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

[silent_princess]

[Zelda's eyes look upward, her head running over the finer details of the dessert in the hopes of remembering the last time she sank her teeth into such a delicious treat.]

I would say it has a.. well, for lack of better definition, it tastes quite monstrous. It is how it came to be named, after all, aside from the ingredients. It is not overly sweet, and yet it is just sweet enough. Iced in a sort of swirl-ish design, with little candy horns sticking out of it to really hammer down that monster appeal.

[Politely, with her hands behind her back, the Princess watches with delight to see what the gifted baker attempts.]

I'm very thankful for the attempt. I do hope we're successful. The memories of making it with my Mother and eating them with my Father always fill me with such warmth. Just smelling the cake baking in an oven is enough to set my heart soaring.

[needsteaplz]

[Saori attentively listens while her mind starts chiselling away at the challenge before her. Candy horns are doable and perhaps a lightly sweetened whipped cream or cream cheese frosting will do the trick.]

Food not only gives us nourishment but leaves us with memories we cherish. I hope I can honor your family with my recreation of it.

[The biggest challenge would be replicate this monster extract. A cake that wouldn't be too saccharine but a flavor that leaves quite the impression. Her eyes scan the kitchen shelves and open pantry. She goes over to the pantry and pulls out a tin. Cocoa powder sounded like a good start. Something else clicked in her mind and she grabbed a few more bottles before placing them on the counter with the rest of the ingredients.

First, she got the oven heating up and a rectangular baking pan ready. Next, she measured out the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, a red powder, and dark cocoa powder and sifted them into a bowl. With the dry ingredients well mixed, her attention turned to the butter and sugar. Once they were beaten to a fluffy pale mass, she added the eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually, she added the dry to the wet until they were well mixed. The now dark batter was poured into the pan before being placed in the oven. ]

The cake will take some time to bake and cool but that'll give us time to get that frosting and those horns you mentioned ready. But I'll let you taste the cake before we decorate if that's alright with you.

[silent_princess]

[The aspiring gourmand looked on with great curiosity, taking note of how Saori's hands moved and the demeanor in which she both grabbed and handled the many different ingredients. It seemed important to Zelda that she learn how to best emulate someone so skilled, down to the finest detail, practically logging attire choice as the necessary means to turn out extraordinary food.

Her eyes widened every now and again, observing and doing her best to chart and note everything she saw, smelled, and heard. Only when the batter had been poured and left to the heat of the oven did she finally speak, her eagerness pouring out in much the same manner as the batter had.]

You'll hear no objections from me! Miss Saori, would it be out of place to say that the way you prepare pastries is absolutely breathtaking? I've seen Master Chefs prepared any number of royal dishes before, but there's a certain way about you that.. Well, I'm not quite sure how to explain it, actually.

[She thinks on it for a moment, bringing a finger to her bottom lip as she ponders.]

The way you mixed the ingredients was done in such a way that.. that shows you take great pride, care, and compassion in what you make. I think that is incredibly admirable of you.