prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .014

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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.

▶ Welcome to the Jungle
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.

▶ Rock Your Body Right
Lunatia | top

Oh my god, they're back again. After taking more than a year-long hiatus, *BTSB (Backstay Sailor Boys) takes the planet by storm once more with their latest single, Anybody (Yeah). With an album out and a concert on the way, the five-man fox Prismal group from Amegahara has been busy with promotions. Their appearances on billboard ads, magazines, TV shows, et cetera make their worldwide handsome faces pretty hard to miss! Everyone and their pet robot in Lunatia can be found jamming to their songs, and every teenager on the street can tell you who their bias is and why.

B Be a part of *BTSB's Prismagram campaign and get a chance to win a physical copy of their album and backstage passes to their upcoming concert! Simply take a picture of you and your friends with official merchandise and post it on Prismagram with the hashtag #WeAreBTSB. Be careful, though: touching *BTSB merchandise tends to make people crush on the first face they see. The posts with the best pictures and stories will get their prizes in the mail on the 24th.

Why would a Moonblessed want to meet them, you ask? Community spirit! A sizable portion of the locals will start singing or dancing with you and your friends! “I want it another way. Tell me why? I never want to hear you say, I wish it wasn't that way. Don't be that way!” Play along and they’ll be willing to pardon your unpaid meal tab for one time or offer an incredible discount for one item you really wanted at the mall. The boys are also considered talented magic users in their own right. They might have some spells and magic tools to add to a Moonblessed's arsenal!

▶ What’s the Deal With This Pop Life?
Lunatia | top

Before you meet these foxy boys, you'll want to do your research on them. Thankfully, their ridiculously huge fanbase (who refer to themselves as NAVY) has already done the work for you.

Suzaku is the leader and the brains of the group. Both his witty, rapid-fire raps and lightning-fast spinning breakdances are known throughout the planet. He is also a newscaster and likes making informative but interesting Prismagram posts. His brother is also an idol, albeit a washed up one-hit wonder.

Kaya is the group's down-to-earth mom friend and soulful vocals. He is the most responsible of the boys and handles their meals and laundry. A former delinquent in his youth, he now spends his free time cooking for schoolchildren and advocating fox rights. He does not support fox pelt products and owns an animal shelter for strays.

Lecter is a dancer who oozes with sex appeal. If not in the studio, he is always hitting up the gym. Once a member of the Little Moonblessings Club in his childhood, he has grown out of his boy-next-door image. Currently, he is #2 on Prismal Magazine's Top 100 Sexiest Men Alive for his well-built frame and photogenic looks. Contrary to his cool appearance and reserved demeanor, he is surprisingly personable. He is also a prolific actor. He likes cats.

Tarn is the baby of the group who maintains a gaming channel. He often does spontaneous livestreams where he does Let’s Play sessions, live Q&As, and encourages people to make memes of his face. He jokes about playing more LmaO than going to practice but he’s got clear and strong vocals.

Rasha is a narcissistic man who can’t get enough of his fans and himself. When hanging around his fans, he tends to ask if they have a mirror to look at himself with. Don’t let his vanity fool you! He’s funny, incredibly easy to be with, and willing to treat people to drinks. He writes most of the lyrics for the group’s songs.

C Every hour, you will receive a text from the official *BTSB fanclub with a link to a poll. The texts will not stop unless you answer the poll. Please answer it ICly, as the answers will affect the event later this month!

Upon voting on the poll, you will be redirected to a video and text chatroom where you will be connected to a random stranger who has also answered the poll. Both you and the stranger will then need to answer the following questions:

Do you think the other person in this chatroom can be your fire? One of your many desires? Tell me why. Be honest.
Among the Moonblessed, who do you think is tasty? The tastiest?

Until both questions are answered truthfully, it will be impossible to switch apps, close the app, or delete it entirely.

▶ Questions

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

WHO CAN POST? ▶ Test drive memes are for new characters only. Existing players may not post starter threads in the test drime meme. 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.!

IS THIS CANON? ▶ 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.

PRISMAGRAM CAMPAIGN - The mods will not will not be picking any winners for this contest OOCly. Feel free to assume your character/s won (or lost terribly).

PLAY ALONG - The gifts you can earn from playing along with the locals, as mentioned, includes free meals or drinks, a good discount for a high-end shirt, and so on. Feel free to come up with your own prizes OOCly this as long as it’s reasonable. You may not have won the lottery, but you could get a small token of appreciation!

NEW SPELLS AND MAGIC TOOLS - Details of these will be released in the next event!

POLL - Please answer the poll ICly, as the answers will affect the event later this month!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He squints at this stranger from the door way. That was... rude. But he understands that reaction completely, honestly. It's very plausible that this person is as shy as he is. It might help if he stops obscuring himself? Poe slides out from his hiding yet respectfully remains in the doorway.]

I was just passing by. ["Do you regularly react so suspiciously to other people?" Poe very nearly shoots back in response. But it comes out as a mumble before dying halfway through.]

...It would be a lot simpler that way, wouldn't it? But that isn't how things usually work here.

[A pause. Like he doesn't actually want to offer but he's here now.]

I could show you how to fix all this, if you'd like.

...I see.

[ He supposes he was talking to himself. After the manor, he should be getting used to being around people who actually notice, even if it's still a foreign concept. Andrew's gaze slips from the machine to moreso fully focus on the individual now standing fully in his doorway, features still blurred but at least more recognizable. ]

Must everything work like this? All these...devices, and lights are too excessive. Aggravating, even.

[ Then again, a lot of things are excessive to a man who lived in a graveyard half his life.

He hesitates at the offer, but now that he takes a squint around the room, it does look...somewhat ridiculous. Ugh. Andrew takes in a breath, brows pinching before he turns to face the older man, adjusting himself to full height. ]

I can handle machines to a certain extent but this is.... [ Too advanced. He hated decoding ciphers, and he certainly hates these things now. Still, he can't just ignore their existence, it seems. ] If you don't mind the effort. I'd rather attempt to grasp the basics so as to not be a nuisance to everyone else.

[Unbeknownst to a gravekeeper the detective in his doorway is forming some deductive assumptions based on their short interaction so far. For fun, really. Even if the pensive look is somewhat obscured by his mop hair.]

[This person is curiously inept at technology and it's obvious - no thinking required. It's been stated outright by the man himself. The general lack of pigmentation and sensitivity to light is just as straightforward to connect. Other conclusions will have to wait. Sounds like his reluctant offer has been accepted just as reluctantly and now Poe has to act on it.]

Well, at any rate there should be a proper manual for all the people that keep showing up every month.

[As shy as he is: once Poe gets permission to intrude he does it without apology. After striding across the distance he looms a person's distance away. Following a cursory look around Andrew he points at the interface. That shift in body language didn't go unnoticed.]

Before anything else you'll want to reset it to the default. Do you see that button in the upper right corner?

[ There's a feeling tickling the back of his neck, an uncomfortable itch he's all too familiar with. While he can't be 100% sure the other is looking at him like that, he has an idea. He knows the general consensus most people get after examining him, and it isn't pleasant.

Nevertheless, he purses his lips and says nothing as the other finally steps foot into the apartment itself. Coming to conclusions is the very thing he hates, so perhaps he should just keep it to himself. ]

A manual...? I haven't seen anything like that.

[ Then again, it's hard for him to see things if he isn't particularly looking for it.

Andrew follows the gesture and turns his attention back to the screen, having to hunch over again a little due to the height and his own pathetic eyesight. Button, button...the little square with the wrench...? ]

This? [ It gets pressed, and the blond cautiously examines the window that pops up. No pictures this time, just different lines of text. Very small, neat lines of text next to little buttons. And he thought reading the Postman's letters was difficult at times. Not that he'd mention it. ] T-This is...! How ridiculous! Why must all the text be so small and undecipherable?

[ Ugh. Focus. He has to do this properly, damn it. Just squint a little harder, he said default, didn't he? ] 'Restore default settings'...?

[As this newcomer figures out how it all works he keeps his expression neutral. It's a situation that calls for patience that's for sure. Luckily, that is a strong suit for Poe.]

It's the one with- yes, that one. [He interjects. This fellow sure likes to voice his complaints, doesn't he? Poe can't fault him for it. It even fits the gothic aesthetic he's got going to an almost endearing extent. The corner of his mouth quirks up for the first time. Hopefully it leans more towards friendly. He's still a bit out of practice in casually interacting with people.]

I believe that most of these devices give you the option to increase text size actually. That'll be in the same menu, that is- the settings- but under "display." Two down.

[But before giving the other man an opportunity to switch focus Poe interrupts.]

Oh, but, one task at a time is probably for the best. Yes, 'Restore default settings' is what you need.

[ He's yet to hear any complaints, and he's admittedly glad-- he already knows fully well he's near-completely technologically inept, and the less he inconveniences others the better. Which is why he'd rather not work with them except when necessary, which around here is going to be nearly all the time.

...Unfortunate. ]

I-I see...I wasn't aware that was possible. [ There really is something for everything, which is admittedly a little too confusing for his tastes. Too much to remember. Andrew moves to click the temping little settings button before he promptly gets interrupted. And maybe a bit startled. ]

Oh, uh...of course. [ Right, he should be doing that before he gets off track. Fortunate the man has a lot of patience for someone like him, even if it's not quite as saintly as Miss Adam's. He does as he's told like the good little Christian boy he is, and the mismatched abomination he'd turned the living room into is quickly and fortunately returned to a semi-decent state. The curtains shift to a neutral color instead of the gaudy shade they'd been, and tables are actually where they should be instead of...not. Huh. ]

That is...much better, I must admit.

[ Note to self: make furniture shopping extremely infrequent. ]

[The furniture rights itself as is intended and Poe sighs gratefully. There have been months where the apartment units intended for new Moonblessed had "gifts." It's a relief that isn't the case here. Best not to bring it up given how overwhelmed this guy seems to be. A warning in the future, perhaps? If they ever cross paths again after this.]

I thought that it might!
[The raccoon companion that's been content enough to rest upon Poe's shoulders takes interest in the stranger his human is talking to. Since they're close enough the creature takes to using the detective's head to lean towards Andrew and sniff at him noisily.]

[Seems like it may be a daily occurrence considering Poe just ignores it happening.]

Is there anything else? I'm sure that you haven't had the time to look into everything around here yet- but...

[ Andrew takes another moment to examine the righted furniture before removing his hands from the machine completely, taking a step back. That's enough of that accursed thing for today, he thinks. Just looking at the bright screen and tiny letters is enough to give him a headache. ]

I...suppose I owe you a thank you for your help. [ He may come off a bit ~~sometimes a lot~~ rude, but he isn't entirely ungrateful. He's just not good at expressing it. He wrings black gloved hands for a moment, blinking slightly at the odd noise of the....raccoon? That the other seems to have with him.

An odd choice of pet. Well, he's seen weirder things, at least. He's just gonna let it do it's thing and not question it...right now.

Maybe later. ]

If there's anything I can't avoid using, I suppose. There's that damn device they gave me and told me to keep, but it wouldn't stop making noise, so I shoved it in a drawer.

[ ...So what if he didn't know how to turn it off? Mind your business. ]

There's really no need!

[Poe insists hastily. The hand wringing motion catches his attention easily enough. What an easy to read person he's come across. That's just as well. It's always been easier to get along with similarly introverted people. Oh, poor Miss Alcott...]

Oh... Actually, yes. That is something you may want to use occasionally. Not really for the social aspect but, well, [He sighs, deeply, mid-sentence.] ...Stressful things tend to happen. Especially recently. That device is the way to see what rescue efforts are going out and how everyone is handling it?

...If you say so.

[ Well, he's not going to go out of his way to insist at the moment, even if he does feel he should pay him back. Maybe in the future when he gathers his bearings.

Needless to say, the information clearly isn't what he wanted to hear. Both parts of it. He casts a nervous glance towards said drawer where the accursed device sits, like it's mocking him from across the room.

Bastard. ]

Stressful? [ God, hasn't he put up with enough stress already? ] W-What sort of...stress are you referring to? I've dealt with my fair share already....

[ Relief efforts don't sound the least bit pleasant. He'd only just adjusted to the manor, is it so much to ask that he get some sort of break? Just a small one? ]

Alright, well, I... I have to preface this first by saying that this will all sound very implausible!
But during my time here the most extreme things have been a mass blinding for those who looked at a being not unlike a seraph...

[Naturally, from underneath that heavy fringe his eyes flicker over to that rosary necklace. He's...uh... going to gloss over that quickly. Already in narration mode.]

And a flood brought on by a sentient museum statute. That was last month so I would avoid Level 3 for now if I were you... Since it caused some anti-Moonblessed sentiments among some of the native population ...But most of the time whatever happens is inconvenient and avoidable. Like antlers that compel you to be... affectionate.

[There's a tiny bit of a miserable flush over that last one for an unidentified reason that will remain unidentified for pride's sake.]

[ All in all, he doesn't know he's expecting by 'implausible'. Considering he'd already seen a lot of things he'd already consider implausible, what could possibly top the things he'd already seen?

...A seraph, however...he doesn't have time to comment to himself considering the hurry the other seems to be in, but that one sticks with him. Some part of him wanders to the Herald, and a thumb glosses over the wooden cross hanging over his throat. ]

I...see. [ He's not entirely sure what's worse here. It all sounds undesirable as far as he's concerned. ] I suppose I'll keep that in mind. If it can be avoided, I'd rather not deal with it.

[ But, uh. That last part. Hold up, rewind a little bit. ]

Y-You make it sound like the latter is common.

[ Affection is...not his strong point. Please say no. Sike? Anything? ]

[Tragically, he can't say sike. But witnessing that more poignant reaction to the idea of commonplace affection was both surprising and also painfully relatable.]

[Poe crosses his arms over his chest and slumps. This is exhausting???]

Common? I'd say that it's overwhelming if you were not inclined to it before arriving. There are objects that encourage it and then there's... well, you've likely gotten the explanation on the moons already.

[Because he'd frankly rather die than talk about the moon"blessings" with a stranger. Even if the person is relatable.]

[ Well, would you be used to being physically open with people if you spend almost your entire life indoors? I think not. Just the thought makes the albino pull at his gloves in a fit of nervousness.

If he thinks this is exhausting, he's more than welcome to jump from the Manor from here without rest like Andrew did. Be his guest. ]

Inclined...? Encouraged? This is some sort of...awful joke... [ He already knew about the moonlacing thing, but this? This was just another level of fuck no. ] I-I have no desire in participate in any of this! So why...

[ Considering how this has flustered him, congratulations! You're both on the same page. He would now rather die. ]

[No, but he did drop every interpersonal relationships he'd had for a 6 year period and still is very shy. So he has some sympathy. Which is exactly why he hasn't left by now and is even going as far as to try giving advice...! No mysterious murder manor required.]

...I wish that it were just an awful joke...

[He fiddles with the silly little ascot tie that he has. Meanwhile, Karl the raccoon, seemingly has decided that he's seen enough of all this and hops down to go wandering.]

It may help you to find someone who you can tolerate h-holding hands with, at the very least. Ideally that would be someone that you can trust.
...Trying to ignore it will make it worse in the long run.

[It's said with such a grave tone. LEARN FROM HIS MISTAKES.]

[ ...Alright, you know what? That's pretty fair. Can't argue with that one.

Let the raccoon wander. He has worse things to worry about. Like the fact not only if he forced to touch other people to keep a stable income, but now it might even push him to be more...open. Something he'd not good at being, and something he would definitely rather not be with strangers. His fingers twitch. ]

S-So, there's nothing you can do about it. [ So the moons are basically telling him to go fuck himself. Great. ] Are you...suggesting I find a partner for this sort of thing?

[ Someone he can tolerate? He supposes that's a handful of people, but even so, asking for such a thing still doesn't feel right. He sucks in a breath through his nose, looking like he'd swallowed something foul. ]

I don't see how it could get damn worse, but I don't plan on finding out if it can. I-If that's what I have to do...

[ But he doesn't have to like it! ]

I suppose that I am suggesting that. The intensity seems to vary person to person- but many get by on platonic touch alone. Regardless, I'm sure that no matter what I tell you it will seem unconscionable.

[All the warning and advice in the world could be given and it still wouldn't prepare this man for the discomfort he's going to go through. That much is very obvious. That's like, that's rough buddy.]

If it weren't already obvious- I'm not a fan of this system either...

[Poe shifts in his discomfort. This awkward exchange has gone longer than he anticipated it would. It's nearly impressive. Of course, there's also the cold sweat he breaks out into as he weighs his next suggestion.]

...It seems that I live a couple of doors down from you. If you have further trouble with the technology here I can offer some assistance...?

[Hopefully that's tactful enough. He won't be answering any knocks at his door during the moon phases so This Is Fine??]

If it's possible to get by like that...

[ Rather, he can't really fathom the idea of anything but platonic touch at the moment. He'd certainly combust, or explode, maybe a combination of the two if we're feeling really spicy. Money is nice, he'll admit that, but...

If only people wasn't his downfall. ]

I can see that. [ He doesn't mean to be rude, but really, it's pretty obvious. For the both of them. Life is suffering.

On that note, Edgar isn't the only one breaking into a cold sweat at the suggestion. Andrew would rather not have to ask for help period, but it seems he's not going to have a choice. Fantastic. At this point he'd almost rather go back to getting shanked outside a haunted house.. ]

Ah...o-of course. [ That smile is...really awkward. Like he's unused to smiling at people. ] I'll remember that if...something happens.

[ The start of a beautiful, awkward acquaintanceship. ]

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▶ TDM .014

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