memesofeternity | Test Drive Meme III

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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! ~~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!

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[It's not hard to pull Keith in. He was this close to initiating it but wanted to give Shiro a moment to review what he just laid out in the open for him. Keith wraps his arms around his best friend, trying to ignore how he feels fangs biting into his lower lip as he tightens his grip.

It hurt to say what he did, but it hurt even more because it meant telling Shiro what lay in store for him. Only being able to watch as he floundered in his grief and failed, his instincts he didn't understand nearly costing the team everything. Watching his own clone question every choice he made as a leader. How he withdrew and chose to be on the mission. He had to be on it, just like Shiro had for the Kerberos mission years ago.

A sad smile crosses his lips as he squeezes in reassurance.]

We saved each other. [It's a small correction, but an important one. In the back of his mind he notes how easy it is to rest his chin on Shiro's shoulder, but it's swept aside by the request.] We will, and I'll rest on the way.

[Like I'll be able to sit idly after everything, he thinks to himself.]

So long as you rest even a little bit, that's fine. [He knows as much as Hunk could tell him about what happened. All the questions he had been sitting on suddenly don't matter. Keith is in pain and it isn't worth it to cause him more for the sake of clarifying how it all went wrong.

Not after Keith came for him when all hope was seemingly lost. Not when telling their friends and teammates comes next. They need their energy to weather it and shoulder the sorrows of the others. He squeezes him back, one hand resting in the middle of Keith's back.]

...I'm alright. It's a lot to process but, I'll deal. Now, [He slowly lets him go and watches his face.] Get a few sandwiches in you. You'll need them.

[Keith nods. Right, he knows. He's not going to deny himself the sleep he definitely needs, but for now, he needs to focus on what comes next. Telling Hunk will be painful as well, but he'll bear it like he did all those glimpses of the future. Weather and prepare. Shoulder the others' grief and remind them what he can tell them of the positives they have to face, along with the fact they're here. Even if this isn't where they're meant to be.

He'd been just about to ask how he was holding up when it's answered for him already. He sighs once, letting the tension in his chest that built up go in one steady breath. As they slowly pull away, Shiro likely glimpses a slight hint of yellow before Keith blinks and it's gone; replaced with a determined but concerned look. The fangs, however...]

Any other blank spots I can fill you in on later, I will. [When they're both ready, in private.] However, I was gone for some time.

[He can't fill him in completely on the team, but he can at least tell him what he was up to with the other Blades at those points. Keith sighs and returns to the sandwich. Shiro's right. He will need it if they're going to talk to Hunk.]

[Had he mistaken that bit of yellow in Keith's eyes? At first he thinks he's just tired. Then he sees the fangs. The words his best friend is saying wash over him as he blinks.

Yep.

Fangs.]

Keith. Don't take this the wrong way but, why do you have fangs?

[Had he? Had he? That'll be a question he'll have to ask himself because it's not exactly something he could say. There wasn't a mirror on the space whale sabbatical.

The question earns a quirked eyebrow.]

Do I? [Huh. They seem to retract as he calms down.]

[One eyebrow raises then the other.]

...You did. It's going away. [He jerks his head up so he's staring directly into Keith's eyes. Rude to stare at your best friend's alien traits. New or old.]

Sorry.

Anyway, that's...thank you. [It's like he can't leave things alone before he says, carefully.]

Keith, no matter what your reasoning for leaving the team for a while was. I'll still support you. You followed your heart. I'll never be mad at you for that.

Okay...? [He thinks on it for a bit. Maybe it was something that happened when he went all out or was stressed? He'll have to keep that in mind.

Keith finishes the sandwich, before leaning back and meeting Shiro's gaze again.]

You're welcome, and thanks. [He smiles faintly. He notices that obvious out to not say what his reasons were, and ~~he waves to it as he passes by~~ decides not to take it. He had no regrets, only that it took everyone being in jeopardy for this to happen.] I'd been working off and on with the Blades tracking new supply routes. A mission was being planned to infiltrate, and following them could have led us to Lotor. I had to be on it.

[He doesn't mention the frustration the others directed at him. That his actions and inability to get his head on straight at the time had put them all in danger. It was justified and he knows it. But, that's all in the past for him now. He finally got himself sorted out.]

[;He was with them when we needed him, so the Black Lion took you back.;

You know how important this is to me!

'I had to be on it.'

He goes quiet. The scenario plays itself out in his mind in pieces, those he had before from Hunk. What he knows about Keith. And now silvers of his own life. One by one they fall into place to form a picture.

;We'd just gotten a new rhythm going and it was weird for all of us for you to just hang out in the castleship and run support.;

The pieces of the story he didn't allow to be written on his face then fall gently into the holes. Shiro can see the team's side of this. Their frustrations and fear. He'd been gone and Keith was supposed to make them safe and guide them. They were scared and Keith never one to share his own pain had closed off and fallen back on old habits.

Then he came back. He'd fallen back into a role he'd known was ahead of him anyway on Earth.

Keith couldn't take it. He ran like a thief into the night and ran to the one thing that he could do and do well. And he'd let him do it because he'd needed it. He can hear it in his voice. Yet he'd come back for them. For him. He'd rode right into hell and pushed through fear.

He looks at his best friend anew and sees the man he has become. The blaze of his spirit shining clearly through his eyes. He reviews all the words said between them since he was found in the Dream Width. It takes his breath away for a moment to see him. His own eyes say he knows the real story but it doesn't change a thing.

He ducks his head for a second and claps him on the shoulder.]

Well. It's good to have you back.

Edited 2018-07-27 18:55 (UTC)

[A lot of things happen at once. He knows the words strike a chord because he remembers how much Shiro needed to follow his dreams what feels like a lifetime ago, now.

It might as well be, with how much has changed.

He has his mother again. Something he never thought he'd have again, even if she isn't here with them.

He has the answers he's been searching for for so long.

He has the team and while he left them once, he's not leaving them again.

And then there's Shiro's hand on his shoulder.

Keith's smile grows a little more genuine. It's true, he did need it. Yet he still missed them dearly. Still put others and especially Shiro over the mission. Krolia taught him that was fine.

And he'd do it all again in a heartbeat if it meant saving them.]

It's good to be back.

[Eye contact has never been awkward for them and it isn't now. All of the tension and fear he has for the future that had been weighing him down fades away. He had never realized how tired he had felt carrying all that around until now when he can set it aside.

Shiro lets go of him with a soft chuckle.]

I keep distracting you from eating. But, I know enough for now. We should be able to handle how everyone else reacts just fine.

[He pauses, thinking it over and nods to himself.] And I have a book to burn when we get back to the house.

[He's just glad that some of the tension seems to be leaving Shiro's shoulders. He hadn't even noticed it was there before. The fear and concern, sure.]

Don't mention it. [He doesn't mind. What he says next leaves him feeling curious. One eyebrow raises, followed by the other shortly after. A book? Huh?] What book?

[Shiro what have you been doing while he wasn't here.]

[He coughs and looks off to the side. Shiro rarely looks embarrassed but there's a faint air of it now.] ...I uh, got just enough details about the future to be worried Haggar had control of me.

So I did what I always do, [He made back up plans and contingencies. He meets Keith's eyes as the embarrassment leaves him. He sighs.]

I made a book of information for the team in case I got taken over. As I got stronger I either revised plans or identified weak points. Since we don't need it anymore...it needs to be burnt. It can't fall into the wrong hands.

Edited 2018-07-27 22:41 (UTC)

[He blinks. Well, considering the clone had sword made out of quintessence and a laser beam coming out of his hand that cut through layers of metal and stone without breaking much of a sweat, something tells Keith that Shiro wasn't far off the mark, there. Except it hadn't been him who was controlled.]

I'd offer a match but those are missing, too.

[Though that reminds him, since he had to cut off the prosthetic to end the fight...]

Might want to look into a new arm, just in case something happens. [Better to have a replacement ready than, well.]

Edited (I really shouldn't tag just after waking up) 2018-07-27 23:45 (UTC)

About the same size as this one? [He asks as he moves his arm to emphasize it. Keith is giving him details he'll need. He's going to take advantage of that to prepare as much as possible.]

And don't worry about matches, Dragoons can breathe fire.

... I more meant if something happens here. [It's a good thing he hadn't taken a sip of coffee yet, because it was dangerously close to his lips. He takes that sip before elaborating further.]

You mentioned fighting a sea god earlier. If our armor and your arm's deactivated here, it could be easier for whatever we face next to be damage them beyond repair.

[It's a worse case scenario, and probably still unlikely. It took him going all out with one powerful swing of the bayard to cut the clone's arm clean off halfway up the upper arm. How often would they face something that could do that in a place like this?]

[... Though further clarification that he isn't trying to tell Shiro to stop, but be prepared if something happens like he had unintentionally implied did back in their reality. Because breathing fire.

He grins. Why would you tell Keith of all people this. Now he has to pick up Dragoon even if he wasn't going to already.]

[While Keith had more meant about here (he has looked into their prosthetics here just in case) he hasn't refuted Shiro will need a new arm. Well, that's good to know. He first grins back at Keith. He's more than aware he just encouraged a future Dragoon.]

Try not to set anyone on fire. Alright?

[Then he pulls out his iMog and unlocks a file he's kept hidden away. He turns it so Keith can see the screen. Magitek prosthetics, the list of the most suitable, weight ratios, and speed adjustments based on the arm.

Not just in day to day life. Jumps.]

I had the same thought you did. Leviathan was testing us. The next one might just attack.

[He didn't, and he knows this.]

Who do you think I am, Lance? [Let him tell you of the time Lance first piloted Red and kept accidentally slamming into the others because he wasn't Prepared for Red's pure speed. It's almost funny in hindsight.] I won't. Not on accident, anyway.

[You never know. One of those they have to face in the future might be sentient. He looks at the list of magitek prosthetics, humming once.]

...Your clone's goes to his shoulder.

Edited 2018-07-29 22:32 (UTC)

That's going to require some adjustments and reworking the numbers. [He moves his fingers across the screen and starts crunching the numbers.]

I'll talk to Hunk about getting replacements built. I've been meaning to discuss that with him anyway.

[He pauses to cast a knowing glance at Keith. It's nice to work together again. Just from how he approaches things...he can tell his best friend has grown up more. Well. Less grown up, more like quelled his inner rage. Just like he knew he always could be, he's come into his own.]

...I really missed talking to you like this.

[Keith nods, slightly looking over his shoulder as Shiro types. He settles easily into working side by side with him again. Almost as easily as breathing.

The anger is still there, bubbling beneath the surface, but the feelings of abandonment and uncertainty that once fed it are gone. Shiro and Hunk are here. He can handle the new wave of uncertainty that this place brings. He returns his attention to his coffee, a sincere smile crossing his lips.]

...I missed talking to you, too.

[Memories and revisiting them in the Quantum Abyss are one thing. Actually being able to speak with Shiro without fear of him being used like he'd seen then and experienced later is a relief beyond what words can say.]

[He looks up at him and smiles. He hasn't been able to stop since he found him. Working together side by side feels natural even with the subtle changes.]

We should be approaching the center soon. And I promise, I'm staying by your side. Don't worry.

We'll meet up with Hunk and see if anyone else arrived.

Edited 2018-08-03 01:39 (UTC)

[A calm smile lightly creeps across Keith's lips. It sounds like a sound enough plan. Meet up with Hunk, see if there are any others that arrived. There were probably multiple ships out searching, then. If Shiro hadn't seen any of the others.]

I'm fine, Shiro. The armor took most of the beating.

[Yet he doesn't mind the idea. They had a lot to catch up on and, if he's honest, he doesn't want to leave Shiro's side, either.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme III

⊂(◉‿◉)つ I COME FROM THE FUTURE AND HOLY SHIT DA SPOILAHS

(((o(ﾟ▽ﾟ)o))) THE SPOILERS DUKE THE SPOILERS

(ꐦ ´͈ ᗨ `͈ ) SUPPLEX THE SPOILERS

((┌|o^▽^o|┘))♪ PUMMEL THE SPOILERS

( ˊᵕˋ )♡.°⑅ ok real tag this time but also SPOILERS

ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ boy howdy it's SPOILERS

( ᐛ )و great googley mooglely it's all gone to SPOILERS

ヾ(@°▽°@)ノ we're all crashing and burning in SPOILERS now for s7 x 01

ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧ BRB breaking that fall 4 u like it ALL THE SPOILERS EVER

(〜￣▽￣)〜 not if i break ur fall first with SPOILERS

(✿◡‿◡) oh boy we got back to the gay (SPOILERS: we never left)

o͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡╮(｡❛ᴗ❛｡)╭o͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡ I was about to sa

SPOILERS AGAIN ヾ(^ ^ゞ)

(•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ CANT STOP THE SPOILERS

( ﾉ^.^)ﾉﾟCAN'T STOP WON'T STOP THE SPOILERS (1/2)

∑(O_O；) ...NOT SURE HOW TO S T O P

◉‿◉ Never stop - SPOILERS

(・・。)ゞ There are no breaks on the SPOILERS train

(/•ิ_•ิ)/ It just keeps going along SPOILERS

(*ﾟﾛﾟ) ever it goes on (with spoilers)...

(.=^・ェ・^=) welp spoiler free

(^=˃ᆺ˂) aww bye musical interlude

Test Drive Meme III

⊂(◉‿◉)つ I COME FROM THE FUTURE AND HOLY SHIT DA SPOILAHS

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) THE SPOILERS DUKE THE SPOILERS

(ꐦ ´͈ ᗨ `͈ ) SUPPLEX THE SPOILERS

((┌|o^▽^o|┘))♪ PUMMEL THE SPOILERS

( ˊᵕˋ )♡.°⑅ ok real tag this time but also SPOILERS

ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ boy howdy it's SPOILERS

( ᐛ )و great googley mooglely it's all gone to SPOILERS

ヾ(@°▽°@)ノ we're all crashing and burning in SPOILERS now for s7 x 01

ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧ BRB breaking that fall 4 u like it ALL THE SPOILERS EVER

(〜￣▽￣)〜 not if i break ur fall first with SPOILERS

(✿◡‿◡) oh boy we got back to the gay (SPOILERS: we never left)

o͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡╮(｡❛ᴗ❛｡)╭o͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡ I was about to sa

SPOILERS AGAIN ヾ(^ ^ゞ)

(•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ CANT STOP THE SPOILERS

( ﾉ^.^)ﾉﾟCAN'T STOP WON'T STOP THE SPOILERS (1/2)

∑(O_O；) ...NOT SURE HOW TO S T O P

◉‿◉ Never stop - SPOILERS

(・・。)ゞ There are no breaks on the SPOILERS train

(/•ิ_•ิ)/ It just keeps going along SPOILERS

(*ﾟﾛﾟ) ever it goes on (with spoilers)...

(.=^・ェ・^=) welp spoiler free

(^=˃ᆺ˂) aww bye musical interlude

(((o(ﾟ▽ﾟ)o))) THE SPOILERS DUKE THE SPOILERS