[[Red Ring Day 29]]
Man, what a day! As you all know, I spent the last few days in the tender care of Cid, who trained us with patience and compassion. I also have a vastly expanded vocabulary of swear words. Also, I discovered I love piloting Gummi ships! The funny thing is I don’t really like driving cars, and I’m still reluctant to drive my dad’s boat. Well, it’s not so much that I dislike driving, but I get stressed that I’ll screw up and hit something and that detracts from the enjoyment. But space is huge, and there isn’t much to hit up until I get near a world, and then it’s just kind of a rush. When I’m in a car or boat I get worried I’ll damage it and get in trouble, or even worse I’ll hurt someone. In space, there are no speed limits, insurance, or lanes. Just open sky!
My ship is a beauty! She’s the standard Highwind class, but she’s painted black and blue, so she blends really well into space. She has a long front stretching back to the cockpit, with rounded stubby wings on either side, and her one gun slung in front of the cockpit like a WWI fighter plane. She’s got a captain’s quarters (with its own bathroom), a smaller room for a first mate, and another room with enough bunks for four people. There’s also a fair sized bathroom, a mess hall, a small sickbay, the engine room, and a small lounge. I decided to name her the Cork, both as a tribute to the district in Ireland where my Great Grandmother’s family lived, and as a reminder of the Irish city I myself am going to spend a semester in when Earth is restored. The ship’s name is a reminder, and a promise.
Anyway, today was the day Cid decided that my performance was passable enough to begin flying my ring. He tossed me Merlin’s map, a Gummi manual, and some cool goggles as a graduation present. Then he informed me that I could go to Disney Castle for repairs so there was no need to bother him anymore.
I actually think Leon’s a little sad to see me go though. After all, no one else in Traverse is stupid enough to ask to train with him (Yuffie doesn’t count, since she can hold her own, unlike me). I proceeded to spend my free time in Traverse serving as his movable punching bag in the hopes of picking up some new moves. So far the only thing I’ve gained for sure is bruises. I think there’s gonna be an empty spot on his gunblade where my face used to be. In-between getting my ass kicked and being told a five year old could pilot better than me I did manage to get in a little magic practice in at Merlin’s. Merlin himself was occupied with fighting the Heartless and his new apprentice, but he let me use his practice field. I can now generate a blizzard spell the size of a large walnut, and if I keep it up I should be able to throw a pretty potent blast in a week’s time.
Getting back on track I strapped in and blasted off for Disney Castle. I didn’t actually stop there, but rather used it as a reference point before heading off to Treasure Planet. I used LJ to get in touch with shadowdancer09 and find out the exact planet she was on (Treasure Planet is more of a sphere that’s bigger on the inside than it is outside, kind of a micro universe inside the larger multiverse). Once I arrived I registered Cork with the local authorities as an independently owned transport and cargo ship, and used most of the money I earned in Twilight to pay the docking fees (note to Treasure Planet inhabitants: I’m not gonna be able to earn much munny while flying, so if you could cover the fee’s that would be great). shadowdancer09 had given me her contact info so I was able to use the docking bay’s com system to call her up and direct her to where I was parked.
Once she was aboard I headed out and rounded the worlds dodging Heartless until I reached Port Royal. I set the ship down well outside Port Royal and left shadowdancer09 to guard it while I changed into the British sailor clothes I found in Monstro and snuck into town. I was able to slip in with a crowd of merchants from nearby plantations and towns and find my way to the inn where most of the survivors were staying. I got there early enough to say hi to chibi_shiro, which was great since I haven’t seen her since Wonderland what seems like years ago. I was also reunited with belegwen and introduce myself to albinowings. Hopefully I didn’t weird out albinowings too much with the whole bowing to belegwen and calling her Lady Gwendolen, but I couldn’t resist. We said goodbye to the others and managed to get out of the town without much difficulty (I had to tell the town guard I was the brother of belegwen’s husband, come to escort her and her sister to a nearby town).
We reached the Cork and set off again on a short hop to Agrabah to pick up minaclueless. I again landed the ship far outside the city and dragged my butt through the burning desert to the city gates. Luckily minaclueless was already waiting outside the gates with some water (thanks again!) and a sign with her lj name. Not that it would have been hard for her to recognize me, what with the jeans, cavalry saber and a ripped tee-shirt covered in dry blood. We headed back to the ship (did I mention I hate heat) and took off.
We arrived at Olympus Coliseum shortly afterward, and I said goodbye to minaclueless and shadowdancer09. belegwen and albinowings headed off to get some lunch, and I met up with Greenintern. I gotta tell you, seeing him almost made me break down right there. I’ve spent the last few weeks assuming everyone I ever cared about was dead, and so to see one of my closest friends alive and safe, well let’s just say we hugged a little longer than usually allowed for a man hug. We spent several hours reminiscing and exploring the shopping district, where I picked up a wetstone and some sword polish to take care of Marvin. Man this place is pretty amazing and surprisingly cosmopolitan, which is nice because I feel like I’ll be spending a lot of time here. Although frankly it doesn’t matter what the worlds, as long as my buddy’s here. I’m planning to stop by tomorrow for S-day.
After a while it was time to get going. I showed Greenintern around my ship, (he was especially happy about the working shower) and then headed off. I finally reached Disney Castle, where belegwen, albinowings , and I were formally introduced to Queen Minnie, the nicest person I have ever met. I was planning to spend the night on my ship, but she wouldn’t hear it and set us up with a formal dinner (which to someone subsiding on scraps for close to a month is a feast). After dinner, where we all shared some of our experiences in the ‘verse, I retired to a guest room where I’m typing this. I’m heading out again tomorrow, wonder if it’ll be as busy as it was today.
My ship is a beauty! She’s the standard Highwind class, but she’s painted black and blue, so she blends really well into space. She has a long front stretching back to the cockpit, with rounded stubby wings on either side, and her one gun slung in front of the cockpit like a WWI fighter plane. She’s got a captain’s quarters (with its own bathroom), a smaller room for a first mate, and another room with enough bunks for four people. There’s also a fair sized bathroom, a mess hall, a small sickbay, the engine room, and a small lounge. I decided to name her the Cork, both as a tribute to the district in Ireland where my Great Grandmother’s family lived, and as a reminder of the Irish city I myself am going to spend a semester in when Earth is restored. The ship’s name is a reminder, and a promise.
Anyway, today was the day Cid decided that my performance was passable enough to begin flying my ring. He tossed me Merlin’s map, a Gummi manual, and some cool goggles as a graduation present. Then he informed me that I could go to Disney Castle for repairs so there was no need to bother him anymore.
I actually think Leon’s a little sad to see me go though. After all, no one else in Traverse is stupid enough to ask to train with him (Yuffie doesn’t count, since she can hold her own, unlike me). I proceeded to spend my free time in Traverse serving as his movable punching bag in the hopes of picking up some new moves. So far the only thing I’ve gained for sure is bruises. I think there’s gonna be an empty spot on his gunblade where my face used to be. In-between getting my ass kicked and being told a five year old could pilot better than me I did manage to get in a little magic practice in at Merlin’s. Merlin himself was occupied with fighting the Heartless and his new apprentice, but he let me use his practice field. I can now generate a blizzard spell the size of a large walnut, and if I keep it up I should be able to throw a pretty potent blast in a week’s time.
Getting back on track I strapped in and blasted off for Disney Castle. I didn’t actually stop there, but rather used it as a reference point before heading off to Treasure Planet. I used LJ to get in touch with shadowdancer09 and find out the exact planet she was on (Treasure Planet is more of a sphere that’s bigger on the inside than it is outside, kind of a micro universe inside the larger multiverse). Once I arrived I registered Cork with the local authorities as an independently owned transport and cargo ship, and used most of the money I earned in Twilight to pay the docking fees (note to Treasure Planet inhabitants: I’m not gonna be able to earn much munny while flying, so if you could cover the fee’s that would be great). shadowdancer09 had given me her contact info so I was able to use the docking bay’s com system to call her up and direct her to where I was parked.
Once she was aboard I headed out and rounded the worlds dodging Heartless until I reached Port Royal. I set the ship down well outside Port Royal and left shadowdancer09 to guard it while I changed into the British sailor clothes I found in Monstro and snuck into town. I was able to slip in with a crowd of merchants from nearby plantations and towns and find my way to the inn where most of the survivors were staying. I got there early enough to say hi to chibi_shiro, which was great since I haven’t seen her since Wonderland what seems like years ago. I was also reunited with belegwen and introduce myself to albinowings. Hopefully I didn’t weird out albinowings too much with the whole bowing to belegwen and calling her Lady Gwendolen, but I couldn’t resist. We said goodbye to the others and managed to get out of the town without much difficulty (I had to tell the town guard I was the brother of belegwen’s husband, come to escort her and her sister to a nearby town).
We reached the Cork and set off again on a short hop to Agrabah to pick up minaclueless. I again landed the ship far outside the city and dragged my butt through the burning desert to the city gates. Luckily minaclueless was already waiting outside the gates with some water (thanks again!) and a sign with her lj name. Not that it would have been hard for her to recognize me, what with the jeans, cavalry saber and a ripped tee-shirt covered in dry blood. We headed back to the ship (did I mention I hate heat) and took off.
We arrived at Olympus Coliseum shortly afterward, and I said goodbye to minaclueless and shadowdancer09. belegwen and albinowings headed off to get some lunch, and I met up with Greenintern. I gotta tell you, seeing him almost made me break down right there. I’ve spent the last few weeks assuming everyone I ever cared about was dead, and so to see one of my closest friends alive and safe, well let’s just say we hugged a little longer than usually allowed for a man hug. We spent several hours reminiscing and exploring the shopping district, where I picked up a wetstone and some sword polish to take care of Marvin. Man this place is pretty amazing and surprisingly cosmopolitan, which is nice because I feel like I’ll be spending a lot of time here. Although frankly it doesn’t matter what the worlds, as long as my buddy’s here. I’m planning to stop by tomorrow for S-day.
After a while it was time to get going. I showed Greenintern around my ship, (he was especially happy about the working shower) and then headed off. I finally reached Disney Castle, where belegwen, albinowings , and I were formally introduced to Queen Minnie, the nicest person I have ever met. I was planning to spend the night on my ship, but she wouldn’t hear it and set us up with a formal dinner (which to someone subsiding on scraps for close to a month is a feast). After dinner, where we all shared some of our experiences in the ‘verse, I retired to a guest room where I’m typing this. I’m heading out again tomorrow, wonder if it’ll be as busy as it was today.