Test Drive Meme III

[eternitymods]

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. SUMMER SUN [insert Sheryl Crow track here] Vaikuntha offers opportunities for many summer activities. Only some of the beaches hold the risk of being attacked by aquatic monsters, the others are a perfect destination for a day trip on a sunny day. Take a hike up the mountains and relax in some hot springs at the top. Go camping in the woods just not on Friday the 13th. Enjoy a refreshing sea salt ice cream bar. Just because you’re here, it doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to a vacation. K. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Comments

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Chocolate," replied Peach as she produced the cake from the basket that was sitting next to her. "I made it myself."

[fixed_destiny]

This is going to involve actually getting up and moving, which he is reluctant to do on sheer principle.

For a solid minute the young man stays right where he is, silent. Maybe her offer has been rejected, and in the rudest way possible: ignoring her!! On one hand he really should get up, it would be the polite thing to do. On the other hand he really, really dislikes sweets.

After that solid minute or so, there's a sigh, and very reluctantly he sits up and gradually stands, looking for a moment much put-upon. But by the time he actually reaches Peach, he's managed looking politely interested. "In that case, it would be rude to refuse something hand-made."

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Of course, here you go."

She offers him a piece, with a delicate looking fork and plate there. One would think it wasn't plastic, the way it was made.

[fixed_destiny]

"Thank you."

How long can he keep up the ruse of interest? Not long at all. Although he takes the slice of cake, plate and delicate plastic fork and all, he doesn't instantly dig in, he just pushes it around on the dish a little, looking thoughtful.

"Is this your ship?"

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Ah, no it's not. It belongs to the people down below on the surface. I'm a newcomer like you are." said Peach with a bright, sunny expression.

[fixed_destiny]

That draws a pause, mid-doodling in the frosting with his fork. "If you're a newcomer like I am, how do you know who owns the vessel or where they are?"

Some things should not be asked.

Xehanort is bad at not asking.

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Oh I just simply asked the crew and they told me!" Exclaimed Peach, giggling. "You learn a lot when you're not staying in one place."

[fixed_destiny]

"What else did they tell you?"

He would leave the active investigating parts to when inevitably there was a gathering, there always was.

[defender_in_a_dress]

"That we've been rescued from a space called the Dream Width up in space, and we're being brought down to the planet to get oriented. This place gets a lot of visitors as of late.

I do hope Mario doesn't think I've been kidnapped again."

[fixed_destiny]

He still hasn't so much as tasted the cake, but it's definitely getting moved here and there across his dish. "He may not have even noticed you're gone." Whoever Mario was. Husband? Friend? Brother? "Are you frequently kidnapped?"

That 'again' thing.

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Maybe not. It would be a black mark on his record, but I forgive him for that."

She nodded her head in the affirmative. "It's quite a regular thing back in my world. Fortunately we just go along with it."

[fixed_destiny]

That didn't really sound like serious and dangerous kidnapping, someone couldn't be so utterly non-frightened if it was actually hazardous.

Perhaps she and this Mario did kidnapping games for fun. "The last world I was briefly trapped on influenced time in such a way where those who weren't on that world experienced NO passage of time. It wouldn't be ... that he might not look and more to him, you hadn't gone missing at all. No time has passed."

No, Xehanort isn't sure how that works, but it had been repeated to him several times and there seemed to be some evidence.. "Though if you dislike being kidnapped it might be wise to invest in locks."

[defender_in_a_dress]

Well it was challenging for Mario that's for sure.

"Hmm, I see. That would explain something then. If time moved at a different rate then it stands to reason that there's a difference then between worlds." said Peach.

"Oh that doesn't stop Bowser. He just takes the whole castle if he's being particularly aggressive."

[fixed_destiny]

"Time itself is reasonably constant." Worlds, especially ones being screwed with by actual divinities, tended to bend and twist the rules whenever they could, but Xehanort was of the opinion this didn't really change the rule. "Mortal perception however is easily altered."

Bowser must be the friend getting in on this game with them. "I suppose everyone must have a hobby." FINALLY, a sample of cake is tasted.

Chocolate.

[defender_in_a_dress]

"Mmm, I see." She said with a smile. "Do you research things then such as time?"

"He's quite the character. Mario goes after him, blows are traded, and I'm rescued. Although this latest escapade there's no kidnapping involved."