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

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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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[Ciro is far too easily trusting, so he's already settled into an apartment and reading up on the magic of this place when he's alerted to a new network post. He's not really the sort for social media of any kind (he prefers actually being social), but he sees the message left and his name mentioned toward the end.

Rune was here? How was that possible.

The last thing he remembers is that they were together, talking, watching shitty TV programming one night, and then he was here. Of course Rune was brought with him. He feels guilty for not sensing him sooner. He'd largely shut down that part of his ability because he kept getting overwhelmed by everything going on.

But now that he knows his friend is around all it takes is a tracking spell to find his closest known position and follow the mild glow of his footprints. By the time he gets to where Rune is it's the afternoon, and Ciro doesn't care so much about the time as he knocks at the door, shifting his weight from leg to leg awkwardly. He's not sure what he's going to say to Rune, but his heart is racing, hoping this all wasn't some mistake and that his less than stellar magic didn't lead him to a perfect stranger.

This is why he needs Rune around. Ciro's magical aptitudes lay elsewhere.]

[ It's what makes them different and reliable—Ciro trusts too easily, Rune trusts very little or not at all. And maybe that's also why he's living alone and filling up the kitchen with bits and pieces of things he's collected so far. He's in the middle of depositing his latest find into a bowl when he hears a knock, and Rune frowns at the intrusion. He doesn't know anyone here, and he's kept to himself for the most part.

...should he have been paranoid enough to put up a few wards?

He sighs and shakes his head, leaving his collection of ingredients to their own devices so he can answer the door. At first, when he opens it, there's a deeper frown working across his features, but it fades just as quickly when he recognizes Ciro's aura and then looks at his face. If this was a dream, he was going to be very annoyed by it. Yet, in the meantime, he steps forward to touch his forearm, fingers slipping to circle his wrist so he can drag him inside. Then, he's pinning him against the shut door with a ferocity not quite unlike him, forearm braced against his chest so he can get a proper look. It looks like Ciro and feels like Ciro, but he can't be too sure in a place like this. One that breathes all sorts of strange magic. ]

If this is a joke, I'll kill you where you stand.

[ Which means Ciro has less than a minute to convince Rune that he's him. ]

Haha. You're an idiot.

[Yes. That's his response to being yanked in and shoved up against a door. If Rune isn't careful this could take a sharp turn, but Ciro isn't really in the mood for that. He's too glad to have found his friend, hence the gross cheesy grin on his face.]

I missed you too.

[If Rune is expecting some form of logical argument to confirm Ciro is who he says he is he'll have to keep waiting because he uses what little range of motion he has to put his arms around Rune to draw him in closer, resting his face on his shoulder.]

You didn't even ward the place, you idiot. [And even as he chastises him, his hand slides up the back of Rune's neck to touch his hair. This kind of intimate yet supposedly platonic physical affection is definitely characteristic of Ciro, so it might be enough to convince his friend that everything was fine. If not he's going to make very inappropriate comments about being pinned down by Rune again.]

[ ...well. At least Rune doesn't immediately jump to wanting to kill him.

That kind of magic takes a toll on him anyway, after a while, and he certainly shouldn't be murdering every stranger who finds their way to his door. But Ciro's voice and the way he touches him is explicitly Ciro, leaning back just enough so that his face isn't smashed uncomfortably against Ciro and part of the door. He'd be fooling himself if he didn't notice how much tension had bled from him the moment Ciro had embraced him, and in a moment of weakness, Rune drops his arm and curls it around him to return the gesture. ]

If I had, you wouldn't have made it to the front door. [ A weak excuse but still a decent one. ] How long have you been here?

[ Rune is expecting some sort of variance in their time there—give or take a couple of days. But it's always difficult to tell when he can't find the ability to concentrate since the fluctuation of magic is so vast and unreliable. That's the one compliant he has about this place and almost prefers the dangers of home to the overwhelming nature of this one. But he'll think more on that later, drawing back and idly brushing his knuckles against Ciro's jaw in a surprisingly gentle way. ]

And if you call me idiot one more time, I really will kill you.

[ Maybe, possibly. ]

[Give him an inch and he will take a mile.

Ciro throws both arms around Rune, practically jumping onto him with a very obvious lack of intention to let go. Just in case. He lazily drapes himself over Rune like a second skin, shaking his head.]

Yes, well, you dropped my name for all to see. Someone would have found me and alerted you eventually. Just a few days. I spent most of it on that moon I woke up on trying to collect samples of all the different plants I couldn't recognize. They had to pull me away and put me on this space bus looking thing. But I wouldn't have known you were here if you didn't do that...so..thank you. I retract the label of idiot.

[Where Rune is reasonably apprehensive of the magic here, Ciro is very willing to jump into it headfirst and find out whatever he can about the properties in everything. He's been like a child in a candy store. When knuckles move lightly against his face he looks up from the ridiculous hug that's lasting far longer than it ought to.]

Why does it smell like.. [Ciro peeks over Rune's shoulder to see what he's been working on.]

[ Just this once, he allows the contact. In truth, it feels good to have some sort of familiarity, and he sighs at the way he prattles on. ]

I don't want to hear you crying if you lose something important from being careless. [ He remembers all those ridiculous experiments back home. ] Your faith in me is severely lacking. I will always find you.

[ It's a strangely romantic thing to say, and given how close they are, it could easily be more if he pressed. But they haven't talked about that, and there's no time for it anyhow, turning his head to glance in the direction of the kitchen when Ciro comments on the smell. There's the slightest shrug in response. ]

I've been sampling the sage here. It's not exactly the same as what we're used to. [ A pause. ] I found one that glows. Do you want to see it?

I never cry. Not since I lost the ability when I burned my tear ducts shut experimenting with Spanish Moss and Mugwort.

[The smile gives away that he's joking, but it falters a little when Rune goes and says that. It's not that he doesn't love how it sounds, or the way it makes him feel special to him, but he doesn't know if letting himself feel that way is okay. They had a friendship and a business to look after--well, now only just the former.

His expression brightens at the mention of glowing sage. One didn't have to be a witch to know that anything that glowed was either radioactive or filled to the brim with magic.]

Show me. Show me now. [That's all it took for him to release Rune from his nearly never-ending hold.]

[ It's exasperation that has him rolling his eyes, but there might also be a slight smile to go along with it, stepping away once Ciro lets go of him to wander back into the kitchen. The table has been pushed to extend the counter, preferring a vast area to work with, and while it's not ideal, it's usable. There are also countless boxes and jars and other items littering every available inch, but Rune shows Ciro to the space next to the sink where a plate's contents are smoking gently. The smell isn't particularly strong, though it's impossible to miss the fluorescent shimmer to the smoke as it curls towards the ceiling. ]

I don't think it's dangerous. Just unusual. [ Rune rummages through a container next to the plate and offers some of the unburned sage to Ciro. ] What do you think?

[ Since Rune isn't really the expert when it comes to things like this. He just likes to experiment with them. ]

[Ciro hikes his long sleeves all the way up his arms like he's planning on making a mess of himself with whatever it is he does next. He peeks at the other small containers, identifying a few as the same things he's found growing wild on one of the moons. Eventually he gets to the sage, bringing it straight to his nose to get a sense of the potency, his grin reveals that he's not disappointed.

The next part is probably going to be what makes Rune question his sanity. He brings a single leaf of the sage to his mouth, biting the tiniest bit to see what he can get from that. Immediately he spits it into the sink and rinses his mouth with water.]

The properties are strong. Especially the taste. It feels like it's already infused with its own magic. That could be good or bad depending on what we use it for. Great for smudging, not so much for cooking or tea making unless you're trying to give someone's insides a serious detox.

[He laughs, picking up another jar that isn't labeled, sniffing it.] I've already started cataloging and taking notes on some things. I can show you once I finish my research.] This is exciting, isn't it!?

[ He should have known before they'd even started that Ciro was going to do something like this, but the thought had slipped his mind ever since he'd seen him. Perhaps it's a side effect of the energy field of this place? He isn't sure, and it's something he'll have to research further, trying to reach out and grab Ciro to stop him from putting the leaf in his mouth. But he's too slow, and there's some sort of vindication that comes from watching him struggle to rinse the taste out.

Rune wanders over to a nearby cabinet and sorts through some of the dry ingredients inside, returning to offer Ciro a few leaves of peppermint. ]

I wish your go-to method wasn't putting things in your mouth. How many other new plants have you tasted since we've been here? [ It's rhetorical, don't answer that. ] Which part is exciting to you? Being forced to live here? Never being able to go home?

[ Rune gently pinches the bridge of his nose and then wafts some of the smoke from the sage in Ciro's direction. ]

It'll take some time, but I'll find a spell that will help us go back.

[It's risky, and some pretty unfortunate things have happened from that method, but it's usually the best way for him to feel what trace effects might exist in each sample. He likes to say he has a magic tongue, but for obvious reasons people don't like the way that sounds. And! He's safe for the most part, he always smells things before he puts them in his mouth. His oral fixation is definitely not great for someone as impulsive and free-spirited as he is.]

Forced? Well, maybe it's like that..

[He puts the peppermint leaves into water and brings the mug to Rune to heat up. One would think he'd try to get better at that one, but Rune had better precision control over physical magic and was less likely to start fires than Ciro is.]

Why would we ever want to go back? I figured you of all people would be happy to leave that place behind us..

[ Rune's already back at the bowl he'd been tinkering with when Ciro had knocked on the door, sifting through some of the powders before settling on one and tipping some of its contents into the dish. There's no reaction—yet. He's just trying to see if this world affects physical properties differently than what he's used to, and so, he's settling on a simple concoction for a spell that's novice in appearance and usage. He's aware of Ciro's presence and what he says but purposely ignores him for a moment before turning to take the mug.

He's not a microwave, he almost says, but he doesn't have the energy to argue. He's been exhausted since he'd gotten here, and Rune doubts it will change any time soon. The physical aspect of magic – like heating the water in the cup – is a matter of control, and he doesn't have to think about it so much, warming it without a word to the temperature he knows Ciro prefers. Yet, he doesn't hand it back right away. ]

I don't know what to feel. [ If he's being honest. ] Maybe I'm not as welcome there as you are, but it's worse here. We'll have to start all over again.

[ And is it even safe to tell people they're witches? Or will they forever be stuck in a cycle of keeping that to themselves and working out of a basement under another tea shop? ]

[He's peeking over Rune's shoulder while he waits for service, but thankfully it doesn't take too long for his friend to turn around and see to his tea. Ciro's not so great at the whole control thing. It's why he prefers herbalism and alchemy side of things. Using the properties of ingredients always goes better than having to introduce his own magic to anything. It had the tendency to go wrong, and that's for a lot of reasons he doesn't really talk about.]

Hm.

[He sips his tea as he hears Rune out, but doubts with this much magic just in the air and plantlife there's anyway they might frown on making use of it all. Or, maybe he's being ridiculously optimistic again. At any rate, at least they don't have to worry about people on the hunt for Rune. That's a definite win.]

I know.. Our friends and our covens are back there, but...you can't blame me for liking the idea of a fresh start. Even if we have to be careful, at least no one is looking for you here.

[Ciro puts his hand on Rune's forearm, leaning against his shoulder for a moment. They could find a way to make it worse. They could find more friends! He's used to having to pick up and run away to someplace new in a hurry. That was his entire childhood and a large part of his adulthood. He only really had the luxury of staying put after he met Rune. The guy was really good.]

[ Rune frowns when Ciro mentions their covens. He hasn't wanted to acknowledge anything involving the Cascades since he'd left as a child, and he tries not to think about it if he can help it. There's nothing good for him there. There's nothing really good for him back home either, but that doesn't matter so much now that he and Ciro are together. He pours another powder into the bowl before stopping at the touch, glancing at him and unsure what to make of the warmth that pools between them. He'd felt it at the front door, but he'd chalked it up to the magic instability of this place. ]

I don't blame you, Ciro. You're not like me. [ It's a topic he'd rather not push, so he relents on trying to put together the spell and turns to look at him. ] What do you want to do? Should we stay here and try? Would you even want to go back home?

[ They're important questions, a serious conversation that they really should have. On top of that, where would they live? What would they do? Is there a viable way of making money that doesn't involve super shady things? It's something he's thought about since he'd been left to his own devices, reading and searching through all the information on this place. There are keywords that he still doesn't understand, but Ciro might be able to help him.

Rune reaches out to take his mug, fingers curling around Ciro's. ]

I want to know what you really think.

[He's never said so to anyone before, but he's always wanted to see what it would be like to form his own coven, and who better to lead it with him than Rune! Ciro has a lot of ideas about this, but he definitely doesn't want to bring it up right now and get ahead of himself. First thing's first. They had to decide as a team to not try to leave.]

Hey, wait..what do you mean I'm not like you?

[Ciro frowns, tucking that away for later. He has questions, but where was he?]

I think.. [He looks down at the hands on top of his, and then up at Rune again before speaking.] I think if I ended up here with anyone else, I'd want to try to get back home. You know me, I hadn't ever established roots anywhere until I found you. I'm going to miss the shop, but I don't think my roots are there. I think they're in you.

[Ciro squints at his own word choice there, he could have done better. For once he doesn't crack up into soft laughter. Instead he looks as serious as he ever looks. Like when he's in the middle of cataloging or studying something new.]

I go wherever you go, okay? No matter what. I just..think a place with this much magic where you don't have to worry about being caught is kind of an improvement. I'd like if we can try to stay, and maybe live a normal life? Please?

I meant what I said. We're different.

[ He thinks Ciro would be able to handle a place like this on his own, that he wouldn't need him to guide him like he does back home. Besides, there are other reasons that Rune would prefer to go back, and those reasons are his own. He wonders if Ciro would understand if he told him. ]

A place like this is dangerous. I know you know that – the same as I do. Just because it isn't home and I'm not being hunted down doesn't mean there aren't other things we should be wary of. [ Rune glances at Ciro though, pausing as he takes in the serious way he's trying to approach this. Maybe he's overthinking it, but he has to for both of them. And Rune leans to touch Ciro's chin with his knuckles, wanting him to meet his eyes. ] I don't know what normal is, so tell me where we should start.

[ Is it another house? Is it another tea shop? Rune isn't entirely comfortable putting effort into it when he still doesn't know how this place sees witches or magic users in general. All of it could be a trap, and he doesn't want to put that sort of risk on Ciro. So, even if they do try to live "normally", he isn't going to stop working on a spell to get them home. ]

We're not that different..

[Which is a lie. They were pretty goddamn different. Abilities, personalities, likes, dislikes, they were almost perfect opposites in a lot of ways, but Ciro may be in a bit of denial about it.]

Well, everywhere is dangerous. [It's not even a valid argument, but it sounds good at the moment when he thinks of it.] Is it a bit magic dense? Sure. Is there a possibility one or both of us might get power hungry and try to find ways to use all the magic around here to learn more and get stronger, probably. But if we have each other we can make sure neither of us goes down that route, right?

[He looks up, making eye contact and holding it despite that feeling like Rune is looking right into his fucking soul.] I don't know.. just, me and you. That's normal to me.. [Ciro frowns, putting his hand on top of Rune's. He's so damn stubborn, he hates it, but he's also irritatingly rational and it makes him hard to argue with.] We can open a shop here, too. So it won't be so different.

Find a way to get us home, and I'll figure out what the climate is like here regarding magic users. And if you still decide you want to leave, we can go. [He sighs in defeat, but still intends to enjoy himself while they're here. What if he never comes across a place like this ever again? There's so much to take notes on.]

So are you moving in or am I?

[ Each word out of Ciro's mouth only makes him frown harder. Would that really make things better? In this entire place, Ciro is the only one he can trust, and that, right now, is being tested as he listens to him. There's a lot he could say – and most of it has to do with wondering if Ciro thinks he's the power-craving sort of witch when he almost always abides by the laws of magic – but he doesn't really say anything, eyes dropping to the touch of Ciro's hand against his. They had been a good match for one another since Ciro had saved him, and yet, he's too stubborn to really admit to it when it counts. Like right now.

Instead, he offers the slightest shake of his head. ]

I can figure it out too. You don't need to do those things for me while we're here. [ He isn't going to let Ciro take the risk anymore. Rune sighs. ] Whatever makes you happiest.

[ Slowly, he pulls his hand away, dropping it almost uselessly at his side. ]

If you want a shop, we should find something that works for both of us. And knowing you, it'd be easier if I stayed wherever you are right now. [ Not saying he's a hoarder since they're both pretty bad about it, but... ]

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▶ TDM .017

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