childrenofbajablast | Test Drive Meme #1

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Test Drive Meme #1

Arrival

Broken Palace by Jonathan Eng

0:07 / 1:13

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Click here to listen.

During 2014 Jonathan Eng composed the soundtrack for interactive narrative experience The Sailor’s Dream, consisting of a mix of instrumental tracks and a seven-part musical story told in folk song-form.

code

Like all who come through summoning circle, your arrival is heralded by a dream. Waking up is a dizzying, disorienting thing... and possibly made worse by the fact that you aren't alone.

Right after you appear, so does someone else. If you're lucky*, they'll simply blink into existence by your side. If you're not, there's a chance they spawned below or above you. That's one way to make a memorable first impression. Best untangle yourselves and get things figured out.

If you're extremely unlucky*, instead of another person being brought through the summoning circle, it's a monster. The creature bobs, laughs maniacally, and immediately begins to spit flames your way.

Some welcome this is. If you aren't the fighting type, hopefully someone nearby is. Eventually, one of the local Town guards will slay the monster before it - and you - cause too much trouble or fire damage.

Town Tricks

After your unexpected introduction to either your fellow offworlder or monster, you'll be given a proper one from Charlie in Town. He sends you on your way shortly after to get settled in properly and deal with then next offworlder that walks in. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a revolving door right now so he doesn't have time for a more in-depth explanation or to answer too many questions.

Nor does he remember to warn you about The Fae.

Although native to Talahee Forest, which is currently off-limits to offworlders, the surge of magic from the summoning circle has piqued their interest. While the faefolk vary wildly in appearance, the ones scouting are pixies.

These tiny tricksters may be too shy to reveal themselves outright... but that won't stop them from playing pranks on all these fun, new victims. Some examples of what can happen are:

At night

Thankfully, these Fae mean you no harm. In fact, if you react with hostility they will give you a wide berth and simply find someone more fun to play with.

Rocky Talky

One of the things that was given to you in your welcome pack from Charlie was a summoning-stone. Although it looks like, well, an ordinary stone- It's actually magic! You can look through it and see someone else's face too if you're both viewing your stones at the same time. It can also record your speech and deliver that to someone else in a snap.

One of the other features is that you can scrawl on it. It will turn your writing into legible text that you can send others to read on their stones. Of course, you need to attune yourself to your stone first. To that end, it prompts a small questionnaire:

Name:
Age:
Race:
Favorite soup? Why?:
Is soup something you eat or drink?

The last couple of questions might seem... strange but, surely, it must have a reason for asking. Once you answer the questions and unlock your device, you might pocket it and forget. Unfortunately, your scrawled answers were sent to the entire summoning-stone network throughout Town. Everyone can see what you put and they might even have some thoughts about it.

Registration Questionnaire

Notes

⁂ Hello and welcome to Children of Bahamut! If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback feel free to comment here!

⁂ For the Arrival prompt, feel free to roll a d20 to see how lucky or unlucky you are.

⁂ The Town Tricks example list for pranks isn't exhaustive. If you have other silly prank ideas in mind, feel free to roll with that and have fun with it! The Fae certainly are.

⁂ There is a correct choice of favorite soup and the moderators will remember your choice/opinions. (We're joking. Mostly.)

⁂ Full Navigation ⁂

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And it is in this respect that it is fortunate that Ignis and Noctis have always been opposites.]

[In the time that Noctis has been going in mental circles, trying to not think about a lot of things, Ignis woke up in yet another strange new world and immediately hyperfocused on the practical necessities over everything else. Mental breakdowns? Emotional nail biting? All that can come later.]

[It can come after he's sure that he has a roof over his (and everyone else's, he's sure) head, and food ready, and a plan of attack if it turns out they are staying here longer then any of them desire.]

[That first bit is actually why he come to investigate this particular house. Even from the street, he can hear the sound of river softly flowing... and he has to admit that such a thing does have its advantages, since the technology in this place is clearly lacking. Yet as he does a quick perimeter check...]

Noct!

[It's like a compass and the north star - he's going straight for him so quickly it could be dizzying.]

[He's honestly not sure is Ignis' presence is reassuring or... annoying. Okay, no. That's not fair. It's reassuring that he's here (wherever here is) but that he's immediately calling out to him? Annoying.

Noct just falls backwards into the grass beside the stream, rod vanishing into the armiger instantly.]

Come on. You're scaring the fish! [The annoyance just serves to make him sound even more whiny.]

[Noct being a tad whiny is nothing new. Ignis doesn't really care right now. All that matters to him in the moment is coming up to where Noct lays sprawled, and settling down onto the grass as well. It won't do wonders, exactly, for his pants, but, well. They're black. They'll manage fine.]

The fish will always return. It isn't as though they have much of a choice in the matter.

[They're fish, what are they going to do? Move to a whole new river over a little bit of his voice?]

[Still, that reaction... Ignis isn't wholly sure what it means. Is it just in response to all the other strangeness of their lives recently, or is it new? As he sits down besides him, Ignis takes a careful look over his prince.]

Have you been here for very long?

Guess I'm gonna be here for awhile then, huh?

[The snarky response is a little more cutting than the situation warrants, something that makes it clear that Noct might be doing normal ass things but he's still wound tight and on edge. To be expected given the situation, really.

Until Noct blinks up at Ignis, having closed his eyes in annoyance and against the sun that is, now, directly overhead. Then he's shooting back upright, face twisted in confusion.]

Iggy?? What the-

[That certainly answer that, now, doesn't it?]

[Ignis carefully pulls back so that their heads don't sharply collide when Noctis moves to sit up so suddenly. It's good to not waste anytime on confusion and wondering. Even if it... does sting a little bit, to know that there are feelings churning underneath the surface for both of them that he can't bring up just yet.]

[There are more important things to deal with, after all.]

[...He just has to be patient. There is the idea of something worth being patient for, at least, rather than contentedly swallowing down everything forever.]

There have been, as you may be able to guess, some rather troublesome mix ups in the timeline.

...But you are whole and healthy, so I am glad to see that much, Noct.

[Noctis rolls his eyes, a bitter snort of laughter escaping him as he slings one arm over a raised knee, pointedly not meeting Ignis' gaze. ]

Fat lot of good that's meant.

[Sure. He's whole and healthy. What about everyone else? What about everyone fleeing the city? What about his dad? And now somehow he's supposed to be some sort of king when there's nothing he can do to protect anyone at all.]

So what... you... Do you even remember me graduating?

[...there is really no good way to talk about this, no.]

I... was looking forward to it. [He'd always been making plans, having ideas, ruminating on graduation gifts, things like that. But to get closer to that period of time just.... truly felt special.]

[Tangible in some way.]

[Especially with the awkward and difficult fights they'd been having recently.]

...I apologize. It's nothing which makes sense to myself, either.

[He didn't know how to deal with any of this. Not this morning, not now with Cor's confirmation of what's happened, sure as hell not in an entirely separate world supposedly. And now the person that's supposed to be his guide through this sort of bullshit, the person he relies on most when everything is spiraling out of control and he doesn't know how to keep his head above water......

Now he doesn't know a godsdamned thing.]

Great. [One sarcastic, sullen word and then Noct's pulled both knees up, arms crossed over the tops of his knees and he ducks his head, hiding in the enclosed space between his arms and his chest. Another bitter laugh that's dangerously unsteady shakes his shoulders. No- no he can't cry he has a duty to do, whatever the hells that means here.

Heaven fucking forbid he get a godsdamned break.]

[A very long time ago - years, now - Ignis decided that he would stay by Noctis's side and do whatever he needed of him. He understood distantly that this was a large commitment, even as a child, but... He never wavered from that feeling.]

[Even when it got difficult.]

[But if only he could have prepared for a situation like this, seeing his prince flounder helplessly and knowing even his very presence, what it signifies, means for him.]

...Even if there is a great deal that I don't know, matters I am lacking in, please still remember this, Noct:

I am ultimately myself no matter what.

[For a moment, his hand raises, uncertain and hesitant, before he lets his fingertips brush against Noctis's shoulder. Just to see.]

And I will always be by your side.

[It's not a conscious decision, the way he lists towards Ignis, leaning towards that tentative touch. He doesn't realize he's done it at all though it will certainly help Ignis hear what else he says. Words that are muffled and low, Noctis' position ensure that he's barely audible. As though he doesn't have to feel so bad about saying it if there's a chance no one will hear it.]

It's probably better you don't know. Hells I wish I could- [His voice hitches, shoulders shaking under Ignis' hand and he shakes his head hard. One deep steadying breath and he lifts his head to look up into clear blue skies, no hulking dreadnaughts on the horizon, no airships full of metal men hovering on their doorstep. He tries so hard not to let himself cry. There's no time for it. No time to wallow in self pity. Not over Dad, not over Luna- None of it.] go back to not knowing.

[Even if it had been more muffled still, Ignis would still do his best to hear it, still force himself to overcome the limitations of his own body. So he leans in close, accepts the silent offer - is it an offer? - for what it is.]

...As long as you know, then I will want to know, Noct. I should know.

As I said: always at your side.

[And that means bearing whatever weight he can alongside him, even if some will always be a bit out of his reach.]

[Ignis adjusts himself, comes in a little closer. Arm brushing against shoulders.]

...We should take this home for ourselves, for the time being. It is pleasant enough. Large enough for four - at the very least.

[Of course Ignis wants to know, that's just who he is. But this is something knowing won't fix. Not something that knowing will somehow give Ignis or any of them the ability to make right. Noct curls into the circle of Ignis' arm, feels miserable and childish for letting himself take that comfort when they've been running on nothing but denial and rage for over 24 hours now.

And thin Iggy goes and calls this cute little cottage home and Noct's fraying control pulls taut-]

Home?

[and snaps.]

This?! [A frantic, desperate gesture over his shoulder toward the house, his voice rising with anger and something so much deeper and more powerful. A well of grief he's barely kept latched since he'd found out, those brilliant blue eyes blurring with tears he refuses to let fall.] This isn't our home, Ignis!

There isn't one. It's all gone, Iggy. There's nothing for us to go back to. The Empire- [He has to stop himself for a moment, eyes wet and wide and panicked like he doesn't trust himself to let even a single tear fall for what might follow. And he only manages to choke out one more word.]

Dad-

[There'd been little things he had picked up, of course. Of course he had paid attention to every word that had been spoken to him, when in yet another new world, especially by Noctis.]

[He had taken in the changes. Caught slips of tongue.]

[Understood, ultimately, that something terrible had inevitably happened, and forced growth for all of their efforts to let things happen at their own pace best that could possibly be had.]

[They were gearing up to discuss it all, he thinks. Finally getting to that point, instead of numerous individuals simply getting used to, well - the end of the world, apparently. Being in a simulation run on intimate relations between people. All the little mundane ways that people can get sidetracked.]

[And now, instead, he's here.]

[On his own.]

[And Noctis is telling him Insomnia is gone.]

[A torrent of feelings threatens to roll over him. A thousand thoughts on a thousand different things, if not more. He can feel the surge of it through his entire being, just before he forces down the emergency door to keep it from washing everything away. It locks up his longs. Stops his heart.]

[A single drop, condensation over metal.]

[Is Uncle Tan alright?]

[He wipes it away. Tries not to think about it. He can't be selfish right now. Ignis remembers to breathe, and tightens his grip on Noctis's shoulder to pull him closer.]

I'm here, Noct. I am still here.

[It's been nothing but this looming oppressive dread since Ignis had found the headlines that doomed them. Restless energy and anger and a need to take action but with no clear path to follow. Cor was giving them that. At least... he had been. And then he's here and there's nothing to do. No one he can ask questions of, no information that might be missing, no way to get back to Lucis and no way to return to Insomnia even if they could.

Everyone has been tense, strung tight enough to break. But now here's Ignis, this version of him softer and more reassuring. Somewhere Noctis is aware that yelling at him in such a way is unfair and unhelpful but he can't help it. Just like he can't help leaning into the warm arm around his shoulders.

Letting himself sink into Ignis' embrace like that, though... it's inevitable. Gradually all that anger and fear dissolve into tears that Noctis presses into Ignis' shoulder.]

[How long has it been since Noctis has cried on him? A very long time, he thinks. When the emotional vulnerability became more embarrassing than politically pressing, although the latter no doubt influenced the former.]

[How long since Ignis has cried? Longer, he thinks.]

[And he won't start today. Not with Noctis falling apart against him for the first time in a while instead of snapping at him and starting arguments. Not with a dismal and gray future looming overhead. As he holds Noct close, Ignis stares blankly towards the river, mind clicking and churning.]

[He has to do something.]

[He has to figure out what to do.]

[A breath. His heart, aching in his chest. Ignis pulls it all together, forces it to keep on going because what else is he to do? Simply pull away after his shirt has become quite thoroughly soaked.]

Alright then. We're quite done there, aren't we? [And he does mean we in this moment, even if he seems as rigid and professional as ever.]

Things are not as clear cut and miserable as they may seem, but it is best to handle the essentials for now. So, up now. [And he's helping with this, pulling Noctis along while rising up onto his feet, mindful of his back and bad knee.] While it is certainly not home, it will do more than well enough as shelter, and a base of operations. More than enough for four, and any others we may want to keep close in the future.

[Not as long as one might think... if only Ignis recalled a little more of their history.

Somewhere he understands how unfair this is to Ignis. The teenager beside him doesn't have the same emotional fortitude as the man that had been at his side this morning. This version of his friend must be so confused. If he hadn't been fighting back the emotional tidal wave that's been building for quite so long he'd maybe even been able to keep himself collected and... do anything other than what he has.

The need to continue, to keep driving forward, was the thing that had kept that dam in place. Here, now, he's been sitting with no purpose, spinning his tires for hours, watching more and more fractures appear in the dam wall. All it took was the slightest pressure to crumble.

Which is why there are soft apologies mumbled into Ignis' shoulder once those tears slow to a manageable level. And why he does not argue or fight when Ignis draws him up to his feet. It isn't until they're halfway to the cottage that he sniffles... smearing tears and snot all over the silk sleeve of his jacket with no concept of the work he's making for Ignis in doing so.]

Four? So- Gladio? He's here too? I saw Prom but-

[At least they're all together.]

[Even if it's more work - all the more work in a place that Ignis is fairly certain has no modern technology as he understands it - he doesn't mind. It's nothing that he isn't used to already.]

[For now, better to focus on what he does have.]

I haven't found him as of yet, but I have no doubt that he is around. [If he's confident enough, then it should be true.] I would rather have things set up before we do find him, however.

It's good that you still have access to the Armiger. That will make things easier.

Not... really.

[Of course Ignis is planning for the eventuality. He hopes Gladio is here. Desperately. At least if they're all together they can... who knows. He has no idea what the hell they can do about this place, this Charlie guys is sure no Astral, but anything they can do will be more effective together.

The Armiger is, however, not the boon Ignis might be thinking it is.

In a flash of crystalline light Noctis withdraws a pair of daggers, simple by the standards of most royal weaponry. These he holds out to Ignis. Then he pulls out a rather ridiculously oversized sword. Clearly Gladio's. Well. No, actually this was the one Noct himself had been using to help with crushing the stupid stoneshears Coctura had asked them to take care of. Not even as nice as the one Gladio himself had been using.

And then his own engine blade, the greatsword's tip buried in the grass and the blade in his hand carried through an idle swing to his side. Then his shoulders slump.]

My fishing gear and a case of potions. That's it.

[It's funny, how a pair of daggers already make him feel so much more at ease. Like the comforting warmth of a jacket on a rainy day. Ignis takes them both, flipping them in his fingers to readjust to the weight. Probably a spear would be better for the range it gives him, the hunting he imagines he will have to do...]

[But something about daggers is far more comforting.]

Even so. The existence of the Armiger is an utter boon just by itself. [He raises an eyebrow at Noctis.] Or would you like to haul around both of those swords constantly all on your own?

Well, by all means.

[Double daggers mean double the warping speed. Well. Not really but he can get a lot more distance with a smaller weapon. Probably a lance would work best for where they are, yeah, but he'd had his sword, the daggers for speed and distance and... Gladio's back up sword to help crack shells. The blizzards he'd managed to make were gone even.]

Yeah- no.

[He flashes a flat, unamused look at Iggy but the corners of his lips tilt up ever so slightly after a moment, grudging amusement even if he is being huffy. Only to wrinkle his nose, staring at Ignis for a long moment.]

It's... so weird seeing you with your hair down again.

[Noct reaches out a hand, pushing his fingers into Ignis' neat bangs to shove them back as though there's any hope of his hair doing what it's as yet untrained to do without some sort of product.]

[Being touched so casually is something that Ignis has always been a touch picky about. Gladio especially knows this little quirk of his, with how avoidant Ignis is in regards to PDA even with the man he's dating. It's just one of those things picked up. Perhaps because of his personality, perhaps picking up habits from the man who primarily raised him.]

[Who knows?]

[All that can really be said is that this sticks in place even in regards to the person who he adores so much like Noctis, where he weathers the finger in his hair for just a second before sighing and lightly swatting them away.]

And it shall stay down, since I am unlikely to find any hair product in a place such as this.

[Sure, he could try and make up some things himself, but... Anything made here wouldn't have the same effect as in a modernized world. And there are more important things he should be focusing on than just his appearance.]

[...Generally speaking.]

Although it's good to hear that I do change my appearance in the future. I've been pondering it for a short while now, truthfully.

Well, that can be gossip shared over dinner tonight. For now, we should get a new look at this house and make sure that it is to our standards, although I recognize grabbing it or something similar to it immediately.

Proximity to water is a rather high commodity, you know.

[Oh Noct is well aware of how much of a stickler for propriety Ignis is. Which... is, honestly, half of why he does it. He just spent the last gods know how long crying on this man in a public space. Isolated, sure, but still out in the open. He's the Crown Prin-

King of an entire country. He can't be doing that, letting his emotions get the better of him. He really can't. He knows that. Never mind that it's just outright embarrassing that he can't keep his shit in check.

And maybe all of that feels a little less awful if he can drag Ignis into suffering with him. It's such a small thing but it makes him feel a little bit less like a disappointment, knowing even someone as impeccably put together as Ignis can be embarrassed about things as well.

Not that Noctis really thinks about it that hard. It's just nice to have a moment where things are more normal, despite Ignis being younger, their world being on fire, this world being strange and unpredictable- Gods it really just never stops, does it?]

Yeah... sorta like how you used to do it when you were like... 13? And Gladio's hair is a lot longer so it's not like you both have that hairstyle like you did back then.

[Gossip for dinner. Right. Which will probably need water... which there aren't pipes for. So the stream really will be for more than just fishing, huh?]

I guess it would be if this place is as ass backwards as it looks.

Unfortunately, it does seem rather stuck in the past.... Not unlike some Hunter outposts, from what I've heard on the matter.

[They're not really places he's had a chance to visit yet. Just what he's heard from others, like his uncle, or Cor, or Nyx. People who were expected to go out and about.]

[It's fine. He can adjust for this. Ignis always expected he would be sent out into the world eventually, and made plans even this young to learn everything that he could. This is honestly far better than some of the worst-case scenarios he thought he would have to take into consideration. Those never thought that he would have access to a roof over his head like this, and food, while basic in ingredients, does seem to be plentiful.]

[Speaking of things that may be for the better... Trying the back door and opening it, Ignis holds it for Noctis.]

You know... There is a possibility that this land may not have daemons to trouble it. In fact, I would say that it is incredibly likely.

At least, not daemons as we would be familiar with.

[The mention of hunter outposts has Noctis nodding slightly. He's not even been to any of the really out-of-the-way places but seeing the grungy shacks Dave has holed up in it doesn't take much to imagine.]

At least the hunters have lights and phones. Radios, guns, all of that.

[He pauses a moment before stepping inside to look around, peek inside, and give Ignis a pointed look that clearly says "unlike this place". Then he steps inside, looking around the little cottage properly.]

That'd be nice. I'll believe it when I see it though.

[a beat]

Ugh they better not have them, there's no lights.

All the more reason to believe they aren't as we know them. If they were truly a matter, then we would see some evidence of powerful lights, or magic which might keep them at bay such as the Havens utilize.

[Well, whatever one wants to call the power of Havens anyway. But Ignis knows that Noctis doesn't particularly care about the fiddly little details like that.]

[He may be older, but Ignis suspects Noctis hasn't changed that much when it comes to such things.]

[Carefully inspecting everything, Ignis goes about so slowly. There's a lot to investigate, things he needs to make sure are up to snuff as much as they can be.]

We shall have to use candles at night, if we wish to move about the house at all... Which means we will have to be careful on our supply of them. I wonder how good oil lanterns may work here...

[All things to consider, and he glances back to Noctis from the window.]

I can see about finding out ways to make the bed and pillows more comfortable. I suspect that they won't be in the sort of condition we're used to, although perhaps better than sleeping bags.

Denial

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DW ate the notif for this

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