Introductions for Outsiders not from Terra

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INTRODUCTIONS 101 FOR NEWCOMERS
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GUSTAV'S LABS IN SECTOR 7 SLUMS - MIDGAR (PLANOS) & TIFA'S BAR 7th HEAVEN AFTERWARD

You awake with a start. Your head hurts. Your throat is dry. You open your eyes and there's a small man standing beside you with balding brown hair and big luminscent glasses in a dimly glowing blue light. You ask where you are and he explains he's not very good at explaining but please take this 5,000 Gil, a map of his world known as Terra and this device everyone uses called a tech communicator. It looks like a semi-complicated blackberry. If you would please exit my labyrinth, and find Seventh Heaven Bar...he says... Tifa Lockhart is always around serving others and she's ...much more friendly and better at explaining things.

You demand answers of course but that gets you no where automatically. He locks himself in his supposed office and you're left standing there, wondering just where you are. You pound on his door after a few minutes and he still won't answer. Frustrated, you know this Tifa Lockhart has all the answers. Best find her. Within the next twenty minutes, you're standing outside in twilight darkness and there's a hustle and bustle of people around. You keep asking for the bar, but no one answers. Then a man does and you find it.

Upon walking in, there's a room wiping down a bar counter with a few sparse customers drinking and eating while they talk merrily. You approach carefully and ask the woman: Are you Tifa Lockhart? She looks up, gives you a critical look and smiles. You're not from here. Bet you're one of Gustav's little accidental experiments again. Again? Well, okay.

She tells you sit down and explains everything. Gustav, the scientist you met and the Lionfaerie who help run some place called a Garden created a device that brings people from other worlds here. He's rich, so he gives everyone their currency, plus other such objects to get them started because right now there's no way anyone's going back until they figure how to send people back. You might be wondering why it keeps happening, she says, pointing her index finger at her lips. Well, it's out of control. Constantly bringing people through and the idiot made both machines indestructible. She mumbles something about knowing it had to be on purpose and you sigh.

You tell her your hungry, and thirsty. She automatically whips up a bowl of what she calls her famous chicken stew and a tall glass of icy honey tea lemonade. It's refreshing and as you eat, she continues to talk. You'll have to find a job to support yourself, she says, I could use help around the bar. It gets busy at night, more than in the day. There's also what most people enjoy doing when they come through here though... you can't help but ask What's that? She grins, easy, adventuring. All you need to learn is a job class for the next two-three months and go from there. Find yourself a party with other unlucky people who got pulled through and travel to Balamb Garden in Ganosh or elsewhere to see if you can get yourself out of this.

That sounds...promising. No use dilly-dallying around. Might as well do something worthwhile. You get sad though. What about my friends and family? They'll be worried. She reaches over with a napkin and wipes off the corner of your mouth, smiling a bit fondly in a sad way and boops the end of your nose. She says: Sweetie. It'll be okay. We don't know how time works between, here and your world but don't worry too much. Just find your way. I understand though. I'd be upset too but life throws us circumstances we can't control sometimes. Sometimes, we just deal with them.

You sigh. She makes sense. Sure but come on, people will be worried. You voice such. She frowns, nodding. Yeah, I get it but there's nothing I can do but give you room and board, then hand you over to Briggs and Wedge, who can take you to the slum school of class learning. Just...you'll be okay. I wish there was more I could do but you gotta buck up, sweetie. It'll be okay. It really will.

You nod, finishing off your stew and drink. Seconds? She asks. You shake your head, it was good you say, but I'm too worried right now. She nods. Come on, I know someone about your size and have a extra set of clothes. Come with me and you can have a shower and a clean change of clothes. Then I'll explain more as we get things done.

You have your shower, you sleep somewhat but mostly contemplate in the night. When you wake up refresh, you ask Tifa to introduce you to her friends and she does. The next thing you know, you're learning fighting class trades, learning about low energy, high energy, materia, weapons and all else. It takes exactly three months, you get close to Tifa and her friends and still Gustav has no answers. You're starting to look for party members that round out your skill set and you're looking forward to adventure. Have fun, explorer.

BALAMB GARDEN QUAD STORAGE ROOM - MEETING SELPHIE TILMIT AND ZACK FAIR + DECIDING WHAT TO DO

Ah, that you wake up with a start. Someone's looking at you from outside your prison and it seems to be a tiny woman with big green eyes. You realize you're in some kind of liquid and start to panic. She holds up a finger, looking apologetic and walks from your sight. The liquid drains and the prison opens. You fall out, hacking up a lung it feels like.

"Sorry about that. I wasn't sure if you'd wake up soon or not," she says, reaching down to wrap a blanket around you.

You stand, teeth chattering and wrapping the blanket even tighter around yourself. "Where am I?"

"Hrm... Balamb Garden. Balamb Country. Ganosh the continent. Terra the planet to be exact. And you're not from here, we're establishing, so listen up, buckaroo," She says hand on her hip. "I'm Selphie Tilmitt. Someone that looks your size is bringing you fresh clothes. His name would be Zack Fair and he's been in the same predicument as you, mister. He'll calm all your worries, I promise."

Your mind is a whirlwind. "I can't remember my name right now. I feel ...yucky."

"You poor thing. I promise your memory comes back in the next hour or so. It's the mako juices you were in. Stuff makes your memory all woozy and sidewinded," Selphie explained.

The door opens, someone a head and a half taller than her walks in with a bright smile. "Hey there. Names Zack. Brought you clothes and food. Bet you're famished."

You are famished. Beyond hungry, it smells like grease and you tentatively make a grab for the bag he's holding. You open it and inside are two burgers and some fries. Thank whoever above for this guy.

They both laugh. "Okay, eat, man. You're good. Then you can get dressed and come upstairs. We'll explain everything in the mean time though. Ready, Selph?"

"Yep, Yep, Zackerooni. Well, let's see. Already explained location but why are you here? Good question. Gustav the scientist from Midgar is a top notch bastard and made an indestructible machine that won't turn off and stop bringing people to our world. So, you're basically stuck until we figure out what to do with you," the small woman explains.

Zack rubs the back of his neck sheepishly when a sad look comes over your face. "Come on, don't be like that. I know it sucks, but there's brighter days ahead. Balamb is a great place to live and if you're under eighteen, which you kinda look it, then you can train here and learn the ropes of this world."

You sigh. "I'm starting to remember things but no name yet."

"I'm sorry, honey. It'll be okay. Eat those burgers, come on. You're handling this way better than some people. I got a black eye for calling some guy a studmuffin because it turned out he didn't trust ninjas. Think he was a samurai," Selphie said, twirling a finger in the area near her temple to explain he was crazy in the head.

Zack patter her on the head. "Aw, I remember that. Guy pretty much almost took out those pretty green eyes."

"Hey, I'm not a dog and it takes me at least an hour to get my hair this way. You ass," Selphie said, pushing his hand away as she stuck out her tongue. It was easy to tell they were good friends."But yes, my eyes were almost shishkabob. I still stay away from him."

Zack shook his head. "Anyway, we offer room and board here until you figure out how you want to live life in Terra. You might decide to become a student, which is a really good idea so you learn how to fight in this world. We got monsters, and there's a lot of war that goes down at times. Best to be prepared. Headmaster Cid and our commander can give you a better run down."

You're done with the burgers, and the fries are almost gone. You're thirsty. Ah, man. Water would taste so good right now. "Um, got anything to drink?"

Zack gives a small blush. "Oh wow, man. I completely forgot a drink. I'm sorry. We'll get you one as soon as we leave from here. Alright?"

You nod.

Selphie puts her hands on her knees, smiling as she looks up at you. "Get dressed, sweetcheeks. I think you're gonna be okay. Best otherworlder we've had so far. Zack and I will wait outside for you. Don't be scared, of all the noise. We're a school and often busy."

Zack handed you the clothes and saluted. "See you soon, Cadet."

Both exited.

You get dressed and contemplate. Things may not have been the best at home but you'd rather be there. Still. If this is your only option, so be it. Those two didn't seem sinister at all. Later you find yourself signing up for classes, or if you're past 25, you've taking crash course classes. Eitherway, life is an adventure and it's time to do something that means something.

code bases by tricklet