Despite the standard day and night cycle, some of you may notice this place still doesn’t feel quite right, a bit outside of time. That shouldn’t stop you from having fun! And should you need to go back to the Grove — or if you’re someone looking to get into Neo Eden in the first place — you need only to gaze into a mirror placed in each of your bedrooms or apartments and wish to go home… which may lead you to fall catastrophically through it to the other side. Try not to hit your chin on the ground.
Life goes on regardless. In this city, there’s a lot to do. You could go shopping at the strip mall near Mania Square, where Heimr and Ydalir have set up a temporary shop to continue to provide for everyone’s needs. They’ll still take shells, but there’s nothing much they can do if you run out of Credits — both will gently suggest you find work in Neo Eden. You guys own businesses back at the Grove, it can’t be that bad, can it?
The good news is, Mr. Bone-Jangles and his entourage of skeletons who you swear weren’t originally here 12 hours ago are happy to help you get a job, where the interview process involves simply “showing up and asking your holographic boss if you can be employed”. Starting your own business is more difficult — you’ll need a loan from the bank! — but not impossible. Any hologram humans that come in to buy things will ignore you, get what they want, and leave. The only time you can interact with your fellow neon-coloured humans is when they’re making a purchase, at which point their items will digitize and they’ll leave. All very odd, but at least the customers aren’t rude to you… or your skeletal coworkers who have joined you for back-breaking labour.
After work, perhaps you want to head to the amusement park — Thrill Point is an utterly massive one to the far northeast of the city past the river that cuts through the digital roadways. With drop towers, roller coasters, rides for little babies who hate heights and fun, and tons of food stalls to stop at, you could feasibly spend all night here and almost forget that you have to be at your next shift in the morning! If you seek a different thrill, Arcadia is a nightclub southwest of Mania Square, where the music plays all night, the liquor flows freely, and anyone under 21 who enters gets marked with an X on the back of their hand by a harmless laser beam. Just outside Arcadia is a small photo booth named “The Swap”, and if you enter with a partner, both of you hitting the “TAKE PHOTO” button will bodyswap you for 12 hours. It will also print out a funny photo of you as a keepsake. Enjoy being someone else for a while!
Head to the Rent-a-Ride, where you can rent any vehicle on wheels — electric scooters, cars, motorcycles, hoverbikes — as long as you can pay the expensive fee. Speeding will get you a ticket from your local robopolice; breaking standard civilian laws will get you arrested and thrown into the unmanned city jail. And try not to tailgate or crash your ride — not only will you be on the hook for vehicle damages, but you’ll be shafted with a ludicrous hospital fee. Seriously, people live like this?
But, if a calm walk through nature is more your style, City Park and its
digital trees to the north may suit your needs. The fish in the river here can be fished up by hopeful anglers, though all are wiggly, inedible robots. Hm.
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sticksandbones2025-04-01 12:12 pm
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And yet, it's also more than that. Right now he doesn't move as a single person, but as a combined being with Joshua. There's something thrilling about how easily his partner shifts behind him. He realizes, after he speaks, that Joshua had already matched his movements.
His heart begins to race, and it isn't simply based off the adrenaline pumping through him. There's a spark in his chest, aching to burn out of control. Maybe he'll let it, but first he wants to test something.
He shifts once more, aiming for a new turn, this time in the opposite direction. He says nothing, instead shifting his body and hoping to find that Joshua is already mirroring him.]
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But Dion is moving again, shifting his weight. He can feel it in those core muscles, and so he tilts himself in the same direction, matching the balance. It's as easy as breathing.
And, bringing his head up a little more to try to focus on the road ahead of them, he can probably even predict movements before Dion's muscles have a chance to tense. Joshua finds himself laughing, breathless because of the wind in his face, but a notable noise nonetheless considering how close he is to Dion. ]
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That doesn't mean he reacts rationally, though.
The turn he takes is sharp, on a dime, and damn near in the middle of the road. He shifts one hand off the handlebars, grabbing hold of Joshua just in case. His foot comes down, dragging against the ground to keep them both upright as he completes the turn, then takes off in the opposite direction.
He knows the way to Mania Square by now. And if the speedometer ticks up to over 100 on the return journey, well — hopefully the cops aren't paying attention.]
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And then, they're... off, back in the direction they came from. Joshua won't hesitate to admit that he's confused, but with the speeds they're reaching, questioning is off the table. The rush of air will rip the words right from his tongue before he can even say them.
All he can do is wait. But it is thrilling, in a way - his hair, he's certain, is a mess, and his heart is pounding, but he trusts Dion to keep them safe. ]
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Someone really did a number on it.
He only brings himself to slow as the fountain comes into view, and still he manages to whip onto the sidewalk nearest the entrance to the apartments. He cuts the engine quickly but... now that they've come to a stop, he can't bring himself to move.
Rationality tries to rush back in, a voice in his head reminding him to stay calm. It's nearly powerless against the adrenaline pounding through his veins. It reminds him of his earliest days trying to master Bahamut's power, so young and out of control as he was.
He draws in a breath. Exhales once.]
Joshua.
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They can't tell Clive about this. He would lose his mind.
The smoldering remains of some sort of vehicle does catch his attention, and as they pass it he affords it a longer glance. What was that? Does he want to know? Whatever it is, someone certainly took umbrage with it.
But that's only a momentary distraction in the rapid journey back. Before he knows it, they're coming to a stop, albeit a quick and sharp one as Dion whips up onto the sidewalk, but they made it safely and that's all that matters. His heart is pounding, his lungs heaving to regain what little breath he lost to the wind.
And then he beams, the delighted little laugh - soft as his laugh is - returning as he presses his forehead into the dragoon's back and squeezes him for just a moment. ]
Dion, that was-- amazing. Founder, you were amazing.
[ But then, he catches that tone, and his squeezing lets up. Joshua sits back, just a little. What kind of tone is that? ]
Is something amiss?
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And then Joshua's head rests against his back. Those arms squeeze him, and oh Greagor the praise hits him like a bolt of levin. Surely he is gaping at Joshua. He has no doubt that his cheeks are flushed. His heart feels like it's in his throat, and he can't manage the words or the warning for what's about to come.
Instead, he surges forward, or perhaps backward, considering their position, and catches Joshua's lips with his own. It's not unlike the passionate kisses they shared after Dion received his gift. This time, though, they are well within the public eye, and Dion absolutely does not give a damn.]
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Perhaps he should have put two and two together, with how suddenly Dion darted back toward the Square, and with that tone in his voice that Joshua is now placing with startling clarity. Could he have predicted it, though? Probably not. He isn't even certain what it was that set all this off.
There's a very brief thought that perhaps he should put a stop to this. They're in public, after all, and Dion has been nothing if not proper and well-mannered all this time. But at the same time, the passion held within the kiss is enough to send him off-kilter, and after a moment and a soft, quick inhale through his nose in surprise, the part of him that relished in the flutter in his chest at the thrill of it all decides: it's probably fine.
So, he kisses back. Just for a moment, one selfish, greedy moment. Enough to indulge for a small handful of seconds, and then he pulls himself back, breathing heavily. ]
There might be someone watching.
[ It's soft, barely above a whisper, but they're still close enough that Dion can hear. It's less a complaint and more a statement of fact, in case it changes Dion's mind. He'd hate for Dion to resent his decision later. ]
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But Joshua is right. Even if no one is around now, it won't last. Someone is likely to happen upon them. Accidentally, perhaps, on their way up to their room, but it would be a discovery nonetheless. And while Dion might be able to suffer his own shame, he will not subject Joshua to something like that.
Unfortunately, most of Dion's blood is... not presently in his brain. He stands as he gives a deft nod in response to Joshua's urging. He could be a decent gentleman and offer his hand to help Joshua up. He could be romantic and sweep him off his feet. Dion does neither of these things.
Instead, he scoops Joshua up and tosses him over his shoulder. He makes for the stairs before squawk of protest can be elicited. Oops!]
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That lasts all of four seconds. By the time Dion is starting on the stairs, Joshua finally finds his words again, and he makes an indignant noise, feathers ruffling, followed by a sputtering laugh. He can't help himself. ]
Dion--
[ But it isn't chastising, and it isn't angry. Not even an ounce scandalized, either. Just startled and delighted, for what it's worth. ]
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He could ask Joshua what room he wants to go to. They could recreate the time Dion carried Joshua home. Instead, he marches straight to his own room, opens the door, and practically kicks it closed behind him.
Only now does sense seem to return to him, and only because he... isn't sure how to set Joshua down. On his feet? The bed? A chair? The wars with himself for a long moment before... ultimately allowing Joshua to carefully slide down onto the ground.
He isn't left alone for long, though. Dion's hands alight upon those shoulders. There's still a look of intensity about him as he gazes at Joshua, a man clearly teetering on the brink of desire.]
Are you alright. Is this alright?