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

Sarah | Final Fantasy I (Native AU)

[ancientlute]

(Retrieval.)

[ It's always just a little worrying, manning the infirmary and waiting for them to wake up. What if they don't? Does that happen? It's never happened on her watch, but what if it did? What if they pull someone out of the width and it isn't good for them? Not just 'maybe they don't want to be here', but what if it hurts them?

She shuffles around awkwardly until the sound of movement, of someone rousing, catches her attention. ]

Oh! You're awake! Oh, thank goodness! [ Hello, this is almost certainly way too much positivity and energy for someone who's just woken up ]. Hello! You are- almost certainly going to have a great deal of questions, but- but well done! You are the first!

(Sidequests)

Oh! Oh- you- you really want that one? You're- sure?

[ She hesitates, watching as you take a paper from the board, because on the one hand this is very good for the center. Please SOMEONE take that job. It really needs doing, and nobody wants it and she certainly can't do it. But on the other, it really doesn't feel right to just let one of the newcomers stumble into this one.

And so after a moment she gives chase, tapping you on the shoulder. ]

I do not mean to assume, but-. You- ...do know what a Malboro is, don't you?

(Mognet)

Goodness, this is the third time this month.

[ You can tell when the mognet is down, because people go back to old fashioned methods of communicating. Shouting, for example. A great deal. While some of the newcomers still need rest. Acting tremendously put upon, she puts up a notice on the wall, placing a few pads of sticky notes on the floor next to it.

Temporary Mognet

And then, to christen it, she adds the first sticky note. ]

Please stop shouting. People need rest. -Sarah

(Wild Card)

[ Or come bother her! You can usually find her in the center, trying to be helpful and occasionally succeeding. ]

Retrieval

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie practically jumps out of her skin when she's approached by Sarah, then she turns around and relaxes slightly. Rubbing the back of her head, she says, "Oh, uh, sorry about that. I'm just a little on edge right now. A lot, really. Um, where am I? And who are all these," she gestures vaguely at the other, slowly waking passengers, "people?"

[ancientlute]

"Well-" She can do this, she's practiced giving the 'you're in a new world' speech before, and this one- this one seems nice. "Right now, you are on an airship. And the Airship is in the Dream Width. And- I rather imagine that isn't very helpful to you."

She sighs, laces her fingers, then tries again.

"You're a terribly long way from home. We didn't bring you here, and I don't know that we can send you back. For the moment we're taking you somewhere safe."

[conniemaheswaran]

"How far away are we talking? Like, a couple star systems? A galaxy?" Connie gulps, looking at the wide array of passengers onboard the airship. "...dimensions?"

[ancientlute]

"I should think 'dimensions' is closest. It is- a little hard to explain without- ah!" Remembering something, she quickly goes over to the counter, returning with hands full of paper.

"Do you like pamphlets? I have pamphlets about it! They're very educational. Oh- but please don't read them right now if you suffer from motion sickness. I shouldn't want you to feel ill."

[conniemaheswaran]

"No, no, it's fine! Any information would be helpful right now, to be honest. And, um. Anything to also distract from how overwhelming this entire situation is." Connie eagerly snatches one of the pamphlets and quickly scans through it, eyes darting all over the pages.

[ancientlute]

"Don't worry, it will- I cannot promise it will make sense with time, but you will get your bearings. It will get easier." She sorts through the pamphlets as she speaks, picking out useful ones. It's with a smile that she places copies of Help! I'm in another world!, Jobs and You - A Guide for the Confused and Moogles: Everything you Need To Know About How to Pet Them on the edge of Connie's cot.

"You are not alone in this, and we will aid you as best we can."

[conniemaheswaran]

"Thanks for the help." Connie sits down and continues to tear through the pamphlets, brow furrowing as she absorbs the wealth of information. Her brow furrows as she learns more and more about the world below, but her eyes light up as soon as she reads the section about magic. "Um, miss," she says, raising her hand out of habit, "do you have any pamphlets about, um, the types of magic and how they work?"

[ancientlute]

"Oh, of course! Give me a moment, I know I had some of them somewhere-"

It takes a little searching but eventually she starts placing down more papers. Some are booklets of information, others just leaflets advertising the location of guildhalls. "Most forms of magic from outside of this world won't function here, I'm afraid. But newcomers like you tend to be very quick to learn. With a little work, I'm sure you'll be casting spells in no time. Once we're back at the center, we can arrange passage to one of the guildhalls so you can learn more."

[conniemaheswaran]

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Connie is practically vibrating with excitement as she leafs through the dearth of information Sarah has given her, distress momentarily forgotten. "I wonder, if magic is this organized in this world, can it be- oh, hah! There it is! Hm, might want to pay a visit to Myste Aura at some point..."

sidequests

[daggercubed]

[Vax plucks the piece of paper away, turning it over. He stares down at the request, reading it a few times, before he looks up at Sarah. His shoulders shrug once at her.]

I imagine something large, angry, and in need of stabbing. Fortunately, I'm average-sized, angry, and good at stabbing.

A match made in heaven.