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

I see... [Seems... hm.]

It's only to be expected. Just as easily as we have been rescued, we've been kidnapped from our homes.

-And into a world that, while not wholly different from her own, definitely seemed to be operating under different 'rules'. Especially considering...-

You're Japanese, aren't you?

[That's a peculiar question, one that had Naoto raising an eyebrow.]

I am. Why?

-The next one was probably much more peculiar.-

Which colony? Or were you a stray, like me?

Colony?

[The confusion doesn't leave her expression.] I know the social hierarchy isn't desirable, but there aren't any colonies. Old families and clans perhaps...

-Now it was Baiken's turn to be caught off guard, and the twitch of her eye showed as much.-

The hell do you mean? The refugee colonies. Are you some kind of recluse or something?

[She was about to shake her head, but then paused.]

... I suppose I could be considered one. However, I assure you, there are no refugee colonies where I'm from.

Then just where the hell are you from? -Baiken's questions were pointed before, but her frustration builds, and by the look of her, she probably wasn't the type to care when she was being rude.-

I'd say just Japan, but let me pose a different question. [Because, considering refugee colonies...]

What year is it?

-No, that answer definitely didn't sit well with her. Enough that she ignored Naoto's question entirely. Hell, she may not have even heard it. She closed the distance between them immediately, grabbing at Naoto's collar. Her words sounded... well anger was there, but there was something else, something difficult to place. It almost sounded... afraid.-

The hell did you just say?! You expect me to believe an answer like that?!

[Naoto's eyes narrow when she's grabbed, but otherwise, she doesn't react.]

I can't obviously, but it's the truth. I'm from Yasoinaba, Japan, or Inaba for short.

-The specific location didn't matter. She wasn't Anji, she hadn't memorized every little pre-war town or prefecture. But the confidence this person had when they spoke, the look in their eyes... They believed what they were saying was true.-

That can't be. There IS no more Japan.

[She could say that's true because of where they are now, but that would not help deescalate the situation she was still in.]

I don't know what else to tell you. Where I'm from, it's still Japan.

-That same look, that same confidence in tone.-

The year is 2187. -She finally answered Naoto's question, releasing her collar and stepping back.- And there is no Japan. There hasn't been for a very long time...

I see... [That explained things.]

That's over a hundred years in the future from the current year I recall.

You're telling me that miasma out there, the Dream Width or whatever they call it, has people from completely displaced eras out there?

Considering our exchange, yes. I assure you I'm not lying, and you don't seem to be lying yourself.

Tch... -Baiken spat, stepping further back and returning to her spot at the window. Why... did this bother her so much? Why was just the idea of the other person being there swelling up that rage inside of her once more? She couldn't brain her way through it, not in her state. But mostly it...

... It just felt unfair.-

Baiken. By the way.

[Fixing her attire calmly after being handled like that, Naoto goes back to looking out the window. At least an altercation was avoided; it wouldn't do for a first impression towards anyone else around them.]

... Naoto.

How old are you? -Her focus remained on the expanse of the Dream Width outside the porthole.-

Sixteen.

[She looked back at Baiken with an expression that asked 'Why?' for her.]

Huh... No offense, but I pegged you for younger. -Apparently that was why.-

I was about to say you were too damn young to be caught up in this bullshit, but who the hell even knows what we're actually in for.

None taken. You're not the first and you won't be the last.

[Back to the window, she nods.] I concur. Until we're on the ground, there's no telling what will be expected.

Whatever it is, it'll probably be a pain in the ass.

More than likely.

[Not the exact words Naoto would pick, but close enough.]

(no subject)

garyoutensei - 2018-03-22 16:14 (UTC) - Expand

pishirogane - 2018-03-22 18:50 (UTC) - Expand

garyoutensei - 2018-03-23 16:58 (UTC) - Expand

pishirogane - 2018-03-23 23:35 (UTC) - Expand

garyoutensei - 2018-03-25 03:54 (UTC) - Expand

pishirogane - 2018-03-25 04:36 (UTC) - Expand