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

[regalblaze]

These are the events that transpire after everything that happens in Altissia. From the way it sounds, the things only go downhill and Ardyn stops trying to hide his true intentions from them. If Ignis could reach him right now, he'd snap his neck in two.

Thank the Astrals that by the time Noct reaches revealing Ardyn's true name Ignis is done with his tea.

"...how is that possible?" Sorry Noct, you will have to give him proper explanation here.

[warpstriking]

Ignis is asking a lot of him, and a lot of it is really really fresh. So much so that his shoulders are actually trembling in anger to the point where he has to set the remnants of his tea down by his foot so it doesn't spill. Because, if he could?

He would do the same damn thing.

Noctis starts to open his mouth to say something, but while he's accepted his role as king and protector... It's still hard for him to express this. Both because it involves his personal feelings, and because it's something they can't do shit about until they're back. Well, Ignis could. He's a bit stuck at the moment.

"So I..." He stops, shaking his head. He would hug his knees if he could. Instead, he rests his fists on them. Taking a deep breath before beginning again.

"Honestly, I didn't catch all that he said. Even then, I wouldn't trust what he says farther than I could throw him." If the Draconian hadn't corroborated part of it... He frowns, staring down at his fists. "Apparently he tried to heal the Scourge, but it corrupted him. So the Crystal chose another, and he's been plotting vengeance ever since."

Against his family... their family. The gods. The Oracle line... Everyone, really.

[regalblaze]

If he had known he was, Ignis would probably have some tact and not ask. But, this being dropped on him- he can't help but ask about it. So much happened in only two months since Altissia.

He can see the shaking and can't tell whether Noct was angry or sad- maybe it was both of it. Placing a hand on Noct's back and giving him a comforting rub is all Ignis can do for Noctis right now, and here. Wherever this here is.

To think that the prophecy says that Noct has to lay his life to save them from someone like Ardyn, who holds onto a grudge for decades, hating everyone and everything, going against his own blood, killing everything in his path.

"Whatever- whatever Ardyn's plotting, we will stop it." His voice almost breaks because he knows what this entails. How... oh, how he wishes to take Noctis' place in that vision. "We are always of us by your side- Ardyn will never have us. His magic and trickery can't break this bond."

[warpstriking]

It's fine. It's... okay, it isn't fine, but Noctis will deal with it. Like a lot of other things. Their current situation being one of them. Maybe another time he'll finally be up to talking about the rest, but for now he's just... going to try and push it all aside until he can reflect on it alone. Maybe think of a way to manage telling Ignis the rest.

Noct's head ducks down slightly at the comforting touch. It's- almost too much to hope for another way when Bahamut himself has told him of what kind of price must be paid. Yet he says nothing. He can't. Just as he couldn't force himself to put on the Ring on his finger until he was quite literally forced to in order to survive.

The tone of which it's said, however, it gets Noctis to look up- to stare at Ignis for a second. "Iggy..." He inwardly curses, considering he just said Ardyn knocked him out before he woke up here. "I know.... you're right." It's just a lot to take in and now he's fighting to put it on the back burner. Especially in the face of his childhood friend suffering as well. "Holding up okay?"

If Ignis is going to remind him that he can lean on them, he will remind Ignis of the same.

[regalblaze]

Ignis has a lot of inner thoughts and turmoil to deal with- later, when they are not flying, where he can lie down, or sit at the table by himself. Comming to terms with the prophecy will take time, Ignis will never be okay with it.

Slowly, Ignis nods. "Yes. I am alright. Mere flesh wounds will heal fast." The wounds of the heart and soul- not as fast. If ever. Ignis can only hope that the pain will wane a little so he can focus on other stuff as well.

He hisses a bit as he shifts on the cot, trying to get more comfortable. "It was what people call an "uphill battle" to reach you." He sighs softly closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall of the ship. Then looks at Noct again and gives him a small smile.

"If you are two months ahead of my time, it means that my efforts weren't in vain. You're alright."

[warpstriking]

Noct's jaw sets, but he doesn't say a word about the flesh wounds. He can tell something's bugging him, too - more than just what he told him. So he sighs, shaking his head before he turns slightly toward him - careful not to knock over the cup at his feet. This is the first he's really hearing about what happened while he was unconscious. To hear it now, thanks to this situation...

"...Physically." Noct admits, briefly glancing down as he lowers his voice. "But I haven't really, ever since I saw that sick son of a bitch stab Luna."

Not to mention waking up to see Ignis injured, and unable to mend.

[regalblaze]

Bringing up the prophecy right now won't be a good thing. He will, however, definitively bring it up once they find their bearings. That's the least he can do because, to be honest, he has no idea what to do.

Lady Lunafreya... Ignis doubts that such wound would heal. Passing of time might only ease it ever so slightly but it will always remain open.

"...I'm sorry. By the time I, we, arrived, Lady Lunafreya had already passed." There is a pause where he ponders if he should bring up Ravus. Noct was passed out so he doesn't know.

[warpstriking]

"...'We'?" Noctis asks, raising an eyebrow. Who the hell was Ignis with when he reached the Altar? Not Gladio and Prompto, right? Because he doubts Prompto would be able to even keep what happened a secret.

[regalblaze]

There was a loud pounding in his head as Ignis recalled what happened just mere moments ago. Or what it seemed it happened mere moments ago.

"I- when I was on my way to you, I ran into Ravus." He doesn't have to explain who he is, Noct knows that.

"He was on his way to retrieve Lady Lunafreya. We didn't get along but we had the same goal. He called off most of the Magitek army. I don't think I would've arrived before Ardyn without his help."

[warpstriking]

For a brief moment, Noct's eyes widen. What the hell? Well, it does make sense that Ravus would go after Luna; they're the only family the other had left. Still, he has to fight to keep the image of Ravus lying lifelessly on the ground, surrounded by letters he'd written to Luna, his prosthetic arm lying on his chest with the Sword he held for him sticking from the ground.

Not to mention the daemonified form on the ground, still smoking...

"Oh," he grimaces. Ravus couldn't have taken the loss well. Really, though- what does he say to that?

[regalblaze]

"It is surprising, I know. I was surprised as well."

He doesn't need to bring up that Ravus lost it when he saw Lady Lunafreya dead. It was pain and anger, Ignis doesn't blame the man for it. He, too, probably would've reacted the same had Noct--

He just hopes he's alright. Everything's too fuzzy for him right now.

[warpstriking]

He picks up the cup at his feet, subtly covers it with a hand and tries to bless the remains of his tea. But nothing happens. Nothing happens, just like when he tried to back in the lounge. He shakes his head, wanting to do at least something. Yet nothing he tries works. He can't even pull out a potion.

So he just- takes a sip before setting the cup down again. This was the most basic skill his family's magic had... So what is he going to do if he can't even help keep his friends on their feet?

...Keep moving forward. It is all they can do, but he doesn't want to at Ignis' expense. "Feel like you can walk?" No pressure. He can wait a little longer if Ignis needs a bit more time.

[regalblaze]

There is a heavy pang in Ignis' chest when he sees Noct trying to bless the tea. No magic, means no weapons, no potions, no protection. What are they going to do, damn it all?! Is it not enough for destiny to take Noct's life? Why does it have to torture him like this?!

Ignis finally collects himself, the sight of Noct on the edge, tired and suffering finally kicking him into motion. He doesn't want to be one more reason for Noct's suffering.

"It will be no problem at all," Ignis says with confidence. More confidence than he actually feels. "Where to?"

[warpstriking]

Apparently he's not the only one who can't use their skills, either. He had a little bit of a chat with someone about their inability to call their weapons. Which is why he took so long, really. Still, he sighs.

He... wants nothing more than to go back to sleep, but he's way too keyed up to even try right now. Even if it would make the trip to wherever the hell they're being taken to that much faster.

"Figure we might as well start looking." Again, for him. "And don't push yourself too hard."

He won't be any good to him with his face on the floor. He stands, holding out a hand to his brother in all but blood. He can lean on him if Ignis needs to. At any point. No judging.

[regalblaze]

"Good idea," Ignis agrees. Taking a look at the people in the infirmary, it's easy to come to the conclusion that they don't know anything about what is going on. Which is why their search begins beyond the walls of the infirmary.

"And do not worry, I took a breather," Ignis gives Noct a smile but accepts the offered hand all the same. He's still swaying a bit, but he's too resolved to be Noct's support through and through.

"Let's go. Maybe we could find a map of the ship or something else that could help us."

[warpstriking]

"You do realize that means I'll just worry more, right?" Noctis teased lightly, helping to steady him before letting go of Ignis' hand. A faint light of amusement finally sparking in those tired eyes of his. "Still got your spare pair, Sergeant No Specs?"

Astrals, he hasn't used that one in a while. Yet it feels good; being able to joke like they used to. And no, he's never going to forget the Black Chocobo Incident.

[regalblaze]

"If telling you not to worry makes you worry more, then I make a very bad advisor, your Hi-" Ignis starts but then cuts himself off. It probably won't be wise to use his title like this around strangers.

"Noct. And, I'm afraid, I left my spare pair in the other jacket." The nickname makes Ignis crack a smile though. The 'incident' remains in a fond memory though. And it makes Ignis be very careful around black chocobos.

[warpstriking]

That little slip up causes Noctis' eyebrows to raise slightly out of sight behind his bangs. Before he chuckles. It's quiet, and likely shows how tired he is, but it's there.

"I was gonna ask what happened to your jacket and driving gloves, but..." It didn't seem appropriate, given how he said it'd been an uphill battle to get to him. "Guess we're gonna have to get you some new ones, then."

It'll be something to worry about later, though. Once they have their bearings and maybe some info. He gives one more glance around the infirmary, before gesturing over his shoulder. "Lounge is this way."