memesofeternity | Test Drive Meme II

A. RETRIEVAL

Dreams fade slowly, and awareness returns in increments. The hum of machinery, the smell of recycled air, the murmurs of others waking up around you.

The interior of the ship has been outfitted with cots for those Biggs and Wedge retrieve from the Dream Width. Outside of the makeshift infirmary, windows set into the walls of the worn lounge area offer a view of space.

It’s time to meet your fellow new arrivals who have been brought together on Biggs and Wedge’s airship. The other newly-awakened people have no idea how they came to be here, but now's a good time as ever to introduce yourself to the others on the airship and glean what information you can.

B. CURTI CENTER

The researchers at the Curti Center are not quite so unprepared as last time, but it is still obvious that they are struggling to understand the sudden influx of interdimensional travelers from the Dream Width. "Please step into the lobby for a quick survey. Perhaps there is some common thread we haven't discovered yet..."

The staff will do their best to help the off-worlders settle in. They answer the questions they can, write down all proffered information they can about the arrivals' homeworlds, provide maps and pamphlets about Vaikuntha and the destinations within it, and even guide the arrivals to a neighborhood where housing has been provided for you. Yes, due to the strange influx of arrivals, you’ll be expected to share, but the Curti staff are doing the best they can, considering they are still housing the previous arrivals here on the island.

Experiences like these bring people together. Perhaps you are the only one here from your world, but at least you are not alone in this experience. Others are right beside you, learning the same information, planning trips to visit the same new cities, checking out these Job things, and settling in to their new (temporary) homes.

C. UP IN THE SKY

There’s a whole new world to explore. It’s almost enough to distract from the fact that there’s one place you can’t go- home.

You are on an Airship, the main mode of transportation between the major cities of Vaikuntha. While the majority are owned by airlines, perhaps you hitched a ride with a friend that has their own. You can go anywhere in a matter of hours — One can only hope you don’t have motion sickness.

D. GUILDS

Proud representatives of the Guild are lined up, ready to demonstrate their skills for the new initiates. Make sure to stay behind the designated line, this might get dangerous.

So you want a new Job? You'll have to first travel to the Guilds, sign the papers, go through the orientation and introductory lectures, and get basic training. Afterwards, you can freely chat and practice with your fellow members, celebrating your new powers, and checking out your new wardrobe.

E. LET'S BE ADVENTURERS

Separated from all of your material possessions, connections, and everything you know, and really, what you’re left with is time. Better try to make the most of it.

Enough expository banter. It's explorin' time. Maybe instead of spending every day in your room, you'd rather spend it living it up in the city of Lavode, or betting on Chocobo Races in Sparks Goldsaucia. Or maybe you'd rather go and explore the caves and ruins near Arito. With Airships and Chocobos at your disposal, you can go nearly anywhere!

F. SIDEQUESTS

Maybe you’re telling yourself, ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’ But wait, you did. At least it pays.

It all started when you checked the Quest Board. All you wanted was a few gil to spend, and here you are in the wild, hunting for a Malboro Vine. Or maybe you are in some ancient and decrepit ruins looking for an artifact. Or you could be asked to be janitor for a week. Consider yourself lucky though, at least you don't have to do that alone.

G. GET A JOB (THE OTHER KIND)

You’ve got a Job, but Claire keeps sighing and muttering about layabout space-people not earning their keep, so it might be time to seek out Employment as well.

There are plenty of opportunities to earn some gil in Vaikuntha, no matter where you choose to settle down. Your iMog slate includes listing for employment opportunities. Hopefully you can find something you can live with so that you can start saving up for an airship or the security payment for your permanent housing.

H. MOGNET

*Ding!* You’ve got Mog-Mail!

Thankfully, you can instantaneously chat with your friends around the world thanks to you iMog Slate. And unlike old-fashioned Moogle Letters, you can even send messages to everyone in a blink of an eye! However, despite the change in technology, the old tradition of Mognet Strikes have never gone away. Nobody knows any more whether the Moogles have legitimate reasons to go on strike or if they are just lazy. But today, Mognet is down, and to get information you have no choice but going to the public boards or risk message corruption and mishandling.

I. RANDOM ENCOUNTER

The ground trembles, and out of nowhere, something hostile appears! ~~Is that battle music playing?~~

You were minding your own business walking around, and suddenly monsters attacked you! Time to put to use the skills you've learned with your Jobs! Will you try to fight on your own or seek help? And remember, you die in random battle, you die FOR REAL. There’s no shame from running from enemies that are a higher level than you!

J. CHOCOBO MADNESS

You look at the giant chicken, and the giant chicken looks back at you. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful relationship?

The kind folks at the Chocobo Farm have provided you with the tools of the chocobo-catching trade: greens, a bridle, and more advice than you can remember. Time to go find your new steed.

Or perhaps you have already captured a chocobo, and your friend has captured a chocobo, and now you'd like to bring some chicks into the equation. Chocobo breeding may be the minigame for you!

K. WILD CARD

Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Finn almost jumped when someone approached him, finally, but managed a little smile anyway.]

Hi! I- uh- I'm looking for the Gunslinger Guild?

Gunslinger? [ Might be eyeing him up. He doesn't look like a McCree type, but. ] I might know where that is. I can even show you! IF you want.

Are you any good?

[... Why was she being all evasive? Why can't someone just be straight forward? He blinked.]

I definitely want. And, yeah, I'm all right.

[If anything, he knows how to shoot. ~~Top of his class and everything but he's too damn humble.~~]

[ Sorry, Finn. She's only ~~entirely~~ a little bit of a troll. Her giggling might show as much. ]

Good enough! I guess today's your lucky day. Future Champion MVP Gunslinger will lead the way. Follow me!

[ And with a wink she turns and leads him in the direction! Hey, at least she's helping! ]

What's the name? Another newbie arriving at the wonderful world of Vaikuntha, I take it?

[... Cocky much? Oh boy. Finn just follows after her.]

I'm Finn. Just arrived a few days ago.

So... Future Champion MVP? [He's guessing that's not an official honorary title...]

[ Cocky sounds so harsh. More like epically confident. And besides she's helping! ]

Finn? Nice to meet you, Finn. D.Va is the name, but ... you can call me Hana.

[ A glance is given in his direction as she sports a grin. ]

That's right. And if you need tips, I might be able to give you a few! Just a little something I like to offer my fans. I go live almost weekly to share my epic encounters out there. So be sure to look me up on your iMog sometime!

[He nods slowly.] Nice to meet you, Hana.

[Now, Finn's not one to turn down new advice or learn from others, so he actually considers the offer despite the whole act. Fans. Sure.]

I definitely will. It sounds like... something. [Definitely something.] So I'm guessing you've been here for awhile, huh?

About a month, I think. Maybe two! It's been a bit of a mad rush trying to learn everything about this place while also trying to find a way out.

[ A thought that frustrates her. Going home didn't seem at all possible. ]

So they told you about how they found and saved you, right? Pretty weird if you ask me. I'm still not sure if I buy it.

[Oh thank goodness! He thought he was the only one paranoid and wanting out. Everyone else seemed generally calm and happy.]

I haven't seen any proof yet.

But I don't understand how we could all get here without knowing how. And there's no real reason behind it except monster population control, unless there's something we don't know about yet. Maybe people are looking for us back home.

[Maybe. His friends would want to look for him, but they all had the bigger picture to worry about. Maybe he'd just have to figure his own way out...]

That's kind of why I want to join the Gunslingers. If I had a job, maybe I could learn more about this place. Figure out how to protect myself. How to get home...

I'm talking too much, aren't I? Sorry. [Congrats, Hana. You're the first to open the flood gates.]

[ Hana slows down a bit as he goes into full ramble mode. It's not that she doesn't understand, but whoa he had a lot to say just then! This was a lot to take in, and perhaps so far he probably felt alone in that regard. Yet as he finally takes a moment to breathe and then comment on his rambling, Hana just ... laughs. ]

Geogjeong-ma!* I know how you're feeling. I was the same way just a few weeks ago. Being pulled away from my homeland right when they need me was not only unfair but also pretty rude!

[ Her head turns to the building just ahead, the one with flags that marked it for the Gunslinger guild. ]

I don't know if you'll have much luck finding any info. The locals here don't seem all too eager to share any of their secrets. They're pretty stiff and indifferent if you ask me! Sure, they're happy to help us and give us a place to live, but beyond that? Nothing. [ And that fact makes her frown a little. ] They even lost my MEKA. My MEKA! It could be anywhere!

[ Now she turns back to him. ]

But you know, there's a bunch of us here trying to figure out what this all means and pulling together to work as a team. Maybe ... you can help out?

*don't worry

[Finn made himself shut up and listen raptly, trying to quell down his ever growing panic.

But the offer (or maybe recruiting pitch?) was unexpected and greatly appreciated. His eyes widen.]

Yeah! Yeah, definitely! We can find a way out if everyone's working together. I want to help.

And maybe we can find your... Mika? Maka? Whatever- If that's here, too, then we can find it. [He's assuming this is a thing that'll help them get home. It sounds like some sort of machine, yes?

Crap. Now he's all excited and hopeful.

Point is, if they can't count on the people back home and they can't count on the locals, it makes sense to try leaning on each other. Finn's tried the solitary route. It's no good. He's not made for it.]

[ Excited! ]

That's great! You know what? You're pretty cool, uh ... what's your name again? Finn, right? I'll be sure to remember it!

[He's... supposed to take that as a compliment, right? He'll take it as a compliment.]

Thanks, Hana. And thanks for showing me around.

Test Drive Meme II

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