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

[Clearly.

And here Rin thought his rage was bad.

Granted he's also calmed down significantly in the years that have passed, but still. Damn.

His own voice goes the other direction, quieter and low, tinged with regret and heartache. Prismatica had been kind to him. Chroma Village, not so much.]

Y'think if I knew the answer to that, I'd still be here? I left my brother behind. The first friends I ever made in my life. We're all in the same fuckin' boat here. You can't just plant your feet in the ground and refuse to move until whatever brought us here decides they've had enough and sends you back.

[ He's having a Bad Day. Please forgive him. ...I mean, he still does shit like this every day, but please forgive that, too. ]

Are those the only two options? Stand here and tell others to "Make the best of it," or stand here and refuse to move?

[ His tone does soften and his volume does lower, not being totally out of tune with the other boy's emotions. But he's still... convicted, we'll say. ]

[Rin is shockingly forgiving for someone with just as bad of a temper. Helps that he has to actually be aware of his emotions more now days, but even before then he wasn't the sort to hold a grudge.]

I'm not sayin' it's impossible to go back. People do all the time. I'm just sayin' standin' there pissed off about it ain't gonna make the moons or whatever do it any faster or slower.

[He's conveniently leaving out that he actually does have a reason to stay, and a pretty big one at that, but he's fairly convinced at this point if he mentions the fact that he's engaged to someone from a world other than his own Zuko is probably going to lose his absolute shit at him.]

Right this second, though? You do have two choices. Keep bein' angry over somethin' you got zero control over, or come get some food with me.

[ Zuko scowls, meeting eyes with Rin, before casting his glance aside, with a little "tch" thrown out, too. He shoves both hands in his pockets sulkily, and picks up the pace again, slowly, letting Rin resume lead. He's quiet for an awkward moment, letting the man's words sink in. It's so infuriating how everyone here is so complacent and logical — that everyone's complacency (as he sees it now) was the reasonable reaction, the correct response, was enough to make his blood boil, and it already was. But he knew he has no room to say boo on the matter, having tried and failed to find much logic in the situation on his own. It takes him pause to collect himself a little better. ]

...Why is it that people leave, but no one's ever escaped? Is that just propaganda?

[Oh good, Rin doesn't have to physically haul him to the grill now.

It was going to be a last resort because he's not so callous to just leave someone angry and upset on the street with no way to deal with it.

Rin starts walking again as well, tail swinging low behind his back.]

Dunno. I doubt it? 'cause uh. I actually did go home once. It was like three days here, somethin' more like a week back home, but then I returned. I've known people who just straight up left and never came back. Happened the same way in the place I was in before, too, so I don't think it's just Prismatica that has that problem.

So it's like some kind of... cosmic rift? Chaotic, it's not controlled? What happens to people who leave — they just... vanish?

[ He's always got a baseline heat to his voice, but he's definitely more willing to get on the more Rin says now. Better to learn and gain the knowledge he wants now while it's being offered. Closed mouths don't get fed, literally, or something like that... ]

[Man, Rin is way the wrong person to ask about this. Zuko might be okay with Rin taking the lead for now but sooner or later he's going to learn that this boy is dumb.

Good hearted, attentive to people's emotions and feelings, but so very dumb.

For now it's just an uncertain shrug.]

Dunno. All I ever really picked up was that some huge almost world endin' event happened, and after people from other worlds started showin' up on Iris and were able to do the whole moonlacin' thing that the Prismals used to be able to do but couldn't anymore.

[Any details beyond that could be found but it wasn't like Rin was willing to hunt them down or hurt his head trying to read words he wouldn't have understood anyway.

Besides, he did enough digging back in the village. This time around he was living more for himself than for whatever powers that be.]

We remember them, though, so it's not like it fucks with memory or anythin'.

Yeah... I heard all that...

[ He takes a moment to process, trying to chew over the information quickly to come up with a good next question — cuz he's certain he still has at least a couple hundred to ask, at any given point — but somehow none of them come to mind again now as it all seeps in. The best he can come up with is a soft, aggravated snarl as he throws his hands in the air, literally and figuratively. ]

Ugh! None of this makes any sense!

It doesn't.

[That's something Rin can say with absolute confidence. He knows it doesn't make a god damn bit of sense. It never has. It probably never will. Even if he wasn't an idiot and actually had his brother's level of intelligence he wouldn't have an answer that was satisfactory.

As it was he gave up trying a long time ago.]

Sorry. I really do wish I had better answers for you.

[ Zuko just sighs and lets a silence sink in, keeping his eyes cast to the ground as they walk. It's too much to think about, and if he keeps trying, he's just gonna grow more and more upset again. His stomach rumbles in objection, and he gives another small sigh. Too much to process on an empty stomach, no less. ]

[Geez. Is it all gonna be doom and gloom with this guy? Rin gets it but what good is raging against something that can't be changed?

Rin gives him a light nudge with his elbow.]

Look, man. One thing at a time, okay? Get somethin' to eat then go from there.

Yeah. You're right...

[ Yes, actually, it is gonna be all doom and gloom and rage with this guy. On his best day, he's still grumpy and irritable. Have fun with that.

He can take a hint, though, at least sometimes — the nudge helps. He may be resistant at first, or even the whole time here, but the physicality of this place will actually serve as a really useful tool for him socially. He hates touching and he hates talking — but with touching, you can also avoid talking, to some degree. Say something without saying anything. It will prove to be a comfort in time. But in this moment, he's aware he should lighten up, huh... It takes him a moment to search for conversation. ]

...So... did you run a restaurant in your home world, too? You've always been a chef?

[He gets points from Rin for trying. Rin has been there himself, stuck in an awful mental space, lacking help and support from those around him, convinced that all that waited for him in the future was more of the same...

Thankfully, as painful what caused it had been, change came to him and he was able to forge a new life with people around him who actually cared.

He genuinely believed Zuko could get there too, someday.

To the question he shakes his head.]

Nah, I was just a student. I did have a little cheap lunch place outta the school's kitchen for like a day but the headmaster got pissed I did it without permission so it got shut down.

[Damn Mephisto, let your poorer students eat cheaply! Fucking miser.]

But I've been cookin' since I was little. Only thing I ever really got good at.

Mmn.

[ He has no clue what to say. He's awful with chit-chat. Does he ask more questions? He doesn't really... have any... off the cuff. Does he offer information about himself back to show he can relate? But he can't relate. Still, admitting this is maybe the better route to go than disingenuously coming up with awkward questions for the sake of it. His eyes scan around them as he considers this, not wanting an awkward silence to fall in. ]

...I've never cooked or been to school.

[Two years ago that would have surprised Rin. He was a drop out but he still went for a while, and returned when it was the only option afforded to him.

Now days he knows better. Everyone's worlds are different. For many education was something you got in places far removed from brick buildings and chalkboards.

In other words, you're fine, buddy. Rin's got this.]

I could teach you, if you wanted to learn some basics. I mean, food is super easy to come by here and there's even shit you don't have to cook to eat, but some people like the option.

[His musing turns into a cheeky grin.]

Or you could just always come over to my place.

[ Why's this guy being so nice to him...? Zuko's not used to it. He's never been offered to much help and comfort and insight from a stranger. Rin's giving a man a fish to feed him for today, and offering to teach him to fish to feed him from then on? It's more than he would offer to a stranger. It's unusual, and he feels quite awkward accepting the kindnesses, especially not having anything to offer in return... but the fact is he does need the help. People don't feign helpfulness, right?

He averts eye contact, and an uncomfortable hand reaches for his neck as he speaks. Today was many shades of nerve-wracking and he'd only been here about, eh, let's say twelve hours or so total, by now. Not really with it yet. Fresh off the boa— err, spaceship. ]

I have no way to repay you. ...Is there— uh— a-any work that needs doing instead, maybe? I can help with... something. In return for your help.

[That's just how Rin is. Even when Miwa was looking at him fearfully once his true origins were revealed Rin refused to be anything but kind. It was hard, made his chest ache every time, but by perseverance alone he convinced his friends that being literal Satan spawn didn't make him any different from the guy they met at the start of cram school.

The world had been painfully cruel to little Rin, but it in turn made him all the more determined to show people the kinder side of life.]

Well, yeah, I'm always lookin' for new employees. You sure you wanna jump in feet first like that, though? I don't mind floatin' you while you figure shit out first.

[ Zuko just nods, eyes downcast. He didn't really wanna jump in like that, it was true — that made this too real, too permanent. Even with all this information he's gained, he's still obtusely fixed in his head that he still has a chance of escaping soon. He needed to try. He wasn't trying to start a life here. ]

I'm just not used to strangers being so nice, to be honest... I have nothing to offer in exchange, though.

Seriously, don't worry about it.

[Rin gives him a probably too rough pat on the back complete with toothy grin.]

It'd be dumb as hell to get dragged to a place like this against our wills then start being assholes to each other for no reason. If you really wanna make it up to me after you're feelin' better about the whole thing you'll know where to find me, okay?

[ Zuko knew Rin was being nice — optimistic, even. But the idea of settling down was still sitting ill with him, and he needed to swallow the feeling. If there were dishes to do today, something to clean, that’s what he’d eagerly agree to. But talking about lining up a job down the road? Right now, it was irksome. He still wanted to delude himself into thinking he could escape still; he just wanted to put it out of his mind for now for the sake of trying to be good company. Cuz, uh, unfortunately, this has more or less been Zuko on good behavior. He stopped shouting, after all. ]

Does everyone band together like this here, or is it just you? I would’ve imagined people would faction off, turn against each other... Don’t they?

Nah. I mean, here, you're just livin' with the locals so it ain't like we're in some sorta survival situation. The place I was before, yeah, I woulda expected it, but it didn't happen there either? Like we all came together to make it a little less awful. It was kinda nice to see.

[Surviving that whole ordeal really did give Rin a better opinion of people in general. Sure there were always going to be assholes, but to his memory no one ever really sabotaged anyone or caused major problems. Even being separated into "districts" based on color didn't cause division or strife.]

Here though... I guess it's like movin' to a new city? You're not dealin' with limited resources or whatever. Pretty sure someone would look at you like you got three heads if you suggested somethin' like that.

[ His tone is slightly darker, a little raspier in his response. Ever bright and cheerful. ]

Where I’m from, you can’t escape politics like that. There’s been a war in my world for a hundred years — just one nation terrorizing all the others. It’s not so unusual to faction off there... If there were somehow a lot of us who ended up in this situation, I think it’d be the first move most people from my world would make.

[ He glances to the side again awkwardly, realizing what he’s about to say may sound like resignation to his fate here. It’s not. He still refuses to believe it. But he’s here. He shoves his hands in his pockets a bit embarrassedly. ]

It would’ve been mine...

[All sunshine and rainbows, huh?]

Trust me, when shit gets crazy, you're gonna be glad to have friends and not enemies.

[He doesn't elaborate on what shit getting crazy even means, mainly because they're finally nearing the beach. He points to a single storey building facing the sand, curls of smoke from the fire pits curling into the air outside.]

Almost there!

[ He looks to the building, but quickly back to Rin because he’s more curious about what he just said. A second ago, wasn’t it just like moving to a new city, civilian life? ]

“When shit gets crazy?”

[Whoops.]

Heh...

[Look, sometimes the new city just likes to keep people on their toes!

With cults.

And dragons.

And other things.]

... food first?

[Please?]

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