It's a shuddering breath, a sensation of being
pulled to elsewhere and finding oneself pressed against something rather hard with the sound of water coming from nearby. However, before one can fully stir, there is something that lifts you up from the rather warm (yet why did it feel like a chill going down your spine?) stone when you begin to drift off once more. It felt as though someone had thrown you from the frying pan, and then into the freezer - all you wanted to do was sleep...
Yet the feeling passes quickly, and when you awaken, you begin to realize your surroundings. It looks like...a plaza of some sort? As they look around them, the ground beneath them is an intricate mosiac - a water fountain at the center of the plaza in this foreign world. There are many buildings around its perimeter, making this location seem like a central hub of whatever town this was. Some may even recognize the peculiar design of the buildings and sloped tiled rooftops as a Far Eastern theme. Were they somewhere along the Pacific? Who knows! But what is quite apparent is this: Along with the many buildings surrounding the plaza, the first thing that is noticeable is the amount of people sitting or standing around you in a similar daze.
You are not alone...One building seems to stand out among all the others; one that seems large enough to house all of the completely lost and confused masses gathered here to the welcome plaza. A sign outside the door reads:
WELCOME CENTER
Newcomers: Please come inside for refreshments and your welcome packets!Odd... This wasn't written in your own language, and yet you find it easily understandable. Soon enough, if you don't enter on your own, someone comes from inside the double doors to usher you and everyone else inside.
"Welcome to
Saeng Seong! I know you must be confused as to where you are and what's going on, but we promise to explain this to you once we're inside and away from the hot sun!"
Whether you go inside immediately or linger outside a little longer, eventually you must come in from the hot summer day, and sooner rather than later would probably be better. You'll find yourself in a well-lit lobby, filled with comfortable-looking couches and chairs. Along one wall are refreshment tables, loaded with all sorts of food and drink, including some you probably aren't familiar with. On the wall opposite are a pair of desks, each with a sign and a person seated behind them -
Irene, General AssistanceDevin, Technological AssistanceHowever, before you can go over and give them a piece of their mind and ask for questions, the same person who ushered you inside hands you a manilla envelope that contains your welcome packet, urging you to read this before asking the three figures questions that the packet likely answers.
Inside it, you will find: a ring with a key and apartment number on it, some kind of cash card, a
map and informational guide to the city, and a letter folded neatly on the top -
Welcome to Saeng Seong!
You are among a new group of arrivals to our city, from many far-apart worlds.
We have gathered you here because our city is in a crisis, and we are at our last resorts. The energy of the city is in a slow downward spiral, and is dangerously close to expiring altogether.
That's where you come in - you and everyone else we've brought to the city. Unlike those of us here, you have the potential to generate the energy the city needs, but you'll need to work together to do it.
Why? Because the energy can only be generated when two people touch each other. Any touch will do, but it must be between two of you who are new to the city. If you don't keep in contact with someone, eventually your energy will begin to drain as well, making you dangerously ill.
A few other things:
The closed-off sections of the city are closed off for a reason; approaching them will cause your energy to drain very rapidly. We're working to open the rest of the city to you as soon as we can, but for now, please remain within the two central districts of the city.
You have been given a key to a one-bedroom apartment in a complex set aside for you and the other new arrivals, near the riverside in the 1st district. You're free to change your living quarters whenever you like, and we encourage you to move in with someone in one of the larger apartments. When you want to change, just come back to this building to exchange your key.
We've also included a cash card with a living stipend; if you're unfamiliar with this system, or the network established for new arrivals, you can talk to Devin in the lobby for help. It's what he's here for. If you need medical assistance, contact Mai, one of our nurses - she'll be going around today for anyone who needs help.
Again, welcome, and thank you for all your help.
Irene
Arrival Liaison
Back behind you, others still linger, and through the translucent glass you can see a banner hanging from the tiled roof of the building across the street in the blistering summer day:
WELCOME TO SAENG SEONG
(ENJOY YOUR STAY!)
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rekindleme2013-07-18 07:41 pm
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He falls silent for a moment, rocking on his heels before suddenly starting to talk again, "We just powered up the Third District. There are a lot of stores there so you can get new clothes! That way you don't have to wear a ruined shirt anymore! They give us money in exchange for touching and helping them repower their city. See! Hugs aren't bad at all! I don't know why people wouldn't want them.
"Would you like a hug?"
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"So this stuff - really works?" He can't keep the incredulity out of his tone, or off his face, at that. Of course, he'll take the kid's story with a grain of salt. (Sending in the adorable children to pull the wool over his eyes would be a pretty cheap trick.) But hearing him out can't hurt.
A hug probably wouldn't, either, though it's not the reaction he's used to getting from strangers. Especially lately. Crossing his arms, Zack takes a half-step back and puts on a somewhat overwrought frown as he sizes the kid up. "I dunno. Can I trust you?"
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Now there might be things he doesn't full understand considering he is a rather sheltered six-year old from Ancient Ireland, but he would never intentionally lie about something.
"Do you feel sick at all? Or weak? Lord Vexen told me that is called "Touch Withdrawal" and that happens when you don't get enough hugs. But if you get a hug, you will feel better right away. That is what happened when I hugged him anyway."
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"Just like in a fairy tale, huh?" It's not a bad dream, and Zack's smile is a little more earnest when it reappears. Even after all he's been through, he can't look back and think differently.
"...Well, I guess I don't feel too hot." But he thinks there are better reasons for that than not being hugged enough (not that he has been hugged enough, lately - when his only consistent, friendly company's been a guy who couldn't talk or move or do much more than breathe, at all). After another second's consideration, he decides to hell with it. "All right. Why not?"
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When Zack consents to the hug, the boy walks over and holds out his arms. The man is quite a bit taller than the smaller than average six-year old is and unless he's picked up or Zack bends over, he won't be able to give a very good hug.
And well, what fun is giving a not very good hug?
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Naturally, he expects something like this, though. It wouldn't be very knightly to go around hugging strangers' legs or anything, and he's not really going to be too upset they forgo that route entirely. It'll be a lot less awkward for everyone if he just drops down to sit back on his heels and holds out his own arms for a hug.
He recognizes that he maybe ought to feel pretty ridiculous, in this position (at a time like this), but if he ever paid self-consciousness any mind, it'd be a first.
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"How is that? Does it make you feel better? Does it? I can keep hugging you as long as I need to to make sure you feel better!"
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Especially not while being hugged. Zack's not sure if it's because this is the first actual hug he's had in five years or more or just the enthusiasm, but he does feel better almost immediately. Not all the way to good, but definitely better. "As long as it takes, huh? Won't that get kind of tough? Your arms aren't gonna get tired?"
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Depending on how closely Zack is watching Diarmuid, he might notice something interesting happening as the boy speaks. There is movement in his dark hair, and after a moment, a small blue and green butterfly will crawl free and start happily circling their heads.
It's almost like it wants to know if Zack is feeling better too.
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For perfectly ordinary or totally bogus otherworld-y energy restoring reasons, he only feels about half as crummy when he lets the kid go, sitting back on his heels and smiling sheepishly. It's only then that he notices there's somebody else horning in on his personal space - where the heck did a butterfly come from, in here?
He tries to track its progress around his head with a gawky look of surprise. "Woah - looks like there's a bit of a bug problem, around here."
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The 'knight' is distracted from his task, though, when he notices what exactly Zack's words are directed at. Diarmuid giggles and shakes his head, holding his hands out. Surprisingly, the butterfly flutters over to him and settles into his hands.
"This is no bug! It is my pet. Wing said I should call him Dia, so that is his name," Diarmuid holds his hands out toward Zack so the man can see better. "My father made him for me!"
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Along with another smile, which fades back into surprised curiosity as he watches the strange little butterfly land in its equally peculiar owner's hands.
"Your pet? Hey, my bad." And for good measure, he leans to look closer at the butterfly, deeply apologetic. "Sorry about the 'bug' crack, too, Dia."
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As if to second the boy's words, the butterfly launches itself into the air, circling around Zack again for moment before coming to rest on Diarmuid's shoulder. Diarmuid reaches out to lightly touch one of the butterfly's wings before turning his attention back to Zack.
"Are you hungry or thirsty? The food and drink that is set out is for us. I didn't know that when I first arrived, but I know now. You don't have to trade for it or anything. They are really nice here, that is why I like helping them!"
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"I could stand to eat," he says, sobering as his attention shifts back to the much bigger Dia in front of him. It's a serious understatement, but he's gotten used to going without, in the past few months. He can last a little longer before availing himself of the buffet. "But I thought I'd check this place out, first. Y'know, get a real feel for it."
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"And if you really can't wait to go exploring, they have food you can carry with you now. There is one thing that is meat between two pieces of bread so you can take it with you and not make a mess!" He points toward the food table again and then giggles, "Just don't squeeze it too hard or it will attack you with the stuff inside!"
His friend had done that--squeezed a sandwich too hard and then yelled about it attacking when he got meat juices and ketchup all over him.
Diarmuid sure has met some interesting people since arriving here...
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"You mean a sandwich?" Yup. Definitely of another world. He can't help pulling a face, but at this rate he figures he'll just get another laugh for his trouble. "Yeah, pretty cutting edge."
Unfortunately for his resolve to figure this place out (not to mention his standing among the living), it weakens for every second he's got an unobstructed view of the table holding up all of that food. "...Maybe I'll just have a snack."
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Diarmuid turns away from the table and back toward Zack, a confused look on his face, "What does it mean to be 'cutting edge?' Is it something to do with a sword blade?"
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He talks with his mouth full unself-consciously enough, shaking his head as he arches a brow. "Uh, not really. It's more like, y'know, something really advanced. If something's 'cutting edge,' it's new." A pause, to swallow his food and clear his throat. "...And probably expensive."
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He listens to Zack's explanation about what 'cutting edge' is and as he does, his eyes widen, "So everything new is cutting edge? That means everything in this place is cutting edge because it is all new to me! We don't have any of this stuff back home! No paper or keys or money or..." Diarmuid giggles and points to the sandwich Zack is eating, "...or sandwiches!"
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"Pretty much," he says, though that's not quite the right definition. Close enough for government work. "Sounds like you come from a pretty weird place, though, kid. There's no paper, there?" The thought's almost enough to make him feel guilty for all the times he's wished to banish all paperwork from the face of the planet. (Almost.)
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"Since you know about sandwiches and paper you must be from the future! Do you like the future? Is it fun?"
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"The place I'm from's not bad, though." Not all the time, not everywhere. "And there's plenty of fun stuff. Like amusement parks, and arcades, and, uh... Haven't had a lot of time for that kind of thing, lately, actually. But I know there's other stuff, too."
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Fortunately, before Diarmuid can become too sad he is distracted by Zack's description of his world, "What are 'amusement parks' and 'ar-cades'? What do you do there? Is it fun? Do you think they have either of those things here?"
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He can only shrug at the next volley of questions, chewing thoughtfully on the latter half of his sandwich before he answers. "Around here? Arcades, maybe. Those're both places where you'd go to have fun, on my world. Play games, ride rides, that sort of thing. I guess you wouldn't know from roller coasters or claw machines either, though, huh?"
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"I am sorry you didn't get to have a lot of fun on your world. We have a lot of time here, so you should be able to have all the fun you want! They give us a place to live and money here," the boy digs into a pouch he has at his waist and pulls out a card and a key. "Here is the key to my room and here is the card with my money on it. It isn't a lot, but I don't need a lot because I am little!"
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