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

[ladair]

[ Well well. Trying to make of her a complete fool, wasn't he? As if letting him walk away would resolve the issue or teach him anything. Admittedly she didn't have any authority in this place and it would have been wiser to step back... But letting him walk away with that smug face? She had her pride. ]

I think not. I would recommend presenting your apologies to the man for your deception and handing back your undeserved reward so the rightful person can claim it.

[ She rested her hand upon the hilt of her recently acquired sword. She didn't look as though she was about to attack, but her point was clear. ]

You are free to not comply, but I would rather not have to use force.

[thehurricane]

[Smug is a good word for his expression. Sleazy might be another one. He clearly knows what he's done and how to be unrepentant about it. It's only a little gil, after all. What's a guy to do? He'd rather hand over the money than put his life at risk, but...

...let's see. He's no doubt he's faster than her, if his understanding of Ninja is clear.]

...I'm afraid you're right. I've been dishonest.

[He places his hands on his hips, smiling apologetically. The advantage to breaking rules is that he can wear a Freelancer's clothes over his Ninja clothes, meaning that casting Transience on himself to prepare a counter will be even more underhanded. But then again, how else is a thief supposed to win in a real fight?]

You can cut me down whenever you're ready. I won't learn my lesson any other way, will I?

[ladair]

[ Right. Now he was waiting on her to cut him down. Attacking a defenseless man wouldn't do, even if he was a scummy one whose smile made her wish murder was an option. Not to mention his sudden show of repentance and total disdain for his own life... Something didn't click quite right. ]

... Very well then.

[ Unsheathing her sword, she pointed it his way and within a split second... She would cut off the pouch where he had put the gil, in the hopes of having it fall onto the ground. She tried to, anyway. Attacking him would solve nothing, let alone killing him.

That and she'd get in trouble for executing a bandit in a country that wasn't under her jurisdiction. ]

I don't know what game you are playing— But I will keep an eye on you.

[thehurricane]

[He's not being entirely dishonest. He's been caught. Admitting he'd been lying up until now is the least he can do. Imagine that—being honest about dishonesty. Life can be so charming sometimes, he thinks.

Unfortunately for Mòrag, a split second for a swordmaster is just a tad longer than a split second for a ninja. The way Legault steps back is calculated, but he attempts to feign and pass it off as an accidental stumble.]

My, that was a close one. You're a serious one, it seems.

[But countering...he decides not to activate his skill, leaving the knife he's hidden concealed for another day.]

But keeping your eye on me? Does this mean you've taken an interest in me?

[The word is loaded, an obvious euphemism to those who would recognize how he says it. It's not quite the sleazy way an oaf would hit on someone at a bar, no, it's flirty, playful, unfortunately for everyone involved. He isn't even sure if Mòrag is a man, woman, or something else. It hardly matters.]

My name is Legault. The pleasure's all mine, most likely.

[ladair]

[ An accidental stumble, of course. Clearly he was trying to make himself look and sound more foolish than he actually was. A rather clever tactic, all things considered. Most people underestimated those who didn't look the part.

But if anything, he had succeeded in getting under her skin. Him being faster than she was...? That was tolerable, if only a tad more annoying than she let on. But him speaking this way? That sealed the deal. The pleasure was all his indeed, not hers.

She winced for a brief moment, frozen as if she considered moving in for another strike... But ere long she stepped back, sheathing the sword back and clasping her hands behind her back. ]

It seems you are quite serious about this as well.

[ Going into a full-fledged battle would do no good to anyone. Perhaps this was her cue to apply for employment at the local law enforcement office. She turned around, obviously headed for the exit, but before leaving she titled her head to glance at him. ]

Legault. I won't forget that name.