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]

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....... ]

[matchmakes]

[He snorts.] Constantly. One of our friends is... very enamored with puns. Upon first meeting him, our leader actually contemplated shutting him up and saving our enemies the trouble of doing so. Though, I can't blame Chrom for being annoyed, Henry showing up was something of a... 'caws' for alarm, if you will.

[He grins at his own joke, then nods.]

I've probably seen him around. Though, that's still several people here...

[beguiledcard]

[ Okay, that gets an amused snort out of him... and an approving smile afterward. He'd continue the puns, but curiosity has him asking something instead. ]

Alarm?

[ He's twisting a strand of his bangs as he asks that, and then lowering his hand as he nods. ]

He might have introduced himself as Akechi. He's got brown hair. [ and reddish brown eyes and a pleasant voice and... ] My other boyfriend's name is Kurama and he has red hair.

[matchmakes]

Okay, imagine someone shows up preceded by literally an entire murder of crows shortly after Risen surround your camp in the dead of night. When you're at a place called Carrion Isle.

[Hopefully that paints a good enough picture of the scenario.]

I think I've run into both of them, yeah. Haha... lucky you came here with both of them. It's only been a few days and I'm already missing my wife...

[beguiledcard]

[ Ahahaha... a... murder of crows. Something about that wording has him... well.

... He feels he owes it to both Goro and Kurama for his ability to keep his expression perfectly steady, even as a strange feeling wells up in the pit of his stomach. But then there's something to very quickly latch onto - a something that could maybe lead to something lighter???

... only one way to find out. ]

Ah... you're married?

[matchmakes]

I am. [He smiles fondly.]

Pretty recently and maybe not in the best circumstances, but I couldn't be happier.

[beguiledcard]

[ Well, that's cute. The mention of "not the best circumstances" kind of feels very "normal, everyday life" to him now, but his smile does dim a little?

Still-- ]

What's her name?

[matchmakes]

Her name's Tiki. Some people know her as "the Voice of the Divine Dragon," so she's kind of like a priestess. She's a wise and serene woman... I'm lucky to be so close to her, I think.

[He's still not entirely sure he's worthy of her, but he knows she wouldn't want him to say that. He's trying.]

[beguiledcard]

She can talk to a dragon?

[ AKIRA... ]

She sounds amazing. How did you two meet?

[matchmakes]

Heh. Something like that...

[... He could explain, but honestly, just letting Akira assume this sounds funnier.]

It's a bit of a long story. Before I met her, the Shepherds--that's the army I'm part of--were helping fight off the army of a man called Walhart the Conqueror. There was a resistance force that was... fractured, at best, despite the efforts of Say'ri... the princess of Chon'sin, one of the lands that Walhart had taken. She told us that her people had worshiped the Divine Dragon--and her oracle, Tiki--since ancient times... but Tiki had been imprisoned by Walhart's forces in her own temple. We realized if we freed her, we could give the resistance someone to could rally around.

It was a rough fight, but we finally cleared a path to her shrine... We had to climb so many stairs to get there, but when we did... That was the first time I saw her. [He smiles fondly, closing his eyes.] I'm not the sort to believe in such things, but... it was definitely love at first sight on my end.

[beguiledcard]

[ WHAT THE HECK THIS IS SUCH A GOOD STORY??? ]

That sounds like something out of a romance novel.

[ His smile is warm, fond... Guess who might like books like that? Whoops. ]

I'm really glad you two found each other. Especially since that brought her freedom.

[matchmakes]

Ah, does it...?

[His expression turns a touch sheepish, if only for a moment.]

She didn't directly join up with the Shepherds immediately, that came later. But... when she did... Well. I think it's obvious how close we got. I got no small amount of flak from my sister for getting married before she did. [That's punctuated with a snort.]

[beguiledcard]

[ A soft chuckle is given. It's gentle, along with the single-word question. ]

Jealous?

[ Robin's sister, he means. ]

[matchmakes]

Maybe a little.

[It's punctuated with a snicker.]

Or mad that she was the only one left in the singles club.

[He loves his sister, honest.]

[beguiledcard]

[ Okay, that gets another soft chuckle. ]

Nothing wrong with that. I was single up until very recently, and it wasn't such a bad thing.

[ A small smile. ]

I imagine it's when you're not really looking, that finding that right person feels the best. As though that's what you were waiting your whole entire life for...