Deep in the bosom of the gentle night
Jan. 7th, 2020 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
innatelunacy posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
spira_rpThey'd accepted the job.
If Saix was honest, they'd have probably accepted it for less money than they'd be getting. After leaving Gladio and Ignis they'd discussed what sort of price they'd be willing to take, settled on a range, and then, when they'd called Ignis and met up again, gone in high. They'd been haggled down. If their first request had been accepted without question alarm bells would have rung; the task of exploring and mapping Pulse promised to be filled with unknowns, but hunting jobs paid by the danger involved more than the length of time they'd take to complete. If their high offer hadn't been challenged, it would suggest many more dangerous unknowns than they'd been expecting.
The price they came out at was fair, and with the promise of supplies and equipment being provided out of the deep pockets of whoever was funding the expedition, they were getting a pretty nice deal. It wasn't going to be a cushy job, by any means, but the compensation was worth it.
Ignis had contacted them again a few days later with an itinerary, and directions to Lucis. They were given an entry permit for an airship port in Lucis and told they'd be collected from there and taken to Insomnia.
Saix has raised an eyebrow at the name. A little reading had shown Insomnia was the capital city. It sounded like Xemnas had named it, but other than sharing a look with Lea, Saix had kept his mouth shut on the matter.
Lucis hadn't looked like much as they'd flown over it. The co-ordinates they'd been given for the airport were in the middle of rocky scrubland that was mostly sun and desert. It looked as if someone had taken the Westersand and flattened it a little. Paved roads snaked their way across the terrain.
The airport wasn't particularly impressive either. It lacked the grandiosity and bustle of the ones on the mainland, but Saix, Lea, Aerith, and Fang were met by two men in black uniforms that checked their permit and names and told them where to park their ship. There were other ships already parked. One looked like a grand dragon with grasping claws, another was sleek and hypermodern.
Then they were led outside, into the glaring sun, and a black limousine with tinted windows and leather seats. Despite the heat, the air inside the car was cool. If the sight of the terrain and the airport had made Saix question the ability of whoever was funding this trip to cover the costs, the limousine quieted his doubts.
They fell completely silent as the black clad chauffeur drove them through a dustbowl and up to an immense walled city. It was impossible not to stare out of the window as they passed through a checkpoint and traveled over an unbelievably long suspension bridge to another checkpoint. Once inside the wall they saw grasslands and suburbs, and still they drove on until the suburbs gave way to glass and metal buildings, and neon signage, wide roads and traffic lights, and the buildings got taller and shinier until they pulled into a carpark beneath one of the largest buildings.
The limousine's door opened, and another black clad person greeted them. "If you'll follow me," he said, "I'll show you to your suites."
The building turned out to be a hotel. Saix didn't know if there were other visitors or if the entire thing was booked out with hunters Gladio and Ignis had recruited. They were led along plushly carpeted corridors, into a marbled lift, and then to two rooms. Himself and Lea were ushered into the first.
"Count Scientia will be along to welcome you shortly," their guide said. "Make yourselves comfortable."
Saix looked around the room. The window gave a view over the glittering skyline of the city. There was a sofa and a couple of comfortable looking chairs, with a table and television that seemed to serve as a sort of lounge. He opened one door to find a bathroom, with tiled floors, and shower, and bath, and his and hers sinks. Another door gave way to a bedroom, with two double beds, and towels folded into the shape of swans in the centre. Or perhaps they were meant to be dragons?
A third door turned out to connect to Aerith and Fang's room, and was lockable from both sides.
"We should have asked for more money," Saix said, once their concierge was gone.
If Saix was honest, they'd have probably accepted it for less money than they'd be getting. After leaving Gladio and Ignis they'd discussed what sort of price they'd be willing to take, settled on a range, and then, when they'd called Ignis and met up again, gone in high. They'd been haggled down. If their first request had been accepted without question alarm bells would have rung; the task of exploring and mapping Pulse promised to be filled with unknowns, but hunting jobs paid by the danger involved more than the length of time they'd take to complete. If their high offer hadn't been challenged, it would suggest many more dangerous unknowns than they'd been expecting.
The price they came out at was fair, and with the promise of supplies and equipment being provided out of the deep pockets of whoever was funding the expedition, they were getting a pretty nice deal. It wasn't going to be a cushy job, by any means, but the compensation was worth it.
Ignis had contacted them again a few days later with an itinerary, and directions to Lucis. They were given an entry permit for an airship port in Lucis and told they'd be collected from there and taken to Insomnia.
Saix has raised an eyebrow at the name. A little reading had shown Insomnia was the capital city. It sounded like Xemnas had named it, but other than sharing a look with Lea, Saix had kept his mouth shut on the matter.
Lucis hadn't looked like much as they'd flown over it. The co-ordinates they'd been given for the airport were in the middle of rocky scrubland that was mostly sun and desert. It looked as if someone had taken the Westersand and flattened it a little. Paved roads snaked their way across the terrain.
The airport wasn't particularly impressive either. It lacked the grandiosity and bustle of the ones on the mainland, but Saix, Lea, Aerith, and Fang were met by two men in black uniforms that checked their permit and names and told them where to park their ship. There were other ships already parked. One looked like a grand dragon with grasping claws, another was sleek and hypermodern.
Then they were led outside, into the glaring sun, and a black limousine with tinted windows and leather seats. Despite the heat, the air inside the car was cool. If the sight of the terrain and the airport had made Saix question the ability of whoever was funding this trip to cover the costs, the limousine quieted his doubts.
They fell completely silent as the black clad chauffeur drove them through a dustbowl and up to an immense walled city. It was impossible not to stare out of the window as they passed through a checkpoint and traveled over an unbelievably long suspension bridge to another checkpoint. Once inside the wall they saw grasslands and suburbs, and still they drove on until the suburbs gave way to glass and metal buildings, and neon signage, wide roads and traffic lights, and the buildings got taller and shinier until they pulled into a carpark beneath one of the largest buildings.
The limousine's door opened, and another black clad person greeted them. "If you'll follow me," he said, "I'll show you to your suites."
The building turned out to be a hotel. Saix didn't know if there were other visitors or if the entire thing was booked out with hunters Gladio and Ignis had recruited. They were led along plushly carpeted corridors, into a marbled lift, and then to two rooms. Himself and Lea were ushered into the first.
"Count Scientia will be along to welcome you shortly," their guide said. "Make yourselves comfortable."
Saix looked around the room. The window gave a view over the glittering skyline of the city. There was a sofa and a couple of comfortable looking chairs, with a table and television that seemed to serve as a sort of lounge. He opened one door to find a bathroom, with tiled floors, and shower, and bath, and his and hers sinks. Another door gave way to a bedroom, with two double beds, and towels folded into the shape of swans in the centre. Or perhaps they were meant to be dragons?
A third door turned out to connect to Aerith and Fang's room, and was lockable from both sides.
"We should have asked for more money," Saix said, once their concierge was gone.
