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

[arosetowar]

[Narrows her eyes at that. It sounds a wee bit familiar, right down to the dark entity.]

Are you suggesting that by reconstructing the world--[She frowns a little when she says this, still feeling ridiculous, like a child humouring a fairy tale.]--they're tempting, intentionally or otherwise, a repeat of the events which brought about that destruction?

[Because of course that's where her mind goes.]

[modelcivilian]

It's possible. We're hoping that's not the case. People are looking into it and the rest of us are trying to get our Asterisks ready in case.

[likewishes]

[ That's where Cornelia assumes wrong. It's not about one-upping her at the moment. It's to keep things redirected. To keep from answering questions. Saying things that shouldn't be said. ]

You haven't exactly answered mine either.

'u'!!!!

[promiselisting]

[ Well uh. This is. A surprise. The moment she sees who's on the other side of the door she freezes, eyes wide and confused, and maybe a bit freaked out? There've. Never been strangers over when she's gone to visit. Where's Ren or Makoto to run behind when you need them. ]

Um... [ Well at least he's not alone in not seeming to really know what to do here? ] Who are you?

[pishirogane]

... If you're sure.

[iMog slate out, Naoto does indeed note a new roommate has been assigned to B-02. An alert would've been nice.]

Hm... The twin room has space for one more. Though, when Kanji-kun and Amamiya-san return, I'm sure we can rework our arrangements if you'd like to have a room to yourself.

[arosetowar]

It remains difficult for Cornelia to make sense of the lion, but because it seems docile she only focuses on it when Connie does and never lets her gaze linger. She'll ask about it later if the opportunity presents itself; the same applies to the slate and to the water bottle. Though both matters are strange and confusing and necessitate questioning, she sees no need to address them right away. At least not while Connie seems troubled by something.

"Are you all right?"

[arosetowar]

[Cornelia quiets the impulse to question Euphy's certainty. It's a learning process, having more faith in her sister than she does in her own beliefs, but she wants to at least make an attempt of it. She wants Euphy to be able to speak freely in front of her.]

Very well. If you're certain, then I'll defer to your understanding of the situation.

[The "we" itself wouldn't have surprised her, but the fact that Euphy offered it as a correction gives her pause.]

We?

[hatejakku]

I'm fine! Really. A twin room is okay. [ He won't be able to sleep but he's not about to kick anyone out of their room. Gross.

Might as well try to make the most of a first impression, if he hasn't already botched it.] I'm Finn. It's nice to meet you. Sorry about this.

[arosetowar]

I would have, had you not evaded mine first.

[And she means it. She'll be forthright if he will, but only then.]

[arosetowar]

Who is looking into it?

[hatejakku]

[ There's no shame in Finn half hiding behind the door when the girl's mood predictably changes. He's seen small, angry women in action before. He doesn't want to be on the other end of that. ]

I'm Finn. [ Um. Uh. ] I'm new? [ That'll do. He's been saying it a lot lately, anyway. ]

[promisedtolive]

All right. Is it far?

[ Now more focused on their surroundings. ]

Does she live with you?

[promisedtolive]

[ He has, reluctantly, accepted the help from the moogle, but he has asked that it not follow him to the house. He's just not up for dealing with it on top of everything else.

When he opens the door to the house, he stops short on the threshold. He hasn't spoken to Cornelia li Britannia since she conferred his knoghthood after the SAZ disaster. She had vanished and he had taken a road that set them up as enemies.

After the twin shocks of Lelouch and Euphy, he doesn't have a drop of grief to wring out, but he has dread to spare. The question is... did she come here to confront him? Or is this some cruel bit of fate putting them in the same house? ]

Cornelia li Britannia.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus's mouth twitches in annoyance at a half-registered sound. Did a fly follow him in to buzz in his ear? He gives his head a quick shake and ignores it. There is too much at stake here to permit distraction. He is still faced away from his sister. It hurts too much, seeing her drained like this.

Lunafreya lowers her head again. Already, my flesh has begun to fail me. She is resigned to that, ready now to rest once her task is safely entrusted to another.

Ravus turns, looking over his shoulder in her direction, but still keeping his face hidden from her. No, I cannot accept it. Not her burden, and most certainly not her surrender.

She gasps and stares at him in shock, blinking back tears at his refusal as she turns away from him. He continues speaking, his tone leaving no room for argument. By YOUR hand, it must be done.

He steels himself and finally turns to face her, not registering the extra presence in the room. To deliver the ring and inspire the King is your calling. You. mustn't. fall.]

[likewishes]

Actually, I asked the first question.

[ Believe it or not it isn't said with malice. Or arrogance. Maybe a little bit of amusement, but otherwise? Just a statement a kid brother might make. ]

[likewishes]

No. I was actually on my way there. I finished one history book and am picking up another.

[ Necessary. Lelouch barely had studied at Ashford. Now look at him. Actually sitting down and reading a history book. Or several. Wouldn't Shirley be proud.

His shoulders do tense at the question. Another he should have seen coming. ]

Yes... She does. We've been here a month or so.

[modelcivilian]

Unfortunately, I'd only be able to point out network names. I haven't met them in-person.

[euphemia]

[ Oh right. Yes. Is this a good time to bring it up? Isn't really sure. Lelouch died, so will she experience the same reaction as she did to see her? Concern. Well, might as well... ]

Myself and ... Lelouch. We both arrived here together.

[pishirogane]

If you're sure. [Though, they still needed to talk to the person in the twin room to make sure they didn't mind.]>s,a;;?

My name is Naoto. Don't worry about it, Finn-san. It's not your fault. We're not here by choice.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Thank you, small child. Ravus acknowledges the boy with a glance, then turns to glare at the moogle.]

See? This boy agrees.

[Estoc gives Roxas a disappointed look and huffs at Ravus. Isn't this assistant-to-outworlder gig hard enough without them all banding together and denying the Curti Center's accommodations? Can't a young professional moogle get a break?]

Look, this is the key the Center gave me, and Claire will be so mad if I bring it back and make more work for her, kupo! Besides, it's only until you find your own house, and it's free, kupo.

[Beggars can't be choosers, her tone heavily implies. Ravus clenches his fist, hating the fact that the High Commander and First Son of Tenebrae is reduced to relying on charity.]

That it is. [Estoc is dead to him. Ravus focuses back on the child.] I take it you are being housed by the Center as well?

[arosetowar]

[It's a goddamned parade of the dead. Euphy. Lelouch. Now this man, this ghost. Cornelia doesn't know the truths behind Zero Requiem, but she knows enough about Zero--the real Zero--and her brother to make the right assumption. Suzaku Kururugi. The unlikely Knight of Zero. Killed in Action. Dead, yet not dead. A ruse.]

[She doesn't rise when he enters, but she tenses so thoroughly that it might seem, for a moment, like she will.]

What buisness do you have here, Zero?

[Not Kururugi. Zero. She doesn't want to reveal her hand too soon; she doesn't want to lead him in any direction. Perhaps it's a bit deceptive but so is his very existence, and she wants to see what, if anything, he will admit.]

[promiselisting]

R-right.

[ No anger here at least. Just awkwardness and mild panic. ]

Are... you living here now, too?

[arosetowar]

[It feels like bait. She almost doesn't ask. But she could have missed something, and she doubts that challenging him now will get her any further than asking for clarification will.]

And what question was that?

[arosetowar]

That will suffice, if you're willing to oblige.

[Slightly impatient, but only slightly. It's almost always difficult for her to curb her frustration.]

[warpstriking]

[It's like Ignis and Prompto all over again. Yet instead of allowing the stubbornness of the dreamer get to him, he does his best to steel himself. It's hard enough to hear the voice of the woman he loved and had heard so many times on the radio, and then in person in front of so many - strong, resilient, and resolved with quiet passion - drained and exhausted like how he was yet worked hard to regain his own agency.

Ignorant of the cost, indeed, he thinks, hand squeezing into a fist. He shouldn't be here, in witness to this memory, yet if he doesn't wake Ravus somehow, he will be trapped in here for the gods know how long.]

By her hand, it was done. [He mutters, using Ravus' own words.] Ravus, she wouldn't want you to remember her like this: weakened by the Covenants and barely able to stand; begging to have her burden lifted. She'd want you to remember her for the woman she was before this.