TEST DRIVE MEME

[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. None of you know how you came to be here or where you are going, and the door to the cockpit is locked as the pilots focus on navigating the treacherous obstacles of the Dream Width. You might as well take this moment to introduce yourself to your fellow travelers. B. CURTI CENTER There’s an almost overwhelming aura of excitement in the tower as researchers rush to document this unprecedented number of interdimensional travelers. Over the commotion, the leaders of the Center struggle to explain, ‘Welcome to Vaikuntha. We don’t know why you’ve been brought here, but this is your new home.’ The staff will do their best to help the off-worlders settle in. They answer the questions they can, provide maps and pamphlets about the world 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 under the circumstances. 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. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Comments

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie smiles at Palom. “Thank you so much for taking the time to teach me this. At the rate I was going back there, well, the instructors would probably either be putting me out or sweeping up my ashes.” She stands up and bows to Palom, this time with genuine respect behind the gesture. “Now for the hard part: putting theory into practice. Hopefully I won’t set the training area more on fire than usual. Be seeing you.” With that, Connie strides into the area now open for target practice, stopping to give Palom one final wave before disappearing into the crowd.

[mythmaker]

I know what you mean. I've met some people who are less than kind myself.

[It's a thing in the entertainment industry; entire companies of people are dedicated to bringing down the reputation of her friends at times.]

But that doesn't mean we have to look for that unkindness, I think. If the people here need our help, I don't mind giving it. What about you, Zeb-san?

[dustmyboots]

Would you? I'd love to brag.

[spaceforged]

Yeah. At least we have fallbacks. [He quietly laughs. It is funny now that his annoyance at the inconsistency is fading away. Shiro shakes his head as his laughter subsided.]

And you have to admire how all of them work together to get what they want. It takes a certain kind of skill to band together on the level of their entire race.

[He can’t help but laugh again.] I’m Shiro, by the way. One of the Paladins around here.

[dustmyboots]

Now why would you want to do that?

[The clown asks, swinging his legs up on top of a nearby barrel, one after the other. Squatting on it, as if he's planning to leap from it at a moment's notice in some bizarre acrobatic maneuver. Or a tackle.]

It's a whole new world! New sights to see, new people to meet, new bridges to burn~

[And people to burn. And towns. And cities. And countries.

A whole new pyre to set a light. Why. Kefka is even beginning to get a little truly excited now, at the thought.]

[fusedshadows]

( there's a marked pause. she's staring down those fangs, and although she's not frightened, it's one of those few moments she's found herself speechless. slowly, a look of surprised contorted with frustration— and hurt. )

Oh, am I bothering you, now? ( she's so, so offended. by all of this. not to mention she doesn't particularly care for that tone he was using, either. sure, dylas could be grumpy but never... it never felt like this before.

there was something so distant about the way he spoke. normally her skin was thicker, at least with strangers but to hear him of all people say these things... ) This new form seems to have rattled something loose in your head instead of the tail!

[dustmyboots]

Where we are, don't know.

[He gives an exaggerated shrug and shake of his head at that. Don't know, don't care.]

As for home, well, it's just gone bye-bye, hasn't it? Maybe it's just like it was when you left it. Or maybe it's crumbled all to pieces.

[charming_jerk]

Well, I'm an American, for whatever it's worth. Ain't often I find anyone who knows what that is anymore. Where're you from?

[He picks idly at the strings as he thinks about what he could play next. Although he practices a lot, many of the songs he learned back on Earth are starting to fade from memory. Johnny's done his best to catalog what he could remember in notebooks, but of course, those are all back on Crystallis now. He sighs at this thought. All that hard work...]

How about... one of the first full songs I taught myself. I played it for my uncle, who damn near died when I did. He was the one who taught me how to play guitar in the first place, and he told me he was jealous that I got way better than him. [He grins to himself as he starts quiet tune that slowly builds. It's a good song to show off Johnny's deep voice as well, and while the song is unfamiliar to this planet's residents, a few more people stop to listen again now. He's surprised when he notices all of them, and gives the slightest bow when he finishes. This has gained him a few more donations, at least.]

Heh. I guess I know what I need to stick playing around here.

[sullenstallion]

[If it weren't for the giant crate in front of him, he would've curled on himself by now. He doesn't understand why this tiny demon girl would be so insistent on his attention. Hadn't his little barricade proved that he wanted to be left alone?]

Actually, you've been bothering me since the beginning. [He lifts off of the crate, and when he moves his torso the rest of his tail moves with him. It's a lot more effort than simply standing is.

But he stops once he's 'standing.' He's still tall, but he no longer holds himself at a height Midna would be familiar with. And what did she just say?] ...How did you know this wasn't what I looked like before? Who the hell are you!?

[It's his turn to look a little afraid. Or freaked out, surprised. It's as hard to read on his expression as it is for him to figure out which emotion he's feeling himself. Whatever feeling it is, though, it flashes across his face in a strange panic.]

[sunderings]

Do you know it, I wonder? [ Oh. Oh my, she's gone and put him to shame, hasn't she? In the time it had taken him to retrieve both flint stone and knife, she'd set kindling alight, nursing flame to full circle and height within the boundaries of their makeshift fire-pit, its frame cobbled together with stone found during their ventures of the day. What's more, she would encourage him to think of himself, thanking him for his support before declaring that she, too, would assist with making their meal. Why... this certainly is Lapis' vengeance, mercilessly driven upon him in retribution for daring to carry her away, isn't it? The thought brings a small, private smile to his lips before he speaks again: ] That you are terribly difficult to refuse?

[ Returning his tools to his pack, he retrieves instead: two small saucepans. The first, filled with water in need of boiling before it could be set to cool, safe to drink. The second becoming home to the soup they'd purchased from a tavern the night before, stored away in mason jars for precisely this occasion. And with little preamble, both saucepans soon find themselves nested over the fire's open flame, their contents warming perhaps a touch too slow for one's liking, especially after so very long a day. ]

I'll mind the water, then, if you will tend to the soup— [ With a spoon he presses into the palm of her hand, fingers curling artfully even in so very small a gesture. ] —for if it were left under my watch, it would most certainly scald and burn.

[ Sion... really has no talent for cooking, it seems, beyond the preparation of a singular dish. But sssshhh, this is a secret. ]

Even now... I feel as though I am new to adventuring, still, despite the many places we've visited together. [ Where Lapis seems rather taken with it, as though she'd had the spirit of a wanderer. ] May I ask you why you chose to become a summoner?

[ His golden eyes drifting away from the fire, he turns his head skyward, toward the stars. ]

Was it so that you would be free to travel, like this?

[fusedshadows]

I can tell. ( here's the deadpan reaction to match her surprise. ) And not just parents, either. ( you're shaping up to be a pretty big disappointment in general, pal.

but, turning around so that her back is to the girl, midna's palms raise into the air. ) That's fine though, it can't be helped if you're not interested in reaping big rewards like these.

[mech_and_mutt]

You keep that up and you're just gonna eliminate me!!

[But that approaching foe didn't escape his notice any more than his 'company' did- and, tempting as it was to let this annoying fire-tosser get his hair munched by a skeleton, he couldn't just stand there and let someone fall victim to a monster... even if he WAS starting to make a holier-than-thou nuisance of himself.

His gun was raised, and with a crackling BANG an electric jolt whizzed past Palom's temple to send his would-be ambusher reeling. Red let out a half-growling sigh as he reloaded.]

Now are you gonna shut up and make yourself useful, or are you gonna get us both killed?!

A

[dustmyboots]

Kefka laughs as the bizarre man launches out and grabs a hold of him, shaking him. This is already off to an entertaining start. At least not everyone here is some poor sadsack, boo-hooing in the most bland and boring way possible.

"Back! He wants to go back, he says!" Kefka says between bouts of laughter, grin widening as he slaps a hand on Deadpool's back. "You're in luck, my friend, because I know how to get you back exactly where you belong!"

[warpstriking]

[Leviathan's- wait, no. Probably shouldn't finish that sentence. Not if he wants to risk the Tidemother coming by and smacking him one from beyond the Interdimensional Sea.]

Yeah, well... Not much I could say on the matter. Not until—

[Castor can see his own train of thought come to a screeching halt, too. Even as he glances away.]

Guess you could say I had royal duties to attend to. When I actually bothered with them, anyway. [He always did, just on his own time.]

[dustmyboots]

Ugh!

[Kefka can't help it. The sound that comes out of his mouth at being called someone's friend is a sound of such utter repulsion the clown is half surprised he could be upset by something so much. It was always a jest, of course, when the word came from his own. No one was anyone's true friend. To even be implied to be such was disgusting. The clown backs away a moment, tongue sticking out, before remembering he was going somewhere with this. Where that place is, aside from something fun, he wasn't sure, but for now it seems he'll be required to make a sacrifice for it's sake.]

But of course I'm your friend! Have you met anyone else as friendly as me, you overstuffed bag of bones?

[Ignoring how patiently unfriendly such words would be, the 'clown' does a sweeping, exaggerated bow, one arm swinging to his chest, the other sweeping off to the side in front of him.]

I, of course, am Kefka Palazzo! Entertainer, purveyor of mischief, magician, cruel god, military genius, and tour guide!

[And at that, Kefka's putting a hand on Papyrus's back to try and start leading him....leading him Kefka doesn't know WHERE, somewhere else at the moment. Somewhere to find some amusement with this overly trusting skeleton man.]

[spaceforged]

Only a bit. [He gestures to the city beyond the door.] We might get lucky and have roommates we can pay for the ingredients they use. Even if we don’t...there’s a whole world out there.

It will be weird but, still food.

[It’s a funny topic and he smiles a bit brighter, shoving down all the things he’ll deal with later to the back of his mind.]

I smelled something that might be interesting around the corner on the way here.

Re: Son Goku | Dragon Ball

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie sighs from beneath the hood of her heavy winter coat. "Um, sir, sorry, but," she shouts over the howling winter wind, "I know I look young, but, um, I can defend myself just fine! Get out of the way!" Connie raises her rod and begins focusing intently on the annoyance brought on the well-meaning stranger who had unintentionally blocked her shot, and the frustration of how the yeti had alluded her for hours. Remember, just like Palom said. Concentrate on your emotions, and... "Fire!" she shouts at the top of her lungs, and an orb of flames shoots out from the tip of the wooden rod and towards the yeti.

[mythmaker]

I had a feeling you might be. [What is that supposed to mean?? He has white skin and horns. But she's not bothered by it at all. Truly, after meeting Zora and Moogles, some sort of demon is even more normal by comparison.] My name is Azusa Miura, and I'm from Tokyo.

[She listens intently, hands folded in front of her. The entire time Johnny sings, she has a peaceful smile on her face—but if he can't tell already, that's how she usually feels. She claps when the song is over, and a few members of the audience join in before depositing some coin.]

How wonderful! That's a powerful song, isn't it? My, my...it makes me feel like the people I care about are smiling right next to me, too.

D.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie, who was busy doing some prep work for her next foray into the field, starts. "Oh! Um, yes. Hello. Well, I have the Sword Master and Black Mage asterisks right now, and I've done some research into getting the Magitek Knight one in as my reserve, so if you have any questions about those two, feel free to ask."

Black Mage Evilwizardington | 8-Bit Theater

[soangryicouldtinkle]

A - You May Find Yourself Living In A Shotgun Shack
[Black Mage groans as he comes to on in this strange cabin with strange people he doesn't know and...

He quickly looks around and doesn't immediately see Fighter. He could almost squeal with joy! He quickly rushes to check out the windows and sees that they're traveling through whatever this is. Whatever is going on and wherever they are going, only one thing matters. Maybe, for once, he's free!

So he calls to the nearest person.]

Hey you! You there! What day is it?


D - And You May Ask Yourself How Do I Work This?
[The angry little man is currently arguing with the recruiter of the Black Mage guild in Kiddilion. It's not very effective.]

What do you mean I can't just be a master of the dark arts? My name is literally Black Mage! Do you know how many people I had to murder to gain this power? No? And now I have to start with basic spells?

[No, he's still signing up he's just bitter about it. Honestly, who wouldn't choose Black Mage? It's the best job out there. He's not going to pretend to be some sort of sword wielding idiot.]


E - And You May Find Yourself Behind The Wheel Of A Large Automobile
[Black Mage is going to Black Mage. He's out and about testing out his exceptionally limited power. He summons forth the fire element and lets loose on anything and everything he can target. That tree? A small rabbit? A batch of flowers? All on fire. Wait, that's not a small rabbit, it's not dead and it's coming right for him now!

He keeps shooting fire and trying to flee now! Anyone can catch BM as he panics and blasts fire, his robes flapping in the wind as he seems like he's breathing way too hard. He's not always targeting the actual threat.]

I will... see you... in hell!

[He's out of breath. He's run like 20 feet. He's not built for this.]

[mynameismikhail]

I know! You're super big! And...are you handsome for a skeleton?

[Mikhail doesn't know. The dragon isn't really sure what counts as handsome among skeletons. Usually, he found skeletons to be pretty creepy, but this one seems nice.

After all, he seems to think he knows where Zero might be. Mikhail's head perks up at that.]

R-Really? You think she might be here? I've gotta find her quick!

...What's a Frisk?

[That doesn't sound like a person name. Or at least, it sounds like a funny one.]

[regalblaze]

And it will be always appreciated. Ignis will surely ask the Prince to practice with him, knowing that he won't go easy on him. The only thing that's crossing Ignis' mind is that he might get impatient about the training and that everything is too slow and that he isn't improving. Which could lead to different kind of problems, example complete and utter exhaustion because he doesn't know when to stop.

"It is less about being interested and more about where I can fit in. Training myself from using daggers and lances to a different type of weapon will be difficult."

[hellofachef]

That's true. We should still be on our guards, though. And I'm not really someone who likes giving my services free of charge. Everyone should be compensated for their labor, whether physical or emotional. Giving and giving will only wear you out with little to show for it.

[ He's a demon. He makes deals. He doesn't really do charity. ]

[charming_jerk]

Johnny's answer gets caught in his throat for the moment when he sees who asks it. He can't believe his eyes. In the back of his mind, he knows all about the reincarnations and alternate universes, but right now it's like there's a ghost in front of him. His answer to Jack comes out very distractedly.

"Yeah, I, uh... Ozzy's a lot high than me too, really."

Today's already been a little overwhelming. Johnny's wondering if maybe he's seeing things.

B!

[sunderings]

It is all right. [ —soothes the voice of the King who is no worse for wear after being unbalanced by the sweep of the dragon's wing, his footing nearly gone out from under him, but only just. Though rather than withdraw as the rest of the crowd had, Sion had approached the dragon again, his hand lightly touching to the creature's white scales to offer a measure of comfort. Despite the dragon's size... the voice which emanated from its body sounded rather young, didn't it? Like a child. ]

You need only to be still, for a moment, and let the others pass. [ And pass they do, drifting by, the crowd thinning to make way for the dragon to continue on his path. ] You will find that you have room enough to move as you please in short suit, I promise.