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

[twomeals]

[He hums again at the question, as if honestly considering it.]

I think I could. I might not look like it, but I'm pretty strong, you know!

[There's a melodic tone to Yue's voice when he speaks, and the answer is obviously a lighthearted one - smile and all - though he doesn't exactly sound to be at peak cheerfulness either. That's normal though, right? New world and all.]

[mythmaker]

How wonderful...! I'll be counting on you, Sparrow-chan.

[She giggles a little to herself. She's determined to remain calm and stay happy; what point is in there panicking? She can work through this at her own pace, plus she's older compared to some of the others...she'd rather remain cheerful for everyone.

But she takes a seat on a chair nearby, still gazing out the large window.]

You know, sometimes I get lost, but I don't think I've ever ended up this far from home before.

[That much should be obvious.]

[twomeals]

[Yue's smile turns slightly pained at her mention of travel, though it still manages to hold up reasonably well. He keeps standing, keeps smiling, keeps telling himself it's fine. He's fine. This lady's fine.]

It happened to me once, before...I didn't think it'd happen again though, heheh.

[He keeps this up for like, less than half a second, before, turning back to the window again, looking more cheerful than before.]

I've never been this high up though! Do you think we're going to live up in the sky now? If we do, I could carry you to all the different sky places!

[mythmaker]

[She can see that in his reaction. Had she said something insensitive? She couldn't be sure as to what, but she has a hunch it has to do with her mentioning how far from home they must be. Time to abandon that subject.]

Ah, you know...where I'm from, sparrows are fond of their honor. Have you ever heard that before?

[There, that's a pleasant distraction, right? He looks like such a good boy, this Sparrow-chan.]

My, my, it sounds like I might end up relying on you quite a bit. What do you like? I'll have to repay you somehow if we do end up in a sky kingdom.

[twomeals]

[You know how kids don't like moving? Yue doesn't like moving. Moving sucks. Your parents tell you you'll make new friends and have new adventures and enjoy your new school, and you do make new friends and have new adventures and all that, but that doesn't mean they were right! You gotta sulk for at least a week, it's tradition!!....Not that he has parents to sulk at or to tell him anything, but it's his habit to hide any negative feelings, so. He's fine.

Also glad she switched topics with him. The boy looks back at her again, bird-like eyes widened with curiosity.]

Honor? [Do birds have honor? He's never asked?] Ah, don't worry! You can repay me with snacks, if you want. They probably have snacks there, right?

[mythmaker]

Mm, that's right. I think it means a sparrow would never abandon a promise...something like that is honorable, right?

[Completely unaware of all of Yue's moving angst, she folds her hands in her lap and continues. Snacks aren't a problem for her at all. In fact, preparing snacks for a cute bird boy sounds like it could be fun.]

Yes, I'm sure they have snacks here. What do you like to eat? Maybe I'll be able to make you something soon~.

[twomeals]

Ah...I don't like breaking promises either. Maybe that's why I'm a sparrow?

[Waving his wings a bit! So birdy! Also perking up significantly at her offer, because he's a simple bird with simple desires.]

Oh, I like all sorts of things! Like cakes and candy and bread and fish and cookies and...um, anything's fine! Haha.

[mythmaker]

Ufu~. It just might be. At the very least, it would be fitting, right?

[She laughs lightly at her own teasing, but she doesn't over do it.]

Alright, then. Whenever we get where we're going, I'll find a way to make you a cake, even if it means you flying me to the space bakery.

[twomeals]

Where we're going...

[He repeats the line, pausing and turning to stare out the window again.]

Where are we going, anyway? I can't see anything outside...

[mythmaker]

I'm sorry, Sparrow-chan. I don't have an answer for that.

[But she leans forward in her seat, speaking gently despite the small frown on her face.]

But at least we're together, right? Not just you and me, but everyone here...I don't feel like we're in danger.

[twomeals]

Mm, you're right...it doesn't feel very scary or anything, in here.

[Stuck in a strange thing, headed to a strange land...Yue's never been on a ship before either, let alone in space. The harpy keeps staring outside for a moment, thinking about his situation--far from two homes, two families, all by himself all over again.....

...No, there's a nice lady here, he's fine. Better not to think too hard right now. He decides to let curiosity get the better of him, eyes slowly drifting upwards--to the edge of the window, up to the rafters, around to the rest of the room...all of it unfamiliar.]

Have you ever been in a place like this before? A, um...train! [Pause.] The windows don't look right for a train.....do you know, um. Purple-san?

[mythmaker]

I'm glad you feel the same way. I should be worried, I know that, but until I know for sure I need to worry, I'd rather keep talking like this.

[She's not against panicking or getting upset, she just doesn't see a point to it yet. The frown eventually disappears from her face, a small smile returning. Purple-san isn't exactly a bad nickname for her, is it?]

It feels like a boat, but it feels like we're flying, so I'm not sure. There's no water, so it has to be the air, right? That would make this an airplane...maybe~.

[twomeals]

It's better to talk than to worry, right? Especially if we don't know what we're supposed to be worrying about.

[He flashes Purple-san a small smile, before trying to stare out the window again. Can he see their destination from here? Maybe? No? Craaaning his neck--he can't actually do that when there's glass in the way but he might've smushed his face against that barrier in an attempt to.

Backing up a bit.]

Ah--is an airplane like, a flying boat?

[He's never been on a boat either, but at least he knows what those are? Were there airplanes in Ryslig...he doesn't remember any, at least.]

[mythmaker]

Right~! That's what I think, anyways. Moving at our own pace suits us better, don't you agree?

[It's 'their' pace for a reason, after all. Azusa has her own pace, Sparrow-chan has his. They can process this change in scenery in their own way, and it's no better or worse than anyone else's.]

Hmm...not usually. An airplane is narrow, like a sailboat with wings..but this feels more like a large ship, wouldn't you agree? I didn't know these could fly. It's very mysterious~.

[twomeals]

Mm, that's right. We all have our own pace...

[Come to think of it, his own pace has kinda sped up since he left Utsuwa, huh? He can probably guess why, actual--shoving that thought away as well. He's good at this.

Yue spins around! (he can't actually spin around on bird legs so it's more like an awkward turn, but)]

I don't see any wings, though...have you been on a ship or an airplane before? I rode a car once, but those can't fly, either.

[mythmaker]

Ufufu~. That's right.

[She claps her hands together in affirmation of that simple fact, still completely oblivious to any weird thoughts Yue is having about his own pacing, or how his puberty is speeding him up or anything.

But that remark is enough to get her to stand up and look out the window again.]

Eh? You're right...how strange. What sort of vehicle flies but doesn't have wings?

[twomeals]

[what's puberty he missed that boat

He watches her approach, glances out the window, tries to see how far he can peer down any hallways without actually leaving this spot.]

Maybe......it's magic? A god could have made it.