❈ 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]

They really were both halves of his heart. All of that bright hope and determination to find them that had fueled him through the day echoed Kyoko. Despite however fiercely he tried to believe in it, there was still the mirror image of Shinji's fears, no matter how much he wasn't saying all of them. They still shared that loneliness that was ready to welcome them back to waking up alone.

Ah. His heart hurt from all of it, in both good and melancholy ways. Kai had to bite his lip, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. He turned his head to hide a kiss in Shinji's palm. When he opened his eyes again it was so he could catch Kyoko's hand, drawing it in for a kiss against her fingertips too.

"The most important parts worked out," he murmured.

[daikonrose]

And there was Kaito holding them together again.

Kyoko was biting her lip, trying to keep herself from crumbling all over again. "... Yeah. The most important part was always you two, for sure."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Of course, the people involved are the most important. That kiss to his palm ears Kai a soft look from Shinji, even through all of that worry and heartache, before Shinji turns his attention back to Kyoko. Ah... she looks so fragile right now, but he still has to say it,

"I'm sorry things didn't go they way they should have."

[whenyouneedme]

It was an important thing to say, really. Kai nodded along in quiet agreement, pressing another kiss there at her fingers. Detours weren't anyone's fault, but they could still be upset for her.

[daikonrose]

Squeezing Shinji's hand again, Kyoko shook her head, looking down. Reminding them that it was most likely her fault was sure to just upset them more, so she wouldn't. "As... as long as I don't lose you, everything else can be worked out somehow."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

It still sucks! Surely she's still upset about it! Even if they're all assuring themselves that things could be way worse, having Kyoko so clearly swallow that particular bit of grief feels... not great.

"Right," he answers quietly, because they will work things out, one way or another, but... "It's still not fair."

[whenyouneedme]

"Mmm." It really didn't feel great. Neither of them should have felt like they needed to swallow their feelings down, but Kyoko especially... Kai frowned gently, letting her hand go just so he could have his turn brushing his palm against her cheek.

"Tomorrow... after we've gotten things taken care of--" you know, food and stuff, "--we can all go find a spot out in the woods to yell about it."

[daikonrose]

Of course she was upset. Everybody was upset! That didn't mean she should be crying nonstop--she'd already cried a lot today!

But leaning her cheek into Kaito's hand was nice, and that was surely not going to stir anything up. "... Okay," she said quietly, and then tried a tiny smile. "I guess that'll kinda make it like a tradition, yelling in a new place."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

A tradition, is it? If that's the kind of thing that will help her feel better, he's going to trust that Kai has a good idea going here.

"Mmm, it's a plan, then." They'll do that as soon as the important stuff is taken care of.

[whenyouneedme]

Shouting was very therapeutic. They could get out all those frustrations that were too hard to put into words. Who knew if there were any gods here to listen to them this time, but it was something.

"Hopefully it's not gonna be a full tradition," Kai said with a soft huff, carefully stroking his thumb over her cheek. Just one more please, where they were happy shouts for once.

Careful not to neglect Shinji's affections, Kai leaned his own cheek back into his palm again. "It'll be good though. We'll take it step by step."

[daikonrose]

Truly, who knew what kind of shouting they would need to do when they finally made it to Japan? Kyoko wouldn't begrudge it when the time came. But calling it a tradition was maybe a way of trying to force a little bit of hope--twice wasn't enough for a tradition, so they had to get out of here and keep it going. Maybe that was silly, but so was Kyoko.

As Kaito leaned into Shinji's touch, Kyoko took the moment to settle herself back down again--no more leaning over them and hogging the spotlight, it was time to try to calm down. "Mm." She tucked her head against Kaito's shoulder and gave Shinji's hand another warm little squeeze. "We'll... we'll manage somehow. It's a promise."

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Shouts will probably be especially in order when they do finally make it to their destination, though the frustration of it all will hopefully be completely absent for it. A temporary tradition, then, just until they reach their ultimate destination.

Kyoko's hand is given a little squeeze in return - it's a promise. If the three of them together, they'll make it through this. With that thought, he lightly strokes his thumb over Kai's cheek, wanting to cement that idea in his own mind even if it's still impossibly hard to shake the idea that this really, really sucks.

"We will." Maybe if they say it enough, it'll start to feel easier. "We'll get to where we want to be sooner or later."

[whenyouneedme]

"Definitely."

No matter how much it sucked, it would get easier. Kai would do whatever it took to make sure of that. He was already exactly where he wanted to be after all, right there in both of their arms. Whatever he could do to make them happier and get them to what they were looking forward to, he would do.

The first step of that was making sure they were all ready for whatever it was that was waiting for them tomorrow. He had a feeling they'd all sort of skipped figuring out where they were on this first day. That was fine. They'd figure it out.

"For now... let's try to rest a bit."

[daikonrose]

Kyoko nodded into Kaito's shoulder, settling her weight against him and letting her grip on Shinji's hand soften into something more comfortable for the long run. "Goodnight, then," she murmured. Tomorrow would bring whatever tomorrow would bring, and tonight... well, maybe it wouldn't be the most restful night she'd ever had, but they could be secure in each other's company. There had to be strength gained from that.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Shinji's hold on Kyoko's hand loosens as well, it should be easy for her to slip out of his hold if she wants, but he won't be shaking her off entirely right now, either. Whether anyone is actually going to get some sleep tonight isn't exactly the point right now, it's the act of taking comfort in each other, and that... that should be doable.

His body already feels heavy, the softness of the bed and the warmth of the company is welcome to help unwind, even as his mind is still racing and stubbornly refusing to calm down. He can, either way, keep his mouth shut and whatever tears may still be lingering to himself. Sleep may be slippery for him tonight, but letting them all get the chance to rest is important even if the actual shut-eye stays elusive. So, he lets himself get comfortable in his spot, still careful not to jostle anything, and answers with a soft echo of, "Mmm, goodnight."

[whenyouneedme]

A little more jostling was still in order though. Just a little bit, as Kai rolled his head from side to side to give each of them as good of a smooch as he could from these angles. It was the motion that counted here. “Goodnight,” he murmured in turn, completing the sleepytime ritual. Even if it did not end in sleep, at least they had that.

Eventually the morning would come, one way or another. The sunlight began to peek through the windows, lighting up the room bit by bit. It was time to discover who among them had managed to get any sort of shut eye. Parties already awake would find that Kai did in fact fall asleep. It was truly a special skill to fall asleep anywhere, but being safe and warm in their arms just made it that much easier.

Luckily for all involved, being sandwiched meant octopus-mode was not as powerful. Good for you!

[daikonrose]

After gratefully receiving that kiss with only the smallest twinge of embarrassment that it was given in Shinji's presence, Kyoko had closed her eyes like a good sport. Give sleep a fighting chance and all. She would still take the occasional peek at Kaito as the long night stretched on, but there would be no disrupting those quiet hours.

She couldn't have said when she dozed off, but it must have happened, because when opened her eyes in the gentle morning light she was surprised, and disoriented. It was a few long moments before she had herself together enough to raise her head a bit to look at Shinji over their snoozing boyfriend. Was he still sleeping too?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Sleep may have been elusive for Shinji, but the rest that came from relaxing through the night as best he could was... helpful? Helpful. His thoughts may still be swimming, his brain refusing to shut off completely, but his muscles have the chance to recover in this nice, warm and comfortable atmosphere. Perhaps he wasn't entirely awake the whole night, but he certainly didn't nod off for any meaningful amount of time either.

All that is to say, when Kyoko peeks over from the other side of the bed, the movement is enough to catch Shinji's attention. Ah, hello there. He doesn't want to speak up right away and potentially rouse Kai from his slumber, but a small, tired little wave, really just a raise of his hand, directed her way feels like a good enough route to take. Good morning. All three of them are still together, nobody's been spirited away in the middle of the night.

[daikonrose]

Oh, so he was awake after all--not all that surprising, even if it was worrying. Had he slept at all, Kyoko wondered as she returned that tiny wave. And when had she let go of his hand?

Well, everybody was here and nobody appeared to be having an active breakdown, so... she let her head fall softly back onto the pillow, looking at Kaito again. It would be a shame to wake the one sound sleeper here. A little longer should be fine, right? They might need to take action pretty urgently, but it wasn't like they actually knew what those actions were, so... a little more rest was probably fine and for the best right now.

She even let her eyes flutter shut again, not to sleep so much as to rest them a little more, and sighed softly. Quiet for a while, then...

Until a loud whining gurgle sounded out in the peaceful room as her stomach clenched. Oh.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Do not worry about him, Shinji will be fine. And laying back down to keep resting is a good plan too, it's only just started to become light out after all. It'll give him a little more time to run through the list of things he's figured they should take care of today. Figure out where they are, exactly, secure some kind of housing, perhaps? Or at least figure out where they can do that. Find a place to get some food--

Ah.

Ah, that is. Probably more pressing than he first assumed. When was the last time any of them had eaten? Way before arriving here, he can't imagine either of them had stopped to take a snack break in the middle of panicking. He's probably actually way hungrier than his appetite is letting on, too. Do not worry, Kyoko's stomach, you will be attended to as soon as they can.

"Should we get Kaito up?" he asks, just loud enough to carry over to her side of the bed.

[daikonrose]

They went worldhopping and didn't even pack a lunch. Let this be a lesson for next time.

Cheeks burning, Kyoko peeked shamefaced over at Shinji. "It'd be a shame," she mumbled, keeping her voice low. "He's so peaceful." Couldn't her stomach just deal, jeez.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

It would be a shame. If any of them can manage to get some solid shut-eye, then breaking that spell of sleep just feels cruel. Shinji frowns, contemplative, at Kyoko from a moment before looking back to Kai, then propping himself up just a little bit.

"Mm, but... he's probably hungry, too," he murmurs softly. Here, let him be the bad guy who does the unthinkable, and put his hand on Kai's shoulder to give it the gentlest nudge of a shake. A bit louder, this time, "Kai."

[whenyouneedme]

There was a little wiggle of the sleephead's brows before he slowly blinked his eyes open. The ceiling above him might have been a shock had the comforting weights against him hadn't still been there. It was still warm. They were still in the mess they were in, but they were still there so. Alright.

Sleep golds found Shinji first, a hand coming up to just rest there on top of his head. "Mmm." Sleepy smiles were soon to follow, and then Kai was looking over at Kyoko too.

"Good mo--" Hang on, here's a whole stretch of a yawn. "... 'orning."

[daikonrose]

Noooo Shinji you don't have to do that... But the wheels were already in motion, it was boyfriend wakeup time now.

Kyoko fretted as he stirred, answering his greeting with a guilty "Did you get enough sleep?"

[hedgehogsdilemma]

No, don't yawn, you're gonna make him -- YAWN.

Ah.

Ok, well, don't mind that. Let's just sit up a little more. "We should get something to eat," he adds gently, "but if you want to keep resting instead that's ok."