prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .011

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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. After an hour or two of wandering through the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. Because of the strange phenomena 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? — 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. You will then be escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the Iris moon and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as the local Prismals.

The next destination: Prismatica.

▶ There and Back Again
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 As a Remooning gift from the Lunar Scientia Headquarters, the dedicated team from the Amphoria Room has released their latest perfected technology: Amphoria Pods. These VR Pods, which can fit up to four people at a time, have been set up in the gaming hub within Level 1’s PrismaPlace. They allow users to upload sceneries of their world in order to create a realistic holographic landscape of their homes that others can access and play around with, granting everyone the means to relive past memories with their loved ones as well as interact with the bestiary of other worlds. The pods also use the same technology that enhanced the popular virtual game, League Match Action Online (LmaO), which means you’re liable to feel the chill of cold environments, the burning heat from boiling water, the hard slap of your ex-lover, or the biting sting of a stray wasp. All who use the Amphoria Pods for the first time this year will also receive a small amount of Chroma in case things get too real.

▶ God Save Us from the Queen
Level 1, PrismaPlace and Level 2, Greatmoon Groves | top

The first month of the year is packed with two of the most important winter events this season: Queen Elara’s birthday and the League Match Action Online (LmaO) PVP semi-finals. It just so happens that the Queen of Lunatia is also a huge LmaO fan. Coincidence? Definitely not! LmaO players and royal family fans alike can meet her at PrismaPlace, where she will be appearing in cosplay of her favorite hero, Ah-Kari, while holding a body pillow of Commander GareBear. You, too, can get an autograph or selfie with the birthday girl if you’re willing to fall in line! Her bodyguards will also be in LmaO cosplay, keeping the crowd under control during the long wait.

Queen Elara

Good day to you all! This may come as a surprise to our guests the Moonblessed, but I am a normal person despite my exalted position. Please do not think of me today as Queen Elara. Instead... my name is Ah-Kari, sorceress of the crystal! With my soul fan blades, through the darkness, I shall slice all who dare hurt my commander in twain!

But when she is not meeting and greeting...

Queen Elara

My comrades, we're going to make history today. We're going for a new record. Perhaps the highest kill counts or the fastest clear for this map — it matters not. We’ve practiced day and night for this tournament, so let us show everyone that we’re not to be taken lightly! Also, the livestream is going in the royal archive, so make your successors proud!!

... she will be furiously grinding her character and training her skills in LmaO in the hopes of qualifying for the finals. Spectators will see her bring her own team full of hapless palace attendants who are there to either serve as her practice match partners or provide support to the one-woman army that is Queen Elara.

PrismaPlace is packed with giant crowds, many of them also in cosplay. While the semi-finals are taking place, new and old LmaO players alike can participate in the game’s current campaign: players who form teams get an improved chance of spawning unique monsters as well as winning rare items and skins in those prized lootboxes! Teams can also try to clear the event’s story together, featuring an aerial battle fought on griffin-back, which is heavily inspired by the popular Lunatian epic, The Battle of Abraxas, a colorful and complex story about the conflict between two families fighting over the fictional land of griffins, Abraxas.

A Progression in the event requires acquiring a griffin mount and getting it ready for battle. You can lure a wild one to yourself with a special veggie pie on a fishing pole. Should the griffin reject the lure, your character will be caught in a wind gaol and can only break out with the help of other players. Should you succeed, raising the griffin is a tedious task that involves players training alongside their respective griffins, running laps with them, taking them to hunt monsters, and feeding them properly. Depending on their diet, the food you give them will affect the color of its plumage and their battle stats.

Or you can skip the hard work and simply moonlace with your teammates through all the progression bars and required materials to save time. Once finished, you’ll be able to battle one another through the thunderous aerial domain of Abraxas. Clearing the event will net you an event-exclusive skin inspired by the royal family’s shining celestial robes and a weapon skin of a body pillow with your favorite character, so do your best!

B In celebration of Queen Elara’s birthday, the office of the royal household is hosting a modest tea party in the Greatmoon Groves. Swiffy bots that are normally programmed to remind visitors to keep the groves clean are now playing a birthday jingle on repeat. For people who prefer to be away from the blinding neon lights and the thumping techno music of PrismaPlace, this is the ideal escape. Unlimited tea and cookies are being served!

The tea is a soft-colored lilac concoction made from Ehrysian tea leaves that are known to cause a huge spike of alertness and is popular to Moon Knights and office workers with long night shifts as well as gamers for those all-night grinding sessions. The assorted cookies have either Ah-Kari or Commander GareBear printed on them. In case it isn't obvious yet, both are the birthday girl’s favorite LmaO characters.

Any Moonblessed looking for extra income is welcome to be royal attendants for the day; the hours are paid by Demichroma. They must be properly dressed up as maids or butlers (outfits provided by the royal household) as they serve tables.

▶ Say Cheese
Level 3, Caihong | top

Meanwhile, Caihong is in the midst of Remooning festivities in celebration of the new year, and merriment usually lasts a fortnight, filled with fireworks in the sky. Upon entering the district, beautiful Prismals with rat ears and tails greet you with a Happy Remooning and eagerly tug you along to join in.

Those welcomed will receive a pack of multi-colored sparklers, mooncakes topped with cheese, and a glowing drink called Champagne Supernova, poured in a thin glass in your hand. If you are over eighteen, the rat Prismals will ask if you prefer your drink with a kick. If you say yes, then they will add flavorful ice that causes extreme intoxication and might leave you to be susceptible to all levels of suggestion. Saying no (or if you’re under 18) will simply leave it as a sweet drink.

A One of the party games being played by the locals is called Lucky Tail, which is basically pinning the tail on the holographic rat stand-in — with a twist, it must be played with a partner! Another participant will blindfold you, spin you around, then push you forward. The stand-in is located at the end of unsteady elevated platforms forming a maze, filled to the brim with distracting objects underneath. They’re long, they’re thick, and they’re vibrating furiously in an attempt to knock you off the platforms.

Your partner must guide you by voice to successfully navigate through the maze! The game is rigged with various mechanisms, so stepping on specific platforms will activate a number of traps against you or your partner: machines that may tickle, drop colorful slime, or cause the platform to repetitively spin, and who knows what else?

Should you manage to get through the obstacle course and pin the tail successfully, you and your partner will win copious amounts of Demichroma, courtesy of Buwan from Buwan’s Stop.

B Another attraction is a fun magic glamour booth known for its face or body swap features. The booth staff, clad in their festive rat paraphernalia, will encourage you and your friends to take aesthetic shots using an illusion generator. The effects last an hour. Photographed images can be instantly uploaded and shared in Prismagram. New year, new you! Why not take the chance to celebrate this momentous occasion in a unique fashion? It’s all in good humor.

There are two buttons to press: (A) CUSTOM or (B) RANDOM. Pressing A will allow participants to customize their desired effects. Pressing B will cause the illusion magic to randomly rearrange participants in questionable positions, new outfits (or lack thereof), and you may even come out of the booth looking like your best friend or your worst rival. The possibilities are endless!

▶ 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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

What? 'Course you do.. did I ever say that me being boss is something temporary? No way.. I'll only grow in greatness in due time!

_{[ Inosuke is.. pretty dense, though. Surely Haga can find some way around it. Maybe. ]}

I hope to have more underlings later, not lose them!

[ Even if the technology takes her some time to learn (and embarrasses her, which is a look Noctis would like to see, honestly, considering he's usually the one out of his depth between the two of them), she's fought through way worse than holographic rooms. She's one of the strongest people he knows, and his faith in her is unending. He's not the only one to feel that way, either. He's always been lucky to have a friend like her, and even a chance at being more than that, to live with her like they did, even for a few months... He's even luckier, just to sit with her like this. That he got to see her again at all, and that she isn't just a voice on the wind. He shouldn't be greedy for more than just her eternal support, but he is. After being apart for basically their whole lives... how could he not be? It's all he can do just to sit next to her and act like he doesn't want to hold her and never let go.

He huffs a breath, smiling, at the idea of Luna meeting Cor. There's a face off he's looking forward to. If you ask him, Cor doesn't stand a chance. ]

Think the Marshal's got his hands full keeping up with my dad, but I know he'd love to meet you.

[ Ardyn, on the other hand... Noctis frowns at the the gently flashing screen in front of them. "Supervised" is one way to put it. And Noctis can't say he's been behaving, exactly, but— ]

Ardyn... He knows his fate is waiting for him back on Eos. That's what he wants, too. He dies, and I bring back the light. Just like the prophecy says.

[ Except that Noctis is supposed to be resolving himself to his fate, and this place has only made him do the opposite. He looks over at Luna again, a hundred questions held in his lungs, but he doesn't have the breath to ask any of them. What she remembers, what she doesn't. What she told him, and if that's what she really believes is right. He almost doesn't want to know. What if he's wrong? Her duty is to him, but that's by will of the gods. If what he wants isn't what they want anymore, then would Luna... ]

If I could change things, about what happened, I would. You know I'll do anything to be with you. Whatever I can.

"Personal details? I understand." Specific people, scenarios, so forth. She feels similarly, although she's glad the world is still turning in her future and she's apparently alive. That's all Jill can really ask for in her own world, whether it be separate or same as his.

"Would be nice if it were so easy. People like stories where everything ends happy, lesson learned or not." Idle commentary, clear she's glad to drop it and not discuss intimate details of personally defined success or failure. But still the shoulder of someone who knows things never pan out quite the way you'd want them to.

His pause has her turn minutely at the hip, just enough that she's more open than closed-off; personable, if not earnest. It occurs to her he might be in service to someone, though she isn't going to assume what the reasoning behind it may be, slave or servant or a million things in between.

"Famous last words. How about you get back to me if you decide on something? Nicknames are one thing." She doesn't carry on with the silent but that's added on the end. Instead she holds out her phone, twisting it a little in hand. "My username is 'j.valentine' -- Valentine's my surname. Do a little weapon modification and make ammo in my free time; teach martial arts, otherwise. I tend to make my Chroma via sparring."

An invitation, if he's interested. It's how she survives here for the most part. It's not exactly the best option for touch-adverse sorts, but it beats intimacy or death. It's an offer if he finds himself depleted of Chroma (but mostly about boredom).

"If only," he responded simply. He could tell she has been through something, but is not one to pry. Especially when he would provide very little answers in return.

The Shinobi has to shake his head at her statement "It is not for lack of decision. I cannot give a name."

He tries to figure out a way to make this make sense to her "Just as you have your duties as a soldier I have my own."

His interest peaks at her mention of what she does with her time "I'll keep that in mind. Where do you hold your lessons?" He was curious exactly how soldiers of the future fought. Was it all that different from his day?

It's not an easy conversation to have with people you don't know particularly well. Jill is closed-off in the sense it's not about her in the situations she finds herself in, but she's perfectly open with her experiences. They aren't hard to pry out of her, but there's a time and place to talk about kicking monsters.

"I see. As well as I can, anyway. Doesn't mean you're not going to have to have some way to be addressed, you know?" She's not sure how to explain a username or the need for one. 2009 wasn't exactly the burgeoning era of social media that 2019 is -- or here.

"Most people take to a gym called Solar Flexus. Not many places, unfortunately, for practice, especially of weapons. The beach works plenty fine for me when I'm on my own time training." Not working out. Those had two different connotations. "Can be busy, but you can find quiet, empty pockets. Been thinking I might see what I can do about creating some sort of dojo sometime soon, but with the kind of strength I and others here have, somewhere that's more expansive and open is better. Especially with weapons."

[ He snorts, shaking his head with a smile. Yes, this is a seduction. Absolutely. ]

What are they like? Would you mind telling me?

He slumps comfortably against the wall of the booth, getting a better look at Fish again. It certainly has been a while for him, and now seeing such an alien race in front of him, on a weird multi-dimensional planet again, seems to strike it home that this is most definitely real.

"Surprisingly well. Work kept me busy until it didn't, and found myself here again. Have you been here this entire time?"

[He won't have to wait very long. Maybe one whole minute later, the door slides open again, and Sephiroth -- now lamp-less! -- walks towards Teddy again.

In his hand is a small crystal, imbued with Demichroma. He hands it to him.]

This is Demichroma, some of this planet's currency. Take it. [He's frugal, but he won an awful lot of the stuff recently, and he can spare some for a newcomer who strikes him as utterly lost on this new world.]

Not as valued as actual Chroma, but it's enough to make your acclimation... easier.

There's another shake of his head "I understand you might think it rude, but people in my profession die nameless. If you wish to have something to call me then you will have to choose it on your own." He's firm on this. Not knowing about usernames and the need for them.

The one-armed Shinobi gives a nod "Do you know if the forests are off limits? or if you're applying with the Queen's court to create a dojo why not choose a surrounding woodland to ask for as well? It would act as a natural barrier to keep people from wandering in while weapons are being used" It made the most sense to him anyway.

[ She... wants him to remove his gloves? ]

Er.. [ Well she definitely caught him offguard there. Wow, she really is being really serious about this. But especially since it was his right hand he'd offered he doesn't see the harm in it...? ]

No, that's fine— I don't mind. [ And he tugs the one glove off, using his teeth to tug the fingers loose after a moment in a subconscious and extremely practiced way like someone used to having to remove his gloves very quickly. If she's very perceptive she might notice what should be a patch of skin between his left glove and shirt sleeve is actually dark red, but he isn't removing that glove and quickly presents her again with this time an ungloved (human) pinky.

Though he also gives her a sheepish sort of smile, cocking his head to one side. ]

I'm just used to wearing gloves is all.

[ He joins Fjord in disposing of the sparkler ends and then happily walks along with him. He's still smiling - it felt nice to goof around a little bit. (It was a bit difficult to do so when everyone else in their group was a mess.) ]

Hm? [ He turns to look when his arm is patted. ]

Oh, that would be nice. I haven't tried the food here.

[ A little too confused to think about cooking, honestly. ]

"Oh, I don't think it's rude at all. It's more just having something to address you with. Be easier for me if you did, but I'm not going to put you in a headlock and tell you you've gotta." She laughs at her own really dumb joke, ducking her head a little since she has some sense of shame over how lame it is.

"The forests get pretty dangerous pretty quickly. We're not encouraged to go there -- which is one of the reasons I'm interested in them." The more you're told not to go somewhere, the more there's reason for it. "Monsters. I've experience with that sort of thing back home, but I understand why we're discouraged from it. Most people can't defend themselves as well as someone like myself can, especially if overwhelmed."

Which is to say she's more than fine with it, herself. At least if they don't cross the lines too far out because as much as she likes a tough battle, she's realistic.

It's an interesting way of having a meal, that's for certain.

[ She gives the box another glance herself before she tucks it away into the pantry. ]

Though I do hope you're joking and you didn't just forage out there.

Did you know there's quite a bit of edible plants that survive under the snow in Coerthas?

[ absolutely DELIGHTED to share this information with allumette. ]

... you know, Seteth knew this was going to be awkward, but he wasn’t quite prepared for just how awkward it currently is... should they just stand there like this? Obviously, it feels kind of nice despite everything because that’s just how Chroma works, but even so...

...

“Would you, ah, like to go and get something to eat...?”

That seemed like a reasonable suggestion. He’d been here long enough to show the new people around, so he may as well show off some of the food options.

[A slight pout crosses Alphinaud's face briefly as he regards the dancer with a more critic eye. The Xaela, in general, are quite fetching in their way despite their ironic dark scales. However, the dancer before him is probably one of the prettier ones. Then again, she is scantily-dressed and Alphinaud is known to have wandering eyes in the past. Nevertheless, he keeps his gaze eye level as he speaks with her out of respect. He's not the dandy he was during his years within the Studium.]

You speak as if we know each other.

[He states with a hint of confusion in his voice. While Alphinaud swears his memory is sound, it seems that something is amiss here. The woman before him knows who he is but he can't remember where they met. It's a bit frustrating but Alphinaud does his best to keep a straight face.]

Tell me, is this a temporary dilemma? I take it this isn't the first time you've come across this phenomenon.

[He brings his hand to his chin as he starts muttering to himself.]

Amnesia? No, all was well when we left Kugane.

Edited 2020-01-22 20:46 (UTC)

[A slight huff escapes Alphinaud once she mentions the notion of possibly drowning>. He cannot help but feel a tad sore about his inability to swim. Alisaie often picks on him about whenever they're near water and once he met up with his sister after her adventures at the Red Sea, he's more annoyed about it.]

Come now, I doubt you would drown. [He says with a hint of frustration in his tone.] Swimming wasn't commonplace in Sharlayan considering how frigid the waters are.

I don't see the point of it---Ah, be careful!

[The next platform is a little wobbly, unlike the rest. Probably another trap forged by the creators behind this fiendish maze.]

[She glances up at him, curious and slightly concerned. Yanli remembers all too well how overwhelming and bewildering everything was her first day. Without really thinking about what she's doing, she reaches over to give him a comforting pat on the knee.]

Yes, I am. He's two years older than he was in my time but he's unmistakably Jin Zixuan.

[A soft, fond smile surfaces on her face, her gaze turning distant and tender. Oh, the sweetness of a young woman in love.]

His room's just across the hall from mine so I'm very sure. As for what happened to Nie Mingjue, I don't know any details. I just assumed that he passed away at some point.

[When his younger brother is the sect leader now, it's a sensible conclusion to draw. From what little she knows about Huisang's brother, Yanli can't imagine that he'd ever abdicate his position willingly.]

Edited 2020-01-22 21:34 (UTC)

Your words don’t reassure me. [He mutters, because honestly? Xue Yang could lie just as well as he could at times. But the refreshing thing about Xue Yang is that if it WAS poison, Guangyao doesn’t doubt that Xue Yang would straight up tell him so.

He eats it anyway. He died once and if he died again... Would anyone be upset? Xichen, maybe, but maybe he’d find it more freeing the second time around.

He’s glad he’s not a weepy drunk, but his movements are inelegant and sloppy in his drunkenness. He hardly spares Xue Yang a glance as he leans against him, the point of contact feeling pleasantly warm and almost tingly; he’s instead looking forlornly at the bit of crumbs collected on his robes with a dismay like he can’t quite comprehend how they got there.]

Hm? Oh. Su She. [He groans the name and shakes his head like it’s the millionth time he’s had to do so, a parent tired of hearing the latest screw up from their problem child.] So loyal, talented, but...

[He trails off and glances at Xue Yang, trying to focus on him.] Leaving you for dead was not my intention that time. I assumed too much.

... It'd probably take a while, too, most drums wouldn't do much so it'd take a lot of hits. And I'm not trained in hitting people with drums.

It'd take effort. Effort I'd be glad to take.

It's good to not be the only one with difficulties. But! At the same time, I'm sure there's bound to be at least one or two people around here friendly enough to help us figure it out.

[that laugh is endearing, and he grins at her, the grin turning into a laugh of his own as she bifurcates the queen's avatar]

I sorted them by whatever native habitats they had in common, actually. Then I ate them in alphabetical order.

[he was a strange child.]

Naturally.

[Home button first to get back to the menu, then try again.]

This is way unlike anything from my home world, I adjusted to it basically through a knack for picking stuff up fast I've developed over time.

Very useful, to say the least...

[Dale notes - and is soon impressed by - Ace's ability to walk backwards so deftly, and starts mentally compiling a list of possible explainations. performer. construction or road worker. tour guide. et cetera]

You're not kidding, Ace, it was the most terrible thing I ever tasted. Even two cups of the Double R Diner's coffee wouldn't wash it out. I had to have three pieces of cherry pie before I couldn't taste it anymore.

[he gives a little shudder]

The only thing coffee should taste like is coffee.

[She beams, transparent pleased with his reaction. He always knows just what to do to boost her ego. (Even if he didn't, Catherine evidently has no shortage of others who can do the same, whether she chooses to admit to that or not.)]

You're such a good boy!

[And she. Is such a condescending brat.

Just like that, the tease that she is, her hand lifts and withdraws and she beckons him to lead the way or let her navigate. She has no preference for place and she has little shame, so she doesn't even really need to be in private. It's a little silly, also cute, that he does, but she'll play along.]

If you don't pick a place, I'm going to get impatient and I won't care where we are.

Surprise, surprise.

[Muttered words from her lips escaped calmly, Shar wasn't one to hold her breath. This subject proven to be difficult, which made Shar wonder where to start. She had her first experience with Thancred and the truth, so Shar had to be careful with her words. Last time she did something she thought she'd never do, claim herself to be the said warrior, and honestly it was an embarrassment. Lying wasn't her nature, especially among friends, she was proud of them and no secrets were kept, well maybe but one. Alphinaud taken to consideration at least it was plausible.]

I don't believe that's how it works cove. You know me, and yet you don't. It's difficult to explain.

[Shar shrugged and loss what else to say. Before Shar could conjure up more words, her attention was called for when Alphinaud mentioned the city Kugane.]

Wait. [Gods, she felt her guts turned.] What about Kugane?

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▶ TDM .011

he's beginning his collection...

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HD rerelease when!!! And it’s no problem!

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One of the top 5 canon moments right there... <3

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