["it's the right choice" was the last thought Zack remembered clearly. That had been the plan, to go back home because he'd had his second chance and done far more than he ever thought he'd be able to do. But when he opens his eyes it isn't a cliffside and it isn't raining and - a beach is the last thing he expected he'd see. It's familiar and that quells a lot of his immediate concern - but not in the way he's expecting it to. It feels like he belongs here as much as he belongs somewhere else and that's - well. He'll consider that later.

There's other people around and that's something better focused on. He calls out a tentative greeting to the nearest person]

Hello?

[a half hour later finds Zack and others in the Research Center, and while he absorbs as much as he can understand from the questions asked and the hologram played, he happily exits as quickly as he can after they're sent to find their apartments. As he walks he runs a hand through his hair and huffs out a noise, shaking his head]

Geez, this sure is something else.

a. [after locating his belongings and where he'll be staying for the time being, Zack is quick to change back into his fatigues, just for that little bit of familiarity on top of the rest as he heads out to explore the city.

It's a little strange being somewhere so modern compared to where he'd been for almost the last year, but it's a welcomed strange! He likes the city, he likes how busy it seems and while the fake weather is a little odd, he finds himself enjoying his exploration. Country boy he may be, Zack had loved Midgar.

Even when it starts getting late he's still out, though he does stop somewhere to take everything in, grinning to himself as there isn't a single break in the city's ambience. He can't help but comment on it out loud]

They really rest here at all, do they?


b. [far be it from Zack to back down from a challenge, and when he sees the stall and hears what the challenge is, a big grin spreads across his face. It sounds like fun to him, at least.

Being the friendly guy he is, he'll approach the first person he spots standing around]

Hey, want to try this out with me?

[Zack wouldn't mind checking things out in person and dealing with any monsters he comes across, but taking an airship out to see all the different Segments sounds just a tiny bit more fun. And hey, it's the responsible move too, he can always claim this is some kind of recon if he does decide to go out.

You can take the man out of SOLDIER, but you can't take the SOLDIER out of the man, after all.

He isn't really dressed for the colder trips but he doesn't seem too bothered by the weather, and any concern will earn a friendly laugh and insistence that he's fine, this is nothing! But sooner or later he'll get a coat, just to make people stop worrying.

But it really is something to see, and Zack spends most of his time up on the decks, leaning on the rail and watching the scenery go by with the excitement you'd expect from someone a little younger than him.

Or, y'know, a puppy]

It's really kind of pretty here, isn't it?

[Zack is coming in with CRAU memories from Jikan! Feel free to come up with something else if these don't work for you, or PM me here or over on sociologize! ♥]