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

C

[euphemia]

[ What was it with some of these arrivals insisting upon rejecting the evaluation by a medical officiant and ensure they were in good health? A secret, maybe. Anxiety. Fear. Whatever the reason, she can't help but take notice of the ones who seem to just disregard the need for safety.

Cloud was no different. Swatting his Moogle who made the suggestion and declining the need for a review. Perhaps it was time for a second opinion. ]

I insist. It's the best decision you can make here today. There's no reason to be worried if you are. The practice is very private.

[chocobuster]

[Kumo had attempted to be one of the brighter spots in Cloud's day after his bumpier arrival and awakening. between shooting down a girl who said that she knew him and continuing to reassure himself that his reality was truly his, he initially wasn't prepared to trust a place that would examine him.

the last time he got "examined"... Cloud's paranoia was getting gradually worse and worse. the more people that came to him, insisting on things that happened that he did not remember- Cloud wanted to wake up. all he had was the insistence of his newfound companion and-]

Uh...?

[-the voice of somebody else who cut through the maelstrom of clashing memories in his mind. his eyes widened briefly as if listening to that voice kept him grounded again. Kumo flutters between the two of them, throwing up his little hands for emphasis]

"That's what I've been trying to tell him, kupo! Guy sounds like he's been through the ringer and could use a hand, but noooo."

[as the moogle started going off on a minor tangent of his own, Cloud turned around to face the pink-haired princess properly. physically, he doesn't seem like he's about to fall over ill, but one could tell by the falter in that faint glow of his eyes that he was tired for a completely different reason. seeing someone else insist that he be looked at, Cloud started to wonder if he really looked that bad. with a light huff, he tilts his head to his moogle.]

Sorry. I just-

"You just this. You just that. Tell you what. You get yourself checked up, rest up, and I'll listen to anything you gotta say, kupo. You're gonna run yourself into the ground before this nice lady can tell you twice!"

[Cloud wasn't used to this, but both of them were right. rubbing the back of his neck, his expression softens a little as he looks to Euphie once more]

... [less excuses and hesitating, more acting, Cloud] Thanks. Guess I haven't been myself since I got here.

[euphemia]

[ She didn't intend on being rude at all, but there was just a bit of guilt at seeing him a bit stunned by her response. Surprised, she offers a reassuring smile to make up for her direct statement. Anything that might show she did not mean it to be rude, but merely a stranger's insistence based on experience herself.

Even if she isn't sure what he might be suffering from on arrival he wasn't bleeding for one, there was no harm in at least letting the Doctor's confirm this. She laughed a bit at his Moogle's quick agreement. Of course, they usually were pretty insistent about that part. ]

I'm sure you're eager to figure this all out. You're not alone in that regard. Yet declining a quick checkup is only going to delay things, so it's better to get it out the way while you can. That way, nothing is stopping you from your next step?

[ She straightens, hands folded to the front. ]

I'm Euphy. I was also rescued from the Dream Width.

[chocobuster]

[if Euphemia thought she was being rude in the slightest, it certainly didn't come off that way to Cloud. although that smile of hers was quick to disarm part of his tension. it seemed that Kumo could see this, and thus fluttered back a little knowing that his partner was going to be okay. he shrugs when she finishes explaining]

That's sound enough logic to me...

[but, that meant that the longer this went on... the longer he was awake in this world, being told things that sounded impossible, even in his previously fragmented sense of self...]

This is real...isn't it? [Euphy, was it? the question was more rhetorical than anything, his voice trailing off only once more before he nods back to her. she too was rescued from this Dream Width. and so was that Selphie girl. and apparently everyone else for that matter.] My name is Cloud.

[there's something softer in the way that he says his own name. not that Euphemia would know any different, but saying his own name aloud...not as some Ex-SOLDIER or a mercenary for hire, but as a country boy who had dreams of becoming a hero and a promise to keep. he had to stop himself from saying it again, realizing that he was just standing there when he should have been listening to her second opinion.]

I should probably get checked out. [admittedly, he wanted to ask her more questions. about how long she'd been here for, but that'd only mean he was dilly dallying]

[euphemia]

Cloud? [ Now that name had her eyes blinking owlishly for a moment. First 'Hunk' and now 'Cloud'. This time, however, she actually laughs just a little. She can't help it. The names of the refugees were getting stranger. ] Well you don't look like one. It's nice to meet you, Cloud.

[ It's a good thing he's more agreeable than others. A hand gestures in the direction of the clinic as she turns to try and lead. ]

Would you like some company heading there? You look like you could use some.

[chocobuster]

[when Euphemia blinked at him with that flicker of bemusement in her eyes, Cloud's own expression broadens a little. was it something he said? before he can ask, her soft laughter cuts whatever tension (if any) was left. even if the small frown he gave in response was weakened by that dust of pink in his cheeks.] Yeah... [aaand he's over it, frown gone] You too, Euphy.

...

[she wasn't wrong. it was the first time in years that he felt like a completely different person, the right person. and there was nobody he knew. he doesn't have the strength or heart to reject her. so he lightly shrugs his shoulders before following her towards the clinic, only to slowly catch up to walk in stride with her.]

I won't stop you.

[euphemia]

[ There is something strikingly similar about his temperament that Euphemia can’t put her fingers on. He didn’t seem too put off by her obvious teasing, yet she reminds herself that its best to not be too familiar with strange newcomers and try to show some courtesy. To correct the issue of teasing, it was now time to smooth over any lingering thought that she meant it in poor form. ]

Cloud is a unique name that will always make me think of the sky. Not a bad thought to have.

[ With that, she leads them off. Back to the facility where he was to be greeted by doctors and white mages in a crisp white room and the whole nine yards. For now, she hopes that her company will help him process this better. Plus, she’s happy to talk about it just to put his mind at ease. ]

They want to make sure that no one is ill, suffering, or in need of medical attention. There are some who arrived shortly after disasters in their home, so it's a standard process, I think. Or at least from what I remember reading. When I arrived, the nurses were all very friendly. They weren’t terribly intrusive, either, and I wasn't there for long at all.

[ But she also recalls a few things the White Mages noted that she wondered about. Discussions of injuries. Reviewing her body. The recalled memory makes her pause mentally and frown. What was that about anyway...? Best to not think about it, she thinks. All worries dissipate when she looks over to Cloud again. ]

What is your world like, if you don’t mind me asking?

[chocobuster]

[the sky... he reflects over her gentle words, content with being the quieter of the two as they went back to the clinic together. yet Euphemia wasn't the only one who felt something familiar about the other. could he not place his finger on why because the answer truly evaded him? or was it because of some deeper meaning? something that he was afraid to accept. a feeling that was far too soon to put a name to. that he shouldn't put a name to...]

Glad I made a good first impression. [dry as his tone was, he was already starting to relax around her. for the time being, Kumo seemed to keep to himself as he stayed behind the group. the boy was finally listening. even if it had to come from someone else this time. the two of them were going to have a good long talk about Cloud's home so that he could be a better partner for him! he had a good feeling about this Cloud Strife guy.]

I see... [as Cloud listens to her, he can't help but observe the twinge of a frown that marred her lips after she explained. yet it was such a fleeting falter in her spirit that before he had a chance to even ask, her eyes are right on him again. his world? ... it was a strange thought, reflecting back on the progress from his planet. asides Cid's dream crumbling apart, humanity hadn't even reached outer space yet. and now here he was, pulled from his own memories and into a world that encompassed many others...

how different was his from the world Euphy knew? well, he supposed that was the reason why she was asking after all.]

Let's see... [his arms fold over his chest as he thinks. surely every planet harboured things like the Lifestream, right? no point in going over that (so he thought...)] We've got...mountains, beaches, deserts- [he pauses there before shrugging at Euphemia. he can't blame her! where did he even begin when he didn't know anything about what life was like on other planets? all he could do was try.]

Maybe that's boring stuff...

[euphemia]

[ Mountains and deserts he said. Not much different from her world, but she won’t assume he’s from it. Too often she came across others who hailed from different worlds or even dimensions. Versions of Earth that were completely different from her home. The possibilites was limitless and Cloud was no different. But ... he probably hasn’t figure that out yet. Or maybe this was all still processing for him. It made her smile. She understands the confusion. Having a conversation with a complete stranger about different worlds... not exactly normal. ]

We have mountains and beaches, too. Beautiful rolling hills and lovely gardens. I’m actually rather fond of them. It’s why I’ve taken up the hobby of mainting a small garden just outside the house they assigned to me.

[ It makes her happy to think about. So much care and work put into it that kept her spirits high on days she missed them the most. A small piece of home and soon she will even share it with Cornelia. ]

I hope you’re not nervous about meeting your new housemates. I ... was a bit unsure, but... I had a wonderful friend cheer me up and remind me that there’s so much to do here. He’s a very talented chef, too. His name is Hunk! You might meet him sometime.

[chocobuster]

[when he was expecting her to maybe laugh (not necessarily at him, but...) and only being met with a smile, he finds himself at ease even more. Cloud still remembered what it was like to fight like a member of SOLDIER, but that wasn't who he truly was. but she was right. all of this was very confusing for someone like him. admittedly though...it was only confusing for him because of how stubborn he was being. yet he worried that if he just accepted everything he was being told, that he would only lose sight of what mattered.

a dangerous compromise to consider. instead, Cloud decided to intently listen to what she had to say.]

Mm. There aren't many places back home where people can enjoy gardens. ...none that are safe, anyway. [the only ones that felt like true gardens to him were the ones at the church in the slums, and the one spot below where sunlight poured through, just outside Elmyra's home. the brief reflection over the flowers that bloomed so bright in those two spots is enough for a faint smile to form before he nods] Sounds like you lucked out.

Housemates? [he almost forgot that since they were all in this together (supposedly), but it was only fitting. not that he would get far on his own. he already figured that much out back home] Probably... I haven't had roommates since the army.

[the fact slips from his lips before he even has a chance to realize what he was saying.]

"Whoa whoa whoa, really? You're a military guy, kupo?! I never woulda thought it. I mean...asides your outfit. Kinda looks like a uniform when I take another look at it..."

Yeah. [his brightly hued gaze turns to his left where Kumo chimed up] I was— in SOLDIER — part of the infantry.

[no big deal.]

And what about you, Euphy? What'd you do before you wound up here?

[euphemia]

The thought of a garden unsafe twists her lips just a little. How unfortunate, she thinks. Yet there was nothing safe about gardens in her home, either. Albeit they had the advantage of being protected, there were certainly gardens in the Shinjuku Ghetto that probably was too dangerous for anyone.

A smile easily fixes that thought, however. The fact he was sharing details at all was a treasure.

Maybe I did. [ Lucked out. Sure. ]

The people here at the Center assigns you a house you can stay in rent-free until you're able to care for yourself independently. [ And now a brighter thought. ] I'm actually planning to move out fairly soon with someone. It's exciting ... being able to live in this strange world.

[ But the Moogle's surprise did bring her back to another topic. ]

You certainly do look like someone who serves in the military. Was it a country?

[ Yet as for herself? Well, that question stuns her a little. More than stuns her. Flashes, even. The last memories before she arrived. Nothing wipes a smile quicker than remembering she died. ]

Aa, I was ... a student. [ It wasn't a lie. She was, at one point. And then... ]