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

[chaoslabyrinthos]

[Asterios wasn't sure if the mail actually belonged to the girl- the letters on the envelope were so delicate and small, and he's never actually sent or received a letter, so it's all very abstract to him- so he's relieved when she takes it. He smiles, an expression that always looks crazy and at least a little terrifying on his face.]

I...help...Kupalye.

[The moogle in question turns away from waving a third moogle down from the sky to join the party.]

Yes, we made him an honorary moogle for the day, kupo. If you have any messages that need delivering, Asterios can do it, kupo.

Mmh. [Asterios grunts in assent Helping is good, and it means he won't be alone. At least the moogles who are currently hitching a ride can't see his unintentionally-scary grin.]

[euphemia]

[ She really didn't have a choice but to assume it was. That, and he seemed to have stopped conveniently enough where she was presently located. She can only assume it must be for her. Nevertheless, she takes a moment to look through the letters just in case one happened to be someone else's. And sure enough, perhaps three of them were not hers at all.

With a nervous smile, she hands the remaining letters back over. ]

He's ... quite the Moogle! No, I don't think I have any letters to deliver at this time—ah. Well, actually ... if you would be so kind as to deliver this to the addressed name? It's from my brother, Lelouch.

[ With the network down, communicating by letter was literally forced. How convenient that she had one to send off by her brother. Now it might reach the recipient twice as fast. Or so she hoped. Again, a look is spared to the ... rather large Moogle. ]

Does he have a Moogle name, too?

[chaoslabyrinthos]

[Kupalye the moogle seems to have zero qualms about talking about the new arrival she's supposed to be assisting like he'd not there. Probably not surprising for someone who decided to use said new arrival as a pack-animal so she wouldn't tire herself out delivering messages.]

No, he won't let me change his name, kupo. It's the only thing he won't do, even though Mogsterios is a much better name, kupo.

[Asterios, meanwhile, has taken this misdelivered letters back from the young woman and studies them.]

Brother...Lelouch... [The letters do look different on this one. He should be able to find Brother Lelouch. He would smell like his sister, probably. With that decided, Asterios tunes back in to the conversation taking place about him.]

I am Asterios. No other name. [This is the one thing he will take a firm stand on. The name is what separates him from the monster, Minotaur, and he will not surrender it even if his bossy moogle tells him to.]

You...have...a name...too?

[euphemia]

Oh my... [ Intimidating was probably an understatement to describe both how she felt and the appearance of the honorary moogle. It was a test on her ability to keep a measured composure in the face of things she didn’t quite understand. This wasn’t the first time since arriving here, but her reaction remained the same. Shock, uncertainty, and a touch of curiosity. It was the curiosity period that’s kept her feet grounded despite how much she wanted to cower back. Especially with the way he addressed his name. There was absolutely no room to call him anything else, not that she intended to. She absolutely wouldn’t now if ever going forward ]

Ah, m-my name? Oh! How terribly rude of me. [ She laughs sheepishly. ] I’m Euphemia [ No Britannia. No Princess. All those titles were unimportant here and irrelevant as far as she was concerned. ] It’s very lovely to meet you uhm... Asterios. A lovely name.