prismaticrap | ▶ TDM OVERFLOW .001

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▶ TDM OVERFLOW .001

Cybernetic dream, something like you've never seen

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▶ Lisa Frank's LSD Fun House
anytime, anywhere on the moon Iris | top

Everything is darkness except for dim lights sparkling in the distance, a faint gleam that greets you as you start to unfurl from your dormant state. Your body is hemmed in by shards of crystals, gently sparkling and possibly pricking your skin. The surrounding landscape is dyed in the pinks and purples of the dusk filled with crystals protruding from the ground, some as large as a skyscraper. Throat parched and skin dry and aching, you grope your body in alarm to make sure your possessions are still in place. This is far from home— perhaps a dream? You pinch your skin and slap your cheeks, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Searching for answers only rewards you with an endless expanse of purple dust as far as the eye can see. You have four options: one, panic; two, soil yourself; three, admire it all then soil yourself; or four, go into survival mode. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.

A ⬤ As you traverse the near-barren landscape, you feel something sting your skin. It's small and subtle at first, then you finally catch sight of it: an elegant, crystalline mosquito buzzing around from the corner of your eye. However, a pest is still a pest. After a while, marks near your welts begin to form strange patterns on your skin, mimicking ancient runes. Each rune has with it a particular side-effect that may hinder you on your journey:
✾ The Mark of the Enchanter: Hallucinations, hallucinations galore. Your character will see everything and anything their imagination can conjure and will have difficulty separating reality from fiction.
₪ The Mark of the Destroyer: Limbs start to cease their function, causing you to stumble or try and get around one-handed. Other certain body parts may be affected as well. Look at the bright side: you can stop worrying about jiggle physics and hiding your fear boner.
⍢ The Mark of the Sinner: Your hunger, your thirst, your fatigue and your desire are at an all-time high. Your impulses are rabid and uncontrollable. Maybe you experience only one of those symptoms. Maybe you experience them all. All you know is that you want relief now.

These effects will eventually clear up with a bit of accidental or purposeful physical contact with another person, making you wonder if there was anything wrong with you at all.

B ⬤ Hunger starts to gnaw at you vigorously. Perhaps you consider hunting the moon's creatures to sate your hunger. That's when you see it: a thick, meaty, juicy meal on legs. ~~No, we're not talking about Alex Louis Armstrong~~. A wild silver-white pegasus runs across the purple landscape, its hair billowing in the wind as its hooves smack loudly against the ground. Try and shoot it, and you may find your efforts curtailed by its legendary rage. Eyes aglow and wings beating up a storm, this pegasus is no dainty horse. Two thousand pounds of pure muscle swoop down and charge at you, all blades and ammunition deflecting off its impenetrable skin. Taming appears impossible; it will buck anyone away and leave a sizable horn- or hoof-shaped hole in them for their efforts. Hunting it, however, should be easier. Relatively.

C ⬤ Or you may decide that you'd like to take a drink in the prismatic waters. A small pond can be found just a few miles away from where you first awoke, but gazing into it reflects what appears to be a window into your own world. You see the faces of loved ones or at least someone very close and familiar to you gathered around your prone body, shaking it frantically as though to try and rouse you, yet your image lies frozen and unresponsive, not even a whisper of life running through you. Did you die in your world? Is this your afterlife? The questions start to pile up along with the gnawing dread that you may never return home again.

▶ Camp Nowhere
anytime, anywhere on the moon iris | top

Time moves strangely when you're trapped on a moon with no sun to guide you. Hours feel like days, and days feel like weeks. Travelling has rendered you weak and tired. Luckily, a few crystal formations in the shape of a cavern may offer you a small place refuge as you decide to nap. You notice a few artifacts left over from previous explorers.

D ⬤ A comm unit abandoned within the cavern will display the former owner's idol obsession. As you tap the buttons indiscriminately, a holographic screen will appear, and you will see a fabulous recorded concert featuring three bubbly young ladies in animal print, singing to you about something called Cordis, a cat, and a bag of gems. Does this make any sense to you? Probably not, but the beat is catchy. You may even find yourself tapping a foot along to it. Don’t worry. We know it’s plastic love.

E ⬤ There's a small cooler-like container of preserved powdered food bags labeled with only the word “Edible” that can be safely consumed. Although the powder tastes as bland as you’d expect, it’s oddly filling, sating either hunger or thirst. But who will be the first — and the bravest — to try eating them?

F ⬤ A strange, pointed instrument is among the effects found in the cavern. It's silver, long, and thin with a curved end and a light. When you grip it with warm hands, it seems to vibrate enthusiastically and comes in three settings indicated by a frowny face, a neutral face, and a happy face. What could it mean exactly? No one knows, but you can fiddle with it to your heart's desire. Just don't ask yourself where it's been before. You don't want to know.

▶ Interstellar Action Force Assemble
prisma, iris | top

Over a day has passed when a group of people find you worse for wear. Some are full of uncertainty and fear while some are full of curiosity and excitement. They claim that they are scientists from the planet Prismatica here to investigate the sudden appearances of rainbow crystals in the skies. That means you and the others they’ve located within the area. You are all a surprising find to them, and they are quick to load everyone in their transport vehicles for examination and questioning.

You all may have your usual inquiries — Where are we? Who are you? What's going on? Why are the pegasi so ill-tempered? — and the Prismals are almost too eager to answer. They do have questions on their own, so it’s only fair to trade. They tell you about their world as they poke and prod you, trying to understand what you are and how you came into their land. If they’re not trembling in fear, some of them may ask you odd and invasive questions in return, such as what the rate at which your body achieves thermoregulation is, how long your refractory period is, and if you would be willing to submit various kinds of body fluids to them. It's up to whether you wish to comply or protest.

G ⬤ If you react violently, you will be restrained and nerfed with a specialized neurotransmitting gun that releases a numbing agent through the top of your spine. They came prepared, so have fun with that! In any case, conscious or not, you’ll be brought into one of the transport vehicles. If you choose to peacefully cooperate, you’ll be provided any necessary first aid and a refreshing drink to help you recuperate after the rough time you had for the past few days. Each transport vehicle has a few small rooms to rest in, but due to the limited space, you’ll have to snuggle up with someone else on that bunk bed. Unfortunately, the moonshine fruit the ship is also carrying in its cargo has an extremely sweet smell that’s been permeating through certain areas of the ventilation system… Taking a whiff of it may inebriate you for the rest of the trip.

H ⬤ It’s a bumpy ride as terrain vehicles draw over various crystal formations until you see a large dome-like structure up ahead. Within its confines lies the seat of the Prismatica's government, Prisma. It’s a bureaucratic wet dream: skyscrapers practically touch the upper surface of the dome, windows glimmer with a prismatic sheen as daylight hits them, and small ships can be seen flying to and from its spaceport. The scientists, members of the Lunar Scientia, usher you into their facilities for tests. Arrivals are likely to twitch, tremble, and panic as Lunar Scientia fellows take and broadcast every embarrassing, unfiltered detail about you — height, weight, age, strange odors, estimated frequency of sexual activity —- to one another. These scientists will ask you politely to undress, too, but understand if you don't want to. They're especially fascinated by the readings of pure Chroma inside you, whispering among one another excitedly about the possibility of the new arrivals being a new moon species. What should they call them? Moonborne? Moonblessed?

I ⬤ At long last, the questions and physical examinations are done. They’ve decided to call the arrivals as the Moonblessed. They’ll take you under their care until they understand more about you. You're allowed a very refreshing hot shower and a warm meal for your efforts. Don’t worry, the meal was imported from their planet. “Planet?” you might ask, but you won’t need to wonder for too long. The ships are preparing for their next destination: the nearby planet Prismatica, where you will be dwelling for the time being. You're free to explore the government center until then.

▶ Wildcard
Lunatia, Prismatica | top

It only takes a couple hours for the ships to reach their home planet. The ships drop the characters off at the city of Lunatia, where they will be given their communication devices and a plastic card they can present to certain landlords at any residential district for their subsidized (read: absolutely free) lodging. Officials at Prisma instructed the newcomers to await further instructions from the government, but you have a lot of time to kill before then. Why not explore in the meantime? Learn the ins and outs of the world, get a job, transform under the full moon, and explore the many mysteries of planet Prismatica!

This is this TDM's overflow. Feel free to move your threads from there and continue tagging!

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Dead, probably.

[But that's the pessimist in him talking. Wandering this wasteland is not at all a sustainable course of action, and 76 is mentally preparing himself for the worst. Finding these supplies is an unexpected windfall, but for him it's more a lucky fluke than anything.

And even that's assuming the food ("food") isn't bad or poisonous or worse.]

Doesn't explain why they'd drop their stuff and die somewhere else. You'd think we'd see some remains.

[Naturally the thought has crossed his mind, but he's reluctant to come to that conclusion when there's no signs of struggle, and yes, no remains. He's definitely pessimistic enough to believe something like that, but won't go out of his way to say one way or another without evidence.]

I stand by incompetent campers theory. [It explains why there was music playing as soon as that device was reactivated. Perhaps he shouldn't have thrown it away. Whoops. Apparently hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, Hanzo isn't the most level-headed decision maker.]

Either they got up and left of their own free will, or whatever killed them, took their bodies away afterward. What an unpleasant thought. [Hanzo gives in, grabbing the bag of powdered food labeled "Edible" and brings it to his head to try eating it. At least if he dies he doesn't have to be on an alien planet in a strange place with a strange man who behaves like it's constantly war time. Though admittedly, that last thing isn't so bad.]

[He's not sure how it works but the powder is dry and chalky initially but in contact with the moisture from his mouth it becomes filling and refreshing. Fascinating.]

It is not bad.

Seems like a lot of work.

[Though it could have been an animal or some other kind of terrible creature--those wouldn't be thinking in a rational human way. And if the bodies were dragged off, 76 imagines they might be seeing signs of that.

As it stands, it looks like the campers were at least slightly incompetent--they seem to have just dumped their things and left.

Hanzo's a little braver than him in the food department. 76 still can't be sure it's not poisoned, but his enhancements should help him weather it a little better than an ordinary human. He holds his hand out for the bag to try some.]

Color me surprised.

[Whether it's bravery or some other underlying reasons is unclear, but it turns out to be a good choice. That is, he doesn't feel any different after having tried it.

Hanzo passes on the bag and watches to see whether or not he can tolerate it. The other man is still largely a mystery to him, but he seems to have a good mind for survival. He's not sure he wants to know what exactly he's had to go through to become this sort of person.]

Do you plan to eat with your face hidden? [He's teasing. And is clearly bad at it.]

I thought I'd wait until you turned around.

[You're slick, Hanzo! But not slick enough. 76 has no intention of making himself known to anyone, much less someone that Overwatch had a file on, back in the day.

For now, he takes the bag and rolls it down to close it. He can keep going for a little while longer.]

Or to see if you die. Whichever comes first.

I was not going to turn around.

[He states his case plainly, but there's a bit of a challenging tone to it. Of course he doesn't need to look at the man's face, but there is a fair amount of curiosity. Either way, he's quite sure he doesn't know anyone fitting 76's description, so it's not for any strategic reason.]

Perhaps I will die then. [Keep waiting, then. Hanzo lets himself chuckle at the situation, folding his arms over his chest as he leans back a bit to relax if he can.]

Though it is strange that you prioritize hiding your identity here where no one would know who you are. What else are you hiding? Is something wrong with your face? [And now, for no reason besides boredom, it's become a challenge to see if he can get 76 to show his face.]

Not all poisons are fast-acting.

[Or it might just give him a hell of a time in the bathroom later. Either way, that’s not something that’s going to make itself known right away. He doesn’t know Hanzo very well, but he can recognize when he’s being mildly teased.

Of course, it’s no one’s business but his. 76 offers a shrug. If this is some kind of Talon trap or he’s otherwise captured, he’s not about to give anyone information that could further compromise his position. Doesn’t matter if this is real or not.]

Better safe than sorry. I can’t have you running to the media if we manage to get out of here.

[And get home. A subtle implication that he’s at least passingly familiar with Hanzo.]

We all have our poisons.

[He shrugs. If it comes down to bathroom troubles he's going to keep 76 up all night with him if he's going to be suffering stomach cramps or nausea as well. And that might make for somewhat of a bonding experience.

The older man doesn't know this, but Hanzo's turned down an offer to join Talon already. He doesn't do crime families or terrorist organizations anymore. He doesn't pick sides, and he doesn't get involved. Not when he has his own baggage to deal with.]

You assume that your face would be one recognizable to me. I would not run to anything but the nearest bar. [Or bakery, but no one needs to know of his sweet tooth.]

I could not care less about your identity, but now I am curious. [If he had a bit more social lubricant he might tease the man by reaching playfully like he's going to try unmasking him. Instead he just stares over at him, trying to see if he can build a face from his imagination to fill in the covered area.]

Can't be too careful.

[Of course, his face would be recognizable to practically everyone. He's not about to take the chance, even if this Hanzo Shimada might not be real. Still, 76 has gone and made himself interesting, which means he needs to try and diffuse some of this curiosity.

Not that he blames Hanzo, really.]

You'd probably be disappointed. I'm not that interesting.

[He's running around with a number for his name, after all.]

I suppose not.

[If 76 was not going to be forthcoming with information he can do what he does best and watch him closely, looking for any cracks in his facade. Maybe he can pick up on mannerisms or inflections of his voice that could possibly give away an accent.]

A man with no expectations cannot be disappointed.

[He's found the most interesting of people often played it down, and he's not a fool. There is something very interesting under that mask, and even if there isn't, there's bound to be an interesting reason as to why he wears it.]

What did you do before this? Were you a hitman? A mercenary? [Hanzo doubts it because of the way he carries himself, and he would have come across someone like him in his social groups. On second thought, he wasn't actively part of any social circles.]

I hope I haven't given you any.

[Expectations, that is. People are going to be curious about him no matter what--the most he can do is try to keep them at arm's length, and from getting too curious. He's currently filing Hanzo away as someone who's definitely going to pry.]

Just a soldier.

[He growls it out--mercenary might be a safer bet, but he'd rather just capitalize on his anonymity. He's no one important.]

You have hardly given me anything.

[Ah, a soldier. That does explain the way he carries himself. Familiar with combat, but rigid and tense about it. Perhaps he doesn't enjoy violence, but finds it a necessary means to an end. Hanzo puts together the pieces he has bit by bit, and is satisfied with what he's gathered so far.

He absolutely plans to pry, but now isn't the time, and here isn't the place.]

Yes, you seem like you have a mind for battle.

[Hanzo takes down his hair and does his best to make the area comfortable enough to lie down, using his jacket as a pillow. He's going to have a nap. If the old soldier wants to eat without being watched, he'll give him that privacy.]

Let's hope it stays that way.

[Though of course now it's a conversation, and 76 can't see an advantageous way to turn it around on Hanzo, at least not at the moment. He'll keep waiting, though, and for now he starts to collect some of the food pouches and an empty duffel that the travelers left behind.]

Did the gun give it away?

[76 says that dryly. It's practically the most glaring thing about him, due to its size alone. Nobody carries something like that around without knowing how to use it.]

For now.

[He leaves the packing to 76. Although he doesn't know the man's identity, he's sized him up already. Tough, rigid, righteous. The type to share supplies.]

Not the gun, but how you carry it. And how you carry yourself. You are... [Don't say old.] aged, but strong. You have the attitude of man who has seen it all, experienced it all. When the war ended for everyone else, it continued for you.

[Hanzo is guessing, but he's good enough at reading people that at least one of these assumptions must have been close. The gunman's response might give away which, but his eyes are closed--he's exhausted.]

[76 is perfectly happy to do the packing up, simply because it provides him a good distraction from getting interrogated. The good news is that he imagines these are the most obvious traits about him, one that he doesn't bother to hide. Anyone of his age back home still toting around military equipment is easily pegged as having fought in the Crisis.

Hanzo, by comparison, would have been a child.]

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone like me who could turn it off.

[It's something that stays with you in a way that many people don't understand. Hanzo, at least, can recognize it, and 76 watches him closely for any kind of reaction. The closed eyes are telling.]

You need a break?

[The best interrogations are ones that don't feel like interrogations. This strategy wouldn't be a very good one if he was actually trying to extract information from 76. His fascination was born from proximity and a mild bit of boredom. There were only so many times you could try to rationalize how a situation had come to be before thinking of something else became necessary.]

Mm, I agree.

[This isn't the most comfortable cave but he's been more uncomfortable than this before. Though not often. He'd manage.]

I need sleep.

[It would be very easy, at this point, to take all the supplies and leave Hanzo to his nap. Part of 76 most certainly wants to do that, but the more sensible voice in his head admonishes him for the thought. There's safety in numbers out here, which means that Hanzo is his companion, for better or worse.

He nods, though it seems a little reluctant.]

Get some rest. I'll keep watch.

[Hanzo wants to insist that he doesn't need to be looked after like some defenseless child, but can't be bothered. If the man wants to go out of his way to be that person then who is he to decline. Still, he does try to hurry and fall asleep so that he can take the next shift of keeping watch.]

Thank you.

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▶ TDM OVERFLOW .001

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ditch him you old coward