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

Victoria "Vic" Demor || Original Character

[uneroded]

II. Welcome

[ Vic is used to weird things by this point. So she just rolls with it. Smiles and nods and--well, it's a break. Asmodeus did keep telling her to take a vacation, this will just be an extended one, it seems. She immediately takes what she's given and sits at a table she can find, and starts to just. Read. Read and read and enjoy it. She's fascinated, really, by all of the information. You know, she always wanted an adventure, so why not enjoy it? So long as Asmodeus and Lilith aren't nagging her to take a break... In fact, they won't be allowed to now. ]

...I wonder if they'll count this as a vacation if I still work during it...? It's just... Not chasing a serial killer.

III. In The Sky

[ Vic had been on planes before. But airships feel different. They're a new experience. And really, she hadn't been home in a long time, so flying... It's been too long. Airplanes don't have one thing, though, and that's decks where you can feel the wind whipping through your hair. She'll accept it, even if it means she has to brush it later. This is... It's nice. ]

Not sure I can go back to airplanes after this.

IV. Guilds

[ So. Red Mage. She'd been that kid who dreamed of being a swashbuckler or fantastic wizard, so why not a combination of both? A rapier and a few spells. That sounds like fun. So she'll try on the new clothes (the red reminds her a bit too much of blood, with all she's seen, but she'll deal) and go find the practice grounds. She'd never used a sword before--guns, sure, but never swords. So this is entirely new. She'll try the magic after her footwork and fencing are a bit better, really. ]

So... Like this? ...Or was it--hm.

X. Wild Card

[ Anything else you wanna do? Just tag and I'll work with it! ]

III

[halffamiliar]

[The wind blows through the hair of the girl in a peculiar suit and hat as they lean against the railing. There's a frown on their face.]

Yeah, this's great, but we really miss flying through the sky with our own wings.

[uneroded]

Yeah, that would be more fun. But I guess making do is what's got to be done here, until we can find a way back.

[ ...Wings aren't that new to her. Asmodeus and Lilith both have them. So of course other beings might? ]

[halffamiliar]

It's frustrating being unable to turn into a bird. Or any of our other forms. If one of those "jobs" we've heard about will let us do that, we're taking it.

[uneroded]

...I wonder if there's a Job like that...

[ She's going to look through her pamphlets and see if there's any mention of that. ]

I'm not sure there is.

IV.

[silent_princess]

[Wearing red when her staple had long been blue made Zelda feel uneasy. Nevertheless, the valuable lessons and education that would come from becoming a Red Mage were too numerous to raise a stink over a choice of color. She had previous experience with swordplay, though it was no where near the proficiency of her former guard.. but it did bring with it the ability to help her fellow guild-mates when needed.

She walked about Vic's stance, putting her hands upon her to straighten her out so that her feet were resting in the proper place.]

Forgive me here, but.. Hmm.. Yes, yes that will do!

[Clearing her throat, she takes a position next to her companion, thrusting her own rapier forward and staying in stance to help give a visual comparison.]

Think of your sword as an extension of the self. It is a part of you, just as your arm or legs are appendages. Your clothing, your hair, your blade; all of these are an extension of yourself and should be treated as such. When you trust, put everything behind it. Hips, the strength from your forearm, commit to the movement and you will always strike true.

[She rests, standing up straight and resting the blade at her side. Turning, she gives her friend a smile and a nod, speaking again with less severity.]

Does that help?

[uneroded]

[ Vic pays attention, listens intently. She's never used a sword, so the help is much appreciated. This girl is a good teacher, she feels, because she's strict while also actually showing what she means. ]

More than you could know. Swords aren't... They're not really common where I'm from. I normally use a gun, but... Don't let your dreams stay dreams, right?

[ So. Treat it like an extension of herself. That's... Okay. She's going to try again, keeping that in mind. Everything is a single unit, and she has to move with that thought in mind. And, well, it's better than before, but she's nowhere near a master. It's going to take time to get the true grace that comes with years of work and understanding, but it's a good start. ]

[silent_princess]

Precisely. It is something that will come with time and understanding, so be sure not to push yourself too hard. Even now, I know Masters that continue to practice these basics despite being instructors and revered as the experts of their art.

[She raises a finger to her chin, tilting her head with curiosity as a spark of interest flashes in her eyes.]

I have heard of this "gun" before, but I have never head it explained. Would you be willing and able to explain what it means? I would be forever grateful to know more about them and the world you come from.

[uneroded]

Hm. How to describe a gun...

[ She's not sure what she has to work with on describing them. ]

Um... Do you know what a cannon is? Trying to find a place to work from. It's... It's a weapon, of course, but it's like... If you had a cannon or--or a catapult except small enough for your hand, and it's still firing a small thing with enough force to kill or incapacitate, depending on where you fire.

[ She'll sheathe the rapier for now, so she can pay attention to the conversation. She doesn't mind talking about her world. ]

[silent_princess]

A.. A compact cannon?

[Zelda sheathes her own weapon, hands clasping together as she holds them in front of her lips. She's so focused and intent on learning what she can from Vic that she's all but forgotten they had been practicing swordplay.]

I cannot even begin to imagine something so small! Does it take as many knights to load it? Firing a small thing.. so I assume its damage is far more precise and minimal when compared to a cannon shot?

[uneroded]

Bullets are a lot easier to work with than cannonballs. They're lighter in weight. But yes, it's a lot more precise, so you're not accidentally blowing off an entire leg when you just mean to incapacitate them and keep them from running.

[ It's fine. They can talk first and practice later. ]

[silent_princess]

[Zelda has seen some truly terrible things during her studies of biology and the like, yet it is rather unnerving to hear such descriptions said so candidly.]

Goodness! I.. It is good to know that they are not so.. ehh- "destructive" as you say.

[Her face goes pale for a moment before clearing her throat, inquiring more while walking in small circles to regain her focus and thinking.]

So.. Swords are not a common weapon implemented? I suppose then that bows and arrows are obsolete if these guns are as accessible as they seem?

[uneroded]

No, they're not--swords, I mean. Some still practice archery, but it's mostly for sport.

[ She's used to guns. And all kinds of awful things. She is, after all, a detective. ]

Swords are mostly things to collect.

YOU KNOW WHAT

[forwhatailsme]

[ There is a problem, an inherent problem, when two people who know each other are in the same city at the same time. He was going to his job--he'd only just gotten it, you know. He IS a trained medical professional.

And one of them is INCREDIBLY recognizable. Hint: that person is not Vic. The moment Faust sees her, he lingers, staring, and then immediately turns on his heel in the other direction, away from wherever he was going. ]

[uneroded]

[ She recognizes him. And she is not letting him escape. She briskly walks after him. ]

Doctor! Just a moment!

[ You are not escaping, Faust. ]

[forwhatailsme]

[ NOPE. Nope nope nope nope nope--oh god why are there so many people in this public place--why did he already put on his clothes for his non-Job job? Why is this his life?

Eventually, he simply must concede that he is going to have to face Hurricane Vic. Play it cool. ]

Detective. As simply wonderful as it is to see you again, I really must be going. I have a two o' clock, you know.

[uneroded]

Just checking how you're doing and making sure you're not up to your old tricks from back home. Doing my job and all.

[ She does worry about you, though, so... ]

...Does your body still...?

[ Gestures at where the stitches would be on her. ]

[forwhatailsme]

[ He hates how smiley you are to the core. ]

I rather doubt that might be your business, detective.

[ In fact, he's not sure? But it's a subject he's not entirely certain on how to grapple with. The problem is certainly still there, but it felt like it had been significantly slowed. He'd had a bottle of blood thinners on him when he arrived, as he always did now after Vic jumped him that one time, but... to be honest, he hasn't been feeling the need to take them all that often.

It raises concerns, certainly. ]

Should you not be working on that little present I left you?

[uneroded]

And how am I supposed to do that from here, Doctor? Until then, I'm working in law enforcement here.

[ So yeah, she's doing her job. ]

[forwhatailsme]

[ Eyeroll. ]

How surprising. And here I expected you to put that astounding charisma to better, more functional use.