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

Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

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[ The long, awkward pause was enough for Hunk to regain the composure that was so forcefully stolen from him, and as soon as he saw Makoto fumbling, he scrambled back to his feet, determined to save the day... that he endangered. ]

No no no, you just caught me by surprise and I'm a nervous guy! [ He puts a hand up in a dismissive sort of gesture and laughs like that hand just got caught in the cookie jar, and his tone is jovial again. ]

I've seen cat people, snail people, bug people, fish people, giant tardigrades... [ He's contemplative for a moment to double-check his memory, but his casual air continues. ] And most of those have tried to kill me, so the fact that you're not is huge points in your favor.

[ The hand comes down for a handshake, and Hunk resists the urge to baby-talk this large dog-man into shaking hands with him. That would be so rude. ]

I'm Hunk.

And after seein' all that, you end up bein' afraid of me?! [He didn't know whether he should feel insulted or weirdly flattered by that. The heck did this guy even do that made him so many enemies?

Well, the whole screaming part might've been new, but this wasn't the first time today that Red had gotten some odd reactions to his being- apparently- the sole bipedal canine most of the new arrivals had seen. He waved off Makoto's wordfumbling.]

I ain't used to havin' humans around, either, so we can all be weirded out together.

[With that, his hand dropped down to take a hold of Hunk's. He'd actually be some kind of monster if he just left the poor guy hanging.]

Red Savarin, hunter-for-hire.

[Oh shoot, he heard her grumbling. Well, of course he did. Dogs did have good hearing, didn't they? She's just going to have to be extra careful.]

R-Right. Um.... [She stood up, straightening out her jacket as she did.] My name is Makoto Niijima. Its very nice to meet you, Savarin-san. [She gave him a soft bow before sitting back down.]

Um... w-we were talking about traveling new worlds. Have you traveled to different places like this too?

[ Hunk wanted to point out that he wasn't afraid, he was surprised, startled at best, but... the chance passed before he could interject. He shrugged it off, because he was far more interested in Red and wherever he came from, because there's no way dog-people are from Earth! ]

Nice to actually meet you, Red! [ He grins, letting that handshake go and switching right to a totally cool, not scared thumbs up. ] And I gotta ask, if you haven't been around humans, what kinds of people were you around?

[What strangely different names, too; they were probably from other worlds than each other, themselves.] Nothin' you could really call 'new worlds', just goin' above and below the clouds-- s'not somethin' most people in my world can say they've done. I don't usually even get a chance to see under 'em like this.

[He took a second to adjust the bone in his mouth.] And I lived with others like me! Think you'd probably call us 'dog people.' And 'cat people.' Livin' together. [Mass hysteria!]

Wait, does that mean the two of you HAVE been to 'new worlds' before?

[Makoto's imagination swims of the possibility of cat-people like Red. She wondered if Morgana would be more comfortable there?]

Oh, so your people live above the clouds most of the time? Wait... [Realization.] Does that mean you live on floating islands??

[That's another part to add to the visual image. Its not for long as she remembered the next part of the conversation.]

O-Oh... well, I've only been to one world [technically], but Hunk-san here was telling me that he goes visit other planets in space. He even says he has seen another universe.

[ Red's cat people are probably better than the Galra. Or, well, most of the Galra. Keith is alright. But floating islands? Seas of clouds? ]

Makoto-san's right, I've spent a lot of time travelling between the stars in my... [ He grins, assuming and hoping it'll sound cool as he dons a casual, nonchalant tone. ] Ancient flying lion warship. Me and my friends live in a giant intergalactic space castle fighting evil. It's pretty neat. But!

[ He points a hand at Red again. ] Red, your home sounds fascinating. Nothing I've seen in space can compare with floating continents [ That's physics's fault. Ugh, gravity. ] and I'm pretty sure nothing from Earth, where Makoto and I are from, could come close in a billion years!

Yeah! Floating islands. ...Well, I live on an airship, but it's a lot nicer than thi--

...Ancient flying lion warship?? [You have his full and undivided attention. Sure, he's all read up on the likes of Narupo, Loufok Holmes, and Lupin, but... nothing quite like what he was hearing now.] Out in space? And an other universe?! You're like somethin' outta a comic book!

[...And yet for all his excitement, for all his eagerness, there was a near-conspicuous halt, a sudden smack-in-the-face of wincing tension at Hunk's last few words. Red actually had to ruminate on his response for a few seconds.]

...Ha-hah... yeah, I guess not.

[Makoto chuckled lightly.] Compared to you both my life seems so ordinary. Giant space lions... islands in the sky? It sounds like stuff of dreams.

[She readdresses the both of them.] Not that I mind. I'm finding the stories I've been hearing fascinating, but I think I wouldn't want to leave where and when I am from if I was given the choice. Home is home, no matter how far away you end up from it. I just hope I'm not boring you both.

Boring?! [ Hunk sounded absolutely insulted, and his face showed offense. ] You're out of your mind, Makoto! ...San! Talking with you about Earth is like a literal time machine and that's just as much the stuff of dreams as the stuff we've talked about.

[ He catches himself for a moment, and sheepishly scratches at the back of his neck. ] Well, at least for me, I can't even try to speak for Red!

[ But he furrows his brow again. ] So give yourself and your world some credit! Earth is awesome! [ And then the huffy scowl melts back into a smile and laugh. ]

Because let's be honest, normal is probably great for Red, since he doesn't know much about humans! Or about how our continents are stuck to the surface, surrounded by giant salt water oceans, and how the clouds are so far above us we need aircraft to touch them. I bet he has a ton of other questions, and that's on you, Earthling-san. [ And then he gives her some finger-guns for jovial emphasis! ]

Hunk's right-- this is all as new to me as an airship probably is to you. Besides, I'm sure there must've been some great adventures to come from wherever you'd call home, right?

[Besides, she was taking all of this quite well for someone who claimed to have lived a boring life.]

Besides, it looks like we're not gonna be landin' any time soon. Why don'cha tell us what it was like back where you came from, Makotosan?

O-Oh... Earthling-san? [Her eyes widened. She didn't expect to actually have the spotlight put onto her like that.]

Um... [Thinking fast, she decided to go back to what she remembered at school.] The Shiuya District of Tokyo is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, the biggest city of Japan. Um... it has a population of over 200,000 people, so that's a lot.

[She started to kick her feet out a little.] Its a big city. There's a lot of fashion, stores, movie theaters, shrines, and even a theme park or two. The main square has some pretty tall buildings... I think the tallest was the Shibuya Hikaire which was um... 180 meters. But most of the buildings aren't nearly as big as that.

But as for me, most of my time was spent going to school, working on my duties as student council president, and getting ready for entrance exams. Pretty normal, really. [Normal save the part where she's moonlighting as a Phantom Thief and entering into the subconscious worlds of criminals to steal their corrupted hearts, heh.] The furthest I ever went was a school trip to Hawaii -- er, a tropical island way out in the middle of the ocean.

[ Hunk stood, mouth agape, as Makoto pulled his imagination back in time. He wasn't actually sure if 200,000 was a large population for an area, but everything he knew about Tokyo made him think it was. Theme parks just in the city? It sounded like a fun place, but really noisy. And as much as he wants to ask about the Hawaii of the past, he'd just compare it to the Samoa of the future, which would get awkward. ]

For a normal person, you're handling all this really well, Madame President! [ He smiles and shoots her a look that's completely, unabashedly impressed. ] I mean, I was a student at the Galaxy Garrison, which is a military academy and far from normal, and the first time this happened to me I did not handle it well.

[ A lot of vomit, screaming, crying, terror. Kind of like now but... probably worse. ]

Two hundred thousand people in one city?! That's insane!! That's gotta be either enormous or really, reallt cramped. [No wonder she's keeping her cool with all of this-- just imagine the air traffic involved! Heck, imagine just walking down to the store for a loaf of bread...!]

At least if you two are comin' here from school you're probably gonna get a chance to enjoy a nice, long vacation. ...If fightin' monsters could even be called a 'vacation.'

Sounds like Hunk here's used to havin' to fight off enemies, though; you think you're gonna be okay here, Makotosan?

Oh... you're worried about me, Savarin-san? That's sweet. [She smiles genuinely, reaching a hand across her ear.]

I think I should be fine. [Though she suspects that 'I fight manifestation of human psyche' may not be the best answer.]] As you mentioned, the streets can be really cramped and not everybody has the best of intentions. Its not uncommon for people in my world to know how to defend themselves. I myself have practiced Akido, som I'm pretty good with my legs and fists.

I'm not sure if I'm going to look at this as a vacation though. [She raises a hand to think.] I don't suppose you two have somebody that you're hoping to find here? A... friend? Or perhaps family?

I know I'm looking at this like a vacation. [ He laughs, though by the end it trails off into something a bit less comfortable. ] War is exhausting. The worst part is I don't even know how long I've been out in the stars- they probably flunked me out of school!

[ He laughs again, because Makoto does not look like the sort to throw a mean punch. Hunk does but isn't, which makes it even funnier. ] Aikido is cool! The closest I've gotten is a flying shoulder drop on an enemy commander, but my buddy Shiro is really good with his fists.

[ Then he starts making a few played up punch and kick motions, with noises somewhere between "electronic humming," "explosion," and "punch noise." And then he stops and looks at Makoto and Red as if this is entirely normal. He does entirely sidestep the question about his friends, aside from the mention of Shiro. ] What about you, Red?

Hey, like it or not, we're all in this together now, right? [His jaw clamped down on his bone in a toothy grin in their direction.] But it sounds like you two aren't gonna be totally helpless out there. Whoever's doin' this sure can pick 'em, huh?

[...But Hunk's question left him blinking, and seemingly sputtering in his thoughts. Blowing a sigh out through his nose, Red slumped back against the window, a hand reached up to scratch under his cap.]

Wouldn't mind seein' Cho--... seein' my sister here, but I wouldn't want her gettin' herself hurt either. My best friend could probably take care of herself, though...

...but what I'd really like is for my mecha to make its way through! I can fight on foot if I have to, but the whole time my hands are gonna be itching for a set of controls to grab!

Well that depends. [Despite the sound effects (or maybe because of them), Makoto turned her attention to Hunk. She was student council president, after all, and her authoritative nature was starting to leak through.] Have you been keeping up with your studies, Hunk-san? I'm pretty sure that there is going to be quite the mountain in front of you once you get back.

[With those ominous words to hopefully hang over Hunk's head, she returns to Red.] So you ride a giant machine, Red-san? What type of mecha is it? Is it humanoid, or one of those giant machines that can transform to multiple things?

[ Hunk lets out a dismissive "ehh" sound, complete with matching hand gesture. ] I think I'll be fine, Makoto-san. With all the stuff I've seen and done, I could probably teach the teachers! [ He's earnest about that declaration. Then he starts absentmindedly counting off on his fingers. Making first contact with multiple alien species, inspiring universe-wide rebellion... ]

Y'know Makoto-san if you start falling behind on your studies, I could help you out. [ ...hacking a robot to teach it to have fun, journeying into a planet-killing space worm to harvest fart crystals... ]

And Red, transforming robots are the coolest, mine's a leg. Can yours transform? [ ...that time he interned at a space mall food court, and, oh, right, piloting the Yellow Lion. He stops counting. ]

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TEST DRIVE MEME

this thread is a gift

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(Sorry for the delay- last few days got hectic IRL)

(s'fine~)

(long as you're good, yo!)

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