prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .010

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You awaken amidst the darkness with only a faint light to greet you. 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. Even the few shy moon creatures you find in the wild have strange crystal growths on their hides. 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 yields nothing but 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.

After a day or two of living off the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. After the strange phenomenon during the past months when scientists observed the sudden appearance of rainbow crystals in the sky, the government has been feverishly combing through the moon for more Moonblessed to be rescued. You’ll eventually be brought into Iris’s moon government center.

You all may have your usual inquiries — Where are we? Who are you? What's going on? Why did I accidentally swallow the worm at the bottom of my tequila? — and the Prismals are almost too eager to answer. They tell you about their world and about the first appearance of the Moonblessed as the medical staff give you an examination to make sure you’re not carrying any viruses or biological hazards. If you react violently, you may be restrained and nerfed with a specialized neurotransmitting gun that releases a numbing agent through the top of your spine. Once the examinations are over, you’re informed that you will be provided accommodations on their planet during your stay.

While waiting for transport to be prepared, you may freely roam around the government center. Eventually you’re called back from exploring, escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the moons and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as the local Prismals. The next destination: Prismatica.

▶ I Heat Up, I Can’t Cool Down
Iris Moon, Government Center (Arrival) and Planet Prismatica, City of Lunatia | top

Welcome to Prismatica’s hub, Lunatia, the city of your dreams! A bustling metropolis lush with bright lights, vibrant colors, luxuriant plant life, and all the conveniences of technology absent from your own world… It seems like paradise to all the uninitiated. After a quick tour of the city, new arrivals can find themselves getting cozy in their new homes.

A Settle in your new home at Level 2 to find new roommates and say hello to your neighbors! City officials will give you directions to the designated districts across Level 2 and instruct you to pick out a unit. Each apartment complex has a different aesthetic, some may look cozy, some stylish, and some bizarre. The free accommodations have a basic living space that can only fit two or three people at most in one unit.

Starter Chromaspace furnishings are provided which can be controlled with the touch of a built-in panel. Examples are color-changing curtains, transforming sofa beds, cabinets turning into tables, etc. Customizing your apartment or moving out will have to wait until you earn more chroma. Until then, why don’t you check out your new neighborhood or explore the city levels? Maybe your new roommates or neighbors can give you a “hand” with allowance for dinner.

B After settling into your apartment, you notice a shiny silver indestructible mechanoid cube with a pair of tiny stag horns attached to it. The card attached says that it’s a gift from the Lunatian government. One touch of the cube makes it hover in place, light up brightly, and play the classic hit Last Firalia by Blam! on repeat. By the 7th listen, you get hot under your collar, beads of sweat forming on your temples and rolling down your neck, and your breath grows labored. By the 17th listen, you’re all but ready to burst into flames — a stark contrast to the plummeting temperature outdoors.

A bit of vigorous moonlacing should keep you from growing too hot and bothered indoors. Or you could simply decide to chuck the cube out the window and let it be someone else’s problem. That won't really stop it, though. The music only stops once the cube picks up enough Chroma in the atmosphere generated via moonlacing, so go forth, and spread the Firialia lust, love, and cheer!

▶ It’s the Moose Wonderful Time of the Year
City of Lunatia | top

In the city of Lunatia, the streets are emblazoned with beautiful antler decorations, gleaming gold and silver along every walkway. Snowflake holograms appear on shop fronts to announce their annual Firialia sales, and Prismals are all rushing to buy gifts and make preparations for the upcoming holiday.

According to legend, on one incredibly harsh winter, ancient Prismals were downtrodden and on the verge of starvation when the majestic stag king of the forest, Firi, emerged from his humble kingdom to bring them warm clothing, blankets, and gifts for surviving the biting cold. It is said that his spirit remains on the land even after the Calamity, appearing every winter solstice to bless the Prismals for the new year ahead. Every year, Prismals mount festive wreaths on their door, decorated with stag horns in Firi's honor, and exchange gifts to invite the benevolent spirit of Firi into their homes.

A Hanging fake deer antlers is a strong Firialia tradition that has endured for centuries — a success that can be attributed to its magical effects, which often compels two people caught beneath to share a bit of Firialia spirit with one another. One can find these trinkets everywhere, decorating even the most secluded of spaces. The antlers come in three colors:

RED: Causes a dangerous but intense feeling of desire to embrace the person you're with! You will want to roughly pin the closest person to you on a flat surface, passionately kiss, and/or aggressively hold hands.

BLUE: Causes people to want to kiss until they’re out of breath, hands liberally moving across each other’s body, and the errant temptation to go further, but no taking any clothes off in public or the Moon Knights will get you! You’ll simply be eager to tease and kiss beyond the lips and have difficulty feeling sated.

PURPLE: Causes people to want to caress each other's faces affectionately, steal soft kisses, and/or tenderly lace their fingers together. They may also feel compelled to offer up some sweet whispers and compliments!

B To combat the cool weather, Prismals will also be handing out cups of warm chocolate moose mousse. This light and creamy dessert is prepared in enchanted moose-shaped cups with a pair of festive graham cookie antlers poking out of it. Prismal traditions include taking a bite and passing it to your neighbor, enabling you to get a glimpse of one another’s Firialia wishlists left unspoken. Fancy a new fishing rod this holiday? Or perhaps that saucy leather subligar you’ve been eyeing since your arrival? The words and images that make up your list appear before whoever eats your mousse, so who knows? Maybe you might get it this Firilia...

▶ Are You Not Entertained?
Level 1, PrismaPlace | top

After the long wait and preparations, the League Match Action Online (LmaO) preliminary qualification rounds are now underway at the gaming hub in PrismaPlace in Level 1, as the city will be hosting the LmaO Grand Championship next month. Moonblessed old and new are welcome to take the game for a test drive and participate!

The award-winning VR MOBA boasts amazingly seamless first-person view graphics and a real-time combat mode almost as authentic as real life and guaranteed to wow and amaze. Players can explore and immerse themselves in the fantasy world of LmaO, where they can create their own avatars and either fight with or against players from Lunatia and the Kingdom of Lyestellus for glory and loot!

In co-op mode, you will be battling a selection of huge beasts chosen at random. The most notorious among them is Ogma the Dread Ogre, who has high defense and pesky unavoidable attacks. PVP mode pits you against other players, and getting KO’d three times in a row or having your base captured is a loss for you and your team. Fun mode featuring mini-games such as virtual basketball, rhythm step action, beat sword, and many more. Winning any of these modes nets you loads of in-game gold that can be used to buy aesthetic skins, cute in-game pets, fun game emotes, furniture for your in-game house, or weapon and skill upgrades to make you stronger for the next round!

Event emcees will be recruiting anyone passing by for the preliminaries and showing them into fully-equipped private rooms for teams of two to eight players. Each player will be given virtual headsets and tight suits for immersion and communication. Prismal players may be recruited with Moonblessed teams if necessary.

A The scenario for the preliminaries is a majestic coliseum filled with gladiators of all ages and species. In LmaO, weapon choices are currently limited to any melee and ranged weapons you'd find in an ambitious fantasy RPG setting (read: you can find dual swords and grimoires but also gunblades), including an elemental magic system of water, fire, wind, earth, dark and light. Choose your weapon and, with your team, fight for the top spot!

As you begin to battle, you notice that the more you get hit, the more your physical body shows visceral reactions to the attacks. Outside of the game, you lose balance. Bruises appear out of nowhere and mar on your skin. You earn minor abrasions and bleed. It’s possible to feel the sweat or saliva of other players or bots, the sensation of their virtual hands grappling you, or their teeth sinking into your shoulder as they bite. It's a new, tantalizing world of virtual stimulation.

B For those of you more interested in the glamour aspects of LmaO, you are welcome to compete against other players in either the in-game or a real glam-a-thon. Festive LmaO cosplayers will be scattered around the venue, dressed in colorful costumes of characters from the game, such as the ridiculously cool cyborg Kenji and the flirty immortal fox mage Yeri. As for the in-game contestants, they are located on a bright sparkling stage. Large monitors at PrismaPlace can be seen livestreaming everything.

Some of the many competitors are dressed in colorful gear, including stylish himations, risque chitons, and a bevy of glittery, neon gladiator sandals. Challenge other players to a fashion walk-off on the raised catwalk. Score high enough on either contests, and you will win an ultra-rare Firialia plump moose mount in-game. You are welcome to invite others on a scenic moose ride after as the plump moose very slowly waddles across the virtual snowfields and exhibits its adorable built-in feature where it decides to take a nap every few minutes.

▶ Questions
If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.

▶ As a reminder, test drive memes are for new characters only. However, current players are more than welcome to use these prompts for their own posts in the IC communities, personal inboxes, catch-all posts, etc.!
▶ As our test drive memes are game canon, feel free to keep any threads that happen here as canon for your character should they be accepted.

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[ chris definitely didn't share the whole story about wesker. but it was hard to talk of kijuju without speaking of taking down wesker, and that part of the story had certainly circulated far already. ~~also according to re.net piers can't keep a goddamn secret~~.

piers takes the chance to foist the last two cups onto some passerby, who thank him - and when jill tugs on his arm with hers, he falls into step beside her. ]

Nice to meet you too, ma'am. [ you can take him out of the military, but taking the military out of a generational boy...

he gives her his details, username and his own current address while pulling out his own phone to check he's receiving them as they walk. ]

Thanks, again.

[ Wesker was always kept under wraps; personal. His death paved the way for many things, though they'd never quite gotten to a point of discussion of a post-Wesker world. Sure, they were committed to the work, but it had all been about vengeance before the BSAA. It's a strange thing to see it all differently now. ]

Sir, if you've gotta.

[ She's certainly not a madame. Not yet, anyway. But she tries to keep it simple and comfortable; she's told that in private she can be personable, even if she's stiff or cold at times. Her own details are a little predictable (how surprising that she goes by j.valentine), but she wants to make sure he has them. ]

And anytime. There's only so much I can offer while we're here. Did you arrive with any weapons? If not, I can toss one your way -- and I make grenades and explosives as a hobby, if you need any. Or ammo in general. [ Conversational, fluid, despite the subject she's bright and animated. It becomes clear quickly that she's very Into weapons. ] Anyway, you want a hand with a few of those? [ She lifts both hers, including the one with a moose mousse in it and wiggles her fingers. ] I've got two of 'em.

[ he memorizes that - sir, it'd always been captain or commander valentine when he met her before, or hearing chris call her jill - which obviously wasn't the terms they'd been on. ]

Sir, then.

[ her offer for grenades and ammo has his eyes widening in that 'is it christmas already' kind of way, but he grins and shakes his head after a moment. ]

I did, yeah, and I'm kind of surprised they let me in with 'em. I have my anti-material rifle and a few mags for it, as well as my knife. I'm missing all my other guns, though. [ sorry, submachine gun. ] And no grenades or sprays right now.

[ at the question, he laughs a bit. ]

Nah, I'll just - [ and he waves down a passerby, pushing two of the cups he's holding into their hands and wishing them a good firalia, and keeping the third for himself. ] - spread some cheer.

[ Only if he has to, though. She prefers her first name, though. Not for intimacy but normalcy. Regardless, it beats a Ms. -- she'd never liked that. ]

Ha, well, I've got a plethora of 'em at my disposal. Haven't had a reason to use my rocket launcher yet and hoping it stays that way. [ Although she's clearly delighted over the mention of an anti-materiel rifle. It never really was useful in situations she was in. When you had to bring out the big guns, you either went magnum or launcher, full-stop. ] I came with some green herbs and I've been growing them. I have some dried and in powder form I can give you just in case of an emergency.

[ She's clearly amused by the gesture of offering it to others, finding it just a little charming. The way she's leading him seems to be the DNA apartments, nothing special. ]

Cute. Sure you won't be hungry, though?

[ piers is a sniper through and through - on top of being a quick shot with it in close quarters, but that's not his preferred style. that said, his expression lights up in delight when she mentions a rocket launcher. ]

Well, you're packing some heavy heat. And I'll gladly take some green herbs to hold onto for backup if you've got spares.

[ they've saved his ass more times than he can count. he notes the complex she's heading to as he answers. ]

It's just empty calories. I'll get something proper to eat later. It's just been a while since I had anything like a real dessert.

[ She prefers a knife in close quarters, but Chris isn't too different. Part of it stems from STARS and part of it is from their time as mercenaries. There was only so much munitions and weapons to go around at times and you grew used to the weapons that didn't run out of ammo. But she's glad he shares her enthusiasm! She might just like this kiddo yet! ]

Ha, well, you'll come to learn I try to always have an ace up my sleeve. Back in the day, I was Rear Security. Always my job to ensure everyone else's safety. Never quite got rid of that little habit. [ She's reliable, however personable she might be right now she was something entirely different when it came down to a mission. ] Of course. Give me some time and I'll get you some out by the roots, ready for transplant so you can grow your own. Definitely never hurts, yeah?

[ That gets Jill to chuckle, though. Honestly it feels like even with the people here who train regularly that the way she ate was vastly different than others. ]

Guess we're the same in that. I always fall on deaf ears when it comes to eating right. I do security detail at a bakery, swing on by and I'll make sure it's on the house. Traditional French style. [ She falls more into walking beside him even though she takes the lead. ] How long you been here, by the way? If you don't mind me asking.

I can relate. I'm not always rear security, but since I'm the sniper specialist, I usually end up watching everyone's backs from a distance. And yeah - it never hurts to have something on hand.

[ he sounds pretty proud about his skills regardless, though. and admiring of her skill set - nothing like meeting your heroes, right?

her comment about food and the bakery makes him laugh, sheepish this time. ]

I try not to eat too badly. My ma's always going on about how I'm too skinny when I go home, though. I think she's the reason I've got a sweet tooth.

[ when she asks, he tilts his head back. ]

A few days. Spent a couple on the moon, one in processing, and then I've been here a couple more, getting used to it.

Yeah? Wasn't sure how some of the groups were being set up, but glad they keep with the tradition. Typically only work in a duo, so while I don't... disbelieve you it's kinda hard to see the partner break away from that. But he's always wanted to be a Captain. I'd support him however I might be able to.

[ It's clear they're co-dependent from the way they talk to or about one another. But you don't make many friends in their field, especially ones that last multiple decades. Surviving that is rare in and of itself. ]

Glad to hear it. I feel like I'm picking up kids left and right here. [ It's pretty clear she doesn't hate it, but she's not joking about that assessment. Whew, boy. ] Just what parents do. Don't see mine too much. They're in their 70s, have a little orchard. I try to keep them out of the business.

[ She definitely had a target on her back. ]

I see. Well, I'm not personally one to get involved more... intimately in regard to moonlacing, but if you ever want to spar that'll create chroma, too. I promise not to throw you around too hard or break anything on purpose.

[ co-dependent is a word for it. piers is familiar with the two-team system - they still use it in alpha team, everyone splitting off into pairs to examine things if it's that kind of mission.

but chris always had a way of talking about jill that spoke of missing having her by his side, and it's clear that goes two ways.

when she talks about kids, he laughs. ]

I guess it makes me a kid if I try to say I'm not one, right?

[ but he understands that desire. she's jill valentine, well known for exposing umbrella - not someone like him.

of course, the comment about intimate stuff gets him coughing a little. it goes without saying, but it'd be weird, for him, to be intimate with someone who is definitely his boss's boss. once he's recovered: ]

I may take you up on sparring, then. Might as well take the chance to improve my skills while I'm here, right?

[ In general, teams do become that way. But she hasn't been like that since STARS and in many ways, was grateful for that. She's not sure she could handle that sort of loss again, even if it wasn't embittered via betrayal to boot. ]

Oh, I'm probably gonna call you "kiddo" regardless. Don't worry, no patronizing. Guess I'm a bit stubborn and set in my ways, but I know realistically our ecosystem isn't going to ever be free of what we have now. I just wish other people didn't have to carry on the fight.

[ It sounds like she's holding herself back from ruffling his hair, frankly. The second part hits a more sincere tone without the same teasing, but it's clear that she fights so others don't have to. Seeing someone younger than her get involved hurts because she doesn't want them to live the life she has, even if they're willing to. ]

I can do my best to help you hone your abilities. I specialize in Wing Chun, Muay Thai, and Savate. If you know how I fight you'll want to disable use of my legs -- Chris usually does it with a Gorilla Press Slam. [ That sweet move where he grabs someone and throws them hard. ] If he can keep up with me. Not too far now, you know where you're staying?

[ it's a loss piers learned all too viciously - first with merah biji's death, and then the rest of alpha team in edonia. still, her comment has him tilting his head a bit. ]

I fight so others hopefully won't have to - to give them a better future. I was pretty listless in the military until the BSAA picked me up.

[ he's the same in that regard, at the very least.

and then his face absolutely lights up a bit when she speaks of fighting styles. ]

Sounds like sparring with you is going to be a good time. [ it makes him think of merah, which he pushes aside quickly. ] I'm pretty close to this - just a couple complexes over. We won't have to go too far either way to check up on each other.

[ teasing, just a little now.]

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▶ TDM .010

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i reread marhawa desire for app writing time and i'm full of merah feels