memesofeternity | TEST DRIVE MEME

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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

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B. Curti Center

[Makoto's hands clench as he hears the explanation that is being provided. A part of the tension was fear. Another part was anger at their present situation. She wasn't completely trusting of these people. True, there was no reason for them to lie, but then she wasn't sure what to make of these circumstances. A new world? Her previous one destroyed? Lodgings and accommodations? Honestly, it was too much to take in and she was worried for her sister. She was worried for her team. She was worried for her home and everything they went through.]

[But she could put that aside. For now. She should be thankful that the people were being so accommodating. For now. Still...]

I see. So, everything is gone, and there is absolutely no way that we can go back? [She sighed.] I appreciate everything you are doing, but a part of me also wonders what the people of Vaikuntha get in this exchange. I don't mean to be rude when you've been so helpful, but a little transparency here would go a long way to help ease my worries.

C. Up in the Sky

[Not long after her chat, Makoto quickly decided that there was nothing to do but aimlessly wander. A swift hand followed grounded her to the side of the wall as she contemplated. The wall lead her to the top deck her eyes widen at the sight that she could see.]

[A whole world stretched out in front of her. The trees, valleys, rivers and lakes seemed to dance underneath a steady sky of blue and white clouds. She had flown before, yes, but it was nothing like this. She bravely reached for the railing on the side and took it all in.]

Wow... its beautiful...

[The view was so beautiful that she couldn't even feel the teardrops wetting her cheeks.[

D. Guilds(?)

[While many would be thrilled by the idea of taking on a job and sling around magic or start wearing armor, Makoto was in a rut. There were just so many different options. Many of them seemed so fantastical too, which was only making things doubly confusing. So, instead of entering into the guild halls and receiving an asterisk, the honor student was sitting on a bench pouring over a guide pamphlet that describes each of them.]

A Tactician sounds like it would be one possibility, but its power seems pretty weak. I also considered a Paladin, but... can I really go around wearing heavy armor?

[She leans into the pamphlet, her eyebrows furrowing as she continues.] I have done some Akido, but would that really make me a Monk? Or maybe I should be a Gunslinger because I've shot a revolver?

[She folded the book into her lap with a huff, giving up for now.] I'm getting nowhere fast like this...

H. Mognet

[After everything that she had saw and did today, there was one thing that was bothering her. Yes she found her lodgings, and a part of her was getting some idea of the job that she would want, but there was something more important. If only there was a way to reach them.... oh!]

[Remembering where the mognet board was (and ignoring the fuzzy little creatures that were gripping of a moogle's right to a 4-hour work day) Makoto pinned up one message with a poorly drawn logo ]

[A smile spreads on her face. They're out there. She knows it. And everything will start again with that message: a standard of hope in the darkest of circumstances.]

J. Wild Card

[Though she's more of The Priestess. Anyways, hit me!]

-It was hard not to notice those tears. Baiken had found herself in a bad habit of staring at faces lately, anyways, particularly seeing so many free Japanese about. And that's why she couldn't find herself scoffing at the girl's reaction... Very few of her people, in her own world, would have reacted any differently. The freedom that was promised in the skies was not something that should be taken lightly...

So, quietly, the one-armed woman just pulled a rolled kerchief from the inside of her kimono, offering it in silence to the girl.-

[A moment passes before Makoto notices the woman standing next to her, let alone the handkerchief. When she does, she looks towards her without looking, apologizes and scoots away a little. Only after she did that was the kerchief noticed.]

H-Huh? What is that... [As she said that a hand raises to catch one last tear that was just finishing rolling down her cheek.] O-Oh...

[She was concerned for her? That was kind. In politeness, Makoto held off reaching for the kerchief but before it became rude to accept, she reached for it and started to dab her cheeks.] Thank you. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you. I don't know what came over me.

-*Very* Japanese, as it turned out. She'd almost forgotten how much that level of social politeness was ingrained. It took her a bit off guard, eye widening briefly before she shook her head.-

You don't need to apologize to someone like me. I'm not offended by tears.

Someone like you? [She caught it, but didn't feel pressing the issue would get anywhere. At least, not on the first meeting anyway.]

[So instead her attention was brought back to the scenery, and the dabbing of the eyes continued.] This is quite the view, huh? Much more preferable to how we do this back where I'm from.

[Her hand lowered and her eyes focused past the horizon.] I think I was thinking about how... sis would have loved to have seen this.

[Now that she was aware of herself she took extra pains to make sure the welling tears wouldn't be making a repeat appearance.]

-An earlier encounter put the idea in her head that not ever Japanese person she came across was going to be from her own recollections, so she fought back the first assumption about what her words implied... The more obvious thing was that she had not found her sister in this world.-

She could still be out there. In the Dream Width.

[A hand reached around her ear and she gave this woman a smile.] You're right. Its too early to be be pessimistic.

[She politely folded up the kerchief and offered it back to Baiken.] Thank you. I feel much better now.

-Baiken took back the kerchief, but rather than stuff it back into her kimono, she reached out and let the wind catch it, releasing it into the sky itself, as it fluttered on the drift of the airship and into the clouds...-

You're welcome, but I don't intend to carry your tears with me. Neither should you.

[That was a waste... is what she her immediately thought when she stared at Baiken. Then she thought of their conversation and the symbolism of the act. Ah... did she mean to imply that she should leave that particular burden behind? If so, that was a rather poetic way of describing how she should let it go.]

I... see. Thanks again. I will not forget this kindness.

[With a polite bow, she smiles and return to gazing out at the horizon. She was right. Who know what they might find once they get to Dream Width? There was still hope.]

[There had to be.]

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