materia hunting [action]

[soldiernoclass]

Aw, come on! I know you're in there, somewhere, you little-

[ Okay, so this can't be that unfamiliar a sight - the Lost & Found at the back of Tapper's probably sees a fair bit of traffic, both animate and in. And some guy from some game rooting around back there, elbows deep in the assorted miscellanea probably shouldn't raise too many (or any) eyebrows.

But Zack's not exactly being quiet about it, either, talking to himself (and to that thing he's looking for) quite clearly as he shuffles ever nearer to the bottom of the box. A giant pretzel gets shoved out of the way, a few gold rings go rattling to the back, and- ]

Aha! [ -he straightens up abruptly where he's crouched down, one fist held triumphantly aloft. Unfortunately, his apparent victory is quickly followed by something that sounds a lot more like Ugh, bluh and Gross! as he tries to shake the sticky blob he mistook, briefly, for his missing materia off the palm of his glove. Eventually, the edge of the doorway he's sitting in has to be employed to achieve the desired effect (though he's still making a face at his hand as he goes to scrub it off on a pantleg. ]

Don't even wanna know what game that came from. [ With a frown, he glances up at his only present company, the massive Buster Sword balanced against the wall beside him (because it's hard to crouch comfortably with that thing on his back, okay). And its one empty slot. ] ...All right. Maybe it's time to think about sourcing this one out.

[ Asking around can't be any less productive than digging's been. Right? ]

Comments

[soldiernoclass]

Huh? Oh, heh, no way! Not today. [ But he didn't have to spend a lot of time running around levels set in the Slums, either - which is sometimes a relief. He likes his wallet where it is, thank you very much.

Standing up, Zack takes another look at the stranger, most of his momentary negativity set aside in favor of being friendly right back. ]

I just, uh, kinda misplaced somethin' important.

[mykihy]

[Laguna gave a bit of a laugh. Good on you, not getting robbed. But, you do look kinda familiar - a bit like Cloud? Well, no matter. He's here to help!]
Really? What'd you lose?
[...A beat.]
Did y'see any goggles in there?

[soldiernoclass]

Hey, I just misplaced it, okay? I didn't lose anything.

[ Not until he's sure it's gone, anyway. Then maybe he'll get all concerned. ] But- It's my materia. [ He gestures to his sword (which does a lot more than just vaguely resemble one Laguna might've seen, before, on a certain other blond - you know, the pointy one). ] The other piece must've fallen out someplace around here.

[ He hopes. Because if he's gotta go chasing off after it all over Game Central, he may as well kiss his code goodbye. The rest of the weekend'll be sitting in his game cabinet, suffering through lecture after lecture... It's a fate best avoided.

Goggles, though? Zack glances back at the box, now in substantial disarray, and then backs up, gesturing for the other guy to go ahead. ] Don't think I saw anything like that, but I did kind of go through it in a hurry. ...Just, uh, be careful what you grab in there, huh?

[mykihy]

[Materia? That was seven talk - hey, when you've been in the background of Dissidia, you pick up on what comes from what game. Plus, that sword...] Hey, uh, do you know a guy called Cloud, by any chance? Cloud Strife?
[But, as he asks, he almost leaps into the box. Well, not literally - but, well, he's digging. What's with all this... eww, slime. His voice has a bit of a tone of disgust.] I'll help you look for your Material, okay? [:D]

[soldiernoclass]

[ Oh, hey, looks like those are the magic words. Zack brightens up instantly (not that he was holding over much of his prior gloom, anyway), nodding his head. ]

Yeah! Sure I do! He's from my game, after all. 'Course, we're friends, too. [ Best friends, and look out Dissidia Cloud, because this is probably where he starts accidentally maligning your name by spilling backstory deets everywhere. ]

I'm Zack, by the way. [ And he offers his hand (and after a second of thought, retracts it, and offers the one that wasn't touching something gross, earlier - with a sheepish smile). ] Though I'm sure if you know Cloud, he's told you all about me. [ This is a joke, of course. He laughs it off. ]

Any friend of Cloud's is a friend of mine, too, though. I'd really appreciate the help.

[mykihy]

[Oh?] He's from my game, too! [Except that means there's two of them... ah well, at least there's no confirmed Kingdom Hearts game here, right? and then laguna and zack fight over a place in kingdom hearts I MEAN WUT
Laguna reaches a hand back for a firm shake, after taking a glove off. It's clean, don't worry! And then - he's found his goggles, and starts to rub away the dust and leftovers stuck on them.] I'm Laguna! Around my game, they call me 'The Man with the Machina Gun', though, since there's that black haired me...
[He lets out a little laugh - goggles nearly clean. But hmm...]
Actually, me and Cloud don't speak much - he's with his group, I'm with Moomba here! [He's kind of lonely, being locked-away content. Who knows, there might even be an unlockable Zack somewhere in his game? His Moomba lets out a small mumble, before laying down with a yawn.] But he's still my friend, too!
[He says, with a grin, as he slipped the goggles on. Al Bhed eyes, you know?]

[soldiernoclass]

Woah, seriously? [ Two Clouds!? Is the Arcade really prepared for that? or for three. or for that kind of epic battle. how about joining forces for shenanigans instead, gramps ]

Wonder if that means there's another me out there, somewhere? [ Just when you get to thinking it's a small world, after all.

He'll have to save further wondering for another time, though, as just as soon as Laguna introduces himself, there's a distinctive chime (emanating from somewhere nebulous on Zack's person), and a three-reel slot pops up over his left shoulder, rolling through images of a face Laguna ought to find familiar (it's his, after all).

Laguna has been added to the DMW!

Zack flaps a hand at the brightly flashing bundle of pixels, nonchalantly as if shooing a bug, and it disappears again promptly. ]

Well, it's nice to meet you, either way. Uh, you and Moomba, I mean. [ He's sure to spare a wave for the unfamiliar creature, whether or not it's paying attention. ] I'll have to come out and see what things are like on the other side of the franchise, sometime.