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

[Despite himself, Sycamore winces; Lysandre isn't yelling, or even raising his voice, but he knows him well enough to sense when he's got a tight hold on his emotions that is fraying very very quickly. It's exactly what happened at Lysandre Cafe, in front of Serena; he starts on a tangent that seems calm at first, but by the end he's nothing but a storm of fire and passion ready to raze everything in his path.

It doesn't bode well.]

I'm not...asking you to say anything to me, I...

[If anything, how familiar it is and how quickly he can see it, makes this all the harder; how has everything changed, yet stayed the same? What he wouldn't give for another chance at that day...]

I don't want an apology, that's pointless, I just...

[...he just...what? Here he goes again, stumbling all over his words, trying to find the right ones but coming up with nothing useful....]

...I don't know! I don't know what to say to you, I just want my friend back!

[The dragon he's holding seems aware that he's getting agitated, and also seems to make the executive decision that this isn't where it wants to be; it squirms a bit, and Lysandre sets it down (much in the same way one sets a cat of some sort down, just kind of...letting it go and trusting it will figure itself out on the way down, which thankfully the dragon does without too much fuss), and it's likely for the best for all parties that it's done that, though it leaves Lysandre not entirely certain how to keep his hands occupied otherwise.

This is...it's a lot, and he isn't sure how to handle it, and when he withdraws it's evident - not physically, but emotionally.]

It would be better for you to consider him gone. There's nothing that I can give you otherwise.

[He knows he should have seen it coming, should have phrased that last remark any other way, but that doesn't make it hurt any less; if anything, he's fairly sure Lysandre could have struck him and it would have been less painful than that statement. The three little dragons he's been nursing are quick to follow the one Lysandre releases, neatly leaping down his body and scurrying to join their friend. Sycamore almost envies them.]

....

[He's speechless, for far longer than a moment, staring at the ground as if willing it to provide him with some magical answer that will cross all the crevices currently littering what remains of their friendship.]

....no.

[Again, his voice is soft, but as it turns out, Lysandre isn't the only one struggling to keep his emotions down.]

I won't accept that. You think you can just...appear here, granting the wish I've been making since you died, and expect me to...to act like you're still gone? I won't, Lysandre! I can't!

And why would you-

[No. No, he's not going to get into that, he's not going to even humor that with the vaguest notion of discussion, he needs to rein it back and try to calm himself again, and when he finally speaks again that odd, frigid sense of control is back.]

Fine. Do what you want; it hardly matters anymore. But I'm not here as some sort of favor to you - this isn't what you've been asking for, and you'll find yourself displeased with what you've received. That's hardly on me.

[Again, it's almost impossible for Sycamore to resist the urge to flinch at Lysandre's words, despite being privately thankful he's able to keep his reactions to just a flinch; he knew that this conversation would be painful (in those private times during Iris where, desperate for any kind of respite from the emotional onslaught, he imagined how a reunion between the pair of them would go), but it's one thing to imagine it. It's another to have the living, breathing man standing before him, looking down with nothing but ice in his eyes.

...]

...it would be easier for you if I were angry, wouldn't it?

[There's a complete lack of his usual inflection in his voice; it's devoid of mirth, just...blank. But unwavering.]

If I said I hated you for what you've done.

I believe I just finished telling you that I won't dictate how you should feel about it, or am I wrong?

[It's not an answer, but that's going to have to be acceptable.]

[It's really not acceptable, but it's definitely unsurprising.]

That's not an answer to my question, and you know it.

Perhaps so.

[The concession doesn't seem to have much else forthcoming behind it, however.]

I've given you what I can, Augustine, and things aren't going to be the way they were before. Whether you choose to accept that or not is your decision, but that won't change things being what they are.

...I know it won't, Lysandre. It was clear that you intended that message to be the last words you ever said to me.

[An awkward thing to point out, but...it's useful for him to remember that this entire encounter is bizarre for both parties.]

But I...

[This seems like another excellent time to fall silent, so Sycamore does so, placing his hands into the pockets of his lab coat more for something to do, than anything else. They've managed to get this far - fraught with emotion as it has been - and his intuition is telling him that he needs to choose his next words carefully.

So the silence will stretch on, almost to an uncomfortable length; he knows his friend won't break it until he does, at least. Once again, the ground appears to be the ideal place to look.]

...there's a lot of things I left unsaid. Things I should have told you, before...

[A sigh. Come on, keep going...]

...I suppose it's naive of me, really. I don't know, perhaps you've never felt the way I do and were simply using me for my research. I've certainly considered it. But I don't believe that to be the truth. I still don't. But...

[...almost there, almost there...]

...if it is the truth, all I ask is that...you tell me, so I can take your advice and mourn my friend. If not...well, I meant what I said before. I'd like to take the opportunity we've been given.

[...]

...if you...don't mind.

[He allows the silence to continue for as long as Sycamore feels it needs to; he won't interrupt, and he won't try to press for a conclusion or a decision right away - he just watches, and by the end of it he's running his hand back through the front of his hair, just...considering.]

...I don't know, Augustine.

[That much seems entirely genuine, at least; the tension hasn't left him, far from, but this isn't something he has a ready answer for.]

I doubt you genuinely need me to tell you whether that possibility is true or not. But with regards to the rest, I have to ask that you let me consider it; this isn't something that I can just discuss with you out of nowhere like this, and I don't believe this is a decision that either of us should make lightly.

[He's quiet for a moment longer, just...]

Why... If I might ask. Why was it so important to you, to tell me that I've been missed?

[His exact memory of what happened (it seems like such a short period of time, between what happened there and awakening here, but then he supposes it's only natural that it would) isn't particularly strong; he remembers the feelings, more than the actions or any physical sensations. But he remembers enough to know that it's better that way, too, and that's the primary answer that he comes to.]

Did someone... [He pauses. Starts again. He knows, he doesn't need to ask, because of course Sycamore would want to know, he'd make sure he knew.] Someone told you, I imagine. Details, about what happened in the base.

[....ah. Sycamore had been wondering if that would come up; he's not surprised that it has, per say, but he can't say he's particularly excited to talk about it.]

...before I answer that, I just want to say that I definitely agree with you, in terms of us not making a decision now. We're both scientists; we need our thinking time.

[He'll smile, after that, although it's more on the sad side and it disappears as soon as he starts to talk about...

...well. That.]

I was filled in on all the details, yes, at my request.

[There were so many details that, were they to discuss them, he wouldn't even know where to begin; thankfully (if that's the right word to use), he knows exactly which one Lysandre is talking about.]

...when I heard that you'd...

[...how are they even supposed to talk about this properly without it being a disaster-]

...you'd brought the base down on yourself, and...the things you said...

[...

It's at that point that Sycamore realises, perhaps for the first time, how utterly surreal this must be not just for himself, but for Lysandre. His death had been no accident, it had been thoroughly intentional - the act of a man with nothing left to lose. He'd even told Serena, in Couriway Town, that he was grateful that she stopped Team Flare because now Lysandre was at peace, and he'd believed that but it had been so good, so wonderful to see him and have a second chance to tell him everything he'd always thought, the words he'd never had the chance to say...

...this whole experience - arriving in Lunatia, with his memories intact, having to face him after sending that final message without a word of explanation - could be the last thing his friend would ever want, and he's spent the whole time...!]

...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't...think, I....how could I be so selfish...!

[The fact that Sycamore is having a hard time talking about it isn't entirely unexpected; it's not an easy topic for either of them, is it, and he's once again more than patient enough to let Sycamore try to work out what he wants to say.

It's the sudden shift that catches him off-guard, the abrupt left turn into realization and distress and apologies, and for a moment he doesn't know what to do with his face; the expression is open, unguarded, eyes wide as he tries to process, but it doesn't take long before something clicks in, heavy and hard, and he finds himself stepping forward, reaching out a bit as he does so as though tempted to touch, though ultimately he thinks better of it and withdraws his hand back to his side.]

Augustine. Augustine, listen to me.

[That much is firm, any of the open expression that had crossed his features before gone, the usual poise recovered.]

I stand by what I said. This is...difficult for me, I see little point in pretending it isn't. But that isn't why - I promise you that isn't why.

[This whole situation has been an absolute emotional roller-coaster, to the point where Sycamore is quite sure that, upon returning to his apartment, he'll either drink an entire bottle of wine or simply go to sleep. What makes it harder, however, is that moment where Lysandre drops his guard, reaching out to him with that agonisingly genuine expression on his face, and although Sycamore knows it would only make things more complicated he wishes he hadn't drawn back at the last minute.

(It would spark the Chroma, which would naturally lead to a discussion about moonlacing, and moonblessings, and how everything works here in Lunatia and both of them could neatly hide behind facts and information and absolutely nothing would be achieved, not really. But it would be just like old times, wouldn't it? Isn't that what he wants?

Maybe he just wants confirmation that he isn't seeing a ghost.)]

I'm...sorry. I'm also sorry for saying sorry so much.

[He doesn't know what he wants, not completely, but at least...he knows he wants more than they had before. More...clarity, more honesty. He's just not sure how they're going to get there, with everything that has happened.

What a headache. At least...]

It's just so difficult to get my thoughts in order and I don't want to say the wrong thing, and...

[...

the ground is, once again, where his eyes are, and he'll run another hand through his hair.]

...to try and answer your question from before; it was important for me to tell you you were missed, because...well, both because of what happened in the base and...well...because I've missed you. You were always very important to me, Lysandre.

[...]

...I'm sorry.

You've never given me reason to doubt that, you know.

[And that much does seem to be genuine; whether he believes it was earned or warranted is another matter, and it's not something that he feels like discussing in-depth now. Or ever! Not discussing that ever sounds like a lovely option.

But for the time being he'll just settle back a bit, and he'll try to relax a little, and...]

Again, I feel that neither of us should try coming to a decision now, nor do we need to - we're both here now, after all.

[...]

I'm not opposed to continuing to speak to you. I want to be clear about that much.

[Attempting to relax sounds like a fantastic idea, one that Sycamore will also attempt to initiate; he can't say he's being overly successful, but at least some of the tension seems to be receding. Lysandre is right. They need to go away, and think about how best to approach all of this properly, and not...just react based on their emotions, like they're doing now.

The thought is still a difficult one, but perhaps he should just focus on the fact that he has a chance to do this at all. It's...supposed to be difficult, isn't it? That's why they never had these conversations back in Kalos.

He won't let that happen again.]

I'm glad, mon ami. I know this conversation has been...challenging-

[-to put it very very mildly-]

-but it's...well, it's wonderful to talk to you again. So, so wonderful.

[...

...r-right, let him just continue on, um-]

...I don't want to sound like I'm...trying to change the subject, or anything like that, but if you have any questions about...

[...let him just indicate the...the Lunatia, surrounding them...]

...everything, please let me know. I'm sure you've already worked through the bracelet, no?

[Being a tech genius, and all that.]

[That just gets a soft noise out of him.]

Please. Of course I have.

[It. It's cool, he likes it.]

I'll tell you, however, if I come across anything here that I believe I'll have difficulty with.

[...he had a feeling you'd like it.]

Good. Not that I'm expecting you to have much difficulty - I know what you're like - but this place can throw you for a loop if you're not prepared. Particularly the moonblessings.

[...ah. Of course, the moonblessings...for a moment, he'd completely forgotten them and everything they entail. Lysandre would have one as well, of course...but which one?

...

...if he has to be honest, he knows exactly which one.]

Mine is Iris, and it's...well, it can be exhausting. I don't think you'll have this one, though, so you should be alright.

[...hopefully, um.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

▶ TDM .016

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cw: discussions of suicide

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