second;;

[changedthegame]

[This dream is much different than the last. That’s easy enough to see by the state of the Grid. Yes, you’re on the Grid again. But it’s not desolate like it was last time. It’s actually a pretty lively place. There are Programs and Users, alike, walking around, as well as a mix of ISOs and Basics. Tron City is still a bustling place fully in it’s

Comments

[auncyenhalig]

[ If Aerith had been asked right at that moment to explain who she was, where she was, her lack of tech-savvy would have made her falter and stumble over the concepts of Users and ISOs and Programs. They were all people, right?

What she understood was enough to satisfy her: this was a place to get away from the real world and her heritage and all the things those two entailed. They didn't matter. She wasn't "the Ancient" here, just another girl in the bar. It made her happy, relaxed, and genuinely carefree -- evident by the drink in front of her. She didn't drink in real life. She still didn't drink much on the Grid, but she was willing to chance tipsiness. After all, she had yet to find her favorite drink. ]

Hey... [ She gives a small finger wave from just down the bar. ] Having a good night?

[changedthegame]

[Sam turns when he catches the movement out of the corner of his eye and he smiles when he sees who it is. He remembers her from somewhere, but he can't really place where. Not right now, at least. It doesn't matter though. He gets up from his seat and walks over to take an empty seat next to her] Quiet nights are always good. [He gestures around to the rest of the club and chuckles to himself] Even though it doesn't seem like this would be a quiet night.

[auncyenhalig]

[ She looks around curiously, then back at him. ] Are you expecting something to happen?

[changedthegame]

I always expect something to happen on quiet nights. I'm only wrong sometimes, though.

[auncyenhalig]

So it's almost always lively, you mean. [ She turns away from the bar, now making no secret of looking out at the people. ] With so much security, it doesn't seem like you'd have problems with fights! This is nothing like the slums.

[changedthegame]

Security's good here and at the Game Grid, but out in the city, it isn't quite the same. I mean, more Sentries could be created - it wouldn't take dad long to write more security programs - but too much security everywhere would drive off all the Users too. There are problems here that Users don't see. Mostly because part of my job is making sure they don't see it. They know it's there because they hear all about it from the Programs, but as long as they don't see it, they don't much care.

[auncyenhalig]

Your dad? Oh -- you're -- !

[ She knows that she's supposed to know of him, the son of the man who set so much of this up, who has an important job of his own. But the only name coming right now is Rufus and she knows, knows that one isn't right. "Rufus" doesn't fit him at all.

A bit flustered by her sudden tongue-tying, she takes another sip of her drink to buy time. ]

... That sounds kind of suspicious, you know. Like you're trying to distract them.

[changedthegame]

[Sam watches her, to see if she's going to finish what she was saying] Sam. I'm Sam. And you are?

[He frowns a little and shakes his head at her accusation] We're not trying to be shady about this or anything. People just feel better if they think this place is different than wherever they're coming from when it's actually pretty much the same. In a way, I am trying to distract them, but I'm not trying to hide anything from them. They get straight answers if they come looking for them.

[auncyenhalig]

Aerith. Sorry, my mind took a little vacation there! [ She laughs off her embarrassment. But ... that explanation has her push her drink away quietly. ]

There are differences ... aren't there? This can't be the same as Midgar. [ Her head bows for a second, but then she swivels in her seat toward Sam, earnest. ] What do you like to do in your free time here?

[changedthegame]

Differences? What do you mean? [He considers waiting for her to answer his question before he answers hers, but then he presses on anyway] Me? Personally? My free time is usually spent at home.

[auncyenhalig]

[ And with him pressing on, she takes it as an opportunity to bypass the first topic -- there are differences, there are, because the Shinra aren't here. ]

No, no, here! [ She may not understand yet that some Users actually do consider this home. ] What do you think is exciting?

[changedthegame]

[If he remembers, he'll get back to that question. So you may not be out of the woods yet, Aerith]

I'm talking about here. This is home. I've lived here for about two hundred and fifty cycles now. Well, give or take a bit. As for exciting? The Light Cycle Grid.

[auncyenhalig]

[ Aerith spends her life in the woods. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf ]

[ She has to think about the two-hundred and fifty cycles; all she can come up with is ... that's a substantial amount of time. ] I see ... I like coming here, but I've never really thought about staying.

Where they race?

[changedthegame]

[Well, true...]

[Sam's not entirely sure, anymore, how much time that would be to anyone else. Without having gone to the User World in a while, making the comparison is kinda... out the window] Most Users don't really see this place and think 'home' but, I don't know. Dad showed me the Grid when I was still just a kid and I guess I grew attached to it.

[auncyenhalig]

Do you ever -- you know, visit outside?

[changedthegame]

I never really thought of visiting, actually.