▶ TDM .017

[prismods]

Tropicana's heat

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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.

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Comments

[winscenario]

[ Jim opens his mouth, then just lets out a chuckle, smiling and shaking his head. ]

Never mind. It's not important. Anyway, if you have any questions about this place, then yes, feel free to reach out to me anytime. How long have you been here?

[brawlcreed]

[Now he's just confused. Had he understood that wrong? He literally only had one other guy hit on him before, he has no idea how to read the signals. But they're moving on, so he'll let it go.

To answer the question, he rolls up the sleeve of his right hand to point to the communicator]

Just long enough to get one of these... and save you from a giant fish.

[winscenario]

Hmm... I see. So what, couple days ago, at best?

[ He steps closer, reaching for the communicator and clicking on the display, where Jacob can check his Chroma levels. ]

There. You have two types of currency, here. Demichroma you can get by getting a job or doing certain tasks. Chroma, however, you have to generate with others-- through touch. Varying levels of intimacy can generate more or less Chroma, but you do need to keep your Chroma levels up, or else you'll start to crystallize.

[brawlcreed]

[He nods. Getting jobs shouldn't be too hard with his various skill set. The other is not going to be so easy]

Already got that first part down. I signed on as a lifeguard.

[A lifeguard who refused the uniform. Will he still get paid, though?]

[winscenario]

[ Well he did save Jim, so why not?? ]

It's a start. But Chroma's definitely more important. It plays a role in your survival, for starters, and it's also worth twice the amount of Demichroma.

[brawlcreed]

So I have to give hugs if I'm to survive and it gets me money? What sort of strange power is this?

[winscenario]

[ Jim laughs, shrugging. ]

Hey, don't ask me, I'm not from around these parts. I'll have to say, though, it's a pretty great way to make money, especially since I'm not at all used to dealing with currency.

[brawlcreed]

It's all right. [It's no fight club or train heist, but it doesn't seem hard. Just throw his arm around someone's shoulders every now and then. That should do it.

It's the second comment that gets his attention]

What, the future's done away with money, has it?

[winscenario]

[ It really is that simple. Granted, the moonblessings might try to push him to do more than just that, but hugs would definitely be enough to get by. ]

Yes, actually. At least within Federation space, there's no currency.

[brawlcreed]

I'd love to hear more, but I really should get on with life guarding. Someone else may need rescuing from the fish. Is there a pub somewhere we could meet?

[winscenario]

A handful of them. I'll shoot you the address to one I like. Later today works for me, if you're free.

[brawlcreed]

Cheers. [A momentary pause, and he glances back down at the communicator] Ah, you'll be using this to contact me? How does that work?

[He was probably told, but he was busy having culture shock and didn't pay attention]

[winscenario]

[ Jim pauses. Yeah, a text isn't gonna work, is it. ]

I'll tell you what, I'll call you later. You'll hear that ring, and when you do, just click the little green button. We'll be able to talk directly like that.

[brawlcreed]

Ah, it's like Alec's telephone invention. [Except obviously way more advanced. Still, he at least can connect this with a thing he understands]

[winscenario]

Yes! Among other things, it's a phone. So you got that one right.

[ Jim's just not really connecting the dots just yet. Probably should have by now, between the diminutive and "telephone invention". But anyway. ]

[brawlcreed]

Thank you, Jim, for the help and the explanation.

[He hesitates, almost asking about how Jim had intended to help with Chroma, but not sure how to bring it up. Maybe Jim just meant explaining what it was and how it worked? It was definitely helpful]

Well. See you at the pub.

[He gives a little salute and goes back to life guarding. He stands out like a sore thumb thanks to actually wearing clothes, but he still does the job fine]

[winscenario]

You're welcome. I'll see you later.

[ He waves Jacob goodbye, going back to his towel to enjoy a bit more of the sun before he heads back. He figures Jacob will be working for a while, so he'll remember not to call him too early, just in case he's not free yet. ]

[brawlcreed]

[When the call does come, he answers on the first ring]

Just when I was getting bored. Did you know this life guarding business is mostly sitting around doing nothing?

[winscenario]

[ The comment immediately draws a chuckle from Jim. ]

Yes, actually, I did know. I'm glad to provide you with some distraction then, if you're so bored.

Does this mean you're free for the day, yet?

[brawlcreed]

I think these other life guards have things handled. We were saying something about a pub earlier...?

[winscenario]

Oh, yeah. I'm ready whenever you are, so I can just meet you wherever you are and we can walk there together.

[brawlcreed]

Still here with the giant fish. That is entertaining, at least. One of them slapped someone right in the face with its fin.

[winscenario]

[ Jim laughs. ] That's terrible!

[ No, actually it is pretty funny. Anyway. ]

Okay, don't you want to change out of your clothes first? I imagine those mustn't be that comfortable after going into the sea.

[brawlcreed]

That's nothing compared to dipping into the Thames. [A pause, and a sigh] Besides, I haven't the money to get anything else.

[This is probably why he was encouraged to wear that outfit for lifeguarding. Jacob does not plan things through]

[winscenario]

Okay, I think I can work something out for that. Where do you live? Send me the address and I'll meet you there instead.