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.

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[ Baxia has-? Mingjue's hand is half raised to his blade's hilt when he pauses and realization washes over him.

Xichen doesn't mean here. He means back home, they're home. He had mentioned strange things about time being warped between there and here, that they had come from their futures and past.

Mingjue's no fool. He knows he will die relatively young. It's just very different to hear about it. Especially when Xichen looked no older... He doesn't doubt Xichen's trustworthiness. This is just- Well. ]

That can't be.

[ Xichen just cups his hands in front of him and bows low. As you say, because he's. So lost, and tired, and his cheeks are getting wet but doesn't even notice.

Oh, how he wishes that it were not.

When he straightens, he motions towards the low proper table with familiar low chairs, because he's managed to procure them this much, as well as the couch.

He doesn't speak, simply because, if nothing else, da ge probably needs to process. ]

[ Above anything else, it's the tears that make this real. Xichen's always been a soft man, but Mingjue's never seen him shed a tear. Xichen was strong, wise, but allowed his heart to be left open too easily.

So, yes... The tears make this real.

He watches dumbly as Xichen motions to the table and, even then, stays still for a moment. Eventually, after a pause, he moves to sit down, eyes on the floor. What about the Sunshot Campaign? The Nie clan? Huaisang?

He glances up again, meeting Xichen's eyes. ]

How?

The... the expected.

[ In an unexpected, cruel way. Xichen can't help settling next to him as he reaches for the now lukewarm water to pour out for both of them. The tea, he remembers, had made da ge unhappy earlier. So water will be fine. ]

Not for years yet, if we are just beginning the campaign. It has still been... years since then, for me. I am sorry. And for... worrying you, earlier.

[ So, so sorry. He wants to prostrate himself before this man, but that...

It won't help, will it. ]

[ His eyes flick from the water to Xichen's hands to Xichen's face and back again. He's not terribly shocked to hear how he died either. Almost anyone could have guessed that outcome.

But how many years? How long after the Campaign's start? How long ago had it been for Xichen?

Mingjue was still wondering if maybe this could all be a lie but- No. No, not from this man. Not like this. It was just difficult... ]

Huaisang?

[ Xichen would never. He is withholding parts of the truth, but the first part is already so much.

He takes a deep breath, and nods. ]

He has had support when he's needed it, though I think him more capable than one would have expected. He... loves you very much. And while he may be different, he really, truly does not want to let you down. Not before it happened. And not after.

[ Mingjue gives a slow nod, gaze looking through the table intently. Though he knew to be more concerned about the state of his brother, knowing that the clan is still well puts him at equal ease. While not a warrior, his brother is wise. ]

He's wise. He'll make a fine clan leader.

[ But he wishes it weren't so soon... Again, to be expected.

His sharp eyes look back up to Xichen, a question just there, but then he looks away. ] One should not know too much of their own future... Just tell me you and yours are well.

[ Xichen blinks slightly, disoriented. Wangji doesn't actually ask. Huaisang... understands, even when he doesn't know. Song Daozhang, both of them, have also more taken in his current state and found ways to ease him, especially one of them.

Beitang Moran has had some pointed questions, but that was partly the politeness of near-strangers, punctuated by sharp mind and genuine kindness.

But this, this man's concern. Nie Mingjue was never not honest, never not direct. His words, they are meant. It's hard to swallow past the lump in his throat, all of a sudden. ]

It... it was difficult for Wangji for many years. There are two of them here. One has seen that to the end; the other has not yet done so, and this place causes him pain while offering relief at the same time. Me... before coming here, something... unpleasant happened. I'm afraid I'm still trying to recover from it.

But I will be all right.

[ Even though Da Ge's presence here is shaking him so badly now... it means that maybe he will be, a little. ]

I will try to avoid telling you about the future, then. Though if you have questions, I will answer. And... it might mean I act strangely, sometimes.

[ Recovering. Acting strangely. Mingjue did not like all of this. Already, his curiosity was failing him. Though, he did see a loophole... ]

I want to know your future, what you've dealt with. If there are ways I can help, considering me at your disposal.

[ Of course. That goes without saying.

And maybe focusing on Xichen's situation will make him stop thinking of his own. ]

[ Xichen's breath rattles in his chest, and his fingers twitch, reaching out slightly, before he sits up, his arms coming up before cupping in front of him, and he extends the motion until he has bowed down to the floor, staying there. ]

They are connected, but ... I made a grave error in putting my trust in somebody who used my support to do... many wrong things. I don't know... I don't know if I'm worthy of your help.

[ Not anymore.

Welcome back, da ge, Lans still have no chill. ]

[ ~~Oh, the drama of the Lan clan.~~ ]

Xichen. [ He was letting this be at first, confused but respectful of whatever Xichen thought was necessary, but he can't ignore it too far. Mingjue's hands fall to his shoulders, gently urging him up. ]

It is not your fault if someone used you. You trust easily, I know, but your judge of character is often better than my own. Whatever happened, I doubt you are to blame.

[ ~~Did you not miss it, da ge...~~ ]

It... [ Xichen swallows, looking up as he does rise, but doesn't try to shrug the hands on his shoulders, his own hands coming up to wrap around the strong arms. Instead, his eyes search over the (now younger) other man's face for a long moment before he takes in a shaky breath.

There are two people whom he can't doubt the meaning of. One of them is Wangji, because Wangji doesn't bother lying unless someone - one particular person - needs it of him, and Xichen can tell those situations.

And the other is this man here. His words push Xichen's thoughts away from their abysmal whirlpool, and for the first time in a good while he considers the situation clearly, under those sharp (beloved) eyes. ]

It... I cannot say if it is often better. But one time, your judgment was right and mine was wrong. It just... had very grave consequences, and I did not find out until much too late. So now I can't mend it, and I have been... stuck with the knowledge of how bad it got.

Do you... really think it would not be my fault?

[ Failing to prevent destruction was a failure, Mingjue knew, but not enough to scorn someone over. In Xichen's case, he knows it wasn't out of intention or uncaring. He would have tried to do something if he had known.

He does give Xichen's concerns the respect of thought but he doesn't consider the situation for very long at all before shaking his head. ]

Your blame is misplaced. I'm sorry this has happened to you, that someone took advantage of your kindness- [ And the truth must have been revealed after his own death or this perpetrator would have easily been struck down with Baxia with hardly a second thought. ] -but that does not mean you're guilty of their crimes. I know that if you had known, it would have been different. Whatever happened isn't your fault.

[ At the same time, he can't help but see it as a good thing that Xichen has taken it so hard. It's truly the mark of a good man. Though, Mingjue would rather he not take it this hard... ]

[ Xichen shudders as those words land squarely in his chest, burning away a large portion of the ice that has collected there over the recent weeks. Not everything. He's drunk from the bitter cup of having made mistakes too deeply for all of it to melt.

But he still... breathes more easily, his eyes - which do not waver from Nie Mingjue's - slowly become less haunted. Still vulnerable and open, and very, very exhausted, but lest haunted. ]

Thank you. Thank you.

[ It's more breathless than loud, but the trust that's always been there is shining bright and clear. ]

I... after the Sunshot Campaign, we became sworn brothers. You, and me, and one other. Would you mind if I were to still call you da ge?

[ Everything Xichen says just makes him worry more. Especially the question. Why would he mind?

There's an answer, a guess at least, right on his periphery. Mingjue refuses to reach out and grab it.

Instead, he reaches over in a way that's not usual for him, his hands falling just above his friend's elbows. ]

Xichen... Of course not, get a hold of yourself. I would never blame for something such as this. We have always-... [ Been brothers...? He tries again, firm and sure. ] We have always been family.

Yes.

[ Immediate. This part is easy. And, for the first time since arriving here - other than under the influence of things that affect moods - so is Xichen's smile.

He leans, just a little, against the hold of those hands, his eyes calmer now. He will probably give more information, eventually. He doesn't want to hide, but he understands not wanting to know too much about the future. But also...

Da ge is here. Da ge is alive, and the world is suddenly right again. And Xichen will do his utmost best to keep it right. ]

I am very happy to see you again. [ And this is normal, this is as always. In fact, Xichen sounds more and more like himself by the moment. ] It... how much of what they told you before coming to the city would you like to ask about, da ge? I have been here long enough that I can probably help.

[ Mingjue offers an almost smile, something small but kind and real. His grip trails away from Xichen's arms, but he also doesn't move very far away, if it all.

Touch was weird here, as was everything else. He didn't want to... assume things he shouldn't. Because this whole place was making him weird, too. Perhaps it was all a dream. That'd make more sense. ]

I am very glad to see you... though, I've no idea where to begin. Everything here is- Well. Everything is strange to me. When they fed me the explanation, I didn't believe them, but after being amongst the people, I can't see any other explanation.

[ Except that it's a dream, but he's not going to tell dream!Xichen that. ]

They did mention that... we could change... [ He almost says that Xichen seems exactly the same, but that's not true. Though, Mingjue's pretty sure it's not this place that has caused those changes in him. ]

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