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

[peninhand]

I...

[ "I wanted to see how you would react in a life or death situation" wasn't an acceptable answer. It was the truth, but not one she was proud of. And truth to be told, she couldn't bring herself to be as detached as she had hoped she would be. Seeing someone who might very well be real die... ]

...

[ Maybe the guilt she felt was proof enough that he wasn't just a programmed personality. ]

I'm sorry, I put you in quite the predicament, didn't I? [A pause.] ... Chaotic Rune!

[ The Sahagin next to him got affected by blind. ]

Run away.

[righthandstand]

[A decent enough apology, one that convinces Okuyasu to tug on Monika's sleeve as he runs past her towards the town. This was such a terrible idea, why did he even trust her? Because they were the same age and he wanted to make some friends? Because he jumped at the first opportunity to punch something? Because Monika was nice to him?

If he dies because of this, it's going to be all this fault for making poor decisions.]

Hurry!

[He glances back to check if she can keep up in those robes.]

[peninhand]

[ There was little need to worry for Monika, she seemed quite fast and in control of what skills she had already learned. If anything, what was worrying what was went through her head. How long would it take for her to have such an occasion to test the reality of this world?

It was a death or life situation. She could stop where she stood and press him for questions. She could betray him with a Chaotic Rune and see what would happen once the Sahagins caught up to him. Doing either of these things would give her the answers she needed, or at least more information than she had had before. There was nothing more important than that to her. She could do it and wanted to do it.

Yet... She didn't have a backup plan to save him or to fix things. There wasn't a way for her to cheat her misdeeds like she had before. It was all or nothing. ]

...

[ She frozen for a second, staring at him. ]

Prismatic Missiles!

[ She cast the spell, to the Sahagins pursuing them, and kept running away. With her spells and their speed, they would no longer be able to catch up to them. ]

Don't worry for me, I think we're out of danger.

[righthandstand]

[Okuyasu was at least smart enough to know not to speak too much when they were running for their lives - unless there was something important to be said. This wasn't the case now, and he thanked the boost from the Monk Job as he ran into the outskirts of Hisan City, past the rock where he eats his lunches, and collapses onto his knees.]

Think...[he breathes heavily.] I think we're good...

[He uses his remaining energy to turn around and check on Monika - he feels bad for running away, but this girl was the one who suggested the fight.]

We're not going out there alone, ever again.

[peninhand]

...

[ All of that for nothing. She wanted to let her frustration out, but she would do so when she'd be alone. He didn't suspect her real intentions, and she intended for things to remain that way. Disappointed as she was, at least she took solace in seeing he was doing well. ]

We won't.

[ She smiled sweetly. ]

Ahaha~ You should see a White Mage. You could get an infection with that wound.

[righthandstand]

Really? [He looked at his arm - nothing that a visit to a doctor wouldn't fix, but White Mages work just as well as Crazy Diamond when it came to severe injuries. It'd be better than waiting for it to heal.]

Guess I should.

[His eyes drew up to look at Monika. If she wasn't the one who suggested fighting powerful monsters, he'd ask her if she were fine. But when Okuyasu doesn't trust someone completely, he doesn't care.]

I'm going to find one. I'll see you later.

[He stuffs his hands into his pockets and turns away. Crazy chick.]