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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He did! But like Rin is gonna go around telling anyone. There's absolutely no point.]

Ohhhhh. Huh. Okay, yeah, I've never heard it called that before. I just uh. I just use fire.

[Blue fire, to be exact, which he shows off in a similar manner after saying so.]

[ The blue fire gets a stark reaction out of Zuko. It's like lightning just shot up his spine — at least it was like lightning in his imagination. He stands straighter, his eyes widen at the flame — but then narrow... ]

Your fire is blue.

[ So strange being in a new world, because he can't apply logical thinking... He knows blue fire in his world is not just prettier — it's terrifying. And it makes Zuko immediately suspicious about the moral standing of the man in front of him — but on this planet, he can't make the same judgments he naturally would, so he loosens up a bit, although there's a mildly sharper tone to his voice, and he's still eyeing the flame and Rin warily. ]

What about lightning? You use that, too?

[Oops.

Rin of course has no idea what that was the reaction he got, but it's not the first time someone has had an adverse response to him or his power. He quickly puts it out and shakes his head at the question. Lightning would be cool as hell but last he checked he's just very... explosive. And blue.]

Nah. Just fire. Is that somethin' people-- benders from your world can do?

No. Not most. It requires incredible calm — and power.

[ There's clearly plenty left unsaid as he glances aside briefly. ]

I only wield fire, too. But I only know one firebender whose flames are blue — and she can bend lightning, too... it's rare.

[Rin sure has power, but certainly not calm. He's better than he used to be but not by a whole lot.]

Yeah, I kinda... inherited the power? So it's just blue flames. No lightnin' here.

[Unless you count the guy from his world that goes by "Lightning".]

You okay, though? You didn't get hurt by the uh... "accidental" fire, yeah?

What? No, of course not. Uh—

[ The question takes Zuko aback. His thoughts had drifted very briefly to his sister on the topic, but he was quick to snap back into the situation at hand. ]

No, I'm not hurt. Thanks...

[~~Azula is way more of a demon than Rin ever was--~~

That hesitation and stumbling gets a quirked eyebrow, but Rin lets it go. If he wants to talk about it Rin is more than willing to listen but there was obviously some history that this guy wasn't keen on dwelling on.]

Good. You're new then, yeah? Did you get the info from the prismals okay? I know when I got here it was... a lot and I had to be told some things more than once.

[ Zuko catches Rin's eyes, then averts his gaze again, rubbing his neck uncomfortably. ]

I guess? I just arrived probably like... a couple hours ago.

[ New, new. He was not anywhere near accepting the idea that he was going to stay here longer than 24 hours. He was in major denial, borderline delusional, about this situation he's found himself in. Abating any panic has been incidental and is in fact no sign of reasonability. He's an emotional booby trap right now. Which is... why he was screaming in an alley and setting stuff on fire. Regaining composure is one thing, calming down is another. ]

[Super new.

Rin gets it, though. He's been there twice himself now. First time, freaked out and upset that he hadn't gone home like he thought he was supposed to. Second time, feverish and utterly emotionally devastated at getting pulled away from his brother before he could help yet again.

Not everyone gets to have their girlfriend and other friends already there to help a freaked newbie settle in easier, though. He understood he was lucky in that regard.

He held out a hand and offered a toothy grin, showing off his sharp canines.]

I'm Rin.

[ Zuko hesitates, looking from Rin, to his outstretched hand, to Rin... He toys with the idea of just guessing what gesture he's supposed to do with Rin's hand, but the thought's too much, and he just awkwardly bows instead. ]

Nice to meet you.

[Oh, hey, that's cool too! Rin pulls his hand back and bows instead, though without the positioned hands.

But uh.

Still missing something there, buddy.]

Ammmm I gonna get a name or do I just call you "Fire Guy"?

[ Zuko skips a beat, wheels almost visibly turning inside his head very fast. But then he is quick to respond, very smoothly, very naturally... ]

My name is Lee.

[Zuko...

Dude...]

Nice to meet you, Lee!

[Luckily in this case Rin is actually not that quick on the uptake and doesn't at all question it. He motions over his shoulder, back out of the alleyway.]

I got a restaurant here if you'd like to get somethin' to eat. Helps with that whole "in a different world" craziness a bit. Better to think on a full stomach an' all that.

[ Zuko glances aside, uncertain. He only understands vaguely how the Chroma works, and he is n o t . a . f a n . . . ]

I have nothing.

[ He bows again, more slightly this time, lowering his head in a single nod as a deferential decline. He's gonna struggle so much here because he can't bring himself to accept kindness without being able to help back — even if it's just some odd jobs, fixing a roof, farm, anything — but money-wise, in a touch-based economy, woof, welcome back, hungry prince lifestyle... ]

[Hey, it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's not even really Rin's entirely. He has a girlfriend - well, fiance now - and he might be a little overly cuddly with people he's close to during Cordis but the rest of the time he'd rather not delve down that rabbit hole either.]

Hey, don't sweat it. Seriously. I always do the first one on the house for newbies. Gettin' started here kinda sucks.

[Less suck than the place Rin was before, but still a bit.]

I know how hard it is to get your feet back under you after all that. I ain't here to take advantage, I just wanna help.

[ Zuko pauses to consider, but nods silently in acceptance. Even if he's still intending to figure out a way to escape today ~~cuz he's still pretending he's intending to do that~~, he also realizes it's probably not wise to do on an empty stomach. ]

[Look, if you find a way out, make sure you let everyone else here know because they're going to want to hear it.

Until then follow this weird grinning kid with the tail and cat ears to have some damn Teppanyaki and try not to light anything else on fire.]

[ And that's exactly what he does. He keeps up just a pace behind Rin, but he finds his gaze drifting toward the ground as they walk, in thought, not really knowing what to do, or what to say to this weird guy... Everything was weird. He's not a great conversationalist even on a good day, but he's definitely at a loss for words for chit-chat now. Gonna be like yanking teeth, Rin, oy. ]

[Look, he's dealt with Yukio his entire life. He knows how to handle this situation.

Thankfully not by talking incessantly but by at least offering some topics that he needs to provide more than one word answers to.]

Got any preferences on food? I mean, I've only got so much to offer, it is a Teppanyaki grill, but there's like steak, tofu, fish...

[He trails off in thought, realizing something a little belatedly.]

Actually do you know what Teppanyaki is? I've run into a lotta people who don't.

[ Zuko shakes his head, in fact not knowing what teppanyaki is. But he's about to find out and he's about to love it. They've got some culinary presentation at home that's not so different from dramatic teppanyaki chefs, but that's sort of a different game for firebenders — he'll definitely have never seen anything like it without some serious firebending skills on top of the cooking skills. Even if he's not familiar with the style, he certainly know the names of meats Rin tosses out — and his stomach knows those names too, and loudly chimes in with its own rumbling two cents. ]

Steak.

[ That's a sentence, one word. Right? And an answer. Right? Right. ]

[It is! Rin is actually kind of impressed. But shaking his head to Rin's first question still makes it an answer and one he can prattle on about as they head for the beach.]

It's grilled stuff! Noodles, meat, veggies, sauce, toppings! All of it grilled and totally delicious! Sounds awesome, right?

[ Zuko nods, an endlessly eloquent young man. His stomach was more excited than he was, but it could just pipe down til they get there! Zuko takes a pause to speak, but his tone's a little lighter when he does. Rin's general enthusiasm seems genuine, and whether he's aware of it himself or not, that kind of transparent, bubbly energy strikes an oddly familiar chord and helps Zuko relax a little bit. ]

...You said you own this restaurant? That must mean you've been here a long time.

Mm... yeah, almost a year now.

[He had to think about it. Coming here directly from another world, going home for a short time and returning... sure did mess with one's perception of time.]

Eh, sorry. If you were lookin' for a quick way out. Some people get to go home right away but most of us are stuck for a while and just try to make the best of it, y'know?

[ Bad answer. Sudden hot temper. Whoops. Sorry, Rin. ]

A year?! How can you be so calm about it?! "Make the best of it!" Why is everyone here so complacent?!

[ His emotions are still raw. He had been trying to concoct half-baked escape plans since the moment he woke up. Things aren't going well upstairs today. ]

[Urk--!

Rin makes a choked, shocked noise, looking for all the world like a deer in headlights at the outburst. Thankfully most Prismals are used to this sort of thing and barely bat an eye at the two, but Rin still turns around waving his hands in hopes of getting him to at least bring the volume down a touch.]

L-look it's not like we can do anythin' about it! Trust me, I got dragged to another place before this one and we were there even longer before we figured out how to get home! That's just how this shit works!

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