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

Sparks Nevada | Thrilling Adventure Hour | CRAU

[red_planet_blues]

[One]

[A man dressed like a cowboy, sporting a marshal's badge on his coat, is arguing with a small moogle with red stripes dyed in her fur. She sure was happy to see her old charge again, for about five minutes anyway, until the griping started. He's holding his Slate and is arguing with her about the employment listings, even though she doesn't seem to be countering what he's saying.]

Huh-uh. No way. I'm not startin' at the bottom again, thank you kindly. I started at the bottom in the Academy and worked my way up to Marshal. I started at the bottom in Crystallis and made it to the top of the ranks. Either this place is gonna accept my experience or I ain't signin' up. I'd rather go be a dirt farmer or whatever you do on this planet. Do they ride around on big smelly birds on this one, too?

I-I don't know, Sparks-kupo! I'm just as new as you. And-- Hey wait, didn't you tell me, kupo, that you flunked your final Academy exam? And aren't your parents high-ranking officers, kupo?

... That's also the last time I tell you anythin'. And that's besides the point!


[Two]
[At one of the local open air markets, Sparks can be seen trying to sell a vendor two strange-looking pistols. They probably look futuristic to most people. The vendor is looking over them closely, skeptically. His eyes dart back and forth to Sparks, who looks pretty put out.]

Look, just-- just give me whatever for 'em. I can't shoot worth a darn anymore here anyway. And I ain't got nothin' to charge 'em up with. Someone will think they just look cool or something and buy 'em from you, okay? Cuz they are cool. Cuz they're mine.

[The vendor asks exactly who he was supposed to be, again. Sparks slaps a hand down on the counter for emphasis.]

I already told ya. Famous two-time world-saver and marshal on Mars, Sparks Nevada. But, I'm... from Earth.

One

[sullenstallion]

[It isn't long before Sparks runs into a familiar face—but Dylas' face is the only thing familiar about him here. No one will have to crane their necks up as high to look at him like before. His pants are accentuated with shoes instead of hooves. His is a head devoid of antlers, and the hands at his side are lacking in claws. And he looks aloof—like his mind is somewhere else.

If only he were paying more attention. His first mistake is stepping too close to the Moogle. His second mistake is lifting his foot in a to step back only to stumble and kick (or near miss) the red-striped moogle. Either way, it's a disaster.]

...Is it alright?

[Such concern.]

[red_planet_blues]

[It does take Sparks a few seconds to recognize the radically different Dylas. He's aware of the multiverses and such, but before he can even form any of that info into a coherent thought, poor little Red gets booted and goes tumbling. Sparks winces.]

She is tougher than she looks. [With a sigh, Sparks walks over to help Red up. She's fine, just her dignity bruised. She flaps up into the air to rest on top of Sparks's hat, and she glares at Dylas.]

Kupo! Watch where you're going!

She ain't wrong. But uh, I got a question and it might sound weird. Have we met?

[sullenstallion]

Oh. I'm glad. I didn't mean to do that.

[Dylas feels guilty. He might be in a bad mood, but that's no reason for him to get distracted enough that he accidentally sends Moogles rolling away with his kicks. His ears droop and his tail tucks between his legs. He also averts his gaze as he's stared at, those judgmental eyes filling him with nervous energy that will soon result in him fidgeting.]

Huh? Are you hitting on me? I'm not the kind of sucker who falls for a line.

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks folds his arms.] Whaaaaaat. Hitting on-- No, no. Look, it's hard to explain, but I'm someone who's, uh, done a lot of travellin'. Meets a lotta people. Ya ain't ever been to a place called Aqures Ixen, have ya? On Crystallis?

[sullenstallion]

[Those place names sound...real. If this guy were trying to pick him up or fool him into doing something, he wouldn't use such specific, easily denied terms. Dylas relaxes his stance just slightly.]

Nope, I haven't, not that it's any of your business. I haven't been much of anywhere before. ...You really think you've seen someone that looks like this?

[He gestures to his face. Blue hair. Scar. Horse ears. Horse tail. It's definitely Dylas' face, of course, but that's why he can't imagine anyone else has ever seen it.]

[red_planet_blues]

Yeah. Kinda. Mostly just in the-- [Sparks gestures with a hand around his own face to indicate Dylas's.] Y'know. Face region.

Look, there's a lotta worlds 'n universes and whatnot out there, is what I've comes to learn. But for all these supposedly infinite possibilities, I sure do run into a lotta familiar faces. It's weird.

Two

[needsteaplz]

[A certain redhead was also in the markets at the time when she heard the commotion from a nearby stall. She couldn't contain her amused laughter when she heard that emotionally-unavailable marshall's voice state where he was from once again.]

And here I thought I'd never hear that catch-phrase ever again.

[Saori, followed by Brigid and her shipping journal in hand, walked over to the marshal.]

Then again, I didn't expect to be dropped into another world that needs saving. It's good to see you, Sparks.

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks is genuinely glad to see Saori among all the unfamiliar sights of this new planet. She gets a smile and a tip of the hat.]

Well well. Fancy meetin' you here. All these planets just can't do anything without us having to save 'em, can they?

[needsteaplz]

Oh, um, Marshall, have you seen the Barkeep around here?

[With the return of the heroes, the fanfic writing moogle hoped her mentor would be one of them.]

It's nice to see a familiar face here. I have seen others here from before but there's quite a lot of new faces here too. I know, right? I mean it's been like what, months since we saved Crystallis?

[red_planet_blues]

'Fraid not. Not yet, anyway. Just keep an ear out for anyone shoutin' about trouble all up in his place, I'm sure it'll be sooner or later.


[Months? Only months? Sparks deflates a bit at that.]

Yeah, months... Coulda sworn it was like a decade or somethin'. Feels like it.

Two

[daggercubed]

Those look impressive.

[Vax isn't the best at minding his own business. The half-elf steps up from behind Sparks, and pears down at the guns on the counter, then up at the vendor. Then, finally, back to Sparks.

If Percival were here, he might buy them in an instant.]

I don't think they care where you're from. Or what you're on. You might not want to advertise that you're on something at all, friend.

[red_planet_blues]

They should care. If some weird cosmic force is gonna keep draggin' me from one backwards rock of a planet to another, they should at least let people know who's comin' to save 'em all.

[Sparks stops to look at whoever this guy might be. He can't tell if he's a local, or an import like himself.]

Wait, what? On something?

[daggercubed]

No one should give a shit where we're from, just what we do.

[Vax could pass for an elezen -- or a half-elezen. The pointed ears give it away. He shrugs, once.]

On something. Mars, you said? Is it some kind of local drug or something?

[red_planet_blues]

Whaaaat. You think I'm-- No, look. Mars. That's the place where I'm from. The planet. Okay, no, so I'm from Earth, yes, but Mars is where I live. Where I'm marshal. On Mars.

[Honestly now.]

Back on Mars, I was second to none with those pistols. [Untrue.] But here, they're about as good as paperweights. So I might as well get what they're worth. Which is a lot. [That last sentence is delivered with a pointed look towards the vendor.]

[daggercubed]

Oh. Oh, like a--a planet.

[Vax is from a medieval world. He only kind of gets the idea of planets.]

Right, of course, that makes all the sense. Damn, I'd have liked to see you use those. You're just trading them away? No sentimental value?

[red_planet_blues]

Not like a planet. Actually a planet.

[Sparks looks back to the guns thoughtfully for a moment.]

Well, I mean... yeah, but. Here I am again, startin' all over with nothing. Dinnertime's gonna roll around, and I ain't gonna be able to eat my pistols. Get what I'm sayin'?

[Then again, the amount of money the vendor was willing to pay probably wasn't going to get him much for dinner anyway.]

[daggercubed]

[Actually a planet. Vax tries to imagine it; he ends up mostly looking confused.]

They're not interested in buying, though. Don't sell memories for cheap. They're worth more than that.

[He shrugs.]

Missing dinner is never easy. I've done it. But I think I'd hold onto it because no one can fucking appreciate it.

[red_planet_blues]

[Still looking at the laser pistols, Sparks finally slides them back over the counter and reholsters them at his hips.]

Yeah, okay. I'll keep 'em. They still got some shots left in 'em anyway, even if I can't hit the broadside of a space barn at this point. Weird that I can with a gunblade, though. I mean, it's got a gun right in it. Aiming it is different 'n all, but... [He shrugs.] Eh, who cares. Thanks for talkin' me out of it, stranger.

[daggercubed]

No need to thank me. Maybe the chance to put them to proper use will come about.

[He extends a hand.]

Vax'ildan. Vax, for short. I should have introduced myself earlier.

Two

[theredplainsrider]

You sure you wanna do that, Nevada?

[That is an all too familiar voice from an all too familiar friend.]

Red Plains Rider...

Rawa. I'll be fine. Sparks and I have known each other fer a long time.

[red_planet_blues]

[Now this is a pleasant surprise.]

Well well. Look what the intergalactic cat dragged in. Fancy seein' you here. And no, I am not sure I wanna do this, but if I'm being forced to start all over yet again on a foreign planet, I gotta get some cash. And these guns might as well be paperweights on a place that ain't Mars or Earth.

[theredplainsrider]

Ya never know, Nevada. They might be able ta use some sort of magic ta keep 'em charged.

They got a new gunslinger job. Not quite as good as using laser pistols, but it's somethin.

[red_planet_blues]

Yeah, maybe... Last place had, like, crystals and stuff... But I need money too.

[Sparks looks at the guns, to the vendor, then back to the guns with a sighs. He pulls the back from the vendor.]

Well, it ain't like he was gonna give me a good price for 'em anyway.

[The vendor states that he'd rather you not talk about him like he's not here, thank you.]