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

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[Good. Because he'd rather have at least one familiar voice in his ear keeping him from going mad from that revelation. He's been alone enough for a while and more than welcomes the occasional familiar hand on his shoulder.]

Gotcha. [He looks around.] Don't see anyone like that nearby. Maybe outside?

[It's as good a hunch as any, and it seems quieter out there anyway. Less crowded. When in doubt, they could always check the cockpit, too. Though distracting a driver... He knows better than that.]

[They had always been inseparable, especially last few months. Ignis has a feeling that ever since they left the Crown City, it was Noct that became a pillar for Ignis, not the other way around.]

Hmm... I wonder how far are we allowed to wander. Let us have a walk around. [Of course, not to interrupt the pilot, but to find some kind of officer. A board, pamphlet or a book. Any kind of announcement.]

The map of the ship could always be useful. [If the ship can carry as many people as he can hear (which is a lot), then the thing is probably huge and has some basic map somewhere.]

[Give yourself some credit, Ignis. He'd quite literally be lost without a certain someone's advice and guidance. Especially after Altissia, and now even more so.]

I'm going to assume if it isn't locked, we can explore. [Of course, he isn't going near anything that might put either of them in harm's way. Though the idea does catch his attention, so after briefly looking around-] Ah.

[Guess who found a thing, and is leading a certain blind man to it as well? This king.]

Let's see... There's where we currently are, and the lounge area... Cockpit- [He pauses, gently lifting a piece of paper that seems tacked on over the board. He'll wonder why he can understand non-Eosian script later. Instead he's focused on trying to read the messy handwriting and frowning.]

The hell? "Found you floating out there"?

[He's just... trying his best not to be as useless as he feels he is. It's one thing to not want to be and fighting it and different getting to the point where one can contribute to the situation as a whole.

Still- if it helps Noct out, then it makes Ignis more than just happy. It actually felt as if he was sitting back in his office at the Citadel and bouncing the ides off of the wall for a meeting that's in ten minutes.]

Did you find something? [From the sound it of, it seems that it will be helpful.] We are going to avoid the cockpit. We don't want to disturb the pilots.

[Ignis waits patiently for Noct to decipher whatever he found and then scowls.]

Floating out there... How is that even remotely possible? Is there anything else?

[If he knew that thought was going through his head, then he'd tell Ignis the same thing he told Prompto months ago on a motel roof. But, he's no mind reader. So he can't.

Ugh, he'd rather be translating ancient Lucian at this rate. It'd be faster.]

Some note on a map. [A beat.] No idea. And whoever wrote this has horrible handwriting. It's hard to make out.

[He frowns. Ignis shouldn't feel too useless. Noct can see it, yet still can barely make out the chicken scratch.]

Something about navigating a treacherous sector and not to bother the pilots. That there will be answers planetside.

[Fuck it. He gives up. The rest is in even tinier chicken scratch.]

Gonna need a magnifying glass to read the rest of this...

Edited 2018-03-19 22:10 (UTC)

[And Ignis would point out that their situations are a tad bit different.

And then give him a smile and thank him.

Reading Ancient Lucian was a pain for Ignis as well back in the Crown City. At first, he thought it will be exciting to know to read runes and language that had completely changed but it turned out to be more tedious than interesting. However, some books written in Ancient Lucian were interesting reading material, so Ignis can't complain.]

So they say to stay put and wait to arrive. A waiting game that none of us is good at. [Ignis sighs, rubbing back of his neck.]

Since it has come to this, perhaps we could find some refreshments? Some tea would be good to freshen up. And we could pick up some for Prompto as well.

[Different though they are - everyone is, why would this be a problem? - there's one fact that will never change. Both of them are good enough for him, and if they want or need help? He'll give it freely.

That's what brothers are for.

Noctis sighs, groaning. Nope, definitely not good at the waiting game. At all.]

If there is anything, it'll probably be in that lounge area I mentioned.

Then we should head there.

[Maybe they end up hearing something more about the place they are headed at. Or maybe they even run into someone they know. Gladio maybe. Ignis is still worried about him. If this spaceship found them floating in space, what if they didn't find him? What if Gladio is still stuck somewhere out there?

Ignis tries not to think about it and places his hand on Noct's shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze.]

[Noctis doesn't want to think about it, either. It's far too easy now with that idea planted in their heads, and he's worried enough as it is. Even with the Draconian's words still echoing in his head.

-against the darkness and abide in hope.

The touch on his shoulder makes him realize he's gone silent and, with a glance behind him to Ignis, he hums apologetically before placing his hand briefly over the one on his shoulder. Letting go when he turns to lead them to the lounge.]

[Ignis could feel a headache forming from all of the worry and questions that keep piling up and that he has no answers to. The fate of his King especially comes up often despite the attempts to push it to the side. He gives his best not to squeeze Noct's shoulder too hard- he doesn't want to let him know something's bothering him.

At least not at this time. They both have enough on their plate to deal with.

He doesn't mind the silence, Noct's presence and well being is everything Ignis cares about right now.

The lounge is warm and smells of coffee, is what Ignis picks up first. Not the top class coffee Ignis is used to brew and drink, definitively not Ebony. He will still stick to the tea, however. Watered down coffee will just get him annoyed.]

[Honestly, at this point it'd probably help if they focused on something they could do. As a distraction from the waiting game.

Noctis sighs, looking over the selection. Honestly he would go for coffee right now but even he can tell it's not just watered down, but a little over-roasted. So, he gets two cups of hot water and after looking through the packets, is surprised to find Ignis' favorite.

He'll just... let them steep.]

There's some bench seating behind us. Looks like it's seen better days, but better than the floor.

[He'll lead them both there if Ignis wishes to sit down.]

[A decent cup of coffee will have to wait until they land. He'll ask Noct to help him brew it, if they find a place where to do it.

He recognizes the smell of the tea and raises eyebrows- it really is the flavor he likes the most. It easily draws out a smile from Ignis- Noct remembers what he drinks even in this turbulence.]

Then let's take a seat.

[The tea needs to steep and the entire 'wake up in another space and time' thing is still keeping Ignis under a slight dizzy spell.]

[If they don't find a place with one already or the equipment for it, he imagines there will be one very peeved royal advisor to deal with. Like he will be if there's no fishing spots because he could really use the distraction. Soon.

And of course he remembers. Why wouldn't he? He's just surprised it's a thing they have here and is not about to look a gift chocobo in the beak.]

Yeah.

[Ignis isn't the only one who's still reeling. He's just better able to stay on his feet. He picks up both cups, leading Ignis to the seating nearby. He may have forgotten to mention it's slightly cushioned and upholstered with some sort of leather.]

[It would be weird there were no fishing spots. The fishes themselves might be different from back home, but fishing should be the same.

Ignis lets Noctis lead him to the seats and carefully sits down before accepting the offered cup with tea. He doesn't mind what they are sitting on- they sat on way worse in run-down hotels.

He... doesn't know what else to say about their current predicament. They are both worried and for the first time Ignis doesn't know how to reassure his prince.]

[It would be. And yet... Suddenly he can't focus on the idea of fishing at all. He passes Ignis the cup, now toying with the little string attached to the teabag in his own. Trying to think of something to say.

Yet the silence between them continues, and his thoughts immediately go to home. A home without light. With no Oracle or King to hold back the encroaching darkness, and little hope unless they return somehow.

...

He hates this so much, and yet... he can't stop thinking about it. Where he was before waking up here.] Ignis. Can you... sense light?

[The question is sudden and caught Ignis a bit off guard. He's been so focused on the things they need to do that he didn't give this too much thought.

He... doesn't want to. Not at the price that has been set. And yet- there is no way of stopping it and there's no way of changing it. Not with Noct's mind firmly set. He bites the inside of his cheek and then nods.]

I can. The warmth of it... [he says slowly.]

[He'd apologize, but he... doesn't know how else to say it without full on telling him he wasn't completely honest with him not even half an hour ago.

He stares at his tea for a moment, before placing it on the table in front of them.]

So, when we get back, and dawn breaks...

[He can't finish that question.]

[Ignis is not sure how long will he be able to keep this a secret but what he knows is that now isn't the time for it.

He nods gently, taking a sip of his beverage.]

Yes... I will be able to feel it.

[He pauses.]

...Is there something wrong Noct?

[Noctis clasps his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on his knees. Not really looking at him or anyone else. It's a little odd how quiet it is in the lounge area. Most everyone else must be still in the makeshift infirmary. But, maybe that was a good thing.]

I was just wondering.

[It's not a lie - he is honestly curious if Ignis could sense it. Because, when they're home... The next time they'll meet again...

He lets out a shaky breath.]

... I made it to the Crystal. Ardyn was there, waiting for me to approach it...

[Please don't make me say it.]

[Ignis keeps quiet, waiting for Noct to slowly elaborate what he means. 'I was wondering' is usually followed with more. And he was not wrong.

Ardyn waited for him at the Crystal and waited for Noct to approach? Why would he do it? Wouldn't he try to stop him?

The pause tells Ignis that something happened there. Something that rattled Noct enough not to be able to say it outright. In the small pause, Ignis tries to hear if there are any people around, and then speaks softly, placing a hand on Noct's shoulder-]

Noct? Did he hurt you?

[He cringes. Of course. Of course Ignis would ask him that. There aren't any people around, otherwise he wouldn't even have said this much. So instead, he just... tries to keep his voice down to the point only Ignis can hear. Tries to keep it level, but he only really succeeds in keeping it down.

Noct's trembling in both anger and sorrow under that hand of his.]

No. [And honestly, a part of him wishes he had.] Never even lifted a finger. Didn't have to. Like I said, he was getting what he wanted.

[Him inside the Crystal. Doomed by both fate and his own desire to see an end to this madness and darkness. Wanting to save everyone.]

All he had to do was watch... as the light pulled me in.

[Alarms go off in Ignis' head and a flash of big, blue crystal with a crack, seeping out white light briefly crosses Ignis' mind. The Crystal... pulled Noct in.

His fingers curl into the fabric of Noct's clothes-]

And he wanted you to enter the Crystal.

[Which doesn't really make much sense considering he is the Usurper and wants to kill off all the light in the world. Overconfidence?]

[He doesn't mind. He'd taken his jacket off so it's more than easy for Ignis to curl his fingers into his shirt. Yet he tries to say something, anything. Yet all that comes out at first is:]

Yes.

[He bites his lower lip, wishing he could do something other than simply shake under Ignis' grasp. Yet no tears come, nor do the words. It's too-

'We've lost so much. Too much.'

He freezes, as if Shiva had placed a finger over his lips instead. Realization dawning on him all at once.]

... So that's why. You asked about ending our journey.

[The hand slips off Noctis' shoulder and into Ignis' lap, the man hunched over slightly.

So... it is the Crystal that told him. He know as well. Ignis knew that Noct will eventually find out what is going to happen to him but, to find it out like this. And then realize that Ignis knew too.

He's not going to lie to him.]

...yes. I was... a bit selfish then. [Wanting things he can't have, wanting for Noct not to die.He pauses.]

Pryna had given me the vision. At the altar. I'm, [Ignis exhales shakily-] I'm sorry for not telling you.

[He wishes it was the Crystal. No, it was the Draconian Himself. Yet he doesn't have the heart to tell him. Instead, he finally takes a sip or three of his own tea.

...He wants to be angry. To scream and yell, but he just can't. So instead, he reaches to place a hand on Iggy's shoulder.]

--like I'd have listened, anyway.

[It's his own way of saying that the apology was accepted. He only wishes he'd asked him to clarify more, before it's too late.]

TEST DRIVE MEME

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