[Fiction] Culture Shock

[Rose 'Moonshadow' O'Meara]

Light. Colours. Noise. Crowds. Quantum. Novas.

In short, Ibiza.

Amongst the sensory cacophony walked an olive-skinned woman in a faded pink-and-brown cotton sari over a tan cotton blouse, her figure still trim despite the fine lines around her deep brown eyes and the grey in her long black braid. She looked out-of-place amongst the rich eufiber crowd, but she possessed the same kind of inner vibrancy that all novas did.

The nova named Rose O'Meara looked around herself with wide eyes, not bothering to assume an expression of boredom. If any place was the essence of novahood, Ibiza was it. Some of the passers-by eyed her curiously, but left her alone.

She walked along the main street, looking for someone who might possibly be familiar.

[Wakinyan]

A huge shadow looms over the heads of the many people on the street. Like a passing stormcloud it picks up dust and street grime and tosses it into the air as the shadow's owner skirts overhead.

Huge wings beat once catching the air hard as the large creature angles itself to touchdown in front of a street vendor selling knock off T-Shirts and other souvenirs. Once settled onto the earth the thing that can only be described as a Griffin begins perusing the wares like any other tourist which is... Very odd to say the least.

[Preston]

Preston wanders the stalls and stores without any real interest, his eyes blazing with blue quantum fire. As usual, he is dressed in tired dressware that spells out civil servant to anyone who has met the breed. He wears his trenchcoat despite the growing heat, as well. He occassionally picks a trinket or some such out of a back shelf. He either corrects the vendor on the nature of the object, or buys and pockets it.

To him, it is odd to see the effect he has on other novas. The confusion and discussions he produces in his wake. He isn't easy to pigeonhole for many of them. At least not recently.

Seeing Totem, Preston smiles and heads his way. Doing so, he brushes past yet another nova, but this one gives him pause.

"Greetings, Mrs. O'Meara. I'm Craig Preston from Boston. I believe you made have chatted on N!Prime."

[Rose 'Moonshadow' O'Meara]

"Vishnu preserve us!" Rose exclaims in Hindu as she stares at the gryphon. Hearing about it on the OpNet and seeing it in person were two different things.

At Preston's words, she turns around and bows to him with her palms pressed together. "Namaste, Captain Preston," she says with a smile. "'Tis nice tae see a familiar face." She looks up at Totem. "Or two."

[Preston]

"Ha, ha," Preston laughs, "yes, he is pretty impressive looking, isn't he? Shall we go over and talk to him? My son and he are friendly enough and I've met him once before."

[Wakinyan]

"What do you mean you don't have one in my size?!" Totem jokes with the vendor who looks more than a little nervous at the humorous anger that the Nova puts on. "'Got node??' That's fucking comedy gold."

Going through a few more Tshirts totem rumbles about having to get people gifts before coming upon a large shot glass. "Oh I like this one." Then without breaking stride he calls out over the distance to the other two. "Hello Mr. Preston. You really like that brand of aftershave don't you? Almost covered up the scent coming with you."

He turns and paces down the street looming over them a moment like a hungry tyrannosaur then lowering his head to their level. "Hello Mrs. O'Meara pleasure to meet you."

[Preston]

"Hmmmph ... well," Preston booms back, "the SquadRoom insists on getting me more every Christmas, so I am obligated to wear it."

In a mock-serious voice, he continues,

"Well, I am here on an intelligent gathering mission for the St. Francis' PTA, Totem. Mrs. O'Meara is here as a tourist, no doubt. What's your excuse?"

[Rose 'Moonshadow' O'Meara]

"Tourist?" Rose asks with a faintly wry smile. "I'm here under duress from me children, so I am."

[Wakinyan]

"Aren't we all tourists in some form or another?" He turns back and produces credit card from a small saddlebag on his hip. He purchases several of the Tshirts that have such saying as 'Novatastic' and 'It's the Taint talking. What's your excuse?' They are put into a bag for him and he turns back.

"So how are you liking the place so far Ma'am? My first time here as well. I have to say... It's unusual."

He interjects to Preston. "How's Neil?"

[Edward]

Cull swims languidly along the shore, his great tail flicking back and forth driving him forward towards Ibiza. The smells and sounds in the water are distracting. He feels a might peckish an each splash seems to be the dinner bell ringing out. "Perhaps this meeting is a bad idea." he thinks, "Maybe I should just grab a quick snack and keep to myself."

[Rose 'Moonshadow' O'Meara]

"I just got here thanks tae Jager," Rose answers. "Blessed Shiva, this place is sae... strange. It's like I'm Dorothy in Oz an' the wind was me eruption. Ken what I mean?"