POV : WASTELAND
All around the Wasteland, word was spreading about the upcoming opening of Bone Appétit, Isabella’s new restaurant. It wasn’t just any eatery—it was destined to become a symbol of luxury in a world of doom and gloom. Nobody expected that a post-apocalyptic Wasteland could even have luxuries.
Most people, if they thought of luxuries in the Wasteland, would think of “safety from asshole bandits,” not fancy dining. Yet, after three months, Fort Bone had created a zone of safety that staggered people’s minds. Of course, a lot of this was due to Atlas’s time travel knowledge. Bone Appétit was coming, and people were hyped for it.
Marketing and propaganda were everywhere.
Before every arena fight, the familiar tune of the restaurant’s jingle would blast through the speakers, instantly grabbing the crowd’s attention. The song had purposefully been sung in French, and while people had universal translation, they could always turn it off, if they wanted to experience it.
***
‘‘à Bone Appétit, dans Fort Bone‘‘
‘‘(Verse 1)‘‘
Dans la terre de Fort Bone, où l’espoir s’élève,
Se dresse un restaurant, au sommet des rêves.
Isabella, la chef, avec passion et art,
Crée des plats magiques, un festin pour le c?ur.
‘‘(Chorus)‘‘
à Bon Appétit, oh, viens go?ter,
Des saveurs de la terre, un monde à explorer.
Des créatures du désert, en plats raffinés,
Le meilleur de la wasteland, à jamais célébré!
‘‘(Verse 2)‘‘
Des rago?ts de mutant, et des steaks de slime,
Chaque bouchée un voyage, une danse, une rime.
Les slimes chantent ensemble, la joie à chaque plat,
Dans cette tour flamboyante, on se régale, c’est ?a!
‘‘(Chorus)‘‘
à Bone Appétit, oh, viens go?ter,
Des saveurs de la terre, un monde à explorer.
Des créatures du désert, en plats raffinés,
Le meilleur de la wasteland, à jamais célébré!
‘‘(Bridge)‘‘
Quand les arènes résonnent, et que les combats commencent,
Le parfum de la cuisine attire chaque lance.
Isabella, la reine, elle illumine la nuit,
Avec un c?ur plein de courage, elle nous conduit.
‘‘(Chorus)‘‘
à Bone Appétit, oh, viens go?ter,
Des saveurs de la terre, un monde à explorer.
Des créatures du désert, en plats raffinés,
Le meilleur de la wasteland, à jamais célébré!
‘‘(Outro)‘‘
Alors lève ton verre, à cette table sans fin,
Dans le tall Fort Bone, où nos ames se rejoignent.
à Bone Appétit, une légende en fleur,
Dans le c?ur de la wasteland, résonne notre ardeur!
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‘‘‘
"And now, before we begin tonight's bloody spectacle, a quick reminder for you all!" the announcer’s voice boomed across the arena, dripping with enthusiasm. "The world’s tallest restaurant, Bone Appetit, is officially now open for business! That’s right, folks, fine dining in the sky! Where else can you enjoy a five-star meal and watch the Wasteland below? Reserve your spot now if you think you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top!"
The crowd roared with excitement, a mix of cheers and jeers filling the air. Bets were placed not only on the upcoming fight but on who would be brave enough to visit Bone Appetit. Voices shouted over each other, hyped up by the promise of luxury in a world that had none.
"That restaurant’s the real deal , huh?" one burly spectator asked his buddy, squinting at the holographic ad flashing above the arena.
"Yeah, we should definitely make the trip over there," the other replied, grinning.
The atmosphere was electric, as every mention of Bone Appetit added another layer of thrill to the already charged arena. It wasn’t just about the fights anymore—it was about status, survival, and getting a taste of the sky-high experience. They would have a chance to eat in the tallest restaurant in the world.
And it wasn't just one world; it was two. Bone Appetit was taller than anything on Earth and definitely larger than anything seen in the Wasteland.
"Oh, that sounds neat," the first guy said, his voice carrying a note of curiosity as he rubbed his chin. His eyes flickered with interest, the idea of something more than the brutal survival of the Wasteland catching him off guard.
"Right? Never thought it would appear here," the second guy added, his expression brightening, like a light bulb just went off. It wasn’t often they got excited about much, but the promise of a fine meal in a world of wasteland horrors was enough to stir something deep inside.
"Do you really think it's something we should check out?" the first guy asked, his voice now filled with a bit more enthusiasm, like he was trying to picture what it would be like to sit in a fancy chair instead of roughing it on the hard ground.
"Why not?" his friend grinned, patting his side where a bag of mana coins jingled lightly. "We're kicking ass and have some mana coins. I could use a fancy meal." There was an air of pride in his voice, as if earning those mana coins had been no small feat, and now, they were ready to spend them on something more than survival.
"Yeah," the first guy nodded, his grin widening as a thought struck him. "I'll bring a date." The excitement now seeped into his voice, the idea of doing something so normal, so pre-Wasteland, brought a huge thrill.
The second guy chuckled, shaking his head with an amused look. "Isn't it weird? We were both single on Earth, but here in the Wasteland, we're doing way better." His tone was light, but there was an underlying amazement, like he still couldn’t quite believe how their lives had shifted.
"Well," his friend replied, now laughing openly, "there's nothing like facing life and death daily to make sure the girls realize that it's not about a job or the best theoretical mate; it's about living their lives to the fullest." He gestured broadly, as if to encompass the whole Wasteland in that statement. There was a touch of irony there, but also truth—a truth they'd come to accept.
"Yeah, that is absolutely true," his buddy agreed, nodding slowly, before looking down at his outfit with a slight grimace. "I wonder if I can get some new clothes from the vending machines? I don't want to go on a fancy date while wearing this." He gestured to his functional but ugly armor, shaking his head with a smirk, like he couldn’t believe he’d even consider going anywhere like Bone Appetit in his current state.
His friend looked him up and down, snickering. "Yeah, I'm already wearing my casual clothes, but it would be fun to get a suit." There was a playful glint in his eye now, the idea of dressing up and doing something that felt so far apart from the death amd dungeon spawns they usually faced was almost absurd—and yet, they both wanted it.
The two of them exchanged a look, the same thought passing between them. After the arena matches, when the restaurant was officially open, they were definitely going to check it out. The excitement bubbled beneath the surface, anticipation building, as they imagined what the night might hold—away from the blood and dust, up in the sky, tasting luxury for the first time in what felt like forever.
‘‘‘
Isabella, Olivia, and Barbara stood in front of the vending machines. ‘This is it,‘ thought Isabella as she punched in the buttons and fed in all the coins that would officially launch her fancy restaurant. ‘Bone Appetit is going to stop being just an idea in my head and become a real thing.‘ One hundred thirty floors—that was her final number for it.
“Do you think people are gonna come?” Isabella asked, glancing at her friends.
Olivia replied, “Well, we've done our best. We've spread all the news with the actors and diplomats running around town, teleporting to other settlements, and the sponsorship of the arena fights has definitely got the word buzzing.”
Isabella gulped and hit the button. In the middle of Bonetown, a massive spire appeared—a building taller than anything anyone had ever seen before.
RUMBLE!
There was a thick cloud as the building shot up. “Bone Appetit!” it said on the side of the building.
Bone Appetit stood tall, a gleaming monument rising out of the desolation of the Wasteland. At 130 floors, it wasn’t just a restaurant—it was a fortress, a beacon of luxury and safety that seemed almost impossible in a world where bandits were always around the corner. Each floor held a different theme, offering a range of experiences that stretched beyond just food. It was where the Wasteland’s survivors came not just to eat but to feel alive again.
‘‘‘
The first floors of Bone Appetit buzzed with energy, filled with quaint cafes, their soft glow spilling out onto the makeshift streets. The smell of roasted coffee beans mingled with fresh bread, luring in anyone who passed by. Patrons sat at small tables, their faces lit by the gentle flicker of candlelight, sipping drinks and indulging in conversations that, for a few moments, made them forget the harsh world outside. It was a calm, welcoming atmosphere—one that whispered of peace, despite the wasteland surrounding it.
Higher up, the mid-levels were devoted to more open-seating restaurants, the kind where the air was filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the sizzle of meat on hot grills. The ceilings stretched high, with large, panoramic windows giving diners a view of the Wasteland below. Even here, it felt surreal—eating a decent meal while looking out at a world that had been torn apart. Adventures huddled around tables, survivors celebrating victories, and the occasional trader splurging after a lucky haul. There was a sense of community here, a shared understanding that while the world outside was broken, within these walls, there was still room for civility.
‘‘‘
