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

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

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. ]

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The two men before him were familiar, although it had been awhile since he'd seen either Cid or Cor. Even if it hadn't been that long, it felt like it had been awhile.

Prompto was already wrung out from his own memories, but there were still people to save and after he'd shaken his way back into some kind of better mindset and he was back in the frey, because like Noctis he couldn't help but want to help others.

It was just luck that he happened to be in a memory he hadn't seen but he knew the two people

The conversation itself was heart wrenching and he wondered who it was lingering in the Dream Width, lost in the memory.

"Hey." Prompto called softly, raising his hand. "Hey." If he couldn't be heard at that, he would have to try something more drastic, but seeing Cor reminded him how much he missed the Marshal.

Unfortunately, neither men seemed to have noticed Prompto. Cor glanced to one side, towards Prompto, but he doesn't act like he's seeing the young blonde there. He thought that he heard something...but maybe his guilty heart's just making things up to mess with his head again...

Cid just sighs, long and weary. "You wanna know why they sent ya away, kid?"

"Hn?" Cor looks back up at the old man.

"There's three reasons why..." Cid points to a nearby window. "...and one of 'em's out there with the lil kid."

Cor glances out that window. Should Prompto look as well, he will see Iris teaching Talcott how to play 'Patty Cakes' out on the walkway.

"Reggie and Clarus knew that ye would look after their kids, especially since ye probably helped raised them at some point. Six knows they needed it - especially considering how green Reggie's son was when I first saw 'im..."

He had the feeling he shouldn't be listening to this conversation. It was so private and intimate to Cor and how he felt about losing the king, and his shield and the people from Insomnia.

Prompto swallowed. He felt guilty for not feeling bad for the loss of the people there. It wasn't that he didn't care, he just wasn't connected. He was lucky. Everyone he liked made it out alive.

It made sense though, that they might want someone to look after their kids. Noctis needed Cor's kick in the pants when it happened, and he was a support for their trip.

He tried first to touch Cid, but his hand didn't make contact. It was Cor then, and he moved over and tugged on his sleeve.

"Hey. I'm here." Prompto tried again.

Prompto would be able to tug on Cor's sleeve, but he hardly felt the pull on the fabric. So caught up in his emotions to really take stock of anyone else besides Cid in that room, or the two youngins playing outside...

"...hn." A tiny smile tugs on Cor's lips. "You're probably right..."

"Course I am. Hell, if Cindy was ten years younger...I certainly would've wanted ya to keep an eye on her until she could handle herself, if anything had happened t'me." Cid groans as he rises from his seat, rubbing his back in a manner of habit. "Just make sure that those boys don't get themselves killed when they git back from Altissia, alright?"

"I will...as always." Cor's smile widens a little more. "Though I doubt they'll need much of my direct help at this point. They're all strong enough to look out for each other now...even Prompto's improved greatly since the Wall fell."

The words made him blush and he looked away. This was definitely, definitely a private conversation, not meant for his ears.

Prompto tried tugging harder and then moved to grab Cor's arm.

"Marshal. Cor." He shook him a little bit.

"Snap out of it!"

Cor immediately stiffens as soon as he felt hands grabbing his arm. He turns around to see...blonde hair? Maybe? Was he starting to snap and imagine that someone else is already here--

Nope. That shaking definitely felt far too real to be an illusion. "Prom--" Already, the memory's starting to fade, and the older man feels far too light for his own comfort. "What the Six--?!"

"Hey!" Prompto offered cheerfully, but he didn't let go of his arm, just in case he lost him in the Dream Width.

"Um, look this is not reality. I can explain. On the ship I mean. Airship."

Prompto tended to ramble when he was nervous and Cor probably already knew that about him. He was an intimidating man, after all.

"So just hang on?" He smiled. He seemed to kick off of something, it wouldn't be more than a few steps to the airship. Prompto wasn't going to let go, at least until it was safe.

Cor's still rather shocked to see the younger man by his side, holding on to his arm, instead of being off across the sea with their young king. But then their surroundings fade, and he feels pulled along in some kind of strange, chilly place towards something...metal?

"There better be a good explanation..." he manages to mumble, even as he feels a little light-headed from a combination of shock and the Dream Width slowly fading around them.

"I don't know about good, but there's an explanation, sir."

Prompto took a breath and pulled. Any last remnants of the dream would fade away and they would find themselves safely on an airship, the floor solid beneath them.

"This is a whole other world! If you can believe it." He smiled brightly, trying to be friendly, because that was big news as far as news went.

Finding himself inside someplace metal and humming is only a milder kind of shock to Cor. This, at least, isn't quite as surprising, though he keeps looking around as if he's expecting some kind of enemy to pop up any second.

"...what do you mean by 'a whole other world'?" Because he doesn't think that Prompto would be joking (much) about that kind of revelation. "...and is there a place to sit and chat?"

At least, for the time being, there weren't any enemies lurking around corners to pop out at them.

"Yeah." Prompto answered, he looked a little tired finally, but he'd been running around a lot to distract himself.

Now that they were on solid ground, he let go of Cor's arm, wrapping his arms around himself as he walked a little deeper into the ship. "There's rooms if you want to rest, until you get to the Curti Center."

The room they passed into had soft chairs, but no one else was there for the moment.

Prompto collapsed into one and offered a little smile.

Cor stays close to the blonde as they walk thru the ship, taking in their surroundings with sharp, if not wary, eyes. It doesn't look to be of Niflheim design, especially since there appears to be actual furniture aboard.

He sinks into the chair next to Prompto, mentally noting how tired his younger companion seems to be. "Maybe later. You still haven't explained about this 'whole new world' thing, though. And..."

He pauses for a moment. "...are the others nearby?"

"Well I don't really know how to explain it, just we're in a different world than we were in." Prompto explained. "I'm sure someone told me, the information's around but it was kinda unnerving when I woke up on a ship like this."

They were flying in an airship, at least he wasn't facing a window.

"Noct is here. Ignis is here. Lord Amicitia is here too. Nyx was here, but he seems to have disappeared somewhere, and Cindy too."

He breathed for a moment. "From what we can tell right now, there isn't a way out of here, or back or something." Not that he was in a rush, knowing what he now knew.

Cor grunts his disapproval of Prompto not remembering all the facts, but he's still adjusting to the whole notion of 'Not being on their home star anymore' to have much of a heart to scold him. Much. "Make a note to plug in that whole in your world knowledge, first chance you have."

He's not surprised to hear that Noct and Ignis would be here. He'd be genuinely worried if the blonde wasn't anywhere near their young king. But it's the 'Lord' that makes him freeze - almost to the point of almost not noticing the other two names.

"...Clarus? How...? All the report I got confirmed that he died that night."

"Yes, sir." Prompto reacted predictably, because that was a reasonable thing to expect. He just hadn't been in the mental headspace at the time, but he needed to get in the game.

"He did, I think, as far as I know." Prompto shook his head. "I'm not sure how it happened, and I don't think he knows either, but he's here. He's alive. He really likes chocobos." He smiled slightly, to ease tension.

Cor just...stares at Prompto for a few moments, like he's been told that the Imperials up and abandoned Insomnia and they could all just go home. But then he laughed, bittersweet and in disbelief.

"...O-Of course he still likes those damn birds...always been a big softy for them..." No, he's not getting misty-eyed; the ship must be a little dusty and it's getting to him a bit...

"I didn't know that, but it's nice." Prompto answered, it was a trait he and Clarus shared, even though he didn't know him especially well.

"I think he's glad enough to be here, because I mean the alternative..."

But, the alternative for all of them sucked, to put it mildly. "I'd rather be here."

"...yeah..." Cor closes his eyes, taking a few deep breaths (no, they're not shaky at all) to help get his emotions back under control. New environment means that he needs to keep his head as clear as possible, even with the somewhat good news and familiar comrade before him.

And who knows? Maybe they can drag Clarus back home without him dying again, eventually.

"...you said that 'here' is another world. What's the name of this world?"

"It's called Vaikuntha. It seems alright. Peaceful enough and there's chocobos." He offered as a joke, a small smile.

"At least, that we've seen so far." He qualified, but they hadn't explored the world at large, they didn't know.

"And I'm with Noct and Iggy so that's good. We've had a chance to take a break. Talk." They had some time to process things, and talk them through.

A tiny smile tugs on the edge of Cor's lips at the mention of chocobos. "Of course it does," he replies in a deadpan tone.

"And good; keeping open communication is key in a group." He then looks around for any signs of them. "...are they here on this ship? Or another?"

"When I'm from, we've been too busy and now..." Prompto trailed off. He didn't want to tell them that after Noctis left there was nothing to say.

It was nothing but uncomfortable silence.

"Well now we get a chance to process some stuff." He grinned. "We're good. Uh, no, we were separated for this mission."

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

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