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

[spaceforged]

The air is still for just a moment and between that beat and the next Shiro meets his eyes and nods. The serious look on his face is one of absolute authority. He holds out his left hand to him. Trust for trust. His voice lowers accordingly, “Then as the Leader of Voltron, I accept your word and give my own. We’ll find your people and anything I and my team can do to help, we’ll do it.”

He pauses and adds, “Yes, the Black Lion is important. It’s one of the only things that can stand against the forces against peace and freedom. ...one of five. Even one missing and we can’t do everything we can. Finding out where it is, is a critical objective. ...after I understand where we are and where my team is.”

[warpstriking]

The gesture isn't lost on him, though it has been some time since anyone on Eos has used it. Himself included. Most of the time his retinue simply fistbumped or high fived (Ignis and Prompto would always be the biggest nerds aside from him shh tell no one). He turns; just enough to reciprocate the gesture.

Trust for trust, after all. Besides, his status as the last king of Lucis was the worst kept secret.

"You can count on mine to do what they can as well. Our weapons may be stuck, but that hasn't stopped us before." Haha... ha... He's so glad there aren't any daemons here right now to be all 'bitch, you talking shit? Prepare to get hit'. Peace and freedom, though... Those two words strike home.

"Looks like we have something in common, then." He won't specify, but even without its power, the Ring feels heavier on his hand.

[spaceforged]

“Yeah, sounds like we do.” He doesn’t touch his Bayard again. But the armor and his still tense body say enough. He forces himself to relax again his voice back to the conversational tone from before. “We’re both without our standard arsenal but it hasn’t stopped us either.” It’s nice that the Galra and Druids aren’t here to really screw him over.

His side still burns with remembered agony some nights when he wakes up from a dead sleep. “At least no matter what happens none of us will be on our own.” Even if they could endure like that. Better not to. “...thanks for the help and the trust.” It needed to be said and he ends it with a small tired smile. All he can allow.

[warpstriking]

Noctis simply gives Shiro a knowing look. Yeah, he hit the nail on the head there. Yet it doesn't really need any spoken word. So he nods, humming quietly in affirmation as he lowers his hands into his lap.

...What he would do to have his safe place back again.

Noctis looks out at the lounge, a few stragglers finally poking around. "So long as there are those who keep the light of hope alive, none are ever alone. Even in the darkest of nights." It's... a bit more deep than he usually goes, but it felt right. Just like the faint, tired laugh. "No prob. Just glad I could help." He turns back to Shiro, offering the same tired smile.

[spaceforged]

It's the smile tells him without going into detail that both of them needed this talk. "Funny, I was going to say the same thing." His smile finally reaches his eyes and warms them. Even in the darkest of nights? Well. That must apply to the depths of space as well.

He breathes in deep and lets the wall hold him up. Whatever happened he would find his team. They would be safe. He can trust that if he can't get back to them Keith will make them safe. "well," He can't ignore how tired he feels right now.

All of the adrenaline is draining out. "Looks like we've exhausted most of the worries we can share. We might want to get some rest while we can. Who knows how long we've got until we can get our questions answered." He gives Noctis a knowing look of his own. "If you'd rather one of us stay awake I can do that. I'm still too awake."

[warpstriking]

It certainly did. At least, he hopes that came across in that manner. Noctis rests his head against the wall, eyes already half-lidded closed.

"Guess we'll both just have to be glad for it, then." He says it flatly, like he just doesn't have the energy to seem interested in it any further; but the way his eyebrows raise slightly likely gave away how he really feels about it. He's tired, but amused.

"Ignis'll likely be by soon," he mutters, already hearing the familiar footfalls. "There's no one I trust more." And just like that, the young king is asleep.

[spaceforged]

He notes the name and cross-references it to descriptions. But it sticks in his head that Noctis trusts Ignis wholly and completely. Or at least that's what it sounds like. Noctis is asleep before he can respond in kind, to tell him Keith is who he trusts above all others.

He settles back against the wall and tips his head just enough to listen to the sounds of someone's approach. It seems soon will be much sooner than he guessed. "Alright. Then I'll trust him too."