Welcome, One and All

[revenancemods]

Characters: Everyone!
Content: Welcome to Traverse Town.
Location (including world): Traverse Town, 1st District
Time of Day: Any - subthreads may take place at different times
Warnings: None so far
Notes: This is an open thread: anyone may tag with anyone else. Tag around and have fun!

Well. This certainly wasn’t what you were expecting.

This part of the town is lit with street lamps and shop signs, illuminating the wooden structures and cobblestone streets. If it weren’t for the neon signs, you’d swear you’d landed in a small European town several centuries back.

The Moogle floating near the staircase leading up to the town’s item shop doesn’t help that illusion either. You may have already spoken with it; it’ll tell you where you are and that you’re in the realm of dreams, give you your starter package, and help you make your first Dream Eater. It will not, however, tell you how to get home. Sorry, but that’s not information it has, kupo.

Now that you’ve taken care of that, what will you do next? That is up to you.

Comments

[brodakota]

"I think I like sound of the cookies better than nightmares," North said, thoughtfully.

"I bet Nightmares don't taste very good."

There was a spray of red and blue fireworks, and North smiled as his AI, Theta, came into view.

"Yeah. Same here, buddy. Oh, Xion, this is Theta."

"Hello."

[skysmirror]

"Me, too." Xion's comment was meant to respond to North, but worked as an agreement with what Theta said as well.

The fireworks made her start slightly, but she recovered soon enough. "Nice to meet you, Theta."

[brodakota]

Theta looks a little unsure, but manages a wave. He's a bit shy around new people, and usually looks to North for guidance.

"Don't worry, she's nice. She's been helping me out quite a bit."

"Really? Even about those weird creatures."

"Yeah, especially with those. That's Barkley. He's another spirit. Kind of like a dog."

He indicates the Meow Wow, and leans down so Theta can get a better look.

"Do they have an actual name?"

[skysmirror]

Xion smiled and waves back. 'Shy' was definitely something she understood--she always felt a little strange around new people. Being described as 'nice' was new, but she thought she liked it. Which was odd, considering Replicas did not have hearts and thereby couldn't really be said to 'like' anything.

She reached down to pet Barkley. "I think he's kind of like a cat, too. The moogle said his kind of Spirit is called a Meow Wow."

[brodakota]

"Meow Wow. Now that is something that's definitely brand new," North said, just having to laugh about it. This world couldn't be so bad if it was filled with goofy cat dogs who could also fight.

"I think mine's called a pricklemane, which I guess makes sense."

Theta, in the meantime, floated down to get a closer look at Barkley. He glanced up at Xion, as if asking if it was alright.

[skysmirror]

Xion nodded encouragement to Theta. Barkley tried to help by wagging his tail and looking as friendly as possible. New friends were always welcome, and this one looked interesting!

When North laughed, Xion joined in. It was a funny name. "This is the first time I've seen one." She nodded in agreement with his evaluation of the appropriateness of his Spirit's name.

[brodakota]

It's unlikely that he would feel anything, but Theta still reached out to give Barkley a little pat on the nose. The Meow Wow was bigger than him, and that was intimidating, but it seemed nice enough. A bit nicer than North's pricklemane at least.

"You kind of have to wonder who came up with those names."

[skysmirror]

Barkley whuffed happily in expectation of being petted, then whined when he couldn't feel them. It looked like the little person was petting him, why didn't he feel anything?

"Maybe the Moogles?" It seemed as good a guess as any.

[brodakota]

"They seemed pretty weird, so I wouldn't put it past them."

He looked down at Theta and Barkley.

"Sorry, pal. He's a hologram, so it's kind of hard for him to actually touch things. But he's there."

[skysmirror]

"I wonder how they got here?"

Moogles seemed to have their ways of getting odd places, even The World that Never Was. Still, this was even more unusual than that world.

Barkley tilted his head as if listening, then gave Theta's hand an investigative sniff.

[brodakota]

"Don't they live here?" That made sense to him. North looked down at Barkley.

"Don't worry. You can still be friends, right Theta?"

"Right," Theta nodded.

[skysmirror]

"It looks like it. I've seen them on other worlds, too." Which didn't explain how they get places, but maybe that was a Moogle trade secret.

With that reassurance, Barkley yipped happily and began wagging his tail so hard his rear end shook. Friends were always good. Could Theta hold things? Maybe they could play fetch!

[brodakota]

"Other worlds? Like other planets or colonies?"

The dream world just kept getting weirder and weirder, and North was about to say more, but Barkley's reaction just made him laugh.

"Looks like you've got a friend, Theta."

"Yeah, I guess so." And he looks a bit thoughtful for a moment. "What sort of things do dogs like?"

[skysmirror]

That question gives her pause. Mentally, she's kicking herself for breaking the 'thou shalt not mention other worlds' rule. Then again, she's already broken the 'keep a low profile' rule, and it's not like she's really part of the Organization anymore.

The tricky part is how to explain. Especially since he was using words she wasn't familiar with. "I'm not sure? I mean they're all supposed to be separate..."

Theta and Barkley provided a welcome distraction. "He likes to play fetch--the one where you throw something and he has to bring it back to you."

She holds up the stick they'd been using earlier and Barkley barks in approval

[brodakota]

"Seperate? What do you mean?" Needless to say, North was confused, but that was hardly a change from when he got here.

"What do you think, Theta? Want to give it a try?"

Theta nodded, though it would be a bit hard to hold onto the stick. He would trust North to do it.

"Do you mind if we give it a throw?"

[skysmirror]

Xion thought for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to answer without giving away too much. "Well, you can't to them easily; you have to have a special ship." Or the Dark Corridors, but that was a subject best left alone for now.

"Not at all." She smiled as she handed him the stick. Barkly wagged his tail and yipped happily, apparently already eager to play.

[brodakota]

North nodded, tucking the information away for later. Something told him he was going to need to hang onto it.

He took the stick and weighed it in his hand before winding it up and tossing down the street.

Wrap-up soon?

[skysmirror]

It was handy information to have.

Barkley raced after the stick at full speed, then brought it back, wagging his tail and looking as proud as if he'd taken down a whole group of Nightmares.

Sure

[brodakota]

"I'm surprised he actually brought it back. Most dogs make you chase them for the stick afterwards."

"That actually happens?" Theta asked, before going down to give Barkley another pat. Or at least some sort of recognition.

Re: Sure

[skysmirror]

"I think he just wants you to throw it again."

Barkley attempted to lean into the pettings happily, then dropped the stick, still wagging his tail and looking up at them expectantly. They were going to throw it for him again, weren't they?

[brodakota]

"Alright, one more time, and then I should probably continue exploring. I'm supposed to meet up with my friend pretty soon," North replied, picking up the stick again and giving it a good, long throw.

[skysmirror]

"One of your friends is here? That's good."

When Barkley came trotting back with his prize, she gently took it from him. "North and Theta need to go, boy. I'll throw it this time."

[brodakota]

"Yeah, Washington. He's the guy in blue armor like mine, but I'm still confused about that. The last time I saw it, it was grey."

He gives Barkley one more pat on the head.

"We'll see you around."

[skysmirror]

"I'll remember that." Knowing another person who might potentially be friendly was always good.

Barkley nuzzled into the pat and whined disappointedly, but didn't make any more sign of disappointment. For her part, Xion waved and offered a slight smile. "See you later."