Test Drive Meme V

[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, and some helpful Heroes of Light 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 and your rescuers 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. The experienced outworlders who helped pull you from your memories may be able to get you caught up to speed. B. CURTI CENTER The researchers at the Curti Center are pretty used to this right now, though there's still no good explanation for the influx of interdimensional travelers from the Dream Width since earlier this year. "Please step into the lobby for a quick survey. We have just a few routine questions, it's invaluable to our research so we do ask you indulge us..." 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 have offered to permanently house all of the outworlders here. 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 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 productive members of society and helping support the local economy, 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 housing elsewhere in the world. 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. And they say, those that party up will live to party on! J. THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR It's the most stressful wonderful time, but there really is nothing like the annual Star Light Festival. You know what needs to be done. Decorations- deck out your airship decks, hang lights upon your house, tie sprigs of festive holly to your weapons. Shopping- there are the best sales, but also the worst crowds. The 'hot' gifts this year include plush eMogis, Jecht-brand Blitz-shoes, easy-bake Kupo nut ovens, and the newest CD by renowned singer Likka! Good luck finding any of those in stores (there are even a few quest board quests asking adventurers to obtain them on behalf of very determined parents- by any means necessary). Traditions- Watch out for Mistletoe (you'll be obligated to kiss the person who walks under it with you), and the even more dreaded Mistlefoe (tradition dictates you must punch the other person!). The moogles around town have gone a little overboard with both variants, so beware! K. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Comments

Ultra Magnus | Transformers (IDW)

[legalcy]

[Templar/Dancer]

Sidequest

[With all the frantic shopping, business owners have jumped onto the quest boards asking for anyone to help promote their business. Ultra Magnus is one of the unlucky few, having been chosen for his large frame and trustworthy attitude. The Bangaa in charge of this shop reminds all "volunteers" that they have to spread joy and fun with their advertising, don't stress out!

Unfortunately for everyone, "fun" and "relax" are among the vocabulary he locks away except for emergencies. He stands at the corner of the street holding flyers in one hand, frowning at the space before him and allowing the snow to settle on his broad shoulders.]

You there! [He gestures at you, or perhaps a small organic. His tone is one that you would except would be used to warn people to evacuate a town, the volcano is erupting!] I have been ordered to distribute these flyers for Kupolin's Magic Toy Shop on the corner of Stein Street and Rose Avenue. You will take one and visit at once!

[He thrusts a large metal arm at the person, holding a cheery sheet of paper with smiling Starlight characters decorating the perimeter. Be cheered!]

Cue Battle Theme (open to multi-character threads)

[Someone had proposed fighting a T-Rex for the monster arena. Ultra Magnus would not allow it without a proper party makeup consisting of healers, a long-range fighter, a short-range melee combatant, and himself as the shield. Inevitably, no one would listen to his 1 hour presentation on who should take what position and the group left for the wilderness anyway. He had an obligation to travel with them and make sure they did not come to any harm.

It didn't take long for them to split up and a T-Rex to come charging at one of them. Ultra Magnus wasted no time.]

Get behind me! [He holds out his heavy shield, prepared to take the full brunt of the initial attack.]

Silent Light

[While all the good Heroes were out having fun
Ultra Magnus stayed indoors, having none.
He poured over papers and reviewed the laws
Too busy to worry about old Santa Claus.

He edited his powerpoint, his schedule, and his notes
All while carolers sang joy from their throats.
He had no time! His reasoning was good:
If he didn't work, then who else would?

But those who walked near him would hear something odd.
A pause, a look, and they stare slack-jawed!
But here was no denying it: the realization was coming -
Along with the music, Ultra Magnus was...humming?]

Wildcard

[Hit me up with anything! Annoy the by-the-rules robodad]

Sidequest

[dreamwidth_account]

The man being accosted stares blankly at the- is it an Imperial Knight? It is too colorful to be of Necron manufacture. He does not recognize the make of this machine.
That is, of course, only if the titanic being could be truly called a 'man'. He's more of a giant, easily ten feet in height, wearing a mechanized suit in mustard yellow, graying hair and a bristly moustache. Steel-grey eyes bore a hole into the servitor in front of him, before staring down at the paper offered, scanning it for several long, painfully-silent seconds, before handing the paper back and meeting the machine's gaze once more.

"No."

Alisa Reinford | Trails of Cold Steel

[reinford]

Arrival

[She doesn’t like this at all, having no recollection of how she ended up on an airship like this. It’s even worse that she doesn’t recognize the surroundings or even the people.]

H-how…?

[Logically, it doesn’t make sense, but any sense of fear she has she keeps to herself as she remains calm and assesses what’s going on, or attempts to. Nothing is coming to mind and she doesn’t recall being drugged.]

Hey, Sharon? I know you’re here! What’s going on?

[Sharon has to be here. Sharon always seems to find her and follow her if she’s not with her mother. It’s the one hope she has that maybe something awful didn’t happen.]

Get a job

[Mognet may be new to Alisa, but her technological knowhow means she can figure things out pretty quickly. Being the heiress of one of the continent’s largest corporations does seem to come with perks she didn’t realize when it came to suddenly landing herself in a new world.

So selling, fixing, explaining, she can do all of that, as she’s actually pretty decent at customer service.]

See, you just need to access it using this. [Saying as she’s showing someone how it all works. This isn’t new to her at all since computers and the like are still new to her world.]

It’s time to fight.

[A ranger and white mage is what Alisa’s class is, and something she’s quite used to. If anyone sees the way she holds herself, it’s clear she’s a master archer, even if she’s getting used to a non-orbal bow again. Staying towards the rear, she’s strategically shooting her arrows to either paralyze enemies or get their attention so others can make a strike.

In other words, she’s there as more of a support, not as the main melee fighter. That said, there’s little fear in her eyes as a monster comes close to her and she dodges rather quickly and counters so she can get away.]

Nice try!

[She’s having fun.

She’s also ensuring the people with her are being healed if they’re injured and acting her part as the support.]

Just don’t get too close….

[These are quite interesting traditions and she can’t really help but give into the decorating fad as she definitely decorates her place. Even her bow is a little spruced up with some tinsel on it. What she’s not fond of is the mistletoe.

Ugh, people already trying to kiss her. But she’s also aware of the mistlefoe, which she’s more okay with.]

Try to kiss me and you’ll be in pain.

[The way her hand is outstretched, ready to slap someone indicates she’s not afraid of a little violence if someone violates her personal bubble.]

wildcard

[If there's something else you wanna do, just hit me up!]

g.

[guardimom]

[The large goat monster is doing her best to be patient with this new world's technologies, but these flat devices were not designed for her massive paws. She manages to click the camera again, storing yet another picture of her horns.]

...I apologize. I will have to sharpen my claws if I wish to use this troublesome device. Do you have any larger models?

Hector | Castlevania (Netflix series)

[petcromancer]

Curti Center

You're...giving me a house.

[Hector and his moogle stand in the yard outside of the aforementioned house, staring up at the building.]

Well, it's not just yours, kupo. You'll need to share. But we can't just let you be homeless, now, can we, kupo?

[Hector's disbelieving expression says, 'yes, you absolutely could'. He doesn't make any move to enter.]

And what are the terms? To what liege lord will I owe my allegiance?

What are you talking about, kupo? Do you mean...the director? He's not a 'liege lord', he's just a grumpy guy who wants to do science, kupo!

Guilds

[There are two guilds Hector visits in his first few days in Vaikuntha, and luckily, they are both located in the same city.

At the Necromancer's Guild, he can be found in one of the training rooms, aiming his bell at a target and giving it a practice ring.]

Sound waves...it's a novel way to attack. Not terribly efficient, though.

[At the Puppetmaster's Guild, he finishes his paperwork and heads immediately to the stables. Surrounded by animals, he is more at ease than he ever seems around humans.

He strokes the back of a pet manta ray in a tank as he turns around the room in wonder.]

You're beautiful. Who else has been hiding beneath the waves this whole time?

[His smile falters when he realizes he is not the only person in the room.]

Adventurers

[It's not really a place for a newcomer, but Hector wanted to see the 'ghost city' of B'Alesia. He looks out, and sighs.]

It's not what I expected. I knew there were no people... but it's like there's no life at all.

Wild Card

[Hit Hector up with other ideas.]

[sullenstallion]

That's one way of doing it.

[Hector isn't alone in the training hall. Dylas is only passing through on his way to find a place to lounge. He loves it in the Necromancer guild; it's underwater, it's cold. As a naga, it's the perfect place to nap, and ever since maxing out his experience, he can just come to chill whenever.

He reaches into his robes for his own bell and approaches one of the targets, but he doesn't ring it. He grabs it with one hand and turns his body, swinging it at the target with great momentum. The target cracks.]

I prefer this way.

Rogal Dorn || If The Emperor Had a Text-to-Speech Device

[dreamwidth_account]

K. WILD CARD

This house is made of trees. It is completely indefensible. Were an invasion of xenos to occur, it would burn and fall in on itself as though made of some sort of fragile, highly- inflammable material. This will not stand. For some reason they will not provide him with the materials and tools necessary to convert this deathtrap which has been given to him into a properly-defensible base. This 'sheetrock' will have to do as a temporary measure. It will not, of course, weather anything like a bolter, but low-caliber fire should be stopped.
And so, the morning air is filled with the sounds of hammering, as the giant of a man 'improves' his housing by massively thickening the walls, installing firing slits in the door and beneath the windows, and for an added taste of home, the addition of skulls and a painstakingly-carved aquila on the front door. The fact that he has to share this domicile does not enter into his mind. The additions will be appreciated, of course.

"I am fortifying this position," he offers, by way of explanation, to the individual staring at him, without pausing to look down at them.

Re: Rogal Dorn || If The Emperor Had a Text-to-Speech Device

[plagueofshadows]

From behind the giant of the man, comes a rather excited, "Hee hee!"

In contrast to the hulking figure of Rogal Dorn, the cloaked figure, wearing a beaked mask and leaning on an unremarkable cane is tiny. "Fortifications! Reinforcing! Yes, a glorious idea! Perfect! It seems we've been assigned this housing together, and my experiments get rather reckless! Hee!"

He does a little twirl in place, and holds his cane out to one side, "You know what they say! The bigger the explosion, the better the alchemist!!"

Toriel | Undertale

[guardimom]

Curti Center

[What a strange town this is...made even stranger by the oversized, vaguely goat-faced furry monster walking among you. Her warm brown eyes flit from face to face uncertainly. It has been centuries since she has walked among humans, or...anyone at all, really, and she is quite out of practice.

She will still try, however! She carefully dodges around the crowds, looking in wonderment at the floating moogles and passing adventurers. Should anyone stop and stare, she will smile and slowly lift a paw to wave.]

Hello! Are you well?

Getting a Job - Hisan City

[Toriel's first inclination is to visit the Gourmand guild. The scents are appealing, and it seems quite useful, but the presentation is very...thorough. In the end, she emerges looking slightly green.]

...Perhaps White Magic would be a better first choice for now.

Most Wonderful Time - Curti Center

[It has been many years since Toriel has had cause to celebrate this particular holiday, but this might be the best opportunity for a fresh outlook. She has sewn a new red and white robe for herself, sparkling in the light, and she's even tied bows and bells around her horns.

She has chosen to begun the celebration by offering hot cocoa and cookies to all who pass. There's a delightful cinnamon spice in both.]

I hope you have a wonderful day.

[And despite the conflicting emotions that the festivities bring up...she truly means it.]

wildcard

[Anything else is certainly welcome!]

Most Wonderful Time

[einspine]

[Oh, how exciting! The holidays have always brought warm, nostalgic feelings to Papyrus. Granted, when you live in Snowdin, that's practically a given. But the season brings to mind feelings of Santa! Jolly gatherings with festive pastas! Gift giving, and an even greater abundance of festive lights.

So he's practically bouncing with eagerness as he struts around the Center, and-

Oh! He stops upon spotting a familiar face, beaming.]

WOWIE, MISS TORIEL!!! YOU'RE LOOKING POSITIVELY FESTIVE!

[And ooh, is that cocoa? Chara did say that chocolate holds great power...

But more important is that this is a Toriel who is happy. After everything he's seen, that's certainly a welcome sight.]

Raven | Suikoden V

[midnightraven]

Arrival

[If waking up in a weird ship wasn't bad enough, whoever is unfortunate enough to be placed in the cot next to Raven will have to deal with a dark figure crouched on his own cot in the corner, just watching. There's a cloth mask drawn up to the bridge of his nose, but his golden eyes scan the room attentively. That's not disconcerting.]

Decoration

Ah ha ha ha ha! Behold, the work of a master thief! I have stolen...THE SHOW!

[Raven is on the roof of his Curti Center house, hanging strings of lights. His goal seems to be quantity over quality, but it certainly is gaudier than the houses next door. He's cackling madly. Hopefully his roommates don't mind.]

Wild Card

[To the surprise to any who may have encountered him so far, Raven IS capable of being quiet and still...as he is now, sitting crouched on a chair in the McGard Library, flipping through books and jotting down notes on a list labeled THE INFAMOUS RAVEN'S LIST OF ARISTOCRATIC TARGETS:
Empress???
Myste Aura Royal Family
Triumvirate
CID??]

Hmm, that's a start. Now, where's the section that has blueprints?

[Someone should probably intervene before this idiot gets himself arrested.]

Wildcard

[legalcy]

[Someone does intervene, but it's not someone that was needed for the situation.

Though in Ultra Magnus' eyes, he is the mech for the job. He had taken notice of Raven sitting on the library floor: a fire hazard that required an immediate reprimandation, only to read the abandoned sheet of paper.

He holds out the list and whispers (loudly, because they're still in a library):] What is the meaning of this? I am reporting this to security at once!

Atem | Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters

[missingpiece]

Arrival

[When he stepped into the light, spirit finally set free by his best friend, he was expecting to open his eyes to desert sands, the field of reeds, perhaps his long-lost friends. Certainly not an airship, and one far less flashy than Kaiba's at that.

He stared into the distance for some time, disbelieving this twist of fate even as the welcome message played. Finally, he shook his head, releasing a quiet chuckle.]

Ah. I should have foreseen another delay.

Shuffle

[How does an ancient pharaoh with no previously applicable job experience earn a living around here? By playing card games, of course! He can be found at a table in any recreational area, expertly shuffling his starter Triple Triad deck with one hand and paging through the game's rules with the other.]

I see it is a game of numbers and positioning at its simplest, but with many variant rules. Where would it be best to begin?

Mognet
[The Tactician Job appealed powerfully to Atem's memories and past skills, so he was quick to snap it up. Unfortunately, he made one fatal mistake: he'd failed to take into account that the Job was definitely not suited for solo travel.

It was time to humbly ask for assistance, using the strange device his giggling Moogle passed along.]

Hello. My name is Atem, and I am an apprentice tactician. I have little to offer you at this point, but I am in need of assistance completing an introductory quest. Would anyone with strong offensive skills be willing to accompany me into the woods in search of a rare berry? It would likely take only an hour or two, and I would be indebted to you.

And if any of you play Triple Triad, I would certainly enjoy a duel afterward.

wildcard
[Your move! Feel free to play anything else.]

Mognet~

[regalblaze]

[Despite his "slight" disability, Ignis was more than experienced when it came to battle. He might not be able to read the message on the Mognet, but Ebony, his own moogle, read it for him (as it did with every message, keeping Ignis up to date with everything that appears).

So he sends a video message in response- Ignis seems to be near the transportation in Yun'Aisha, if his surroundings are telling enough.]

Pleased to meet you, Atem.

I will gladly assist you in your quest for the wild berry, seeing I am in need of some for myself as well.

[People always look for new types of tarts and cakes in his coffee shop, so this is a great opportunity to expand the menu.]

Where can I meet you?

Yusuke Kitagawa | Persona 5

[foxingly]

Retrieval

"This is magnificent," Yusuke says mostly to himself than anyone on the ship. Yes, he's in danger. Maybe. Yes, he's not feeling well and this ship is not making his car sickness any better but he can ignore such discomfort for a moment.

He approaches the window in the lounge room, almost becoming one with it, hands and face plastered to it as he tries to see outside. "So this is space. Unbelievable..." Where is his sketchbook when he needs it?

Sidequest

Yusuke pulls down a pamphlet from the Quest Board and hums. Well, acquiring some berries can't be that bad. Besides- it means free food, right? He wishes he had more time to paint. Ah well. He will bring his sketchbook with him- in case inspiration strikes. It tends to be a fickle thing.

...is there anyone else doing this quest? He wonders if his basic ninja skills are enough for this.

Most wonderful time of Year

But of course Yusuke will be the one to accept the decorating assignment. Unbeknownst to him, he's been actually annoying some of the other volunteers with his perfectionistic side.

There is a grumble behind Yusuke's back as he takes a step back and brings his hands up to frame his recent masterwork- inexplicably detailed snowflake on the side of the ship. His Moogle, Da Vinci, was clapping, impressed, but the others...

The others would've been happier if Yusuke didn't spend the last four hours on a single, medium painting of snowflake.

Wildcard

*Use any of the other prompts and make a starter if you have an idea!*

Sidequest

[boomchucka]

After perusing the quest board to see what was available to be done without a weapon, Selphie grabs a pamphlet for the same quest. Gathering berries seems like a perfectly harmless, straight-forward task as she nods before pulling out her iMog to check the map. It doesn't appear to be very far away as looks up Yusuke.

"Extra hands lighten the load?" she asks with a sunny smile.

Nana Daiba | Revue Starlight

[onlyreruns]

B. CURTI CENTER

[It didn't take Nana terribly long to understand what happened. She isn't sure that she accepts it as real. It feels too much like a dream -- or perhaps too much like a nightmare. It makes a certain sort of grim sense with the fabric of her life, though. After all, things changing drastically isn't really new.

She is, at present, staring at one of the fountains in the Center. Her arms are folded, and she still has her school uniform on: black jacket over white blouse, with a black skirt and red ribbon. It marks her as being from Japan (or a place like it), and also as being an outsider. That it, and the iMog slate she was given, are the only things she owns...

Well. That's annoying.

Finally, she sighs.] I don't even have a coin to throw into the fountain for good luck.

I. RANDOM ENCOUNTERS OF THE WORST KIND

[What is a fledgling adventurer to do? Go out and experience the wilderness.

Nana is a Swordmaster, at present. Clad in mail armor, she looks the part -- though hers has a vaguely 19th century military aesthetic, with epaulets, braided cords, and the like -- Nana thinks she looks quite dashing. The change is almost enjoyable!

And she is beaming.] I wonder what we'll--

[Which is when the ground rumbles, and like a goddamned whack-a-mole, a Morbol pops fully-formed out of the ground and roars. A faint, green-yellow gas emits from its mouth as its mouth opens. Nana takes a step backward.]

What... what is it they say about the better part of valor?

J. THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

[DON'T THINK ABOUT WHY IT'S CALLED THE STAR LIGHT FESTIVAL and don't get homesick. Nana repeats these mantras to herself, over and over and over again. Until they're internalized. Until they just make sense.

And it's best compartmentalized. And forgotten.

Which means it is time for decorating!

Now, some of the airship that she is working on... that makes sense. She has decked out the airship with lights and holly, with festive red and green decorations. Ribbon has been strung up, red with little gold accents. But, for some reason, she has... bananas. Everywhere. Yellow plastic bananas; paper cut-out bananas; bananas of every shape and size.

Nana gazes upon her work, ye mighty, and does not despair.] Bana-nice!

Center.

[dreamwidth_account]

That would be very wasteful of your coin.

[The voice comes from behind her and several feet up.
Rogal Dorn, it seems, has inadvertently overheard her talking to herself.
Astonishingly, a man-mountain in metal armor has made almost no noise in his approach. How odd.]

Selphie Tilmitt | Final Fantasy VIII (CRAU)

[boomchucka]

[ooc: will match style and tense!]

A. Arrival

There’s a young woman lying on of the cots that may be familiar to some of the heroes who have come to help. Selphie is slow to wake from the thrall of the Dream Width but when she does, she sits up and quietly scans the rows of cots for familiar faces. Her last memory is from when they all went to Sen Riqueax and everything afterwards is black for the perky brunette. She’s got questions and hoping to find some answers.

Eventually, once she’s rubbed enough sleep from her eyes and the cobwebs from her mind, Selphie will start actively seeking people out.

Perhaps you’re one them?

B. Curti Centre

It doesn’t take very long for a certain Moogle partner of old to find her charge and start with the scolding about how it’s much more dangerous to get lost while living on Vaikuntha. Selphie listens patiently even as she’s pushed by a separate guide to sit down for a few minutes. Perhaps the brunette was too quick to begin moving about as she grabbed the arm of her guide to steady herself a bit. She’ll settle down on a bench just outside of the medical facility where she’ll begin reading the pamphlets that were thrust at her as she’d walked by.

“Thank you,” she says with a cheery, but guarded look on her face. “I’ll be fine with Jaelyn to wait here.”

J. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Selphie busy’s herself and her mind as soon as she can escape from the stuffy indoors and get out into the fresh air to clear her head a bit. That’s when she hears the familiar jingles of old that she hasn’t realized have been missed. There are people wandering about spreading cheer in any way that they can. Naturally, the atmosphere is enough to perk the brunette up enough that she easily catches some decorations that fall off the top of an overpacked box.

With a warm smile on her face, Selphie says, “here, let me help you out.”

K. Wild Card

Choose your own adventure?

Arrival

[peace_through_empathy]

[Megatron is standing by a window, regarding the passing Dream Width with a look of intense concentration. He hears Selphie approaching and turns to meet her. Ah, he recognizes this girl; he saw her asleep on one of the cots earlier. She's in the same position as he is.]

"Ah, hello. What can I do for you?"

Impmon || Digimon Tamers

[ba_da_boom]

B. CURTI CENTER

"Hey! What's a mon gotta do ta get a little help around here?!"
The high-pitched shouting is audible even over the din of newcomers, a creature the size of a moogle jumping up and down on a table. He is not, in fact, a moogle; that much is obvious from the short purple fuzz and lack of a pom. "If you think I'm gonna sit here and listento a buncha humans tellin' me what to do, you got another thing comin'! I'm a mon with standards! I got my own self-image to think of, y'know what I'm sayin'?!"
One gloved, three-fingered hand points at one passerby in particular. "Hey, you, with the face, yeah I'm talkin' ta you! Make yourself useful, why don'tcha, and gimme a hand here!"

D. GUILDS

Thus far, it would be fair to say that the Gourmand Guild has made a lasting positive impression. He doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with the demonstration of Devour, after all isn't that just a fancy way of loading data? Of more importance, however, is the spread on display. He's already eaten what has to be half his (admittedly small) body weight with no signs of slowing. "Hey, this ain't half bad. I can't figure out what the heck it's s'posed ta be but it's tasty and y'know what if it's true I can join this place and eat whatever they got out then maybe it ain't gonna be so bad here after all!"
He turns to look up at the person next to him. "What, you look like you never seen a mon eat before! I'll have you know it takes a lotta fuel ta keep a digimon like me in peak physical condition, y'know what I'm sayin'? O' course you do, you probably ain't as dumb as ya look, so move over and lemme at those rolls!"

Curti Center

[peace_through_empathy]

[Megatron's attention is draw to the small organic yelling and pointing in his direction.]

"All right, calm down. I should warn you I'm still new here myself, but I can try. What can I help with?"

Megatron | Transformers IDW

[peace_through_empathy]

Arrival
[Megatron is staring out a window of the airship watching the Dream Width go by, one arm crossed over his chest, the other with a hand to his chin, deep in thought. He's trying to figure out how this could have happened. Was it the Warren? He's used it plenty of times recently and nothing like this has ever happened before. And this doesn't look like the Warren, or indeed any form of space he's ever seen before. In any event, whatever it was that transported him here did so at a very inopportune-]

[He suddenly looks up, realizing he's not alone. He looks over.] "My apologies, I didn't see you. Is there something I can do for you?"

Curti Center
[He's getting the sense cybernetic life like himself isn't usual, even for a place like this Vaikuntha. So he lets people stare if they want while he sorts through the small pile of pamphlets he's been loaded down with, while seated somewhere in the cafeteria. He's not eating anything-that might be an issue down the line, though his Energon reserves right now are good-but the pamplets have been neatly organized in front of him; to his left is the pile of ones he hasn't read yet, there's one currently in his hand which he is currently reviewing, and then to his right, neatly stacked, are the pamphlets that he has already absorbed. If you wanted to grab a pamphlet he's already read, or just ask him about himself, Megatron doesn't mind being bothered.]

Guilds
[Megatron has settled on two Jobs that will serve him well; Chemist and Scholar, reflecting his revised philosophy. He's now spending some time in each of the Guilds getting to know the ins and outs of his chosen professions.]

[In the Chemists' Guild he can be found in one of the laboratories with his head in a book of formula. He wants to make sure he understands the fundamentals before he tries his hand at any serious concoctions.]

[In the Scholars' Guild however, he can be found examining the books in the library; it's quite an impressive collection. He's also already tried out some of his abilities since there's a fairy perched comfortably on his bucket-like helmet. Megatron apparently doesn't mind this.]

"This is a very efficiently-organized library...though I suspect Magnus would probably be able to give them advice on how to make it more efficient." [He appears to be talking to the fairy though anyone nearby can think he's speaking to them.] "I should try to invite him here; he'd probably enjoy it."

Getting a Job
[Megatron is standing in the lobby of a hospital in Vaikuntha. Not normally the sort of person you'd expect to see there, but clutched in his hands is a very well put-together resume, explaining his presence. He's never had to write one of those up before; it's not like he ever had to apply to be an Energon miner thanks to his altmode and the dictates of Functionism and the gladitorial pits of Kaon had...different application processes, but they seemed relatively easy to put together once he'd read up on them. That said, now that he's here, he's not...entirely sure who he should be talking to. So when he spies a member of the hospital staff, he approaches them, and coughs politely to get their attention.]

"Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could assist me with something. I'd like to apply for a position on staff here, but I'm not sure who I should talk to about that."

Library

[dreamwidth_account]

I agree. This library is exceedingly well-stocked. It is the sort of thing that Magnus would indeed enjoy, were he here. Fortunately, he is not.

[Rogal Dorn's taciturn gaze fixes on this machine. The second sapient servitor in one day. If he were a techpriest, he would be overjoyed. He is not, however, a techpriest. His level of joy remains, as per usual, at a level of careful ambivalence.]

I was unaware he kept the company of xenos.

Hannah McCracken | OC

[seedofsass]

J. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (potentially multi-character? specify!)

"By any means necessary, eh?"

Hannah cracked her knuckles. What better place to get Likka's newest CD than at her palatial mansion? She'd been in town for a good week, first getting used to the layout of the city, spending some time in the library looking up old maps and schematics (out of experience, she'd spent a large amount of time researching the sewer network) and finally casing the singer's home itself. Now all she needed was a few party members and she could get this heist underway.

H. Mognet

THANK CHRIST there are cell phone tablet things here, i honestly have no clue what i'd do without it.

so basically the deal here is that this is some sort of coma dream or maybe i'm dead or dying and this is one of those dreams that you have before you die, of like all the disparate parts of my psyche being like characterized or personified or whatever so i can work out my shit.

and this is what i get?

I never even played video games, that was my little brother's scene. this is lame. I would have thought my coma dream or before dying dream or whatever would be like...idk, maybe i'd be some like fashion intern and something goes wrong but i save the magazine or fashion week or something. like devil wears prada, but more glamorous somehow. less pale, anyway. so what would your coma dream or before dying dream be?

alternatively, best christmas present? because if there's one thing that proves this is some sick joke my dying brain is playing on me, it's that christmas still exists here tbh

Mognet

[middlesister]

You've read The Devil Wears Prada, too?

[Poor bookworm Maggie doesn't even know it's a movie.]

Izuku Midoriya | My Hero Academia

[tryhardhero]

A. Guilds
This was all en exciting new journey for the young man currently standing before the guild attendant, and he was listening to the person speak quite intently with a freshly procured notebook in hand. As the representative spoke, he nodded along and wrote notes furiously.

"I see. So two jobs can be equipped at a time, and can benefit from the strengths of the other, but it takes time to switch between them," he repeated back in a mutter, summarizing what he'd just been told. "So no power combos, but I'm sure I could find a way to time things just right and use each job creatively to get one up on my enemy..."

After a moment he snapped the notebook shut with a determined grin. "Alright! So if I take Scholar and Monk, I'll have a great balance of brains and brawn. This doesn't sound so hard after all!" And then he turned around and promptly tripped into someone. Sorry!

B. Random Encounter
Imagine being completely new to the world, walking along, minding your own business, when suddenly you're being menaced by a large rock humanoid. It was a golem, but Midoriya didn't know that.

"Stay back! I'm warning you!" he shouted at the beast, taking a few hesitant steps away and dropping into a fighting stance. This was a new place, maybe the person was just as confused as he was? But then it took a swing at him and only his quick reflexes saved him from becoming human paste on the road. And so it was on.

"Alright, you asked for it!" The young man clenched his fists and took a running start at the beast, one arm drawn back for a punch that was supposed to hold a lot of momentum. "DETROIT SMASH!!"

Unfortunately for him, the crack that could be heard when his fist connected with the rocky shoulder was the bones of his hand, not the stone beast itself. The golem didn't even flinch, only backhanded the small annoying human away.

"I forgot I don't have my quirk here," the injured boy groaned to no one in particular as he scrambled to regain his feet. Broken hand? He'd had worse.


C. Christmas!
The decorations were all so splendid, and Izuku couldn't help but marvel at them as he wandered down the lane. The lights were so vibrant and abundant! Everyone seemed to be celebrating. It truly was a sight to see.

"Is this what Christmas is like in Europe and America?" The lights reflected off of wide green eyes, causing them to shine in their own way, like a kid viewing Christmas for the first time. It was magical to him. "It's all so beautiful!"


D. Wildcard
[I'm down for whatever, just start something and I'll play along.]

[Guilds]

[peace_through_empathy]

[And runs smack into Megatron's Autobrand.]"Watch out-" Megatron stops as it happens. "Apologies, but you should be paying more attention to where you're going. This is a busy area. Are you all right?"

Plague Knight | Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows

[plagueofshadows]

A [Retrieval]:

It had been such a lovely dream; oh, the day he has finally professed his feelings to his partner in crime, and they made that lovely explosion out of the Enchantress' tower. Watching it all fall to pieces in glorious fire... They'd danced and danced together, afterwards. Alone, in their lab. But... It's cold. Why does he feel cold? He'd felt nothing but warmth that night, he'd...

"Oh... Eugh! Where am I? This certainly isn't anyplace I recognize!" Plague Knight pushes himself up to his feet off of the bed, glancing around blearily, reaching up to rub at the beak of his mask for a moment. "Definitely not the Iron Whale! No, that's certainly not water out through that window over there." He turns to you, "Hey you! Do you know where we are?"


D/F [Guilds/Sidequests]:

"Well! If I've got to relearn all my alchemical knowledge, I'd best get started, hee! There's only one guild for me! But you all need more bombs, hee hee!"

Plague Knight has ventured to the storied, venerable city of Arito in search of the chemist's knowledge, and now, a fully certified newbie chemist, he lacks direction. So where else is there to go but the job board? The odd little fellow is looking over the posted notices with an air of slight confusion. "Are you looking for work too? Maybe we can go pick radishes together, hee hee!"

Sidequests, why not

[ba_da_boom]

"Do my ears deceive me? Pickin' radishes, you oughta be ashamed! Ain't you got any pride in yaself?!" It would seem that someone actually smaller than Plague Knight has come to bother him. "C'mon! You got all kindsa monsters and stuff ready for a fight and you wanna sit here pickin' produce! It's these guilds and asterisks and all this curti center junk, they got you convinced you can't do anythin' for yaself without their help, and ba-da-boom, you're runnin' errands for them like a precious pooch what's been taught ta fetch! It's enough ta make me sick, I tell ya!"

Nicole the Holo-Lynx | Archie Sonic (reboot)

[sparkoflife]

Curti Center

There was a lot of strange noise going on as numerous doctors were busy looking over one of the newest arrivals - a strange humanoid lynx girl. Probably the reason for all of this was the fact that she kept bugging them to check her over, that she was alive. Of course, after spending years as an AI, then a hologram and now flesh and blood, she had to find out if it was true.

As the doctors scatter, the lynx girl will happily flag you over. "You? Are you a doctor? I mean, I understand if you're not, but touch me! Please!" She said, smiling widely.

Guilds

Well, Nicole had no idea things would turn out like this, but here she was, taking up her first "active" combat role. As much as she preferred staying in the sidelines, the Magitek Knight spoke to her. Thus, she had found her way to the Guild and go through everything.

She let out a small sigh. "So, I gotta go through orientation. Can't be too boring, can it?"

Get a Job (the other kind)

Despite all the chances and time in the world to settle down and take a more relaxing job, Nicole honestly just couldn't do that. She spent six years - her entire "life" - helping her friends save the day against an empire of machines and those who could hurt them, so it was time to apply that knowledge the best way she could - through the military.

"I hope I'm not doing something wrong, but I feel like I need to do this." Nicole said, letting out a sigh as she faced the recruitment offices.

Random Encounter

"HAAA!"

Nicole swiped at a beast with her Magitek Knight's gunblade, knocking it back somewhat. She had wandered into a group of people under attack by it and her heroic nature just couldn't let her back away from such a thing. She had to help them. Of course, despite her best efforts, she was kinda-sorta in over her head.

"Er... nice beast? Good beast? J-Just go on and run away. Okay?" She said, grinning sheepishly.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

To be honest, Mobius her world didn't have something like the Star Light Festival, but it was so amazing! The lights, the decorations, everything! Of course, Nicole just had to get involved in some manner.

Perhaps you'll catch her putting decorations up in her room. Or maybe find her caught in the throngs of shoppers trying to find the best gifts (and her being 2-3 feet tall, being overwhelmed). Or perhaps you'll catch her under the mistletoe, blissfully unaware of what that means.

Wildcard

(OoC: Got a suggestion for a prompt? Hit me up!)

Re: Curti Center

[plagueofshadows]

"A doctor? Me? Well yes, but probably not the kind you're looking for, hee!"

Plague Knight prances over to the lynx, twirling his cane and then leaning forward on it to peer at her. "Now why are you so insistent that someone touch you? What a strange request! But sure!"

He leans forward, and gives Nicole a prod with one gloved hand, "Feels like a furball to me, hee hee!"

Tyzias Entykk | Hiveswap Friendsim

[tiredcharmer]

RETRIEVAL
Well. This was certainly a thing that was happening. Really, the fact that anything was happening to Tyzias was extraordinary, since she was supposed to be dead. Super dead, in fact. The kind of dead you could only get if you were obliterated into atomic ash, which was exactly what had happened. But now here she was, very much alive.

After spending a few minutes contemplating the absurdity of existence, Tyzias rolls out of her cot, groaning, and begins staggering towards the front of the ship. "Can somebody please tell me wwwwhat the fuck is going on?" she pleads, massaging her temples.

CURTI CENTER
Tyzias can't help but to crack a grimace as the medtechs freak out around her, poking and prodding at her horns (really, how fucking rude could somebody get?), her chitin, her hair... all whispering and giving her freaked-out looks. It was entertaining, but she really had better things to do than sit in some primitive hospital waiting to become some researcher's personal science project. "I'mmmm--" she says, moving to get up.

"No no no no!" one of the nurses insists, pushing her back down. "We just need to run a few more tests."

Tyzias mouths "help me" at the nearest bypasser.

GUILDS
It was almost scary how eerily similar the Scholar's Guild was to the bookhives back home. The same tense energy of students with a paper due tomorrow, the same hushed whispering that nevertheless dominated the whole room, the same ever-present smell of coffee (apparently students in all worlds needed some sort of stimulant to not collapse into a sobbing mess). The only thing that was missing was the Brain Room, and honestly Tyzias found that place kind of creepy. Smiling ever so slightly, Tyzias immediately delves straight into the library.

Curti Center

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa steps down towards the end of the room, holding a clipboard before he glances to the side and notices the grey-skinned person looking.. a little overwhelmed. He smiles, and steps closer, glancing at the others in the room.

"Ah, hey, I'll take over from here, alright?" He says, helping thin the herds of nurses as he sits down next to her, replacing his own clipboard with the one on the end of her bed.

"Sorry about that. They gave me the same treatment. How are you feeling?"

Hildibrand Manderville | FFXIV: STORMBLOOD (No spoilers for SB Quests)

[gentleman_of_light]

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The holidays actually saw a change in Hildibrand, mostly of a slightly melancholy mood.

His parents were very much into the holiday spirit and it brought about memories of his childhood, and it was here that he was found at the house, humming Starlight Festival songs under his breath with a soft tone, hanging decorations and generally being as un-boisterous as possible. It was a rare treat to see the Manderville Scion so soft spoken right now, but right now, it was a time for cherished memories, not antics and powerbombs into the soft snow.

Dressed in a red suit, Hildibrand hung up the stockings, one for each of his roommates and smiled. "Ah! Come, come, visit with me by the fire. The chilliness of the day is coming. I've got a roast on today. Although Nashu does the cooking usually but she's not really here, so I've got some brains in the oven."

He's... probably joking about the brains.

Probably.

Shopping

Holiday spirits as Hildibrand is loaded with things, as he wishes people a happy Starlight Festival, his arms piled to the brim with presents. It's like he fit right in here, like he dove deep into the recesses of the world and came up with the fitting of the trees.

Decked in a reindeer costume with a merry pom on his head, he and his moogle carried presents and handed them out in his father's stead. After all, the great saint was not here, at least not that they knew of. Right?


Traditions

"Please madam, t'would be a crime of passion to bestow upon my lips for this one time!" Exclaimed Hildibrand as he stumbled across the Mistletoe patch. There's so many mistletoe, and no one is safe.

No one.

Help?

traditions! also, i'm not sorry about yotsuyu.

[tsukinohiganbana]

Yotsuyu is miserable right now. She takes back everything she said about the other stupid holiday event. This one is worse. This one is so much worse.

When Hildibrand approaches her, she doesn't look pleased. She actually never looks pleased, but she manages to look more sour than usual.

"No. And if you ever come close to me again, I'll make sure that your lips never bestow a 'crime of passion' again. Do you understand me?"

She's probably joking. Probably. Not really.

Crystallis Ra-Lynn | FF XIV OC

[the_wandering_scion]

Curti Center

"Oi, oi. Please, all of you! Back off!" Crystallis really couldn't stand so many doctors trying to poke and prod her. Bad enough everything from bugs to Garleans and everything else in-between and beyond wanted to do the same to her (seriously, she doesn't have the Echo - why do people think she does?), but now doctors from another world. "I have my personal space and my reasons for having it, so if'n you are quite done, pray be off with you!"

The Mi'qote bristled a bit at that. "Seriously! Why does everyone think I'm something great?!"

Guilds

"...you call this a Dark Knight? Here, give me that!"

When she learned of the Dark Knight being offered as a Job here, she had to find out. Sidurgu would either be proud or annoyed at that. At the end, she determined it to be "annoyed"

"No, no! Darkness, darkness, darkness! Darkness is great and all, but darkness with no justice is meaningless! You're just training people to sling around dark magic for no reason!"

Get A Job (The Other Kind)

Crystallis needed to channel something somewhere and this was probably one of the best places to do so - with the military. She joined the Twin Adders to make a difference in Eorzea and it almost seem natural that she would follow in those footsteps and join one of the military here.

Of course, there seemed to be a line of sorts.

"Twelve help me, this line is the worst!" she groaned.

Random Encounter

"Augh! Hells, what is with this power?!"

Crystallis had to step in and fight off these monsters from terrorizing these people. It wasn't until she performed the Soul Eater skill to finish off the last that she collapsed to her knees, her sword planted into the ground.

"The job back home wasn't this draining. Was whoever made this a masochist?!"

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

"The Starlight Festival! Oh, how wonderful!" Crystallis was so excited! If there was something that would put a smile on her face, it was this! The decorations, the possible gifts, all of it!

Of course, she was unwittingly positioned under some mistletoe, so she's unprepared for anything like that.

Wildcard

(OoC: Got an idea? Hit me up!)

Let me know if anything needs changed! o7

[tsukinohiganbana]

Yotsuyu does not like the doctor. Yotsuyu does not like other people. Yotsuyu does not want to be here, but was dragged here against her will by a very insistent moogle. Yes, she had been coughing. She had also endured much worse. But apparently, to Kuposagi, that meant she had a deadly illness, and at this point there was very little Yotsuyu wouldn't do to get the moogle to shut up.

When she sees a Miqo'te at the doctor, her curiosity is initially peaked. It was only a matter of time until someone from Eorzea showed up. If anything, she's grateful that it's nobody she knows.

"I can assure you that nobody here thinks you are great, girl. However, this is a routine for all of the new arrivals. Cry all you please, they won't let you out of it."

She takes a huff from her pipe. Should she have brought that into the doctor's office? Probably not, but it's not like anybody would tell her no.

Hope Estheim | Final Fantasy XIII | Previous memories intact

[distantfuture]

Curti Center

"I assure you, I'm well," Hope sighed for the umpteenth time, sitting on a cot and holding Mogki, still wearing that teal scarf, in his arms. Some of the nurses remembered him, it seemed some things never changed. Hope still held Mogki like a child holding a stuffed toy close. However, there was a slight pensiveness to his features, older that they were, and one hand cradled the back of Mogki's head. As though at any moment, the creature would disappear. Or worse. "Please, I would very much like to find out more about what has happened since my absence."

The nurse sighed, hands on her hips. "Oh, alright, Hope. But you are not the first to have come back physically aged! This is something that we should really get to the bottom of. But, I suppose reuniting with any of your friends wouldn't hurt for now. Just promise you will return?"

That earned the woman a smile, a real one. "I promise. Thank you."

The nurse made a "scoot" gesture and Hope was out of the infirmary. He let go of Mogki for now, but the moogle settled on his head while the young man crossed his arms. "Mogki, what happened while I was gone?"

"Um...I don't know, kupo. I was in the DW too, kupo."

Oh, boy.

J. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well, it was one way to earn cash. Hope wanted to take a moment to get as much news as he could on the progress of the possible end of the world, last he remembered. But it seemed that Star Light was coming up and no one was going to be stopped! Not even the end of the world.

So, at the Curti Center and on the airship, Hope helped decorate. Being 5'11" definitely made him popular with some of the staff although he was pretty sure there were other taller folk around. Except those who asked happened to also be ladies and Hope was reminded of his Academy days once more. But, he merely gave a smile and a nod because of course he was going to help.

"Here you go, Hope, kupo!" Mogki held up a box of hooks for Hope to use to hang the lights, who stood by one of many of the windows on the airship to decorate. Still, some places were still too high so a step stool was nearby.

K. Yun'Ashia - Locked to FFXV cast

Hope walked slowly down the now familiar path to the homestead. He was told most of the inhabitants were still there. Include Jasmine, his chocobo from Pulse. He had also finally changed into a familiar set of garb, although sized for his 27 year old self rather than 14. It really did seem like so long ago that he was here. His bag was stuffed with his old clothes and potions and Mogki rested on top of it, sleeping to the gentle swaying as he slowly approached the two homes and the chocobo farm.

One very large chocobo recognized him easily, trotting over quickly with a Wark! Hope stopped with a bright smile, reaching out to stroke her feathery tendrils and beak while she sniffed and nuzzled him. It was amazing that she recognized him at all, but he was glad all the same. "Hey girl, have you been good?"

[Will match whatever style you want!]

J.

[seedofsass]

Hannah dragged her feet as she walked across the room, a large box full of ornaments and holly in her arms. She wobbled slightly before putting it down, shaking her head in disgust. It was going to take a long time to get used to being so weak.

"Are you Hope?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I was told to bring you more stuff to put up." She gave the box a light kick - and, of course, a crack can be heard from deep within the box's confines, barely muffled by the holly. "Oh - man, come on! Seriously?" She huffed as she crouched next to the box, fishing around to see what it was she broke.

Bedivere | Fate/Grand Order

[ordinaryknight]

[OOC: Class is Swordmaster.]

[Arrival]

I'm alive? How...? Where is this place?

[Bedivere's voice is soft as he takes in his surroundings. Having just awoken from what he was certain to have been the end of him, he is understandably confused. He had thought for certain--no, had known for certain that he had fulfilled his goal and duty thereby bringing his long journey, and life, to its close.

And yet, as he looked down and took in the Arm of Nuadha, it was like he hadn't done that at all. Though what puzzled him the most was that he could not feel the magical energy housed within the arm. It's only when he notices another's presence that he collects himself, lifting his head to face them and tucking his concerns away. They could be dealt with later.]

Ah... hello. My apologies, I didn't notice you until just now.


[Airship]

Amazing. The ship really does fly.

[It's more directed at himself and to no one in particular, but Bedivere couldn't help voicing it out loud. Magic was something he had witnessed before as a Knight of the Round but never had he ever thought to see a ship that would sail the skies rather than the sea.

He stands near the railing, awe naked as day on his face and taking in the view.]


[Wildcard]

[OOC: Open prompt.]

Airship

[maximum_mighty]

Yeah it does. It reminds me of the fantasy stuff from my home town, that I see in books.

[This coming from Emu, who has his hands in pockets.]

Asuna Yuuki | Sword Art Online | Please, NO Kiritos

[stayed_solo]

Curti Center

Asuna couldn't really pinpoint the exact moment that she realized this, but here, being watched over by doctors of different races, was the moment that she knew she was no longer in "Sword Art Online". Aincrad didn't have this wide variety of races at all. Was she in a different game now? She had to be. Maybe this was part of that sick game Akihiko was playing on them. She had to know. She had to find out.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry, but... is this still Sword Art Online? I hate to admit it, but I think a few people might be worried about me."

Up in the Air

There was something so... so different about being here in this world. She wasn't bound by a terrible fate. She wasn't destined to either run and hide or fight and die for some sort of monster's sick pleasure. This felt like what a real game should be... at least to her.

And being up in the air of an Airship, actual wind blowing against her face and letting her hair whip around? For the first time in awhile, she truly felt alive.

"This is amazing! I could stay here forever! What about you?"

Let's Be Adventurers

Okay, Asuna could do this - a simple cave dive without needing to fall back on frightening ideas or schemes. Just go in and see what is inside so others can safely mine.

"...I shouldn't be so excited for something that could kill me, yet... here I am. This sounds so fun!"

Get A Job (the Other Kind)

Of all the jobs Asuna could have gotten, Weapon Store Clerk was the worst. It was so boring! Barely anyone showed up to buy anything and if they did, it was something basic before disappearing.

If you happen to sneak in, you just might find the fledgling clerk asleep on her desk.

Traditions

Christmas time? Already? Man, how time flies! But, without the fear of the horrific death hanging over her, she actually has reason to celebrate.

Of course, you'll probably find her curiously under the mistletoe. In her mind, she deserves it.

"Please, no Kiritos" is a rule to live by.

[bladeofconquest]

Curti Center

Corrin is also in the medcenter getting looked at; of all the people to pick up a cold while tromping through the Northern Territories of course she had to be one of them. Possibly the only one. Back in Nohr, such a thing would be dealt primarily with bed-rest and warm, nourishing soups, but Vaikuntha's medicines were more advanced. Still, the doctors are also using the chance to give her another check-up just to make sure there's nothing else wrong.

She's sitting nearby when Asuna speaks, so Corrin pops the "thermometre" out of her mouth to better speak. She doesn't recognize the other girl; must be a new arrival. Instead, Corrin shakes her head. "No, this world is called Vaikuntha. Have you not had the orientation yet? They do a pretty good job of explaining everything to us off-worlders." She cocks her head. "I must say, "Sword Art Online" is the most unusual name for a world I've ever heard."

Genesis Rhapsodos | Final Fantasy VII | Will match your preferred format

[rhapsodist]

Locked to Angeal

[Genesis had been sure it was a dream. A very long, drifting sort of dream. Which made sense given where he had been. But then, there was an odd feeling of someone holding him, the sensation of being on firm ground, and a bone-weary exhaustion that accompanied an acute lack of mako. It was easy to feel when having had the stuff in one's body for so long. But that had come and gone, a dream.

Until, it seemed, he began to wake up. The exhaustion, the weakness, he had expected as much. Being healed took a massive toll on his body, rewriting his DNA so that he no longer degraded was no easy feat. But what did not help matters was the lack of mako in his system, which brought his healing factor down. Why? What happened? He was fairly certain the Goddess did not take it away. So, what did? And for what reason? He was too exhausted for proper alarm, but he had nothing else to do but open his eyes. What greeted him was not Banora, but what appeared to be an unfamiliar infirmary. It didn't appear like any he had seen on Gaia.

He swallowed and turned his head, tired and dulled blue eyes widening at the sight before him.]

...Angeal?

Curti Center

[Genesis wasn't quite fit to leave just yet. The staff couldn't explain his fatigue, but the redhead knew better. It would likely pass, he just needed to rest and regain his strength. He just wasn't sure how long that would take without the enhancements.

Nonetheless, he made an effort to walk around when he could, even if in the beginning he could barely make it to the gardens without feeling winded. But that was where Genesis was often found, simply breathing in the fresh air and the flowers' scents. His Moogle often brought him a book upon request, although what the book was would be different and unknown as Genesis made no specific request and his Moogle simply chose what she thought was best for him.]

Thank you, Nora.

[He took the book she offered, taking a cursory look at the cover and idly flipped through a few pages. He reached up to give her pudgy tummy a pat.]

Let's see what adventure awaits here, yes?

Oh yes, kupo! I can't wait.

[Genesis wasn't sure when it started, but reading aloud to his Moogle was becoming somewhat of a past time. She could read on her own, sure, but she rather enjoyed listening to him. And as he was alone most of the time, he didn't mind. It gave him something to do.]

Guilds - Lavode

[It was difficult to decide on a Job. He favored his magical skills and tied them to his physical skills back home, making him a formidable opponent due to his versatility. And yet, here, not many offered that. He needed to make a choice, as choosing to not fight was simply out of the question.

Perhaps it was predictable, but Genesis stood outside the Red Mage guild. He was dressed in the customary red garb and feeling rather at home despite knowing there was no way for him to master black and white magic like this. And yet, he felt it a good starting point. He adjusted the cuffs of his jacket and gave a nod with his hat to the woman at the counter who signed him up. Needless to say, he didn't miss the way she blushed and waved shyly right back. Ah, some things just never change, do they?

Now, to kill time before it was time for him to return home. What to do? Well, there was always window shopping, he supposed.]

Wild Card

[Got something else in mind? Go for it!]

[angealwings]

Easy.

[ Angeal was a pilot. He had become pilot not in the least so he could help the missions to retrieve people from the Dream Width. Because it was a necessary job, and he needed to do something that was necessary, rather than ...

Anyway.

What he hadn't allowed himself to expect was to one day retrieve his childhood friend from the weightlessness of the Cloud.

He had asked the main pilot to call him if relief was needed, and had spent the rest of the time until now sitting close by, listening to each of Genesis's breaths. Trying to sort out the chaos inside his mind (and heart) and failing utterly. ]

We're in the space around a different planet, and we don't have any of our special abilities here. It might be difficult to get used to.

[ As far as he had heard, Sephiroth had not awakened at all until they had landed. ]

Sam Vimes || Discworld

[old_stoneface]

A. RETRIEVAL

The first thing Sam Vimes noticed upon waking was that he wasn't in bed. He was in a bed, but he wasn't in his bed. He didn't sink into the pillows like he ought to, and the quiet snores that Sybil swore she didn't make were absent. Gone as well was the sound outside his window of a city changing over from the comparative quiet of night to the bustle of the working day.
Now how the hell'd they manage that? He was a light sleeper, prided himself on it- he'd been moved, somehow. Couldn't be Ankh-Morpork, didn't stink properly. There's a furtive moment where one eye drifts open, just long enough for him to get an idea of the layout of the area. Loads of people in cots, asleep, floor made of- metal? What daft sort of architect makes a building out of steel? He doesn't like the way it vibrates beneath his feet, either. Well, only one thing for it.
When he's sure there's nobody looking, he rolls off the cot and back underneath, and tries to convince himself that wasn't him grunting in pain just now. No brass knuckles, no truncheon in easy reach, they even took the cosh he kept in his pocket just in case. Bare knuckles it is, then. He really was getting too old for this sort of thing.
The unlucky bugger to pass by his cot next is the one he rolls out for, quietly as he can (which, it turns out, is pretty damn quiet). One arm goes around the throat, the other grabs a wrist and tugs behind the back, and one foot to the back of the knee- "Right. Sorry about the sudden discomfort, but I am not what you'd call glad about mucking about in a tent!"

C. UP IN THE SKY

Something about flying didn't agree with Vimes. It wasn't that he disliked heights- heights were alright, he felt, if experienced from a distance and preferably with a good solid bit of masonry between you and the bit he felt he actually needed to worry about, which was depths. Privately, he felt everyone else on the bloody thing was completely mad. How could you possibly expect a great big metal boat to stay up in the air?

Someone at some point had assured him that by going very fast, the 'airship' could remain aloft indefinitely, which he felt was even more dangerously stupid. Surely that just meant that when it inevitably crashed, it'd just make a larger hole in the ground? He glances out the window- and immediately regrets it. The ground racing away far beneath, nothing out there but open air-
"Gluuuuurh." It's the first thing he's managed to say all trip. It's not technically a word in most languages, though it probably does the job of communicating displeasure, discomfort, and a general disinterest in ever flying again.

G. GET A JOB (THE OTHER KIND)

Somehow it grated to be Lance-Constable Vimes again. He'd rebelled against the thought process behind getting settled in; that felt, on some level, a betrayal of everything he'd worked for the past thirty or so years- gods, had it really been that long? But there'd been no way home he could find. It had to work like the time he'd been Keel- a moment for him to go back to, and it'd be as though he'd never left.
But, at the same time, standing out with a poncho while it was pissing down rain in the black of night- it hearkened back to days he'd wanted to relive in some sense for the longest time. If he leaned against the wall just so, and tilted his helmet down- he could catch a few minutes of sleep while appearing to be awake.
This plan is, of course, ruined by the sound of a disturbance. Breaking glass, the sound of a scuffle, or perhaps a scream- all sounds that make the heart pound and the blood boil, and attract any copper worth their badge like a flame does a moth.

Richard and Sam have a pleasant conversation - A

[defenestraighttomyheart]

Richard Conway, for what it was worth, was minding his own business for a change.

He was off on an airship heading into the Dream Width trawling for what he hoped was a Columbo box set for seasons 4-10. So far, he'd been disappointed. All they found was some shiny white ball of light and some dude with some really funny looking socks. He was on a walk through the upper decks with a small bag of a change of clothes. He figured one good deed deserved-

AND THEN HE WAS COP GRAPPLED ONTO HIS KNEES, OKAY, WE'RE DOING THIS NOW.

"You know, this isn't the first time someone's done this to me." He stomps down on the one unaffected knee. Suddenly, Richard hurtled backwards with incredible force as a loud snapping sound signified the use of his ability to jump really, really well. "Won't be the last time, either! Hi! I'm Conway! That's how a greeting works!"

Mabel Pines | Gravity Falls

[rainbowstarlight]

Curti Center
B. Mabel was used to weird and wacky situations by now. She had to be, what with the insanity she had just walked out of alive thanks to her great uncles. So waking up in an entirely different place and asked to answer questions was tame, by comparison.

While she sat back, waiting for which house she’d be going to, she looked over the pamphlets and maps. To her, the maps seemed a bit boring until she looked over a couple pamphlets and pieced together something she could do with it. However, that required having a highlighter, or a pencil, or… whatever people used around here if not one of those two. Maybe someone had a glitter pen?

She goes up to the nearest person she can find, holding the papers in one hand and gets the person’s attention and greeted them with a smile, “Hi, my name’s Mabel. Do you have something I can draw with?” Draw, rather than write, because while Dipper would be making notes for his notes, Mabel prefers to mark things with stickers and shapes and faces.

Side Quests & Random Encounters
F + I. Okay, so Mabel didn’t exactly expect to find herself in this situation when she signed up for this quest. She’s a Time Mage (active) and an Illusionist (passive) now, so the Guilds had said, not some really strong or acrobatic type. Well, not unless she needs to be, and even then that’s usually just her dancing. Not leaning back against a ledge staring at where a bridge once was, collapsed now at the bottom of a ravine. This path was so narrow, and the door leading to a hallway in these partially underground ruins was a few feet away.

Think, Mabel, think. What would your brother do?

Her Moogle!

She asks Mogley to help her out, and before long she’s in the clear. Sort of. Getting back up to her feet and gripping her staff with both hands and using it to help steady her, she looked to see what she’d run into.

Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
J. Mabel is ecstatic about decorating. It’s one of her favorite activities, aside from knitting sweaters and various other arts and crafts. One may find her out shopping for supplies or running around her house inside and out making sure she hasn’t missed hanging something up.

And of course, she’s wearing a sweater appropriately themed for the season. One that has Christmas trees and menorahs and other candles of varying colors. It’s thick too, thicker than she normally makes them, which is good. Keeps her warm.

Curti Center

[ultimatenightmare]

In comparison, Yubel was certainly not used to weird and wacky situations, or at least, situations that they did not create. In their mind, this was stupid. They needed to get home so they could complete their mission, to reunite with their true love.

However, there's not been much progress in that department. Yubel has been doing nothing short of scowling at everything they've been presented and they had almost clawed the eyes out of a poor fool that had presented them with a pamphlet. Still, they were glossing over one that now balanced in their claw.

Most people haven't dared to approach them since their last hissing fit, so the young voice surprises them. The tall being glances down at Mabel, all three eyes locking in on them.

"Hohhh? You're drawing now? Is this some sort of test?"