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

[oneirism]

[That tease almost, almost, gets her cheeks to puff up in a childish manner - yet the very thought of squirming free doesn't yet occur to her though, finding that she is comfortable here despite her protests. For now, she simply just sighs - relating and letting Sion have his way, for now at least.]

If you say that, I might get lazy and ask you to carry me everywhere.

[A hint of a tease creeps up in her own voice now, before she's set on her feet once more, hands smoothing out the wrinkles in her robe before she feels that touch to her shoulder. Golden eyes taking a sweep of their makeshift camp as well, before then blinking at his words - lips pursing as Sion already starts to look for the tools needed to start a fire.

And since Lapis is, well, Lapis, she makes to have a look in her pack too - humming in triumph once she manages to find her own. With tools in hand, a fire is then set alight - a playful light twinkling in her eyes as the flames light up the campsite.]

It's only thanks to your help that I could keep fighting earlier. So I shall assist in preparing dinner.

[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?

[oneirism]

[Lapis still looks rather proud of herself, his words prompting a soft, faint smile to curl at the corner of her lips. If he was going to carry her around, then of course she would take over certain duties - such as setting the fire for their camp. Especially since she wants to help Sion realise that his aid had been as important as her dealing with the beast, for it was his magic that helped her keep going.

She does, at least, allow him to gather up the saucepans and set to preparing them, gold eyes simply keeping an eye on the fire for now. Making sure it burns brightly still as both saucepans are placed above the flames, peering into the contents - accepting the spoon from Sion, his words prompting an amused hum.]

Then I shall do my best to make sure that doesn't happen. [Since Lapis is more of a baker than anything else oops.

But she at least stirs the soap dutifully, even as her eyes focus on Sion once more - expression soft once more as she listens, his question prompting a quiet hum. Travelling had been her life for many years, and even now she can't shake the urge to explore, to see everything wit her own eyes.]

Yes, and also my own interest in the local history. Travelling has always been something I enjoyed, along with the stories and tales I would hear on the way.

[Quiet for a moment, peering into her soupy reflection to check for any signs for burning, before looking over at Sion once more.] And what made you pick White Mage?