revivalproject | ♤ Time Flies By In the City of Light

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♤ Time Flies By In the City of Light

WHO: Cayde-6 and the more or less responsible
WHERE: Lower levels of Coruscant, space jail, the works ~~oh wait that's actually a place~~
WHAT: Being a tourist, getting insulted, and trying to make a profit
WHEN: Earlier part of event-trip
WARNINGS: N/A Will update as needs be. Also SORRY THIS IS SO LONG but I gave options...
NOTES: Feel free to pose in preferred style, will match! Also if you want to play out a combination of things or lead in from one to another, etc., totally open to anything.

"I have a good feeling about this place."

It hadn't been all that long ago that Cayde had said those fateful words, had it? And really, compared to the previous planets and places they'd had to visit, this giant city-world looked most promising.

By now he's put together their strange Agrii-directive, but then figuring out who all of their group came from this neck of space wasn't too difficult. A strange number indeed. Did that mean that a potential next stop would be Earth? They have a good number from there, but it'd be a toss-up as to which. And as much as he'd love to show people around home, he hopes his Sol System isn't on the list. That's however neither here nor now, and there's plenty of things to draw his attention from lingering on such thoughts.

"...we are going to get so lost," he says decisively as he takes in the stream of traffic flying between platforms and citywalks, and yet somehow he sounds chipper all the same. Stepping over to the nearby railing, he looks down and down some more, eyeing the levels of lights and transports that actually make their way below. Beaming, he looks up at Sundance. "So lost."

---
A. Sightseeing
♠️ With so much shiny city to explore, can anyone blame the Exo for heading off without much warning? He figures if anyone needs him, he's got his tablet. There isn't too much that interests him in the upper echelons of the city, save for plenty of high places to get a nice view, and he'd already been yelled at for being on someone's roof. The strange if not concerned looks that follow him wherever he goes thereafter are for the most part ignored, if only because he's figured it's not unlike the usual response he gets from newbies back in Temba.

♠️ It doesn't take him long to worm his way to the lower levels. It stands to reason that anything he might find interesting would be in the undercity, the gambling dens, the black market, those willing to bend a few rules. Also food that wasn't overpriced. Unfortunately it hasn't hit him just how differently people of the mechanical variety are viewed and treated around here. Then again, there aren't any models that compare to him, much less wear clothing and openly carry a weapon around.

♠️ There are those who watch him pass with caution, some with outright disdain, but then there are others who watch with all too much interest, tailing at a distance...

---

B. Fud
♠️ "Whaddya mean 'where's my owner?'" Cayde snorts, looking incredulously at the man who's apparently barred him entrance. He's by a diner of sorts, scowling at a confused employee who's barring his way in. "Look, I just flew in and wanted to sample some of this city-planet's fine cuisine. Now, I do realize I could take my business elsewhere, but just because food's expensive doesn't mean it tastes any better, and this here looks like it's been here a while, so clearly there must be something good going on here."

By the looks of the man at the door, he's still trying to work out what the metal fellow is saying to him, or maybe wondering if the metal fellow has a few crossed wires as he casts a look around for some help. Droids usually aren't so insistent about wanting to...eat??

♠️ Alternatively there are plenty of bars and clubs with fetching neon signs that make the Exo a tad envious. "I need one of those," he insists. "But I guess for now I'll settle on trying the drinks." The bartender within shoots him a disdainful look as some sort of alarm light triggers by the door. "We don't serve droids," he says, his tone clearly suggesting that said droid should know this. Then he almost falls over when Cayde looks over his shoulder, because clearly he's not the one being addressed!

---

C. I Fought the Law
For some reason or another, the Guardian finds himself in a cell. Maybe he's got company, maybe he's its sole occupant- maybe his company's familiar! But in any case, he seems to be taking it rather well, lounging on the thin panel that makes up a pallet, arms folded behind his head. Who knows why he's in here. A fight? Unruly behavior? Rogue droid, wha-?

♠️ He doesn't particularly expect any help- it's a big city! But then word does travel fast, especially talk about some weird droid with clothes on. It's fine if he doesn't get a hand, he's taking this in as part of the city experience. He'll leave when he gets bored, or if his pals don't share the same interest in experience as him.

---

D. Beating Up Baddies For ~~Fun and~~ Profit
Oh, you know how it goes, you run into some bad company, or just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witness things certain parties wish you hadn't. That sort of thing happens often down in the lower levels, and between the turf wars and the general violent tendencies of those who have come to consider Coruscant's underbelly as their domain, it would be amazing if you didn't run into some trouble of some kind.

♠️ Cayde? He can't help it if people leave their caches in such obvious places. They're just asking to be picked up by some enterprising Exo. The previous owners beg to differ, and they're not having a fancy droid make off with their hard-gained artillery.

♠️ There are also people down here fighting to protect those who eke out a living in unfortunately violent territories. With gangs like the Black Sun making trouble, groups like the Justicars are open to recruiting anyone willing to risk their necks for some extra credits and equipment if they'll run an errand or two, or help put down some trouble-making gang cells. Care to join the Exo on a mini-strike?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hm? Oh! Hey-" The Exo paused as he scrambled for the name before Sundance gave him a helpful mental reminder. Right! How could he forget someone who shared the name of one of his close Hunter pals?

"-Shiro! Ah, I dunno. Just some difficulties. What's a guy gotta do to get a meal around here?"

The man at the door looked at Cayde like the Exo was out of his mind, then turned to look at Shiro with a gesture that suggested 'look, this is what I have to deal with' because obviously Shiro would understand the situation, right?

Shiro wasn't offended at all by the pause. They had talked once when he first arrived and a lot of stuff had happened since then, but he smiled.

Shiro looked over at the guy, picking up on the gesture and getting some idea. So... something about him, it was unusual for them to serve him? Why was that? But since neither side seemed to be willing to move, he tried a different tactic.

"How about the two of us? That would be fine right?"

He was hungry himself and surely this guy wasn't going to be foolish enough to turn away two paying customers.

The man paused, and not for very long as he wasn't about to turn away potential business. He clearly wasn't giving Cayde much thought as he directed most of his attention to Shiro, turning on that professional smile as he stepped aside, gesturing.

"Oh! Of course! Go on and seat yourselves," he said.

The Exo rolled his eyes at the obvious one-eighty in the man's attitude, looking over at Shiro then with a shrug. "After you."

Well, whatever it was about Cayde, that was kind of annoying that just because Shiro was there, now they were being more hospitable. Inwardly, he sighed, trying to at least remain courtesy since they were being allowed to enter, even if the bias was completely obvious right now.

Shiro nodded his head once. "Thanks." He headed in ahead of him, moving the direction of a table, moving at a pace slow enough for Cayde still to walk next to him.

Once they had moved to a table and the guy wasn't in earshot, Shiro said, "Sorry about that, Cayde."

Making himself comfortable, Cayde looked over at Shiro with a blink. "Pff, why're you the one apologizing?" he asked. "Of course, now that I think you've somewhat claimed to be responsible for me I have to be on my best behavior."

He picked up the holo-menus from the side of the table, offering one to Shiro. "One of these days I'll figure out how to read these things."

"Well, I can be sorry that it happened even if I'm not the one doing it," Shiro remarked. He sighed. He took the menu when it was offered. "Thanks."

And then after a beat, "But I probably wouldn't say anything if something happened to fall over as we were leaving. I mean, if I didn't see it happen, I can't prove how it fell over."

Semantics, but it worked for him.

"At least someone is. Guess they didn't make their robots to be like actual people." He'd only been familiar with the local term used because of those from this space, but he hadn't realized that droids were more like objects or pets at best.

Cayde peered over the top of his menu at Shiro's not too subtle suggestion, snickering. "You. Are my new best friend."

"Yeah, it seems that way," Shiro glanced subtly around the restaurant. "It seems like robots are more tools here." To be fair, he would have thought the same thing, but if one was talking to him, he would have realized it had some ability to communicate and intelligently comprehend what was going on around it. Also, he couldn't get away with saying 'just a robot anymore' considering the Black Lion which had saved his life of its own accord several times was 'just a robot' too.

Which it wasn't. It was his friend.

He chuckled. "Hey, gotta do what you can."

Cayde nodded at that. "Yeah. But they still have personalities. Although I guess that explains why I've been getting so many weird stares. And here I thought they just couldn't keep their eyes off such a handsome Exo."

He continued to poke about the menu. "I'm assuming this might be the special, but who knows what that means."

"They do. The Black Lion was definitely my friend. I wouldn't say he was only a robot." He chuckled. "Well, until they say otherwise, you could always think that's the reason why."

He glanced at the menu again. "Well, people in my world joke that the special is just a way to get rid of something they have that is getting ready to expire."

"Considering how big you made them sound to be, I think I'd rather have it as a friend than not," the Exo laughed, his grin holding as Shiro didn't outright say that his being a good-looking Exo couldn't be the reason.

"Yep. That exactly," he nodded. "Maybe let's do ourselves a potential favor and skip the special then."

"Yeah, that is true. You don't really want the Voltron Lions as your enemy. Considering I'm not even the height of the claws on the Black Lion"

Considering Shiro had never met another Exo? He had nothing to compare with, but if asked, he'd certainly say he was attractive.

"Yeah, I think so too. Best not to get sick with whatever this place has."

Metal brows arching at that, Cayde laughed. "Wow! Those are definitely some big kitties."

Setting the menu down, the Exo took a look around the rest of the diner. Technically with his being what he was, he could probably stomach anything. But he actually wanted to try something good, and getting something random that turned out to be only palatable by certain species wouldn't be doing any favors for Shiro. Spying a couple of humans seeming to enjoy their meal, Cayde gestured with his head towards them. "Least that looks normal and edible. How 'bout it? Of course, if you want to be adventurous," he said as he indicated the menu again.

Once Shiro decided though, he'd try to flag down a waiter.

"Yeah, they are. Black is the largest though. Red and Green were the smallest two. Still, they are only small compared to Black. They are still very large to us."

Shiro was scanning the menu when Cayde made the suggestion, he looked up and glanced at the option that Cayde was referring to. "Yeah, looks good to me. Let's try that."

Shiro put his menu down, keeping a watch. If it looked like they were ignoring Cayde, he was ready to try flagging the waiter down as well.

The Exo fingered his chin as he tried to imagine these robotic lions to scale. "Well, they'd have to be, otherwise I imagine it'd be very cramped trying to pilot them," he smirked.

Thankfully it didn't seem like Cayde had any trouble attracting the waiter's attention, although once the waiter came to their tableside, he looked expectantly at Shiro as he prepared his datapad to input the order. Cayde gestured towards the other table.

"We'll have whatever they're having over there," he said, beaming.

The waiter paused before nodding and tapping at the pad. "So one order of-"

"Two! I said 'we' didn't I?" Cayde interjected, which only made the waiter stare a moment as though unsure how to process this. He looked helplessly at Shiro for clarification.

"Yeah, very true. Would be really hard if they were normal Earth-scale lions. Still, it was one of those things we never quite expected."

Of course, they looked at Shiro for the order. If they considered robots as nothing more than fancy objects that could talk it would make sense that they wouldn't think he'd need to eat.

But that still didn't give them the right to keep doing that. Oh well. They'd have to be polite at least while they were here.

"Two," Shiro confirmed. "We'll take two orders."

The waiter still looked a little dubious at that, but shrugged as he put the order in, muttering something along the lines of, 'so long as you're paying.' Once he'd wandered off, Cayde sighed and dropped his head over his forearms as he leaned against the table.

"Is this how it's going to be the whole trip? I know there's a joke about adult supervision but this is kind of ridiculous."

Yeah, if they are paying, might as well give it to them. Otherwise terrible service.

Shiro gave him a sympathetic smile. "Seems so, unfortunately." He sighed. "Very annoying."

The Exo propped his head up. It would be annoying, certainly, but he wasn't going to let it spoil his trip. He'd already forgotten they'd had an actual reason for being here even though he had no idea how they were supposed to figure something like that out .

"Don't worry, I won't make you my chaperone or something," he reassured Shiro, grinning again. At least he didn't stay moody for long. "Hopefully lunch is worthwhile."

He chuckled. "Only if you needed my help." Not like he had much to do really. Besides, it was his nature to look after others and make sure they were being taken care of.

"I'm sure it will. It looked good."

Even though they weren't quite sure what it was. Maybe it would also convince people that he wasn't just a droid or whatever they called robots here.

Shiro's optimism was around the same as Cayde's, although the Exo wouldn't be surprised if he was merely pegged as some crazy droid trying too hard to play at being a person that he'd get his gears gummed up stuffing all that food in.

"There's lots to see and I don't need a babysitter. Though I do appreciate the assistance," he said with a lopsided smile.

Yeah, that was true, but Shiro was willing to believe that maybe someone would believe he wasn't different than a droid even if not all of them did. He'd never convince all of them.

"Yeah, I understand that. I wouldn't want one either if I didn't need one. Hopefully, no more problems after this."

"You said it," Cayde nodded. It would put a damper on this whole excursion otherwise.

Eventually their food was brought out, something cutlet-like, breaded and dowsed with a generously spiced sauce. While it wasn't clear whether the leafy things along the side were meant to be eaten or for decoration, at least overall it looked and smelled promising.

The Exo grinned across the table at Shiro. "Well, time to see if we were horribly wrong."

Shiro couldn't help, but eye it curiously when it was brought out. Looked safe enough and it smelled good. Of course, since it wasn't food on Earth, there was always some manner of guessing involved, but that was half the fun, really.

"Yep. So let's give it a shot."

So he cut a small piece from the cutlet and gave it a try. He was quiet for a moment as he thought about it. "It's pretty good."

Cayde was already following suit, all too aware of more than a few eyes glancing over as he cut himself a piece and mopped up enough sauce to coat it. He caught the eye of the man who had previously attempted to bar him entrance to the place, brow-plates waggling before he popped the slice of cutlet into his metal maw.

"Mm- yeah, not bad at all," he said, already carving another piece. "Might be better with more heat, but overall, this is pretty tasty!"

♤ Time Flies By In the City of Light

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