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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ —chokes, as she continues.

That's??? What does she mean, "couldn't have been born a human"??? That's so insulting!! Maybe??? Is it supposed to be a complement?? E-ethereal appearance?? Stop both insulting him and complimenting him!! It's confusing!! Both of them, equally!! ]

I'm just a little cursed...!

[ "Little", he says. ]

[PLEASE DO NOT DIE ON HER YET MR STARRY FACE BEAUTY! YOU PROMISE TO STAY WITH HE---

"I'm just a little cursed....!"

There will be a slight pause at his recent revelation. Nike was having a tough time processing it. A big one. What does he mean cursed? Will he turn into those dark spirits like the one she encountered at the Mountain Kingdom? Or the one Alto bonded with when he was abandoned? It's true the spirit wasn't malicious with Alto. They took care of him and kept him company. Even if it instructed Alto to destroy the world, it was done to give comfort to him because it couldn't admit it was close to death, to disappearing.

Her green eyes will begin to water at the thought of Alto's tragic childhood as much as the spirit before her. He can't be cursed! She doesn't want him to be, but after having touched his scar -- she felt a heavy pull from it. Something about it was attracting her attention while all at once it was repelling her. Or more like, the more she concentrated on the feeling of the scar, observing it as intently as she has, the more she is reminded of her time in the underground temples. The ones connected to the guardians and the ones hiding a sinister force.

And yet, knowing that he is cursed, Nike just couldn't. RELEASE HER HOLD. No. Not when it felt like he was close to falling into the pitch blackness, almost how she was dragged to the temple by the contaminated water that absorbed energy.

Getting back onto her knees, hovering over the boy, hands will begin to cradle the sides of his cheeks as she observes the markings while using her thumb to caress it a little more. Her green eyes will watch his silver ones in silence as she looks close to tears.]

I'm sorry...

[It was all she could express. Grief for his situation. In being cursed. She has no idea what it may entail to someone in their position. The spirit she met in the underground temple was clearly one created by unpurified negative emotions. But he....doesn't feel like he'd fall in this category.]

Did it happen because you lost heart? Hope? [A pause.] You don't seem like the type to. [He seemed to be emotionally strong, so why...? She'll hover down closer to him with the hope to observe his mark more closely, wondering if her proximity will trigger anything.] Is there anything I can do to help? Anything at all?

[ Who is this girl and why is she manhandling him so much. He's getting emotional whiplash. He can process a lot but this is a lot and ten minutes it's already more physical affection than he's gotten in a lifetime. Pure, no-strings-attached, not unwanted even if not exactly wanted either affection without it needing to be anything more than just that, at least. Honestly, if not for trusting the gut instinct he has on people he'd think she had some ulterior motive or trying to put him in a vulnerable spot...

Although she might be a little crazy... That actually—that might explain it too... Or maybe incredibly sheltered to the point of not realizing this isn't something you just do...

But that scatters as soon as she says "I'm sorry" and looks down at him like that. With tears in her eyes again, even if they hadn't fallen, and his own widen.

She was crying again, but... over him? For him?

He goes quite still, especially when she's cupped his cheeks. Warm, although this time it doesn't fluster or jolt him and he just seems steady. ]

I did, once... [ Why she might be right on her assessment of him now... he wasn't always. He still isn't always, but he had been weak and selfish when Mana died. He accepts this. ] But it's okay that I'm like this. [ That part of him, at least. And maybe all parts, if his earlier suspicion that somehow he had been purified of being a Noah is right. ]

Because I made a mistake with someone precious to me, I was cursed for it. [ He says it so simply, so plainly. Like there isn't anything that terrible or grandiose about it. And he reaches up this time too. To touch her face, yes, with his gloved right hand, but... only just barely.

To brush back the tears that had collected at the corner of her eyes, and dry some of the wetness there from before. ]

It's alright. Don't cry.

[The simple explanation, no matter how plain it may seem -- it was still a sincere confession. Nike could tell he had accepted his mistake and wrongdoing. He accepted the consequences connected to it. Cause and effect. He was cursed for having done....the unthinkable. After all, what other reason is there to be cursed?

It was more than enough. Nike was normally the type to pry and ask for info. To get the bigger picture; however, she has learned it was best to wait for those details when the time was right]. A hard lesson learned with Livi. Or maybe it was best for her not to know neither. She can live with this explanation.

.......odd how she was very curious to know, yet she feels content by this outcome. Was it due to feeling admiration for the boy under her? For earnestly confessing, caring for her, comforting her, and being nothing more than a perfect gentleman. Something she did not expect to encounter. It was a large contrast to the way others have treated her before. A peaceful, almost too good to be true type of situation. Nike did not have the heart to part away from him, not when he was now comforting her again. The gloved hand over her cheekbones, helping in drying the already formed tears...

Unconsciously she'll lower her head, enjoying the contact and attention as she releases her hold on him to keep his gloved hand from breaking contact. Again it was so odd. So very odd! But it was difficult to pull back when it helped her feel so....fluffy??? Warm?? Blissful, maybe? Seeing as she couldn't find the right word to describe it, a light snort will be given because....]

Then stop trying to make me cry so much. [He had moved her so many times. Comforted. And just accepted her without so much as knowing her name. It was funny.] If I didn't know any better, I'd think you enjoy it. Moving a girl to tears. [All spoken with an airy chuckle. Just to show she was only kidding and making the attempt to improve the mood a little bit.]

[ That she leaned into his hand at the gesture is rather surprising, although maybe it shouldn't be. He might even find that a little oddly reassuring, that she had been comforted by it, but when her tone turns teasing...

He colors a bit, though entirely not for the same reasons as before and a bit indignantly. Is...is she toying with him? If she's been toying with him he will dump her off of him so fast... albeit gently... But it's so jarring against how genuine she had been up until that point that it's unsettling.

Although that might have more to do with how guarded he is. How guarded he normally is. Somehow she just waltzed right through like they weren't even there before they abruptly snapped back up with that. ]

I wasn't! I'd never! [ Huffing, if mildly, though he does let his hand drop. He does get that she's joking, he just doesn't like the joke. Especially when in a compromising position that he's quickly growing all too conscious of.. and he shifts a little at realizing, an unconscious squirm. And after he'd just opened up a little...

Sulky? Him? He's absolutely not, thank you. ]

Edited 2020-01-09 16:09 (UTC)

[Not the expected reaction she was aiming for! She didn't expect him to get....upset on getting teased. Was it upset or pouty? He seemed more indignant in the way his body has positioned itself. Almost as if he was trying to protect himself all of a sudden. It was a sense she was getting from the way he was beginning to pull away.

A small pout of her own will be given at watching him distancing himself. She felt lonely all of a sudden! But this was no longer about her. Right now she was more interested in the reaction she just got. One she did not expect to find in the boy before her. In the very affectionate, very welcoming, and very warm boy. She almost wanted to laugh at his reaction. It was so childlike! He looked like a kid to her all of a sudden. A kid trying to act like a grown-up in the way he was using formal language to sound insulted.

A warm smile will appear as she observes him with great interest. His reaction, as unnerving as it may have been, maybe a little off-putting because it was not the reaction she was looking for, has tickled her. He was far more interesting the more she observed.]

I know. You wouldn't. Not purposely, anyway. [How many hearts has he broken? All of a sudden she was curious to know if he has ever been charmed by anyone or has charmed others by mistake. She may have been. Or was. Just not in the way she was wondering now. Hovering over him again, she'll cradle his face once more just to....]

Edited 2020-01-09 16:51 (UTC)

[SQUISH HIS CHEEKS TOGETHER!]

[BEFORE PULLING THEM A BIT!]

[Once she has done it, Nike will offer him a gentler smile than before as she releases her hold over him.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to annoy you with my attempt at a joke. [Her eyes will drop as she begins to nervously the side of her cheek.] I-It's just...I guess, I felt a little uncomfortable. Having cried on you so much. Showing you such an ugly face. I promise myself to be strong until the very end. To not cry. Not mourn. To be in a state of calm. Be optimistic about our world.

[Returning her gaze towards him, she'll reach for his gloved hand, placing her other hand on top of it.]

Now I can say for certain: I will be strong. I will succeed. All thanks to you...

[UHHHHHHHHH HOW TO SAY THANK YOU WITHOUT SAYING IT???? This was getting a little too cheesy for her taste. But if this....was going to be their final conversation, then she'll treat it as she did with Livi -- without regrets.

And her one regret? Unintently pushing him away. How do you regain the favor of someone so innocent? Well...

She'll lean over and offer him a kiss over the side of his forehead. On the spot where his curse should be. It shouldn't hurt to leave her mark there, right? RIGHT? Uhhhhh

Pulling back a bit, her face will begin to color as she looks away shyly, not having expected herself to be so bold as to do that but it may have been the best way to apologize and offer her gratitude. Bowing her head slightly as she slowly pulls her body away, she'll add.]

Thank you for everything.

[

he can't

with this girl, HE ABSOLUTELY CAN'T ]

[ Hhhhhhhhhhhhhh she's shaved years off his life in a mere matter of minutes.... which is saying something, given his life. There's not even that much of it left probably. And he takes a moment to rub at his abused cheeks.

She won a blush though from how she kissed his forehead, there's that. But he's reeling from a bit too much whiplash and non-sequitur to even process it fully. Although he blinks when she begins to pull away—and that after all of that, she would seem so suddenly shy. ]

Nike— [ Guess what, she had said her name when she first approached him and he both actually remembered and... well, even Allen Walker would find it incredibly weird to call her "miss" or anything so formal after whatever this meeting was. And he sits up a little and does reach for her, but—not to actually touch or stop her. Instead he stops himself, looking torn. ]

What— [ Hesitating, his fingers curl for a moment.

What even was this meeting...? ]

...what are you?

[ It's blunt, but because he honestly isn't sure after all of that. ]

[It felt good to feel so refreshed from everything that had happened. The world's current state was unusual. It frightens her to find so many new and unfamiliar things. New information that made no sense to her current teaching and understandings. New unidentified items were given to her (which in hindsight was now accepted for a par of the course after encountering world destruction machines in certain areas). And just information overload that left her more unsteady, even more, confused until now.

The abuse of his cheeks and kiss, in the end, made her feel very satisfied. Enough to have her stretch her arms and back a bit before slowly slipping away onto her bare feet again. Her only disappointment is maybe being unable to encounter this spirit again. Not after having angered h--

"Nike"

Huh? Was he calling her now?

Oh, that's right! She did introduce herself to him, didn't she? She was surprised he still remembered her name. Or even called her for that matter.

She'll turn towards him, almost expecting him to ask her to become his apprentice or offer her friendly advice about this world, to her new duties. That was her expectation, but...

"What...what are you?"

His next question will leave her at a loss for words. WHAT DOES HE MEAN? DIDN'T SHE TELL HIM? She was sure she did! But his expression, the way he was looking at her (it honestly melted her heart while all at once she felt a cold chill as well), and the way he looked so confused....?

Did she mess up??? She had no clue on the best way to interpret this. Other than...]

I'm the new guardian spirit of this world. Or rather our world. [Be as blunt as he was. Maybe he was forgetful due to the curse and length of his existence perhaps???? Maybe. Then again...] Why do you look so confused? ...are you wondering if I always been a spirit? [He did ask her if she was no longer human at some point, didn't he? Now that she thought about it.] I was born a human. To the human world under the rain summoning family. I know there are other families with linages like my own. We don't make our members into guardians. Only into normal summoners with the sole purpose to bring the rain and purify the world.

[Maybe this explanation will help jog his memory???? Hopefully!]

[ All of that and he's still having an incredibly hard time figuring out if she's actually native to this world or not, what she says sounds completely foreign to him both compared to his own world and what he understands of this one. Except...

Except for that one thing: I was born a human. People here haven't been calling themselves human. They've been calling everyone "Prismal" or "Moonblessed".

Which means her situation is the same as his, maybe even being made (mostly) human again like he was, if everything she says was also true... except, she doesn't seem to know that.

Somehow he finds something incredibly sad in that, and it makes him hesitate for a moment. ]

Nike... [ It's gentle. Much gentler as he slowly gets back to his feet as well, like he knows what he's about to say is hard. ] This morning...

...did you wake up this morning somewhere strange? Covered in shards and surrounded by crystals?

[Why was he looking at her like that? The way his eyes began to show signs of sadness. Pity, as well? It felt like he was going to inform her of something...scary. Something unwanted and unneeded.

And yet she was willing to listen, not when he was speaking to her with such gentleness and some hesitation. Why?]

...I was surrounded in darkness first. [Her eyes will look distant as she remembered the sequence of events, after having left Livi's side. Voluntarily.] Before a light greeted me. It was faint, but it grew stronger. Before long I was in the place you just described. Surrounded by beautiful colors and sparkles. It was wonderful. I wish I could've stayed there a little longer...

[A pause; returning to the reality as she admits in earnest.]

If I'd known I was going to be taken here after being found, then I would've asked to remain there a little bit longer.

[ This... isn't going to be easy, he realizes as she seems to become quieter and seems to draw in on herself. Especially if she had been in the middle of something like she said, which only has to be more confusing.

A human becoming a guardian deity? Like Fou except... not? For the world itself? Then, the the thing she had been grieving, if she didn't know she had been taken from that world... ]

...The same thing happened to me. [ A pause. He's taken a step towards her, but... isn't sure if he should continue. ]

To a lot of us. [ How many "Moonblessed", how many people have found themselves here when they belong elsewhere, are there even? He's beginning to realize it's a lot more than he first would have thought. ]

The world here... it isn't the same one either of us have known. That's why they said we're important. Waking up there—somehow it means the world brought us here. [ He's sorry, he really is. But hiding from that truth won't help. Or, no... letting someone live in a delusion isn't a kindness. Though for a moment he does have to wonder hard about if that's the right thing to do, if he shouldn't let her continue on as she was. She only just stopped crying, and he'd thought at the time it was already this situation she was grieving.

(Someone could also take advantage of her like that, though.)

Though it doesn't mean his tone isn't soft, like he might hope to soften the realization a little that way. ]

I'm sorry.

[There was not much more she can say about her experience in being absorbed into her world. She hadn’t died. No one killed her. It was all done freely. After having witnessed the reason behind Alto being the way he was, deciding to promise to show him the beauty of the world, and to rescue the world from doom -- it did not deserve to die.

Nike was certain she was viewing another vision of the past civilization. It did not look the same as the one her ancestors showed her. But she supposes those were something else entirely. A different time. Earlier, perhaps.

"...The same thing happened to me."

His reply will regain her attention. About the crystals. The way he appeared in this strange world. He had gone through the same thing. The thought did not overly alarm her though. If they were both guardians, then it'd be normal to experience some similarit--

"To a lot of us."]

A-A lot....?

[What does he mean by that? A lot? How many more made the same choice as she did? As they did? Something didn't feel quite right. True she knew very little of the situation. It could be possible but...

"The world here....it isn't the same one either of us has known."

...................................................................

Why did it feel as though he was talking about something else entirely? Not when his eyes...

She will watch him. Simply watch them. The look in his eyes, his tone, and what followed...

"I'm sorry...."

A bang will be felt. A quaking bang into her heart. Why...? Why did it feel like.....aren't they talking about....rather...

Aren't they on the same page?

Nike will feel a cold chill as he explained the situation. The crystals. The way the planet looked after leaving the area. As she thought about it more deeply, she will remember other details, other words related to the moon, which will leave her feeling thoughtful. Both pensive and vulnerable. She had no idea what to think. Indeed, she can't feel much of her surroundings. The connection she felt earlier was now...]

....why are you telling me this...? [Her tone will sound more defensive than angry or off-put. If anything she felt a little....scared.] Are you saying....that... [No. She didn't want to finish the thought. Instead, she'll turn to him, hoping with all her might.] ...where are you exactly from? From what kingdom....?

[ Ah, damn...

He smiles very gently to her at that, though it's in a small and bittersweet sort of way. She'd said something like that earlier too when he thought this was all just the result of a concussion or somesuch. Something about kingdoms he'd never heard of. ]

I'm from England... [ Mostly. ]

My name is Allen Walker. [ And he hesitates, fingers curling together for a moment like he's torn about something. ] All I mean is, even if it's hard to thing to accept or even understand...

[ Would she let him take her hand? He's not sure, but he reaches out to her to offer his. To help her ground herself, maybe. To feel a little stronger. ]

Even if it's hard, if we don't understand the situation how can we hope to change it?

But like this it also doesn't have to be something we're alone in. [ he says, the most hypocritical.

But this is about her and making her feel connected, not him. ]

Edited 2020-01-10 21:16 (UTC)

England...?

[She doesn't recognize the name of the kingdom. Not even from the list of more modern names. Nothing pops up into her mind. Leaving her at a loss. She'll cross her arms, hoping to stop the sudden chill filling her form. Protecting herself from what was to come because she is certain there will be more. Other than learning his name.

Allen Walker, huh?

She'll remember it. An easy enough one to remember. It wasn't pretentiously long, yet it holds its weight as well.

Lowering her head, she'll continue to listen to some of his encouragement, already sentencing herself to some solitude after their meeting was over. No matter what he had to say, it won't be enough to sway her. After all, it wasn't too long ago since she gave up her human life in exchange for her world and all those in it. She had parted ways with Livi. Breaking their engagement. Something she has wanted for a long while and yet the way it happened felt unfair. As unfair as the way it began, it ended in the same note.

All of this was unfair! She decided to be part of her world. Why was she taken away? No one asked her!!! Doesn't her permission mean anything?

As she thought about it, everything explained to her will return, and at the time she had disregarded it as a dream, a test, or just a memory she was supposed to explore to better understand her situation. Or the reason her world the way it was.

There were too many things going through her mind that she was growing deaf at everything else. Except for one thing.

A hesitant hand will be offered to her.

Allen Walker was offering her a hand. Did she look that worse for wear? If she could only see herself now, she would realize -- all of this time she has been crying and quivering ever since she became pensive. Allowing all her emotions and memories to go through and be expressed. She was holding onto herself for dear life, hoping to not fall into despair or lose heart. After all, she has done it before -- all on her own!! With no help!!

A piece of her almost wanted to take a step back and disregard his kindness. Put on a brave front. Force herself to smile and prove she was okay. Just easily swayed. Nothing to worry about, but...after everything that had transpired early...

IT TOOK EVERYTHING SHE CAN NOT CRY IN FRONT OF LIVI. EVERYTHING IN HER MIGHT NOT MOURN HER DECISION TO NO LONGER BE HUMAN. ALL OF HER COURAGE TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING SHE HAD!

So for once, just this once, after remembering how at peace she felt in his arms, how homey, how warm, and how safe she felt. Feeling the best she ever had. For once she was going to reach out for help. FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE SHE WILL ACCEPT THE SUPPORT.

Releasing one of her hands (keeping the other as close as possible while shrinking as much to herself as she naturally can), Nike will, at first hesitantly, begin to reach or rather give the boy her hand as she continues to cry. All she can do was allow the tears to overflow as she bit her bottom lip to keep anything else was escaping. She just needed a moment. One moment of support, just to know she wasn't alone. Not completely, at least.]

[ A light squeeze.

She gets a light squeeze of her hand; a small sort of gesture, one that would be easy to miss if it wasn't significant in how understated it is. "It's okay," without ever needing to say that aloud. And he smiles gently, bittersweet, because at least she was able to take his hand, even if it is such a small gesture.

Mn. It is hard. But he won't insult her by saying what's obvious, and instead continue just to let her hold on as long as she needs to.

And it's warm... still warmer than it should be. Like a glow or radiating pulse from where their hands touch, however faint. It is then like Shino had said earlier, it wasn't a fluke. He supposes he should be a little unsettled maybe, that something so basic and so important has been changed and is... regulated and documented and put on display as A Big Deal. That here it's somehow "energy" and it's more important for that. Monetized. That's kind of demeaning, actually? But, well.

When did he ever let something like that interfere with how he conducts himself. Especially when trying to help reassure someone else. ]

Edited 2020-01-12 02:27 (UTC)

[The silence was appreciative! She was content in simply having someone hold her hand. Such a simple gesture felt more encouraging than anything he could have ever told her. It was....distressing to be in the situation she was in after everything she had gone through. To be taken away from her purpose, she was at a loss. Her mind and emotions were moving at a chaotic pace. It was difficult to remain calm and consider the positives.

Not yet, not until the dark cloud left her soul. Which will take time to accomplish? Even if she is a guardian spirit, she was still human and was once again in this world. She doubts this planet would accept her as a guardian spirit. So far she was having a difficult time distinguishing the planet's voice and the voices of those living within this world. There was too much to feel and recognize. Too much, too sudden.

So all she could do was allow her soul to cry out in pain and frustration until she can clear her thoughts. If the dark souls have shown her -- it was easy to get lost in one's own emotions to the point of falling on instinct and losing the sense of reason.

Nike will hold onto the sole hand offered for all it was worth. Keeping it close to her. Bringing herself close to him, hoping to entrap more of the spark or flow she was sensing. Something about it felt like a very good thing. Needed, wanted, and necessary. Almost like the rain in her world. Just thinking about her sky, the new sky she created after summoning the pure darkness, she will slowly begin to remember the explanation of the moving images concerning the history of this world. How it was destroyed. How it needed some type of energy to survive. The energy created by -- what she assumed to be -- other guardians, only to realize it was from her, Allen, and all those like them.

This world was once destroyed, it was striving to survive...

She just needed to be reminded of this. Be told. To make certain it was real. Maybe. There were doubts. Her perception cannot be entirely trusted, not until she can regain her courage. Green, tear-stained, eyes will turn to the boy before her, fear will be seen as much as uncertainty and concern.]

....this world....it was once destroyed. We're here to help it....? Through doing things like these?

[By which she means was holding hands. To make certain he understood it was hand-holding, she'll change their position by awkwardly lacing her fingers with his. A new sensation will be felt as she does so. It looks like she wasn't far off. Not when the warmth sensation felt more soothing, yet a little more exciting....or was she mistaking it for fear.....? Well, it didn't feel like it, was she perhaps self-conscious...? But that was the case why did the warmth offered by such a simple gesture remind her of the refreshing feeling of drinking cold milk after having had a very warm and relaxing bath???]

[ Oh, well -- drawing attention to it like that will get his cheeks to color a bit. The warm prickle from the contact would do that too as she moves her fingers against his. ]

Ah— [ lacing... ] ...something like that.

[ Hesitantly, only because she was the one who seemed to be experimenting too, he flexes his fingers back against hers curiously. But it's a comforting gesture as well more than anything, like confirmation or a promise.

More of that tingling feeling though, warm and gentle. ]

I don't really understand it to be honest, but that's how it was explained to me.

[ -- !! ]

Not that -- that's why I...! [ FLUSTERING, and he'd wave both hands around except it'd be rude to rip the one from her, so he just does with the one free left one. ]

I wouldn't be doing such a thing just for that purpose!! Ever! [ As in, he isn't just holding her hand because of the whole "moonlacing" thing, helping the world and somehow padding his new bank account(?) or not. It'd be disrespectful!! To her!! And both their feelings, because he did it to make her feel better!!

And so she'd feel a little less alone. ]

Even if it has that's also something it does I hate the idea of that being the main reason...! It's demeaning!!

[ BYPRODUCTS SHOULD BE BYPRODUCTS NO MATTER HOW BENEFICIAL AND NOT THE MAIN INTENT ITSELF but she should really interrupt him before he just keeps digging his grave deeper... ]

Edited 2020-01-12 07:57 (UTC)

[The feeling will grow stronger once he reciprocates by flexing his fingers in a comforting gesture. Her green eyes will be on their held hands. It was fascinating to notice such a simple gesture, she felt better. Holding Livi's hand wasn't something she always reached for nor being affectionate with him unless she was terrified. If anything he was the one who always initiated it. So it was surreal to find that she had initiated and hasn't stopped since she met this boy.

Hmm. Her attention will be towards the sky above them, only to find she can feel it's different compared to her own -- there was more hint of magic. Could it be whatever they were producing by touching was being returned? Hm. She wanted to turn her attention towards the ground but Allen begins to stammer and move his hands in an odd way.

HUH? DID SHE MISS SOMETHING?

She'll continue to listen to him. Why did he look so flustered? Demeaning? WHAT DOES HE MEAN? Nike will use her free hand to, well, basically place a finger over his lips to silently instruct him to be quiet and relax.]

What do you mean by any of that? [It was all asked in a curious but slightly suspicious tone.] If this is about protecting yourself, don't. You're making yourself more suspicious even when I know you have no ulterior motives. I trust you. Never once did you do anything demeaning to me. [If anything...] The one who should be saying everything you just said should be me. I mean, I forced everything on you. [Her feelings, her touches, and her confusion. It was all unfairly dumped on him and still was!!!!]

And besides, what's wrong about helping a world? Protecting it...? Aren't we doing a good thing by getting along? [Well, she does admit.] I'm not usually the type to do this sort of thing. Touching. Being physically affectionate. Especially to a stranger. And even then I was never like this with my own fiance. [Which goes to show just how she isn't the type to be like this at all.] But if it helps this world, I'm willing to do it. As long as it helps.

[ ... dumbfounded. He is absolutely dumbfounded.

Also shushed, for once in his life. He shut up immediately the moment the moment she put her finger against his lips, eyes fluttering wide in — not comic alarm, actually. Surprise, but he's also more sobered by the gesture and suddenly paying a lot more attention than that. ]

...There isn't anything wrong with it. [ At all. And as far as battles to save the world, he'd rather this sort of "fighting" than one that destroys lives. For sure.

Softer and calmer that he sounds though, he's also a touch hesitant. This is not a comfortable sort of conversation to have with anyone, let alone with a girl who's still holding his hand. It's not that he's really thinks twice or thinks there's anything wrong in the act of taking someone's hand? He's a prude(ish ... it's hit and miss) but not that sort of a prude. At all, if he's that comfortable around someone or he wants to reassure them he will freely do it without a moment of being self-conscious. It's when it's the idea of talking about it or putting it on display as a Big Deal that he gets uncomfortable. ]

Not at all. It's admirable. [ Even if to Allen it's always less about saving the world, and more about saving the person who's right in front of him. One after another after another. ] It's just—

[ He hesitates again, expression a bit cloudy (a bit sullen maybe, too) as he looks down at their hands. It's a bit easier that way. ]

To me, the most important thing in the world, the thing that binds us— it's the way people feel about each other. The bonds they have, telling someone "welcome home"... everything in the world happens because of that. Even the most terrible things, so often they happen because someone felt so deeply for someone that they grieve and can't let them go. [ The creation of an akuma. ] And expressing that, even if it's just by reaching out to someone to tell them "it's okay"—

[ Even if a little unsure still, he presses his thumb gently to her. A simple, light squeeze that's grounding. ]

...it's important. Just because of what it is. [ He breathes out finally. A final sort of sigh, like he's collected himself fully again, or shedding some invisible weight. And he smiles gently at her. Warmly, a beautiful sort of smile, but— ]

Edited 2020-01-12 18:51 (UTC)

[ ...There is something so inherently tragic in it, too. Wrought with perhaps some apology as well. ]

It's fine if it's something that helps the world. But if it's something that's just done just for that sake alone and nothing else, because we're told or pushed to do it, or because it's a bare necessity just to survive, not because it's something you want to say to another person— [ A pause, rephrasing. ] If it's without meaning...

[ if it's without feeling ]

...Then I think I'd hate that.

[ And he re-laces their hands. Squeezes gently, this time with more certainty. ]

That's all.

[ ............ although wait, did she say "fiance"? ]

Edited 2020-01-12 18:46 (UTC)

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2/2 I give you one twue noble dumbass

omg allen it is okay he has been good touching her

1/2 scream, PHRASING

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