prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .015

Entry tags:

CW: Contains potential body horror in Prompt D.

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.

▶ My Anaconda Don’t-
Inari Highway, Amegahara | top

As promised by Lord Bairen, the leader of Amegahara, the route between the cities of Amegahara and Lunatia has been completed. The Inari Highway will improve both travel time and security, letting the Moon Knights deal with any potential threats in a more efficient manner. With the Oracles of the Sinless having cropped up a second time last month, the timing of its completion couldn’t have been more perfect.

Shortly after the Inari Highway’s opening, the Moonblessed are invited to come. Using the highway, attending Moonblessed can quickly and securely traverse the Nothing to personally witness the impact of their Chroma through their stay so far on Prismatica.

Upon entering the glass tunnels of Inari Highway, the glass first displays images of the Nothing before the Moonblessed’s arrival. It was entirely bereft of any life, and only gigantic monsters roamed the barren land. Then the images on the glass walls vanish to reveal the sudden miraculous growth of plant life, astonishing the entire planet.

Scientists at Amegahara have been hard at work testing the Nothing’s capacity to support life. They have determined that a constant and heavy flow of Chroma is required to maintain the baby ecosystem in the Nothing. Otherwise, the existing plant and animal life will die before reaching full growth. The Moonblessed are encouraged to support this endeavor.

B At the greenhouses across Inari Highway, you will find multiple rows of wildflower sprouts and small trees planted near solar panels. In order to help them grow quicker, veteran Moonblessed already know what to do. And if they don’t, Prismals have stitched together some floral “Get Along” t-shirts for this very purpose. These shirts can fit up to two people inside them, making moonlacing practically unavoidable. Everyone will be rewarded trying these out, as the shirts have a built-in feature that amplifies the release of Chroma.

Other activities that can be performed to aid the plants include measuring chemical quantities in the soil, trimming dying leaves and petals, pulling weeds, chasing away bugs, and watering the plants using the Anaconda 5000.

The Anaconda 5000 was created with the same state-of-the-art technology as everyone’s favorite Raging Hydra 5000. This thick and heavy talking snakehead device requires a little love and tenderness to get it started. It will not be shy in giving instructions. The user must vigorously caress its sides to make it spew water. The more firm and powerful the touch, the more water it will release everywhere. However, should you and your friends go overboard with your ministrations, the Anaconda 5000 will promptly explode and set off sprinklers, drenching everyone in the greenhouse, which is bad news for them unless they want a wet t-shirt party.

▶ Beez in the Trap
Amegahara and Lunatia | top

With all the new flowers blooming at the edge of the Nothing, pollen is in the air, attracting a rare type of insect known as the Viscosus Bee. Huge honeycombs will start appearing around both Amegahara and Lunatia, their size and numbers growing rapidly by the hour. The cities will be abuzz about these bees — literally!

A public advisory by the Lunar Scientiae appears: please exercise extreme caution when walking by open spaces, especially around parks, farms, gardens, and anywhere else that has flowers. Better check that nice bouquet of yours before giving it to someone. Chances are that you’ll meet the bees right in their trap!

C Lots of bees means lots of honey. Giant globules of the sticky stuff drip and fall on innocent bystanders, practically gluing them together. Unbeknownst to many, the Viscosus Bee is known for producing the stickiest kind of honey across the galaxy. It will take more than nail polish remover to pry yourselves off each other! Thankfully, there is a special type of lubricant that can help those who are trapped — one that local news stations will tell you repeatedly to stock up on. Local pleasure emporiums will be selling this “Slippery When Wet” brand of lubricant at an affordable price. What you lose in dignity purchasing it, you gain in helping yourself and maybe a new friend.

▶ Flower Power
Amegahara and Lunatia | top

As the weeks pass, you may notice some strange gradient discoloration on the tips of your fingers, and your veins (or wires) have gradually turned green. It’s certainly a peculiar affliction. Even stranger, a light touch like simply brushing against another’s shoulder will discolor parts of their body as well.

All becomes clear when three moons finally appear: everyone affected will not transform according to their usual Moonblessing. Instead, you find vines and leaves growing along your body. Flowers sprout from open cuts, between your lips, out of your eyes, through any available orifice on your body, or in place of certain limbs. You are not too different from a walking plant.

D Your emotions towards others will also cause certain flowers to spontaneously burst out of you as soon as you exchange words with them. What do these flowers mean? Well, if you ask the Amegaharans nicely, they may give you a few guides to let you know, or you can check your local library.

Otherwise, you will be left to try and guess on your own as your body slowly germinates itself in front of others. This effect will naturally wear off once the three moons disappear.

Scientists at Amegahara will later postulate that the phenomenon originated from some of the intense cross-breeding of the plants in their greenhouses, which had released unconventional spores that had attached themselves to the Moonblessed and spread about.

However, they will assure you it’s nothing to be alarmed about. Just another hiccup in the name of science! The effects will be completely gone soon.

▶ 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.

DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE? ▶ As always, all content is optional. You do not have to be affected by any of the prompts if you wish to opt out.

AMEGAHARA ▶ With the opening of Inari Highway, the city may now be permanently accessed. You may travel freely between Lunatia and Amegahara anytime. Refer to this announcement for more details.

FLOWER POWER ▶ As always, the severity of effect is up to you. You may choose to have minor effects and only have one flower grow on any desired body part.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{Done nothing wrong? Let him count the ways in which his life has been altered! Surely they outnumber his years!}

Speak again? {The end of the war...} Which war do you speak of, cursed bard?

{The Elves are Sailing. Thranduil can practically see the water and the ships. When things become tiresome, he longs for those shores.}

The Enemy is dead?

{For no other outcome could herald their return home. His lips twitch and a fist tightens at his side.}

So you can entrance me?

[ Not here! He's perfectly innocent here! Back home there are too many crimes to stain his hands.

Maglor blinks and gives the other elf a curious stare. Waiting, a little confused and maybe even concerned. Thranduil comes to the correct conclusion before he decides what to say. ]

The One Ring was dropped into the volcano from whence it came. The last of Sauron was blown away, to the Void to join his foul master.

[ A corner of his lips lifts. ]

I speak and music answers. It is who I am. Would you have me be silent out of fear of my power?

{The truth never rested easy on Thranduil's shoulders. There are things he shuts out of his gaze and mind purposefully. Of course a great deal of it can be excused to one degree or another - and mostly thanks to Maglor and his kin. He stands at his full height, his crown giving him more inches still, his gaze stormy.}

If I am to believe you - which I am unwilling to do - peace has come at last to Middle Earth?

{To accept such a notion is difficult. There is anger and bitterness and pain inside of him and none of it feels peaceful.}

Yes. {He snaps and looms closer.} You are not worthy of any music.

[ So fearsome! So handsome! Maglor has accepted his role in the pain and suffering of those on Arda. But he also is tired and old enough and has been alone long enough that he's found his ground. Amusement settles over him instead. ]

You do not wish to believe me. But, since you ask, I will answer and confirm that peace has settled over Middle Earth until the End of Days.

[ But for all his levity, his eyes are serious.

And then the last words hit and he snorts quietly. ]

Then it is a good thing you are not my king, for I will not obey.

Do not show me mercy. {There is a waspish edge to those words - a sting that would injure a lesser being. He knows Maglor will scarcely react to the blow and it will be forgotten within a few moments time.}

How is it that so many have died and yet you...Fëanorian...see the End of Days?

{Is it fair? Hardly. He strikes Maglor again - this time with the back of his hand.}

And I thought Dwarves were shameless!

[ It doesn't even sting, sorry Thranduil. Maglor barely seems to even notice the intent behind them. ]

Refusal to bend. Luck. The desire of the Valar to watch me stumble alone through the centuries. Stubbornness not to fall, lest my family be eternally damned to darkness.

Take - [ the slap stops him from finishing the barb, but he'd half expected something like it. His head rolls with the strike, not bothering to defend himself. He slowly turns his head back, hand not moving to touch the reddening skin. ]

Be careful with yourself. I would hate to have to explain you breaking your hand on my face to the healers.

Then do so. Stumble and call for aid in your melodious voice. None will come.

{It is strange how he can phrase a compliment with such venom. He narrows his eyes, waiting for Maglor to react to his slap. All he need do is draw his sword and sever the arm that threatens him. He would do so gladly.

However he is denied that opportunity. For the moment. Instead he raises his hand before his face, observing his fingers for signs of injury.}

Nothing is broken. I am not frail nor have the evils of our world consumed the core of me.

Has your life not humbled you?

I have.

[ Sharp and then...nothing. He could grin at the compliment, but does it really matter in the sea of threat and pain being lashed at him?

Maglor focuses on the hand that had struck him, not reaching out to touch, but looking as best he can. ]

Good. No kin of Oropher should crumble so lightly. And you, from what I have seen and heard, have done much more than he. [ Mostly because Oropher's life had been cut short but shhhh ]

...Would signs of humility help you? Would you rather see me break under the force of what I have experienced, to the point of being helpless and needing every little thing done for me?

{He bristles at the mention of his father; that is a tender subject. But he has learned to restrain himself when speaking to a foe. Besides, the plants around them are withering, and at least Maglor is an Elf.}

I do not wish to hear his name on your tongue. {For Oropher's life was cut too short and he left behind a broken boy.} I rule and I fight so that he might rest easy.

{The urge to strike again rises in his chest, constricting his throat, but again: the plants are dying. Closing his eyes, he does the unthinkable: he links their hands together.

Both of them. Palm to palm and fingers clasped.}

[ Their fathers are rather testy subjects, aren't they?

Maglor finally nods. Only to startle at the sudden touch, palms meeting and fingers curled around each other. He flinches, just noticeable, but seeing the plants around them still, then slowly improve has his breath catch. ]

...So 'tis true, what they say. Physical touch provides energy.

[ He's not a wood elf like Thranduil. His people have always loved cities and stone. But he's lived more than long enough in the woods to know them almost as well, for his heart to ache at the poor state of the plants around them. ]

{Unfortunately yes. Oropher died too soon and Fëanor too late. Or so that is Thranduil's opinion anyway.

He too is disturbed by the touch, by the scars he feels against his palms. They were likely caused by the Silmaril - or a Silmaril, rather. For Light to reject an Elf, that Elf has fallen far.

But he too bears scars. Without his glamor, he looks like one who should be dead. Maglor does not.}

I desire them to flourish; I have not suddenly developed fond feelings for you.

[ They could have been great together, if not for Certain Tempers.

Maglor has far fewer physical scars than say, Maedhros, or Thranduil himself. But he feels them every day. Remembers the searing pain of how he'd received them. Of why. Of what he'd lost.

The fact Thranduil willingly grabbed his hands, even for a good cause, has him uneasy and surprised. But the words have him laugh. ]

Nor I for you.

[ Thranduil, who may as well have shunned his fosterling after years of friendship. ]

But I am done killing elves.

Finally I can rest! {He jokes coldly, his words followed by a bitter laugh.} If you have seen the end of the War and the Defeat of Sauron, I rejoice over both outcomes, however, for me, I am in the thick of it. My thoughts have rarely turned to you or your reckless kin.

{But his grip tightens - stubbornly - and he grits his teeth, bearing the torture.}

I cannot say the same.

[ His grin is all sharp teeth at the joke. ]

Would it ease your heart to know you and your son live through to see the end and beyond?

[ Maglor makes no move to try and break free of the tighter grip. ]

And see yourself locked away for a murder this world sees unjust? I thought it was my family who were reckless.

{He has known tamer beasts, Maglor. Goodness.}

Said by a Fëanorian.

{So. There is an obvious issue with him believing that, albeit comforting, tale.}

If it was in self-defense, they would be wrong for imprisoning me. But I would still go if it meant I returned some of the pain you caused.

I would not lie about the survival of a child. [ Quietly, softly spoken. ]

Ai... Lord Thranduil...But I have no intention of drawing blade on you.

And no centuries of imprisonment or pain could lighten what I have done. I know it. Nor can I continue life as nothing but a waif, when I can potentially do some good in the world.

So Elrond tried to tell me once. {What a load of - Yet now he wonders.} Was it true? About you rescuing him and his twin?

{He makes no comment. They both know he doesn't trust Maglor farther than he can throw him.}

What good will you do? All you touch turns to ash, Makalaurë.

[ Affection and - yes, love - settles over Maglor at the name. ] Elrond is too kind.

...We killed so many of those at Sirion. I saw those twins...I was so tired of it all. So yes. I stayed the blade that would have taken their lives. I took them in and kept them as safe as I could. I would call it kidnapping, though it never stopped my heart from seeing them as my own sons.

[ ...Well Thranduil could probably throw Maglor quite far, so is that really accurate? ]

Not all. Elrond has done much good, and I had a heavy hand in his raising. As with Elros. It is no fault of Elros' that his descendants listened and trusted the wrong people. And without him, Middle-Earth would not have the Dunedain, or Aragorn himself who helped lead the armies in the last battle against the Enemy.

[ As for immediate good? He casts a glance at the plants around them that are no longer quite so wilted, and raises a rather pointed brow at his companion. ]

...Maglor is the name I use. Makalaure is long dead.

{The change is unmistakable; he knows that love and something inside of him snarls. This Elf - this Elf - has felt that joy? What justice exists - ? And he had two sons. Though he had longed to give Legolas a sibling - and had tried fervently with his wife - nothing had come of it.

Yet Maglor, the son of Fëanor, had loved and raised two, beautiful, bright sons. His nails dig into the backs of Maglor's hands.}

I have done what was asked of me, I have followed the Valar and yet I lost my first home, my father, my mother and eventually my wife.

{He will not speak of how Legolas has deserted him too. At least that precious child is not dead!}

We seem even in our tragedies! How am I to believe in justice at all?

[ Thranduil can rage and hit him all he wants. Can scratch and slap and bite to his heart's content.

Maglor won't defend himself. He listens, expression going still and quiet. He won't speak of how he'd killed his own wife in a fit of utter madness. Thranduil doesn't deserve that knowledge. ]

Yes. You are a good ellon. Very dutiful. If the Valar cared, you would surely be rewarded.

[ Oh no. No bitterness there towards the Valar. Nope. ]

I know not why Osse or Ulmo chose to leave me alone despite walking their shores for centuries. Only that they never bothered to sweep me away, even in the fiercest of storms. [ He has sought death, though never desperate enough to fling himself to drowning. ]

{Biting is appealing, admittedly, as is clawing and scraping. Some deep part of him wants to hurt, but he fears where that will lead.}

You do not believe in the Light. {Those are sad words and he frees one of his hands to cup Maglor's jaw.} How can your eyes see only Shadow? They are too pale; too luminous.

{Does that speak of hope? He snorts at the idea and brushes his thumb roughly over Maglor's lips.}

Why kill you swiftly when they can watch you suffer? I sometimes think they do the same to me.

[ ...Well yes. Some distant, mostly buried part of him remembers how pleasant certain bites of teeth and nail can be.

But the abrupt sorrow in Thranduil's voice, in those words and how a hand moves to cup his face, all have him less sure footed than usual. Eyes a little wide as he stares at the other elf.

The thumb rough over his lips has a flush rise in his cheeks and he shies back, retreating one half-step. Two. ]

...What I believe does not matter. It has never mattered.

[ Then he snorts, a quick, quiet breath. ] It probably gives them entertainment. [ Bitter. ]

{Indulgence is part of his reign, but he usually does so with wine, beautiful gifts from the forest, precious gems and so forth. He has refrained from pleasures of the flesh since the death of his wife.

And that is how it should be in the eyes of the Valar.

The very same Valar who have thwarted him and abused him at every turn.

His eyes narrow and he stalks Maglor, intent on pinning him against a vine covered wall.}

I can think of better entertainment, Fëanorian. {For the plants, of course.}

[ Maglor hasn't even had that in centuries. Ages, even. But he feels that is for the best. All he's ever kept for himself has been his harp, and he uses his skill as a bard to pay his way through some inns or taverns when he is starved for company. But he never spends it with other elves, never ventures near enough other elves might happen upon him.

Step by step, away, back, and yet he can't shake Thranduil and he finds his back right up against a wall covered in life. He can't tear his eyes from the other elf, but it's of confusion and uncertainty rather than fear.

It's still only because he's literally backed into a corner that he stops retreating. Nevermind how his heart races in a way it hasn't in quite some time. ]

What form of entertainment did you have in mind?

{They are in a forest, he reasons, surrounded by green life. He sees no one and hears no one besides Maglor. With each step, he is closer to cornering him and then it happens. He has a brief moment of clarity - where he wonders if his sanity has finally snapped - and then he is pressing close to the other Elf, breathing kiss after kiss over his lips.

Is that answer enough? And his hands are hardly still! He curls his fingers against Maglor's back, bunching up the material.}

Guess.

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