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

Marinette Dupain-Cheng | OTA

[doodlebuginette]

Arrival

The first thing she noticed as she was waking up was that she wasn't at home. Or anywhere else she recognized. The sounds and scents were all wrong, and the bed she's lying on certainly left a lot to be desired. Opening her eyes, Marinette was not comforted at all by the unfamiliar surroundings.

It took all of a minute or two to decide she no longer wanted to be in this eerily quiet room. So she's getting up and walking out into an equally empty hallway. Just as she began to wonder if this whole place as like that, there was something happening at the far end of the room, and she's blinking to realize that it's some kind of projection.

Unfortunately, she's no less confused by the time the thing had ended. The following messages did nothing to help that, either.

"Okay, then..."

Curti Center

Landing and being able to walk on solid ground again actually did wonders for her mood. It wasn't something she'd have given much thought to before, but there was just something inherently comforting about knowing she was on solid ground. Or maybe she was just being silly.

Cid's speech was enlightening, but there were still so many questions left. The most important one had to be how she was going to get home.

The tour was no less informative, and by the time it had concluded, she was starting to feel slightly better about her current predicament.

Time For Your Check-Up

While it would never be her favorite way to spend her time, Marinette could understand the importance of having regular check ups. Particularly when she'd just found herself in a completely new world.

And so here she is, wandering into the clinic with an only slightly apprehensive expression. "Hello?"

Housing (B-05)

After collecting the standard welcome package of toiletries, Marinette went off in search of what was to be her new home for however long. And of course she'd been informed that she'd have housemates, but that wasn't surprising considering the way things were set up here. Marinette could only hope that she'd be able to get along with these people.

Curti Center

[modelcivilian]

I know it can be a little confusing at first, but if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[The Curti Center generally provided enough information, but it could still be a little had to digest. Fortunately, since they've now been here for two months, Adrien knew he could help try to provide some answers in another way. There were a number of people... man, it was odd being on the other side seeing the group of arrivals.]

[But... smiling politely was something he could do. Even if his moogle just wanted to float by and stare at everyone.]

[doodlebuginette]

[A familiar voice caught her attention just as she was starting to consider leaving, and she's turning in time to see Adrien just... smiling and waving across the way. And the little creature floating nearby was just adorable, if she was honest.

But she's mostly just glad to see a familiar face, so she's heading over without even thinking too much about it.] Adrien! Hi!

[modelcivilian]

[So far, it's a crowd of unfamiliar faces, but his eyes grow at her voice. Eyes snapping to her, Adrien stared... but then, he's smiling widely, truly, and doing something he probably would not were they still back home: he hugged her.]

[It was impulsive sure, but dad's not here to find out, and Adrien kept it brief.]

Hey! Haha, I probably should've started with hi, but you're here!

[doodlebuginette]

[Marinette had been proud of herself for working up the courage to walk over and say hello. And then he'd sort of stared at her for a second, which of course made her a little nervous. When he'd hugged her, though, she was completely unprepared and proceeded to flail her arms for a couple of seconds before finally managing to hug him back.

One day, she would be able to be around him without looking like a lunatic.]

I am! And so are you! It's great!

[modelcivilian]

[One day, but today wasn't going to be that day.]

It's awesome! This is awesome! Ah, wait, wait...! [Stepping back, he cleared his throat and then... bowed with an extended hand.] May I welcome you properly to Vaikuntha.

[doodlebuginette]

[A girl can certainly dream.]

It's exciting! [And she's honestly looking forward to learning more about this strange new world, particularly if Adrien was also here. She's watching as he steps back and then clapping appreciatively once he'd straightened up again.] I feel properly welcomed. Thank you! [And then she's reaching out to take that hand before she can really think twice about it.]

Curti Center

[einspine]

With so many new people, Papyrus opted to mill about the center. Perhaps he'd meet friendly faces. Friendly faces seeking guidance! Comfort! Encouragement! Puzzles? Well, he'd still need to find a suitable puzzle for those who may lack the rich cultural experience of a monster.

But he had a clipboard in hand and was jotting down notes when he spotted a new face. A human! Well, most people here were humans. But still! Grinning, he tore his eye sockets off the clipboard and made an approach.

"HELLO THERE, HUMAN! YOU LOOK A LITTLE LOST. MIGHT I BE OF ASSISTANCE?"

[doodlebuginette]

Marinette had to do a double-take, because that certainly was a skeleton coming over to greet her.

Holding a clipboard. Greeting her like he might an old friend?

"Hello! My name is Marinette, and I suppose I am a little lost. I was just going to try to find the place where I'll be staying for the next... however long," she told him. It certainly seemed like a him.

[einspine]

"OH!" He raised an index finger, grinning. "WELL, TYPICALLY THERE IS ASSIGNED HOUSING FOR NEW-ISH RESIDENTS. I BELIEVE THEY ALSO OFFER SUPPLIES, IF YOU NEED THEM!"

Pausing, he rubbed his chin and furrowed his bony brow. "DO YOU ALREADY KNOW YOUR ASSIGNED LOCATION? HAVE YOU GATHERED THE ESSENTIALS? TOOTHPASTE, HAIRBURSHES, TOWELS, AND SUCH?"

Perhaps her Moogle already filled her in, but it never hurts to be cautious! And helpful. Cautiously helpful.

[doodlebuginette]

This has to be the most cheerful skeleton she'd ever met. Or maybe one of the most cheerful people she'd met, period. "Oh, thank you for that!" Marinette told him. Sure, she'd heard about all that, but it was nice that there were people here who were willing to help out newbies.

"I haven't gone to get the supplies yet, but I know where I'm going to be staying," she said. Or she had a general idea of where she'd be staying, anyway. "B-05." Hopefully he had some idea of where that was, and whether or not it was terribly far away.

[einspine]

"AH, THE B BUILDINGS." He nodded, chuckling to himself. "THOSE WOULD BE A BIT FURTHER OUT- NEAR THE OUTSKIRTS. FORTUNATELY, I HAPPEN TO BE STAYING IN A B HOUSE MYSELF."

He paused, realizing what he said may come across a bit silly. "FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT ANY ACTUAL BEES THERE, OR I IMAGINE THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE STINGING. ON THE OTHER HAND, HONEY..."

Would that be a fair trade off? Perhaps this was an odd tangent, anyway. Oh well! He went ahead and gestured in the general direction, hoping it would provide further help.

[doodlebuginette]

She nodded at that, a little relieved that he'd at least heard of it. "Yep!" What she couldn't decide was whether or not it was a good thing that he was also in a B house. "Small world!"

By that point, she was trying to figure out how it was possible that he was just... a skeleton, but then he spoke up again and she had to giggle at his statement. "But are you sure the houses aren't made of bees?" Because that wasn't any sillier at all.

And then she's turning to glance in the direction he was gesturing. Maybe it wouldn't take that long to find it after all.

Checkup

[nanaimo_bar]

Nanamo was in charge of taking in the inpatients and she looked up at Marinette with a smile. "Hello there," she greeted warmly. "Welcome. Are you coming in for your checkup? Fresh off the airship?"

[doodlebuginette]

It was comforting when the little ... whatever this adorable little being was smiled at her, and she did feel slightly better about things as a result. "Hello! Yea, I'm here for a checkup," she replied. For her credit, she managed to appear a bit calmer than she probably was. "Yep! Just got here."

[nanaimo_bar]

"I see, well then let us get you checked in," said Nanamo, taking up a form. "First and last name? And age?"

[doodlebuginette]

If nothing else, Nanamo's no-nonsense demeanor was comforting, and it did wonders for helping her feel more at ease. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng," she replied. "And I'm fourteen years old."

[nanaimo_bar]

"Ah, Marinette Dupain-Cheng," repeated Nanamo as she scribbled down the information. "All right, and you've just arrived. There's no one waiting right now, but the doctors will be here shortly. Why don't you take a seat and I will bring you out some tea."

[doodlebuginette]

Marinette just nodded and smile, before moving to take a seat to wait. "Thank you! I'll just wait right here."

[sassafrisk]

((OOC: Want to continue our thread from where we left off? Maybe on the way to the guilds?))

[doodlebuginette]

[That sounds good to me! <3 I've been enjoying our CR so far.]

You forced me to binge the first season of Miraculous you monster

[sassafrisk]

Frisk grins. It's actually been quite a while since they've had a relatively normal conversation. Papyrus was... Papyrus, and most of the other people they talked with in the Underground were either trying to kill them or discussing other people trying to kill them in some way, shape, or form.

"Yeah! It's so cool, isn't it?" Frisk laughs. "But there's one thing I can't get out of my head: this place is so much like a freakin' videogame! I mean, c'mon, this stuff with the jobs, moogles and chocobos practically scream mascot characters, and every time I pass somebody standing on the street I expect an exclamation point to start hovering above their heads and for their dialogue to pop up in boxes!"

I'll never apologize! <3

[doodlebuginette]

It hadn't really occurred to her before, but now that Frisk had brought it up, there's no way that Marinette can deny the truth to those words. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed. "I was thinking that there was something about this place that seemed a little familiar, but I never would've thought of that!" Okay, so maybe she would've eventually made the connection, but Frisk just made it happen a lot sooner.

"Wouldn't that be so funny?" It wasn't a thought that had crossed her mind before, but it certainly would be entertaining. "So what would we call this hypothetical video game?" Since they had already worked out everything else, Marinette figured they also needed a game.

[sassafrisk]

"Hm..." Frisk taps their chin, deep in thought. There were many different ways they could tackle this, then only question was which one was the funniest. So why not try all of them? "Well, if we're going with obtuse JRPG names with at least two colons in the title, there's Vaikunthan Odyssey: Dream Width Adventures: Forward Origin."

They snap their fingers. "There might be a niche for something edgy, though. Maybe Midnight Crystals? If you squint and look at it at the right angle, it kinda has to do with the Interdimensional Cloud and job crystals. And who cares if it has nothing in common with the actual content! After all, dark and broody names always sell better. Proven fact. Just look at the market data.

"Or we could cash in on the franchise's nonexistent legacy and call the game Grand Domain 49. Ultimate Saga 7 was the series best seller, and what could be better than seven than seven sevens?"

[doodlebuginette]

Even if she wasn't sure what to expect, Marinette just knew that whatever Frisk came up with would be brilliant. And sure enough, even the first suggestion was great. "I kinda like it." Mainly, it sounded like something her father might play. Or Adrien. Maybe.

It was better than she'd come up with for sure. Her eyes widened a little and she smiled. "Oh, I really like that one! It sounds like a fantasy novel." Or maybe like one of those ones that Alya sometimes read. "You're right! Who cares? It's a pretty name~"

By this point she's grinning and listening intently for whatever was coming next. And Frisk didn't disappoint, not that she'd been worried that they would. "Hmm. That one's good too," she mused. "I'm not sure I've ever heard of Ultimate Saga 7, though. Was it good?" Was it anything like Ultimate Mecha Strike 3?