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

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas still doesn't stir even as Midna moves onto the crate and places a hand on him. His breathing is a little labored—but he's breathing. He's no unbreathing vampire or wendigo here. It shouldn't be cause for alarm, if anything he just looks a little uncomfortable from being plucked out of space and placed on a high speed vehicle.

But then something behind him moves along the floor, too quick for Midna to see, something heavy. It makes a swishing sound as it slides across the floor, like something being dragged. Fortunately, she won't have to wait long to see what exactly made that sound.

Because when Dylas finally does stir, his hair moves enough for his ears to be more visible. And the blanket falls from his shoulders, revealing that his arms have a trail of dark grey scales leading up to his shoulder, hidden by his shirt.]

...Who let a baby in here? You shouldn't...be in here.

[He lazily stretches, his body shifting beneath the blanket. As Midna's eyes are no doubt drawn downward at the massive size of Dylas' body shifting with him, the reason for the scales becomes quite apparent. He is not a horse. He is not a deer. Dylas is a snake. And this room is a little too cold for him.]

Are you real?

[fusedshadows]

( there's surprise, maybe shock is more apt, as soon as that tail reveals itself. she backs away almost immediately, too confused at first for one of her trademark cutting replies to that extremely rude comment!

but that passes quickly, it's dylas still, just... changed somehow. she knew all about change, and so, her focus is first on making her displeasure known. ) Who are you calling a baby?! And of course I'm real!

( was it too dark in here for him to recognize her or something? she scoffs, obviously annoyed by his reaction, but at the same time... worried. although she's indignantly crossed her arms across her small chest, she's looking over her shoulder with a narrowing eye. )

What's happened to you?

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas is used to people backing away when they see him. Months ago, he'd followed a voice in the mountains and ended up with his bones crushed, reshaped from a Wendigo to a Naga. Either form is terrifying, unpleasing. But somehow? It feels a little less disheartening here, because he is clearly staring at what seems to be some kind of gremlin toddler.]

It's my bad, kid. [Except he doesn't sound apologetic.] Is your mom somewhere nearby? And did she forget to give you clothes?

[But even now he has an inkling that he's not speaking to an actual child. He's just not in the mood to put up with anyone, not when another patch of turbulence makes his stomach churn and he has to grip the crate harder.]

Urk. What are you talking about? I'm fine. And what are you doing here?

[fusedshadows]

K-kid?! ( oh my god, why are you doing this. all of this is bad coming from anyone, it's beyond worse coming from dylas, though! her cheeks are nearly burning, he knows how much she loathes this shape! oooh, he had better be in the infirmary for good reason, or else she was set to give him one!

thank you mother nature, for that well-deserved kick of motion sickness. he deserved it, regardless of his sudden transformation into half of a serpent. )

What's wrong with you?! Stop joking around, this isn't the time!

[sullenstallion]

Only a kid would look that upset over being called a kid.

[He states it so simply, so matter-of-factly. He's not amused. To Midna, his voice carries the same lack of emotion and irritation that he defaults to using with strangers. Always aloof, it had taken months for him to start using a different voice with Midna, one that was warmer.

This Dylas, still the same Dylas from Ryslig but without memories of a world where he was hailed as a hero, only eyes Midna with the same amount of adoration he'd give to a fly buzzing around his scaly, pointed ears.]

What? Me? You're the one who needs to knock it off! Why the hell are you bothering me?!

[At the last question, his anger gets the best of him and serpentine fangs shoot out from his gums, monster instinct mixing with his frustration.]

[fusedshadows]

( there's a marked pause. she's staring down those fangs, and although she's not frightened, it's one of those few moments she's found herself speechless. slowly, a look of surprised contorted with frustration— and hurt. )

Oh, am I bothering you, now? ( she's so, so offended. by all of this. not to mention she doesn't particularly care for that tone he was using, either. sure, dylas could be grumpy but never... it never felt like this before.

there was something so distant about the way he spoke. normally her skin was thicker, at least with strangers but to hear him of all people say these things... ) This new form seems to have rattled something loose in your head instead of the tail!

[sullenstallion]

[If it weren't for the giant crate in front of him, he would've curled on himself by now. He doesn't understand why this tiny demon girl would be so insistent on his attention. Hadn't his little barricade proved that he wanted to be left alone?]

Actually, you've been bothering me since the beginning. [He lifts off of the crate, and when he moves his torso the rest of his tail moves with him. It's a lot more effort than simply standing is.

But he stops once he's 'standing.' He's still tall, but he no longer holds himself at a height Midna would be familiar with. And what did she just say?] ...How did you know this wasn't what I looked like before? Who the hell are you!?

[It's his turn to look a little afraid. Or freaked out, surprised. It's as hard to read on his expression as it is for him to figure out which emotion he's feeling himself. Whatever feeling it is, though, it flashes across his face in a strange panic.]

[fusedshadows]

( there's a visible wince as he starts into her. a sharp, hollow pain in her chest as she watched him move— taking a step backwards while her brow skewed upwards in confusion.
and all the air left her lungs all at once. )

Who am—...

( her eye is wide, glued to him, searching his familiar-yet-different face for a trace of anything, of the affection that she had always found there since that day...
a partially opened mouth moves slowly, soundlessly at first, until the words finally come. )

Dylas... you— know me, don't you? ( and then, more pressingly— ) Don't you?!

[sullenstallion]

[She knows his name. He stares down at her intently. His eyes, once golden and filled with pride, are now unfamiliar reptilian slits. He searches his mind for any sort of answer. Is she from Ryslig? Is she from Selphia? He can't know for sure, because he just doesn't know.]

What are you getting at? I've never seen you before in my life.

[Or his death. Or his second life. He's heard that dying sometimes messes with memories—but it hasn't happened enough to him. He can still remember Margaret, Porcoline, Doug, the Earthmate. He can still remember his last day in Selphia, his last days before the Change, his days as a Wendigo, his nightmare of becoming a snake.

But he can't remember her. And he can't pick up on how devastating that is to her either. Instead of apologizing, he keeps staring, muscles tense like she's someone to be feared instead of apologized to.]

How do you know my name?

[fusedshadows]

( a small hand moves to grip at her chest, moving another half-step away. fate had been cruel to take away her kingdom, even her own physical form... it had been unfunny to drop her into a different world than the one she had come to know.
but in taking dylas from her... it had been merciless. )

I...

( her eye closes, squeezing shut as she bares her teeth for a moment, then bows her head. that arm pressed against her body falls to the side. )

It's not funny. ( her voice is low, and hesitant as she starts. but her words gain momentum as she continues... ) Are you telling me you don't remember anything that's happened...? Crystallis, our home... your shadow, Snowpeak... Ales! And our—! ( her teeth clench again, as she cuts herself off. )

[sullenstallion]

[Dylas, up until now, had been watching Midna mostly with disinterest or with accusatory glaring. He's been looking past her, or seeing her as a nuisance and not a person. Who would look at this floating baby and think 'person' before nuisance, anyways?

But when her hands fall to her side, he feels a pang of guilt in his stomach. He immediately berates himself for it. Why is this girl so intent on talking to him, saying so many phrases he doesn't recognize? She knows his name. She knows something.]

I'm the one who should be saying that. It isn't funny.

[He turns more to face her, his hair falling with him as he turns. His ears don't flick or twitch like they used to. His eyes are narrow, reptilian slits. It makes his face harder to read than ever before, but someone like Midna can tell his face isn't getting any softer, any more sympathetic.]

I don't know what you're talking about. If you're going to upset yourself, find someone else to talk to.

[fusedshadows]

( 'i don't know what you're talking about'
'find someone else'

midna kept her head bowed, trying to process all of this to the best of her ability. this was dylas but... it wasn't. it was the man that she had come to love and care for but... not at all the same. the way that he spoke, the way that he looked at her... it was all different.
it was all horrible.

in a low, flat voice, she had to ask. she had to know what's real and what isn't about him— ) The place you were before this... it was Ryslig, wasn't it?

[sullenstallion]

[His eyebrows lift at that comment, and his head follows. As much as he'd like to keep resting against his arms like a lazy snake-man, he just can't after that.]

That's right. How did you...

[His brow furrows. If she weren't an evil toddler, he might've grabbed her. The thought crosses his mind. It's been about a week since he's eaten, anyways.]

You must have had some shitty luck, ending up like that. You...some kind of demon or something?