[OPEN] A World Exchange

[tantailizing]

Who: Zidane, ANYONE
Which: Interactive Dream, Open
What: Madhuri suggested a dream exchange to see what Zidane's world is like. Never say that a theater kid doesn't dream big especially when it's of Lindblum.
Warnings: No present warnings.

It stands tall - high and near to the clouds, a mountain range merged with billowing towers and massive ticking gears, whose encompassing walls are sealed by a massive mechanical gate bearing a fitting falcon crest upon it. Around, the skies are filled by airships big and small - the biggest circling and docking within the hanger within the most peak building while others soar to-and-fro - out of the protective natural borders, but also between the levels.

Yes, while the peaks catch the most attention, there’s still equal amazement to the sloping buildings and roads; businesses, residents, and entertainments of all kinds through the bustling city. But nay, another look from how the buildings and various districts all line up towards the castle on top, this is a kingdom - protected, prosperous… and rebuilding in some ways. Best to take a second look perhaps at the residence too for strictly expecting humans in this dream would be an error as humans, anthropomorphic animals, and normal animals can be found wandering the roads, their clothes of early century’s periods but also not.

What a curious dream to wander...

I. Business District

Seems to be the place where most dreamers (and ‘travelers’ within the dream) arrive after walking along the footpath through a great stone arc and its gate. The guards posted seem to pay no mind, but considering the number of travelers, adventurers, and other folks walking by, a dreamer is one amongst the crowd. Walking up the main red cobblestone road leads one past a line of tall apartment-like buildings to the left, an inn mixed between them, and on the right, a station where an aircab departs from. To walk further down the road is to enter the market square. Alice and Dragoos’ Armory and Medicine Shop, Polom's Action Figures, Pepe's Milk Shop, Ivan's Fish Stack, Milla's Oil Shop, Grandma Pickle's corner stand, the list goes on, but the crowds are spaced and easy to navigate through.

Should one continue on a straight path instead of going further into the marketplace towards Wayne’s Synthesis Shop, they’d find themselves entering yet another residential area, but one who’s path leads to a church. It seems more for show than anything - a place to take refuge or offer prayers to whichever deity they believed as opposed to anything truly organized.

II. Industrial District

The area is in the most disrepair but thriving all the same. Steam is bountiful as are the constant grinding gears between thundering hammers as establishments are built up again. Reconstruction has been underway for a while which fortunately does leave enough for the wandering dreamer to explore. Its main square after departing an aircab is in the most need of work still, but one can admire the statue honoring ‘Cid Fabool VIII’ with its impressive mustache. One might also note the abundance of cats in the area left to wander about and that stray further should one walk forward.

Once past all the construction, dreamers can reach yet another residential-like area and tavern. Given the way the district’s residents appear to work constantly, a tavern would be a welcomed place for downtime. Looks like today’s special on the blackboard outside is ‘Senor Sabotender’. Try not to drink too much because getting drunk in a dream is very real. Still, if one is up for the idle banter with the ‘locales’, step inside, have a seat at the bar, and Bobo will see about getting you set up momentarily.

III. Theater District

This district sits at an impressive height should one notice from the aircab station and stepping outside, there’s a different vibe. Time is of the essence as the station clock turns and bells chime somewhere in the district, and the explorative dreamer may notice signs posted for performances, the directions to various theaters, and even to a few art galleries and studios. There’s not much to see at the galleries right now, but there has been an open studio recently. Oh well, maybe next time dreamers could catch it.

As for traveling on and down the stairs to the right of the station, thus begins a long (and perhaps dizzying) walk down Theater Avenue’s cobblestone way where plenty of actors and stagehands make their homes again housing clocks and bells and even gears - time is of importance when you’re a performer it seems. Or perhaps just viewing the Falcon’s Gate from the hill is enough - just make sure to hold onto the railing for most dreamers are likely not Dragon Knights.

Finally, should those decide to continue down Theater Avenue and descend a further flight of stairs, they would finally reach the main theater of the district itself, Fuegert Memorial Theater. Unfortunately, there’s a crowd barring entry and tickets are likely sold out for the performance, but hey, there’s plenty more to explore of the kingdom.

IV. Grand Castle

Too bad, it doesn’t seem like there’s a way to reach the castle. From each district, dreamers can only look up towards it and the airships that occasionally disembark.

… unless.

Comments

[starshower]

[She shakes her head.]

I think it's cute. It gives it a lived-in sort of feel, you know?

[The messiness. If it were her, she would prefer that her own home would be left exactly how she remembered it being. It wasn't messy, but there were things around that anyone could easily tell just by looking at it that a family lived there. It makes the place that much more endearing.]

May I?

[Come in, she means, as she gestures through the window, and then to the front door.]

[tantailizing]

I guess it does.

[He misses it, but they all have to move on someday, right? And at her question, he nods.]

‘Course! Come around and I’ll let you in. Just be careful with some of the floorboards.

[starshower]

[Tifa soon disappears from the window and there's a knock on the door seconds later.]

Knock knock! A bit of a fixer-upper then?

[Not that it matters here in a dream world, she's just being cute.]

[tantailizing]

[He opens the door, grinning.]

A little late for that fixer-upper, but come in! Come in!

[It's definitely not the biggest space for people to be living in, but it's shelter.]

[starshower]

[She peeks in, as if this is her first time seeing the inside, and like this is also the first time Zidane has seen her, and she gives a little wave from the other side of the threshold, and even a playful curtsy.]

My, what a lovely home you have!

[It's certainly bigger than any of the spaces that Tifa had lived in, and although it feels and looks a little cramped for a lot of people, it feels... homey.]

So, this was the place the famous Zidane grew up in. It's very... you.

[tantailizing]

[He'll grin and playfully bow back.]

Such a compliment. Please, make yourself comfortable~

[Quite cramped for a whole crew, but they made due.]

Aw, stop. Though, it's more 'Tantalus' than me alone.

[starshower]

[She will in a moment, after she takes a better look—or rather, wander—around the place, pausing to check out any small knickknacks or photos that might be hanging or framed somewhere.]

Tantalus? That your roommate?

[She can't recall him ever telling her about this Tantalus person, either here or in Camelot, and if he has, then it's a very distant, vague memory that she can't quite pinpoint. Either way, she'd like to hear more about it, and what kind of person this is given the state of the place.]

[tantailizing]

[There's knickknacks... maybe too many knickknacks. And weapons; plenty of weapons, but closer inspection shows most of them are practice props.]

Nope! Tantalus is the name of our troupe!

[Weird, had the version of him she met before been cagey, or had that conversation not come up? Hm... probably hadn't come up.]

[starshower]

Theatre troupe?

[It's presumptuous but given that she was told this was the Theatre District, the conclusion only makes sense. Not to mention the prop weapons scattered about, and there's a sword that she picks up to discover that it's a lot lighter than she assumed it would be that she overcompensates and almost knocks something over with it. Oops!!

Plus, Zidane seems the type who could be a part of one if he really wanted to be. He has the glowing personality for it—a personality that reminds her of another dear friend from home that enjoyed being up on stage as well.]

[tantailizing]

Yup! Tantalus Theater Troupe, Lindblum's traveling troupe aboard the Prima Vista II!

[Zidane seems unbothered by the near mess Tifa almost makes with the sword. Yeah, these ones were for practice, but only until they were ready to use their real ones. Still, no one's here besides them.]

Haha, they're probably out performing now anyway if they're not home. That's fine.

[He did that on purpose.]

[starshower]

[She's just going to set the prop sword down where she found it and will look but not touch.]

You think so?

[What she wouldn't give to see a performance put on around here...]

Think if we hurry, we could catch a show?

[tantailizing]

[He nods.]

We'd normally have a few people back if it wasn't a performance.

[Probably just had the usual keeping an eye on the place.]

We can see about the Theater here.

[starshower]

Well, what are we waiting for!?

[There's so much to do and see that it's a little overwhelming, but if she can catch a show before the dream is over, she'll be glad for that much.]

You'll need to show me the way.

[tantailizing]

I can't promise we'll be able to see the show this time, but let's see how close we can get.

[Walking back over to the door, he holds it open for her.]

After you~

[starshower]

[On their way out, Tifa pauses at the door to give him a flourishing curtsy—it's the best that she can do.]

My, such a gentleman!

[With a playful smile, she wanders back out into the streets.]

So, are we going to look for a vantage point instead of going right to the stage?

[That's what it sounded like, anyway!]

[tantailizing]

I may not be nobility, my dear, but I do have my manners.

[Chuckling, he follows after her, closing the door.]

That'll depend on which stage they're using at the theater. If it's outdoor, no problem. Trying to sneak indoors? Eh, mixed success.

[starshower]

Sneaking in, huh...?

[Honestly, that does sound kind of fun, and the glint in her eyes says as much without her having to say so out loud.]

This is a dream, isn't it? [Tifa, don't break the rules!] How hard could that even be?

[tantailizing]

Haha, surprisingly hard. But if we can't get in, it's probably because I blocked it off. I think trying to have a play performing could be a lot.

[Because he'd have to supply the actors, actresses, lines, costumes, stage... in the dream.]

[starshower]

Well, if there isn't one, then I guess we just have to make one of our own...

[It's not as if them doing it themselves would be any strain on him, would it!?]

I've got a little experience myself.

[Not really, but Jessie did teach her a thing or two!]

[tantailizing]

Oh ho~ Empty stage instead?

[That he can do since she wants to see the theater so badly... and it'll be announced by a ringing as the district bells begin to chime.]

Well, the performance just ended so we'll be able to do that.

[starshower]

This'll give you a chance to show me what you're made of.

[If he grew up a part of a theatre troupe, she'll bet that he has a few fun tricks up his sleeve. More than she's got, at the very least. She was never up on stage at the Gold Saucer, so this'll be a first for her.

She walks at a speedier pace in their direction when the bells start to chime, and when they arrive, it's as if the stage had been there waiting for them all this time, empty and quiet. It's no opera house, but this is still impressive in its own charming way, and she motions to Zidane.]

So, what kind of show should we put on for your dreams?

[tantailizing]

Oh yeah? I wasn't performing in that world?

[Though, fair enough, it's not like he did solo shows or anything normally. If he was not with his troupe, he was adventuring or finding some other way to preoccupy himself.]

[Man, oh, man, Zidane's only been to the Memorial Theater so often. Considering they had the Prima Vista as their mobile stage, performing at a static one just wasn't as fun or exciting. Maybe a little more space for props, but eh. Stepping onto the cleared stages, he shrugs.]

We take requests. What kind of show do you wanna see?

[starshower]

[That's a lot of pressure to put on her! But it's pressure she will willingly shoulder if it means they can have a little bit of fun with the stage.

Following him up, she allows herself a moment to be enthralled by the whole thing, having never been up on a real stage herself. She'd only heard stories about it from Jessie when she'd spent time learning from her, and she tries to imagine the kind of play Tifa would love to be in.

She is, admittedly, a hopeless romantic, and although that would be her first voice for both a starring role and as a part of a captivated audience, that wouldn't fit the sort of friendship she has with Zidane.]

How about something with a little bit of adventure and... mystery? [Her arms spread out on either side of her.] Intrigue! Something that makes the audience gasp out loud at a big reveal.

[tantailizing]

[He misses the stage a bit. It's been a while since he'd been on one since his return and subsequent arrival to Reverein. That just reminds him that maybe a mini-theater could be set up for anyone to use - issue would be keeping the space tidy, but if the community could do it, that'd be great. Maybe he would ask over the journal later...]

[Turning to look at Tifa, he grins and nods.]

Adventure and mystery, huh? I have a good tale for that.

[starshower]

Please tell me there's a leading lady role. More adventure stories need one.

[And if there isn't, well guess what! They'll just have to make one themselves.]

So, what's it called? What's it about?