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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sometimes Ranpo's self-preservation sense is questionable.]

[But Poe is very patient. He wordlessly nods at the instruction. He tolerates the short elevator up. He becomes so focused on something in his mind that he offers no indication of being present except the (by now- familiar) entwining of fingers.]

Which door is yours?

[The handhold tightens.]

[Eh, it's probably fine, right?]

This one, right over here!

[Just gonna unlock the door to let him in. It's a pretty nice apartment, two bedrooms, and well kept seeing as Yosano lives here and all.]

[The door clicks shut.]

Oh, by the way Ranpo-kun.

[The smile becomes sharp the second after Poe gently grasps the unoccupied hand and entwines those fingers as well.
It all makes it much easier to pin Ranpo to the door using both hands a second later. Despite the nasty grin his brows are furrowing when he looms down at his rival with an intensity he hasn't had since their last real challenge.]

That was a very frustrating thing you did just now.

[HE HAS UNDERESTIMATED THE ANTLER'S POWER]

[But ah, it's really for the best that Ranpo wasn't the one who walked under them, then. Surely Poe doesn't have enough experience to go much further than this, right? ~~sick burn and it's not even being said outloud smh~~ Ranpo would be worried about traumatizing him!]

[Not that such a thing isn't already a concern?? He's gonna get a boner at this rate.]

[But okay, this is fine, just two bros eyefucking while one pins the other against a door. It's fine.]

Are you sure what I did is what frustrated you? Or are you just frustrated you didn't think of it first?

[Normal state Poe sure is still in there. Some sort of active back and forth is going on. His face goes red and an apology almost slips out,]
[But then Ranpo further provokes him. And so he leans down way too far into Ranpo's space with a glare and laughs.]

You really like to twist the knife when you're right! It's really humiliating that you keep winning!

[In a tone that would be nearly tender if Poe wasn't full-swing awful mode:]
Just once I want to see the face you'd make.

[...]

[He hates that at this very moment, his mind goes back to a certain thing a certain someone asked him during a drunken game of never-have-I-ever: "Never have I ever had a crush on Edgar Allan Poe".]

[Naturally, his answer back then had been more or less "hell no". But right now, with Poe's face oh so close to his own while being pressed up against a wall like this--]

[Well, at the very least, it's causing his mind to wander in ways it really shouldn't. Especially when he sees the way his face turns red for just a moment.]

Well, then you'll just have to keep trying harder, won't you? Ah, but you could try for a hundred years, and you'll still never best the likes of me!

[It was a terrible decision to go somewhere with no one else, actually. There's suddenly nothing to interrupt this escalation. The tunnel vision is way too strong now. Poe slides both of Ranpo's wrists into one hand - he should be able to escape the grip if he really wanted to.

Internally, he screams and curses the urges brought on the bullshit magic of this world ...But a buried part of Poe is so, so very, satisfied right now.]

You're wrong! It won't take that long at all. But even if it did- [He tilts his archnemesis's face up so he can know just how serious this is.] -I'll never give up. Then you'll have to eat your words, won't you?

[Ah, this really does just keep on escalating, doesn't it? Ranpo is certain he could pull his arms out of Poe's grasp, but he's also just as certain that he doesn't want to, curious to where Poe is going with this.]

I suppose I would. [He's still grinning back, staring straight into Poe's eyes -- or at least, as best he can through that mop of hair.] But now you've given me something to look forward to. So you better not disappoint me.

Oh, I promise,
[True fact: when two people play unofficial gay chicken with eachother it's usually the more inexperienced one who breaks first.

All it takes is Poe's eyes flickering down to linger on Ranpo's lip as he talks.]

[Oh.]

S-s-so-...!

[Poe trips in his haste to move away. He had, again, meant to apologize to Ranpo. This time it comes out as more of a squawk as he falls backwards.

And there he remains, wordless, curled up on his side and with his face covered with both hands. Mumbling frantically.]

[Meanwhile, Ranpo--]

Ah, that lasted longer than I expected.

[--is just gonna be a bro and take a seat next to Poe down on the ground.]

Well, now we know the red ones are dangerous. I think I saw a blue one at the end of the hall, but maybe that's enough playing with horny magic today.

[get it get it because antlers are kinda like horns]

[There is a disbelieving huff Poe tries to pass off as a scoff. But it's a laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. Now, really? A pun? Right now? That bumped Poe out of the existential spiral, actually.]
[He peeks out at Ranpo through the gap in his fingers.]

...Based on the first two it's really obvious what it does.

[There are 3 moon blessings- No need to bother. Also:]

I don't think I could take it three times in a row.

[Definitely obvious -- if Purple was cuddly and Red was aggressive, then Blue is probably the Horniest of all.]

It'd be better not to push it, anyway. You'd probably be better at resisting it than I would -- I've lived here too long.

[He is 100% sure if he had walked under those red antlers, he would have pushed Poe up against the wall and kissed him.]

[Oh, that wasn't praise, but it nearly sounded like it. Poe recovers and sits up.]
Uh, sorry.

[Then he flounders. Apologizing for anything else feels too heavy so he just.]

...I didn't intend for either of us to end up on the floor today.

[It's not quite praise considering Ranpo is just very aware that he's horny on main.]

I'd like to think most people don't intend to end up on the floor.

[But he smiles before standing, dusting himself of and offering a hand to Poe to help him up.]

Come on, how about we order something for lunch and watch a movie? We shouldn't have to worry about anything weird as long as we're in here!

[But Poe doesn't know just how horny on main Ranpo gets, yet.]
[It's too daunting to bring up how maybe they should talk out what just happened... So Poe just lets himself be helped up.]

Hm? I like the idea but you won't be able to watch any sort of mystery without guessing the plot thirty seconds in.

[That was the obvious choice but. Now there's a lil twinkle in his eye.]

...How do you feel about horror movies?

[VERY Christmas themed, yes.]

[Y E T . . .]

[But yes, let's just ignore the whole Poe-pinning-Ranpo-against-a-wall-and-also-eyefucking thing.]

You say that like I can't guess the plot of any movie I watch.

But a horror movie, huh? That's fine with me! They don't really have anything we'll recognize, but we can just pick one that looks good!

[This is a dangerous genre to just be picking at random?? But it's fine, ~~Netflix~~ Prisflix has lots to choose from!]

[Yeah, ok, guess they're going to be bros and hang out now instead. Very regular and ordinary day.]

That's fine by me. Maybe there will be something original finally! [There won't be.] ...At least maybe an interesting story...

[He looks in between his device, Ranpo, and the TV setup. This IS Ranpo's apartment. But Ranpo has been notoriously bad at working things and navigating in the past. So, Poe lands on the nearest couch to start up Prisflix. The menu is hovering over a psychological horror by the time he even remembers that food was the second part of the plan.]

[Meanwhile Ranpo is on his phone ordering them some takeout from PrismaEats, because apparently Poe gets no say in this. But it's fine, he knows his friend's taste!]

[Plus it's only fair, since he's letting Poe pick the movie and Ranpo's the one paying and all. ~~I can't believe Ranpo is Poe's sugardaddy rn~~]

Hmm, that one seems kinda interesting?

[Poe makes an affirmative noise and queues it up to play once Ranpo can settle in.]

[It's fine no matter what Ranpo orders since he's apparently... paying for it again. Something about this situation seems reversed. Poe settles further into the couch and hugs a pillow to his chest in place of Karl.]

The ratings were pretty good! It's ready whenever you are, Ranpo-kun.

[Since it's a Prismal movie there's naturally a romance subplot in there despite being psychological horror. It wasn't in the movie description though so how was he supposed to know? Still a bit naïve towards Prismatica bullshit. Hopefully the protagonists aren't also stupid but they probably will be.]

Yeah, I'm ready!

[And Ranpo, so used to cuddling during movies with just about anyone he watches them with, settles right next to Poe and rests his head in his shoulder before he even realizes what he's doing.]

[Heck]

[...]

...this is your cuddle tax to pay me back for lunch.

[A NICE SAVE]

[Poe stiffens as the unexpected weight settles into his side. He side-eyes Ranpo with a dubious look.]

I do owe you...

[It seems reasonable enough. The first 15 minutes of a horror flick usually reveal something that hints at the big reveal at the end. His competitive streak drives Poe to pay attention in the off chance he can solve it while Ranpo isn't paying attention.]

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1/3 the slowISH burn gods demand it be so

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