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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["Alright" was relative. Physically, he's fine. Everything else... well, maybe when they're not surrounded by a bunch of strangers he'll say something at least. Until then, the only sign Ignis and Ignis alone will notice is that his ringed hand is slightly shaking despite how he keeps his tone in check. With all the uncertainty and trepidation in the air, someone has to step up. Might as well be him.

It wasn't just reassuring to Ignis, either - that simple little touch. Something inside him twists as he fends off much of the emotions he's been fighting with ever since he-

No. Focus, Noct. Ignis needs him to be his eyes right now, and he'll focus on that until he notices Prompto getting up. Or if they hear someone else call their names. Either or.]

I don't know. [He's not sure how else to say that; nothing's really all that comforting otherwise.] I think it's some kind of ship, but it's nothing like what the Niffs have come up with. No one here really seems to know what's going on, either.

That's not all. I caught a glimpse of what's outside thanks to some kind of lounge area in the other room. We're in space.

Edited 2018-03-18 02:06 (UTC)

[As long as Noct wasn't injured, they will manage. As always, Noct's well being is the most important here. And hearing his voice next to him encourages Ignis to stop focusing on a single person and worry about others. Gladio, for example.

He does notice the slight shake in Noct's hand but doesn't bring it up. Ignis wouldn't blame him if this awakening in a different place and, from the looks of it, space had rattled him. Ignis himself is almost beyond worked up with thousand questions and apparently not a lot of answers.]

A ship. A spaceship, to be more precise. [Is there something like that on Eos? He doubts that Empire's ships can fly into space.]

Is there a way to confirm that the Empire isn't controlling of the ship? We know close to nothing of their technology.

[If only that were the sole cause, yet he wouldn't try to say otherwise. Unknowing where Ignis' thoughts went to. He shifts only slightly, so that it would be easy for others to pass if they need to. Unable to really will himself to let go because Ignis is solid and it's keeping him grounded, for lack of a better word.]

Right. [Not that he knows.] Haven't seen a single insignia or flag, and you know how brazen they are with everything they touch. No "S.A.F." on the walls... [And perhaps more importantly:] No sign of Ardyn, either.

[He nearly expected to hear that bastard mocking them again. Him especially. And yet, not a single word. Nor did he hear the growling voice of the Draconian...]

[Ignis doesn't know whether that is good or bad, but it's not Niflheim and they are definitively not where they were. Which means that their mission is... paused. Until they can get back home that is.]

As long as it is not Empire's ship, we can work things out. [Or, well, try to. They couldn't be worse than the Empire, right?] And with no Ardyn, we can breathe for a moment.

[They just need to figure out where they are and where is this ship headed to.]

Edited 2018-03-18 16:33 (UTC)

[They're of one mind on that. Though considering they're in some kind of makeshift infirmary and not tied down or bound in any way, he's trying to take it as a good sign. It's a fine line between 'captive' and 'rescued' and without that smarmy bastard of an ancestor he'd rather forget but can't...]

... Right.

[He sighs, a small amount of relief audible in the tone. And for a brief moment, allows himself to not be entirely okay and ask:]

Are you doing alright, at least? [He has to ask. For one, Ignis is still lying down. Two, if he's this disoriented, he can't imagine his brother in all but blood is faring much better.]

[It wouldn't be wise to try anything rash if they are indeed in outer space. All they could do now is to wait to arrive at the destination they are headed to. From there they will have a chance to figure everything out and potentially make further plans.]

Ah, yes, I am quite alright. [No injuries aside from the obvious one he's been dealing with for a long while and that won't heal up at all.]

Except for the confusion as to how we ended up here. [...did they press the wrong switch somewhere...?]

[It really wouldn't be, Ignis is right. It's why he hasn't acted beyond trying to find him and the others and attempt to help others who seem to be dealing with this situation even worse than he was.

He gives Ignis' shoulder one more squeeze before letting go. Though his hand doesn't travel far - just to the edge of the cot. He isn't about to leave him.]

Good... Good. [Focus on that. Nothing else but that and their current situation.] Pretty sure most of us on this ship feel the same. I haven't recognized anyone but you or Prompto yet.

[Not to mention most of the people here he'd mistake for cosplayers were it not for how realistic their outfits and hair seem. He wasn't about to out how much of a nerd he is, though. Especially not where he could be heard by them.]

I can't summon my weapons and the Ring isn't responding. Can you?

[Ignis would've probably done the same thing... if his circumstances were a bit different. Now, he can't help the feeling that his hands are completely tied.

He can feel Noct's presence next to himself and it makes Ignis sigh softly. Usually, he's the one making sure that Noctis is doing fine, but now he's the one that's been drawing attention and Ignis doesn't like it.]

Hmmm... [Ignis tilts his head down in thought,] I do not want to think about the possibility of leaving Gladio at the Keep all by himself. He is strong and dependable but that is the Empire's territory.

[The prompt about weapons makes Ignis turn his head towards Noct. He can't summon his weapons!? If Noct can't, then there is no chance he can either. Ignis holds out his hand in an attempt to summon his dagger, but no weight lands on the palm of his hand.]

...this is very worrisome. We have no defenses here.

[Almost as if sensing the discomfort, Noctis shifts his attention elsewhere - specifically on the others around them. Trying to gauge if any are a threat. Yet, he can't see weapons on any of them.

It's a quiet, unsaid apology. As everything slowly sinks in. What he's seen, what they're experiencing, and now, Ignis' words. Something isn't right.]

I don't either, but... he'll be fine. [He has to be.] He survived the Blademaster, after all.

[Maybe it's foolish, but the prays he's right. Especially with Ardyn nearby. And yet...]

No one else seems armed, so there's that at least. [It's not much of a comfort, he knows. Yet the way Ignis has been talking is bugging him.] Ignis. What's the last thing you remember?

[Noctis doesn't have to apologize, especially not to Ignis. It will need a little bit of time to get used to this situation he's in- the current and his own problematic state.

The question gets Ignis' eyebrows to narrow. The last thing he remembers...]

Hm. We stopped at one of the hidden spots within the Zegnautus Keep on the Empire's territory. We were looking for Prompto and decided to take a short breather before continuing. [He sighs and runs hand through his already messy hair.]

I must have dozed off at some point. [He still doesn't know how and why when his entire body and mind were on alert.] When I came to it, I was here.

[He knows, Ignis. That's why he doesn't bother saying it aloud. They've known each other long enough that some things just didn't need to be.]

Iggy... [He pauses, gaze falling back on him for a brief moment as his voice lowers.] That- was at least an hour ago to me.

[At least, because he has no idea how much time's passed since he found the— Rrgh.]

The hell is going on? [It was bad enough when Ardyn tricked him. Led him on that merry goose chase.]

We found him. Prompto. He was just down the hall from that hidden spot. Strapped into some torture device that was triggering his claustrophobia something terrible. Fought what was left of Ravus, too... when you told me to go it alone to secure the Crystal.

[What else happened to Prompto was his own story to tell. Didn't matter to him, anyway. It was still the same nerd who tried to show him his photos back in elementary school, his best friend. No matter what nonsense Ardyn drilled into his head. What happened to himself, though...

Sorry, Ignis. He needs a minute.]

[He needs a little bit of time to process all of that. An hour? Were they caught in some time loop with Gladio? Now Ignis looks really worried.]

Did Ardyn catch us in some kind of illusion? [He asks, mostly himself, as he tries to remember the details of what they were doing before he woke up here.] Maybe that messed up my sense of time...

[He sighs, slightly frustrated. Nothing of this made any sense to him. But, they found Prompto, and Noct secured the Crystal according to his words. And... they are all here now. Did... the Crystal do something to them?

Don't worry Noct, take all the time you need. Ignis needs a moment or two himself, trying to connect the strings that don't really match each other.]

[Don't worry. Take all the time you need, Iggy. He's shaking his head of some thought or another.]

No. He may have messed with me the entire time we were separated, but nothing like this.

[Illusions of Prompto running down the halls, self-detonating rogue MTs, superimposing Prompto's features over an empty or destroyed model... Everything inside the halls he would manipulate, but the halls themselves? Trapping someone in a repeating loop? That would be a new one. And unnecessary at this point.]

Besides... it'd be pointless. That bastard's already getting what he wants, anyway.

[He can't stop it, this time— pain and anger in his voice or the memory. That smug look that sick son of a bitch's face as he struggled against the light that was pulling him in further and away from his friends.

'Noct. Killing you as a mortal will bring me scant satisfaction. Claim the Crystal's power. Arise as its champion. Only once the Crystal and king are no more... can I know redemption.'

... He's shaking, and he knows it. Tries pushing it away because he can't afford to lose it right now. Especially when he may have a missing piece to the puzzle Ignis is trying to sort out.]

We may— need to think beyond what any kind of magic we know of can do. None of the constellations I saw outside match what we know. ['We are far from home.']

[It was a terrifying power that Ardyn had and that they couldn't fight against it. The one that resulted in Prompto falling off the train in the first place. Ignis was more susceptible to sounds than imagery right now though which is probably why he didn't go after him. Gladio... hmm. Ignis wonders if he noticed anything out of the ordinary.

He can feel the soft tremble next to him- Noct is not sitting too far away, and he places a hand on his back reassuringly.]

No, he will not get whatever he wants, Noct. We will make sure of it. [Ignis says in a stern and determined voice. The flash of Noct, passed out, on brink of death flashes in his mind and it only makes him angrier. If only...

They are here now though so he shouldn't be focusing on it. Whatever that Prophecy was all about is put on pause until they get back.]

We have to wait until we arrive then. I doubt that we can gather any knowledge around here, [he says in a quieter voice.] If these people are brought in the same way we were, I doubt anyone knows what is going on.

[Gladio would have to be here in order to ask him. As it is, still no sign and if Ignis hasn't heard him yet... the big guy's likely not here. The one time he wouldn't mind his Shield yelling at him to pull himself together. Yet Ignis' hand would be enough.

It's far more than what he'd have back home right about now.

The trembling slows under the familiar weight, his breathing evening out save a few points where it hitches. He wants to ask how they'll manage that, when even the gods are telling him he has to die in order to cast him down. He's already seen that Ardyn being frozen by Shiva into solid ice and being broken into pieces only made him come back angrier.

But he doesn't, not wanting to make a bigger spectacle of whatever else anyone around them is going through.]

There has to be a crew of some kind. No way they'd leave so many unconscious without supervision. [Yet he hasn't seen any yet, which infuriates him.]

[He keeps his hand on Noct's back until he's sure that he's calmed down, even if just a little bit. Being stuck in this kind of place, and with some time discrepancy between them back home must be really stressful.

Ignis tries so hard not to think of Prophecy. There will be a day when Noct finds out about the gritty details of it, the details still can't comprehend and find any justification for. If this trip to unknown postpones it, even for just a while, just enough for him to come up with something, anything-!

This was not the time to get all worked up about it. They don't even know what awaits them.]

Would you like to go and look for them?

[Ignis would, of course, come with. Even he's getting a bit antsy from sitting around without any information.]

[He's- calm. As calm as he's going to get while they sit there doing nothing other than going around in circles about both the situation back home and the one they currently have found themselves in.

...It's hard not to think about the Revelation, but he's trying. Even if he doesn't see another way.]

Yeah. It beats staying here.

[He's already moving to his feet, offering his shoulder or arm since he doesn't see a cane nearby. They were just reunited. No way in hell was he going to leave Ignis alone to his thoughts when his own were so messed up. (Thanks, ~~Bahamut~~ Ardyn.)]

[Ignis waits for Noct to stand up then follows the suit. To be perfectly honest, Ignis doesn't want to stay with his own thoughts either. There's just too much going on in his head and inevitably it would lead to him jumping to conclusions.

He keeps close to him, hand resting on Noct's shoulder from time to time to make sure he doesn't lose track of him because of all the people that are around them.]

We should probably look for someone that resembles an officer or a pilot. A crew member.

[They might not be on Empire's ship, but every ship usually does have some kind of mark or sigil, short name placed somewhere on the ship. And, since it is a spaceship, Ignis doubts that it is on auto-pilot.]

[Good. Because he'd rather have at least one familiar voice in his ear keeping him from going mad from that revelation. He's been alone enough for a while and more than welcomes the occasional familiar hand on his shoulder.]

Gotcha. [He looks around.] Don't see anyone like that nearby. Maybe outside?

[It's as good a hunch as any, and it seems quieter out there anyway. Less crowded. When in doubt, they could always check the cockpit, too. Though distracting a driver... He knows better than that.]

[They had always been inseparable, especially last few months. Ignis has a feeling that ever since they left the Crown City, it was Noct that became a pillar for Ignis, not the other way around.]

Hmm... I wonder how far are we allowed to wander. Let us have a walk around. [Of course, not to interrupt the pilot, but to find some kind of officer. A board, pamphlet or a book. Any kind of announcement.]

The map of the ship could always be useful. [If the ship can carry as many people as he can hear (which is a lot), then the thing is probably huge and has some basic map somewhere.]

[Give yourself some credit, Ignis. He'd quite literally be lost without a certain someone's advice and guidance. Especially after Altissia, and now even more so.]

I'm going to assume if it isn't locked, we can explore. [Of course, he isn't going near anything that might put either of them in harm's way. Though the idea does catch his attention, so after briefly looking around-] Ah.

[Guess who found a thing, and is leading a certain blind man to it as well? This king.]

Let's see... There's where we currently are, and the lounge area... Cockpit- [He pauses, gently lifting a piece of paper that seems tacked on over the board. He'll wonder why he can understand non-Eosian script later. Instead he's focused on trying to read the messy handwriting and frowning.]

The hell? "Found you floating out there"?

[He's just... trying his best not to be as useless as he feels he is. It's one thing to not want to be and fighting it and different getting to the point where one can contribute to the situation as a whole.

Still- if it helps Noct out, then it makes Ignis more than just happy. It actually felt as if he was sitting back in his office at the Citadel and bouncing the ides off of the wall for a meeting that's in ten minutes.]

Did you find something? [From the sound it of, it seems that it will be helpful.] We are going to avoid the cockpit. We don't want to disturb the pilots.

[Ignis waits patiently for Noct to decipher whatever he found and then scowls.]

Floating out there... How is that even remotely possible? Is there anything else?

[If he knew that thought was going through his head, then he'd tell Ignis the same thing he told Prompto months ago on a motel roof. But, he's no mind reader. So he can't.

Ugh, he'd rather be translating ancient Lucian at this rate. It'd be faster.]

Some note on a map. [A beat.] No idea. And whoever wrote this has horrible handwriting. It's hard to make out.

[He frowns. Ignis shouldn't feel too useless. Noct can see it, yet still can barely make out the chicken scratch.]

Something about navigating a treacherous sector and not to bother the pilots. That there will be answers planetside.

[Fuck it. He gives up. The rest is in even tinier chicken scratch.]

Gonna need a magnifying glass to read the rest of this...

Edited 2018-03-19 22:10 (UTC)

[And Ignis would point out that their situations are a tad bit different.

And then give him a smile and thank him.

Reading Ancient Lucian was a pain for Ignis as well back in the Crown City. At first, he thought it will be exciting to know to read runes and language that had completely changed but it turned out to be more tedious than interesting. However, some books written in Ancient Lucian were interesting reading material, so Ignis can't complain.]

So they say to stay put and wait to arrive. A waiting game that none of us is good at. [Ignis sighs, rubbing back of his neck.]

Since it has come to this, perhaps we could find some refreshments? Some tea would be good to freshen up. And we could pick up some for Prompto as well.

[Different though they are - everyone is, why would this be a problem? - there's one fact that will never change. Both of them are good enough for him, and if they want or need help? He'll give it freely.

That's what brothers are for.

Noctis sighs, groaning. Nope, definitely not good at the waiting game. At all.]

If there is anything, it'll probably be in that lounge area I mentioned.

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