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!

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Sandra Kaluiokalani | Superstore

[shutsup]

𝕰: Let's Be Adventurers(?)

[There's a very good reason for Sandra to be in Sparks Golsaucia. Of all the cities, it's the one furthest away from one of her biggest fears. There are plenty of directions one can go adventuring in, too! There's the Yuri Fields, there's the Sakura Forest...both sound easy to deal with now that she's a proud and true summoner, she should go out there and see what the world has to offer, and...

...she takes five steps out of the city gates and quickly turns around to walk back inside. She stands there for a few more minutes, tries again, and once more comes back inside. Each time, she seems to be giving herself a pep talk, mumbling under her breath.

Should someone approach her, she'll speak to them with a kind, sweet voice.]

Hi...oh, hello, excuse me. Can I ask you a question?

[Despite her job, she's still wearing her Cloud 9 uniform underneath a new robe. Maybe that's why most of the people walking by her just ignore her?]

𝕲: Get a Job

[For whatever reason, your character is now in the Item Shop. Sitting behind the nearest counter is a woman who looks bored...or not. Upon closer inspection, it appears the cashier is asleep. She has one arm out on the table holding a potion bottle, and her other hand is propping her face up.

A kid walks out carrying a potion, and the bell on the door jangles as it opens and closes. Sandra doesn't even stir.]

𝕳: Mognet

[There's a new message on the board today! Why don't you go take a look?]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and I just wanted to say I think it's wonderful so many of us arrived all at once. I've never had this many friends before. One time, I had a Sim with this many friends, but this is even better. We should all hang out together soon, don't you think? Maybe there's a trivia night we can all go to. I've been thinking of team names. Personally, I like 'The Best Friends Team.' Let me know, alright?

Your friend,

[Whoops. It looks like a prankster tore off Sandra's name. Maybe that's a good thing?]

[ooc; As a note, Sandra has "highly superior autobiographical memory," so she might remember your character from Introductions if you want her to have seen them.]

G!

[rivieran]

[ god shopping is the WORST!! No wonder they always had servants to do it for them, and she can't imagine why others thought she liked it.

Anyway, it's a necessity. Ena is here in the item shop with a fish for dinner and the best bottle of wine her measly allowance can afford her. Much to her dismay, she finds Sandra asleep at the till, and she sighs. ]

Um... Excuse me? [ She leans forward. ] Hello, ma'am?

[shutsup]

[Sandra would like to argue that working retail in 'the real world' and then being bullied into working retail in 'the new world' is worse than shopping, but she can't read minds. Also, she's asleep, or at least she is until Ena wakes her up.

She snaps back suddenly, eyes wide as she almost falls off her chair...but nope. She's on her a-game today(?) and manages to catch herself before she does.]

Huh? Wha? [Oh. There's someone here. Sandra stares for a moment. Nope, she hasn't seen Ena before, so she leans back, momentarily forgetting where she is.] Hello...? Are you talking to me?

[rivieran]

[ If Ena had ever done any work serving other people in her entire life... she would agree. But what a draaaag it is for fallen royalty.

Though she wasn't expecting to make the poor cashier almost fall of her chair, so for a moment she just blinks in surprise. ]

Y-yes... [ She places the fish and bottle of red wine onto the counter. ] You... work here right? Are you alright?

[shutsup]

Oh! That's right. I work here. It's just...

[Her voice trails off as she glances around the store. Aside from the little thief from a moment ago, the entire place is empty. No one is coming here for anything. It's quiet, too. If these stores are supposed to have music, she hasn't figured out how to turn it on.]

...it's real dead in here, you know? And most people just throw their money down and leave. Sometimes, it hits me in the face.

[rivieran]

Ah.

[ She pauses for a moment to listen to the silence. She usually enjoys silence - she works for the library after all - but this was different. It was mind-numbing. She could sympathize. ]

That is incredibly rude. Have you scolded any of them? I would never allow such behavior from customers. [ Mental note: thank her when she's finished. In the meanwhile, she reaches for her coin purse. ]

[shutsup]

[Wow. This girl is so nice. Sandra's not used to having such thoughtful people around.]

No...I mean, I've considered it, but they're usually in a hurry.

[She finally leans forward, tallying up the cost of the food here before giving the total.]

But sometimes, I like to pretend something bad will happen to them. Nothing too horrible, of course, but maybe that they drop their keys and have to pick them up or someone tells them that their sister is prettier than they are.

[rivieran]

[ Ena braces herself slightly when she hears something bad. But that wasn't exactly.... ]

Er... [ Blink. ] I suppose that's... inconvenient? Not the robbed, or a-family-member-is-kidnapped-and-ransomed kind of bad?

Adventures~

[kuposcreed]

"Kupo~ Yes? How can I help!"

The moogle certainly seems eager to help but there's something...different about her. She doesn't seem to be carrying herself like the other helper moogles mingling about.

[shutsup]

[Oh. Good. It's a Moogle, someone from this place. Sandra smiles sweetly, but she also starts to speak in a slightly condescending tone, the kind usually reserved for a pet or a child.]

Oh, that's so great. You look very helpful. You see, I'm a summoner now, but now that I think about it, I don't think it's a good idea. What do you think my chances are of accidentally summoning a horde of crabs? Because I really wouldn't like that.

[kuposcreed]

[Bonnie gives this some serious thought, which frankly looks adorable and perhaps a bit more effort than needed.]

Hmmmm, I don't think that's very likely, kupo. A summoner usually summons specific things, the Eidolon's kupo. So you're more likely to summon just one giant crab, kupo.

[See? Nothing to worry about~]

[shutsup]

Oh. I think that makes sense?

[She hasn't actually tried to cast any magic yet, but now that she's thinking about giant crabs she doesn't particularly want to.]

Is that worse than a bunch of crabs? Maybe it moves really slowly? If I can get away without looking at it, that might be alright.

[kuposcreed]

Mmmm, it depends, kupo. Though if it's a giant crab it would be easier for someone to strike its weak spot for massive damage, kupo.

[She gives her knife a little flourish for emphasis.]

Adventurers!

[theoldhope]

[Obi-Wan Kenobi is still wearing his simple robes, just with a sword rather than a lightsaber now at his side. He just happened to be near the outskirts when he noticed the lady's odd behavior, and he approached her with a mildly confused smile as she spoke to him.]

Yes, of course. [And hopefully this can answer questions of his own!]

[shutsup]

[She's glad to have help of any kind, honestly. This is so new to her. It's new to everyone, of course, but Sandra is just genre savvy enough to sense she's somehow the person who seems least fit for this weird direction everyone's lives just took.]

Oh...yes. [She's always a little surprised people actually talk to her without telling her to knock it off?] I was thinking about doing some adventuring, but then I started to think...what if the monsters out there are real and not made-up? I thought they were make-believe, but what if they...aren't?

[Poor Sandra has never seen a monster before.]

[theoldhope]

[Ah... Now the picture's starting to come together more clearly. The poor person seems to be out of her element. He regards her with a sympathetic frown.]

I'm afraid that your suspicions are on the mark. The danger out there is real. Although the fields seem to be clean for the most part due to the efforts of local patrols, I would exercise caution about embarking on an adventure if you don't feel prepared.

[shutsup]

[Out of her element implies Sandra ever had an element to begin with. But she nods, feigning understanding.]

So...what do you think is out there? Once, I thought I fought off a bear to save a cat, but it turned out to just be a rug someone hung out to dry. Will it be something tougher than that? Rugs are pretty resilient.

[theoldhope]

[After she finishes speaking, Obi-Wan... stares blankly for a few moments. Just to check for any signs of her being joking! Over the years, he's dealt with his share of people who aren't exactly suited for combat, but... this almost seems like a new level.]

Well... I'm sorry to say that any creatures out there will be far more formidable than any rug. There's a wide variety of beings out that which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I'm still in the process of reading up on the various threats, but I will say that they don't sound pretty.

[shutsup]

I thought maybe they'd...have less give.

[She mimes swinging her staff at a rug, but she stumbles a little in the process. Physical coordination is not her strong suit, alright?]

You know, I'm thinking...maybe someone should look for threats safely inside the walls. Just in case. I could probably do that.

[theoldhope]

[He laughs softly.]

There's no harm in staying within the city if that's what you feel suited for. But if you do wish to travel, you should find safety if you go with a party.

mognet

[zanarkandian]

That sounds awesome! I've never been to a trivia night, so you'd have to tell me what it's about.

But what's your name? I'm no good at guessing.

-Tidus

this thread makes me feel so sad

[shutsup]

I actually don't know what trivia night is really like because I haven't been invited. [It's at this point that Sandra realizes she sounds like a friendless loser, so it's time to embellish.] That's because I'm very busy and people depend on me so I don't really have a lot of free time. My best friend Dina is always asking for my opinions.

It looks like someone took off my name when I posted it to the board. Here, I'll

[And here the letter is torn again. Tidus won't have to look very hard to find it? Someone tore off a piece of Sandra's reply, put their gum in it, and missed throwing it into the trash can. There's no salvaging the text inside.]

aww :(

[zanarkandian]

Well that's understandable! Maybe we can figure it out together if anyone else knows...ugh, hey wait a sec.

[He finds the gum, makes a face, and tosses it.]

Man, I think those moogles are having too much fun again. I'll have to figure out how to meet you some other way. Don't worry,
you'll definitely find me when you come back.

[And being the stubborn guy on his day off that he is, he decides to camp near the board and wait for either the culprit or the writer. His blond head pokes out from behind the trash can as he waits---he's still a ninja in training, so he has a lot to learn.]

[shutsup]

[Oh. There's someone standing in front of the board this time? That's awkward. Always the quick thinker, Sandra decides to have her Moogle hang it. The only problem with that? Ku☆Bee envisions herself as above it all and decides to pass Sandra's letter onto a third person. By the time he hangs it, there are food stains on it and a corner is torn.]

I wanted to hang this myself, but it looks like someone's blocking everyone else from using the board. Maybe we can meet somewhere else? He looks a little aggressive, and I don't want anything to happen to you.

I'll be waiting at [Ketchup stain.] and you can look for [torn corner of page.]

[Will anyone ever respect Sandra's papers? Only time will tell. Fortunately, Ku☆Bee will have to come back for a reply eventually?]

[zanarkandian]

Huh? I didn't see him---oh.

Somebody sure is stubborn about stopping us. 'Fraid I can't read this either...man, some people don't know when to quit!

Uh, not you. Those other people. Um...why don't you meet me at my work? The big underwater stadium.

[After a moment, he puts another note on top of this, scrawled in the biggest letters that will fill the paper.]

Seriously, stop messing with this person's papers! I won't go so easy on you next time.