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

[beguiledcard]

[ Juuuust going to give the faintest of smiles at that. After a small pause-- ]

As far as I know, the cheese is usually solid. And inside it. [ small shrug ] To each their own, I guess.

[ He nods. ]

It's not my favorite thing in the multiverse, but it's not awful.

[matchmakes]

[He doesn't respond immediately, having taken a bite of the burger. He's chewing contemplatively.]

It's... odd, but I've had much worse. [Mostly his own cooking, but he's not about to say that.]

[beguiledcard]

[ Listen, when you've endured your own failed curry and Haru's coffee, you learn to not judge other people's cooking. ]

Same. [ see: above ] I'm not sure how I would have done eating all eight of these, though. So, thanks for the help.

[matchmakes]

[He'll take a seat to finish the burger.]

Mm, it's no problem. I'll admit I was getting hungry, anyway.

[Hence why he wandered into the kitchen in the first place...]

[beguiledcard]

[ There's an extra soda next to him - it had been so he wouldn't have to get up again, but he's going to hold it out to the stranger with a questioning tilt of his head.

Want it, stranger-san? ]

By the way, my name's Akira Kurusu. It's nice to meet you.

[ And, hey, food is a great way to meet someone, right? ]

[matchmakes]

[... Oh. He'll take the drink with a grateful nod.]

Robin. Pleased to meet you, too.

[Absolutely. Much more pleasant than meeting on opposite sides of a battlefield.]

[beguiledcard]

[ Gosh, he wouldn't know anything about meeting someone in the form of going into battle against them....... ]

I take it you're one of the people who showed up during the exploration?

[matchmakes]

That's correct. My sister arrived too. Damn the timing on these Fissures, though...

[A sigh.]

[beguiledcard]

I take it you were in the middle of something important, then?

[ He supposes he should really consider himself lucky in that regard. ]

That's... sometimes the case, unfortunately.

[matchmakes]

Incredibly. And it left the army we're part of out of both of its main tacticians.

[Virion's straight-up said his tactics were unfitting, and Chrom... Well, as much as Robin thinks the world of the man, strategy is not his forte.]

[beguiledcard]

You were in the middle of a war, then?

[matchmakes]

Something like that. Plus the impending apocalypse hanging over our heads.

[He and Wren may have had a plan, but it's no good if they're both here...]

I wouldn't have said no to a breather, but it would have been nice if the breather was after everything...

[beguiledcard]

[ Ah...

As far as he knows, time keeps ticking whenever someone is away from their world / timeline. ]

Apocalypse...?

[matchmakes]

It's a long story, but the short version is that there are people seeking to summon a being that... if they're successful...

[He makes a face. He doesn't need to finish that sentence, right?]

[beguiledcard]

Ah...

[ He's taking another sip of his drink... ]

I just recently helped avoid something like that, back on my world.

[ He offers a look of reassurance, as best he can. ]

We'll find a way to get you two back as soon as possible.

[matchmakes]

Well, I'm sure I speak for her too when I say we appreciate it.

Honestly, I'd have felt a lot better if one of us had been brought here and the other left behind, that way one of us could... ah, never mind. It's probably not worth dwelling on for the time being.

Not a lot of use griping about what's out of our control, right?

[beguiledcard]

Ignoring those kinds of feelings doesn't help anything, either.

[ N-not that he's speaking from experience in that area, hahaha... ha... ]

But... you're right, in a way. There isn't anything we can do here, except push through and fix what we can, where we can.

[ Holding a blink for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary. ]

... Just don't feel like that means what you'd rather have is irrelevant.

[matchmakes]

You make it sound like you know from experience.

[He punctuates that with a sip of his drink. He doesn't know what this is, but it's nice.]

I'm not trying to ignore these feelings, but just stewing in the frustration is pointless.

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods at the last part, clearly not jumping to acknowledge that initial response from Robin... Heh.

But... he remembers the results of people not feeling like they had anyone they could talk to, back in the mall. Not that this is remotely the same situation, but he's living by that experience anyway. ]

True... But, you're still welcome to talk to me about it, anytime.

[ Nooooow he's just going to take a sip of his drink, gaze briefly averted. ]

Guess you could say I have experience in masks.

[matchmakes]

[Now, that's certainly an interesting reaction. His expression is distant for a moment, apparently lost in thought. He snaps out of it quickly, though, turning his gaze back towards Akira.]

And I'll extend that offer to you, as well. I'm not really much for advice, but if nothing else, I'm good at lending a listening ear. And besides, a burden shared is a burden halved.

[And boy does Akira seem burdened.]

But for now, let's turn this conversation towards kinder topics, shall we?

[beguiledcard]

[ What the heck stop that?? This is supposed to be about him helping Robin, not the other way around. Huff.

His expression dims for a moment. ]

... Let's just say... you're not the only one who needs to get back to some things. Maybe later, I'll tell you about it.

[ He manages a small smile and a nod. ]

Right... Good idea. [ h m m m . . . ] What's your sister's name?

[matchmakes]

[For 8000 gold a month he will stop.

Okay, no, not really. Memes aside, he's just naturally a worrywart, and he's used to doing this for other people. He nods, taking another sip of his drink.

These Fissures really are terrible at timing, huh.]

Just call her Wren.

[beguiledcard]

[ AMBER PLZ... he only has yen :T

Yes, yes they are. ]

Ah... Birds of a feather, I see.

[ Akira plz. ]

[matchmakes]

[CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP not sure how to stop

The comment earns a snort.]

Ah, bird jokes. How original. [He's fairly certain that between he and Wren, they've heard every single one in the book. At least he seems more amused than anything.]

Do you need a bit to get a few more out of your system?

[beguiledcard]

It's no fun if I let them fly out, while you can see them coming.

[ Yep, he's smiling now. ]

Guessing you two get a lot of that, back home? [ a soft chuckle ] One of my boyfriends already had to hear bird puns from me, even before we arrived at this place.

[ Ah. ]

His name's Goro, by the way. You've probably seen him around, since he was still here, even while I was missing for a few days.

[ Nevermind that doesn't say anything about Why Bird....... ]