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

[iknowtheconsequences]

Kaji comes to an absolute stop at a face that he hasn't seen in three (technically eight but he was asleep for five of them) years. The one man he had hoped would never make it to Crystallis or wherever this world is now. This is exactly what Kaji deserves for throwing caution to the wind, even for an instant.

He has an instant to decide. This the man he's fantasized about putting an arrow in the throat of, or returning to their world to pull every child he could find out of his grasp. All tinged with the guilt that Kaji was complicit in it all, and that his change of heart was only an attempt to redeem.

But he has no Job class right now, no arrow in hand, not even the razor that he'd kept with himself always. And he does not get to take this decision back once it is made.

"...Sir."

[for_yui]

A few steps forward and the matching height of Gendou Ikari is now beside Kaji. Gendou's head turns only slightly, enough to ensure that the double-agent knows his sight is direct and on him. Even behind the glasses he wears, his piercing gaze locks onto the confused and bewildered man's own eyes.

"A world filled with magic and technology.. Having neither Adam nor Eve is only a temporary set-back."

Feet once more tap against the floor as Gendou begins to walk away. His eyes remain forward, never once turning back to look at Kaji. It had never been in Gendou's behavior to waste time upon the deceased, save for the one person that mattered to him.

"As you were, Mister Kaji."

[iknowtheconsequences]

The wave of rage that voice brings back is instantaneous, and Kaji has to stamp it back down. He's too much of a threat, but also less of a threat here. What can he really accomplish without his toys?

His voice shifts to the more cocky tone that he can depend on. Start to spin the story, fall back on the old habits. "You won't find Adam and Eve here. Or anything like them."

Pretend this is just Crystallis, and you've got all the answers again. "Humans are a really late addition to this world. And what came before us was something even the Angels would tremble at."

He spreads his hands out wide and grins. "But, hey. Take a look around, get your feet under you. When you feel like getting answers, they'll have an easy way for you to call me."

It's almost too easy, but Kaji can even feel the disapproving glare of his daughter at his back.

[for_yui]

He stopped.

Like a monolith of SEELE did he remain still while he spoke, offering a response to the man who pointed out obvious facts Gendou had already known.

"One need not be human to have a soul. You, of all people, should know that."

It was then he turned, facing Kaji while his silhouette was dark against the light behind him. His expression was hidden, but had Kaji been able to see the large, widened grin on his face, Gendou was sure the former mouse to his cat would have been less composed than he now appears.

"Every world holds a legend of a great calamity, of a God full of pride, and of men who seek to harness that power guarded by arrogance and greed. Are you to assume this wasn't a part of my plan? One way or another, the Instrumentality Project will continue, and all life as we know it shall evolve as intended."

He turns his back to Kaji once more, putting a hand into the pocket of his pants as he lets out a very subtle snicker from clenched teeth.

"Eidolons.. That would be a start."

[iknowtheconsequences]

"How much do you really expect to understand those non-human souls though? Arrogance and greed. Might be something more universal out there to tap into."

Questions upon questions, all things Kaji has to let run through his mind so quickly and make a snap decision on. A tension shoots through his form that he is trying not to belie. Could Gendou do it? Could he try again through harnessing the power of the Eidolons instead? No. He's as hamstrung as the rest of them with power, right? He has to work his way up from scratch. He's got nothing.

Isn't this exactly the crap Kalki was spouting before they killed her?

Nope, not going down that line of thought.

But would it be so bad to let him try? Trying to imagine Gendou Ikari as a Summoner is an intriguing thought. Sure, Gendou, go chasing after this world's Eidolons, gather them up, and see what you get. If his attempts to rebuild the world in whatever the hell image he's got aren't using kids as weapons this time?

Kaji's hand twitches, he really needs to know where Ib is right now.

"The Eidolons will serve any master they deem worthy. Don't know if you can get them to agree to an exclusive deal." See, it's easier to pretend he's calm when he's being a know-it-all. Would be even easier if he had a smoke.

[for_yui]

"And you expect that I hold such ignorance over this world? That all of this was not according to SEELE's plans and the prophecies written in the Dead Sea Scrolls?"

Again, he bears his teeth into a thoughtful smirk. It was an entertaining dance, the back and forth remarks which only served to further motivate his ambitions and desires. As superficial and a waste of time it was, it did so please him to know that his words were enforcing worry and anxiety upon the honorable mouse standing opposite of him.

"After all this time you still believe in a covenant; a promise? God never intended to keep his part of the deal, so man took it upon himself to create vessels in their own image to destroy him. This world.. shall be no different.

There is no need for a bargain when fear and paranoia among men can fell even the tallest of giants.

He turns once more, his back to Kaji again as he lifted his head to look towards the ceiling. It was if, in a single gesture, the arrogant and single-minded Commander was turning his nose up at the new world.

"One, five, or twelve. I will destroy as many Gods as it takes to see my ambitions achieved.. And I won't even have to lift a finger to do so. There are plenty of men, just like yourself, who will do it for me. Willingly, blindly, for that is the very core of human nature. To destroy what we fear to comprehend."