prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .016

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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.

▶ How to Train Your Dragon 2: Electric Boogaloo
City of Lunatia and Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

As the weather grows warmer and the skies around Lunatia clear up, the toxic fog that once clogged up the airways is dissipating. This is great news: air travel has now become easier, safer, and more enjoyable. The recent increase of renewed flora and fauna must have led to these new developments.

While a clean atmosphere benefits Prismals and Moonblessed, it invites dangerous predators to lurk closer to the border. Fortunately, friendlier creatures also start to flock to the city, including familiar faces from the Lyestellus Kingdom. Indeed, the baby dragons once raised and nurtured by the Moonblessed have grown into the mighty, noble scaleborn they are.

The dragons’ giant shadows blanket the metropolis as they fly overhead for a friendly visit. One of them carries their sovereign, King Shiryn Lyei Drastellus XIII. In light of the Nothing’s recovery and the Inari Highway’s success, the king says that Lyestellus is inspired to further deepen their relationship with Lunatia. He announces that the kingdom has developed a construction plan for a skyway connecting Lunatia and the mountains of Drasomnis.

The Moonblessed are welcome to join their efforts. Lunatia and Lyestellus will be sponsoring a labor exchange program to ensure that everyone is well-rewarded and kept safe on their way to Lyestellus. The dragons will be flying and protecting Lunatian locals and any volunteering Moonblessed alike. But as there are only so many dragons, everyone is expected to share seats.

Several of the dragons are known to be excitable. As they’re looking forward to inviting the Moonblessed back to the kingdom, some overly eager dragons may snatch even the most reluctant person in their jaws to carry the whole way. And when we say excitable, they might destroy a wall of your humble abode to reach you as they are particularly good at sniffing out anything hidden. But how long can you resist their puppy eyes and wagging tails?

B In Lyestellus, one of the available jobs is to wrangle and care for small chicken-sized dragonlets that seem to be especially attracted to Sanguis Moonblessed. Their parents are away because of the skyway construction plan, so someone has to babysit them. These wily dragonlets love to run around in their coops, leaving rainbow-colored droppings everywhere, pulling at your hair or clothes, and cutely singing to try and coerce the Moonblessed into spoiling them rotten or helping them get away with mischievous behavior.

They are also attracted to Chroma and will be attaching themselves to Moonblessed. If they are too excited, they might bite onto their arms, mouth, neck, legs, nipples, and just about anywhere they can reach to drink their Chroma-infused blood. If you experience excess blood loss, you can recover it easily with moonlacing, but it’s best to avoid getting cornered and overpowered by too many dragonlets.

▶ Rise and Wine, It’s Wine o'Clock
Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

Several job openings are now available at Lyestellus’ wine distilleries. The kingdom is famous for its Dragonfang Wine, a luxurious drink pressed from the fragrant wildflowers and aged in barrels of wood found only on the mountaintops of Drasomnis. The wine itself is a vibrant violet with a rich scent the locals describe as heavenly. It is traditionally served during special occasions. With the skyway construction plan in motion, they will be needing to speed up production in time for upcoming celebrations.

C One of the job openings is for flower pickers. This line of work is not for the fainthearted. As they climb up the Drasomnis mountains to pick flowers, they need to watch out for wild wyvern attacks. Their majestic wings are powerful enough to blow a person off the mountain tops and they are proficient in wind magic. Try to avoid fighting near flower fields, as their gigantic feet may end up crushing the poor flowers.

Another available task is to participate in wine tasting to ensure the quality is consistent in each barrel (spit buckets will be provided to each person) as well as to create a menu benefitting to serve for the celebrations. The goal of the menu is to bring out the best flavors of the Dragonfang Wine. For inspiration, the locals will be providing large platters of cheese and draconic mood music.

Be careful not to drink too much: the violet-shaded wine’s delectable taste could lead to overconsumption. Those who get drunk may display flirtatious “peacocking” behavior towards other Moonblessed. Watch out for the cheesiest of pick-up lines!

▶ Slime Beneath Me, Slime Up Above, Ooh, You Love My Toxic Love
Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

Like their previous visit, the Moonblessed will be allowed to stay in bubble-shaped dwellings surrounding a breathtaking mountain springs known to have mysterious effects during the evenings.

Bathing in the springs during the day provides great relief, especially to any hardworking person. It has restorative properties that accelerate healing and the relaxing experience paired with gorgeous views can reduce stress and anxiety. The Lyestellus locals consider it as one of their treasures and will encourage all their guests to bathe in them at least once.

D Unfortunately, the largest hot spring in the center known as the Eye of Basti has turned disturbingly discolored for reasons unknown to the locals. It was reported that anyone who comes too close to the water will be swallowed inside. For public safety, they’ve closed the center area of the springs but there is a job listing that will grant access to it.

Those who investigate will notice that the discolored red waters have a strange, thick slime-like consistency. Standing too close will cause the waters to rise and form blood-like tendrils that will indiscriminately grab at anyone within the vicinity. They will repeatedly attempt to drag people into their watery depths. If they fail to pull their target into the water, then a curse will be cast on them. Cursed targets will be turned into translucent slimes which will mindlessly crawl onto any potential source of Chroma to suck their Chroma dry. This includes another Moonblessed, local Prismals, the nearest lamp post, or somebody’s car.

Nothing you try seems to affect the bloody tendrils. But fight long enough in the waters, the natural Chroma of the Moonblessed will gradually purity and restore it to its former beauty. Those who were swallowed, including lost locals, will be able to resurface safely and those who turned into slimes will transform back to their original forms.

▶ 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.

HOT SPRINGS ▶ As stated, only the Eye of Basti spring is badly affected. All other hot springs are completely safe.

TRANSLUCENT SLIMES ▶ Color, size, and appearance are all up to player discretion. Yes, you may choose to have only certain body parts to be slimed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

a. Dragon Riders

[ Up above, the creatures seem to dance across the sky free of any earthly bounds from the world below where he stands, captivated by the display above. It's a sight far different than he first expected since stepping foot on this new world. He doesn't understand it still, but there was obvious beauty here where before there was nothing but a long road ahead.

It's only a minute that he gives himself to admire the painting above before his gaze falls to the dragons waiting for him and his party. Lambo approaches one such creature when he catches it trained on someone seemingly enamored by them with the way they shift their tail in the air. ]

I think they like you.

[ He says by way of introduction, stopping a few feet away, giving the creature room to clamber on the other moonblessed. ]

b. Babysitter's Club

[ The baby dragons are a perfect agglomeration of sweet and dangerous, and Lambo is smitten. He spoils them without much prompting and speaks to them in his native tongue when they get overexcited and make a mess. Taking care of the budding scale-born draws him out of his usually quiet demeanor and for the first time in years, he falls into the rhythm of another letting them have their way. So, when one of them accidentally bites him, drawing blood, he doesn't admonish them when they start drinking the chroma-infused blood and lets them clean the mess. ]

I think you did that on purpose, piccolo Principe.

d. Slime Beneath You

[ Unaware of the danger lurking nearby, Lambo is soon caught in the blood-like tendrils of the hot springs. The thick tendrils try to pull him under but he stands his ground and is cursed, transfigured into the same translucent slime that now grabs onto the first moonblessed that comes near the spring. ]

Edited 2020-06-10 02:24 (UTC)

[ Helena's a whole lot less enthused by the baby dragons then this guy. She's not aware of it yet but her Sanguis moonblessing basically means that the little posse of them that she's been unwillingly watching will not leave her alone. She's finally resigned herself to allowing one to sit on each shoulder because it means they've momentarily calmed the hell down a little.

Honestly, she's not really into socialising either but hearing her native tongue in this weird, weird place has her momentarily forgetting that. She addresses the stranger in the same language. ]

You're Italian?

[ Hearing his native tongue draws his attention to the stranger and despite the years of failed assassination attempts he tries to ignore his internal alarms. He has yet to be attacked here and has no reason to think that's the case now, but it's difficult to ignore his instincts. Still, he's not defensive, but alert. His easy demeanor erodes the easy smile into something more quaint. ]

I was born and raised there, if that's what you mean.

[ He pulls the broken skin from the small dragon and watches in amusement as it claws at him, whining in rebuttal. The action has his mouth curving back into something from before as his instincts settle down now. ]

What about you?

[No matter the planet, Victor was and would always be fond of animals. Surely, the mere mention of dragons was an intimidating; they had a reputation on Earth for being some great, mythical beasts of higher intelligence, capable of massive destruction with almost no effort at all... but because those were just stories, no one could ever confirm or deny.

Now that he's come face to face with them, he takes great delight in knowing they're not nearly as scary as the tales had made them out to be. They respond to affection well, and he is more than happy to give it, all smiles as he strokes over their scales, rubbing where they seem to like it.

A voice calls out, and he's prepared to assume it's not directed at him—but in the periphery there is unmistakably a man standing and looking right in his direction. Suddenly, the carefree grin on his face turns sheepish... That's right. They're supposed to ride in pairs, and this person was probably waiting to leave, but Victor was too absorbed to notice. Guilt twinges in his heart, and he reluctantly pulls his hands away from the dragon's face, eyes turned down.

Wordlessly, he bows his head in an embarrassed apology, and gestures with an arm for the other to go ahead and mount. He'll have to be more careful next time, and more attentive to his surroundings...]

Edited 2020-06-14 03:46 (UTC)

[ The bow is a little strange, but he's been acclimating to strange ever since waking up in this world so, in a way, it's familiar. ]

You don't need to apologize.

[ He says, hoping to dispel any bad notions between them before they start their trip. He takes his seat and waits for his partner to catch up. ]

[Not wanting to make the other wait any longer, Victor hurries to scramble onto the dragon's saddle, taking his spot beside the larger man. It's... a little too close for comfort. But to be fair, for Victor, anything less than a polite distance of a few feet is close for comfort.

Soon after the passengers are secured, the dragon begins to limber up, then takes off into the sky. Victor clutches his seat like a near-death experience. Is this what airplane rides felt like? He never thought he'd experience one in lifetime, and here he is, skipping right over them and onto dragons instead. Absolutely terrifying. He's quaking in his seat as the dragon's movements sway them, trying to make himself as small as possible lest he do something horrible like... bump shoulders with the stranger beside him.]

[ Once they're airborne, Lambo finds himself drawn in by the experience. It's been so long since he felt the buzz of adventure, it catches him off guard. So much so, that it takes a moment to extract himself from the feeling to focus on the person next to him, only then catching sight of his condition. He's... afraid. It's not hard to figure out with the way he's shaking in his seat. But, it still feels foreign to him. When was the last time he felt that kind of fear? ]

We're almost there.

[ Having been a scaredy-cat most of his life, Lambo can emphasize with the feeling, even if he's lost the ability himself. So, slowly, he raises a gloved hand to grip his shoulder in assurance, hoping his calm demeanor will lend some strength, however small. ]

[Ah, and now he's got the person beside him worried, even though he was trying so hard not to show it. Perhaps he's just pathetically bad at hiding his distress. The touch definitely startles him, causing the blond to jump a bit in his seat—but the other man makes no further movements, simply keeping a solid hold on his shoulder.

... A comforting gesture, he recognizes. Nothing threatening, or harmful. Though his heart is still pounding, he can at least accept the stranger's goodwill, mustering a tiny nod in return. Victor closes his eyes to the airborne scenery, and instead focuses on steadying his breaths. Not watching certainly helps, and somehow, the hand on his shoulder feels warmer than before.

Is this... the effect of that Chroma?]

[ Once he calms down, Lambo lets his hand fall away, aware of the distance he's put between them from the start. It's not his intention to make him uncomfortable, something he may have done already if his silence is anything to go by. Either way, Lambo is used to the quiet and falls into inline letting his thoughts linger on the dragon instead until the creature starts to descend. ]

You should hold on to something.

[ He warns as they find reach their destination. ]

[His eyes only screw tighter at the stranger's words, white knuckles holding fast to the seat beneath him. The descent seems to take an eternity, with Victor afraid to look until he's sure the wind has stopped surging past. Once the gusts are still, he almost doesn't believe they've touched down, what with the way his body still shakes—and when he gasps for air he notices both the fact he'd been holding his breath, and an ache in his jaw from clenching his teeth.

... Now that it's over, what replaces the fear is frustration. He knew he was far from the bravest, but this is just... too pathetic. He barely manages to dismount the beast without stumbling all the way down, and even has to brace himself against the dragon until his knees aren't threatening to give out beneath him.

And surely, his fellow passenger must think poorly of him. Just imagining the strange looks he's likely giving him now makes Victor want to crawl into a hole and never come out for at least another week. He wants to apologize for making the other witness such a sorry display, but the shame won't even let him approach.

Perhaps it's better for both of them to simply act as if none of this had happened. With numerous dragonlets waiting for him on the horizon, Victor is more than happy to forget his own embarrassment!

Even though it's easier said than done.]

[ Lambo dismounts and looks around taking in the new location as he catches his partner's stumble from his peripheral. Concern distracts him from the crowd and he steps to his side, placing a hand on his back. ]

Close your eyes and take a moment to breathe.

[ He rubs his back much the same way Tsuna had done for him in his younger days when he'd hurt himself and cry into his shoulder with the lung capacity of a runner. ]

Take your time.

[Honestly, he's not that fond of being touched so much—but he understands what the stranger is trying to do, and resisting his good intentions would only make things even more awkward between them... so Victor accepts it silently as ever, steeling himself against the humiliation he feels.

He listens to the advice, and it does take some few minutes for him to finally regain full command of his limbs, but when he does, he soon retrieves a notebook and pen from his satchel with a sigh. Writing a message is the least he can do. The stranger deserves more, certainly, but... for now, this is what can express.

He holds up the open notebook, turning it to the man.]

I'm terribly sorry you had to see all of that... I appreciate what you've done, but you shouldn't trouble yourself over me any more than this. I will be all right. Thank you.

[ Once he's feeling better, Lambo gives him space watching as he grabs the notebook, perplexed by the sudden urge to write. He's aware of some of the oddities of people, but even he finds this strange and is about to excuse himself to let him continue without distraction when the notebook is presented to him leaving him even more confused until the pieces slowly start to fall in place. ]

... You can't speak.

[ Looking back at their one-sided conversations, he really should have figured it out. He shakes his head at himself finding humor in the misunderstanding. ]

Now, now. [ His voice is deep and rich, but smooth. ] Who says I found it troubling?

[Most people assume Victor didn't speak out of shyness, and they're not entirely wrong—his sociability is clear as day within five minutes of knowing him. But it's always a little embarrassing when someone new realizes his circumstances; Victor came from a small town where everyone was used to his muteness, and even when he had first arrived at the Manor, the news spread like wildfire. He's familiar with the curious, pitying, or even annoyed scrutiny. He's used to it, but he's not immune to it...

And yet, the other man is strangely accepting. It stuns Victor a bit, and his timid gaze finally lifts enough to get a quick, proper look at the other's face before glancing away again. Victor simply shuts his notebook and hugs it to his chest, nodding slowly, a sheepish look on his face.]

[ Despite his quiet demeanor, Lambo retains the soft skills of his youth. They helped him evade authorities when he first escaped Byakuran's grasp and later helped him navigate the world when every other wanted poster carried his image.

He leans on that skill now, catching the subtleties he missed in his youth when all he cared about were his own selfish desires and instead of prodding him, he takes a different approach. ]

Do you want to check-in? [ He looks over at the people gathering in a crowded line. ] They're handing out assignments now.

[A change in direction is perfect at this point, and Victor nods again with more vigor, his steps finally carrying purpose as he draws closer to the check-in area. Of course, not too close; he's far from fond of drowning in crowds, and he has a mind to wait.

... Technically, there's nothing keeping him and his ride partner together now that they've arrived. And yet, he finds himself a little curious about the stranger—even despite that humiliating display. If this is where they part, he at least wants to give a proper goodbye. So once again, he opens his notebook and writes, then tapping the other man's shoulder.]

Which job were you hoping to take...?

[ He reads the message and shrugs. ]

It doesn't matter. I don't have any preferences.

[ Followed by: ] What about you?

I wanted to care for the dragons' young... It sounded like it could be fun.

[Plus they said the flower-picking gig was dangerous, and he's had enough of danger anyway.]

Is this goodbye...? Please allow me to thank you again. You're a very kind person. Thank you for all you've done.

(no subject)

lightningbull - 2020-06-27 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

[Cu knows well that Dragons are a part of Sanguis' exalted blessings. He's just never been one before himself but it makes sense a dragon would be interesting him. He grunts.]

Yeah, looks like it. If you're new around here, you got quite the welcome...

[ Did he stand out that much or did he just guess he had just arrived? His first instinct is to be on guard. He's come across multiple assassins who outed themselves with subtleties in their wordplay. Being on the run from Byakuran and his Guardians for ten years had made him wary of strangers, something he's actively working on suppressing here. So, despite the initial alarms, Lambo quiets them down to re-assess and respond like a normal person instead of the suspicious recluse he'd become. ]

[ He looks up, letting go of his preconceived notion and relaxes. ]

Dragons aren't common where I'm from.

Edited 2020-06-15 17:17 (UTC)

Yeah, they're not exactly familiar to me either. I just know people who're blessed Sanguis can become dragons... but not that we actually had dragons.

[Very clingy and affectionate dragons.]

Though I guess it makes sense.

[ That response earns him a look of surprise, at least by his standards. ]

You can become a dragon?

[ he stares at him, not understanding. Was it the Chroma they spoke to him about? What else did they tell him? There was so much information, he can't quite remember it all. ]

How?

Have you seen people with animal parts? Those are due to the moons blessing us. Sanguis get wolves, dogs and dragons among other things. Cordis has cats, foxes and others and Iris has rabbits, deer and others.

I'm a Sanguis and I usually get wolf ears and tail. Right now, it's the Cordis moon time so anyone blessed with that is gonna be looking different.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

▶ TDM .016

Lambo Bovino | Kateyko Hitman Reborn | Iris

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