Introduction Log || Third Time's The Charm

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters (New Arrivals, Previous Arrivals, and Native OCs) When: August 5th Where: The Dream Width (Airship), the Curti Center, and the Housing District What: It is happening for the third time now. More outworlders have arrived in the Dream Width and must be rescued and brought back to their new homes on Vaikuntha Warnings/Notes: Only new players can put up a toplevel. Previous arrivals and established native characters can respond to new characters' toplevel posts. MEMORY [ You've been here before...? No, wait, why would you think that? You're here in the moment, everything is as it should be...(?) The memory you are trapped in has completely enthralled you. You stop questioning and accept, you relive and repeat. Luckily, you are not alone. Others have arrived to help you. The travelers in the airships will enter the nebula formed by your memories and attempt to wake you up and bring you back to the present. The dreamer's mind will shape how these newcomers are perceived and how the NPCs in the memory respond to them. For more details on the mechanics, please refer to this post] ARRIVAL [ You wake from your dreams, from your memories, on a narrow cot. There are fleeting impressions- recycled air, humming machinery, movement, strangers waking around you. The room you wake in is lined with cots, with barely enough space between them to walk to the door, though not all of them show signs of having been occupied. The makeshift infirmary seems like it was prepared to hold many more than are here. Stepping out, there is a lobby space that bears the signs of having once held some furniture, now cleared away to make space. Your footsteps echo in the emptiness. As the automatic door slides shut on the infirmary, a light flashes on the far side of the room. A flickering holographic projection of a man’s face and gloved hand appears projected in the space above the arrivals’ heads. He backs up so his upper body is in frame for the recording. An arm, covered in the same orange flightsuit sleeve, hands him a tablet. The man begins to read. A written version of the message scrolls along the bottom of the projection as he speaks. ] ’Welcome travelers’… That’s way too formal. Hey everyone. Hi! [ The second man leans into the frame to add his greeting. ] Don’t panic. You were floating out there, but we pulled you in and rescued you. Yeah, we’re heroic AND handsome. And also the only ones crazy enough to come out here to get you. [ A woman’s voice calls from out of frame. ] Can you two be serious for ONE moment and stick to your scripts? [ The two men give each other a conspiratorial eyeroll. This does not appear to be their first take. ] Anyways, no need to panic. Seriously, don’t do anything reckless. We got our fill of that with Skywalker. [A huff is heard offscreen, and the men finally spare the tablet another glance.] ‘Your pilots will be navigating treacherous environs as this message plays…’ Claire, seriously? Nobody talks like this! [ The tablet is tossed to the side and lands with a thunk offscreen. ] We’re gonna wing it. Look, everyone, we’re workin’ hard to get you planetside safely, and it’s gonna take some tricky flying to do it. So the door to the cockpit is locked so we can focus on not getting us all killed. Don’t try to open it, unless you want to be stardust. We promise you’ll get answers about what’s going on once we land. But for now, please trust us. Right now, we’re your only hope. [ The second man leans forward, close to the recording device, and presses a button. The projection freezes for a moment, and then the message starts on the next recorded message. ] CURTI CENTER [ Finally after hours of flight, you arrive at the Curti Center. The other NPCs await you having been notified of your retrieval in the Dream Width. Jessie gives a long and somewhat awkward welcome speech, explaining what the situation is: you were lost in a space called the Dream Width. You are now on a planet called Vaikuntha: for ages, the people of this world have used Airships to rescue people lost in the Dream Width, with one person being found roughly every ten years. No one knows why this happens, but this has been a mutually beneficial exchange, with the people from Vaikutha rescuing people lost in the Dream Width and the rescued ones sharing their wisdom with the people of Vaikuntha. Ten years ago, something unusual happened: two people were found at once, Biggs and Wedge. But that was nothing compared to what happened four months ago... And two months ago. And now, here you are. No one knows why such a large number of people has arriving lately, but the Curti Center is a place dedicated to piercing the Dream Width's secrets. Jessie also introduces the other ones: Claire, the woman sighing and writing in her schedule book upon being pointed out as the bookkeeper, Kupoto and Mogaruru, their Mognet representatives and finally the Native OCs: those brave and kind souls who have accepted to help you all on a daily basis. She also mentions Cid, the director who is busy preparing for certain dealings later this month. After Jessie finishes , the employees, including the Native OCs, provide a tour of the facility and help the newcomers navigate their future lives. Now is the time to ask questions and look over pamphlets regarding locations, Jobs, life in Vaikuntha... ] [ If you want to contact an NPC, you can do so on the NPC Contact Page. ] A BALL OF FLUFF NAMED MOOGLE [ It has been a long day, perhaps now you would like to find your way to a place to sleep? Or perhaps you'd like to get some answers, but you can't be bothered to go seek people out? And lo, just as despair begins settles in, a Moogle slams into you! Or stops by your side if their aim is decent... It's the Moogle Jessie mentioned in her speech earlier! And they'll be informing you that now, they will stick to you like your shadow and help you in anyway they can! They're also giving you your iMog Slate- Now you can get onto Mognet! Isn't it great? ] A QUICK CHECK-UP [ Whether it's your Moogle, Native OCs or NPCs, all will urge you to stop by the hospital wing for a basic check-up. You may disagree, but listen. You've just been thrown into a space between worlds, rescued, and brought to another world. For your own sake, that's a good idea. Should you give in and go (or should you be dragged by your Moogle or a Native OC), you will find yourself in the cold and white space very reminiscent of an hospital. For characters with specific medical conditions necessitating help, this is where they will receive it if asked. The doctors and nurses are all White Mages or Chemists, with various levels into their Job as well as medical knowledge. Don't mind the confused looks if you look like nothing they've ever seen before... It's hard for a doctor to be unable to give a proper diagnosis to a patient! For everyone else though, they'll be let go with smiles and be given a candy as they leave. No one likes medical check-ups, but it's a very quick and basic one: testing reflexes, taking your temperature and the likes. On the bright side, while you're grumpily sitting on a bed with a thermometer on your forehead or in your mouth, it might be a good time to socialize with your fellow new arrival who's having lights flashed into their eyes by a doctor. Misery loves company, after all. ] PRETTY SIGHTS [ There's plenty of rooms to wander about in, with several points of interest apart from the offices. The Airship Hangar is where the airships are kept and the first room you entered. Workers keep guard to prevent the outworlders from getting too close to the vehicles. Airships are expensive and they don't want you messing with them, after all. Venturing into the Research Section, you can walk through public exhibitions on astronomy, airship design, and asterisk studies. A good place to get used to the basic science of this world. The laboratories lie behind a thick locked door with a sign reading "EMPLOYEES ONLY". No going there, for now anyway. Not too far from there are the Employee Quarters - work stations, apartments, and lounge areas. The latter are available to the public, whereas the rest is locked to Native OCs. But if you get them to be friends with you, perhaps they'll let you visit? Also open to all is a Cafeteria - a standard food court with stalls serving all types of Vaikunthan cuisine. The Chef is a very jovial and absent-minded Hypello. Beware of long lines and crowded tables. Should you prefer open spaces, then the gardens are for you! There are different sections in the gardens around the center. One boasts a wide array of blooming flowers, another more practical with herbs commonly used in Vaikunthan cooking. One had been cultivated for butterflies and hummingbirds to visit. Paths have been laid through so that visitors can safely navigate, and moogles will swoop down and shout at anyone who strays into the flower beds. Or perhaps, you want to wait till the sunset. Dusk on a new world, but a beginning of a new life... The sea shines bright in the orange light. A good moment for quiet contemplation. ] HOUSING [The housing accommodations are the best the Curti staff could provide, given that they are still also sheltering most of the previous arrivals from the Dream Width. The keys have been entrusted to the moogles who will be guiding the new arrivals. The new arrivals can stop by the Curti Center storage room to collect some essential supplies that have been donated by charity organizations from around the world (there are boxes of toothbrushes and whitening toothpaste sent from the Zora, hair brushes from the Elezen, quick-drying towels from the Hypello, among the various donations of clothes, toiletries, and blankets), before heading to their temporary homes. The people of Vaikuntha have done their best to provide for their new neighbors and help them get on their feet. Still, things will be a little cramped until the off-worlders can find employment and move into better housing. The staff hopes they can get along with one another until alternate arrangements can be made. You can survive living with roommates for a few months, right?] THE JOB FOR YOU [An important part of life on Vaikuntha is the Job (or Jobs) you choose to take. No, not the way you earn your living. Your Job Class. Most Natives only choose one or two, but you'll have an opportunity to take on more Job Asterisks after you master your first Jobs. The Curti Center's resident Job Master, Ganeshan, is more than happy to arrange transportation to the various Guilds so that you can claim your first Asterisks. ]

Comments

Souji Seta || Persona 4

[wildlinks]

Memory

His sight was blurry. Was this fog or is the scenery just extremely dull? So... colorless. A familiar, yet barely used kitchen, glass table and high chairs. His parent sitting across of him. A heavy, yet familiar feeling settles in his chest as he listens to his father telling him they are traveling abroad because of their job.

Again.

This is fine. He's used to it by now. It is not the first and, Souji knows, it will not be the last time they will move. His mother is in other room, on the phone, talking to someone. Probably another person that will take him in for another year.

"Don't cause trouble," Souji's attention is back to his father. "He is your mother's relative, it is true, but try not to be a hindrance. The man has a job and daughter to take care of. Study hard, keep your grades up and the year will pass in a blink of an eye."

Another year to be gone- in a blink of an eye. The feeling of loneliness, heavy and oppressing, fills his lungs as he tries to argue. He doesn't want to go anymore, he doesn't want to be alone again. He doesn't want to leave. Yet- his throat closes up and the words that he wants to yell shatter.

"Of course, father."

A ball of fluff named Moogle

"Khm, khm," the Moogle clears her throat and stands in front of Souji, heavy tome under her arm with the blazing yellow title "The Basic How To's", rainbow bow and thick-rimmed glasses.

Souji smiles: "Hello. How can I-"

"I am Minerva and I will be your Moogle guide while you're here, kupo!" she interrupts him and then raises the book and shoves it in Souji's hands. "Make sure to read everything here, kupo, as we make our way towards the examination center!"

"Wait a minute-"

"Now, now," she pushes his back, steering him towards the hospital, "we don't have time to waste, kupo!"

Pretty Sights and Food

The Moogle, true to her word, followed him everywhere, yellow tome under her hand and all. He didn't mind it at all, she didn't cause him trouble, but he wondered if her helping him is a problem for her. After all, she spends entire days with him, right?

When he asked her where he could meet some new people and check if there is anyone he knows around, she suggested having a walk around the premises of Curti Center. He's bound to run into some familiar faces- and she sounded so assured that he almost believed her completely. Also, his stomach was rumbling- maybe he should get some food before heading to his new residence.

...that's one hell of a line.

"What a lunchtime rush," he said, a bit in awe. If there are these many people waiting, the food must be good, right?

Wildcard!

[ooc: Anything you want goes here! You can contact me at WindsongWitch if you want to plot!]

Persona House

[promiselisting]

At some point, he'll be found by familiar faces. At some point, a lot will be explained to him. And very likely he'll end up dragged down under the sea to the house they were all already staying in. All of those sorts of things. After all that though, at some point while he's touring the house, or getting food, or anything else he feels he needs to do to get settled in, he may notice... eyes.

Eyes and a forehead to be precise, peering over at him from just over the top of the couch.

Shy as a stray cat, Futaba watches the newcomer nervously. Like on one hand she knows, she knows she knows she knows this guy is Kanji and Naoto's friend. From Naoto's email she knows that he is to them what Ren is to them all. But. But. There's still a stranger in her house. And there was no easing into it, like there had been with Naoto and Kanji, nor was it washed out with the general discomfort of everything being new, like there had been with that Minako girl.

So she's just going to watch, warily, to the point of staring. Letting him make the actual first move though.

[wildlinks]

It was a lot to take in. Not just that he's on some other planet and away from home, but the Moogles, the jobs, the actual living quarters underneath the water. It was a bit overwhelming, even for Souji who is familiar with moving to new places every year. This was, however, on a whole different level.

He feels weird making a cup of tea underwater but, here he is. Somehow, the warm beverage always soothes him. And at first, he didn't notice Futaba lurking behind a couch, even though he had a feeling someone was watching him.

Once he spots her, though, he offers her a wide smile.

"Hi!" Maybe being too bright isn't the way to approach her... she seemed like a really shy type. "Would you like some tea too? I can make some for you as well." Naoto said it would be fine to make some for himself so he took up the offer.

[promiselisting]

... well he seemed nice enough... Or at least was trying to be. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, kneading the couch cushions beneath her a bit as she considers his offer. She wasn't as much a tea drinker, for obvious reasons. But she didn't hate the stuff so long as it wasn't too bitter.

"... what kind?"

Her tone might come off as a bit brusque but it's really just... how she hides her anxiety.

[wildlinks]

"Well, I prefer oolong, but there is also green tea and chamomile. Which one do you prefer?"

Souji doesn't mind the tone of voice she speaks to him with. He heard way, way worse. Outright insults too.

"We can add some honey if you prefer it sweeter." Not something people usually add to green tea, but it works for chamomile quite well.

[promiselisting]

She's still fidgeting with her toes. It's not exactly sweet that she prefers, just... not super bitter. That being said....

"Oolong's fine." If she's gonna be doing tea at all and not like... coffee or juice.

[wildlinks]

"Great choice," Souji nods and goes back to the kitchen to whip up the tea for her as well. He feels a bit odd going through cupboards like he was in his own house but- it's fine, right? Just for tea.

He returns back to the living room, now two mugs in his hands and walks over to the couch where she was sitting.

"Here you go. Careful, it's still hot." There's a small pause as he looks around and rubs back of his neck. "I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced like this and going through your stuff."

memory

[masqueraid]

( it's a memory— ren had been to a few by now and this time was lucky enough to recognize the signs. still, it felt a little... intrusive to just pop in on someone like this.

he's leaning against one of the walls, maybe slightly out of view until he finally speaks up— ) That means— you'll be a transfer student.

( he seems so nonchalant about being here, in this unfamiliar kitchen with these unfamiliar people— like somehow it's the most natural thing in the world. )

[wildlinks]

( Transfer student- did he think that just now? Or did someone say it? Maybe his mother.

Or father. He just brought up the papers for transferring schools. Then got on the phone as well, leaving Souji to sit cemented on the chair in the kitchen. The clock ticking on the floor became louder than even the voices of his parents.

There was no one in the kitchen. And the voices of his parents disappeared. Souji knows he should get up and go to his room to start packing but- his legs won't carry him.

The scene changed in rapid transition of black and white, the sound of trains now filling the space. He was sitting at the train station, the bag next to him. Souji lifted his gaze to people nearby, hugging, saying goodbyes.

The old phone in Souji's hands remained silent.)

[masqueraid]

( with no response, ren can only assume that he's destined to be an observer in what seems to be shaping up to an uncomfortable situation. he's unmoving from his spot as the clock's hand tick away its cruel silent seconds.

it's not the same as his situation, but it feels similar enough. the way this guy's parents were just so... dismissive. the way they laid out their expectations... but there's hardly time to dwell on that as the scenery changes, and the sounds of a clock are replaced with the rumbling of trains on their tracks.

there's a pang of something in his chest, and while he isn't sure that he can even be heard in this place, by this young man— he can at least take a seat on that bench next to him, in silence.

even if it might have seemed like it... souji wasn't alone.

after awhile, his eyes glance down to that old phone— prompting him to dig into his pocket to reveal the more recent model. his fingers sailed over the keys as he thought, maybe, somehow... )

It could be a new beginning... right?

[wildlinks]

You already did this before. [A woman's voice echoes off of the walls at the train station, pushing all other voices into the background.] You're already grown up, you can take care of yourself.

[With every word the woman speaks, the surroundings keep losing their color. Everything was slowly blending into something that barely had shape, that barely had sound.]

Don't cause trouble and study. There is nothing else you need to do. [Woman's voice was replaced by a familiar male voice from earlier. Souji seems unmoving, staring blankly at a spot on the ground as the voices rang around him.] You can do this much, correct?

[Souji's eyes moved from the spot on the ground and he looked back at the phone in his hand.]

'You're alone', [voice resembling Souji's said loudly, erasing everything around them.] 'You're alone, you're alone, you're alone, you will always be alone.'

let me know if i took too many liberties with the setting and i can re-write!!

[masqueraid]

( nothing again. crap. at this rate, if ren couldn't get through to this young man then...
WHAM it's like a punch to the chest. his body went flying through a break in the trains, launching onto the other side of the platform and landing hard on his back with a— ) Whoof...

( with the air knocked out of him. wincing, he lifted himself up with a hand pressed to his head. it seemed as though some kind of invisible force had separated him from the dreamer. this wasn't good. if this kept up both of them could be lost... )

Nngh... ( he can hear those voices, though. hear how wrong they are. is this the sort of horrible loops that futaba had suffered from? that even akechi had... )

You...n ne—! ( rousing souji from this memory was their only hope. but the trains roared on their tracks, drowning ren out as he pushed himself to his feet. ) Nev... ve... t be... ! ( he was shouting from the opposite platform, the word were filtering through the space between the cars, if they were heard at all. ) Don... up!

( you're not alone.
you never have to be alone.
don't give up! )

[wildlinks]

[The voice in Souji's head, screaming that he was all by himself and that it will never change had almost made him miss out on the odd sound that came from the train.

A voice, mixed with the noise of the passing train, lost in the screeching of the wheels and smoke it left behind. This... this feels weird. What's going on?

Wasn't he on the way to his uncle? Where is this smoke coming from? And who is talking to him?!

Brought out of his sullen stupor, Souji stands and squints at the shadows, trying to catch a glimpse between the cars of the train.]

'os the--!?

(who's there!?)

Pretty Sights~

[findingbeasts]

"--and Flavius Belby was one of the only individuals to survive an attack by a Leithfold which resembles a living shroud, if you can imagine it."

"That's amazing! Can I use that name too, kupo?"

"I don't see any reason why you couldn't. You're up to three names now," Newt mused with a fond smile as his moogle companion twirled about in the air looking rather pleased with itself.

"Flavius Pokeby Hufflepuff!" the moogle cheered before giggling, twirling again unaware that it was about to run smack into another--

"Flavius watch--"

--moogle.

Flavius squeaked as he slammed into Minerva and Newt reached out to catch both of them before they went tumbling or anything of the sort.

"Are you both alright?" the wizard asked, unaware that the other moogle's human companion was near by. "Flavius you need to be more careful, you could hurt someone."

"S-sorry..." Flavius murmured, clearly a bit dazed from the collision.

[wildlinks]

"Ah-"

Souji wasn't paying much attention either, his mind too preoccupied with food. The last thing he had was some energy bar back on the spaceship and his stomach is demanding food right now.

"Minerva, are you o-"

His Moogle huffs, dizzy and-

"Glasses! My glasses, kupo!"

And true enough, Minerva's thick-rimmed glasses had flown off her face and disappeared. The bad part is, Souji doesn't see where.

"I'll look for them, don't worry!" He looks up at the other man, rubbing back of his head, "I-I'm sorry! We shouldn't have been standing around like this."

"GLASSES KUPO!"

Souji jumps and starts looking around frantically.

[findingbeasts]

"No, no, please it's quite alright we should have been paying--" Newt starts then winces as the other moogle cries out about her glasses and even Flavius startles before immediately starting to look around for the missing glasses.

"I'll help, kupo! Don't you worry!" Flavius stammered as he moved about, circling Newt then Souji in an attempt to spot them.

"They couldn't have gone far," the wizard mused as he carefully stepped backwards and lifted his coat slightly to make sure they hadn't gotten caught in one of his pockets.

He couldn't help but glance at Minerva curiously though.

"Are you near-sighted or far-sighted?" Newt asked as Flavius zipped between his legs and up the back of his coat, patting the material down.

"They have to be somewhere!"

[wildlinks]

"Hurry before someone steps on them, kupo!"

Minerva looks visibly distraught by the fact that her glasses are missing and she even collides with Souji in an attempt to find her spectacles. Her panicking is not helping him at all though.

"Far-sighted, kupo! I need them," she waves her hands around but sticks to Souji.

"We should look under the benches over here," he suggests and steps away from the crowd. Maybe they bounced off and glided under there. Hopefully, they don't hear a telltale sound of >crack< soon.

[findingbeasts]

"Interesting. I hadn't considered the possibility, though I suppose some of the Pokemon--"

What's that about a telltale crack? You mean that sound that interrupts Newt's rambling as he steps over towards the benches as Flavius zips over to help Souji and Minerva?

The wizard freezes as soon as he hears the sound, thankfully not completely destroying the spectacles but, well, some damage has already been done.

"Oh dear.."

"You stepped on them!" Flavius cried out, very nearly flipping upside down in his frantic flailing. "Newt you stepped on them, kupo!"

"Yes I'm well aware, Flavius," Newt murmured, stepping back and kneeling so he could scoop up the damaged glasses. "One of the lenses is still alright..I'm afraid the other is no good though."

[wildlinks]

Minvera squeaks in indignation, snatching the glasses from Newt.

"Kupoooo! What am I going to do nooow, kupo?"

Souji feels as if they had just stepped into a minefield and just stepped on one of the mines that's about to explode and blow everyone up.

"I-It's okay! We'll have them fixed, don't worry! I'll help you!" He's not sure how he can help her out but he was going to. Well. He wanted to. However, Minerva didn't seem to be paying attention to Souji and instead turned to Newt.

"I held thee responsible, kupo! Therefore you're to escort me to the medical center, kupo, so I can pick up new ones." She then abruptly turns to Souji. "You can get checked out by the doctor while we're waiting for the glasses, kupo!"

...everything's going too fast for Souji. His Moogle will be the death of him.

food!

[thegoofball]

Food is something that has been drilled into Lance as being important - part of the training program Coran set out for the Paladins was eating together every day. It helped build teamwork! Except, you know. The food goo barely counted as food, and though Hunk tried his best there wasn't always consistent access to things he could use.

(At least not without a lot of bending over backwards.)

So, even though he's not confident the food in the cafeteria will be stellar, it's still food. Real, actual food. Solid food!

"Hopefully they don't run out of anything good." He shoots the boy next to him a grin - Slav looks around Lance's shoulder, the moogle muttering under his breath about the chances the only food left will be jello.

\o/

[wildlinks]

Minerva pushes her glasses up, looking a bit offended for some reason. Souji can already feel nervous sweat roll down the back of his neck.

"The Curti Center provides the best-balanced food they can, kupo," she says, pushing her glasses up, looking very prideful.

"Ah, Minerva, it's okay!" Souji tries to soften her, then looks at the guy. "Sorry, she's just a little..." he clears his throat. "Anyway, the food doesn't look bad from here. So, I suppose, as long as it is edible we will be good."

He would prefer some homemade curry compared to this, but he won't complain.

[thegoofball]

At least Lance has nerves of steel, because he doesn't sway even the slightest. (Slav, on the other hand, wilts.)

"Balanced doesn't always mean delicious." The food goo on the Castle of Lions was allegedly formulated to provide all the nutrients a Paladin of Voltron could need...but at the end of the day it was still just bright green go.

He waves a hand at Souji's apologies, not at all bothered, even as Slav huffs behind him. "It's solid and probably not made of anything that's still alive, sooo as long as it's better than the Garrison cafeteria, I guess I can't complain."

Those sure is a lot of things you could be explaining but probably won't, Lance.

[wildlinks]

Minerva pushes her glasses up and huffs: "You have to sacrifice something to have good health, kupo-boy!"

At this point, Souji grabs the too-loud-too-rude Moogle. "Minerva, please!" There's a bit of a wrestle between the two of them until she eventually smacks him with her 500-page "How To Basics" book. Then turns her back to them.

"The- The sandwiches look great," Souji says, rubbing his head and pointing at one of the stalls that sells actually pretty nice looking sandwiches.

[thegoofball]

Oh, he almost feels sorry for Souji. Watching the two squabble reminds him of the early days of Paladin training, just with less robots trying to kill (or at least injure) him and less getting involved himself.

So basically not much like Paladin training, but it does remind him of Hunk slowly having a mental break down over the food, so it's still vaguely nostalgic. He manages to bite his lip to keep him from telling Souji it's okay that Minerva's rude, because he's sure if Slav didn't have his nose in Lance's slate he'd be just as insufferable.

"Wanna go check them out?" They do look pretty good - and it's probably a good idea to get to know the new people here! Make new friends (allies? no, friends, friends first) and all the good stuff like that.

souji made social link 8D!

[wildlinks]

Minerva floats around in defiance, apparently insulted that Souji tried to keep her quiet. Well, he will have to apologize properly to her later. He heard some Moogles talking about kupo nuts? Hopefully, those will help out.

"Yeah, sure!" Souji offers the guy a bright smile and then his hand.

"I'm Souji Seta by the way. Pleased to meet you!"