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!

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Ira Nakagawa (Riku Replica) | Kingdom Hearts | CRAU

[acceptedlife]

A. Retrieval (Warning for PTSD, mentions of horror and psychological torture)
[The scent of recycled air is the first that gets his attention. His sense of smell had always been the strongest, followed by hearing - and what he hears as he begins awaken begins to send a wave of panic through him as it sinks in. Aqua-green eyes open wide behind long silver locks that are only held back by a now rather messy pony tail; he hisses at the sudden shift in light and white surroundings, finding himself squinting as he shoots up straight on the cot he finds himself on. Not a bed, not a pod- That takes a moment to register as he grips the sides of the piece of furniture tightly with both hands as he tries to quell the terror and panic in his heart.

-I saved you. Let's be happy here-

No, no, no, no no. This isn't there. This is not the Tower; where he has to remind himself that he wanted to be. He wants to save those he can still hear in the back of his head, chastising him for being alive when they aren't. Can still see their blackened silhouettes and large grinning mouths.

He... He should be over this by now. Shouldn't affect him nearly as badly as it is. It's been years, so why is he...?

He shouldn't be here... He shouldn't be here...!

The young man swings his legs over the side, but doesn't bother to move just yet. Instead burying his face in his hands as he works to get his breathing under control. He- he needs to calm down. Think rationally about this and find out where he is, and yet, all he can think of is-]

Nngh, not again...

B. Roommates

["We don't know why"... "New home"... Well, it beat the initial fears that he had when he awoke. No destroyed worlds, no world destruction... It sounds far too good to be true. Especially with the name of the center in the first place, not to mention all the major locations (and even some minor ones). Regardless, he can't help but be a little apprehensive despite what they say.

It's just not in his nature to simply believe what he's told. It has to be proven.

Yet, it isn't something to take out on the poor fool who got dragged here too and will have to live with his low-key anxiety being a constant. Years of fighting against the powers that be will do that to anyone, but especially someone who, while they may look like they're in their early twenties, is only really eight years old. And he didn't even get to really experience five of those years.

So, he at least offers a hand to this poor unfortunate soul. Coupled with the faintest of wry smiles.]

Ira Nakagawa. I hope we can get along for however long this lasts.

[The living arrangement, or their stay here on this world. Either one, really. Who the hell knew what was really going to happen the next day?]

D. Guilds

[A Job system in and of itself wasn't really a new concept for him; he had, after all, spent most of his life using Jobs back on Crystallis. Guilds, on the other hand...

Ira can't help but be taken in fascination at the sight at each one, though he doesn't so much as approach to obtain an asterisk at any of them. Except, for Ninja and White Mage. Because he remembers, still wears that bracer that Mary had given him when they parted. Knows just how poorly things could go south without a healer.

And there was no. way. he was going to touch Chemist. Nothing against them, but he just can't handle it. Knowing what he did of his past from documents and brief glimpses of a fragmented memory here and there. He just can't do it.]

C/E. Airship Adventure!!

[When he saw the names of the towns and sights back at the center, he couldn't help but want to see all the places named after those he knew. Especially the city named after his mother and father. So, there he stood on the deck of the airship, overlooking the sight of the city of Nakagawa. A smile etched on his face as he took in the colors and natural beauty as they drew closer.]

She'd love to see this place...

[It was right up her alley, and that little charm and necklace he wore around his neck felt just that little bit warmer as he absentmindedly brushes a fingertip against its surface.]

1 - I hope this is ok.

[almostbrokeworld]

[Once she's over the mind-numbing terror of the silence at the back of her brain -and it was Silent. Still. Unnatural and terrifying and - She doesn't want to dwell on it. At All. But she does for a little bit.

Just a bit, before she's up and moving, anything to distract herself from her own worries, because if she thinks too long on it, if she stares too long at the abyss, it will stare back.

Besides, she knows what an upset person looks like, even if she's not sure why (or why that bothers her, but that's a problem(?) for Another Time) and she wants to help.So. One tiny almost ten-year-old is going to try and help.]

Did you have a nightmare?

[Her English is most definitely accented.]

<3

[acceptedlife]

[Ira doesn't acknowledge the tiny footsteps at first, still reeling and trying to calm himself down - never an easy task, for someone who knew nothing but anger and jealousy for so much of his life. Yet at the tiny voice, the apparent twenty-one year old looks up and-

...A kid. Whatever brought them here has dragged a little kid along, and she doesn't look much older than he actually is.

Something twists in his gut at the thought, something sickening that he thought he'd long since forgotten, but there it is. Despite it, he manages a wry smile. Trying to be reassuring.]

Something like that.

[Accent or no, it's better than this one girl he remembers vaguely. It's been so long ago, but he remembers how hard it was to really parse what she'd say. This girl, though - not so much.]

<3

[almostbrokeworld]

Oh... [Even if his attempt wasn't the best, she still grins back at him, even as she cocks her head to the right, and for the briefest second, confusion crosses her face, before she nods, seemingly settled on something.] Nightmares are like Xibalba. But... you can make them go away, even a little. Do you wanna know how?

C/E :3

[regalblaze]

[Ignis has been taking up random missions that would take him all over this new world. Knowing nothing about it, he wanted to gather as much information as he could, and what better way to do it than to visit new towns and places. If he was going to plan their return back home, he might as well start immediately.

The trip to the new place, however, is taking some time and Ignis is walking around the deck idly, a cup of coffee in his hand. He stared at the scenery below them, slightly impressed. He didn't plan to listen in on the guy, talking to himself possibly, but. It happened. He feels as if he's invading personal space but- curiosity.]

A friend?

[acceptedlife]

[Ira blinks, honestly not expecting someone to speak up, but, well. His own magic was muted again, and with it, his full ability to sense others around him. Though if he minds the sudden company, he certainly doesn't seem to show it. Probably because it's one of the few times he's been in a decent mood since they arrived.]

My mother, actually. [He glances over to the stranger, before looking back to the city on the horizon.] Pretty sure it was named after her, like some lake on the other side of the world was after me.

[regalblaze]

[Ignis usually wouldn't be the one to strike up a conversation with strangers. However, it seemed like a good thing to do while waiting for the ship to land.

But- that piqued Ignis' interest. A town named after his mother? And a lake named after him? This is too peculiar. Is he-]

Are you the native resident of this place?

[Goodbye tact.]

B

[spaceforged]

Shirogane Takashi. I hope for the same.

[He takes the offered hand in his own in a brief shake and steps back to let him in. There's not much to the space right now. The nearest bedroom to the door is clearly occupied with white and black armor tucked neatly away on the bookcase by the open door.]

According to what I was told when I got here we can expect one to two more roommates. [He drops into a chair facing the front door. He jerks his chin in the direction of the kitchen.] Kitchen.

I probably don't have much about this world you don't already know but I'm willing to share notes if you are.

[acceptedlife]

Nice to meet you.

[He lefts go after the brief shake, and honestly? What the place looks like doesn't matter. He's just proud he remembered the manners his adoptive family tried to instill in him. Though he'd be lying if he didn't say the suit of armor didn't get his attention for a brief second.]

Yeah, heard pretty much the same. [If anything, this was a bit like déjà vu for him. Something familiar in a place that's anything but.

He enters, but doesn't go beyond noting the layout of the entry and different rooms he can see from it. ..And Shiro, don't trust him with the kitchen. He might not be a lethal chef like an old friend of his, but he doesn't exactly know how to cook himself.]

Other than likely knowing who most of the towns and locations are named after, I likely got nothing. [A half-lie. He has no idea what's going on here, but he's fairly certain that-] Other than a hunch, anyway.

[spaceforged]

..if you don't mind sharing it I'd like to hear your hunch. [Neither of them can cook. It's going to be a lot of take out in their future. Alarm bells silently flash in the back of his mind. Someone who knows who all the towns and locations are named after.

That's a hell of a lot more than he's heard from anyone.]

But only if you're feeling up to it. Today has been a lot.

A

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie had shared a mind with Steven enough times to recognize a PTSD-induced anxiety attack when she saw one, not to mention her own experiences with a brain that seemed dedicated to plotting out the worst possible outcomes to any given situation in excruciating detail. So hopefully she had enough knowledge to calm somebody down from a meltdown. Hopefully.

Pushing aside her own growing panic at the unfamiliar, insane situation that she'd found herself in, Connie rushes up to Ira. "Hey. Hey," she says in a soothing voice. "Calm down. You're not there anymore. This is real. Don't worry, it's gonna be fine." Not that she actually believed that, but Connie had the feeling that the silver-haired man needed to hear something reassuring.

[acceptedlife]

Ira's glad that his hands help hide the grimace. Because while he can tell that this kid is trying to help, the fact that this is "real" does not help. He knew far too many things that were, some that no one around their ages ought to know.

"Don't tell me to calm down," he mutters, without really meaning to so sardonic in the process yet it just comes out that way. Trying to tell him to calm down only makes the negative emotions stronger and he hates it. He hates that this is his gut reaction to the sights and sounds. That kneejerk reaction of needing to get out, but he can already tell thanks to his nose: his powers are gone. Again. And this isn't helping because he remembers the first time he lost those borrowed - replicated - powers. And the second time.

'Don't promise something you don't know for sure,' he wants to hiss out, but stops himself. Whoever this is, he can tell is younger than he appears to be. So, he holds his tongue. If only because his anxiety started to spike when he tries to open his mouth again. It doesn't matter that he's not there anymore, doesn't matter if it's real or not. Not when-

You're being a very bad dog.

...It would be so much easier if this were happening in a fight, instead of in an enclosed space. He'd be able to handle it so much better.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie winces. She should've known better than to just barge into a stranger's trauma-induced anxiety attack and expect to make everything suddenly fantastic for him again. She wasn't Steven, what was she thinking? But still. Something in his eyes were... familiar. Like the utterly broken expression Pearl had worn that one sunset in the Sky Arena. "S-sorry," she stutters, stepping away. "If it helps, I just, just... sorry. I figured that I, um, might be able to help since, since I'm familiar with and this is all new and confusing to me too so I tried to help and... I'm going to stop talking now. I- Sorry."

She should've been better than this. Connie got over these problems months, if not years, ago. Why was she backsliding? Why couldn't she help him? She was trained to keep a cool head in these potentially dangerous situations, why couldn't Connie help, she was supposed to be good at this!

B

[whirluendo_of_puns]

[Uendo hasn't quite sorted out how he should feel about the prospect of roommates. A part of him feels relief; the few weeks between Shisho's death and waking up in Vaikuntha, living by himself for the first time, were terribly lonely. Even Patches and Kisegawa couldn't fill up the silence of an empty house.

On the other hand, having people around all the time is going to make it so much harder to hide his bad moments... and that's not even going into how on earth he's going to keep his disorder a secret. If, indeed, he even needs to keep it a secret here. He's not sure where he stands on that, either.

For the time being, a bright smile and a handshake is all his new roommate is getting. If Uendo is good at something, it's putting on a performance.]

Uendo Toneido. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ira.

[acceptedlife]

[Well, Uendo, you better get used to it. He know he had to once upon a time, and how weird it felt to be the only one in a large house after that. Still, he isn't quite sure what to make of this guy.]

Likewise. [-but, he will at least attempt to play nice. If there is anything he is good at, it's knowing how to lie.]

[whirluendo_of_puns]

[Not very talkative, this one. Well, that's fine. Uendo can carry a conversation regardless.]

Quite the quandary we've gotten caught up in, eh? I still can't believe this is all real, to be totally honest.

C/E

[gglosers]

[ It truly was a magnificent view, one that a certain pro gamer could appreciate for various reasons. Unlike her home and the omnic presence there, this was a far cry different and thriving with life and beauty all around. Hana couldn't help but to share the view with the stranger adjacent to her. It was only when he murmured those words did she turn to acknowledge his presence and raise a brow at the memory that might have been sparked by the view. ]

She? Someone from your home?

[acceptedlife]

[He was content to let the other simply bask in her own awe, despite how he spoke up. Honestly, he's surprised he even said it aloud. Most tended to ignore him outside of tense situations, anyway. Yet, here this lady is. Talking to him.]

Yeah, you could say that. [His only real home, anyway.]

[gglosers]

[ It wasn't intentional, she certainly did not mean to disrupt his thoughts by inquiring. But seeing as there were so many like herself unfamiliar with this world, curiosity made her hop at the chance to learn if this was another transport. Hana offers a quiet smile in his direction before returning her gaze to the scenery below. ]

A thriving civilization touched b magic... it's beautiful. It reminds me of those fantasy games I used to play at home. In fact, it's nothing like home. [ A pause, albeit not a sad one. Her mien still appears pleasant despite her morbid thought. ] I kind of wish it was.

A

[keybearer]

[This... is not where he intended to be. Not in the slightest. But then, it's not totally new, is it? First the Tower, then Koriko...

But that all felt like so long ago. And things have changed. He'd gone back to his ordinary routine, pretending that nothing happened...

But that's not the important thing right now, is it? Because he sees- even hears- someone familiar panicking. He starts to say a name-]

Xiruk-

[But stops himself. No. Might not be the same Replica. His Replica didn't really have a ponytail after all. Could be an alternate. Which one? He's not sure.

But for now, it's best to keep it cool.]

Hey, uh. Everything okay?

[No, that's a stupid question. Of course it's not okay. Still, at least it's an icebreaker.]

[acceptedlife]

[Good for him, really - because this particular Rikuface never did. Then again, what is normal for a Replica like him? He doesn't really know.

Honestly, the first clue it isn't this Riku's replication is the fact he seems older. Twenty-one, in fact. The second clue is his clothing: the all-black is likely the same, but no Organization coat; only a baggy overcoat, black jeans, boots, and half-gloves. The only thing not black is the pendant and charm hanging from his neck, as well as a bracer on his left arm.]

That's not my name. [But he recognizes it. He remembers the Tower.] And not really.

[He thought he'd be used to this shit before, but after six or seven years... apparently not. Probably doesn't help that they were asleep for so long, either. He looks up, briefly.]

So, which one are you?

[Granted he only knows two who'd know that name, but still.]

[keybearer]

[Man, this is weird. Even though a lot of time has passed for Riku since the Tower, and indeed Koriko. He got to go home, got to advance his journey a bit, and now...

Well, he's a little older, but not as old as the one before him.

Heh. He chuckles, rubbing his neck.]

The one from the bizarro timeline where I actually got the Keyblade. Ring any bells?

[The fact that this Replica- assuming it is a Replica- asked which one suggests he knows something of duplicates, at least.]

C/E

[failtsuninari]

[A Chocobo "Qweh!" would interrupt Ira's train of thought. The bird mount and his rider, who was walking by its side was returning into town. Kenichi was about to greet the young man with a courtesy greeting until the silver glint of the pendant caught his eye. He knew that necklace from anywhere. ]

I don't believe it. Ira, is that you?

[acceptedlife]

[You know, with how long he had lived in Crystallis, one would think he'd have gotten used to chocobos by now from simple overexposure. Yet he still finds himself jumping at the sudden noise, turning to look and-

No. Way. He may have only met him the once, when he got to visit their home while they were chasing Palitutu.... Yet he recognizes that voice anywhere.]

Dad? [Yep, it's Ira alright.]

[failtsuninari]

[The chocobo watches as Kenichi goes ahead to close the distance between him and his adopted son. He laughs and gives the young man a brief hug.]

By the gods, it's good to see a familiar face here! Sorry if my chocobo startled you there. I had to let her out since she was getting rather fussy with being cooped up.

[He did notice Ira looking out the window overlooking Nakagawa. While the surname he took when he married Saori is a common one, he knew the story of Crystallis and managed to put two and two together when he arrived here.]

Beautiful, isn't it? Guess it's no surprise I've taken a liking to it.