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

Entry tags:

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Astrals... He looks and sounds exactly like Cor remembered him, from all those years ago when the Marshall was just a (very) young Crownsguard. It's very hard for him to keep his emotions in check, especially after his earlier reunion with Clarus.

But he manages a small nod of acknowledgement. "...Your Highness. It's good to see you again." That genuine affection and truth shows in his soft, quiet voice.

"Yeah, same."

Moogles and what they may be watching forgotten, Regis steps up to Cor...

... and has to look up at him. Wow.

"I was going to ask how long it's been for you, which is still a valid question, but also. You've grown."

That's not complaining at all.

Cor stifles the urge to smile at that last remark. "Puberty does that to people, your Highness. And...that depends upon the last thing you remember." The royal at least knows and remembers him, so he couldn't be younger than 20 at this point...right?

Ah. A question many times implied today, but rarely asked.

"We'd left Altissia, heading back to Insomnia."

There are many more words to describe that point in time, but... few Regis wants to say.

Cor could sympathize with that. He remembers exactly why there would be so few to be said, given all that had happened to them there.

"Then you might at least know how my younger self had felt about that withdrawl...I'm from 30 years after that."

"Yeah, you've been pretty vocal about it." That's said soft and fond, but somewhere in the space of a few heartbeats after the words end, something changes in his face. Doesn't harden, just. Goes a little expressionless.

Cor's entitled to his opinion. Always. But there was so much more to worry about than cowardice...

"I'm taking it that I did - will? - talk with Father to get you as a permanent assignment to me?"

Of course, that's more complicated, as well, but disgust or rejection were not in the myriad of reactions and emotions that have been nearly paralyzing Cor.

"... nothing is burning, right?"

Cor, sadly, recognizes that kind of expressionless, so he's quick to answer the first question. "Thankfully, yes. His Majesty, King Mors...wasn't exactly pleased with my choice of words, but he otherwise found no reason to reject your request. I think you'll be pleased to know that I'm now the Marshall of the Crownsguard." Aka, he's right below Clarus on the chain of command for that group.

That last question, though, only brings a pained look to his face. "...we'd better go inside. It's best to be sitting for this kind of talk." As he leads his young prince/future king into the house, he does ask one simple question: "Have you run into any of the others from home yet?" Though there's an unspoken question attached to it: And how much have they told you about what happened?

"Congratulations." There's a tiny wry twist to Regis's mouth. Unless he misses his guess - and he doesn't think - it was/will be him who promoted Cor, so. It's complicated. But he means it, too.

He follows inside, the sadness in his heart heavy as a stone even as he keeps his voice light.

"Noctis was the one who snapped me out of a... very vivid memory and got me inside a ship into the Dream Width. And then I met a bespectacled man with a dull sandy hair who claimed to work for Noctis." And failed to introduce himself, but what can you do. "Who else?"

"...thanks." Congrats, Regis, you actually got a tiny smile out of Cor there, if only for a few seconds. And yeah, Regis was the one who promoted him, but Cor still worked pretty damn hard to earn his rank.

Cor waits until he sits, gesturing for Regis to follow suit. "Noctis is your son, in case he hasn't told you yet. The other one's his advisor, Ignis Scientia. They have a blonde friend who's their gunslinger - Prompto Argentum - and Clarus. Cid's granddaughter's been spotted here until recently - her name's Cindy."

He then pauses for a few moments. "...I'm not sure how much else I would tell without getting into trouble with the others...but I can confirm that the war hasn't really ended. Yet."

"He did tell me. The memory was... one of the last times I got to spend time with Mother." Regis doesn't even know if Cor remembers much of the ailing Queen, but Regis... Regis does. And now Noct has seen her, too. In a way.

Anyway.

"Trouble, hmm?"

Cor's face grows stoic, slowly nodding in understanding. He remembers when news broke about her passing, and while Cor hardly knew her, he at least understood how much her loss meant to both Regis and his father. "...I apologize for not having any good drinks in here. The folks apparently don't believe in alcohol for their temporary citizens' homes."

He then gives a long sigh. "...The Empire managed to grab the Crystal."

"No apologies necessary. I think it'll be a while before I really... need that burn, anyway." He needs to be able to think. It'll take a while before he's worked himself up into circles enough to need to stop thinking.

That said, Regis suddenly stills at that last bit of information, eyes very intense, back very straight.

"They...

"If Insomnia fell, that would be a logical conclusion, but..." The mental swearing is intense, before he swallows. His voice gets even quieter, because yelling won't help anything. It never does. "What use is it to them, anyway?"

Cor's solemn look is mixed with a little sympathy for a brief moment. He knows that it's one of the worst case scenarios for the entire royal line, losing the Crystal. And yet...

There's the undertone of a growl in Cor's voice. "Power, as far as we can tell. Either the Emperor wants to use the power himself, or he wants it as a power symbol of its claim in the entire world." He closes his eyes for a moment, and then opened them back up, continuing in a more confident tone. "There's still a very good chance of us getting it back, though, and we've already made much progress along those lines."

Regis shakes his head. "They cannot use it. And those who would rally under the Crystal are already following Iedolas..."

Sharp breath, and another head-shake.

"No. It is to dishearten someone from Lucis. Make them easier to control or lead." Regis swallows, then turns to look Cor in the face, frowning. This adult face is new to him, but he's still - focused.

"You know him better. Would that work on Noctis?"

Because there are not exactly many people that focused on the Crystal. Other than the Lucis Caelum.

"I figured as much regarding its power, since it only likes your family and those tied closely to the royal line. But you never know what people could delude themselves into believing, especially if they don't have the same info and background as we do."

Cor ponders over the rest for a few moments, drinking deeply from his glass. "It might...especially given his inexperience. But it doesn't make sense for the Emperor to want to manipulate him like that. As far as I'm aware of, he and the rest of the Empire wants him dead and--"

And then he remember what Ignis told him, and it makes him stop cold, his stance stiffening in slowly dawning realization. "...shit."

Regis's eyebrow rises oh so slowly.

"Cor?"

That is not a complaint about the swear word, either.

He's grateful for the lack of complaint, too, since there's something far more important to tell Regis.

"The Chancellor...Ardyn Izunia. He might be the one trying to manipulate Noctis...possibly luring him into a trap." And what better place to trap a Lucian than the very heart of the Niflheim Empire?

"Izunia? Are you sure of that?"

Perhaps... they should talk to Noctis about that.

Soon. Since Regis has no idea if any of them will remember anything about this place, when they are back.

Hopefully back. Likely back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject