prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .017

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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
07/08 - 07/15 | 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.

▶ You’re as Cold as Ice
07/08 - 07/15 | Level 2, Crystal Beach | top

Summer strikes Lunatia with record high temperatures as the city is wracked by an unnatural heatwave. Residents will feel the burn the moment they head outdoors, kissing their skin pink as it drenches them in sweat. For a hot and sticky day like this, it's the perfect time to head to Crystal Beach for a refreshing dip in the water. All sorts of new stands have popped up by the shore, selling icy treats and frozen cocktails.

The morning news recommends befriending those blessed by Cordis, who can keep people cool with their magic touch. They also warn of overheating machinery and electronics! Establishments and residences may end up dealing with broken air-modulating units if they use them too much.

Having cleared their names, Suzaku and Kaya of former *BTSB fame have decided to reform as a rock band duo called The Nine Tails after leaving their boyband roots. They will be performing their most chill new summer jam, “Fox Girl Summer,” while incorporating Cordis magic of their own to keep the listeners feeling cool and refreshed.

B Those listening to Kaya and Suzaku’s summer anthem might find their beats too chill to relax and party to. And by that, we mean literally. Ice may start to form around the limbs of happy local beachgoers, filling them with unfortunate shivers that will send them running into the arms of another Prismal to thaw. Even more troubling is that some portions of the oceanfront may also start to freeze, trapping some unsuspecting swimmers inside and leaving them in need of rescue. If anyone goes unnoticed, a Prismal lifeguard will be quick to rescue them.

In a panic, Kaya winks at Suzaku, who reassures his worried partner and ends their performance by summoning a mighty phoenix above the stage. Of course, it is only an illusion for the audience as Kaya thaws the partygoers and the ocean with his magic. Suzaku might have gotten carried away with their debut...

▶ Boom, Badoom, Boom, You Got that Super Bass
07/08 - 07/15 | top

The heated beach waters have brought a large onslaught of aggressive super bass close to the shore. Needless to say, the boys with the booming system were not ready for the sudden and alarming increase in population of this particular fish. In response, the beach committee is hosting a fishing competition to see who can catch the largest super bass. They will be providing extremely durable fishing gear and sufficient bait to all worthy competitors, so come to the Crystal Pier with your best fishing know-how and try and break a record or two!

Due to the competition, job openings for lifeguards have become available. Their main task is to keep an eye on participants and the audience. They should be ready to pull them out in case they have trouble swimming back to the pier. Lifeguards will be provided official beach committee high-tech swimsuits (in the form of tankinis and speedos of your choice) that enhance their performance by allowing them to swim faster and breathe more easily underwater. In the dark ocean depths, they glow with patterns easily recognizable to the Prismal eye. They also accentuate the Moonblesseds’ assets very nicely.

C Although they are no different from sea bass in appearance, super bass are known for their monstrous strength and penchant for mischief. They like to fly in the air and slap whoever tries to catch them and their fellow fish with their tail fins. You think you like them better when they dolo? Think again. These fish will purposely grab a hold of something eye-catching such as rainbow-colored sea pearl or other treasures from the ocean and pull the unsuspecting fishers into the watery depths.

▶ Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance the Blues
07/08 - 07/23 | City of Amegahara | top

The city of Amegahara is in preparation for the annual Vulpus Astra Celebration which is coming up in a few weeks. This year is special as the foxes of Amegahara have never celebrated this occasion with the dragons of Lyestellus, making it the first time all three cities in the alliance will be celebrating together. This is all thanks to the Moonblessed, who not only healed their lands but also brought the Prismals closer.

And so for this special year, the upcoming event promises to be an even larger and more extravagant affair. In order to address the extremely high demand for traditional dress and other materials needed for the celebration, many job openings become available in Amegahara. Among these are tailors, glassblowers, florists, and dancers.

D The tailors will be sewing traditional clothes, such as lovely-patterned yukata, kimono, haori, and obi. Glassblowers will create pearl glass plates, cups, and trinkets such as hair accessories and festive souvenirs. Florists will be heading to work at Inari Highway’s greenhouses, caring for flowers and putting together flower crowns, colorful bouquets, and floral arrangements to use for street and interior decorations. It is encouraged to make use of pearl glass vases!

Lastly, dancers will be auditioning for a group of strict Amegaharan foxes who will not shy away from hurling insults if you underperform. The traditional Amegaharan dance features many layers of intricate fan work that is difficult to master, or dancers can choose to take part in the more uproarious Amegaharan drum dance. Be prepared for long and grueling rehearsals after passing auditions, where you will be forced to partner up with one another to bend each other’s bodies as flexibly as it could then dance until every single person in the room has the movements and timings memorized perfectly. Moonlacing will keep one another from collapsing in exhaustion, but your bruised ego may require more tender care.

▶ 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.

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Hah! I suppose. This place has some similarities to Shibuya, but they're superficial at best. It's certainly not Japan, and certainly not Tokyo.

You, on the other hand, must certainly be fitting in with all the Prismals here. They seem to vary, anywhere between all human and all animal, but a lot of them look like you. If I hadn't known any better, I would have mistaken you for one as well.

Yeah. It's actually kind of nice to fit in. Even if it's not the same as Anima City... I think maybe people here are happier.

[Sure, the world might be under threat, but the Moonblessed are helping, right? So most people, most of the time, presumably live safe and comfortable lives.]

You have. [ It's difficult to ignore it, that swell of warmth in his chest. But even if he knew how to voice it, how to tell her how pitifully grateful he is for it-- they are still in public. He has to settle for a small, odd, and oddly vulnerable smile. ]

You did.

[ Though being called a monster in any capacity is discomfiting, for a man with his history.

The walk to his apartment building is not long. It occurs to him, as they step out form underneath the canopy of a tree-covered walkway, that her apartment may also be nearby -- after all, he had never moved out of the lodgings he'd received on arrival.

He'd gotten used to them. Now, seeing them through what he imagines are her eyes, they seem small and plain once more.

But he's nothing if not good at faking confidence. ]

We are here.

[ The building is just across from the park they came out of. He strides toward it with all the panache of a man who is absolutely wearing shoes at this very moment. ]

[Joshua tilted his head to one side. Oops, he said something nice, didn't he? That wasn't intentional.

With a smirk, Joshua popped one of the peach rings into his mouth and stood back to his full height, deciding to change the subject.]

You know, I believe you offered up the couch to me, but here you are, hogging it. Maybe I should take the bed instead.

Oops! Sorry.

[She springs to her feet, and picks up the snacks, moving them onto the coffee table.]

I was so tired and hungry I forgot... I'll go get some blankets and a pillow. [He probably just said it to tease her, but she still wants to be a good host when she was the one who was so insistent in the first place, so she pads away toward the bedroom.]

[Joshua opened his mouth in mild surprise, intending to protest that there was no need, but she was already off.]

...

[He didn't get it. Even trying to probe at her thoughts hadn't revealed... anything, other than a genuine desire to help.

When she returned, he finally couldn't take it anymore, and asked.]

I don't know why you're helping me. Or, why you think you're helping me.

Strange but useful, where has Jiang Cheng heard that before. There is a snort of laughter that he tries to keep to himself, though he isn't sure how well he manages to do all things considered. He feels-- worn thin. And not in a way that he is used to, with pushing himself harder and farther, but in a way where nothing is familiar to him and he feels nearly overwhelmed. He wonders if this is what drowning feels like.

"Hmm? What do you mean reamain in control?" That seems an odd thing for a Lan to say. But that also means that Jiang Cheng needs to pay attention. His eyebrow twitches when Xichen mentions that he has been here before, that there are more familiar faces. "You mean we can leave and... come back? With no memory of this place?"

That sounds utterly ridiculous and completely in line with everything he has so far learned about this place. Fucking perfect. Watching Xichen sit out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Cheng tries not to fidget. To press fingertips against the familiar band of metal on his finger. To just stay still for a moment.

He was never any good at that.

"Dare I ask who else is here?"

[ If all the physical affection Felih showers him with weren't obvious enough, saying that he finds him beautiful cinches it. The color on the Exarch's face deepens and he can only nod in surrender. Felih really did mean his offer of 'treating' him, it seems, and the best the Exarch can do is try to find something at a reasonable price. Not easy when he's still unfamiliar with demichroma as a currency, but sorting through the neatly stacked clothes at the stall Felih's led him too he's able to find something that he thinks will work.

The Prismal manning the stall is eager to offer help, making suggestions and pulling out stock, until at last the Exarch has in his hands a pair of colorful trunks and a loose, white mesh shirt.

All of the trunks were either of vivid colors, wild patterns, or both. The Exarch did what he could to find something not too eye-searing. It all still feels rather surreal... ]

Which only leaves a place to change, I suppose.

[ as soon as Wei Wuxian lets go, Jiang Cheng is shaking out his limbs while turning to glare at the other head on. there are no sparks along his fingers though, no storm raging in his eyes, so that has to be something of a good sign, right? right.]

Moonlacing. What the-- [ wait, no. he has heard that before. probably. maybe? shit. give him a second here, this is a lot and his fingertips are still cold. he drags them over his face as if the chill might give him more patience to deal with all of this.] Moonlacing. Is that how you're expected to get money here?

[ gods help him if he has to be personable for that because, uh, well... because. his eyes narrow at the way the other looks away, how he trails off. it's weird.]

Just fucking spit it out, Wei Wuxian.

['You think you're helping me'? It reminds her a little of Nazuna's barbs, but she mentally shrugs it off, trying not to read too much into it.] We're both Moonblessed, right? Is it that weird to help one another?

[She has an armful of bedding, and starts by laying a sheet over the couch, then adding a pillow.]

It wouldn't be right to leave you out there on your own. Who knows what kind of creeps hang around there at night. [Lastly, the blanket goes on.]

"...The moons hold sway over us here, although they affect different people different ways. We're in the middle of Iris right now and while it seems to be cooperating with me this month, last month was more difficult." Xichen answered after a moment, exhaling a breath.

"And yes, but it's not a choice we make, as far as I can tell. I don't recall being here before but I've been told I was by multiple people. As for the others here, the ones you may recognize on sight are Jin Ling, Sizhui, Jingyi, Wangji, Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian." There's a brief pause before he glances down, catching Jiang Wanyin playing with his ring.

You jest quite often.

[ But...Six is right. Mostly. It isn't the matter of any honor being besmirched that has the Exarch squeamish (no matter Six's reputation). Though his true reasoning is no less foolish.

Realizing that he finally gives in, getting up onto somewhat unsteady feet and making for the kitchen. That is where he undresses, robes laid out on the table in as much of a semblance of order as he can manage. Sweat is wiped away with a disposable towel (yet another impressive bit of convenience) and at last the Exarch returns, wearing only black smalls and bearing two large glasses of tepid water.

One is offered down to Six before the Exarch sits again. If he can behave as if the swaths of crystal that crawl over his shoulders and down his chest are of no import then it will become so. ]

[Joshua mulled over it for a moment, before narrowing his eyes at her with a cynical little smile. It was like the final puzzle piece had clicked into place.]

Now I get it.

This isn't for my benefit. This is for you to feel better about yourself.

Midorima may be surprised by it (if only because he already padded in extra time before practice) but he certainly won't be disappointed. This is his partner, after all, if he didn't do at least this much he couldn't stand by his side proudly. Of course, even knowing that, he's still going to make Takao stay after with him for extra practice even if he's sore and dying. He has to make up for whatever's going to happen during his first Iris, after all, so he may as well get a head start.

Merlin is very well behaved with Takao in the bath, of course. Despite his excited behavior, he is well-trained. Midorima wouldn't have him in the house if he wasn't. Merlin just likes the hot steam from the water, and his bounces seem to be floatier when he jumps afterward, like a little cloud. Once freed, he gently bounces off to find Midorima to smell, because now Midorima is the stinkiest one in the room.

Midorima gives the dog a look, but nods at Takao and heads into the bathroom himself.

"I submitted the order, listen for the door. They don't take very long."

So it's likely that Takao will find his alien-version of kimchi, bok choy, and fish is arriving while Midorima is bathing, but it will still take some time.

"You can make yourself at home except for the room at the end of the hall upstairs."

His lucky item room is what he is referring to, and hopefully Takao will heed his warning. With that, Midorima closes the bathroom door to begin his own cleaning.

[She steps back from the couch to admire her handiwork, and the accusation has her widening her eyes and regarding him with surprise, and then a frown. It's not the first time she's heard that before, but it doesn't make it any less hurtful.]

What?! It's not like that at all!

[ Any smile, however small, is an achievement. A victory that's worth paying the price of discomfort and the time it takes to choke out her emotions.

Something loosens in her chest upon witnessing the curve of his mouth, content that she has not fumbled so terribly with the sentiment. Her own lips twitch with the vague threat of a smile, though it's gone by the time she moves ahead of him to flit into his residence with the confidence of a woman that belongs there and knows the lay of the land.

It's difficult not to thoroughly inspect the space — to puzzle out what it might tell her of how he has lived in the past three months, to determine the safety of the building. She buries the temptation of that impulse and lets her eyes sweep over what she can see from where she stands, and then forces her eyes back to his own. ]

Your security measures need work.

[ That's it. That's the verdict. ]

Edited 2020-07-15 22:50 (UTC)

[ you would think that his brief time in this place so far would have prepared Jiang Cheng for the absolutely absurd on a regular basis. that he would be aware that at any given moment he could be tackled by a goddamned fish and thrown in the river like a toddler who never learned how to balance. apparently, he will need a little more time to come to terms with this.

in the mean time, he is going to do his damnested to not drown because of a fish (godfuckingdamnit, he is so glad that there is no one here he knows to witness this) and some random who has decided Jiang Cheng looked like something they could cling to in the water. thankfully, he has been swimming his whole life and keeping himself and the other person afloat really isn't that difficult.

(his pride is the only thing that sinks, but he probably should have expected that.)

with a sputter curse that is equal parts salt water and fury, Jiang Cheng tries to get a grip on the person that is clinging to him while also keeping their heads up and haul them back towards the dock.]

Will you fucking -- [ a sputter, Jiang Cheng trying to worm an arm between them to push his hair out of his face so he can see where he's going.] Let go of--

[ wait.

wait a fucking second.

he knows that voice and side profile. Jiang Cheng flounders a moment, dunking them both back in the water for the briefest second.] Huaisang?

[ Felih delights at the way the Exarch goes red, and he purrs away and waits patiently while the other man makes his decision. He nods approvingly once he's chosen his set, and a swipe of his glowing bracelet makes quick work of the payment. He does usher the Exarch into the nearest changing room, however, tail wiggling. ]

There~! Now all you need to do is get changed. They've given me a bag- here! You can use it to put your clothes in once you've finished. And then we can go enjoy the beach~!

Come, come~! There's so much about this place to tell you about.

Please. You refused to actually believe me when I say I don't need a place to stay, choosing to build this little narrative about me in your head instead as some helpless kid, without knowing the first thing about me.

[Joshua sighed, and, with gentle grace, came around the other side of the couch, flopping onto the couch as if floating like a feather.]

Well, it's my fault for letting it happen.

[Her clawed hands ball into fists, and before she can even think through a measured response, she's already erupting into--] What am I supposed to do if you haven't told me anything?!

[The most she's gotten out of him is that he's from Shibuya, and he's waiting for someone. More than that, though, she feels annoyed, almost like he's been humouring her or stringing her along this whole time. She's even more annoyed that this isn't the first time she's heard this, and last time it was from her best friend, no less.

If a stranger is saying it too, is it really the truth? Does she really just force her view on people and make them play along?

She lets out a frustrated growl.] Fine! If getting help is so awful, leave any time you want!

[She snatches up her snacks (she's still hangry) and stalks off towards her room. What a jerk.]

[ He'd rather be boneheaded. ]

So?! People thought the Avatar was dead for a hundred years, but I searched for him and I found him — no one believed that he would come back, but he did, and I knew it and I was the first to find him when it finally happened! I'm finding a way out of this place, even if I have to be the first one to do it!

[ But how, exactly, is still up in the air — none of that answered her actual question: "what do you plan to do?" He doesn't know. Much like when he did finally capture the Avatar, he just dragged the boy's unconscious body on his back through a blizzard in a tundra with no food, water, clothes, plan, map, sense of direction, nothing, had told no one where he went or what he was doing, was found alive only by a miracle cuz the Avatar has awesome friends who came to rescue him and decided not to leave Zuko in the snow to die cuz they were nice people... He hadn't thought that through, and that was the first moment of culmination of his life's mission for the past three years. Even at the crucial moment to reclaim his honor, after so long, he went in bull-headed and nearly froze alone, unknown... No plan. But his mindset had just been like "yup, captured the avatar, mission accomplished, now move forward — just go — run — doing the thing." He seldom thought things through fully, it was true. He has all the conviction one could ever want, but what's it matter if you're throwing it headfirst into the wind? Rage held the reigns back then; it was like wearing blinders. There's a nagging sensation growing in the back of his mind now, old critical life advice from his uncle itching, old scars itching... He screws up his face and turns away, the scorched side facing her. He hates this. It feels like the whole shock is pouring over him again afresh. Thankfully the past two hours or so since arriving had tempered him enough to at least be mindful not to set shit on fire, but the buck may be stopping there, as his mind rewinds and rewinds his doomed situation in fast motion. ]

[ Maybe he dislikes the word, but it is as accurate as word as he'll be able to choose. Kidnapped doesn't seem right. He's certainly not being kept here entirely unwillingly, and there's a lot about life here that he loves. Knowing that time back home won't resume until he's back is certainly of some comfort. And if he had any doubts about the veracity of that, then Spock is all the more proof of that. ]

No, no. I don't think that's it, [ He shakes his head, absolutely unwilling to accept that Spock, his Spock, has just showed up here only to not be the Spock he's known for years. ]

I mean, I remember Altamid, and going back to Yorktown. But we'd just gotten back there a few days ago, and the estimate for the work on the Enterprise-A to be finished was eight to ten months. So I'm guessing... we must be apart for just those few months, is all.

[ There, that's not... too bad. God, he hopes that's all there is to it. ]

That's it exactly, he does not know what his first Iris is going to do, but it could hinder his practice. He is hoping he can just channel whatever energy it creates into practicing, but getting a few more hours in while he knows he can is the smartest. Takao knows how this works; he'll expect to stay after practice, when don't they? He will ball till he can't ball anymore, not a problem there.

"Got it," Takao stands up, stretching he gives his body a few moments, working through each muscle group now that the heat of the bath took some of their aches away. It is a familiar and welcome ache, though, makes him feel normal.

Then, of course, he can not resist and begins wandering around Midorima's house, making sure to keep an ear out for the door. Does his route lead him toward that forbidden room, of course, it does. How can he not, what's Midorima hiding behind there anyway.

He is quiet when he opens the door and peeks in, when he realizes what he is seeing he laughs. It's a lucky item room, of course, it is. Most of what he can see is mundane, some a little odder than others, but nothing too shocking. Right then, he hears the door, quick as he can he moves two of the smaller items, changing their positions where they are stored and makes sure that is the only evidence of his poking left. He knows Midorima will notice, and he is snickering as he dashes to the door, imagining the others face.

Takao gets their food, no sense to sit around, so instead goes into the kitchen, grabbing napkins and chopsticks. He peeks in the fridge. "Of course, sweets. This guy.." Takao shakes his head as he grabs a couple of drinks. He'll just busy himself setting up their dinner.

It smells good but not quite as good as it does at home; if that kimchi is not right, he will be disappointed. It's his favorite, and he needs the comfort of that right now. He is not going to start eating alone, so while he waits, he flops back on the floor, stretching out with his forearm over his eyes.

He'll just take the few minutes to process.

[She has no idea who the Avatar is or why anyone would want to search for him. She doesn't know anything about him or why he's so desperate, really. So maybe there's no point in trying to stop him, not when this is something he's determined to figure out on his own.

She looks away, ears drooping.]

... Okay. Can I at least tag along? Shirou and I... We want to go back to our world, too. [And Prince guy looks like he could use the support, whether he wants company or not.] You're right-- we shouldn't just accept things just because they told us there's no way back.

It's for generating an energy called chroma, which is a lot like qi and this world needs it to function properly.

[And delaying the inevitable with facts won't help him. Might as well jump in.]

It's been a while... at least, from my perspective. Have you been well...?

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▶ TDM .017

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