Test Drive Meme IV

[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. The other newly-awakened people have no idea how they came to be here, but now's a good time as ever to introduce yourself to the others on the airship and glean what information you can. B. CURTI CENTER The researchers at the Curti Center are not quite so unprepared as last time, but it is still obvious that they are struggling to understand the sudden influx of interdimensional travelers from the Dream Width. "Please step into the lobby for a quick survey. Perhaps there is some common thread we haven't discovered yet..." The staff will do their best to help the off-worlders settle in. They answer the questions they can, write down all proffered information they can about the arrivals' homeworlds, provide maps and pamphlets about Vaikuntha 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, considering they are still housing the previous arrivals here on the island. 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. PUMPKIN SPICE Let us send shivers down your spine. The weather has turned cooler, and with the arrival of autumn comes fall-themed treats, fall fashion, and of course, the beginning of the spookiest holiday season. Even though summer is still newly ended, it is not uncommon to already see people embracing the season in full force. Pumpkins and ghost-moogle decorations begin to appear on porches and in windows, stores offer a pumpkin version of everything, and there is so much orange. It is all good fun in the day time, but there does seem to be a rise of monstrous activity after the sun sets... K. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

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[ultravires]

“Ah, you see..” Ardyn responded as if he had been offered a delicious piece of peach pie! His head straightened and he filled his lungs with fresh air. The conviction of Prompto, the practiced confidence, the heavy footing!

“This is why I’m such a fan of yours.” He explained. “Your heart surpasses the odds!” He chuckled lightly then took another breath before he spoke again. “Even if you feel the power of your threat the truth of the matter is, you truly will mind.. but a sacrifice you are willing to take.” He looked merrily toward the blond. “Your friends could have not gotten as far as they have without you.” Surely though, “but you know that..”

/gasp A Threadjacking (welcome to the neighborhood...)

[hashtagdaddy]

Gladio knew blondie could run, but today Prompto must've grown wings because he'd been totally left in the dust. Having Paladin equipped definitelyprobably didn't do anything for his speed anyway, so he maintained his pace and hoped he'd eventually catch up with his friend.

Maybe Prompto would get held up by a cute fluffy animal, maybe even a wild chocochick and its mother, or maybe he'd get distracted by something in the scenery and stop to take pictures.

Nothing could have prepared him for seeing Prompto squaring off against Ardyn.

Fury boosted Gladio's speed and he launched himself at Ardyn with a shout, slamming his fist into the man's jaw. "Get th' hell away from him, you bastard!"

[chocobosnap]

Prompto squeaked a little in surprise, stunned that Gladio was there, as though he wasn't expecting someone to come to his defense.

He swallowed, he wasn't sure if his friends relied on him as much as Ardyn said, and that was probably the point, to make him doubt.

"Th-That's right, I will work hard to surpass all odds so..keep away from us!"

[ultravires]

Well, this was unexpected.

Ardyn chuckled as he gathered himself back up from the impressive blow Gladio had delivered him. He’s been in that body before, there was definitely a lot of muscle there to work with, but all the same Ardyn was first a talker than a fighter. In fact, if he could get others to fight for him, that would even be better!

He picked himself up from the ground, yes that blow sent him flying down to his ass, and wiped his palms to the sides of his pants. “My, that hurts.” He gently touched the place on his face where Gladio decked him good. It really stings! He can’t help but think as he moves his hand back with a soft wave of his fingers.

“But you see, I haven’t come to see either of you— don’t misunderstand, it’s been a pleasure to have run into the both of you this fine morning.”

[hashtagdaddy]

"Did he hurt you, Prom?" Gladio stood next to and only slightly in front of Prompto, allowing the blond room to make an attack of his own if he wanted while still offering his own body as physical protection (almost like a shield).

He leveled a glare at Ardyn. "I'll hurt you worse than that if you don't go back to hell where you belong. So stay away from everyone, especially whoever you're looking for."

Honestly, punching him again was starting to sound appealing.

But Gladio couldn't stop himself from wondering - who is Ardyn trying to find here?

[chocobosnap]

"N-No, he didn't hurt me." Prompto shook his head, but he was rattled, even if sniping at Ardyn was covering it up a little bit.

"I'm just saying he needs to stay away from us."

He glared at Ardyn. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I don't trust it."

It is, after all, Ardyn's fault he can't sleep at night, isn't it?

[ultravires]

Ardyn was touched, well, in a different than I just got punched-touched-way. He was touched by how Gladio and Prompto stuck tightly together like peas in a pod. It was cute, the transcendence of their relationship from one world to the next. The fruition of whatever bonds they created on Eos was brought here to flourish and perhaps renew or become anew with one another.

But not for him. He will still carry the reputation and darkness from Eos forever more in their minds, no matter what world he would run into these boys.

“Allow me to answer thus which you seek.” He gestured to the other two then his hand moved down to his side. “Pure consequence brings us together now and will continue to do so in the future should I ever cross paths with you again. You’ve served your purpose as I have on Eos and here we find ourselves with a new role.” In simpler words, “I want nothing of either of you.. nor anyone else you cherish.”

[hashtagdaddy]

Gladio's glare didn't lighten in the slightest. This was Ardyn. No matter what world he came from, he was still a conniving manipulator and the Shield wouldn't let his guard down.

No matter how much he wanted to believe the words.

"Served our purpose? Is that what you'd call it?!" Yea, that part pissed him off. A lot. "Nothin' with you is ever just a coincidence, and you have yourself to thank for that. "Whatever you do here, wherever you go - know that we'll have our eyes on you. The minute you get up to your old tricks we'll be there and we'll stop you."

Stalker-ish? Probably. Vigilant? Absolutely. The King's Shield could afford nothing less than constant vigilance against a monster like Ardyn. "When we part ways here, stay th' hell away from us."

His final threat delivered in a deadly voice, Gladio tilted his head towards Prompto. He was eager to get his blond friend away from someone who likely inspired nothing but nightmares so that they could both talk and decompress from this startling discovery.

"M'ready to get outta here when you are, Prom. See if you can outrun me now that I've had time to breathe." Hopefully that sounded more jovial than he currently felt. Gladio tried a half-smile for good measure.