memesofeternity | Test Drive Meme VII

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.

It's a familiar process now for the residents of Vaikuntha, rescuing interdimensional travelers from the Dream Width. The interior of the ship has been converted into a resting area for the new arrivals, with cots bolted to the ship's floors as well as some chairs installed for those watching over them as they awaken. Outside of the resting area, windows set into the walls of the refurbished lounge area offer a view of space. Biggs and Wedge have sprung for a few upgrades in the lounge, including a coffee machine and a few holographic gaming tables.

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 have given up trying to explain scientifically why the interdimensional travelers keep arriving, and focus more on gather data about trends and patterns regarding the latest arrivals. "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..."

With renewed enthusiasm, thanks to the previous outworlders ~~presumably~~ saving the world earlier this month, the Curti staff are happy to do what they can to help the new arrivals 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. Even though outworlders have gained a lot of status and popularity of late, you'll still be expected to share. Space isn't infinite on the island, and besides, it will help you get to know your new companions. The arrangement can be permanent if you are happy with your assigned room (and roommates), although once you settle in and earn some gil, you are welcome to explore alternate housing arrangements.

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. Like the experience? The merchant O'aka will be glad to sell you one when you can afford it! 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. Maybe you're not a Hero on Vaikuntha (yet), but the Guild Representatives will still try to woo you into picking their guild. The more Heroes of Light, the better, in their books!

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 not coasting on the coattails of the other Heroes of Light, 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 deposit 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 glitchy, so there's a 50/50 chance that your message will go to the wrong recipient. You might be better served to hand-deliver your message or bribe your moogle with a kupo nut to make sure your device stays functioning.

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! RUDE! 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. Beach Episode say what?

The sand is hot, the breeze is cool, and the sky isn't a blood-red harbinger of the pending apocalypse. Sip your tropical drink, lay back in your lounge chair, and enjoy your continued existence!

You're new, so maybe you don't know. The world almost ended in April, but after a very stressful few days ~~repeated over and over~~, things have seemingly turned out alright. The residents of Vaikuntha are breathing a collective sigh of relief, and it seems like the perfect time to relax and join in their celebrations, taking place all along the coasts. Yes, it's still a little early in the season, but this is happening, dang it!

Swimming, surfing, collecting shells, building sand castles, playing sand soccer and volleyball- you know all the fun kinds of activities you can participate in. Want a snack? There are vendors pushing around ice cream carts and plenty of people with grills or bonfires cooking up meals. At night, there are sparklers and camp fire songs.

K. WILD CARD

Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A. Retrieval]

Most people probably wake up with mild confusion, being in a new area. After all, it's probably a dream or something, right? Or maybe some people are used to it.

The peach-haired girl, instead, awoke with a start, clutching her chest, before looking down at her hands. It doesn't seem to occur to her that she might be in a different place. She's focused on something far more important.

She... she shouldn't be... she shook her head, before putting her hands back down on her lap, trying to desperately calm herself. Had she been... dreaming, perhaps? It felt too real. Those last few minutes... she didn't want to think about it anymore.

Sayori gently got up, and, noticing that there were others that were asleep, decided to leave the room. Over to the lounge, wondering just where in the world she was. But if she wasn't the only one, then...

She went up to anyone she could, asking "Wh-where am I? Was I sleeping...?"

--

[C. Up In The Sky]

Sayori could get used to this. An airship? It's almost like a fantasy world or something! She couldn't help leaning over the railing, grateful that someone had allowed her to come with them. It was... well, refreshing. She'd never felt this free before.

"Thanks for letting me ride along, ehehe." She turns to the other. "I can't believe how high we are right now!"

--

[I. Random Encounter]

Thankfully, Sayori wasn't alone when the party got accosted by monsters. But she couldn't fight... she didn't know how. Good thing she had a little more confidence in her healing. (It involved far less being in monsters' faces, and much more keeping her newfound friends safe.)

"I-I've got your back!" She tried to sound confident, but she just hadn't quite gotten the hang of this just yet. "Let 'em have it! ... Um, or whatever you've gotta do..."

Edited 2019-04-28 13:52 (UTC)

Ringabel, by now, has done enough snooping to conclude a few things. One, this is not an Eternian airship. In fact, the hologram technology exceeds anything he'd encountered before. Two, their weapons and belongings were not stashed anywhere on board. At least, nowhere immediately accessible. Three, there are... a lot of people on board whom he's never encountered and who seem unfamiliar with Luxendarc itself.

Curious.

But while he longs to take notes in a journal currently absent from his possession, the sounds of distress immediately ensnare him. He turns on a heel, only to find... a young lady, clearly distressed. Well! He'll not stand for that!

In fact, this pompadoured loser is rushing her way.

"Seems we were all sleeping. Dreaming, in fact. But now we're here, and judging by the messages, we've been whisked away to another world!" He offers her a smile. "But fret not, miss! If you've need of a shoulder to lean on, I'll happily oblige."

Edited (small phrasing tweak) 2019-04-28 14:29 (UTC)

"Dreaming...?" So maybe it was a dream. ... No, stop it, don't think about it right now. More importantly--

"A-Another world? You mean this isn't Earth?" Well, the place they're in certainly does look strange. A lot of the sleeping people look a little different than she would expect - but then again, everyone was unique.

She tried her best to keep a calm look about her, but she was very obviously the opposite of calm. Still, it was helping a bit to know she wasn't alone, both in being here and being confused.

"Well, seeing how the only earth I'm familiar with is the element, it must be so!" He raises a finger and chuckles, trying to provide a little levity. It's clear she's still anxious. "Moreover, if you look outside the window, you'll find the a lovely view of the stars. In other words, we seem to be on some sort of airship."

And an impressive one, if the celestial bodies are any indication. True, Grandship had soared through the heavens with ease, but here they're so close. It's remarkable, really.

That seemed to take her even more by surprise. "Oh! So you're from a different place too, huh?" The slight shock succeeded in causing her to smile just a bit. "I've never been on an airship before - I never knew they were even real!"

But she had to look - if they were indeed high up in the air. So she walked over to one of the windows, glancing outside in awe. "Oh, wow... we really are. It's really pretty..." Despite everything, the view outside appeared to calm her a bit more.

"So, um... if you don't mind me asking, where are you from?" She turned back to the boy.

"Indeed I am!" Seems the conversation's working well. Amazing how a little distraction can keep one's mind off more troubling matters. The smile provides much-needed relief. Progress. Progress is good!

As is her enthusiasm. Ah, but where to begin? The airships? The stars? Well, the lady did just ask a question.

So! Beaming, he says, "Well, I doubt you've heard of it, but I hail from a world called Luxendarc. A curious world where the very elements are governed by immense crystals and airships sail through the sky." Among other things. But best to start simple. He suspects the crystals will already raise an eyebrow.

On the one hand, she was always used to being the smiling one, to make sure others were happy. But this was a rare occasion - feeling somewhat relieved, albeit still confused. But that was probably a normal thing, at this point. The more she says, the better she feels.

"Luxendarc... yeah, can't say I've heard of it. But it sounds wonderful... ehehe. So airships are normal for you, then?" She drums her fingers lightly on the railing, and then--

"Wait, huge crystals? Like, how big? Bigger than this airship?"

Of course, the very moment things started looking up for her, a ghost from her past had to resurface. A ghost that had that absolutely dreadful tendency to shine and steal all the light for herself. For all intent and purposes, she was the heroine of the story. If she was to stay here, odds were that Sayori would make lots of friends everywhere while Monika would be relegated to a background role.

Some things never changed, did they...?

How long had it been since Sayori had disappeared from Vaikuntha, a year...? Was she the same one or a different one? And most importantly, what did she remember? Did she know about all of what had happened in the game? She would know soon enough.

"Oh, you're finally awake!" Greeting Sayori was Monika— She was beaming, a smile that hid all the worries and fear going through the club president's mind at the moment. "I was wondering if we'd ever find you at all, ahaha!"

Walking into the lounge, Sayori couldn't help rubbing the back of her neck nervously as she scanned the room for any sign of something she could recognize. Something, someone, anything-- she was pretty good at looking calm, but it's difficult being somewhere you know nothing about with no recollection of having gotten there.

Luckily, a voice startled her out of her train of thought -- and a familiar one at that! She turned, and, seeing Monika, her smile came right back in force. "M-Monika!?" It was her, in the flesh, smiling and everything.

"You're here too, Monika?" And then cue a confused look. "Wait, 'find me'? Was I lost? ... Oh, but you don't know how happy I am to see you, Monika. I-- where are we? What happened?" Her words were a bit jumbled, stuck between very confused and very relieved. Monika's presence always did wonders in calming Sayori down, but she still felt more questions flooding her mind.

Cruiop had woken up a while ago, and for the past few minutes had been in the lounge dancing and singing about how they didn't know where they were.

When someone approached them, Cruiop abruptly stopped their song-and-dance routine. Like everyone else Cruiop had met before arriving here, they didn't recognize her. She had asked them where she was, and if she had been sleeping.

Cruiop responded, "I have no idea! I just woke up here after jumping into the soup tureen at school."

Test Drive Meme VII

Sayori | Doki Doki Literature Club

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oh my god ringabel

he has a built in radar for distressed ladies. now watch him be a total dweeeeb

she appreciates the dweeb

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sorry for all the late replies, rl's been kicking my tail

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