memesofeternity | TEST DRIVE MEME

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TEST DRIVE MEME

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!

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Of course he won't. Though he can and will literally sit on him if he refuses to stop with words alone if he pushes himself too hard in his sight. That's the only catch.

"You know, I saw two Jobs that wield either one of those on the list." Noctis points out, before adding which ones they were. "'Ninja' and 'Dragoon' respectively." He won't lie, Ninja's one of those that has caught his attention. And if they decided to both go with that Job in particular... Well, they'd be training one Job in particular together.

That won't be too hard, especially in the beginning.

Ignis nods:"I heard people talk about the Ninja Job earlier and it got my attention. That is the one I had in mind. But I haven't heard about Dragoons. Do you know any specifics about it?" Ignis also heard that there are plenty of jobs so Noctis should definitively find the one that suits him the most. Not having their regular powers is discomfort as it is.

It's later he worries about. Especially if he ends up picking a Job he can either just jump away from any potential tackling attempts.

"Honestly, it sounds a lot like what Aranea does. Save Lancet and I've yet to see her spew fire." He'd be only a little terrified if she suddenly did. Huh... Even has a skill that shares her last name. He goes over the Job overview and its skills for him, trying to get that particular image out of his head.

It will take a while until he learns how to dodge those tackles.

"That is a positively terrifying mental image." Ignis probably ends up voicing what Noctis was thinking, but is not less amused. "Still, I think that job as a Ninja would suit my previous skills better."

It will, and he'll have to make sure to keep him guessing all the longer. Change up some tactics along the way. (He's going to miss warping so much when Ignis does indeed learn how to dodge.)

Regardless, he can't help but laugh as Ignis points it out. "Yeah, no kidding. I have to admit, their parkour skill is the closest I've seen to warping. Save 'teleport', but..." There's just one problem with the second one... Illusionist. "So a visit to Tark Varentain, after we reach the next destination."

... Gods, he missed this.

"Teleport. Hmm... I wonder how disorienting that would be to use in the heat of battle. Probably a good disengage mechanic, but I don't think it would be good for the offense." He sighs, rubbing his chin, "Then again, it would probably all depend on the way you use it."

"Of course, if you decide to go with it," Ignis adds, sensing that Noctis isn't very impressed by the selection he was presented and the 'teleport' option itself.

He smiles, nodding. It feels a bit like a road trip they took. Only with ships and flying now and they don't get to steer the wheel. Maybe that's for the best. Noct is good (?) driver, but Ignis distinctly remembers that he didn't learn how to fly a plane.

"Probably, but I won't be pursuing it." Not personally, not with what the rest of the Job entails. He sighs, already scrolling through the list. "Pretty sure we've dealt with enough illusions for one lifetime. Maybe more."

He'll try not to judge anyone who does pick it up, but thanks to a certain someone... he'll trust them as far as he can throw them.

And excuse you, but he's totally a good driver! ...Except for when he speeds a little when there's no other traffic. It's more a staying focused problem than skill. Though Ignis better not say that aloud. He might already be tempted to try and learn how to fly an airship. Especially if it means they won't be tied down to scheduled flights, and maybe helping find others out there in the 'Sea.

"Couldn't agree more," Ignis confirms. He witnessed the illusions Ardyn can use, disguising himself as Gladio and trying to trick them all. He didn't have the chance to thank Ravus for seeing through the trickery.

And he is smart enough not to mention it. Driving on the land is hard enough as it is, and while there would be someone to teach Noct to command the ship in the air... he's not sure Noct could do it. What with his fear of heights. But who knows. Maybe driving the ship is different from watching the scenery and height around them.

"Is there an estimated time of our arrival?"

Whether he knows about what Ardyn did to and caused for Ignis or not, he... can't do it. To himself, or to Prompto; to even go near yet another magic similar to what his ancestor has.

There was only one way to find out, and he would more than likely try once they were more settled and could defend themselves again. Whether he'd mention it to either of them, well.... that one was up for debate.

"We're over water, now. Shouldn't be more than an hour." Where they started from had been the easternmost port of the continent they'd first been taken to when they arrived.

"An hour. That is quite a flight," Ignis muses. The more time they spend here, the more is Ignis curious about the world they are on. He should probably focus on finding out how to return back to their Star but he doubts that their ticket back would be just handed to them for free.

"Ah, what about Prompto? Did he decide about his job?" Their bright and skittish friend- Ignis wonders how is he adapting to their new surroundings. "There should be some job that can fit him." Like marksman or something. If there are Ninjas, marksmen should be standard.

"Yeah. But then, this star seems just as big as our own." Judging from the world map they received; if the measurement system wasn't much different from their own, that is. He can't help but be curious, either. Why not indulge it, considering they have no idea how to get back? Who knows, they might even find clues in the world that those at Curti Center or elsewhere can't tell them.

"Last I asked? Not yet. Though if one of them isn't Gunslinger, I'll be shocked." He's just... currently elsewhere on deck. Trying not to flip at how high up they are. No big deal.

So, the place is as big as theirs with a chance to be even bigger. A lot of things to explore and learn about. Noctis seemed to enjoy the road trip and the travel so maybe he will get to enjoy this as well. Ignis really hopes Noct will indulge his curiosity.

"Maybe the job won't go under the name of 'Gunslinger' but I am sure there will be something similar to it." Deep breaths Prompto, just deep breaths. The ship won't crash down.

The two of them and their curiosities will likely be their undoing at this rate. Still, he wouldn't trust anyone else to have his back. Especially in a strange place like this where the word 'magitek' is used for almost every bit of technology.

"No, that's- what it said on the list..." At least it's rather straightforward, he guesses. Doesn't take much of an imagination to guess what it is, that's for sure. Even so, he shrugs. "Remember anything about what they said about the place?"

Curiosity killed the cat- but satisfaction brought it back. Ignis never says no to knowledge. And, it goes without a doubt, he will always have Noct's back, no matter what comes their way.

"Really? A job tailored just for him," Ignis says with a soft chuckle. He is sure that their blond friend could learn to operate any type of unknown weapon in just a day or so. Ignis shakes his head: "Nothing specific. I suppose we will have to wait and see for ourselves."

Too often is the last part left forgotten. Still, it's a relief nonetheless.

"Yeah." And yet... nothing really matches anything he is used to. Not fully. There are bits and pieces, but... Ah, well. He'll have to choose between them and that's that. "Guess so."

Now that the initial excitement about where they are has worn off, he's fairly tempted to nap. He sighs.

Perhaps it doesn't match what they know but it can't be too different. Some of the basics should still be there so the terrain won't be too unknown.

"You sound tired," Ignis says softly, wondering if they can take a seat somewhere. He can't see, but he can hear the tired note in that sound Noct makes.

It's an entirely new world. The only things he's counting on are water still being wet and the ground being solid. Well, most of the ground. You never know. There could be quicksand. Somewhere. Though it was a relief to hear there are chocobos.

"A little. Though not nearly as much as I usually am." It's weird. An acceptable weird, but weird nonetheless. There's no seating on deck, but there was some down below...

Odd, indeed. Yet, Ignis can't help but feel a bit happy about it. The chronic tiredness Noct has been experiencing throughout the years subsiding, even if just a little, and just letting him go on with his day is good news in the middle of this mess.

"I wonder if it has to do with time difference here." Or some kind of magic. Either way...

"Should we go look for seats? Perhaps see if Prompto is there as well." Hiding far away from the windows.

"Could be, but without a way to test it..." He shrugs. Honestly, he won't be surprised if it's due to whatever's in the Dream Width causing a disruption in the connection between himself and the Crystal. Almost like what Ardyn did in Zegnautus, but with no real way to regain them. Yet. He hasn't given up on that yet. Still, that chronic lethargy does still exist. He always knew it wasn't just because of his family's magic. This just proves what they already knew.

It's the attack's aftereffects.

"I think I remember seeing there were some below deck. Wouldn't be surprised if he retreated down there after takeoff..." Because a certain chocobohead was even more terrified of heights than he was. Aaand he was already walking towards the entryway. Waiting for Ignis at the base of the stairs.

Without a way to test it, they shouldn't jump to conclusions and remain careful. Of course. It would be good if they could find a way to retrieve their skills- Ignis would definitively feel more comfortable about being stuck here.

"Then let us go find him." And while he trusts Prompto to take care of himself, he too knows that his fright of heights is bigger than Noctis'. So making sure that their blond friend is alright, he joins Noctis.

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