Welcome to Gaia! ::

It gets easier, Luna offered apologetically.

"Present pass!" one guard barked.

Well! We've got a busy day ahead of us, so what should we do first? Taking Elle by the hand again, Luna led her into the Complex; the sprawling near-city that housed the Neilani side of the Portal. The Complex was full of traffic; people busily making their way through either on their way to or from their work. All were dressed strangely casually for a place as important as the Complex, and in Gaian fashions from the present day to obviously dated clothing.

You can tell how long someone's worked here by the clothes they wear, Luna explained. Everyone's required to wear Gaian civilian clothes here. That way, if Gaians somehow manage to accidentally make their way here, everything can be dismissed as "Just some weird place on Gaia". Before working here, either as a member of the Agents, the military, or the diplomatic or research corps, the prospective member has to spend time on Gaia in order to learn the customs and behavior. That's why the older members are in less fashionable clothing. They're wearing what was popular when they were last in Gaia.

A shrug. Personally, I think they should be required to go back every so often to upgrade.

But! You didn't come to hear me talk about policy. What do you want to do first? Shopping, sightseeing, sampling the local cuisine -- or at least seeing it, if you can't eat it -- or getting your pills?

I'm hungry. Luna nodded sagely. I know a good place on the lower level that makes the best pastries ever. Sometimes, they make a few things for the café. They ALWAYS sell out fast.

After that, we can stop in the clinic, and then we can go shopping.

Actually, it's a restaurant, Luna corrected. And a really good one, at that. But all the popular places here are for Gaian food. They can't get enough of it.

Luna shrugged as she led Elle down a wide corridor. Everything around here is fairly mundane, she explained. Over there is the mechanics bay where they work on the vehicles that go over to Gaia. Motorcycles and shuttles, mostly. To the right is the day-care. Further on ahead are a few legal firms. She smiled a bit secretively. All the important things are under lock, key, and very heavy guard.

Luna thwapped Elle lightly. Common sense things, Elle! Use your head! Technology! Weapons! High Command!

Luna shrugged. Not too much different, I guess. The air and atmosphere is a little bit thinner, and the sky is quite a bit deeper; almost indigo, really. Other than that, it's... not all that much different. Well. A lot more high-tech, I guess.

Just be careful, all right? Fainting isn't uncommon in the Complex. On the way in, people are suddenly getting less air than they're used to and... whump! Jo fainted his first time in, you know. To illustrate her point, Luna gestured behind them, where Jokeph trailed a polite distance. The Neilani in the Complex were careful to avoid him, all seeming to know who he was and what he was capable of.