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

Estelle | Tales of Vesperia

[resolvetochoose]

A

So... this is an airship....

[ An actual honest-to goodness airship, running on its own power. Not like the ship that Ba'ul had carried, or Myorzo.

Honestly, a part of her is pretty nervous. Most everyone is a stranger thus far - nobody from Terca Lumiries that she's seen. But so far curiosity is overwhelming any overt fear. There's so much to see. ]

Is there any way up to the deck?

[ Assuming there is a deck. But she'd be able to get a better view up there. ]

G

[ ... it's probably not all that much of a surprise that the job Estelle took was at the library. Although she's spending as much time reading as she is doing her job. Which means it might take a moment to catch her attention. ]

Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there. Is there something I can help you with?

[ At least it helps her familiarity on the material available? ]

Wildcard

[ Got any other ideas? feel free to hmu here or at gorsecloud if you wanna discuss something first! ]

G!!!

[rivieran]

[ Hello fellow pink-haired princess that also works at the library! I hope you don't mind me assuming they know each other as coworkers already?!

When Ena finally manages to get Estelle's attention, she will be greeted with a worried frown. ]

I was just checking inventory, and the three oldest books on the history of Vaikuntha are not accounted for. Records don't show anyone has checked them out. Do you have any idea where they might have gone?

[resolvetochoose]

[ Yes that seems fine! Missing books is a very serious problem though! At which point she looks down at the book she was reading and... well that's one of three problems solved, right there. ]

Ah, I'm sorry!

[ She really does sound apologetic! But learning more about this world - on top of being quite interesting - could be pretty helpful for those of them who... who came here. That all being said, she's pretty sure she'd only grabbed the one. ]

Do you remember what the other two were called?

[rivieran]

[ Ena exhales in obvious relief when she sees the book in Estelle's hand, and a slight smile crosses her face. ]

It's all right. At least that one is accounted for.

The other two were... [ what were they again? ] The First One Hundred Years of the Dream Width and Exploration and An Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna, oddly enough. [ She could easily understand the former, but who would want to take the latter? ]

[resolvetochoose]

Hmm...

[ She's having to try very hard to not to get distracted by the idea that hey, she may not have taken those books but now she kind of wishes she had because those sound useful. Or interesting. Or both. ]

Do we know how many people have been in and out today?

[ It's possible that it was left unshelved, or someone was reading them even now, like she was. ]

[rivieran]

Uhh... [ Ena doesn't want to end up causing a ruckus over nothing. That would be embarrassing. ]

There was that small school group this morning, then the elderly couple that came in just as they were leaving, then a handful of individuals that came in after lunch, but none of them really struck me as shady or suspicious, but I mean library books are free anyway, who would want to steal one... [ She trails off, lost in her own thoughts as she tries to remember everyone that came in today. Her naive mind was clouding her judgment, in both the kinds of people that had come in today, and that her first assumption was stealing. She didn't want to get in trouble, and she could feel herself beginning to panic. ]

[terrorfirma]

Looks like you'll have to jump. ( there's a twirl of a parasol, as edna reveals herself, no hint in her expression on if she's serious or not. but if this girl has even a chance of falling for it, she's happy to keep up the ruse. )

You did get your Boarding Boots already, didn't you?

[resolvetochoose]

[ Wh- ]

Boarding Boots?

[ And... jumping? Who said anything about jumping? She's feeling more than a little lost in this... sudden conversation? ]

[terrorfirma]

That's right. You were wondering how to get on board, weren't you? They should have given you a pair to make it easier.

( to drive this point home, she is, apparently, tapping at one of her own boots with the opposite heel. )

They launch you right up to the deck. How else do you think everyone's been getting there?

[resolvetochoose]

[ Well, she can definitely say that she never got any boots, at least. ]

But um... wouldn't we go through the ceiling that way?

[ Since she's thinking of a boat deck, here. ]

[terrorfirma]

Not if you're wearing your ceiling-repelling helmet.

( there's a pause, then finally— ) Don't tell me you didn't get one of those, either.

[resolvetochoose]

I'm.... pretty sure that doesn't exist.

[ Like.... true this is a new world with... apparently all kinds of new technology. That still seems like it should be breaking a few laws of nature. As far as she knows at least. ]

G!

[checkmate_past]

"Actually, yes!"

[Comes a voice from behind a ten stack pile of books. One that sounds a little relieved to be getting help, to boot.]

"I'd like to find out the number of books that can be checked out a time. Also if you could carry this or put it on top of the stack, that would be really helpful. I can't reach that high."

[A robe clad hand manages to snake out from behind the books, holding an extra door stopper on top of everything else.

The titles she's selected also seem to run the gamut; a beginning, intermediate and advanced guide to magic, air ship travel, the care and raising of chocobos, "Tripping Over Triple Triad" and an assortment of others.]

[resolvetochoose]

[ Look, if there's anybody who probably knows a good deal about carrying a stack of books, it's Estelle ]

Oh, goodness, let me help you with those! Where are you headed?

[ Putting her own book down! She'll take that doorstop, but she'll also be trying to take a good half the stack, if she's allowed. Let her help a fellow book lover! ]

[checkmate_past]

"Towards the front desk, I think. Once I get my bearings. I think that's... down a flight of stairs, past the history section but before the magic lore, and... Sorry, I lost track after that."

[Not that she's complaining, from the sound of it. If anything, she's almost blissful. Though getting a hand free is appreciated.]

"Thanks; that helps a lot with balancing these. I might've gotten a little bit carried away with choosing."

[...Just a little, though.]

[resolvetochoose]

Oh don't worry, I totally understand. There's so many wonderful books here!

[ Which is part of why she chose to work here. Getting the gil she needs for housing and have all the time to be around these books? Not to mention it's a lot of good information to have when she goes out adventuring. ]

Oh, and to answer your question, I believe the limit is thirty! Although that's only for books that you take home.

[ You can have as many as you want while you're in the library itself, of course.]

[checkmate_past]

"Well, that's a relief. Though I guess I'll have to work on my upper body strength if I'm going to be checking out twenty at a time."

[There's a laugh to Robin's words... and despite the amount of books, she also relaxes her shoulders. It's a relief to find someone just as passionate about the selection here.]

"Though... huh. Maybe there's one of those 'Job' changes that can help with that. Seems like an acceptable sacrifice, maybe..."

[She trails off, considering. Honestly, seriously considering a class change for more books.]

A!

[chefbayardee]

Probably. How else would they make repairs up there?

[ Frankly he's just excited to see someone else interested in the technology of this place. Spaceships are one thing, but a magic-powered aircraft is really cool. ]

Y'know, looking at it... I think we could find a way up.

[ He grins as if planning, but then pauses, face flashing to a look of anxiety. ]

Unless it's not safe up there! Or we're not allowed. What if we just ask someone who works here?

oh my god that pun

[resolvetochoose]

[ Poking around until you find what you're looking for? Seems legit. Asking for advice from the actual crew? Also seems legit. However... ]

Um... Have you seen anybody who looks like a pilot?

[ She hasn't had any particular luck in that department. ]

:)

[chefbayardee]

Haha! [ The laugh is more sarcastic, more self-deprecating than actual humor. She's got quite the point. ] Not a soul. I mean I'm a pilot for a much smaller, much cooler ship, and before me and my friends it was a group without any humans, so I have no idea what looking like a pilot would mean.

[ He grins, a glint of mischief in his eyes. His friends have been a bit of a bad influence on him. ]

I think we should go check it out anyway.

[resolvetochoose]

[ Okay... she can definitely get on board with that but first of all, that self-deprecating laugh has just alerted her to the fact that she may have been rude. If not that, then his words definitely did it. ]

Oh- Oh goodness, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize! We... we don't even really have airships back home, for the most part.

[Besides in stories and some theoretical texts.]

[chefbayardee]

Wh-what? No, it's fine! [ He puts his hands up and shrugs in an apologetic sort of gesture. ] I just meant that if I didn't know any better, I could've thought you were the pilot.

[ He points a finger towards her and smiles. ]

I'd love to tell you how the airships work, but I... don't really know. I think it's like magic or something? We don't really have magic where I come from, so...

[ Barring a creepy space witch, but she's a mood-kill and also crazy evil. ]

A

[allremembered]

[Sachi hadn't been talking to Estelle - she hadn't been speaking with anyone yet, really - but when she asks if there's a way up to the deck Sachi looks over, slightly horrified.]

If there is a deck, would that even be safe?

[Her reaction is tempered by the fact that she hardly knows a thing about airplanes in her world, much less airships from a mystery world that she just woke up in about twenty minutes ago. Still, her first instinct is to think that stepping out of a vehicle in flight would end very, very badly.]

[resolvetochoose]

Ah, wouldn't it?

[ She's going to assume that this young woman is more familiar than she is, considering she.... isn't very familiar. Books could tell you about other worlds, a bit, but... well, in fantasy, not actuality. The fact that this is another world at all is difficult to grasp yet. ]

I'm sorry, I'm rather... new, to this place.

[allremembered]

Honestly, I don't know. [A short, soft laugh escapes her, though not directed at Estelle.] Don't worry about it. I don't have any more of an idea of what's going on than you.

[Her comments are noncommittal, a little wandering, as if she's still a little out of it. Her mind felt...fuzzy, somehow. Something was missing.

But she wasn't in so bad a state that she had forgotten her manners.]

I'm Sachi, by the way.