Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

[karappo]

...Oh is he?

[What did you do, niisan...]

What did he say to you, if you do not mind me asking?

[photoshooter]

He tried to tell me I was joking about my real, actual life. And not in a nice way, either.

[karappo]

Ah.

[OSO...WHY...]

What is your real, actual life like, if I may ask?

[photoshooter]

...Are you gonna make fun of me, too?

[Zero trust.]

[karappo]

E-eh?

[Karamatsu stiffens, then throws up his hands defensively.]

Non non non! Of course I am not! I know how-

[...]

Er...I mean...I have no reason to make fun of you. I do not even know your name.

[photoshooter]

Oh, sorry. Uh, Prompto Argentum.

[He rubs his face and exhales into a groan.]

Sorry. [Again.] It's just... it hasn't even been an hour yet and it feels like a really long day. What's your name?

[karappo]

No offense taken! It is nice to meet you, Prompto-san. My name is Karamatsu Matsuno.

[You can just call him Karamatsu because lord these names.]

[photoshooter]

Kara... Karama... [Good lord.] No, hang on. Karamatsumatsu...o. [Wince.] Am I close?

[karappo]

Ka-ra-ma-tsu.

[He repeats his name slowly, making sure to enunciate every syllable. It's...still a lot.]

But if you would like, you can call me also Kara.

[photoshooter]

Oh, man, dude, are you sure that's okay? That'd be a lot easier for me. Some of these names are really different from what I'm used to.

[You know. Because he's from pseudo-Latin world.]>

[karappo]

Of course it is alright! I do not mind at all.

[Most others probably would given how incredibly informal it is, but Karamatsu is fine with most anything. He's been called much worse, after all.]

What sorts of names are you used to?

[Prompto is...an interesting one, for sure.]

[photoshooter]

Hmm. Usually more common names like Cindy or Dave...

[Then again, their last names are Aurum and Auburnbrie, so your ridiculous fantasy naming conventions may vary.]

But I guess I know guys with fancier names, too. Gladiolus, that one's about as long as yours. We call him Gladio.

[karappo]

Glad...iolus?

[Karamatsu struggles a small bit on it, but manages eventually.]

My...that sounds like the kind of name a king would have, doesn't it?

[photoshooter]

[That makes Prompto laugh.]

Oh, Gladio's not royal! A royal pain in the ass, maybe!

[He's mean because he loves, Gladdy. It's evident in the way he smiles proudly and continues:]

He is the king's bodyguard, though. And he's damn good at what he does. Noct couldn't ask for a better shield.

[karappo]

Ohh! Even better! What a noble profession, to put yourself on the line for a king! I would give anything to live that sort of life.

[Where you could die at any moment, probably.]

[photoshooter]

Uh, really? It's pretty dangerous, you know. We almost die, like, every day.

[karappo]

You almost die.

[But isn't almost dying bad enough?]

[photoshooter]

Yeah...? Almost dying still completely sucks, dude.

[karappo]

.....well, I still find it to be very noble! And brave.

[photoshooter]

Well, I guess.

[It's something, anyway.]

What about you, what do you do?

[karappo]

[People need to stop asking him about work because it just reveals that he's a bum.

BUT ANYWAY...]

I am...a musician! A freelance musician.

[photoshooter]

[It's not really like Prompto can judge. Did he have a job before Eos's Longest Bachelor Party? Unclear.]

Whoa! That's so cool! What instrument do you play?

[karappo]

I play the guitar. Acoustic, specifically. Though I wager she is millions of miles away from me at the moment, unfortunately...

[photoshooter]

Aw, that stinks. I bet you're really good. Maybe she'll turn up! Or you can play for us when we get out of here!

[karappo]

Ah...that would be something, wouldn't it? If she does happen to make an appearance, I will see to it that I play her for you all. I might even write a new song for the occasion.