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. ]

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[While Gladiolus is down on the floor getting to know his own Moogle, another one wanders over to him. He's medium-sized for a Moogle, and he's wearing a white and blue vest. He stares at the scene in front of him. A giant man, a small Moogle like himself. And...the compassion!

He lifts his arms up.]

Kup~o! I'd also like to ride your shoulders!

[Salmog, without missing a beat, turns to the other Moogle and starts to speak in a tired voice.]

You wouldn't believe what my person puts me up to, Kupo! He never carries me or lets me ride. He never notices when I leave, kupo, and he's always asking me for the most kupo thi—

[He freezes in mid-sentence as Dylas slithers up behind him. From the waist up, Dylas is a tall, lean human-looking person with loose, dark clothes hanging from his body. From the waist down? He's about twelve feet of snake tail.]

If you want him, you can have him.

[Gladio continues to talk with his Moogle, discovering she is a girl, likes pretty things, and is super serious about making sure she's helpful. He's finally given her a name, though he has to reassure her that the name is a compliment, when a second Moogle comes up to him.

Aren't people only supposed to have one? Oh - he smiles at the newcomer and chuckles.]

I don't mind givin' you a lift if you need help finding your companion. Unless... [His voice trails off as he notices the approach of a half-man, half-snake creature. Muscles tense, ready to spring into action if this was something like the Marilith, Midgardsormr, or Naga monsters from home.

Noodle, previously listening to this other Moogle start speaking and trying to be the first one to get picked up by this giant that is her person (and he's so nice too!), is about to tell him to wait his turn because she gets the first shoulder ride when this ... snake-person comes up. Two big ~~and scary~~ people in one moment is too much and with a sound of surprise, she ducks behind Gladio's still-crouching form to cling to his back as he stands.]

Eeep! [Anything else is lost to the fabric of Gladio's shirt, which might be a good thing since chances are being referred to as 'Scary Snake' would likely offend this ... person?]

Uh, hey. Name's Gladiolus Amicitia. [A small wave.] The little guy in blue and white yours? Why're you trying to get rid of him? Seems sweet enough.

[Salmog isn't too keen on the idea of interacting with Dylas, either, but it doesn't immediately show. He feels busted, caught doing something he shouldn't have, and he slowly turns around to look up at Dylas. But he doesn't say anything. Aside from the way his pom-pom quivers, he looks like he's staring at Dylas with bored, unimpressed eyes.

Dylas isn't too keen on getting on the floor (that's what the rest of his body is for, sweeping up the Curti Center or something), but he lowers himself onto the floor anyways. He can't crouch, so he has to get pretty damn low, and he places his human torso on one of his coils so it's not touching the floor and getting dust all over his clothes.]

It's...nice to meet you? [Dylas isn't sure why he's being given an introduction, but he's not against it, either.] I'm Dylas. And I don't know how you can tell. I've been here two months, and this guy's never said or written a word to me.

[Salmog continues to stare. Is he afraid of his assigned person (or person?, as Gladiolus sees him)? Definitely.]

He flies into the air and yanks my hair when he wants to show something. It wouldn't surprise me if his mother was a bat.

[Salmog slowly turns to Gladiolus and shakes his head. His mother is not, in fact, a bat.]

[Gladio isn't a trained Shield for nothing - he absolutely notices the way this Moogle's pom-pom trembles and keeps his eyes trained on this snake-person (hey, until he gets the guy's name, 'snake-person' is as good an identifier as any).

He watches the stranger - Dylas - and takes in how he works to lower himself without getting his clothes dirty (thinking that Ignis would love this guy). Considering how chatty the Moogle had been just seconds ago with Noodle, it doesn't make sense that he has apparently not communicated at all with Dylas.

Nothing about the snake-human hybrid screams 'sinister', but that doesn't mean he hasn't potentially abused his Moogle...]

Really? He just asked to ride on my shoulders and started talkin' a mile a minute to Noodle here. [He gestures over his shoulder to the lilac Moogle starting to peer at the strange person.]

Y'ever consider he might be intimidated by you? I mean, half of you is a snake. Where I'm from, only monsters and daemons look like you. But since you're talking like a human, I'm guessing you're mostly that.

[He shifts his eyes to Dylas' Moogle and continues.] And I'm pretty sure you know it's not nice to pull hair to get someone's attention. Betcha wouldn't like it if someone tugged on you pom-pom to show you something.

You had it right the first time.

['Monster.'

Gladiolus is a stronger man than Dylas is used to, apparently. If he knew this man didn't find him the least bit sinister, he'd have to say he was impressed. Between the pitch-black scales on his back, the scar on his face, and the scowl seemingly permanently etched into his features, most people find Dylas sort of...unpleasant, and that's a generous term.

He listens, and he scoffs when he hears that Salmog has been talking behind his back. Here he's been wondering if his Moogle is mute. It never occurred to him that the thing would still be scared of him after two months, but then again...]

Your thing's name is Noodle? Wait. He actually spoke to you? I don't even know his name.

[He turns his gaze to Salmog, but the unflinching, golden-eyed stare of a reptilian man is too much for him to handle. He reaches and grabs Dylas' hair despite Gladio's suggestion and forces Dylas to look at the ground before letting go.

Noodle might notice that Salmog looks a little proud of himself for standing up to 'monster.' Moogle facial expressions, what are they?]

H-hey! See? That's exactly what I'm talking about! [He reaches out to grab Salmog's face, but the Moogle quickly flees behind Gladiolus if he's allowed to.] What the hell is his problem? Why's he like you so much, anyways?

[Of course Gladio isn't off-put by Dylas' scar - he has two of his own plainly visible on his own face plus the much larger and uglier one on his torso (that's currently hidden by the shirt he still has on). And his initial reaction to fight or kill the creature as it approached faded once he noticed the human-like behavior and the speaking. No monster or daemon he knew actually spoke (much).

So whatever this guy is, he's just another dude to Gladio. A dude with the lower half of a snake, to be sure, but still just a dude.]

My Moogle's nickname is Noodle. She likes it and it suits her, considering her name is Farfalline. [Curious eyes watch as the other Moogle does exactly what he just said was probably a bad idea, and Gladio's about to open his mouth when the stray Moogle takes cover behind him and Noodle pops up onto his shoulder.]

K-kupo, you're kind of s-scary... kupo. You're big and have a, kupo, snake body and sometimes big snake monsters attack - kupo.

[Gladio grins a bit.] What she said. Maybe he likes me because I got down to Noodle's level and tried to show her I wasn't dangerous. Granted that'll be a little difficult if a certain someone won't at least try to get to know his companion.

[He pointedly looks over his free shoulder at the Moogle in question. This feels so much like talking to Iris when she was small.] C'mon, at least tell him your name and maybe promise to stop tugging his hair?

[He focuses on 'Noodle' next. Two unfortunate names. This Moogle has bad luck...in his own opinion. Having worked (and lived!) in a restaurant before, he recognizes the name as pasta immediately.]

Your parents named you after a noodle.

[He's incredulous. And sympathetic. But he doesn't have time to deal with that right now. #hashtagdaddy over here is acting more and more like a father trying to sort out a fight between kids, and Dylas resents that. He's not part of the problem. Sure, he has a questionable diet and looks like a monster (and says he is one), but the Moogle has had plenty of time to say something.

Instead, he's latched onto a stranger.]

You're not wrong, but why the hell would I eat a Moogle? You look like you're more fluff than nutrient. [A normal person might have said 'I don't eat Moogles,' but. Well. He's doing his best(?) with the situation. He lifts himself back up, no longer content to stay on the ground. He spends enough time there.] This is a headache. He knows I'm not going to hurt him. I make breakfast for all the Moogles in the house.

[Salmog winces as he's called out. The Moogle has a few points to argue back on that point, but he feels like he's going to lose support of the audience at this rate. He leaps into the air and flies right towards the front door of the Curti Center, leaving Gladio to deal with a tired-looking naga.

Dylas can only rub his neck at that display of...whatever that was.]

Should I apologize for that?

[That is ... not what he'd hoped would happen.]

Nah, that clearly wasn't on you. Six, he's worse than my little sister used to be. [Gladio might not be a father, per se, but taking care of Iris helped him learn how to handle childish behavior (lessons he never really put to use with Noctis, but that's a different situation).

Offering an apologetic smile to Dylas, he shifted Noodle to his other shoulder.]

Hope I didn't offend you or anythin'. Thought maybe I could help but I might've made it worse. You goin' after him?

[He's not sure how to respond to the sister comment, so he doesn't. He's never had a real family himself, so making any comparisons would be awkward. Life is funny when your best friend is a dragon growing up.]

Yeah? Sounds...rough?

[Awkward. Now he's left alone talking to a guy who would make some of the minotaur he's met feel small. He appreciates the effort Gladiolus put into this, but he's not fond of people meddling in his business, either. He rubs his neck, eyes eventually drifting to stare at Noodle again before they move back up.]

Nope. [But even he realizes that sounds like he doesn't care, so he shrugs and offers a better explanation.] He can fly. When he puts his mind to it, I can't find him for days.

[This is definitely a little weird, and Gladio isn't accustomed to feeling out of sorts when talking to others. So he does his best.]

Wasn't that bad, helping to raise Iris. But it really sucks that your Moogle is a bit flighty. [Ugh, that was a terrible pun and he hadn't even made it on purpose.]

Is it possible for you to get assigned another one?

Edited 2018-06-18 23:04 (UTC)

[It is weird. If he knew Gladio was on the same page with him there, he'd feel a lot more relieved. He's never sure how to interact with these outgoing, positive folk like he is.]

It is what it is. It's usually not a problem, and I don't mind my privacy.

[The joke goes completely over his head because, as Gladio might guess, Dylas is terrible at picking up at jokes more often than not.]

So...you're one of the new guys, then?

Yea. [Gladio gestures to the plethora of papers in his hands, as well as that iMog slate.]

What gave it away?

[That's a joke this guy can't possibly miss. Or maybe he can. It's not like he really knows this guy.]

Got any advice or any information to offer a new arrival? [It's said with a smile, recognizing now that both of them are a bit lost with where to go from here.]

[Joke or not, Dylas will still reply earnestly, even if it makes things more awkward. He looks up and down Gladio before shaking his head.]

You stand out. I would've recognized you.

[He doesn't stand out as much as a snake person with back-length periwinkle hair, but he comes close.]

I...might. Not all of it's happy. I guess it depends on what you want to hear.

[Apparently this guy takes things pretty literally, but Gladio doesn't mind. Sometimes that can be useful. And hilarious.]

Guess it takes one to know one. And I'd like to hear anything you know about this place, happy or not. The more I know, the better prepared I can be.

[It's not like he's a stranger to unhappy things, after all.]

This isn't the first time this has happened to me.

[He's not from Crystallis, but he's from somewhere worse, somewhere that stole his legs and twisted his mind and morals. Anything to survive. Dylas starts to speak of things he can't be sure about, but he says them like he knows firsthand.]

Take everything with a grain of salt. The people here know more than they're letting on. Some of them, anyway.

Wait, this isn't the first time you've been taken from home and plopped in a different world? [That's ... ominous. And something he really wishes he could talk about with a certain, insanely smart friend of his.]

Anyone in particular thinks knows more than they're saying? Or are you just speaking about the original world inhabitants in general?

That's right. I used to have...

[He's about to say 'I used to have legs,' but that's Dylas' lack of filter almost getting the better of him. He quickly changes his tune.]

...I used to be in a different world, uh. Not my home world. Yeah, I'm speaking generally. I don't know who, but there's always someone who knows more than they're letting on. You should take everything with a grain of salt. Or a bucket of it.

[He remembers he's saying all of this in front of a Moogle assigned to him, too. That's a little awkward, so he adds:]

The Moogles can be trusted, though. Salmog isn't great, but he's trustworthy.

[He hasn't said anything about, uh, what's in Dylas' freezer, after all.]

I'd hope the Moogles could be trusted or we'd all be kinda screwed, yea? [He hasn't missed Dylas skipping over the fact that he's here from a different world that still isn't his home world, and that sets off some interesting bells in Gladio's head.]

I still think your Moogle - Salmog - is just scared of you. And I'll try to remember that some people might know more than they act like they know. Thanks for the heads up on that, by the way.

[He could just leave it there, but he's trying to make a conversation and he can't deny the curiosity about someone coming from a world that wasn't their home.] But I have to ask, what kind of world did you come from originally? Can't help wonderin' what kind of world has Naga commonly runnin' around.

Yeah. They're everywhere, like...rats.

[He doesn't actually think Moogles are rats, but they're unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind. Hopefully present company doesn't take too much offense, because he doesn't even realize that could be insulting.]

That's his problem, not mine. ...Probably.

[But he runs his hand through his hair, looking troubled by it anyways. It's something he's going to have to pay attention to in the future whether he wants to or not.

At the last question, his eyes narrow a little. Why is this guy so nosy? First, he's all up in his business about Salmog, and Ryslig is the last thing he wants to talk about. Still, he doesn't seem...malicious about asking, but.]

It's full of monsters. It's not a great place for a friendly guy like you.

[The comment about rats doesn't bother Gladio - he's pretty sure that Dylas doesn't mean the Moogles are an infestation or anything bad. Probably just that there are a lot of them.

He notices the look on the Naga's face but doesn't comment on it.

His arms raise in a placating gesture as Gladio realizes he apparently upset Dylas.]

Hey, sorry if I struck a nerve. I'm no stranger to a world filled with monsters - back home the world outside my hometown is full of 'em and it's been a real pain dealing with them while travelling.

[An eyebrow raises, as if he's saying that he'd know a monster when he saw one.] I'm friendly with people, sure. Hasn't stopped me from takin' care of monsters.

Wha? You didn't.

[Strike a nerve, that is. Gladiolus kind of struck a nerve, but Dylas doesn't want him thinking his feelings are that fragile (they kind of are). It takes considerable effort for him to hide his emotions sometimes. He usually fails.

But this is serious. These are lies he's told himself over and over again. He's the monster.]

It's because you're friendly that it'd be a problem for you. Whenever something comes to drag me back there, do us both a favor and make sure you're nowhere near me.

[This guy might be a stranger, but Gladio can tell he actually did touch on something Dylas is sensitive about. His face is the picture of disbelief - one eyebrow raised and lips slightly puckered in thought.]

Why, do you want to go back there?

[Damn it, Gladio. Dylas looks a little startled to be asked that. Everyone here wants to go home, after all, to their loved ones and their old lives. His face contorts a little, pain flickering across his expression as he tries to decide what's worse: not answering the question or answering honestly.

This guy is way too nosy.]

I don't care where I am. It doesn't change anything. Why do you want to know so badly?

I'm just tryin' to make conversation. I can be pretty observant - been trained in it most of my life - so I notice things others might not. Like you clearly not wanting to back to where you came from and you thinking you're a monster but not wantin' to be one.

[He sighs and shakes his head, face and body going apologetic.]

Look, I'm sorry I asked too many personal questions. I'll head out now. Thanks for the warning about this place. An' if you decide you might actually want a friend, hit me up on this iMog thing.

[Gladio moves Noodle to his other shoulder and offers another apologetic smile.] Seriously, I wasn't trying to be a dick. Thanks again for your help.

Trying, or prying? And I don't know why you think you noticed things, but...you didn't.

[He's bristling physically, straightening his spine and moving the rest of his body beneath him. He can think of a time where he would've appreciated this sort of friendliness or concern, but...he can't accept it now. The people here don't know.]

Yeah, well...you should be sorry. I'm not going to make that call anytime soon.

[And just so he can attempt to save face, he's going to slither off further into the Curti Center if he's not stopped after Gladio's rebuttal (or lack thereof).]

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hashtagdaddy - 2018-07-15 19:45 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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