melodiesofeternity | FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

Entry tags:

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

[ Hunk scampers around, lifting furniture and fixtures and almost people in search of something that would let him help this situation. But then after an embarrassing number of moments, he realizes: Okuyasu is standing on his own, totally calm. ]

Wait, are you... are you okay? You don't seem too concerned. [ Because Hunk drained the worry out of Okuyasu, or something. ]

[Hunk's Stand allows him to draw negative energy from other people.]

Mm. [He pulls out his bloodstained sleeve and checks the brightness of the splotch. It's pretty dark, though his gakuran is a dark blue. He slides his tongue around once more.]

It stopped bleeding. [His jaw hasn't stopped hurting.] Are you that scared of blood?

[ Hunk's Stand lets him eat negativity. Hunk just eats the rest. ]

N-no... [ Hunk sounds only somewhat sure of that statement. ] I'm not scared! I'm just not a doctor. I don't know how to help if it's something bad. I want you to be okay, whether you were in the wrong or not. [ Luckily it's not. Despite the blood, Okuyasu is talking. ]

So what happened between you two?

[Sounds like he was scared. Okuyasu can't open his mouth too wide, so his voice is low enough that the people standing right next to him can hear.]

She pissed me off.

[Simple as that.]

What did she do that pissed you off so much?

[ Hunk is looking at him like he's a child tantrumming about something stupid. He's known some real reckless people, and none of them ever started throwing punches. ]

Why couldn't you have just walked away?

[At times, Okuyasu's age hides behind his rough exterior. Such as now, when he groans for half a minute like a teen wishing people would stop asking annoying questions.]

Some people don't know when to shut up, okay? Ain't like she was gonna leave me alone!

[When in doubt, punching solves everything.]

[ Hunk's eyes go wide, but he keeps his composure otherwise. The groaning is a lot, and Okuyasu's response might be worse for the situation. ]

What was she even saying that made you so mad?

[ Maybe she was insulting him? A bruised ego can be smoothed over. Or maybe she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time? ]

You do know how bad this looks for you, right?

[Deep down, Okuyasu is just a 16-year-old punk.]

I don't fuckin' care what you think. If she didn't listen to me, I had to make her understand to fuck off.

[Some people just can't get it through their heads. Thankfully, a fight finally got her to leave, albeit unintentionally and through outside forces. It's a win-win situation, minus the jaw.]

You think I got my tough rep bein' afraid of how I look?

[ Hunk just stares. Stares and slowly blinks at Okuyasu. Is... is this guy for real? ]

You said you don't care what I think, but then you talk about a tough guy rep.

[ And then Hunk starts laughing. ]

You do know that your reputation doesn't matter because there's nobody here to back it up, right? [ He thinks back to Coran, how self-assured and wise he tried to be, even when nobody cared. ]

Right now, your reputation is starting a fight with some girl... [ Hunk points at the bloodied sleeve. ] ...and losing.

[Okuyasu pouts when Hunk laughs, then scrunches his face with the stealth insult.]

Yeah? Well. Better than bein' known as a pussy that ran away from a fight. Could pulled me away earlier and it's be just fine. [It's not the same when he's physically restrained.] Ain't the first time I lost a fight, either.

[Josuke and Koichi and Mikitaka and Rohan...they all know Okuyasu doesn't always win. So who cares. What's more important is that he doesn't back down.]

And she ain't just "some girl".

[ Hunk winces at the notion of Okuyasu getting the tar kicked out of him in more fights. If a girl did that much of a number, what would someone similarly built do?

But if she's not just "some girl," then, well... ]

Wait... [ And then Hunk gasps, eyes going wide and a hand covering his mouth. ] ...is she your girlfriend? Is that why you two were going at it like that?

[ Hunk is completely serious, and even has an excited little smile on his face. ]

My what?!

[He forgets about his jaw and gapes at Hunk. That's so stupid. Why is Hunk so stupid.]

Hell no! Why would I date a chick I just met?

Hey, some people seem like they know each other here.

[ He puts his hands up in an "I don't want any trouble" sort of gesture, but his voice is still very insistent. ]

For all I knew, you two were already chummy! Plus it'd explain how you got under each other's skin like that...

[ He's clearly amused, even if he's wrong. ]

[Hunk was asking for trouble the moment he asked. Okuyasu has already shifted to the defensive.]

I'm not gonna punch my friends, even if they're being a dumbass! You think I'm some sort of sicko that beats up people that like me? Huh?!

[He has been awake for less than an hour and he has not had time to calm down at all.]

[ Hunk takes a deep breath. This guy was stressful. ]

Sometimes friends get mad at each other. It doesn't make throwing punches okay...

[ He restrains a groan, and instead pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

...and it's definitely not okay to beat up on people because you don't like them, or because they made you mad.

[ And he decides against saying it's sometimes better to forgive and forget. But he starts smiling, because the next best thing comes to mind. ]

Why not make friends, instead?

[What a confusing guy. Telling not to punch people and thinking that friends fighting is normal. Well, it is, but that mostly involves yelling and shoving them and calling them names. It's perfectly fine to pick fights with strangers in Okuyasu's eyes.

He huffs.] Yeah, sure. [It's nothing he's never heard from other adults before.]

I'm not gonna make friends with some punk I met on the street. Even I know that's stupid.

[Maybe things are different for boys that grew up with adults taking care of them past the age of 5. That didn't have to learn how to fight while living in abandoned buildings while their older brother hunted for potential Stand users. Trusting a guy that looked decent gets him killed; a dude needs to prove that he can be trusted first.]

'Sides, I got more important things to worry about.

[ Hunk frowns at Okuyasu's deflection, at the act he called stupid. He can't think of how many times he would've died without putting his trust into virtual strangers... and sometimes even people he didn't trust. ]

Be friends with me! I'm not a punk you met on the street, I'm a Paladin you met on a spaceship!

[ He chuckles, taking a moment to bask in the absurdity of their situation. Then he levels his gaze at Okuyasu, showing a kind and genuine smile. ]

Then you can tell me the important stuff you're worrying about.

[A long look. Okuyasu has found no reason to trust Hunk. Sure, he and the hot lady stopped Mythra from owning him, but that's not enough foundation for a positive opinion. ~~Offering food in a time of peace is a good way to gain his trust.~~ What makes him so sure they'll be friends?]

Do you do this with everyone you meet?

What, help people out of bad situations? [ He looks away, his face betraying an incredibly cheeky smirk that he can't even try to hide. ] It's kinda my job.

[ But then he rolls his eyes, and looks right at Okuyasu. ]

Dragging someone out of a fistfight might be a first, though.

[Now Hunk is sounding more like Josuke. Always staying behind to check on someone, even if they're major freaks like Mikitaka. But Okuyasu trusts his best friend with his life, he's not sure what to make of Hunk yet.

But he did say he was some sort of space hero...]

This is how you fight aliens or somethin'?

[ Hunk sees an opportunity here. Not just to inflate his own ego, but to give Okuyasu an idea of just how reckless it could be to start throwing punches in a ship filled with people from different worlds. ]

We try to be diplomatic whenever we can! [ And most of the time, it works. But Hunk isn't gonna let him know that. So he starts to smile, and his eyebrows make him look just a little nefarious. ]

But when it doesn't work we inspire rebellions, disrupt supply routes, run propaganda campaigns, and and just blow our enemies to smithereens.

[ And Hunk slides right back into a genuine, cheery smile. He can't even feel that bad, because he's not lying. War's weirder than he ever expected. ]

Well, as much as you can in the vacuum of space.

Diplomacy ain't my thing. My brain's more on the level of punchin' guys that won't listen to reason, alright? That other stuff's for smart people.

[Rebellions and subterfuge are noble pursuits for people that know how to use their heads. If he has trouble with high school mathematics, what does that say about his ability to have strategic talks? His strengths lie in intimidation and brute force.

It only makes sense that he lets his friends deal with delicate conversations. He can't ruin everything if he doesn't involve himself, but he supposes Hunk doesn't understand that he's kind of an idiot just yet.]

Edited 2018-05-04 06:10 (UTC)

You don't have to be smart to be nice.

[ And Hunk's warm little smile persists. Killing them with kindness is better than blinding them with science or killing them outright. Better to have friends whenever you can! ]

But it's okay, every group needs a doer or two. And sometimes?

[ He shrugs, rolling his eyes. ]

I end up over-thinking. You can't be good at everything, y'know.

[Okuyasu hums in response.]

Guess you're right.

[So he can leave thinking to other people and keep being the fighter, got it. Maybe Hunk is just a giant older Koichi and has the weirdest friends.]

I'm gonna go find a place to it. I'm tired.

[ Hunk can't help but smile when Okuyasu says he's right. He knew all along, which is why he said it, but the validation never hurts! But the smile fades to a look of worry as the guy says he's gonna go off on his own. ]

You might wanna see a doctor instead, but... [ He sighs. ]

Take it easy. And get someone to find me if you need any help.

[ And he's smiling again, though it looks a bit forced from the worry. As if to seal the deal, Hunk just gives him a thumbs-up. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject