let he start screaming and choking on the rice.]

I wonder if we got off on the wrong foot, quite honestly.

[photoshooter]

[Carefully, still watching her, he retrieves the water, glances down at it briefly as if to make sure it's just water, and takes a few hasty gulps to prevent himself from immediately burning to death. When he can speak again, he manages to gasp out:]

M...aaaybe? Dunno what the right foot would be, but, um. You know. First meeting, asking for someone's soul can be. Awkward.

[newlawtolight]

[She smiles wryly at this.]

Its simply force of habit of mine, if the other person doesn't ask for it first. You'd be surprised how many people want abstraction back home.

[She shrugs.]

But no matter. I won't bring it up again unless you want me to. Everything is about consent, after all.

[photoshooter]

R-right. Um. No consent, ever. Just putting that out there.

[He likes his soul right where it is, thank you very much.]

So you're, uh, gonna be staying here, too, huh?