memesofeternity | Test Drive Meme IV

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

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[Frisk doesn't immediately process the source of the voice, just lifts their head and opens their mouth to murmur a reply. Probably some polite comment taking absolutely no side on the conflict. Typical argument-dodging tactics.]

[Then their brain catches up with their eyes. Differences in height and age aside, it's recognizably Asriel, who last they checked was not a goat. Did he steal someone's souls again? Their mouth hangs open for a long moment, and then in an attempt to save face they narrow their eyes and take a long sip of their drink. It's pumpkin spice flavored.]

"Yeah, whatever, I figured you would but that doesn't count. I've seen you eat dry ramen and actual garbage on live TV."

He begins to take another sip of the godawful brew just so that he can better complain about it before what he's seen manages to catch up to his brain.

"Wait, Frisk? What the heck are you doing here?"

[That... is an excellent point. Those aren't even the weirdest things they've eaten. They still don't know every ingredient in that dog salad, and they're not sure they want to.]

"It's good garbage," [they mutter.]

[They take another sip of their drink as Asriel poses the ultimate question, and after a moment's contemplation give him a hearty shrug and a soft-spoken reply. They consider signing, given the length of the sentence, but that would require putting their drink down.]

"Could ask you that. Last we met, you were a flower. And dead." [They glance over him, cross-referencing with the last time he was a goat.] "And short."

Asriel's heart falls right out of his chest.

"...What did you just say?"

No. No. No no no. This is definitely not what he thinks it is. Just calm down and ask questions. Frisk has like, a nautical ton of determination, there's no way that memory loss or...

"...Frisk?"

[Perhaps that wasn't the right thing to say. At least not in such a cavalier tone. Wow, they miss being able to redo conversations. As it is, they suppose they should just stick to being honest.]

"You were a flower. Was trying to find out how to fix that permanently, but." [They gesture vaguely at all of him.] "Not a problem now."

Asriel looks down, just holding his cup as he sits there. Multiverse theory. Alternate timelines. ...or somehow, maybe.. Frisk from the past. The Frisk that he was still tormenting.

"...I don't really know how you managed it, but.. if it's any consolation, I think you succeeded."

Sweet cheese sticks this conversation got awkward fast.

"So.. uh.. Thanks. For trying. And.. not giving up on me. Even though I.. really don't deserve it."

[Frisk smiles softly. He may look different, but it's the same Asriel as always. Refusing to see the good in himself. This is the person they resigned themself to a burning hell for.]

"I'm glad. You shouldn't wilt in the dark while everyone you saved sees the stars."

Asriel just sits there, sorrow, gratitude, and general angst welling up inside him, his eyes watering just a bi--oh nevermind, he's crying a bit, the fur around his snout looking a bit matted down. He smiles, rubbing his face a little, playing it off.

"Phhff.. come on, that's cheesy."

Cheesy enough to bring him to tears.

[Dangit, Asriel, if you keep this up Frisk is gonna start crying too, and then they'll just be two friends crying into their pumpkin spice lattes. Not that Frisk is embarrassed about it or anything, but...]

[Well, it might get awkward for the people around them. Still, they shift closer and give him a teasing grin.]

"It's good cheese. I really mean it."

"Heh.. Yeah, it's like... some kind of smelly expensive cheese that only the richest kings ever get a chance to eat."

He says, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. That metaphor got away from him fast.

"...Damnit, it's.. it's good to see you again."

He manages to choke out. Alternate timelines or not, Frisk is still Frisk. And he misses his sibling like nothing else.

Test Drive Meme IV

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