Introduction Log || It's Happening Again (Again!)

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters (New Arrivals, Previous Arrivals, and Native OCs) When: June 5th Where: The Dream Width (Airship), the Curti Center, and the Housing District What: It is happening again. 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 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. Cid gives a short and to the point 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 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. Cid also introduces the other ones: his assistant Jessie, a young woman fascinated by the new arrivals, 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. After Cid finishes (and Claire grumbles at her work never being done), 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 Cid mentioned in his 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

[modelcivilian]

They are, but not like... here here. You have to catch an airship to the city with the Guild you want to join. So, for the Summoner Guild, you have to go to Arito.

[modelcivilian]

... I'm not sure if I'm the one who should tell you everything about it. She just... wasn't acting like her usual self in it.

[arosetowar]

[Well that tells her every damned thing she needs to know. Is so on the edge right now, she's millimetres away from falling into an absolute rampage.]

Are you the only one who witnessed this memory?

[promiselisting]

There is a moment's hesitation - it's not that she dislikes you or anything, she's just an introvert homebody.

But ultimately she just sighs and shrugs, "If you don't mind us stopping by the cafeteria at some point, at least I could probably use some food."

That and some of the new arrivals might end up there. She still's keeping an eye out for familiar faces.

[remnantofzeboim]

Yes! Emeralda couldn't hide her smile as she nodded. "That fine! I not mind wherever we go." She said, already moving to follow after Futaba when she started walking, her hands folding behind her back, green hair billowing a bit behind her.

A thought occurred to her suddenly. "Huh. Guess Emeralda need eat too." Now that she was basically locked into her human form, she probably needed food to live and stuff, didn't she...

[promiselisting]

Oh yeah, it's easy.

[ She's quick to pull out her own iMog slate to demonstrate. Despite having only been here a couple months, it's pretty clear the thing has seen a lot of use.

She's just about to start showing him, then pauses. ]

Just realized I never asked, how used to tech like this are you?

[ She's guessing at least moderately? He's not looking at the tablet like it's some kind of weird sorcery. ]

[lordshield]

Focus. Push this memory away. Concentrate on what's real. We're floating through space right now. Can you feel it?

[While Clarus might not know this boy yet, he felt bad for most of those who were lost to their own memories. It was an unfortunate position to be in, and he was glad he hadn't been sucked into one of his own. Also... he truly was just a boy. So young and vulnerable. He didn't remind Clarus of anyone, the knight just felt compelled to want to help and protect him. Probably much like the pink-haired woman had.]

I'll get you safely to a ship, I promise.

[modelcivilian]

Hunk saw it too.

[lordshield]

[Oh yes, she was strong, and he was so proud. But as her father he'd be proud of her no matter what she did, no matter what happened. She was his daughter, his little angel, and he'd love her regardless of whether she stood strong or fell to the ground in a sobbing mess. He'd love her even if she hated him.]

I am. I'm right here.

[His arms wide, he approaches her slowly. He wants to just run to her, to pull her into his arms and tell her how much he loves her and how much he missed her, but he's hesitant for a reason yet unspoken, as if afraid of her reaction to his presence. Regardless of how she receives him, and regardless of how strong she is, he's crumbling. This was his baby girl whom he thought he'd never see again. He'd died without saying goodbye, despite knowing his fate was almost certain. He'd left her fate up to the skill of his best men, but still to chance. The guilt was masked, but still present on his expression which was otherwise nothing but reverent towards his daughter.]

[dreamsoftomorrow]

Floating through space...?

[He squeezed his arm tighter, closing his eyes to tune out the sounds around him from this memory. He knew what would happen after. Fang and Lightning would go one way, he and Snow another.

Snow was calling for him, but he couldn't follow. This already happened, it wasn't real. It wasn't real.

The sounds began to fade and as he opened his eyes, it seemed the man was telling the truth. He gasped at the emptiness around him and he was quick to latch onto the adult before him.]

H-How did I get here?!

[arosetowar]

Only you two?

[That's manageable, at least.]

I expect you'll want an explanation. Not now, of course, but in due time?

[dreamsoftomorrow]

Seems pretty standard to me.

[He looked at the tablet properly, it seemed pretty similar to some of the tech back home. Just a bit bulkier.]

Posting onto a network and stuff is common. I think it's just the layout that looks different than what I'm used to.

[He hummed a little as he started to navigate. The friends list was easy to find, just needed to find the section for the network that would be used. Sure enough, it was first one on the list.]

Mognet, right. Found it.

[modelcivilian]

Yeah, not right now. She needs time.

[worldmother]

[ The way that he startles doesn't go unnoticed, and her expression softens somewhat. It doesn't do much to hide the concern in her eyes, but at least he's talking. That's a good sign. ]

Are you sure you're all right? You look a little pale.

[ A beat, as Elly watches him fidget with the canteen she's handed him. Time to take it slow. ]

Let's find you somewhere to get some fresh air. How does that sound?

[arosetowar]

Time isn't what she needs. Euphy has no awareness of what happened, at least not on any conscious level.

[Or so Cornelia assumes. Maybe things are different here -- maybe Vaikuntha's magic alters Geass in unknown ways. She has no way of knowing and therefore sticks with what's familiar.]

[worldmother]

You're not going anywhere.

[ Said with the sort of firm finality that a parent might have, Elly moves to place her hands on the boy's shoulders. Calm down, it's okay. ]

At least not until we've landed. I can't stop you after that.

[lordshield]

[The answer to that question was a resigned shrug.]

I wish I knew. Welcome to the Dream Width.

[It seemed Clarus had a rope attached to him that was anchored to a nearby airship, and he wrapped an arm tight around Hope and began to pull them in while it seemed people from the ship were also pulling on their end.]

You'll be alright. It's frightening and disorienting, I know. But the people here will take care of you.

[modelcivilian]

We had to wake her up from it and... considering we had to make her aware of it being a memory... yeah.

[arosetowar]

... are you saying that she knows what you saw?

[Full-on surprise. Euphy said nothing.]

[worldmother]

[ That's all Elly needs, a brief acknowledgement even as the world continues to charge forward, she has a target and an objective now. She isn't going to let him out of her sight—and won't let him lose sight of her, either. Even as they charge through the chaos of battle, the redhead keeps pace. It's been a while for her, but she can manage.

It's only when the soldiers begin to retreat that Elly circles around, taking a slow, cautious step toward Hope. He already seems to be shaking off the haze of this dream, and hopefully all she needs to do is help him across the finishing line. ]

I don't have enough time to explain.

[ Her tone firm but apologetic, and she keeps a comfortable distance. If either of them are going to make it out of this alive, she needs to act quickly.

Quietly, she offers out a gloved hand. ]

My name is Elly. I'm here to help you wake up from this nightmare.

[promiselisting]

[ She brightens considerably. ]

Oh thank goodness. You would not believe how many people I've had to teach about tech around here. There was one guy who nearly lost it when I showed him sparkletext.

There's these things called Linkshells, which basically let you create groups of people you want to see your posts and messages. It's got a private inbox function too.

[ Now that she knows he's tech-literate, she can speed through all of this. ]

But there's one linkshell, the Kali Shashidhwaja one, that has everybody on it. You can't get rid of it either. Seems like a dumb name, but a few of us have got theories behind it.

[ Well, less-than-theories at this point, but still. Her face falls a bit at the thought. ]

SERIOUSLY. STOP.

[moogleshield]

[ She should be teasing him right now. She should be giving him crap for picking on her, and they would all get a chuckle out of it and everything would go back to how it was before. A playful elbow jab and that would be the end of it.

But... she can't, and maybe it's because she's still disoriented. Maybe it's because nothing makes sense and hasn't made sense for what feels like an eternity that Iris can't just laugh it off. They've all been through Hell, but even then she can't begin to process what he must have gone through himself.

So instead, she looks up at him, the thinly veiled smile falling away. ]

Noct, what happened? You were gone so long that—

[ She stops herself short, drawing her lips together. No, she can't say that. That even she had begun to lose hope that he would come back, even if she had all but said it a moment before. She can't give that thought life.

Instead, she takes a breath, as it feels like the weight of the world begins to bleed from her shoulders. ]

I'm just... I'm glad you're okay.

[lordshield]

"And led my son to the challenge that nearly resulted in your death, I hear," Clarus noted. Oh yes, he'd been told about the whole Gilgamesh thing. "But he won." That last bit was said as a bit of a taunt and full of pride that his son had been strong enough to overcome such a trial.

But once that haughty smile faded, the pride was for Cor, and his former commanding officer nodded approvingly.

"As immortal as ever, I see." One of us had to be. He placed a hand on the Marshal's shoulder, giving a firm squeeze.

"Yarrow," the other moogle state shortly, looking the green-furred atrocity over. "What are you supposed to be?"

[moogleshield]

[ For a moment, she wonders if maybe she's dreaming again. If somehow she's been pulled back into the deep expanse of the Dream Width; and that, if it could bring her father back to her like this, that it might be nice to let herself get lost in it completely.

But she wants this to be real. She wants her father here, to be warm and solid and there to hold her tight like he had when she was small. So when he slowly spreads his arms out wide, taking a step forward to close the excruciatingly large space between them, any want or need to be strong, to hold it all in crumbles away in an instant. She closes that space in a few surprisingly large steps, half-grasping for and half falling into him. Gripping him hard as she buries her head into his chest.

It all hits her like a wave then, and as she bites down on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling, to keep any kind of sound from coming out, she feels a kind of peaceful release then. Her face is hot, and she can feel the tears burning her eyes, but she doesn't care.

He even smells the same, the faint scent of his cologne on the same old coat she insisted on sleeping with when she was growing up, on those nights he didn't come home. It's too much... ]

I didn't think...

[ Swallowing down hard, she lets her words fall away. It doesn't matter. None of it matters. He's here, he's right here... ]

I THINK THEY JUST OPENED A NEW BAG

[warpstriking]

[...]

I met with the Draconian. Was still in the middle of His Revelation when I woke up here.

[It isn't a complete lie, but it's not the entire truth, either. Yet he doesn't feel like talking about it. Yet when he tries to catch her gaze, he pushes all that aside for the sake of his younger friend.]

Iris... [Please, don't be upset for him. He's not dead yet.] I will come back. But we need to figure out how to get home in the first place.

[At least he doesn't have to ask what the last thing she remembers is, not really, but he can't answer that last sentence. Because he isn't okay, not really. And he won't be for long when they find a way back home unless... No. He had faith in his friends. And even if they couldn't change it, he would face his calling without fear. Yet he would shield her from this. For now, at least. He didn't want to overload her.]

It's good to see you're in one piece.

[Because him? Worry about his friends? ...It's more common than you think.]