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

E

[warpstriking]

Noctis couldn't help it. He chuckled at the older man, leaning against his own saddled chocobo as it quietly dozed behind him. Clearly doing what he normally does and napping through the worst parts of the ordeal. Not even the loud hiss seemed to startle it.

And, had it been anyone else, Noctis would have been asleep still, too.

"Good to know the love of these guys didn't skip a generation." Why, yes. The young king certainly is teasing a certain someone. Not that it was in doubt, honestly. It had to come from somewhere if both Gladio and Iris were fond of these trusty steeds. Gladio to the point of almost going soft. Ahh, good times.

[lordshield]

The older man rolled his eyes as he finally pulled himself up into the saddle, giving Noctis a mock-rueful look. Noctis had a very obedient chocobo, and less gear than Clarus. That was just fine with the Shield, though. He’d chosen the chocobo he had for her spirit, not her obedience. He liked a fiery steed. They were excellent battle companions if trained properly.

“From where did you suppose Gladiolus and Iris gained their appreciation? Certainly not their mother.” Not that she’d disliked chocobos, Clarus had just held a special love for the birds from boyhood that he had tried to impart on his offspring. He leaned back to check the contents of one of his saddlebags. “Did you remember to pack rations for the trip?”

Noctis wasn’t his son, but Clarus would never stop being a father or a military commander. Troops must be prepared and ready at all times. “And spare potions. And greens for you chocobo?” Forgive him, Noct. The last time he saw you, you were green to being prepared for the outside world.

[warpstriking]

Noctis finally stood up, stretching as he tried to ignore the look Clarus gave him. He didn't particularly care when selecting his own chocobo; the bird had just waltzed up to him. The fact he'd also confused Prompto's hair for food was a bonus.

"I don't know, their grandmother?" He's only kidding; if that faint smirk was anything to go by. The question gets a quick roll of the eyes - once his back is turned, obviously. Astrals, it was almost as if he were back on the royal vessel and a certain someone harping at him applying sunscreen or not. "Yes, Clarus..."

He sighed, patting his chocobo on the neck. "Alright, up you go," he said, as the chocobo opened one eye and kwehed sleepily. Slowly moving to its claws. "That's a good boy." Noctis grinned, stroking his soft feathers before taking hold of the reins and hopping onto his back.

[lordshield]

And someone had Regis the same sort of thing on the same boat thirty years prior, though it hadn’t been Clarus. The prince had a steward just like Noctis did, but a turn of fates caused Weskham to take his leave from the group, and Clarus had been made to take the role of Hand and Shield and Regis’s well-being was in his hands. Then years later he’d become a father, and then the world had taken his wife from him and once again he’d needed to step into a role he wasn’t ready for. Years of practice made a habit, and old habits die hard as they say. Acting the parental role was hard-wired into him now.

“You’ve found a chocobo as lazy as you,” he teased. “Remember the old saying: spare the rod, spoil the chick. Keep him on his toes so he can best serve you.”

Noctis being present was a relief to Clarus. The prince gave him purpose and direction. He could protect the young man, even if it wasn’t in an official capacity, and he’d feel as though he were actually doing something with himself. Of course he planned to get a job in public service here eventually, but for now he wanted to see Noctis safe and acclimated. His own comfort would come with the young man’s.

“What do you hope to accomplish today?” He asked, drawing the conversation back to serious, focusing on the goal and task ahead of them.

[warpstriking]

Funny how all these parallels just kept happening despite the odds. He wasn't even going to bother to tell Clarus to relax; not when they were going to venture into unknown — to them — territory. Yet if Clarus actually took a second, he'd note that his posture and how he held onto the reins bespoke of how many times he'd ridden before. Though he couldn't help but wonder.

"I do hope you didn't give the same advice to Gladio." He chuckled. "If so? Never followed it."

He smirked, obviously kidding. Still, he felt the need to at least keep the tone of conversation light. Especially as he still bore a certain ring on his finger for fear of otherwise losing it. At least, until that question was asked.

"Exploration," he admitted. Well, mostly. Though he'd hardly admit part of it was also a need to simply... stop thinking about everything else for a while and focus on their new surroundings. "What better way to learn the lay of the land than on the back of a chocobo?"

And if they find a fishing hole? It'd be an awesome bonus.

[lordshield]

"Are you referring to how he treats chocobos, or how he treated you?" Clarus asked, raising an eyebrow with an amused look. "Because if it's the former, then I'm afraid my fondness for the birds bled through more than I thought. And if it's the latter... Then I have no idea where I went wrong."

Never let it be said Lord Amicitia was without humor. He just kept it hidden except in certain company. Regis had seen plenty of it over the decades, Noctis wouldn't be unfamiliar with it either, seeing as Clarus had been present his whole life.

"An excellent plan," he agreed with a nod. "Since they don't seem to have cars here..."