Event || Custom Fit

[eternitymods]

Who: All
When: September 10th to September 30th
Where: Curti Center and mines around the world
What: Characters assist Ganeshan in developing Custom Jobs.
Warnings/Notes: OOC Post

A. The Lab

As much as Ganeshan requires supplies to create Custom Jobs, he need help at home base. With the large number of potential applicants, outworlders and Curti Center employees are invited to help out in the lab, not only with testing transfer of Jobs to crystals, but in developing the abilities and running safety tests.

Easier said than done when all of these cats aren't roaming throughout the center and claiming everything to be their sitting spot. The interns are trying their best to catherd to little avail.

B. Job Development

The break room contains formal submission papers and pamphlets describing the steps required to develop a Custom Job. Senior employees are available to help characters workshop the abilities, but they mostly want to remain in the break rooms to avoid Ganeshan's constant Job mania. His booming voice is muffled through the doors, interspersed with allergic sneezing.

A room has been prepared for those to practice using their basic job abilities, primarily in making sure they're stable yet not too weak. There is a chance that an improper ability extraction can go wrong and hurt the user, so Ganeshan has group of White Mages are on standby in case things go south.

For those that would rather have all the fun without the work, there is the Ability Simulation and Modeling Room, where characters can design their abilities on the computer and see them play out on the screen before them. There's no limit here, and since Jessie is too busy to keep an eye on everyone, the outfits and visual effects have the potential to get...very, very silly.

C. Heigh-Ho

It's off to work you go. Those crystals won't mine themselves, and anyone strong enough must enter the mine in search of the necessary material. It's tedious, difficult work, and some of these are embedded so deeply in the rock that they might be more trouble than they're worth. Not to mention those gross bugs might not like their homes to be disturbed.

There's also the fact that monsters have a tendency to wander inside and attack, so they'll need some reliable body guards.

There should be more crystals deeper inside, but someone else will have to scout the area...

D. Explore the Dungeon

Which is where this team comes in. All the good stuff is deep in this mine, and reliable navigators are necessary to map out the tunnels without getting lost. There's also the fact that the previous owners of a time long ago didn't want opportunists to take their precious resources and outfitted the rooms with puzzles.

Door Locks are puzzles. Pressure plates activate traps. It's the ultimate test of critical thinking. Some of these don't make sense if you think for too long. Why did they go through all the trouble to program time-based puzzles with falling blocks and symbols? The Pupu are strange. At least the bats here are easy to fight, and the mine cart rides are fun.

Comments

OTA

[warpstriking]

B. Job Development
Noctis has been at it for a while. That much is obvious by the way the lines of fire and ash crawl from beneath the glove on his right hand and up the exposed arm to the thin lines of embers on his neck and cheek, yet as he pauses to take a breath, the lines fade; the skin rejuvenates from ash to freshly healed tissue. He takes one breath, then another, before he tosses the borrowed sword across the room; it sticks in the wall just above the ceiling and he dangles from it, feeling his mana rejuvenate from nothing. And just like that, the blade sings through the air again. Though if he notices someone other than the lab techs watching, he smirks as he does it and says one 'word': "Yeet-!"

...Before disappearing in a sea of white and blue sparks for a second time, leaving a holographic double where he'd been hanging around as he reappears by the first. What can he say? He's a memelord, and it'll be funny later. Though there is a marked difference: no burns this time. What could have caused them in the first place, or the regeneration?

The lab techs are stumped, and he'd rather not tell them at all.

A. The Lab
Unlike the lab technicians who've been having a difficult time herding the cats, there's one person who all he has to do is walk by and suddenly there's a cat or two following him.

They recognize one of their own the scent of fish in a small container held within his hand; cooked fish. For he, like them, is a picky eater with an itch to fish. He leads some of them into a quieter corner of the lab, away from all the loud blasts and clangs in the testing room, and sits down. He may or may not be completely surrounded by the felines, a few climbing on his lap and others pawing at his legs, wanting to get up but unable to.

Thank the gods for summoner robes, or else he'd have a Problem. He scratches the white kitten on his shoulder just under the chin as he lets her eat from his container. "Looks like we've made quite a few friends today, huh, Stella?"

"Stella" purrs contentedly, and he smiles, but it doesn't last. The moment he thinks no one is looking, the carefully guarded expression fades into something far more solemn. Even if it's hard with all these purr generators climbing onto him.

... It's been a couple hours. Help?
> Yes
> No.


[ ooc: I'll match your style. ]

B.

[regisrex]

While most of the time Regis spends here is trying to keep as many cats as he can from interfering with work, his curiosity does get the better of him sometimes. He... is not up for the work itself, but he can observe. Perhaps he can advise, though he is far from certain about that.

... then his eyes fall on Noctis as he passes, and he freezes in place, the head of his cane digging into the skin of his palm; the scars on his face (and elsewhere) twinging sympathetically.

He will ignore the 'yeet' right now, eyes full of concern as he steps into that part of the lab.

"Noctis." Mildly. "How long has it been since you took a break?"

He knows that his son is unlikely to burn through as Nyx Ulric did. Yet...

[warpstriking]

He just about freezes at the familiar voice, turning his head to see his old man walk into the testing room. He blinks, frowning before the blade disappears into the Armiger. Come on, Dad; they both need the laugh after everything. No one's going to judge here too harshly save themselves.

"About ten minutes," he replies, not about to lie to his father. Most of it is healed by now. Most of what he'd tested is his warping and airsteps, but he'd also decided to see if Holy works. Plus, he wasn't about to rip a hole in reality inside the Cuti Center; that's just rude and far too risky for what was allowed in this one. To find that it does after so long...

Well, he might have gotten an idea. He'll have to test it on the simulator instead, yet he isn't phased by it.

[regisrex]

IN all honesty, Regis will come back around to appreciating things like that. It just... may take a few weeks until his energy levels hit that high.

For now, he is merely concerned, though his expression softens as he nods.

"I see. Frequent rests are good, but, please, be careful. It does leave lasting damage, eventually." Their magic. It is dangerous from its origin; in this place where it can only be brought via science and research, it may be even more so.

A moment, and Regis breathes out, inclining his head slightly.

"Please forgive me. I am not telling you anything you do not know already."

[warpstriking]

That's fine; he'll save the best memes and in-jokes for when he's had some time to recover from... well, being a spirit.

A faint, weary smile crosses Noctis' lips. He knows full well what the Ring would do in the long run, should he add its power to the Job. However, this was only the testing phase. "It's fine, Dad." And he means it, despite sounding- tired. He moves to close some distance, before quietly adding, "I only wanted to see if I could tap into its power with this system's limits, but if I'm to teach others our magic..." A sigh escapes him. "Enough people have been burned for the sake of our star."

He will not pass that burden to anyone; he'll be the last to burn using their Light.

[regisrex]

"Ah." The explanation makes sense, and Regis's expression eases from some of the concern in it as he reaches to squeeze Noctis's shoulder. "Please forgive me - I did not mean to question your judgment."

But even he can have knee-jerk reactions, he just doesn't full react to them until he is certain there is something to be reacted to.

"Does you experimentation go well?" Lighter, a little.

[warpstriking]

"It's fine," he says, quick to push the misunderstanding aside. Honestly, it made sense: his dad had come in to check on him and saw him both tired and burned. He'd probably have assumed similarly if he stumbled upon him doing the same thing.

He relaxes slightly at the familiar weight on his shoulder.

"Well, warping, summoning blades, and blessing drinks is..." He sighs. "Elemancy's once again being a pain, though it's more to do with trying to draw on the land here being different." Not to mention they are indoors and slightly removed from the elements. That familiar glint of frustration shows in his gaze whether or not he wants it to. He has to tell him; and he's super, super irritated by it. "There's also the problem of anything I had at home being gone from the Armiger here."

Or at least, out of his reach.

this bitch empty

[thegoofball]

[Watching everyone testing out their abilities, powers, whatever you want to call them, has been absolutely fascinating. Lance has always been mundane and had thought he always would be, and then...

There's all of this quiznackery happening. He didn't think his life would get weirder than being a Paladin.]

Are you serious?

[He heard that, Noctis, and he can't stop the way he laughs as he watches. He's delighted. He had been watching for a while, but the "yeet" got to him.

It got to him bad.]

/chucks that soda can/ YEET

[warpstriking]

[Noctis smirks at the guy, a bit of a devious glint in his eye.]

Well, [and that sure is a dagger getting chucked closer to the entrance; he follows it and appears a few feet from Lance.] my armiger is on the empty side right now, so yes.

[He's super srs. At least he got one person to laugh tho.]

[thegoofball]

[what's an armiger]

I wasn't expecting to hear yeet here, of all places.

[He appreciates your style, Noctis.]

Especially in the context of bitches being empty.

[warpstriking]

[Ask him and maybe you'll find out.]

After the beauty that was that mognet post?

[He's disappointed, but he still chuckles at that.]

One of Shiro's friends, right? I'm Noctis. [He offers a hand.]

[thegoofball]

[Makes note to ask.]

Yeah, but this is a lab. People always say "oh, now's not the time for memes!" in labs because they have to figure the problem out, or whatever.

[Can't catch him thinking that way.]

Yeah, Lance. [He grins, widely, and takes that hand to shake it.] Seems just about everyone knows Shiro.

[warpstriking]

They can say that, but memes and shitposting is just how my people get things done. Also stealth puns, if you ask one of my longtime friends.

[He understands, my dude. He lets go after a couple seconds; his grip firm.]

Yeah. Met him our first day here, actually. We were on the same airship after Biggs and Wedge pulled us out of the Rift.

[thegoofball]

Are puns ever stealthy?

[He can't say he hates puns, but...They're always about as obvious as a brick to the face.]

Ugh, so you go to know each other pretty well on the ride back? Makes sense.

[Those airship rides s u c k.]

[warpstriking]

Clearly you haven't met him. He likes to switch "knows" and "nose."

[Word games, Lance. Think about it. Think about all the words in the English language that sounds exactly the same yet means completely different things.]

Yeah. We were both seeking out information, but back then? All we had was that hologram of Biggs and Wedge to go off of. On a several hour long flight.

[They really do. Especially with about eighty people and no other volunteers. RIP them.]

[thegoofball]

Oh, geez. That sounds awful.

[He hates that? He kind of hates that. He's also kind of delighted, but nobody needs to know about that.]

And I thought the flight I had in was bad. How did you not completely lose it?

[Not everyone is as impatient as you are, Lance.]

A

[regalblaze]

Ignis knows Noctis has been training and working on retrieving his powers the entire day. He also knows his weakness for all that can purr and climb in lap to cuddle. The third thing he knows is- there's a bigger chance that Noctis brought food for the cats instead of himself.

Nodding a 'good afternoon' to some of the technicians, he makes his way to where he last saw Noctis, slipping away to feed the said felines. The cat whisperer better pay attention a bit because he seriously won't hear Ignis' footsteps.

"They are increasing in numbers by every passing day," Ignis says, one hand on the hip, the other holding nicely wrapped bento box. He lifts it: "Lunch. No greens. Dumplings and fried rice."

[warpstriking]

Wow? He feels so called out???

But, Ignis is not wrong. It's been a couple hours and the purr monsters have indeed eaten most of the lunch he had brought (it was safe for them to eat; he made sure). He may have also napped for a bit because warm and cats resting on him

...Which means, by the time Ignis gets there, he's still fast asleep. Until he hears Ignis' voice and nearly jumps. How he managed to doze off shouldn't even be a question at this point; he could fall asleep anywhere. It's been proven time and time again, and cats purring on his lap and chest; that white furball decided it was more comfortable than his shoulder; he was dooooomed.

"Nngh, thanks, Iggy," he says with a tired, sheepish look. Noctis yawns, careful as he sits up more properly, before taking it; making sure the small kitten that follows him everywhere doesn't fall off.

[regalblaze]

Ignis is not surprised in the slightest that Noctis dozed off as well. The position and place, however, didn't look too comfortable, despite the purring menaces laying and curling all around him.

"My pleasure," Ignis says and takes a seat next to him, taking away the kitten that's asleep and moving it onto his own lap. It won't go anywhere, Noct, you just eat in peace.

"I saw that you made a considerable progress. It is really impressive," Ignis admits. He wasn't sure if recreating their powers from Eos would be possible, but Noct somehow always makes even impossible seem doable. That leaves... the Ring. Will it work once Noctis is able to use his innate powers properly?

[warpstriking]

It really wasn't, but he's certainly slept in some odder places than this. Stella fusses a little and sneezes when Ignis picks her up, but soon falls back asleep in his lap. Noctis smiles faintly as he opens the bento, and slowly starts poking at it. He knows he should eat, but finding his father out there...

He forces himself to eat regardless, swallowing before he answers.

"Yeah. Granted it's only the testing phase, but..." He heaves out a sigh, shaking his head. In that testing chamber, he has to be careful. He has to because the Ring can work in there, and the fact he can teach others to use his own asterisk means that in the long run, they could be burned like so many others.

He doesn't want that, and he holds one of the dumplings perhaps a little too hard between the chopsticks.

"Wanna make sure no one else gets burned." Not because of him. Not again. He hates that so many have and are willing to sacrifice themselves for him that they all but line up to do so, but he'll never put those frustrations to words. He won't spit in the faces of those who already have and still might.

[regalblaze]

Ignis smiles as the cat finally settles for a nap in his lap and he eagerly gives her scratching and petting. He might roll his eyes at the number of animals they ended up having at the house, but he does enjoy their company.

And yes, Noctis definitively needs to eat and Ignis won't let him be until he at least takes a few bites. The events might've diminished his appetite, but getting sick because of lack of nutrition? Not under Ignis' watch.

"Small steps and no rushing. You are already on the path of getting them back," Ignis says slowly, his own thoughts drifting away towards the Ring. The thing that both protects and ruins his King.

"If you need any help with testing, I will gladly lend you a hand," Ignis offers. He's not sure how much he will be able to help, but the offer is always on the table.

[warpstriking]

Stella appreciates all of these things, purring in her sleep. It brings a faint smile to Noct's lips before he takes another bite. He knows, Iggy; yet he'll listen anyway. It's better than his own thoughts right now. Even now it feels like they're trying to choke him, but the words still won't come. Not here, anyway. At least the cats are of some comfort until they leave for the day.

"I know," he replies with a sigh, once his mouth isn't full. In all honesty, he doesn't want to rush it. Not in this sense, anyway. Though the offer doesn't go remiss, either.

"I'd like that," he admits. It'll be like old times; sparring with their own skills as opposed to the asterisks they chose. The nostalgia ebbs away some of the stress he didn't even realize was etched on his face.

[regalblaze]

There are a lot of things that just won't come out, even when you do want them to. Ignis understands that, now better than ever before. Which is also one of the reasons why he doesn't urge Noctis to talk if he doesn't feel like it. He just wants to make sure that his King, and friend, knows that he's there if he needs an ear to listen. Because... he is also one of the rare ones who witnessed the end.

"It has been months since we first came here," Ignis says absently, head leaned on the wall behind him. Then he looks over at Noctis, "I wonder if my body remembers all the skills I had before. If it does," he smiles, "we could have a friendly match."

With the greens on the line, as always.

[warpstriking]

"I remembered mine rather quickly. It's more just... acclimating what we know to the rules of this star." He tries to explain, shrugging. "There was a bit of rust on my end, but-"

Noctis looks up at the offer, blinking a few times before a smirk crosses his lips. Sparring with his friend again? Hell yeah, he's interested.

"Only one way to find out," he says, nodding towards the testing area. Though it dawns on him seconds later. "Let me guess: loser eats all the vegetables on the table. Again." Aaand there goes the edge in that smirk. Someone's becoming predictable in their attempts to get him to eat anything remotely a natural shade of green. Icky.

[regalblaze]

"Then I better not fall behind," Ignis says with a chuckle. When it came to fighting, Noctis has picked up the intensity of the training since they arrived here. And Ignis has to admit- there is something inspiring about it.

With a small smirk, Ignis pushes his glasses up: "I promise to have only the freshest veggies from Gladio's garden." And someone's already more than predictable when it comes to avoiding the greens. Pot shouldn't call the kettle black.