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

J.

[silent_princess]

It wasn't important as to how she found out that the man she now stood before was to be a King in his homeworld, nor was it important as to where she had heard it from. While her blonde informant had been most helpful, it would not be in her best interest to give him up or divulge his perhaps accidental slip up.

What was important was that two families now stood in the presence of one another, families raised to understand diplomacy and order, two families that were familiar with old demons striving to usurp their thrones.

She spoke, as she always had in front of such dignitaries, in a manner far more graceful and far more proper than her attire would suggest possible.

"Forgive me for intruding upon your time, but it would be a terrible error on my part if I had not sought you out to give necessary introductions and speak with you, good Sir. My name is Zelda, daughter of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule and Princess to the throne of Hyrule. I am to understand that you yourself are royalty, and I believe that if the two of us are to be trapped here in this world.. it would do a great disservice upon these people if we did not cooperate and share what we know with one another, in the hopes of bettering their lives and more importantly striving to uncover the means needed to see ourselves back home."

[warpstriking]

It might not be important to her, but he was to him. He had done well to hide his own lineage, much like he had back home where he could. Though that hardly kept the likes of Dino or Vyv from finding out who he was. Who his friends and retainers were. Still, he had hoped that he could at least keep some sense of privacy about it. Kept to his name or shortened nickname, maybe even 'Noct Gar' like he gave Navyth.

Yet he would not shirk away. Perhaps it was time to step out of the shadows. So, he listened - quietly, trying to read this other dignitary from a Star just as foreign as his own was to those of the one they found themselves in. She needn't be so formal, even though he knew full well why as she spoke.

He lifted his ringed hand, shaking his head. "There's nothing to forgive, though I can't help but wonder how you learned of my lineage." There was no anger in his voice, but apprehension.

"Still, you're right, and I can't say it didn't take courage to open up like that." So, he would return the favor. "Noctis Lucis Caelum, CXIVth in line and heir apparent of the fallen kingdom of Lucis. And I would appreciate it if that fact does not leave this room. We were at war and undercover, when most of us awoke on that ship." Noctis paused for a brief moment, letting that sink in. "Though we are of one mind, there. You didn't need to meet me under these pretenses. I may be secretive about my heritage to those outside my inner circle, but other information? Not when it could save lives or see others home safely."

[silent_princess]

"You are fortunate enough to have skillful retainers, and you are even more fortunate enough to have such loyal friends. It is in my nature to explore and to find information when even the slightest glimmer of curiosity arouses. It is my greatest strength and also my greatest weakness, I must admit."

So, his kingdom has suffered a similar fate?

Her expression softened all the more, empathy taking her as she tried to not let that very curiosity trespass on what could very well be troubled memories.

"I solemnly swear by the Goddess that I will do my utmost to protect such an identity, if you allow me to ask the same of you. It is unsafe and foolhardy to assume that only light can piece through the heavens to this world."

She steps as she speaks, keeping her vision from him as she looks to where her feet fall.

"My kingdom is in ruins, and what I know and hold within my thoughts could be used to aide this world as much as it could jeopardize it. I have no doubt the technology and magic of you own world could be considered the same."

She stops, finally looking to him once more as the weight of worry begins to make her eyes lose focus and shutter.

"For that reason, I have a simple request to ask of quite possible the only one in this world who might begin to understand why I would ask such a thing.."

She draws in a long breath of air, knowing how selfish her request is but knowing how important it is to secure such knowledge.

"I ask that you make an alliance with me. An alliance that seeks to find us all a means by which to return home, and if at any point should I obstruct or stand as a obstacle to such a cause.. if.. if at any point a darkness overtakes me.. that you please strike me down."

As far as she knew, there would be no "hero" in this world, no "champion" to protect the sanctity of the power that rests inside of her. This was not Hyrule, and she had no such commodity or arsenal to answer such threats with. Only a King would know the importance of such things, know how much the safety of the public and the safety of a kingdom's people far outweighed the life of an unskilled Princess.

[warpstriking]

"No one can fault you for that. Exploration's likely going to be how we find most the answers we seek." He was quick to point that fact out, though his eyes shone with a concern.

"Of course," he replied with a single nod. "You have this king's word. I swear it by the names of the Lucii and those of the Six. Considering there is a place in this world named after an estranged member of my family line, that statement's far more likely than we both know."

The one he both pitied and loathed with every fiber of his being. He frowned, especially as Zelda spoke of her own kingdom. He sympathized with her plight. After all, both of their kingdoms were in ruins. He didn't need to see the damage firsthand to know when Iris had spoken of it. He only feared what would happen once the nights remained and daylight was lost completely, if it hadn't been already.

The first part of the request was an easy yes, but the second-- Despite himself, he let out a quiet gasp. He indeed understood why. He'd seen what the darkness could do. To anyone, but especially...

"An alliance I will agree to, but know that I will only do as you asked as a last resort." Luna, his father, even Ardyn - their faces flashed before his mind's eye as victims of darkness' blight. Whether it have been directly or indirectly. "I have seen enough kind souls like yours fall to the dark, and would do what it took to prevent that from happening first. Should you prove a threat to others... Then, and only then, will I raise my blade against you."