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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What makes you think I need one? -Growled in response, she steps forward, sizing up the man. He was larger than her, but clearly and visibly intimidated. Well... she supposed she had that effect on people.-

[ The step forward, the growl, it's not good. There are bystanders on this airship, and they don't need to be freaked out by someone from another world losing their temper. That's the last thing any of them need. He takes a single, calculated step back. ]

I didn't say that...! I just don't know where you came from.

[ He thinks of Shiro, of his glowing Galra-tech arm, and... winces a bit as he remembers the circumstances of that probably being a bit more hostile for him. ]

Where I'm from, people can get those sorts of things pretty easily if they want to, so seeing the opposite is a little... surprising.

And why is it surprising? -A bit of the bass in her voice was gone, but she was still pressing the issue, trying to get a read on the man for anything besides "would rather not be here right now".-

Does *everyone* where you come from hide their scars?

[ He's been a mediator and balancing figure between some of his friends enough to know when someone's being baited, and she's dangling a hook right in front of him.

She just insulted Shiro, his leader, his friend, and he's not gonna let that slide, even though he knows she doesn't know the line she just crossed. He grits his teeth, his fists clench, a bit of the fear melts away, and he decides to bite. ]

Nope, we just have a good grip and can see when it's time to move on.

[ As soon as the words leave his mouth he pauses, and his face contorts into a blend of emotions. Anger, pride, regret, and... still that fear. And some more regret. He doesn't do angry well. ]

S-sorry.

-Despite his apology, of course, things just had to get worse. In a swift motion, her sword was drawn, and there was a panicked yelp from the crowd and security officers started to be called...

But she didn't do anything. Not yet. She just stood there, the tip at eye level, eye locked with his. She could read those thoughts in his mind, that what he'd said came from a personal place, not just some misguided belief in what should or should not be. And in her own, there was indeed wrath and anger, but also something else, something that was difficult to quantify, but ran just as deeply.-

Everyone's story is different, and we don't all get to move on. Remember that.

-And in just as quick a motion, the sword was back in its sheath, and it felt like the entire crowd let out a collectively held breath.-

[ Hunk surprised himself, honestly, because he didn't even flinch. It wasn't until the sword was sheathed that he realized it, and he smirked, because he's had beam guns, laser swords, flagship cannons, and horrible monsters all pointed at him. A metal sword can cut, but it didn't seem quite as big of a deal anymore.

Partially because her words sat with him. He thinks about Shiro's pain, Lance's, Pidge's... they all have baggage, but...]

Wanna talk about it? Not to move on, just... to move to the side. Catch your breath.

[ ...none of them dealt with things alone. His posture relaxes ever so slightly as a bit of a warm smile starts to creep onto his face. ]

Most strangers aren't willing to stick their neck out for the well being of someone who just threatened to kill them. -Said so matter-of-factly one could mistake it for a comment on the weather.-

I'm not interested.

I offered, 'cause, y'know...

[ He sighs, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. ]

Most strangers haven't been ripped from their home and forced to choose between other people's problems that are completely insane or just dying horribly. Most strangers can't say it's happened to them twice.

[ And then he laughs. Team Voltron's given him some unusual experiences, to be sure, and he never thought they'd be applicable to anything else... or that he'd ever be anywhere else. ]

And most strangers can't say they have a tendency to get weapons pointed at them by people who end up as allies later.

[ He's nothing if not persistent. ]

-This guy was starting to remind her of Anji. A bigger, fluffier Anji. Or maybe just an akita. Either way, strangely puppy like, and as much as she wanted to dismiss him, his sincerity wasn't... It wasn't wrong, and she gained nothing from being cruelly dismissive of it. How annoying.-

You can call me Baiken.

[ Hunk grins ear to ear. It worked! Kill 'em with kindness! He offers a hand for a handshake, consciously choosing his left to prevent the progress from being ruined at the last second. ]

Nice to meet you, Baiken. I'm Hunk! Are you hungry at all?

[ And he's just going to casually disregard the fact that he just desecrated a trash can a little while ago. ]

-Baiken gave a flat look at Hunk, then at his hand, and then at the bin he'd just barfed into not that long ago.-

For reason, I don't have much of an appetite.

It's all good, figured I'd offer.

[ Hunk shrugs- he can't fault her for that! Him, he's hungry pretty often. But then he notices that his hand's been left hanging. Not as awkward as an abandoned high-five, but... ]

Wait, do you not know what a handshake is?

You literally just vomited. Wash your hands first.

I vomited in the trash, not in my hands, and besides public places like these airships are disgusting, covered in germs!

[ He sighs, because Baiken sure is difficult. If only she knew how much grossness those fans were circulating! ]

If I go find a bathroom, are you still going to be here?

[ She's incredibly distinctive, so he's not exactly worried about anything other than being snubbed. ]

I don't have anywhere else to be. -And yeah, on an airship, she stood out and wouldn't be difficult to track down. But she honestly did have no intention of abandoning him. Not yet, anyways.-

Then I'll be right back.

[ Hunk makes a slight bowing motion with his head, and walks away. It took a little longer than expected, but a few minutes later he wanders back from around a corner, a totally different place from where he left the deck. Freshening up seemed to have been a good choice, because not only did he have a bit of a spring in his step, but the emotional wear and tear from vomit and tension and getting a sword pointed at him seemed all but gone. ]

Hey! Didja miss me?

Should I have? -She could have been meaner about it. This guy really did remind her of Anji...-

Anyways, I'd prefer to go somewhere less crowded if you're going to insist on talking to me.

I don't know, that's on you. [ He flashes her a smile, before gesturing for her to follow, turning on his heels and strolling off towards the rest of the ship. ] And so's the part where you didn't leave while I hit the bathroom.

[ Though he knew full well she could simply not follow him, which is why his back was towards her, and he spoke without glancing to check on her. ]

I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom and found a nice little lounge that was empty. Is that cool with you?

[ Unless she ditched him, then he'd feel silly. But he wouldn't really blame her, they're going through some crazy stuff. ]

So long as it's quiet... -He was mostly polite. Considerate. Part of her really hated it, because she couldn't really find it in herself to tell him to fuck off. Plus he seemed kind of young, at that...-

You had to talk your way out of situations like this pretty often?

My friends and I get into trouble a lot. [ At school. In space. With each other. ] So I've had to learn some things about diplomacy.

[ He shrugs and rolls his eyes, pushing open the door to the lounge. There's barely a window here, closer to the ceiling, making it not a great place for people who want to gawk at the clouds. Hunk holds the door closer to the hinge, while gesturing inside with the other hand. ]

After you! Pick a spot and relax! [ She didn't seem the sort to do that very often. ]

-And relax she did, plopping herself down and kicking her feet up on the booth table in a decidedly unladylike fashion, pulling her pipe from her kimono. She proceeded to load and light the pipe one handed, which was probably mesmerizing to watch, before putting it between her lips and letting out a few puffs. Thankfully for Hunk's senses, the scent was oddly sweet...-

So do you want my life story or something?

I mean, only if you're offering. [ Hunk takes a step inside the room after she enters, letting the door close behind them. Now this was a Baiken he could work with. Smoking a pipe, feet up on the table... much better than being held at swordpoint. The sweet smell of the pipe is a welcome change from the smell of firefights and explosions, too. ]

But I can talk about myself first... [ Hunk follows suit, sitting on the other side of the table, reclining as his arms spread over the headrests near him. His feet do not go on the table, but he visibly relaxes his joints. After a moment he smiles, and shrugs his shoulders. ] ...if that makes you more comfortable? [ He seems more than comfortable enough. ]

I can't promise I'll be listening the whole time, but sure. Let's hear it. -Because despite what she'd said, it definitely seemed she was reluctant to actually talk about herself. And also, despite that, she was looking at him directly, intent, and focused on what he had to say. She wasn't sure why, but she'd given the man enough trouble already. She may as well hear him out.-

All right! [ He leans forward and claps his hands together, and starts rubbing them mischievously. ]

So my friends Lance, Pidge, and I were students at the Galaxy Garrison, a military academy to train tomorrow's space explorers. We checked out a spacecraft that fell to Earth, and it had this guy Shiro who went missing, and then this dropout Keith helped us escape. [ Exhale. Deep breath! ] Then we found a giant blue ancient robot space lion and it took us through a wormhole to a grounded space castle, where we met an alien princess and her butler. We got four more of those ancient robot space lions running, and took the fight to the Galra Empire, a universe-spanning dictatorship that consumes entire planets and enslaves worlds, by combining those robot lions into one bigger humanoid robot.

[ Louder exhale. He normally doesn't talk this much! Deeper inhale, and... ] It turns out for a bunch of humans out of their element, we're good at fighting a war, so we started winning. A lot. Captured the Emperor's son, made allies with him, and then he killed his father and usurped his throne. [ Another gasping exhale mixed with rolling eyes, but at this point he's laughing in between wheezes. ] But we don't know how well any of that's going to end up, because I got plucked out of spacetime and dropped into a crazy fantasy world.

[ He exhales again and kind of collapses into the couch he's sitting on. ] So yeah, that's the short version. [ She has to have questions, if she's listening at all. ]

-There was a long, pregnant pause between them as smoke slowly trailed up from Baiken's pipe, hazing up the room as she continued to stare him down, as if determining what, if anything, he'd said was actually believable in any way. She knew there was a time, long ago, when humans had attempted to explore beyond the earth. So that part seemed to float. But the rest of it...-

You expect me to believe you're a *succesful* insurgent against an empire that big? If they're losing to just five guys in a blacktech weapon, that's either one hell of a weapon, or their empire is made of tissue paper.

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