❈ TEST DRIVE MEME

[fairy_of]

Welcome to Gildenhirst, friends!
It's a TEST DRIVE MEME!!
Premise, Location and more information on the Main Menu.

Our test drive meme is open to everyone, so please stop by for a little fun and see if you’d enjoy playing with us. The TDM primarily takes place in Gildenhirst, the main hub city for Bravely Borrows. The surrounding area of Caldisla is free game though! Please explore the setting as you desire.

  LET'S PLAY DRESS UP

A big part of Bravely Borrows is getting your very own job class! While all characters start the game as a Freelancer and receive a random job asterisk later on, for the sake of testing you may choose from the following job classes to mess around with:

Red Mage ★ Monk ★ Knight ★ Performer ★ Ranger ★ and Freelancer of course
If you desire these threads to be canon, an asterisk was simply loaned to them.
Please return it at your earliest convenience.

  NEED A QUEST?

If you need some direction on how to begin, why not gaze upon some sample quests? Go on a journey. Fuck around and find out. They are completely optional– write whatever prompts you want!

Eggs Aplenty
Oh no. Oh dear. There has been a horrible series of mistakes surrounding ChantiLilly’s egg delivery. For one thing, it was delivered to the Central Market on the Ground Floor! For another thing, there are far too many eggs here. Dozens upon dozens upon dozens of eggs. The bakery’s Patissiere would be grateful if you could help bring these eggs up to his bakery in Rooftop Gardens. You’ll get some gold and some fresh eggs for your troubles.

This Bunny’s Buggin Me
A farmer from Norende is going batty over the swarm of bunnies that have been getting into his fields. Help a fella out, won’t ya? They are swarming en masse and ruining the spring start ups! Don’t expect to be able to herd them out without a fight though– these rabbies really pack a punch! They’re also carnivorous so…. Watch out?

A Rock and a Hard Place
An avid collector is searching for some new specimens. They’ve heard there are some expansive cave systems in the Norende Heights that just might be the perfect spot to collect some geodes. The only problem is that they’re an eensy teensy bit full of kobolds. You’ll be compensated for your troubles if you’d go collect some rocks, and every actual geode will get an extra reward. Please don’t fall off the cliffs…! The paths are narrow and harrowing at times. Good luck!

Have an excellent time, friends!
Thanks for stopping by ♥

QUICK SELECT// MAIN MENU ☆ OOC ☆ JOURNALS ☆ LOGS

Comments

[whenyouneedme]

He was on it. Perhaps they could avoid a second tumble down the stairs if Kai caught her soon enough. Probably not, but he'd sure try. You'd better be right there behind them, Shinji, the group hug was rapidly approaching.

Here were his arms, wide and open to catch her.

[daikonrose]

Once that first sob had made its way out, there was no stopping the deluge. Kyoko was full-on bawling well before she crashed into Kaito's chest, stumbling down a step and almost turning it into a headbutt. Hopefully they were not falling now, because the arm that wasn't wrapped around Kaito was immediately going to reach for Shinji too.

Good job keeping it together, guys, but it was time to be a mess now.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

There had been the briefest flash of an idea that, if he were to hang back just a bit, Shinji might be able to prevent another topple down the stairs. He is not, however, too far back to be left out of this messy, sobbing hug, and also not really enough to stop any of that already wobbly momentum of three whole bodies on such a precarious surface.

"Wh-whoa...!" Careful! Careful!! Do not let this reunion end in disaster...!!!

[whenyouneedme]

Easy does it!! No more disasters!

After that first tumble, Kai was a little more prepared. It was a little easier to brace himself for headbutts than it had been to not trip over his feet running at Shinji, so. Hooray? They were still in a very precarious position though, so everyone please be careful. Let's try to navigate this hug down into a sit so they could cry to their heart's content.

Because now, finally, Kai could acknowledge the screaming that had been trembling in his heart and the weight their absence had put on his shoulders. It was safe to let them out now that the pieces of his heart were here in his arms. Both of them.

[daikonrose]

All these heroic efforts to prevent them from tumbling down miles of stairs were lost on Kyoko. For all that she'd been a wreck all day today, it did nothing to lessen the crash of emotion over her now. Clutching both boys as close as she could get them, Kyoko felt sure she could cry into Kaito's shirt just like this for the rest of her life.

When she finally started to run dry, Kyoko pulled back just enough to lift a hand to cup each of their faces, too distraught to even worry about how Shinji might take it. She needed to look at them.

"I--" Her voice cracked. "I'm so--" Oh never mind, the crying was not over yet actually.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

What kind of face is Shinji even making right now? He's not sure, even in his relief he's not letting himself break down into tears yet, but the sobs from the two of them have shaken him deeply regardless. It feels like, until they're somewhere more private and secure, he has to hold himself together, to hold on to them as tightly as he can, but having Kyoko hold on to his face like that is nearly enough to unravel him entirely.

"It's okay," he whispers back, his voice small and shaky. She can take as much time as she needs, neither of them are going anywhere. "It's okay."

[whenyouneedme]

Right. No one was going anywhere. Kai kept his arms firmly around both of them as Kyoko held their faces. Ah... He made a particularly snotty sounding sniff (romantic), and mustered up a wobbly half-grin for them.

"We're here," he murmured to echo Shinji. "We're all right here." Back together, tied to one another with all these red threads and shining charms. "Sorry it took so long."

[daikonrose]

All these sweet words and tender looks could have killed her--she was so warm. It was the apology that dealt the final blow, though.

Buckling a bit, Kyoko's head dipped, her hands falling to curl at their shoulders. "I'm the one--" she choked, more fresh tears running hot down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I don't know how but I--I led you somewhere like this--and--and now--"

[hedgehogsdilemma]

"What..." he wheezes, the breath pulled right out of his lungs at that absurd claim. Why is she blaming herself for this? It's not like this is what she wanted for them... Unable to help himself, he carefully lifts his hand and places it gently on top of her head. Don't say that, please.

"This isn't your fault."

[whenyouneedme]

His mouth pulled into a worried line. Giving Shinji a quick look, he gave him a small nod. That was the right move now, Kai was pretty sure. His own hand stayed steady at Kyoko's back, rubbing warm circles of comfort there. Ah... what could they do about this particular kind of heartache?

"Shinji's right. And we're together now," Kai told her, trying to steer away from wherever that thought had been going. "Which means... we can figure this out, whatever this is."

[daikonrose]

They had only left Havenwell because it was what Kyoko wanted, which meant this was definitely her fault. If she hadn't taken their hands, Shinji and Kaito could still be comfortable and happy in the home they'd made together. From the very start, she'd brought them trouble, and now...

Now Shinji's hand rested so warmly on her head that Kyoko had to close her eyes against her shame even as the tears slowed. Now Kaito's touch coaxed her ragged breaths into something calmer. None of this was deserved, but she had to try to do right by them, somehow.

"I'm sorry," she had to say at least one more time, her lip still quivering. They must be scared too, but she was making them comfort her again. "I really, really wanted to be able to protect you."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

There's no way she could have known that they wouldn't end up in the right place, but Shinji can still see where her worries are coming from to some degree. He can sympathize, his own fears that he was stewing in earlier aren't dissimilar, after all.

But that little apology, that sad plea, it's really testing the limit of how capable he is of keeping himself together right now. He clenches his jaw briefly, like it will keep any sorrow or fear or dread from escaping his mouth, before answering her with a strained, "We'll be okay." They're here, together, like Kaito's said. She can trust him, right? "All three of us, we... we can still protect each other."

[whenyouneedme]

Kai's other hand rested steady against Shinji's back, his thumb rubbing smaller circles there. It was alright. He was doing great, all things considered.

"Mmhmm. No matter where we are." That was the part that was most important to Kai, so in the end this result was... fine. He was okay with this, as ashamed as he was to say so knowing how much this was not the place Kyoko wanted to be. "We would have followed you anyway."

[daikonrose]

They had every right to be upset with her--a strong part of her ached to be yelled at right now, to receive the punishment she deserved for her selfishness--but as always, Kaito and Shinji were gentle. Kyoko just didn't know how to take it.

So she pulled them in close again as the last of the tears streamed down her cheeks. Somehow, she was going to have to try to make this right.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Sorry, Kyoko, nobody wants to yell at you. They're only going to keep holding on to her while she lets the rest of those tears go - take whatever time you need, Kyoko, the whole lot of them could probably stand to take a moment to just breathe now that they don't have to panic about possibly being here alone.

"We'll be okay," he assures her again, lightly smoothing her hair as his other hand clutches tightly at Kai's shirt. They'll have to be okay. They have to be.

[whenyouneedme]

How could they possibly yell at her when she was the one hurting the most? This wasn't anyone's fault. Kai couldn't even start to point any fingers at anyone from Aellyn. The charms had worked. They were all here. Something just didn't go the way they had planned. Kai had been steeling himself for the worst case scenario, so this...

His heart ached as Kyoko pulled them back in. His resolve rekindled with Shinji's grasp. "We'll be okay," Kai echoed, a firmer promise for them both. The worst didn't happen, and he'd been ready to start from zero anyway. They'd be okay. He'd make sure of it, even if it wasn't as easy as holding them both close. "Promise."

[daikonrose]

It was a few more long moments before Kyoko was ready to pull back and meet their eyes with her puffy ones. The nod she gave them was probably the weakest they'd ever seen from her, but the effort was there. She might not be ready to believe that they'd be okay, but they were together, so... not everything was lost. She couldn't go giving up now.

"Thank... thank goodness, I could find you at least," she sniffled. Ah jeez she really was gonna need to wipe her face in a minute here, just as soon as she could stand to let go of either of them. Please keep holding her and petting her hair indefinitely, her boundaries were still gone.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

The hair petting may not be the wisest move on Shinji's part, and that thought settles in his mind very subtly the longer this goes on. He doesn't know if he has it in himself to really stop, not when she's still so miserable looking, but he does slowly move his hand down to, instead, rest at her shoulder. Easy, now.

"I was... really scared," he offers, a quiet confession to answer her sentiment, "that I wouldn't see either of you ever again. So this... this much is good."

[whenyouneedme]

The holding at least would continue, with promises to pet both of them when he was more able. He had two hands. He could do this to give them the same comfort they'd always offered him. For now he just squeezed them as best he could.

"Mmm... I thought it was just me," he murmured in turn. As much as he told himself it'd be fine if it meant they had made it to Japan, Kai knew deep in his heart that he really wasn't strong enough to do that again.

"I found your note though." He offered a small hint of a smile towards Kyoko for her very excellent idea. "So I knew I'd find both of you."

[daikonrose]

It put a fresh ache in her heart to hear what she'd sort of naturally assumed--of course they'd be afraid too. But it was easier to feel so tender and fragile now that she had all this warmth to lean into.

"O-oh?" Blinking the tears that still lingered in her eyes, Kyoko admitted, "That was a just-in-case kind of thing, but... I'm glad I did it, then. I was really... really scared too, but I just couldn't let myself think I wouldn't find you both."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

"It was a really smart idea," he quietly adds. He hadn't thought to do anything like that, and it definitely sounds like... he was the only one who was anticipating not finding them. Ah... they are truly too good for him. He leaves that extra depressing thought unsaid, letting his current concerns turn back to worry as he glances over at Kai.

"What... should we be doing now?" It's late, they're all worn out, and the stairs are probably not the best place to recoup for too long.

[whenyouneedme]

That was just being realistc, Shinji. There was nothing wrong with that. They were all still dragons, even if Kai had been a mouse for a little while there. (Which meant he would have been the fool running around for months.)

Luckily, no one had to do that. They'd been reunited very quickly, and the relief that was chasing away the panic was revealing just how truly worn out they all must have been. Kai caught Shinji's glance and hummed, turning a thoughtful look up. Getting back down the stairs was probably already going to be an ordeal, but it was easier than going Up. Ah, if only he'd brought the tent along.

"Let's head back to the inn," He decided after a bit. "There's at least a place to sit. We can take a look at what we've got and maybe we could... barter something. Or start a tab? Maybe they're used to randos."

[daikonrose]

Oh... yes, it was time to consider the next practical move, wasn't it. She could not cry on the stairs with them forever--sleep was going to sound pretty good soon, even if she wasn't ready to stop looking at the two of them yet.

The inn was as solid of a choice as Kyoko could imagine. "The lady at the desk was really nice--ah, I need to thank her if she's still there. I don't think we'd get kicked out of the lobby, if nothing else." So, with one more sniffle, time to stagger to her feet, hands held out for the taking. Let's get moving

[hedgehogsdilemma]

The inn is as good of a place to try as any, they might be able to find some kind of mercy. If they're lucky, they'll be able to get some more private space to let any lingering tears out, but... let's at least get to somewhere warm and more comfortable at least. He nods along with the plan, and up they go, on wobbly legs, and even though he quietly takes her hand as he's getting up, Shinji steps back to make sure that Kai's the one in the middle. Right where he should be. Perfect.

"That's... back down, then." They can go once Kai's set.

[whenyouneedme]

Admittedly Kai wasn't quite ready to let either of them go yet either. He wanted to hold them and press kisses in their hair, but the driving need to make sure they were both okay was more pressing. Getting somewhere safe and warm was a good first step. Up he went with a mild sound of protest for his knees, making sure everyone was all good with all their stuff and backpack friends. No more toppling from here on out, please.

Hand in hand with each of them, Kai took a deep breath and gave each of their hands a squeeze. "Right. Back down again. Here we go." If they just took one step after another, they'd make it back down in no time.

It was lucky that the bottom half of the city seemed pretty straightforward. Getting back to the Inn was simply a matter of turning down the main road once they'd gotten far enough down. It wouldn't be too terribly long before the warm lamp lights heralded the spot of rest they were looking for.