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

Noctis Lucis Caelum | FFXV | OTA

[warpstriking]

A.
(SPOILER WARNING FOR CHAPTER 13)
The murmurs of others all around him were... comforting. More so than he ever wanted to admit, or likely would. He had no idea how long he had been separated, with only murderous MTs, daemons and that asshole's voice over the speakers to keep him company. Until recently. Yet as it sunk in, along with the information that had been dumped on him...

He sat up in his cot, slowly at first as he slowly registered the sights around him. The amount of cots around him was shocking. Not to mention how many...

"...The hell is going on?" The young man muttered, covered in dirt and dried sweat. come a quiet, almost raspy, deep voice as the young man looked around. "Ignis? Gladio? ...Prompto?"

Maybe it was a vain hope that they were there as well as he stood, planning on searching around the other cots in the makeshift infirmary until he either found his friends, or resigned himself to the fact they might not be there. Either way, he'd likely busy himself with trying to help as much as any other clueless arrival could.
(END SPOILERS)

Otherwise, the young and displaced king could be found ignoring the seating in the lounge, instead staring out into space that passes them by. He never thought he'd get to see what outer space looked like in person, and despite all that happened, he can't help but be completely fascinated by the sight.

"Whoa..." None of the constellations were familiar, but it was likely obvious by any who saw him that he's barely holding himself back from pressing against the window panes in pure awe. Though, sometimes instead he lightly runs his thumb against a certain black ring...

C.
'New home'. 'Vaikuntha.' He had no problems potentially staying with others, gods know he'd been sharing a tent with his three closest friends for a long while, but all of this at once..? It was a little overwhelming, even for him. What wasn't, however....

"Haha, this is awesome!" Noctis was practically grinning from ear to ear as he watched the sights below them speed by. It wasn't the first time he'd been on an airship (he'd rather forget the first time), but it was for one that someone could see outside of while not being the driver and staring into a monitor of the outside.

J.

[ooc: Have an idea for something I didn't mention? Feel free to poke Noctis with anything else!]

C

[daggercubed]

"It's fast," Vax says from behind Noctis. He walks up from behind, arms folded behind his head, and the wind in his hair. It blows backward, and while he isn't grinning like an idiot, he has a smile on his face. This is fun. He steps up next to the king, then looks down at the ground.

"And high up," he says. "Though if we fell from this height, we'd splatter like bugs. But it's good they have something like home. I suppose... yeah, I was excited the first time that I rode on one back home."

He frowns. "I wonder if there's any sky pirates here."

[warpstriking]

"Faster than the ones back home, that's for sure." He commented, grin fading slightly but the smile was still clear on his face. "They had no way of viewing the outside unless you were at the helm, though." Which was why he couldn't help but be excited; unless it was a car or his father's boat, he hadn't been behind the wheel of anything himself. Only a passenger.

Though he made a face at the commentary, slowly starting to sober up slightly. Thanks, Vax.

"Don't remind me." Both the heights thing, or mentioning the word 'bugs'. Icky. "And do you have to jinx it?"

[daggercubed]

"How did they see outside of the thing? Windows?"

Vax hadn't really seen something so advanced before. He runs a hand through his hair, trying to imagine it. His mind really thinks up something like a bathtub with wings and holes cut out of it. His expression screws up more. He doubts that is remotely what Noctis had imagined.

Then, he glances sideways, and flashes a grin at him. "Don't shoot the messenger. It had to be pointed out." He looks down. "This seems pretty secure, though. We should be fine. Unless we get sky pirates."

Re: C

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie is drumming her fingers on her lap, although she, likewise, is smiling widely. "I mean, I have so many questions on how all this works. Like, how exactly is this... thing aerodynamic enough to achieve flight at these speeds? What kind of magic did they use to construct engines that are on par with jets? If there are sky pirates, what kind of devices do they use to interdict flight when everything's going so quickly?"

Her face falls slightly. "...although I really hope we don't encounter any, um, sky buccaneers or whatever on this flight. I don't have any asterisks yet. What about you guys?"

A

[spaceforged]

"I don't think it would hurt to get closer to the glass." A tall man says from where he leans against the wall next to the windows. He smiles just a bit. "Sorry, you just looked pretty fascinated with it." He glances out at space himself, turning slightly to get a better look.

"Doesn't look like any section of space I'm familiar with." Shiro pauses, shifting his helmet tucked up against side. "How about you?"

[warpstriking]

"Probably not," he replied with a shrug, turning slightly to see who it was he was speaking to. If he was surprised by how tall the man was, he didn't show it. His own bodyguard was rather tall, himself. "But I figure the owner of this ship wouldn't like the amount of fingerprints to clean up afterwards."

His gaze returned to the stars outside after he nodded briefly to the person who approached him, deeming he wasn't a threat yet still remained slightly on edge. He didn't give off and sort of bad vibes right away, but from what was still reeling inside his head, combined with the unfamiliar surroundings...

"I was just thinking that." He muttered, crossing his arms and attempting to ignore the button that was beginning to come loose on his jacket. Ignis would kill him if he knew, but what was having a sewing kit at the moment? "And no, nothing." He sighed. "Wherever we are, we're far from Eos..."

[spaceforged]

"Probably won't be anywhere any of us know." He agrees, his eyes on the starry expanse. He has no idea where the Black Lion or anyone he knows is and that would drive him out of his skull if he allowed it to. But what the stranger had said caught his attention.

"You're right about the fingerprints...that can be a bit of a pain at times." It's such a considerate thought towards a pilot he looks at him and his smile is a little more relaxed and real. "Most people don't consider the feelings of a pilot like that. I'm Shiro, a stranded Pilot of Voltron."

His gaze returns to the window. The more he thinks about flying the more he worries his lion is out there in that space. "...heard anyone else use the word Voltron?" He hadn't meant to say it, but he doesn't take it back either.

A

[tuneyourheaders]

"It sure is something, ain't it?" Cindy mused as she came to stand beside Noctis, arms crossed as she gazed out the window in as much of a nonchalant manner as she could muster. She was still disoriented by all of this but was doing her best not to get too riled up and honestly? Seeing Noctis was a breath of relief if she ever knew one.

Cindy glanced at him and smiled faintly.

"See any of the others since ya' woke up?"

[warpstriking]

"Yeah, I'll say," he agreed, more than a little relieved to see a familiar face. Though it barely shows other than a faint smile. Cindy wasn't the only one who was still disoriented, but what kind of king would he be if he didn't at least try to keep it together for the others?

"I've seen Prompto, and Ignis is still in the infirmary." He was planning on going back there soon, if only to keep him company. He'd just come out to get some air and a moment to collect himself the best he could. "What about you, Cindy?"

[tuneyourheaders]

"No Gladio?" she asked, honestly surprised to hear that three out of the four boys were here at all. From what she'd seen so far it was a pretty mixed batch of people and she'd just been happy to see Noctis--alive and well, for that matter. "No one outside of you, prince. Then again I haven't exactly been wanderin' around much." She looked out the window again with a thoughtful frown, kicking a foot back slightly to tap the toe of her boot against the ground.

"All I know is this ship ain't exactly the latest model of airship that we had back home so somethin' is real messed up."

C

[regalblaze]

Leaned on the wall of the ship, Ignis smiles, his hands crossed over his chest. It's been a while since he heard Noctis excited over something. Especially after everything that transpired in last few weeks.

"It is impressive that we are not feeling any kind of turbulence," Ignis says with a soft hum of approval. And he should know the best, seeing that his the loss of his eyesight kept just sharpening his other senses. At this rate, he'll be able to hear people whispering in the other room.

[warpstriking]

Understatement of the era. Well, maybe not that long, yet he can't help but be excited as this was the first time he could actually see outside the airship. Though that only made the sharp reminder that the owner of the other voice could not. It doesn't damper his enthusiasm any, though. If anything, he only smiles that much more genuinely.

"Yeah, no kidding." It almost didn't feel as though they were moving in the first place. Were it not for the sight without or the hum of the engines within, Ignis could have been forgiven for thinking otherwise. "We're also pretty high up, so probably because of the clear skies."

[regalblaze]

He's happy that Noct is excited and that Ignis' state is not affecting him. He doesn't want him to stop enjoying things around him just because of what happened. It makes Ignis' lips twitch slightly as he tilts his head.

"Hmm. Are we actually in the space or just really high up in the sky?" Does space have weather? It probably does, but nothing Ignis has knowledge on.

J.

[silent_princess]

It wasn't important as to how she found out that the man she now stood before was to be a King in his homeworld, nor was it important as to where she had heard it from. While her blonde informant had been most helpful, it would not be in her best interest to give him up or divulge his perhaps accidental slip up.

What was important was that two families now stood in the presence of one another, families raised to understand diplomacy and order, two families that were familiar with old demons striving to usurp their thrones.

She spoke, as she always had in front of such dignitaries, in a manner far more graceful and far more proper than her attire would suggest possible.

"Forgive me for intruding upon your time, but it would be a terrible error on my part if I had not sought you out to give necessary introductions and speak with you, good Sir. My name is Zelda, daughter of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule and Princess to the throne of Hyrule. I am to understand that you yourself are royalty, and I believe that if the two of us are to be trapped here in this world.. it would do a great disservice upon these people if we did not cooperate and share what we know with one another, in the hopes of bettering their lives and more importantly striving to uncover the means needed to see ourselves back home."

[warpstriking]

It might not be important to her, but he was to him. He had done well to hide his own lineage, much like he had back home where he could. Though that hardly kept the likes of Dino or Vyv from finding out who he was. Who his friends and retainers were. Still, he had hoped that he could at least keep some sense of privacy about it. Kept to his name or shortened nickname, maybe even 'Noct Gar' like he gave Navyth.

Yet he would not shirk away. Perhaps it was time to step out of the shadows. So, he listened - quietly, trying to read this other dignitary from a Star just as foreign as his own was to those of the one they found themselves in. She needn't be so formal, even though he knew full well why as she spoke.

He lifted his ringed hand, shaking his head. "There's nothing to forgive, though I can't help but wonder how you learned of my lineage." There was no anger in his voice, but apprehension.

"Still, you're right, and I can't say it didn't take courage to open up like that." So, he would return the favor. "Noctis Lucis Caelum, CXIVth in line and heir apparent of the fallen kingdom of Lucis. And I would appreciate it if that fact does not leave this room. We were at war and undercover, when most of us awoke on that ship." Noctis paused for a brief moment, letting that sink in. "Though we are of one mind, there. You didn't need to meet me under these pretenses. I may be secretive about my heritage to those outside my inner circle, but other information? Not when it could save lives or see others home safely."

[silent_princess]

"You are fortunate enough to have skillful retainers, and you are even more fortunate enough to have such loyal friends. It is in my nature to explore and to find information when even the slightest glimmer of curiosity arouses. It is my greatest strength and also my greatest weakness, I must admit."

So, his kingdom has suffered a similar fate?

Her expression softened all the more, empathy taking her as she tried to not let that very curiosity trespass on what could very well be troubled memories.

"I solemnly swear by the Goddess that I will do my utmost to protect such an identity, if you allow me to ask the same of you. It is unsafe and foolhardy to assume that only light can piece through the heavens to this world."

She steps as she speaks, keeping her vision from him as she looks to where her feet fall.

"My kingdom is in ruins, and what I know and hold within my thoughts could be used to aide this world as much as it could jeopardize it. I have no doubt the technology and magic of you own world could be considered the same."

She stops, finally looking to him once more as the weight of worry begins to make her eyes lose focus and shutter.

"For that reason, I have a simple request to ask of quite possible the only one in this world who might begin to understand why I would ask such a thing.."

She draws in a long breath of air, knowing how selfish her request is but knowing how important it is to secure such knowledge.

"I ask that you make an alliance with me. An alliance that seeks to find us all a means by which to return home, and if at any point should I obstruct or stand as a obstacle to such a cause.. if.. if at any point a darkness overtakes me.. that you please strike me down."

As far as she knew, there would be no "hero" in this world, no "champion" to protect the sanctity of the power that rests inside of her. This was not Hyrule, and she had no such commodity or arsenal to answer such threats with. Only a King would know the importance of such things, know how much the safety of the public and the safety of a kingdom's people far outweighed the life of an unskilled Princess.

A

[kuposcreed]

Much like Noctis, there's a moogle that has been flitting around the room with a similar lack of luck as far as finding her own friends. However, while the little one's calls for a "Mary" might not have sparked any memory for the prince, the hood the moogle is wearing might mean a touch more.

Presently he might spot her reflection in the window he's looking out of while she climbs up onto as high a perch she can manage in the lounge.

[warpstriking]

The name isn't familiar to him, but there are two things he couldn't help but notice as he stood there, staring up at the white ball of fluff that was flitting about before climbing atop a perch.

No. Way. Oh man, if only he had Prompto's camera. Or if Iris were here. She would flip more than he is right about now. Because holy shit, they're real— not just a legend.

"Hey," he called up to her. "You're looking for someone, right?" They all were, really. But more than two sets of eyes never hurt, right?

A - One day I'll update my PB

[convivialconman]

"I really don't understand," comes a voice from nearby, "why anyone is so fascinated with something that's virtually empty-looking."

The source of the voice is a posh-looking gentleman, sitting with legs crossed on one of the cots. He seems utterly bored of all this, as if he's been awake long enough that all the wonder has worn off. Or maybe he's just always like this. Either way, that sure was a comment.

"There's far more fascinating sites to behold than the empty expanse of space."

pfft. good luck <3

[warpstriking]

Noctis blinks for a brief second, turning just enough to catch the sight of the hair and yellow eyes. Something about this man... It has the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Whether that's because of his uncle's doing, or something else entirely, he isn't sure.

"What, like a blank wall?" His own voice is flat, sarcasm obvious despite his carefully-maintained monotone. Something about those eyes...

2.0. Get ready? Set! GO! (A)

[regalblaze]

If anyone was impatient around here on the ship, it was Ignis. No glasses, hair every which way, completely disheveled with dirty clothes, mud splats on his face, neck and arms, the tall man was tearing through the infirmary and peering behind every cot, bed and blanket he comes across. He could feel panic slowly rise up inside of him as the seconds passed.

Where is he? Not Ignis, fuck that! Where is Noct!? And Ardyn?

The people he passes by are watching him in bewilderment as he stops between the rows and tries to scan the room.

He didn't need glasses to spot a mop of black, wild hair three rows down.

"Noct!"

Ignis almost trips on one cot but catches himself as he makes his way over to his prince.

"Noct! Are you alright!?"

wait shit i left my keys-- (don't mind the older!noct icon it just had the best expression)

[warpstriking]

"Ignis!" He doesn't even need to turn around to know that voice. Know that it's really him and not some cheap illusion this time because that bastard could never pull off such emotion behind it. Yet when he turns around to look at him and meet him halfway-

Noctis stops, nigh freezing in place. Not in fear, not in anything but shock. No glasses, no scars on his face, those same green eyes shining with relief and concern that he hasn't seen in months now. And he can- He can-!

Ignis has point five seconds to brace himself, because the moment he's close enough, Noctis throws out any and all semblance of royal decorum and pulls his longest and closest friend - his brother - in for a hug. Part of him was starting to wonder if this is just some cruel dream he's seeing inside the Crystal, until he buries his face into Ignis' dirty shirt (which he gives no damns over; his own aren't much better after the fight with Ravus and gods know how many daemons).

"I-I'm fine, but-" He pauses, swallowing audibly. "You can see."

It isn't a question so much as it's a relief. Even though something doesn't seem right.And that something will likely become more obvious to Ignis first, considering what Noct has on his right hand's middle finger.

a

[raucous]

Before he even opens his eyes, he knows something's wrong. Something is really, really wrong. They'd all just split, the Oracle had been giving a speech. Nothing had happened. Yet. Always yet because something is always happening. That he can't remember from there to here is concerning. Way more than he'd like. And, he's doing everything within his power to not flip out and raze the place to the ground.

His eyes crack open, but there's no weird MTs around, just...what looks an awful lot like an infirmary from what he can see through the slit of his lids. He doesn't hurt. So...why is he here? He says there, lying prone, for a few more minutes and weighs his options. What the hell is he going to do? Not that he needs his sword to fight anyone, but he can't feel it, can't see it, can't call it to him. What's stopping him? He's nearly ready to leap off the cot and fight someone with his bare hands, when he hears a rasp of his name in a voice he'd know anywhere.

This time, he does leap up, startling the person beside him. He doesn't even apologize before he takes off.

"Noct!" It's a sharp call of his name before he somewhat skids to a stop. "What's goi--" his brows furrow as he reaches up, aiming to grip Noct's chin between his fingers. "What happened to you?"

oh hi ❤

[warpstriking]

Noctis hears the sudden leap up before his name being called, turning and almost dropping into a defensive stance when he sees who it is and heaves a sigh of relief instead. For all of point-five seconds.

He'd been looking for a while - trying to find even a glimpse of his friends - his brothers that any sight was better than nothing. Though that hand gripping his chin, that look in Gladio's eyes. It snaps him out of whatever place his head went faster than Prompto could start humming the Chocobo theme song.

It was a good thing that he'd already screamed himself hoarse back home. He reaches up, placing his right hand over Gladio's wrist. Despite the grime, physically he's fine. Though the Ring - and the words that are about to leave his mouth - likely say more than enough no matter what the other remembers. "Ardyn happened."

Because we're clearly talking just the physical, put-through-hell part, right?