melodiesofeternity | FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

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FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

Who: All characters (New Arrivals and Native OCs)
When: April 11th
Where: The Dream Width (Airship), the Curti Center, and the Housing District
What: For the first time in 10 years, outworlders have been found the Dream Width. This unprecedented number of new arrivals are rescued and brought to Vaikuntha, and must now try to start adjusting to their new home.
Warnings/Notes: All players can put up a toplevel. Please post to the NPC toplevel if you have an IC question for them.

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. The makeshift infirmary is becoming uncomfortably warm, packed to its capacity with people.

Stepping out, there is a lobby space that bears the signs of having once held some furniture, now cleared away to make space. Even with the sparse accommodations, the space quickly fills to standing-room only.

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 to play again. ]

’Welcome travelers’…

CURTI CENTER

[ Finally after hours of flight, you arrive at the Curti Center. The other NPCs await you along with the Native OCs. 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 today. Indeed, here you are. No one knows why such a large number of people has been found at once, but the Curti Center is a place dedicated to piercing the Dream Width's secrets.

Cid also introduces the other ones: his assistant Jessie, Claire, the woman looking at the group in horror upon being pointe 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 despairs at the pile of paperwork she must complete by the end of the week), 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 specifically during this introduction, please respond to the toplevel with the name of the NPC in the subject header. The mods will try to reply at least once a day for each NPC. ]

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. ]

A BAD OMEN

[ Wandering around, you may stumble upon an old and tired-looking moogle wearing what can only be described as a decrepit fortune-teller attire. Upon seeing you, or any of the new arrivals for that matter, he will slowly approach and tell you all the exact same speech. ]

If you stay here, you're doomed. She will find you and make you suffer hell. [At which point his eyes will grow exorbitant.] This world is cursed. You will die and never be free. [And finally he'll fly right into your face.] Never!

[ Then he will leave and go say his speech to someone else, without doing anything but repeating different variations of his warning if asked for details. Should you ask your assigned Moogle, Biggs or Wedge, they will mention this crazy moogle can't be reasoned with and sometimes stick around the center, even though he's always chased away. He never says anything besides doomsday predictions. For unknown reasons, he's always been particularly nasty with Biggs and Wedge... And with you as well now, it seems. ]

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 the sudden and unexpected number of 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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This person is so incredibly unpleasant. He's so...so cheery, but not in the way the Earthmate is. It's. Different.]

Why are you still talking? Why do I have to know these things?

[Why is the image of a certain butler from back home popping into his head, only know he's sweating some sort of gelatin? Dylas shakes his head, regretting that he tried to picture that.]

Have you ever been to a planet where you shut up and don't bother people?

I mean...

[ Hunk rolls his eyes. He can't joke his way through this stressful check-up with doctors he didn't trust if he couldn't joke with someone. ]

Would you rather be bothered by the doctors or by me?

[ The nurse wanders away for a minute, grabbing some other supplies or noting down some information- Hunk didn't really care. ]

I could start screaming. Mean snake guys are pretty scary. I kinda wanna scream. Should I scream?

[ The question, while barbed, is still earnest. Would fear be more palatable than jokes? Snakes are weird. Hunk doesn't claim to understand them. ]

The doctors.

[Dylas doesn't even hesitate before answering, but there's an unfortunate side-effect to his answer. He feels clever. He feels funny. So there's just a hint more emotion in his voice, even if it's smugness. He's even smirking a little.]

But you can go ahead and scream if you want. But make it a good one. I've heard lots.

[And because Hunk brought up the scaring part? After the last word, sharp, serpenting fangs burst down from Dylas' lips. They're retractable, and given his size? Pretty big.

By now, it should be clear that Dylas is trying to freak Hunk out. The nurse is rolling her eyes, unbothered. Apparently, Dylas has been acting like this for hours.]

What?!

[ Hunk starts sputtering and fuming, but calms down as his nurse needs to use her stethoscope. His eyes go wide at the fangs coming out- how is he getting away with this? ]

I'm just trying to be nice, y'know! I did get you to smile!

[ He then points to the naga's face, to that smirk. But at this point Hunk is already starting to lean back, ready to tumble over his medical bed if this guy starts lunging. He wouldn't be out here, near people, near him if he was actually a danger... right?

He really does not need this today. ]

The doctors know what they're doing.

[He shrugs. That's one shrill reaction, but it's a little satisfying to annoy someone who's annoying him. Dylas has always enjoyed a little friendly bickering, and...truthfully, seeing Hunk squirm a little is satisfying, too.

At least until he uses the s-word. Dylas' face turns to a scowl, the tips of his fangs poking out over his bottom lip.]

I'm not smiling. I don't smile. Hey, nurse. Don't forget to cut out his brain or something.

[The nurse scolds Dylas with a 'that's not helping' that gets Dylas to click his tongue (even snakes can anime-style 'tch!' apparently. And then she goes back to treating Hunk.]

[ Hunk side-eyes the mean guy, and then starts to smirk himself. ]

You said the doctors know what they're doing, but you were just shouting at them to come back.

[ And then he shrugs his shoulders in a truly exaggerated gesture. Hunk twitches again as the nurse clamps a blood pressure cuff to his arm, and gently gets him to relax.

So rather than get in the way of her ability to her job, he's just going to stare at the guy, smug little smirk on his face. ]

[Wow. He's so unamused now.]

That's not the point. I was saying you're full of shit. It's why your eyes are so brown.

[At the same moment, one of his doctors returns. He looks less enthused to be treating Dylas than the nurse does with hunk for obvious reasons. He takes a look at the tool in his hand, the little hammer used to test knee reflexes, looks at Dylas, and sighs.

While this is going on, Dylas continues to glare at Hunk. His doctor leaves, but he keeps staring. It's on. He's not sure if this is really a fight or if it's a fight worth having, but he's not going to lose.]

[ Hunk glares back. In for a penny, in for every single pound of this angry snake man. The smirk is still there. ]

So your eyes must be yellow because you need to stop taking yourself so seriously, right?

[ See also "taking the piss out of" himself. ]

I gotta ask though, what are those little things on the side of your head?

[ Hunk motions with his hands- one hand, because now they have to re-do the blood pressure test, towards those white tufts on the naga's head. They're not ears, and... ]

They don't seem too snakey.

I don't even know what that means. Yellow eyes aren't really a thing.

[But he feels stupid for not getting it, so there's a bit of frustration in his voice. He continues to glare, thinking about what barb to send out next when Hunk mentions the tufts of fur beneath his ears.

The last remnant of when he wasn't a monster.

He reaches up and idly runs clawed fingers through one of the tufts, straightening it. Ordinarily, he'd ignore them. But these days? He's afraid of losing them. He practically deflates at Hunk's question, eyes casting downward at the ground.]

It's not any of your business. But it's fur.

[Damn it.]

You have yellow eyes.

[ And Hunk watches the guy's hands. Claws. They go through the hair. Fur. And at the tail. Scales. And then the eyes. Yellow. And looking down.

He may have won their little staring contest, but... ]

I didn't realize it was a sore spot. S-sorry.

[ At what cost? ]

They're golden. And I meant they aren't...whatever you were trying to say. Are you always this confusing?

[Semantics, semantics. Dylas stretches out his body so that his arms are resting against the edge of the bed and he rests his head there, laying his torso flat. Without the snake tail, it'd look like he was laying down.

Look, it's not his fault. It's a little chilly in here. And it's a lot easier to lounge than it is to hold himself up for no reason.]

It's not a sore spot. It's just...a weird question to ask. Yeah.

[ Hunk watches the guy shift around and stretch. He looks askance as Dylas speaks, piecing together his words, until- ]

It's weird for me to ask you about the fur on your head, but not about the giant snake tail. [ Hunk narrows his eyes into a stare. ] Why? I've never seen a snake with fur before.

[ He's also never seen a snake with the upper body of a human before. But he's not as sure how he can bring that one up, when there's already no option other than the awkwardly direct for this conversation. ]

It's weird that you're talking to me at all.

[Now that he's made himself comfortable, he can't help but stretch and yawn. Ever since his untimely transition from undead deer monster to "way too long" snake monster, he's been sleepy...all of the time.]

Do you treat everyone you're stuck in a room with like this, or am I just special?

[He watches Hunk from his resting place. He's probably the 'can't stop talking when nervous' type.]

[ Hunk sighs at the fuzzy-snake's remarks. Not a sigh that relieves any tension, but... ]

If I don't keep myself occupied when I'm nervous then I start freaking out.

[ But then he cracks a bit of a smirk. What he didn't say is that sometimes he copes with his nerves in meaner ways. ]

Imagine if I just started crying! [ He chuckles, but in a threatening "I'll do it" kind of way... mixed with a tinge of embarrassment. Because he wants to cry a lot, given how rough this day is. ]

But you're not that bad to talk to. [ The vast majority of his team has been a bit much every once in a while, so this is... not that bad for him. ]

Yeah? What's making you nervous?

[Is it how Dylas keeps staring at him, going through great effort not to blink (does he blink) while also extending his body towards him? Look, if he can make Hunk more nervous, he's--

--going to cry? Dylas deflates, pulling back against the bed at that, the fire gone from his eyes (did he blink yet? who knows).]

I don't want to think about you crying. You look like you'd get your tears everywhere and be obnoxious about it. But if you did, it wouldn't be my fault.

[ Hunk pouts a bit at the guy's deflection about crying. It would totally be his fault, because he's the one in a conversation with him, and, well... ]

Everything is making me nervous. [ He sighs and looks toward the ground, the fear and negativity overtaking him. ]

I got ripped away from my friends as soon as everything started looking good for us. I don't know how or why I'm here, or anyone else, and the fact that I'm here at all pretty much defies all scientific knowledge.

[ He sighs. Sure, Shiro disappeared once, but not into another dimension, right? And sure, they went into another dimension, but they made it back and it wasn't that different, right? So why is this so... weird? So... wholly illogical? ]

And we barely even know what's going on.

[oh gods why is this kid still thinking about crying, Dylas isn't equipped to have feelings right now.

He should tell this kid everything should be okay, right? There's definitely a way home? They arrived in a ship after all, it's not like they were magically teleported here or dropped in the waves like a bunch of corpses or something.

The tip of his tail slowly moves back and forth while he tries to find the right words for the situation. And finally, he opens his mouth.]

These things happen.

[Did he nail it?]

Do they?

[ Hunk's reply is curt, pointed, and almost immediate. His eyes are glaring daggers at the snake-man, and there are tears forming in the corners of his eyes. ]

Do they really?

[ Despite the sarcastic tone and the anger lashing out through his voice, Hunk's eyes are serious, maybe even pleading for an answer. Something needs to make sense for him today, and he'll force a shred of logic from this fuzzy-snake-human if he has to. ]

Hey.

[That's all he has to add to that snark added in there on the end. Dylas is torn between not clarifying, leaving the room, sleeping, and answering. In the end, answering wins out, but he likes to entertain the thought that he didn't have to answer.]

It's happened to me before. So...you're not special.

[ This happened to him. This happened to the fuzzy snake man. Realization lights up his face, that means- ]

But you're okay. So we'll... we'll be fine.

[ He needs to hear that they're all gonna be okay. That pleading is still there in his eyes, but it's more confident. Insistent. ]

We'll be fine, right?

Yeah. I'm okay, so I'll be fine.

[Time will tell whether or not this human kid will grow a tail or three still. Dylas has a feeling he doesn't really have the stomach for human flesh or souls.]

And you probably will be, too. I guess.

P-probably?! [ And his eyes go wide. You know what's in the corners of those eyes, Dylas? Tears. ]

You don't sound too sure... [ It's all well and good that this guy is fine, but Hunk wants to be okay, too! He needed that reassurance so much that he never noticed something very obvious. ]

...I just realized we don't know each other's names.

H-hey. Don't...do that. I was only....you're going to be fine, alright? Trust me, people are capable of some pretty heavy shit when they have to be.

[The first 'probably' had just been another attempt at bullying Hunk, so definitely don't trust Dylas. But now he's being honest. He's seen people younger than him, from more sheltered backgrounds than him (probably) eat people, so...

...you know.]

It's Dylasss.

[His tongue flicks out a little before he can stop it. He reaches up and slaps his mouth to stop it, then grunts.]

Dylas.

[ Dylas probably didn't expect his words to have impact, but they did. See, Hunk found himself remembering everything he's done, everything his friends have done. People are crazy. ]

I'm Hunk. Nice to meet you, Dylas. [ And he smiles. Not bright, not friendly, but cordial. At least until something registers in his mind, and he stifles a giggle. ]

Was that a sssslip of the tongue? Or... [ Then his eyes grow just a little wide, and he does actually seem concerned. ] Do you need to get that checked out?

[ They are in the infirmary, after all. ]

Edited 2018-05-27 00:24 (UTC)

[As long as his words are enough to get Hunk to stop crying, he's fine with them carrying some weight. He can only handle so much emotion before he melts into a pile of scales and goo and indecision.]

It's...nice to meet me? Do they need to check your head, too?

[Any smile that would have come with his joke is nullified by the words that follow. He clicks his tongue, making that typical 'tch' sound that loser loners like him always make.]

I'll let you make that joke once. That's it. You had your fun, you kept your fingers.

[He wouldn't actually eat Hunk's fingers for another hissing joke, but, you know.]

FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

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