5049/High Flying Fun

High Flying Fun
Date of Scene:	25 January 2017
Location:	Spira(AOA)
Synopsis:	Rhapsody and Sidonia enjoy a trip aboard a Spiran airship with Bahamut
Cast of Characters:	Bahamut, 325

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Bahamut has posed:
     It is a lovely sunny afternoon in Bevelle, and Bahamut has extended an invitation to both Rhapsody and Sidonia. He has something he suspects they might enjoy, but has not given them any details about the surprise. And of course he knows that both are quite busy, so if one or the other can't make it he will not be too upset.

     The tall metal dragon awaits at the entrance to his temple, his eyes scanning the crowds for the fairly easy to spot dragons. He stands with his usual confident and heroic pose, his arms crossed over his chest and his stance slightly askew from the direction he is actually looking. Beside him stands one of his many priestesses, dressed in the usual gold and silver robe that fits the girl tightly while covering everything except her face and hands.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    An invitation! Something to escape the endless stream of paperwork that was to be sent to the Azorius Senate for the Izzet League's taxes. The moment the message arrived, and was read, the chair that Rhapsody had been sitting in was sent spinning in her wake.

    The reason Sidonia follows is because it's her job! A job that had been exceptionally BORING as of late.

Rhapsody is easy enough as she wanders toward the temple, surprised by the crowds, but sparsely remembering Bevelle. The citizenry seemed more than helpful to point a -dragon- in the right direction. Sidonia would be out of sight, as is normal for her, but if Bahamut knew his city and temple well enough, he'd know she was there. Somewhere. Apparently neither sister had read the invitation far enough to realize that they had both been invited.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut knows his city and temple quite well, but as a large dragon he can hardly go wandering down streets or alleys or tunnels that a sneaky Sidonia could easily use to stay out of sight and unnoticed. However, he suspects that the stealthy dragon is nearby when he spots Rhapsody coming toward him. He raises one of his big hands in greeting and grins, and once she is close enough he calls out, "Greetings, Guildmaster! I am honored that you would accept my invitation. Did Sidonia come with you?" he says before looking around for anyone in a dark colored robe or other hooded garment. He looks for only a few moments before looking down at Rhapsody again, then crouching down and wrapping her in a hug. "It is good to see you are well. With all that has happened in the last several months I was mildly concerned for your well-being, both of body and mind."

     With greetings out of the way, Bahamut looks to the priestess beside him as he stands at his full height again. "Alissa, it is time." he says, then looks at Rhapsody again and grins. "I hope you will enjoy the surprise. I am sure you might have such things in Ravnica, but I think you will find that Al Bhed engineering has a certain appeal to it." he says to Rhapsody. The priestess smiles cheerfully before making a few motions with her hands. Red energy flows over her fingers, then she throws a hand upward and a small fireball flies into the air. It moves rapidly for several hundred feet, then explodes like a firework.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    Spotting the temple, and it's namesake resident, Rhapsody gives an energetic wave. As she gets closer, "Good day, Bahamut! It's nice to see you," she replies taking in the temple, the dragon, and the priestess before accepting the hug that's given.

    Afterward, she hrms, then takes a quick look around, "She's been watching me do taxes for the last few weeks, so, I'm pretty sure she's around here. Somewhere. She'll show herself eventually if you give her a little while." As for the Nexus Incident and the Multiversal Inversion... "Ah, there's been a lot going on but we're making do however we can. We had a pretty large influx of refugees we've been helping... Well, Yunomi more than me, but we're doing what we can for them until they can find the worlds they came from again, or the worlds they came from settle down. One or the other."

    The signal to the preistess, and the massive firework, certainly has the guildmaster's attention. After the brilliant colors fade, she glances back to the larger dragon. "Surprise, eh?"

Bahamut has posed:
     "Indeed." Bahamut says with the grin of someone expecting someone else to greatly enjoy what they are about to see. The firework is still fading in the sky when something very large and fast rushes through the smoke. It spirals through the air before banking around the city's edge giving Rhapsody (and Sidonia wherever she is) a chance to really see it. An airship as big as Bahamut's temple. It's hull has a roughly conic shape to it and is painted alabaster with light magenta and gold accents. beneath it long streamers of gold and purple hang, and on the back is a slowly rotating ring much like the one Bahamut himself sports. It has a look about it that says ancient technology, but it has been carefully restored so that it looks brand new.

     http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/8/87/FFX-airship.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130327204713

     Once it has finished its lap, it slows down and comes to a hover just above the temple doors. Bahamut rumbles with delight as it stops, then motions upward. "This is the Farenheit. It is one of the crown jewels of the Al Bhed people, an airship we discovered beneath the sands of the Bikanel desert and restored to perfect working order. Technically it belongs to Cid Highwind, but he has agreed to let us use it for the day. It has a spacious interior, and I have arranged for a meal to be served on the observation deck. And, either before or after dinner, we can enjoy a ride on the flight deck as it gracefully carries us through the sky." He chuckles and looks down at Rhapsody again. "Or...the pilot can show us some high speed maneuvers while we are on deck."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    Clearly the guildmaster should have kept looking at the firework. A second look is taken, and upon spotting the airship the Guildmaster's eyes quite clearly go wide. At this point, Sidonia is even behind her with a similarly impressed look, if a little more muted than her sister. "Restored he says, it looks brand new!" Rhapsody calls as the ship settles into a hover. The mere mention of a dinner that isn't take out or fast food sounds delightful to -both- of the visitors. "I'm hardly picky about any of those options!"

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut chuckles, clearly pleased at the reactions of the sisters. "Sidonia! So nice of you to join us. Would you two like a flight up, or would you prefer to fly for yourselves?" he asks. The priestess beside him also seems pleased to have helped brighten the day of two dragons. She gives a respectful bow before heading inside the temple again. Bahamut calls out, "Thank you, Alissa." before she disappears through the doors. He then crouches, allowing either or both sisters to climb on if they want a ride. Then, he spreads his wings and takes to the skies. It is a short trip to the flight deck of the airship, and it seems clear that it was not designed to hold someone Bahamut's size. But, he has taken steps to ensure they can share the meal together in the form of a large hatch on the top of the observation deck.

     As soon as they are on the flight deck, the airship starts moving again. It heads high into the sky, giving a beautiful view of the landscape. "So, what do you think? The Al Bhed mechanics did wonders with her, did they not?" he says as he makes his way toward the entrance to the airship. And of course, with it moving the wind blows wonderfully over all three dragons.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    "A pleasure as always, Bahamut. Your temple is a wonderful place," Sidonia comments with a knowing tone. Likely she'd been here not long ago, from the tone.

    Rhapsody, at the offer of a ride, or flying up, Rhapsody just smirks. "Actually, I'm a lot more comfortable in my own hide than I used to be,". As emphasis, the guildmaster shifts before Bahamut, her sister following suit just a moment later. The lack of scales doesn't seem to bother her. After a moment to prepare, the sisters lunge upward into the air and head toward the ship. Once inside, each of them would take their better known forms. Bahamut was one large dragon, but three would probably be too much, even if they were 'medium' sized by dragon standards.

Bahamut has posed:
     Once they are all inside, Bahamut motions to the helpstaff and a waiter comes over before directing them to a fairly long table set up beautifully with a long white tablecloth with golden edges and similarly colored dining ware. Either there is some kind of gravity system at work in here or the table was set up after the little airshow. "What would the ladies like?" he asks before handing them a single page menu. It has a few different entrees on it. The names of the beasts are probably quite foreign, but it basically boils down to fish, crab, and beef, all served with a generous helping of common sides. There is even a wine menu, if the sisters care for such things.

     "You know what I want, good sir." Bahamut says to the waiter, who nods. "Yes sir. Your fillets are nearly ready as we speak."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    What a delightful day this was turning out to be. An impressive airship, and now dinner? They should have brought Ryxinel! Poor guy, the'd insist on taking him a plate later. Even if he had been invited now, he would of declined. He was busy with Thianel in the dragonsforge replenishing their Mizzium supply. When the waiter wanders by Sidonia, the menu would be offered up, the items she was interested in circled, but the entree? She decided to go for something different and see what the seafood of Spira was like. As for her sister, Rhapsody was going for a mainstay, opting for whatever the fish of Spira was being offered. If it was anything like Salmon it would be incredible, she was sure.

    "This is truly incredible, Bahamut. Thank you for all of this," Rhapsody finally pipes up. Neither of the sisters seemed interested in the wine. Blame their youth. "I'd ask what the occasion is, but with so much that has happened, I don't think the question needs to be asked."

Bahamut has posed:
     The waiter accepts their orders and heads to the kitchen as the clouds fly by just beyond the huge windows. They even pass through one at one point, leaving a shimmer of rainbow colors for a moment. "The occassion is...we are alive." he says with a grin. The wine is passed on by the sisters, but Bahamut requests a bottle for himself. "And we are friends, and dragons. I do not believe we need any more reason than that."

     They have some time until the meals are ready, so Bahamut decides to give them a bit of information. "This airship is the very vessel that ferried Lady Yuna about Spira during her time as a Summoner. Without it, the task of defeating Sin might never have been accomplished and the people of Spira would still be facing frequent attacks on their cities. It also carried her to safety once Sin and Yu Yevon were defeated, and during the victory parade through Bevelle's skies. Of course, without Lady Yuna's bravery and that of her guardians, we of Spira might never have been freed from the destruction that was Sin, nor have discovered the truth about Yu Yevon."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    The statement from Bahamut earns him a smile from Rhapsody, "Agreed. I think being alive, and our friends being alive, is wonderful. I think there's nothing else that needs to be asked for! .. Except maybe catchup, if you look at all at some of the things people say about dragons.." smirk. Sidonia actually groans at this.

    "Mm. It sounds as though your world has suffered troubles, just like any other. I'm glad to hear it was able to survive those issues thanks to the heroes of Spira." Yuna? .. Surenly not the singer. She considered the thought for a moment. "It's a shame so many worlds have such powerful enemies upon them. It's good to see a world where such things are no longer a major concern."

Bahamut has posed:
     "Spira has a long history of tragedy, heroics, and sacrifice in the wake of Sin and Yu Yevon's destructive path. For hundreds of years, summoners had to make the Pilgrimage, journeying to each of the temples in Spira and gaining the permission of the Fayth to summon the Aeons in defense of the people. Few managed to bring the Calm, and those that did were never seen again. Each summoner knew that he or she might one day be called to give the ultimate sacrifice. Lady Yuna brought about the Eternal Calm, thanks to defeating Yu Yevon, who was the heart of Sin. As a matter of fact, the anniversary of Sin's destruction should be soon. It will be quite a grand celebration, to which you two and your brother would certainly be invited. Thianel as well." Bahamut says, then rumbles. "What is this about catching up?" he asks, looking between the sisters curiously.

     The food is brought out about that time, and Rhapsody is handed a plate with a delicious-looking, rather large fish fillet expertly cooked and seasoned. It seems to be some sort of whitefish, not quite as flavorful as salmon but more tender and flakey. Sidonia is graced with a full plate of crab legs, with the portion where the main shell should be instead filled with large shrimp. Both also receive their desired side dishes, be they vegetables of some kind or such things as baked potatoes or macaroni and cheese. Bahamut has an entire cart rolled out for him holding a plate that looks fit for such a large creature and covered with two fillets from some fish as least half his size. Big dragon, big appetite. Of course, he finds himself wondering if the Ravnican dragons have appetites to match their true stature. The waitstaff all bow then bid the diners bon apetite after leaving Bahamut's wine bottle. And of course appropriate silverware for eating their respective meals.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    "Ca- OH! no no, I'm sorry. Ketchup, Bahamut. On some worlds, people say we enjoy things with it. It's a condiment made of tomatoes that you can put on food to add a different sort of flavor to -- ... it." Rhapsody's words slow as dinner is brought out. She can tell just by the -smell- of it that this was going to be something delicious. Her sister hardly waits for the plate to be sat down before she sets to work. Eating shellfish isn't exactly easy but she seems to be well versed at it! And as for their appetites, they spend enough time in their 'social' forms that they'll be satisfied by what they have.

    At first bite, Rhapsody may as well just melt into the chair she's in. After some water, she happily states, "No ketchup needed for this..." to which her sister nods rather rapidly. "It may not be my off-world favorite but the seasonings more than make up for it, Bahamut... Thank you and those that made this!"

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut can't help but grin proudly as the two enjoy their meals. "I hired the best cooks in Bevelle. Their expertise is unmatched. Still, they will be happy to hear that their meals are to your liking." he says as he simply uses his sharp claws to cut his own fillets and raise them to his awaiting maw. The sun is getting low in the sky, and as they move over the water it creates a beautiful orange shimmering over the crests of the waves. Down below, some large whales can be seen moving through the water.

     Then the ship changes course toward the land again, and a vast area covered by dark clouds that frequently send powerful bolts of lightning toward the ground can be seen. The ship flies above those clouds, and it becomes a beautiful light show as the lightning illuminates the clouds from below and little motes of purple and green light appear above each lightning strike. "This is the Thunder Plain, so named for this perpetual storm. It is quite dangerous beneath, but up here it is a dazzling display of nature's beauty and might." Bahamut says as he motions with one of his large hands out toward the clouds.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    The two had occasionally been taking in the view between taking in their respective meals. Rhapsody, rather familiar with lightning at this point, can appreciate the storms below. Sidonia likely enjoys the view, but she is -clearly- enjoying the meal. When was the last time she ate?! At least she's being civil about it.

    "You have a wonderful world, Bahamut. The last vestiges of 'wildlands' in Ravnica were urbanized centuries ago. There are places where nature has attempted to regain control, but unless the Gruul Clans hold the areas, most of the time such areas are renovated and rebuilt.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut chuckles lightly as he watches Sidonia. As a dragon, he can appreciate a girl with a healthy appetite. Rhapsody's comment draws a light rumble from Bahamut. "People need civilization, but they need nature almost as much. I am sure most citizens of Spira would be just as happy without as much wilderness, but if we destroy nature we risk destroying ourselves in the process." He looks to Sidonia after that and smirks lightly. "I am glad you are enjoying your meal. Did they treat you to such a meal when you visited the temple? Or did you stay out of sight?"

     The airship is cruising at a fairly high speed, and soon the Thunder Plains are left behind, giving way to a large forest followed by a vast ice field around what must be another temple. Though this one looks much more like what one would expect an ancient temple to look like. Tall spires carved from stone surrounding a central cone, all surrounded by ice.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    "It's the world those of Ravnica know. The only person I ever talked to that saw Ravnica in it's early years would have been my father. Thankfully, the 'green' guilds have managed to integrate city with forest. To be honest, most of the guilds have incorporated the original landscapes into the city itself. Trees still grow tall, rivers still run clean, the rain still falls and cleanses street and ground alike. We make do with what we have, thankfully. " At Bahamut's question to her sister, Rhaps can't help but smirk and glance over.

    When asked, Sidona freezes a moment, then offers up a rare, if shy, smile to the larger dragon. "Similar.. but a little smaller, but still well prepared. I came here frustrated in a lack of my own ability but left in far better spirits than I would have expected."

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut's smirk turns to a light grin as Sidonia freezes and smiles. "I am glad to hear it. The priestesses often lift my spirits as well after a tough time. I hope you took advantage of the spa and massage services they offer. They train quite hard to ensure they can give the most relaxation to their guests and their deity. Even though I told them my metal plates are too thick to really benefit from their attentions, they insist. And who am I to refuse? It makes them happy, and the temple is all about happiness and tranquility."

     At Rhapsody's explanation of Ravnica, Bahamut nods. "I see. Integration is much better than annihilation. Does that mean that the Izzet have a Guildmaster Garden for you and your siblings to enjoy?"

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    That earns the dragon a bright smile, "I think everyone here knows who brought the gardens to the Izzet League and to the Nivix Spire. She's been extremely busy with final touches to the Mana Nexus, the mana vine network connected to it, along with helping the refugees I mentioned earlier. Prior to me running the Izzet, when Niv-Mizzet did, the rivers ran clean and the mountains loomed high, but there was very little greenery to be seen save for the Selesnyan 'forests' on one of our borders. I will admit, having a garden, one that can even sing, has boosted morale among the magewrights even more than father probably expected."

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut perks at that before smiling just a bit. "That is good to hear. It seems Yunomi has done much more than I realized. She is a worthy companion for you." he says, perhaps a bit...resignedly? He finishes off the last of his meal, then rumbles pleasantly. "So, would you two like the pilot to open up the throttle and let us see what this grand ship can really do?" he asks, grinning. "It may be even faster than myself at full speed."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    The guildmaster offers a quiet smile. If things had gone differently, who knows. She simply adds a nod, and then quickly latches onto the topic change. "If they so choose. The fastest thing I've probably been on, aside a ride from you, would be one of Stadler's cargo planes. My plate's empty and.." she glances over to Sidonia who simply gives a thumbs up. Hard to have a clear plate when shell remnants are everywhere. "So is Sidonia's. If the captain wants to have a little fun, then by all means!"

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut nods and motions to the waiststaff. "Please secure the kitchen. We are going to have a bit of high-speed fun." he says. They nod and the table is quickly cleared before they return to the kitchen. Bahamut then stretches out his tail and hits a nearby panel. "Captain, would you be so kind as to engage in some mock tactical maneuvers? Our guests wish to see what the Farenheit can do." he says. A confident and slightly gravelly voice comes back over the intercomm. "I thought you'd never ask!"

     Bahamut chuckles, then looks to Rhapsody and Sidonia. "The ship has gravity magic that helps keep things in place during even high speed maneuvers, but still...you might want to hold on." he says even as he braces himself against a nearby I-beam column. An alarm goes off, no doubt signaling the crew that they are about to do some real flying, and crew members go around making sure everything is secure. A minute later...there is a massive burst of acceleration and the land beneath them becomes a blur. Clouds fly by as mere hints of white, and the sun seems to set extremely fast.

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
Well, seeing as he said the room would be secure, Rhapsody turns to take in the view, but gets a firm hold on the arms to her chair. Her sister goes through the same things, only after taking the last bit of shrimp off her plate, and then everything starts to WOOOSH. With the ship surging through the sky over Spira, and the world outside becoming a blur, the Guildmaster can't help but be thrilled by all of it. Sidonia, doesn't look -as- excited but she is at least impressed by the speed the ship can reach.

Bahamut has posed:
     The ship rockets through the sky for a few moments, then spirals through the air for a second or two before banking hard. The g-forces should be devistating, but somehow they aren't much more than a medium speed turn in a car. The land continues to rush by, mere blurs of green and brown and tan and grey. They pass over the lightning fields again, then over a vast green jungle, then the ocean beyond. The pilot lowers the ship down, and the sisters can see the ocean part on either side and spray up into the air as the pressure wave from the fast moving ship forces the water apart, creating a massive wake behind them and a dazzling display of color as the setting sun again comes into view.

     The ship banks again, and this time comes upon an area of tall mountains and rocky spires. It looks for a moment like the pilot is aiming right for one! But, he skillfully slaloms between them before spiraling again as they fly over the large flat expanse of grassy and craggy plains that is the Calm Lands. Even with the pilot's skillful flying, it is obvious that this ship specializes in very fast straight lines.

     After several minutes more and seemingly going around the world, the Farenheit is again over Bevelle and slowing down to a stop above the Temple of Bahamut. The crew continue about their business as if this sort of flying is not uncommon, though a few look relieved when they finally get a rest from it. Bahamut looks to Rhapsody and Sidonia and grins. "I hope you enjoyed the ride, but I am afraid our rental time is up for today."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    "That was -fantastic!-" The guildmaster of the ingenuity guild seems to be pleased, if not blown away, by what just happened. "The only way anyone in Ravnica gets to go that fast is hopping on a hypersonic dragon and going for a ride." Pause. "They're a more feral breed, before you wonder about them,".
    Sidonia, for her part, stands, dusts herself off, and seems to agree with her sister on this point. "I agree, very impressive, Bahamut. Maybe you'll have to stop over and race one of the hypersonics and see how you fare. It's rather nice some of the other draconic species are starting to mature a bit."

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut grins proudly at the praise, then chuckles at the description of the hypersonic dragons. "I am sure Cid would enjoy testing his ship against the hypersonics. Of course, it would be a matter of pride for him." he says, then stands and opens the large hatch before hopping out and onto the flight deck again. "If you ladies do not have immediate business in Ravnica, you are welcome to stay the night in the temple. There are spacious guest quarters, and the priestesses would be pleased to have more dragons to lavish their attentions upon I am sure. I must go and make sure the walls are secure. At night is when the worst of the fiends come out. Basalisks and Malboros filter down from the Calm Lands, and would happily make a meal of the citizens."

Rhapsody (325) has posed:
    There's a light bit of discussion between the two sisters before Rhapsody gives a nod, "I'll send word back to Thianel and we'll enjoy the night here. I swear, this has been the best thing in a while to happen that hasn't been paperwork. Thank you for the hospitality, Bahamut. I'm sure you'll be fine, being the dragon you are, but stay safe, alright?"

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut lets out a pleased rumble as they accept, then chuckles. "You are both welcome. I enjoy sharing what I have. Unlike dragons of legend, I do not seek to hoard my wealth." he says. He nods as Rhapsody bids him stay safe. "I will." he says, then hops off the deck of the airship and heads off into the still dusky sky. "You two enjoy your stay!" he calls as he circles the airship before heading off.