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

Cor Leonis - Final Fantasy XV

[immortalmarshal]

D - New Place, New Job

Well, it looks like Cor's going to be stuck here in this new world for the foreseeable future. While the Center's kind enough to give him a place to stay, he's not one to rest on his ass for very long. Not when there's an entire new world to explore, and blend into.

Hence, him dropping by the city of Lavode, first and paying a visit to the Red Mage guild. The idea of one using both blade and spells is a concept that he's used to dealing with, given who he's served for nearly all of his life. And the sword he's been given seems adequate enough for its purpose. But when he's testing out his powers, he's...

Well, the target definite's been hit, but the scorch marks are...tiny. Cor scowls at the equally tiny fireball in his hand. "...the hell am I doing wrong...?" Perhaps some advise may be needed...if one isn't afraid to approach the rather tall, scowling man.


E with some F - Let's Go Out and Adventure!

Endless fields outside of a nice city? Check. Monsters that the guards say to not go near without proper equipment and skills? Check. Side quests requiring you to go out and deal with said monsters as part of said quests? Double-check.

Cor finds himself smiling, just a little bit. The calls of adventure and a good challenge is too great to resist, now that he's settling into his new Job(s). The Zeruda fields spread out before him and his companions, and he feels the call of exploring those fields singing in his blood. He glances over to his traveling companion, a more serious look returning to his face. "You ready to move out, then? Best to get this job done before sundown, after all."

I - Feeling His...Age?

Cor's scowling. No, it's not because of this strange new foe before him. The idea of dealing with a cursed treasure chest isn't new. Nor is it that it's happening while still in broad daylight.

No, it's the fact that he can't really kill this thing in a few blows like he's gotten used to doing over the years. And even when he and his companion(s) do finally take it down, he's still grumbling as he's sheathing his blade. "...feels like I'm 14 again..." This, mind you, is coming from a guy in his mid-40s.

I

[warpstriking]

"Don't let Clarus hear you say that," Noctis quips, before supplying aid in the form of a fire spell. "He might just take it the wrong way."

He couldn't help it. It's been a while since he had an opportunity to jest with the Marshal. Too much tragedy any time they encountered him, and fighting a Mimic? Clearly the perfect time.

[immortalmarshal]

"Not unless you're the foolish one to tell him first." Fire sounds like a good idea, so Cor's gonna try and throw his own flames at the damn cursed box as well.

Noctis being here is concerning, in some way. Last Cor remembered, he should've been in Altissia, if not on his way to the next goal after that. But it also helps ground Cor, being able to have a familiar companion to jest with even in the midst of battle. Especially if said companion is his young king.

[warpstriking]

"Nah, wouldn't dream of it." Except he totally and completely would, if it was to an advantage. Which in theory this would qualify, but he also prefers being able to sleep at night. ...When he isn't busy checking the Slate until early morning hours. Some habits just don't break easily. "Besides, you work yourself hard enough as it is."

Haha, oh Marshal. They have some catching up to do. First, making sure this cursed chest stops moving. And if Cor's going to bring more fire, then he'll bring the lightning.

[immortalmarshal]

"Oh, really? And you're the expert on not working too hard?" He knows where you sleep...at least, a vague idea where. Good thing he likes you too much to do such a thing...most of the time.

Plus, he suspects that much has happened since then. He sees that Ring; he's no fool...

The monster most definitely disliked that one, based on how it lashed out against the both of them. Cor ignored the scratches that it inflicted on his arm as he manages to pierce the cursed wood with his blade. "Time to bring the thunder and end this, Highness!"

[warpstriking]

"Eh, pretty sure Specs still has me beat, there." At least he fully admits it. Keeping a note to lock the door to his and Prompto's double room, though. Just in case. It's bad enough he has to contend with the thought of sabotaged hair products from being under the same roof as his father's Shield.

A ring that Clarus has all but forced him to wear on a chain around his neck instead despite it being a simple trinket on this world, but yes. A lot has happened. "Got it." And with that, he casts thunder again.

[immortalmarshal]

"Why does that not surprise me..." Ah, there's that dry sarcasm. Still, it's comforting to know that some things never change, even after all that has happened.

The monster shrieked its last, and collapses into a pile of old wood, bent metal...and some solid amount of gil. Cor sheathes his blade with a tiny smile on his face. "Well, that was fun."

[warpstriking]

"Because it's Ignis?" Look, even on a new world, he's yet to see Ignis stop for more than what's required. The fact that they have Ebony here (not to confuse with his friend's moogle companion) likely didn't help matters, either. "Though we've all had to pick up the slack without Gladio."

There's a sort of satisfied smirk crossing his lips as the mimic shrieks and collapses. Noctis stops to pull out two pouches from his pack so they could split it evenly. Not to mention place in a certain moogle doll back in there. It was embarrassing enough he had to use it to channel his magic in the first place. "'Least it didn't decide to prove the rumors true. Apparently sometimes there can be mimics inside other mimics."

[immortalmarshal]

"His little addiction doesn't help much, either." Don't get him started on Moogle companions. His own is...weird. Very nice, but still...weird. "Still, you three won't be without help, should you need it." There's him and Clarus, after all, plus the couple of others from their home...world? Star?

Also, Cor is not saying one damn word about the doll. He knows when to pick his battles. Usually. Instead, he accepts the offered bag of gil with a small nod of thanks. "Joy," came the sarcastic remark. "Duly noted." He looks around the area, more out of habit than anything else. "So, keep heading forward?"

E-F

[lordshield]

"I'm dead, not buried," Clarus retorted, as if that made any sense. He'd found it easier to make light of his situation than to dwell on it. "And I've been ready for several minutes waiting for you to get the lead out of your boots."

He adjusted the utility belt he'd taken to wearing around this new place. The clothes were a bit different, to be sure, and the armor he was made to wear as a paladin did slow him a bit, but it wasn't anything he couldn't compensate for. "Are you sure you're ready for a real fight? I doubt the monsters will go as easy on you as the Crownsguard trainees did."

[immortalmarshal]

"Really? I hardly noticed the pallor." Yes, jesting about it is much better, at least for their sanity. Cor adjusts the fancy looking beret, batting the feather away from his face for the 20th time.

"Just taking in the sights, getting a feel of the weather here." Yes, his own armor is lighter than what Clarus has, but Cor hardly needed much anyway for how he normally fights. Speed and efficency are the main themes of his personal fighting style.

"Of course. Are you? Or should I wait until you're used to all kf that extra gear?" It's a jest, of course, but teasing Clarus tends to help set him at ease. Llus, it's just fun to rib him in general.

[lordshield]

"I've always been adaptable. The gear won't slow me for more than a few minutes." Truly once he was used to it, he'd be fine. Though in truth it would probably take him days or weeks to really compensate instead of mere minutes.

"And now the real question... Do you remember how to ride a chocobo? Because there are no cars here." Partly a lie. The Regalia was here, with some modifications, but belonged to Noctis and was for his use.

[immortalmarshal]

"Mostly. Had to fill in the gaps recently." Because not all the hunts were within easy reach of the roads, and it would take too long to get in and out of certain areas. Besides, there's hardly any proper roads for the Regalia anyway.

[lordshield]

"Good. Try not to fall off or get left behind," he teased, striding off toward the birds in question.

"You never told me how that date with the warden went," Clarus started conversationally. A callback to one of their last happy memories together in Eos, something to ease the tension and restore camaraderie. Or... their version of it.

[immortalmarshal]

"So long as your noble steed can handle all of that extra steel," Cor taunts back as he approaches the bird meant for him. She's an affectionate strawberry-blonde, immediately nuzzling her new rider as soon as he was within reach.

That memory brings a small smile to his face. "She was alright, and wasn't asome crazy fan of mine. She saved that for the whole Assassins mythos and video game series."

[lordshield]

"Come now, you know chocobos were built by the gods to be the perfect mount." He's half teasing, half not. Mostly he just means they're very sturdy birds and of course they can handle him and his armor.

"Oh? She'd love this place, then," he chuckled. "There's a group that skulks around in the shadows and calls themselves Assassins." If he wasn't friends with a few of them, their existence might alarm him. They'd earned his (slightly reserved) trust though. With just a pat on the neck as warning, the older warrior stepped into the stirrup and swung himself up the bird who was indeed quite sturdy and barely swayed under his shifting weight.

[immortalmarshal]

"Careful; your bias is showing." Cor's still smiling a little, though, even as he says those words and readies himself to lift himself up onto his own saddle.

But he pauses upon hearing that, and an eyebrow cocks upward in amused curiosity. "Really? Don't suppose a certain Majesty's met them, too?" Because he remembers said royal having those games in his rooms, back home before everything went belly-up.

Still, even as he expects an answer, he starts to pull himself up into that saddle in the similar manner...though his chocobo wasn't warned, and this took a couple of steps forward, making him swear a little in surprise.

That adventure thing.

[regisrex]

Whatever the partner situation is...

... there's a voice that comes from a tree outside the ruins.

"You might want to look out for the creepy crawlies. Their bite stings pretty badly and they're all over the ground, once you cross inside."

Regis is taking a break, eyes fixed on the ruins as he's making a plan how to get through that first hurdle of the exploration. He's just taking the break comfortably seated, back against the trunk of the tree, out of most harm's way. His moogle is floating nearby, but she's satisfied for the moment that he's not being reckless, so she's quiet.

Yeees

[immortalmarshal]

"...why am I not surprised that you would be out here as well," Cor sighs as he approaches his old friend. Or is it young friend now? This Regis is apparently from when they were on their own trip to Accordo all those years back, and it still throws Cor off a little when he realizes how young his friend was...and how much he aged since then.

He nods towards the ruins. "So, is that information from whatever booksyou've read, or just personal experience?"

His companion is his own moogle, a normally kind fellow who just happens to dye his fur green and wears a Tomberry outfit, sans knife. He waves politely to the old king's moogle.

:>

[regisrex]

"Do you think if they had so much written out about the place, they'd be sending people to explore it?"

Just out of curiosity as the young man grabs his staff from its perch among the branches and leaps down, agile and easy. He still wishes he could have warped, but... well. What is, is.

Definitely personal experience, even though now the - former? - prince is smiling.

"A fire attack would have roasted them nicely, but I can't do that, not like I'm used to. So, let's go see what we can do about them?"

:3

[immortalmarshal]

"You never know - some people do go sight-seeing after reading about some wonderful place, after all," Cor drawls, watching as the young(er) royal leaps down to join him on the ground.

He nods in agreement, and starts heading into the ruins with his (old?) young friend in tow. "...still odd, though, that our roles seem to be reversed in the magic department, isn't it?" Cor spent most of his life only accessing the armiger and not much else. Being able to fling spells like a Lucian royal is...a learning experience, for sure.

[regisrex]

"Yeah, well. Not sure if I wouldn't get into trouble if I tried to rely on the same things I used to. Seemed safer to start out with something less likely to lure me into thinking things are as they used to be." Beat. "How're you liking it this far?"

Remember when Regis used to use contractions, Cor? It's been a while.

At least he knows he's doing well with the stave - he may have lost a lot of things, but muscle memory is still there, and it's not like Clarus only trained him with one weapon.

I thought I responded to this earlier; my apologies!

[immortalmarshal]

Oh, he remembers. And it's so odd to hear him use contractions again. A weirdly nice reminder that this was a young man unburdened by the crown yet...but still odd.

"It's like..." Cor fishes for the right words - at least, without falling back to his teenage speaking habits. "...there's some kind of energy lurking beneath my skin, ready and eager to be unleashed at a moment's notice. Makes my hair stand up if I focus on it too long."

He then grimaces and adds, "Plus, I somehow know exactly how to do the precise level of bowing for each rank in each main country. Not like I'm going to be needing that anytime soon." Because Cor is nothing but practical, regardless of his age.

Allll good

[regisrex]

"Right. Because a few decades might have increased your fondness for bowing." And with a sense of humor, too. At least one closer to the surface.

But the green eyes look up (up... why up... oh well. At least Cor has grown into a fine man, Regis can't deny that) into the blue ones seriously, steadily, when he glances at him.

"Is there a cost?" For that energy.

There is usually a cost.

[immortalmarshal]

"Well, maybe to one or two people," Cor teases back. "But that's only a maybe." Isn't it nice, dealing with a Cor that isn't so angry and stand-off-ish all the time?

But he does consider thst question seriously for a few moments. "I feel tired if I seem to use too much of it, but it's nothing that a good rest can't fix."