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

[wildlinks]

He really does. It also feels as if people are gawking at him for some weird reason (it's the sleeping clothes, pay no heed to them), so it's a bit unsettling. And the fact that he doesn't feel the links as prominently as before is sending a chill down his back.

"Another world..." he gives a careful glance around and folds the pamphlet. Naoto will give him a better update than this. "We should probably not discuss this here, hm?"

[pishirogane]

Naoto was at least acting like this wasn't unusual. It was in a way - why would he be brought here in the middle of the night? Still, she didn't comment further.

"Indeed. Come with me. We can talk while I'm helping refuel the ship."

[wildlinks]

It was very unusual and Souji still felt extremely weird- perhaps it's a jet lag? Whatever it is, it's not going to leave soon and he doesn't have time to waste. He needs information.

"Refuel the ship?" Wait. "Do you know how to fly one?" Souji asks curiously while following after her.

[pishirogane]

"Not yet. I'm only an Airship Apprentice right now, but I'll be able to get my license soon." Something she's pretty excited about even if her tone was still level.

What she leads him to is a small cargo airship... of course, small is a subjective term with it came to both cargo ship and the airship itself. Overall, it's larger than Biggs and Wedge's ship that's for sure. "It had another delivery before I boarded at Ka'Pandol so we decided to stop here early."

[wildlinks]

"That's really amazing," Souji says honestly. Despite her tone, Souji could tell she was really into it and it made him smile. Now he's curious how hard it is to pilot a spaceship. He never even thought of the possibility to pilot a plane.

"Ka'Pandol is... another region in this world?" Souji guesses, looking over the airship.

[pishirogane]

"Actually, no. Ka'Pandol is a city located in the Chronic Sea." Strange place all to itself, but she'll give him a moment to realize she said in the sea and not on an island.

Anyway, it looks like the refueling was still steadily going so she looks up at him. "So, what would you like to discuss first?"

[wildlinks]

"A city under the water?" He's just asking for confirmation. After falling in through the TV, there isn't much that can surprise Souji. That would be kind of awesome to see though.

But later. Right now, he has to ask. "Well, everything if it's possible." Wait, he should be more specific.

"...The last thing I remember before waking up on the ship was coming back from the hospital," Souji says slowly. They just rescued Nanako from Namatame and doctors said she's stable but- "Are we really stranded here?" People told him they are but, somehow, he won't believe it until he hears it from someone he knows. "And is there anyone else here?"

[pishirogane]

"Yes. We'll show you it of course. Our housing is down there..." And with him here now too, he could move in as well.

Naoto nodded, ready to answer anything and everything to the best of her abilities...

... only for shock to cross her face. He was from that moment? Dream Width certainly had timing nailed down. It also explained why he was only in his pajamas. "... Unfortunately, we are. We've attempted to explore Dream Width as well to see if leaving was possible, but it resulted in people being trapped in memories."

She sighs. "Right now, it's only Kanji-kun and I. However, we've found other Persona Users here..."

[wildlinks]

"Your residence is underwater? That's pretty awesome, I have to admit," Souji says sincerely. He knew of submarines, but no one actually lived in them.

"I see." He should've suspected that Naoto would've already tried everything she knew to get out of here. And Dream Width sounds dangerous from what he's hearing. He sighs a little, "It feels weird though. I remember talking to Kanji and you just yesterday, and yet you're here." He will need more than just a moment to process this.

"Other persona users? How?" It seems there's more than just an update on this world.

[pishirogane]

"Well... it's your home too if you want to stay with us." So, the offer's out there whenever he's ready to accept.

"It was a similar feeling when we arrived here. I last recall us having a get together and then, I was here." She's not specific about the get together - Souji could probably decide on what point. Naoto's unsure what would happen if she told him that Nanako would be alright - outside of a temporary... well... she shakes her head.

"It may sound peculiar, but they're from several years in the future. Our world, but Tokyo." The details she could go into, but that would be rather lengthy. Refueling wouldn't take that long.

[wildlinks]

"That- thank you. I appreciate that. I suppose it is for the best to stick together here." He honestly means this.

And he's also grateful that she's not bringing up anything from the future. There is this nagging, bad feeling in the back of Souji's mind that when he comes back (they eventually will, he has no doubt about it!), things could go terribly wrong.

"Hm. This place is truly confusing. It's messing not only with places but with time as well." It sounds dangerous to him. What if Dream Width pull in someone dangerous?

[pishirogane]

"It might be a little cramped, but we can make it work." With Souji, it would make seven, but Morgana didn't really need too much space, right? He wasn't as big as Teddie.

"Indeed. We have to be patient, but we will figure out a way back home." If Dream Width pulled in anyone dangerous, Naoto would hope others would alert them... well, if they recognized the danger. There's always a possibility...

[wildlinks]

"Ah, I don't want to impose or make things difficult for you." He'll figure something out. Curti Center people did say they have accommodation for him, did they not?

Souji nods. "One step at a time. Rushing things would just endanger everyone." Mainly his friends. He's now the more inexperienced one so he will be relying heavily on their help to navigate through these 'job' things.

"I do not feel my Persona with me." Any of them. "Is it the same with you?"

[pishirogane]

"You're not imposing, Senpai. The house we're in is made for more people." So there was room for him. If not, they'd make room, but Ren might not mind sharing with another Wild Card.

She nods back, agreeing with the statement.

And with a sigh, she nods again. "In this world, we use Asterisks to fight so our Personas are inaccessible."

[wildlinks]

"Then, if you don't mind, I will gladly join you." It's best they stick together through this ordeal.

"Asterisks. Is that Dream Width thing they dragged us out from somehow jamming our persona powers?" From what he heard from people, it was very dangerous to navigate through the Dream Width. And if they can't go out that way, then it was probably the cause for the lack of their powers.

[pishirogane]

"I'll have the paperwork for your move prepared." Yes, things would work out.

"It's possible. However, another likely candidate could be..." She trailed, her brows furrowing together as she tried to think how to best explain it. "... There's someone else here. An entity, but..."

Nanako-chan was only in the hospital for him.

"... She wants to destroy this world."

[wildlinks]

Souji will trust her with that then. "If you need any help, just ask." She is getting him moved so it's only natural he helps her out.

..."That doesn't sound good," Souji says with a scowl. And he very rarely scowls. "How did you find out about this? There was no such information at the front desk of the Curti Center."

[pishirogane]

"Well, I will need your signatures." So she's not forging those.

She shakes her head, "The Curti Center wouldn't want to inform arrivals of a looming battle. Besides that, I doubt they have the same awareness we do... after all, she only comes before us."