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memesofeternity2018-07-14 03:33 pm
eternitymods) wrote in memesofeternity2018-07-14 03:33 pm
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme III
  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! 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 K. WILD CARD
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Wah, I'm happy someone recognizes him!
-And startles out of casting when the Zadom collapses. What happened? He didn’t even see- Oh!
“Thank you!” He replies with fervor. (And casts a nod of appreciation to his Moogle, Mari, as she flies back to join him. He won’t be needing a class change now!) “I’ll disable the furthest one.” It’s running along the packed wet sand towards them, gaining ground fast. Before they can be overwhelmed, he shouts, “Morpheus's Embrace!”
Pausing mid-step in the surf, the lizard folds back its' frills and sinks to the sand in slumber. That leaves one advancing clumsily towards them, hissing.
super vaguely but yeah i enjoyed +c a lot c:
But that's not for her to think about now. Maki watches the one monster go down, aims easily for the one approaching them. She fires a perfect shot, but she has the decency not to smirk or get cocky. That's long since been drained out of her.
The other one slumbers, and Maki aims for it now. If there's no further interruption and nothing else the Tactician can do, she'll take the last shot and rid them of their troubles.
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It's quiet after the final shot, and Mari flying over his shoulder confirms there are no further enemies about. (Though they shouldn't loiter in the area, she adds.) Orcelito is inclined to agree. He closes the grimoire, it’s pages already dry by its’ inherent magic.
Once he has Maki's attention, he gives her a smile. He's been in this world long enough that fighting alongside a woman, or a gun for that matter, no longer surprises him. "Your timing is excellent." Studying the downed monsters, his smile fades on remembering how swiftly they snuck up on him from the water. He adds, "I'll report this incident to the local authorities. This area was supposed to be safe... but it's best to close the beach for a while."
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That's not relevant here, though. She gives Orcelito a quick nod. "It's a shame. People should be able to find some fun in a monster-infested world." Her voice is cool and official. It's absolutely a crutch for her now, being distant like that. Better not to form any attachments just to have them taken away from you again.
"I was here at the right time," she adds with a shrug. "That's all." Dropping her gun back in its holster, she nods at him again. "You're not armed. I'll go with you until we're clear of the water."
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Still, his first duty is to ensure no one else has an unwelcome and potentially fatal surprise. Mari flies up to him with his boots and heavy Tactician outer robe; he takes the first to carry and waves the second off. A class change he also declines. After all, being armed will do him little good if he has to wade through sand in plate armor.
“That would be appreciated, thank you.” As he turns to ascend the hill to town, he glances at her curiously. “Were you also here to relax? I hope Mari didn’t interrupt you.” He’s seen some heroes come here to meditate or hone their water magic, and he hopes he’s not disturbing her.
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Why had she come to the beach? Hm, how to put it? "I needed to think." Back home-- no, back in the Digital World, she'd walked into the churning Dark Ocean and-- "It wasn't going very well. Mari found me at a good time." And even if she doesn't say as much, she appreciates that he asks that. Daigo would ask that, she thinks. How is he? She misses him, suddenly.
"It sounds like you were hoping for some peace and quiet, though."
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"Actually, I'd never been to a beach before now. When I saw the coast from the airship, I wanted to see what it was really like." Wonderful. That's what it was. Full of motion and sunshine and breezes. He could've stayed for hours.
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"It's comforting. I grew up in a costal city." So, it's probably obvious why she was here today. "The beach here isn't substantially different from the one I'm used to, but it's still new."
The shape of it, the color of the sand and of the water, the kinds of birds and ocean life, the people and structures on or around it -- it lay be a beach, but ir's not her beach. Or maybe it will be, since she can't go home.
"It's nice, except for the monsters. We're lucky no one was around to get hurt."
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Perhaps it was fate that two Heroes of Light were in the area and not tourists. The sting from the venomous water the Zadom sprayed at him has mostly worn off, but he’s aware he’ll have to take a bath to fully recover. He was fortunate to be well-covered by the clothes of his class. Had the Zadom attacked someone in bathing wear, it could’ve been significantly worse.
And that brings up an idea that has Orcelito looking up at her with open enthusiasm. “Oh, did you ever go swimming? I haven’t had the opportunity, but it looks like it would be fun.” Admittedly, his only experience with water deeper than waist level were the palace’s hot springs and the aquafer cisterns; swimming ability wasn’t seen as a necessity in his childhood training. But he'd like to change that, if he can.
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Working hard to solve the puzzle of the reset. Working so hard that she tuned out the world and drowned in the darkness long before the Dark Ocean came into the picture. Working hard, and pushing away all the good people and things in her life, denying they were there.
Not much different from how she works hard here to master her class abilities, but... well. Not the same, either. She's not sure she wants to be a hero again, but none of that is for now.
"I did learn to swim, yes. I'm not bad at it. I don't think I know enough to teach it, but if you learn by observing, I suppose that's on the table."
...it might be weird, she thinks. She's so used to being by herself. But rejecting people only got her into worse situations, so if this is her second chance, she'll make the most of it. It's what Daigo would want if he were here too, and it's what Tapirmon would want for her.
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"Ah, I wasn't asking for instruction." A blush shows on his fair skin more than he would prefer. She didn’t have to offer though, and just having the option open is cause for his smile returning. “But I’ll remember your offer.” Having allies here is important, after all.
"I spent a lot of time in my room and library too. And I know a little about how to swim." Enough so the nobility can rest easy knowing that the royal bloodline won't run short from something as absurd as drowning in the hot springs. Glancing back at the water and it’s powerful motion, he adds, "I was told at the Paladin guild that swimming in a place with currents would help my training. So I’d like to improve as I can." (That, and it does look fun.)
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He didn't ask for lessons, but all the same, it seems appropriate to offer. No sense standing in the way between someone and a skill that, in Maki's opinion, should be required learning.
"Yes, that'd challenge you to improve your strength and speed. The ocean can supplement that kind of training, with the waves coming and going, as long as there aren't rip currents." When you grow up by the coast, these things are drilled into your head, Orcelito, that's a fact. "Maybe not this one, though."
See look she's trying to make a joke. Kind of a dark one, but that's Maki for you.
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“Oh.” He looks back to her. “I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Orcelito. Orcelito Noctircus.” Under the same name over the Mognet for convenience. He almost starts to add something, then checks himself before he gives her permission to offer her name. (With a sense of relief; that custom was tiresome.)
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And now she's somewhere else altogether. At least Vaikuntha is beautiful. That helps, she feels.
"Maki Himekawa." She too keeps her name tbe same on the Mognet. Who has the time to keep track of a second name? "It's a nice to meet you." She too is used to certain customs, but not ones quite like his. "A Gunslinger, I'm sure you noticed. You favor magic?"
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The magic that accompanied those skills was easier than he would have expected. Strange, too. No talismans or rituals. He doesn't even need these robes. It's like the grimoire sparks something already inside him; he only has to command it into existence. It's a... frightening power, these Asterisks.
He's silent a moment, easing past hesitation into the next question. "Was this job class your introduction into firearms?”
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As for her--
"No. I was given training and exams in gun safety and use before I was issued one for my job where I came from." Just government agent things. "I'm comfortable with firearms, so I decided to keep with them here. Or maybe I'm just stubborn."
The last part she says with a wry smile. She does have a tendency to pursue a thing to the end, to become the best and most informed. With a guild to keep her in check, maybe this time she won't overdo it.
"What did you do where you're from?" A soldier, a knight? A performer? Anything's possible.
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He regains his pleasantry at her question, and fortunately, he's already prepared an answer. "I worked in administration in my family's business. We managed land and other assets." He'd prefer to keep the true nature of that secret for now. (Not that the pedigree would mean much without power to back it, but best to play it safe.)
“You were a soldier?” He’ll keep gently prying as she allows. “Was your world like this one, with monsters?”
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Besides, she's starting over. You have to share a little to get to know people.
"Tough work." Read: boring work, in her opinion. "I'm impressed." Read: she's impressed that you can handle it!
"No, not a soldier. An agent in charge of an elite unit. We were dealing with... a sort of digital attack." Out of context, it probably sounds ridiculous. Oh well. "One designed to wipe out an entire species and create dominance by another. They were technically termed monsters, but most were neutral to the attack. They were as much pawns as anyone could be."
As much as she herself was, but she doesn't let on that part. Her face is as calm as it ever was. Maki has had a lot of practice at this.
"I imagine corporate warfare makes you well suited to being a Tactician."
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His eyes narrow slightly at the mention of an elite force, studying her calm expression; he’s surprised she admitted it so readily. He steals a glance at his Moogle. Digital attack? Is this something like the Mognet Strikes? Mari shrugs in response; she doesn't really get it either. But the basic theory is something he’s come to understand personally. To side step tension and encourage her, he remarks, "It sounds like your time on a computer was for a good cause, then?"
Heh, ‘corporate warfare’ is a good term for it. "It’s different, being on the field. I like the teamwork aspect. As a Tactician, I can actively support everyone who is working hard. By our combined efforts, we can fight more efficiently and less people are hurt." Okay, that was his job back home too. But it feels more proactive to be participating than trapped behind a desk relying on intel that may or may not be correct.