Event || Worldwide Tourists

[eternitymods]

Who: All New Arrivals and Curti Center Staff
When: April 15th-30th
Where: All over Vaikuntha, starting outside of the airship hanger
What: Ganeshan, the resident Job Expert, will be taking the new arrivals around the the various Guilds so they can collect their chosen Job Asterisks as noted in their applications.
Warnings/Notes: Guild prompts can be found here

Enter the Master

[Each new arrival's iMog buzzes with a message instructing them to gather for a worldwide adventure to obtain the power of Vaikuntha. If they follow the invitation's instructions, they will arrive at outside of the airship hanger on the morning of the 15th, with their meager belongings packed.

An Enterprise-Class airship, the Ragnarok, hovers outside of the Curti Center. There is a flash of light on the top of the ship.]

"WELCOME!"

[A figure, minuscule at this distance, launches itself off of the ship and hurtles toward the ground. As he draws closer to the ground, he starts to flip, landing with a flourish. An armored figure, sans helm, turns his toothy Zora grin to the crowd. With a shimmer, his armor transforms into a white mage's robe, and he sends a rush of wind through the crowd for dramatic effect.]

"I AM GANESHAN, THE JOB MASTER! GYA HA HA HA! TODAY, YOUR LIVES WILL CHANGE FOREVER."

[Ganeshan shimmers again, ruthlessly abusing the Chemist's Modifier skill to once again shift Job Classes so he can lower the airship's loading dock with a wave of his hand.]

"I BELIEVE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS THE ABILITY TO MASTER THE JOB CLASSES. SOME OF YOU MAY MASTER MANY, OTHERS WILL PURSUE THE PERFECT MASTERY OF JUST ONE. BUT EITHER WAY, YOU'LL BE INCREDIBLE!"

[Ganeshan gives everyone a big thumbs-up. The out-worlders who are not scared off by this booming speech can feel free to enter the airship and prepare for their ride around the world. Hopefully some of the Curti Center's newest hires can serve as non-crazy less exuberant tour guides for the new arrivals.]

Around the World

[The Ragnarok will be stopping at every major city in Vaikuntha, with the exception of those cut off by the Imperial border closing. Characters can create top levels to respond to the Guild prompts and explore the cities themselves as the ship makes its stops. Each Guild provides information sessions, free food and trinkets for potential applicants, and once you're ready to receive your Asterisk, all you have to do is take some introductory lessons and fill out forms. Characters can receive up to two asterisks. Time to get to know your new world!

Questions for Ganeshan can be directed to the Ganeshan top level post.]

Comments

Reno | FFVII AU

[shinra_dog]

Ninja Guild

Visiting the Ninja Guild was a given. Reno had been a Ninja before, had grown accustomed to the familiar weight of daggers in his hands. He wanted that again, wanted the speed, the shadows. If there was any hope of getting back to the precision of being an Assassin, Ninja was where Reno would start.

He whistled when the giant toads came out, though. "Well that's new."

Tark Varentain

Reno walked near-silently through the streets, taking it all in. It was cold and everyone had a suspicious fear in their eyes. The police presence was heavy, to say the least. Reno remembered reading about the murders here -- so many, in so short a time. He wasn't horrified at the bloodshed; on the other hand, he was almost impressed. That many kills, then to disappear? That was professional, not luck. The police wouldn't accept help from outsiders, that was an easy assumption to make. Still, Reno resolved to keep abreast of any developments in the case. If a child-murderer wasn't a fitting Assassin target, Reno didn't know what was.

Kiddilion

Reno smiled at the name. If the others were any indication -- Tark Varentain, really? -- then this was probably some allusion to Mary. Not that it wasn't still a bit weird to be in a world that somehow referenced those Heroes from the last one (there was no way it was a coincidence, not with so many). But Kidd... The smile was pained but nostalgic. Reno missed her. He hoped she was alright, wherever she was.

But he was resolved to carry on her work. Their work. And a place like this was highly reminiscent of Downapolis. This was the place to make and manipulate connections. Reno had nothing on him worth stealing, but he still didn't want anyone to try. So everyone was met with the same gaze -- a friendly smile, but one that said I see you.

Ninja Guild

[studdedcouncilprez]

While all this was going on, a girl might have been leaning a bit too close to the feats of acrobatic skill. She couldn't help herself -- it was like watching the trapeze artists.

The frog however, was completely out of left field.

"WAH!" Not prepared for its sudden appearance, she leaned her shoulder back -- right into Reno.

"Oh!" She looked at him, a bit flustered, raising a hand to cover her mouth. "I am so sorry!"

[shinra_dog]

Reno instinctively reached to catch the body coming at him without thinking. "Are you alright?" he asked, steadying her. It was another moment before he let her go, realizing that it could come across as weird.

He couldn't really blame her -- the frog was big, was sudden, and was hella badass and he couldn't wait to get one.

[studdedcouncilprez]

Makoto felt relieved. The man seemed to have been taking it in good humor (and he wasn't that bad looking either). For now, she's more embarrassed with herself. After that flashy display she should have realized that something big and sudden was going to pop up out of nowhere.

Realizing that now was not the time for mental chastising, Makoto pulled herself forward and straightened herself out. "Y-Yes, I'm alright." She followed the apology with a full bow. "My apologies, sir. This is so embarrassing."

She quickly returned to face him, raising a hand to pull her hair back over her ear. "...I guess I was getting a little too into it."

[shinra_dog]

If Reno knew this girl still thought he was attractive in his mid-thirties, his ego would swell to a new size. As it was, he was still getting used to his new age and all the years he had missed. He smiled at the bow and waved it off.

"No need t' be so formal." He glanced back at the demonstration briefly. "It's easy to get sucked in. You convinced to join up?"

[studdedcouncilprez]

Huh... pretty easy-going too. At first she was content to just let this be an accident and finish watching the demonstration. There was something about this guy that made her want to at least continue the conversation: most likely crippling embarrassment.

"Oh... well... I'm not used to doing things covertly," she lied horribly, "but there is a certain appeal to it, isn't there? The fact that they were able to conceal so many of themselves and the have such a grand display is incredible. I was still on the fence, but I think I might be convinced."

She ran a hand over her ears. "Yourself?"

[shinra_dog]

Wow... That sounded fake. But maybe she was doing that weird girl thing where they tried to dumb themselves down for attention. Reno hated that. It was stupid.

"You've never tried? Ever?" he pushed with a smirk. "Not even to pass notes in school?"

That was a thing, right? And it was an innocent enough example that wouldn't "out" someone for doing more. Truth be told, Reno wanted to know who had experience. It would be helpful later.

He was glad to hear she had decided to become a Ninja, though. If the covert was her style, this was the Job for her. "A' hundred percent I'm here for this. It's a little different than the last time I was used to, but I already decided before we got here."

[studdedcouncilprez]

Was that a judgemental look? Huh. "Nope never." Well, not in class anyway. She was an honor student and student council president. Her double life as a Phantom Thief, however... "My sister would never let me hear the end of it if she found out. Besides, I have a reputation as a student council president."

Still, he mentioned something interesting. "May I ask what sort of job would require you to jump on the walls and ride a giant frog?" Was there a hint of cheekiness in her tone? Yes, because Reno deserved it.

[shinra_dog]

"Assassin," he said nonchalantly.

Then after a pause for effect, he burst out laughing. "Just kidding!" he lied with a wide grin. And lying, for him, was as natural as breathing.

"Private detective," he answered instead. "The parkour an' all that helps to get all sorts of places. The frog is new, though. Wasn't expecting that."

[studdedcouncilprez]

Makoto's eyes went wide before narrowing. The pause only gave her time to galvanize that first impression. The laugh was infectious enough for her to give her some doubt, but after that she knew she was going to be attentive and wary.

"I see. So I would assume that you would have to be careful not to reveal too much of your clients, since I suspect they would value your confidence?" That was also an important consideration. "You actually bring up an excellent point. With the skills that a private detective would have they could make very good assassins under the right circumstances."

Kiddilion

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie was at the Ninja guild too, but when she heard where Reno was headed she practically pleaded to go along with him.

The moogle might have posed as a decent kidnapping target, but at least she had no pockets to pick. And of course the true villains would be those who tried to rob a moogle's mail bag. In any case, at least Bonnie had a new knife slung around her shoulder.

"Kupo...I'm happy but...This is all a little weird, right, kupo?" She'd feel better if Mary was here. Though maybe Mary would be the one finding it weird instead, but Bonnie would feel confident as long as her partner was here with her.

[shinra_dog]

Of course Bonnie was welcome to go with him. Without Mary or Saori here, Reno felt obligated to take care of his furry Assassin-mog. Besides, Bonnie was a sweetheart.

He patted his shoulder for Bonnie to ride if she wished. "It's weird," he agreed. "I keep thinking about all of it... All the similar names and places."

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie's a little surprised at the kind offer of the shoulder, but after a few seconds of thought she takes it and settles down happily with a little butt wriggle to get comfy.

"Y-you noticed too? Yeah, it's weird. Maybe...maybe this is the world that you were saying the others sacrificed themselves to make? That's what you all were talking about after you stopped Kalki, right?"

(ooc: I'm 90% sure that was publicly discussed at this point)

[shinra_dog]

Reno nodded thoughtfully, making sure he kept a steady gait for Bonnie. "Could be. That's what we were told -- they'd sacrifice themselves for the birth of a new world. 'Course, there was no tellin' if that was literal or metaphorical at the time... And Crystallis still lasted awhile afterwards."

But it was always at the back of his mind, no matter how calm the days had become in comparison to the time of the Calamity. There was always the fear that the world would still end, or that more would be needed. He always wondered if Crystallis was too broken and the new world would replace it, the way Kalki had wanted to erase everything before creating from scratch.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this was it," he murmured. "The world created by the hearts of heroes."

We can leave it here unless you got something in mind

[kuposcreed]

"Crystallis lasted....that's good." Bonnie never really regretted her decision to go with Mary to Saori's world, but winding up here in this new world had her worried about her home. Not guilty about abandoning it per se but maybe a little concerned that she might have been responsible for something bad happening to it somehow.

"Um, well...I hope everyone is okay. And I hope this is a good world too, kupo..."

here is good o7

[shinra_dog]

Reno smiled reassuringly. "Now that we're here? We'll make sure of it."

Kiddilion

[failtsuninari]

Kenichi had already picked his jobs but decided to visit several other locations while he had the chance. He had to wonder what sort of place this Kiddilion was. It was then he noticed Reno walking by. He may have never stepped into Crystallis, but what the stories his wife, Mary, and Bonnie have told him did include the assassin brotherhood they left behind. Carefully, he approached Reno.

"Okay this is a crap shoot but you would you happen to be one of the guys that were in Crystallis?"

[shinra_dog]

Reno raised his eyebrows curiously to be stopped with that question. So many people had been pulled from the Dream Width, and so many had not been from Crystallis. Reno didn't expect a stranger to know about it, unless someone else had mentioned it.

"Uh, yeah. Why? Somethin' I can help you with?"

[failtsuninari]

That was good news to hear. He already had met with Ira and of course, knew Bonnie since she was in his world when Mary arrived.

"Well, I've been looking for others who were there, especially those who knew two particular people. Do the names Saori Nakagawa and Mary Read ring any bells?"

[shinra_dog]

Now Reno was shocked. "Saori and Mary? Who...?"

It took him a moment, but then he remembered. Saori had been married before, she'd said. Even had kids. Somehow, she and Mary still made it work, but then if this guy knew both of them...

"Wait, are you the husband?"

[failtsuninari]

Kenichi blinked but chuckled and flashed the silver band on his finger. "Yeah, that's me, alright. Name's Kenichi." Given the open nature of their marriage and how polarizing it could be to some, he couldn't blame Saori for not talking about it out loud very often.

"I know they're not here with us but I can tell you that they're in good health and happy." The twins adored their Auntie Mary and Bonnie.

[shinra_dog]

Hearing that Mary and Saori were okay left Reno relieved. He didn't even ask how Kenichi knew; he just wanted to believe.

"Good. I'm glad." They deserved that. Reno offered a hand. "Reno. I knew 'em pretty well. It's nice ta' finally meet you."

[failtsuninari]

Kenichi shook the offered hand firmly. Wait a minute, that was a name he did remember from the stories.

"Nice to meet you too. From what I understand, you're one of the few heroes that decided to stay behind and run the Brotherhood in Crystallis, right?"

[shinra_dog]

Reno's eyebrows rose with some surprise. He supposed he shouldn't be, since Kenichi was married to Saori. Back wherever they lived, it was probably safe to share that information. Out of habit, he took a quick look around for who was in earshot.

"Yeah," he admitted when no one seemed to be eavesdropping. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in joining up, too?"

The Brotherhood would need others. Someone so close to both Saori and Mary was a good choice.

[failtsuninari]

He gave a nod. "Of course I am. I don't know if Saori ever mentioned this but the Brotherhood shares a few goals in common with what we do back home." Granted, the targets they fought were never human, but when souls were being eaten, it was up to them and the corps they lead to take them down.

"It'd be an honor to fight along you guys if you'll have me. And actually, I was considering about getting an airship after what Mary told me about them."