.o1 - New Arrival

[felis_fidelus]

[Hello, it's the newest arrival at 1250 Williams Road! He sounds very much not pleased, a bit irritated, and very, very confused.]

What on Gaia - this isn't Edge. It's too clean to be....

... I must be hallucinating. Shalua always said I'd overwork myself into nervous collapse. Never thought she'd be right. I have enough imagination to

Comments

[magique_bonbon]

It's Mayfield... um, think of it as a giant illusion. You might want to sit down for this.

[felis_fidelus]

I've gotten a few details about it, but an illusion?

Go on, miss, please. After everything I've been through the past few years, I doubt this will shock me any worse.

[magique_bonbon]

"Miss"?

Well... it's probably an illusion because everything that's happened here could only have been done by magic: we can't walk out of town since it loops in on itself, people who die come back the next day, and whoever's behind Mayfield can brainwash people for a little while if they do something the town doesn't want them to do.

[felis_fidelus]

... I don't know of any materia that revive the dead in that length of time, nor do I know of any that can make a town loop, unless someone got very creative with an Exit materia....

[a thoughtful pause]

Brainwashing, however, can be done without magic. Even so, none of this news bodes well. If I may ask- how long have you been here? Were you taken from your home as well?

[magique_bonbon]

Materia...? What's that?

I've been here for a few weeks now. Everyone's been taken from their homes, though a lot of people are from different worlds or times- the people behind Mayfield are pretty strong.

[felis_fidelus]

Ah, sorry. Materia are spheres of crystallized Lifestream- they're the medium through which one casts magic. I take it you're not from Gaia either?

... so I'm seeing. Rather disturbing, that they'd have the power to do so very much, but even the most powerful of people have their weaknesses.

Forgive me, miss, I didn't even catch your name. Reeve Tuesti. A pleasure, though meeting others under these circumstances isn't exactly ideal.

[magique_bonbon]

Ah, it's alright! You don't need to apologize. I'm from Earth- only a few people have those kinds of powers back there. I think this is supposed to be Earth, too, but it's... not right at all. And I've heard that Mayfield has a few weaknesses, but I haven't been here long enough to see any of them for myself.

Anyway, nice to meet you, Reeve. I'm Coquelicot- you don't have to call me 'miss' anymore!

[felis_fidelus]

So that's why that other fellow was so unaccustomed to the idea. Hm. Strange to think of other worlds when we've barely managed to reach space but once....

Miss- ah, Coquelicot. Sorry. [a bit of a laugh] Thank you for the information. It's very helpful.

[magique_bonbon]

I'm not nearly old enough to be called "miss" yet. It doesn't sit right!

-- and you're welcome! If you've got any more questions, don't be afraid to ask.

[felis_fidelus]

Fair enough. I'm a bit old-fashioned.

If you wouldn't mind... how are things handled here, like government and schools? Are we provided funds and sustenance, or should I start looking for a job?

[magique_bonbon]

I'm not really sure how Mayfield works. I've heard that the Mayor and the police are the bad guys behind everything; other than that, it all just works, either with us or with the drones.

Um... if you're talking about money and food, I think the town gives some of it to you. It also gives you a job that you're expected to go to, otherwise you get brainwashed for a while. Kind of like how it gives us families.

[felis_fidelus]

I can easily believe that the government body is behind all of this.

... lovely. I suppose as long as I don't end up sweeping streets or cleaning buildings. I'm too old for that sort of thing. You... don't sound too happy about the family thing either. Are you all right?

1/2

[magique_bonbon]

[Coquelicot technically works for the government back where she comes from, so she lets that particular subject pass on by.]

[She giggles a little at Reeve's next comment, though.] I think the town only has a few kinds of jobs to give us, so it probably won't be that bad... I think.

[magique_bonbon]

[The last comment throws her for a loop, though, and it's a few seconds before she responds.]

Ah...? N-No, I'm okay... I just don't think they should force people into families. That's not how a family should work.

[felis_fidelus]

[Technically Reeve leads the planetary government at home, so. xD]

Only a few types? That could prove an issue. I'm in a rather... specialized field.

[a pause, before a hum of agreement]

It's... not very comfortable, no. I imagine for some it could be painful. But as long as people have friends nearby, I think they'll be all right, don't you?

[magique_bonbon]

[Oh fff that's true, isn't it. XD I-I still have trouble thinking of him as anything other than the classic VII version: the only man badass crazy enough to help save the world with a remote-Inspired toy cat on a moogle.]

Really? Um, what do you do?

[Coquelicot pauses again.]

Yeah, that's true. And I already know that if we stick together, we won't lose hope, either.