memesofeternity | 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

Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

Edited 2018-03-21 02:58 (UTC)

Something really isn't making sense. Like, really a lot not making sense. The words are, Noctis in front of him is. But, altogether, it's not fitting right. The memory of what Ardyn's done doesn't strike home the way Noctis might think it would. Because, he just doesn't know. It hasn't happened for him yet. He sees the ring -- he can't miss that -- and can't figure out how Noctis came to have it.

He's missing something here. Something big. And, that something isn't sitting well in his stomach. It roils and tumbles over itself as he tries like hell to force it all to fit. Is this his fault? Did he fail in doing the one job he's meant to do?

Gladio's eyes narrow slightly, his touch goes slack. He's not mad, not yet. Though, he's in some eerily calm sort of state that could possibly lead to an explosion later if the right thread is pulled. "What do you mean?"

Welcome to the ship of "nothing makes a lick of godsdamned sense". Population: a lot. Because damn, this place sure is crowded.

"I'm talking about--" Noctis stops. He notices that -- notices how it doesn't quite register what that means. And that really doesn't sit right with him. At all. Yet despite it, or maybe because of it, he pulls out of Gladio's grasp. Standing up straight, determined despite the confusion that is apparent in his eyes. They need to get on some sort of common ground. Before Gladio snaps.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

This isn't making him feel any better about anything. Gladio shifts on his feet, clenches his teeth, keeps his hands to himself. The last thing he remembers is -- logically -- what the last thing Noctis remembers should be. Why is he asking? That's such a stupid question. And, honestly, he means to tell him so. But, in the end...he just doesn't. Something stays his tongue.

"We were in Altissia."

He says it slowly, almost, as if he's speaking to a dimwitted child. But, he's looking at Noct a little suspiciously. Because, he's starting to wonder if someone's not playing with his mind right now. Wouldn't that just make perfect sense??

"We'd just split up."

Noctis honestly wishes it was just some trick. That would make things so much easier. He'd have a target to aim all this confusion and anger out on. Yet, at the mention of Altissia his eyes widen, jaw going lax; before he squeezes his eyes shut and his face tightens. Fists clenching at his sides as he turns his head away, muttering, "Just like Iggy..."

Instinct tells him that he has less than five minutes to explain, and it's instinct that makes him look Gladio in the eye.

"That- was two months ago for me," he started. "We were in Gralea. Ardyn had made sure we were split up. Tortured Prompto and led me on some sick chase after him trying to find you guys." He isn't even going to mention the constant taunting over him being rendered powerless, save for the Ring on his hand. And even that doesn't have its power, anymore.

Just like Iggy, he says and that has Gladio's brows raising. Ignis must be here, too. That's...comforting? In a way. In the way it's better if they're all together in this strange place. But, also not because none of them should even be here to begin with. He doesn't have a lot of time to spend on that -- or even ask if Prompto is here too -- because Noctis just goes ahead and drops a little bomb on him.

"Hold on."

Seriously. This is a little much to take in all at once. How could there be such a time discrepancy? It just doesn't make any sense. And, quite frankly, it's hurting his head trying to figure it out. He's not a stupid man, but this is way beyond his understanding. Gladio isn't even really sure where to start. How did they get split up? Does that mean he fails at doing the one job he's had his entire life? What happened to Prompto? What the hell is Ardyn doing? Why doesn't Gladio remember any of this?

"Start at Altissia. Catch me up."

This isn't going to help, he knows that. But, it might?

Gladio doesn't realize just how much he's asking of him. Couldn't, really - and he isn't one to really talk about the problem. Yet right now, that's all they got. Problems. The time difference, where the hell they really are, the situation back home... What a mess.

"After we split up..." Noctis starts from the top, keeping his voice low. "I went for the Altar. Prompto gave me a lift with some ride he pilfered from the Niffs. Halfway through the trial... Ardyn appeared at the Altar and stabbed Luna. She used up the last of her strength to help me survive the Tidemother's wrath and deliver the Ring."

He takes a steadying breath. "You'll... have to ask Ignis and Prompto what happened after that. I lost consciousness, so all I know is what I could get out of Ignis. All I know is, when I woke up, Ignis was blind and Luna was dead."

He shakes his head, feeling his throat closing up at the recollection.

"Not like this helps us now," he mutters, chuckling sardonically under his breath. He'd go on, but... getting choked up at a time like this wasn't going to help anyone. Especially when they need him to be their king.

TEST DRIVE MEME

oh hi ❤

heyo c:

I literally sat down for dinner and my phone was like "oh hey, a Gladio tag! c:"

call him anything u want just don't call him later for dinner c:

LOL gotcha c:

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