▶ TDM .003

[prismods]

Fear is never boring

QUICK LINKS ⬤ navigation ⬤ faq ⬤ world ⬤ moonblessings

"The Raisins : Fear Is Never Boring" (Watch on YouTube)

▶ Tales from the Crypt
Moon Iris | top

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. Even the few shy moon creatures you find in the wild have strange crystal growths on their hides. This is far from home— perhaps a dream? You pinch your skin and slap your cheeks, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Searching for answers yields nothing but an endless expanse of purple dust as far as the eye can see. You have four options: one, panic; two, soil yourself; three, admire it all then soil yourself; or four, go into survival mode. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.

After a day or two of living off the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. After the strange phenomenon 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? Why did I eat those fifty cent street truck tacos last night? — 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.

While waiting for transport to be prepared, you may freely roam around the government center. Alternatively, you can ask the staff about the moon base. They suggest that you visit one of their excavation sites nearby: an enormous hole known as the Glory. The scientists have been excavating this site carefully for years, searching for a legendary ancient tomb sleeping within. They’re accepting volunteers if anyone is inclined to aid in their efforts. Perhaps the Moonblessed have the knowledge they need to make it a success!

A ⬤ A chroma-powered lift made of magically fortified crystal is used to access the lower grounds. Be careful not to fall off! On the way down, some translucent caterpillars and crystals light your way. Be quiet and keep an eye out for Queen Bowie beetles: these glowing neon bugs are attracted to music, and a single note will send them flying into your clothes and hair. Putting the beetles under pressure is not advised, as they will explode and send their sticky insides flying throughout the airspace, potentially stinging your eyes. This will make moving around in dark, cramped spaces all the more difficult! Thankfully, they get bored if no one tries to sing for one whole minute.

B ⬤ Scientists, engineers, miners, and archeologists are at the unearthed antechambers, hard at work. They will assign you to different tasks: recording observations and taking down notes, digging with advanced excavation tools, or collecting fragile relics with metal and crystal detectors. The Moonblessed may also assist with solving riddles the ancients left in the tomb’s doors, chests and walls. Solving them may lead to either treasure rooms or trap walls that close in on unsuspecting grave robbers. Others, well...

Golden jellyfish statues line the walls, encrusted with glistening jewels all over, some worse for wear. Tall pillars have numerous ancient runes which the Prismals are struggling to decipher. Soon, an eerie whisper reaches your mind: “Wander no further. A curse awaits all who enter our kingdom. Disturb not those who slumber in the deep.” True enough, the floor from this point onward appears to be blue sand combed in the pattern of ocean waves... Are you brave enough to continue drilling through?

C ⬤ If that is not enough to send you scrambling out with moist underwear, perhaps the seismic jolt to the ground will. A slimy substance begins to ooze out the tomb’s cracks, glowing lilac like the Iris moon... The Prismals are quick to usher everyone out before the shaking gets worse. As the lift may be too dangerous, climbing equipment will be provided. Watch out for falling debris or collapsing rocks while assisting each other out of cramped passages and up the walls to safety. Try not to get stuck in the slime!

This little adventure might leaving you wondering what or who exactly lies deeper inside, but the Prismals are just as clueless as you are. Cave-ins happen from time to time, but this might have been the strongest one recorded on this site.

Eventually you’re called to the docks and led onto a large transport vessel. Destination: Prismatica.




▶ Those Kicks were Fast as Lightning
Higher Lunatia, Level 1 | 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.

With the end of Harvest Boon, the city is calm once more. The streets of Level 1 and 2 are now sparkling clean as always, but Level 3 is still in the process of cleaning up. There are confetti and deflated balloons strewn all over the streets, but Swiffy bots are on the scene, sweeping up whatever waste they can get their hands on. Sometimes, they might even play tug-of-war with you for it. At one of the train stations, a Prismal doomsayer screams about the apocalypse returning. Passersby shrug at the conspiracy theory and move on.

A ⬤ In response to the unexpected rough events during Harvest Boon, the Moon Knights decided to hold free-for-all self-defense seminars at a large park near Lunatia Square. The live demonstrations include proper monster-wrangling procedures and how to efficiently keep a rogue moonheld (read: transformed under the moon) Prismal away. Participants are encouraged to learn and interact with each other to learn various safety practices and techniques. The training visors provided enhance the seminar experience, changing whoever your eyes focus on into a cerberus or other rogue moonheld Prismal on the visor’s display. Don’t use the visors for too long, or you’ll be seeing everyone as a cerberus well after you take the visors off! Fortunately, the effects only last for an hour. Energy drinks and free snacks are available to any worn-out Prismal or Moonblessed.

B ⬤ Virtual lunar conditions are also available via multiplayer VR pods in Lunar Scientia headquarters, simulating the Moonblessed/moonheld experience under full moons. Mental exercises and magic practice sessions are accessible in the virtual spaces, allowing people to test out their magical abilities and transformations. Simulation participants can either train by themselves, with a partner, or through a tutorial of instruction-based movements. However, the program is still in beta. You may experience errors or bugs like lagging, NPCs phasing into things they shouldn’t, weird physics, or body glitches.

▶ Meas Trees are the Bee’s Knees
Middle Lunatia, Level 2 | top

The rows of Meas trees planted this Harvest Boon are blossoming beautifully into view, painting the fields in Level 2 with colors of spring. Meas tree saplings each have a small sign next to them, displaying their owners’ written wish if they chose to disclose it. Interestingly, the color and aroma of each flower depends on the owners; fiery personalities might have red or orange flowers, those born in a coastal town might have flowers that smell like the sea near their hometown, and so on. Maybe you’ll encounter a familiar aroma if you’re lucky enough.

The Moonblessed who were most active with moonlacing the past few weeks have the largest trees, nearly rivaling the oldest Meas trees around. The older trees planted by Prismals over time can be seen in the next field, standing majestically with their swaying branches and flying petals.

A ⬤ Picnic grounds for flower viewings can be found near the fields. There are plenty of stalls selling homemade bruschettas, crostinis, sandwiches, wines, cheeses, and other enjoyable finger food. Notably, some wines may give you an insatiable desire to whisper things in someone’s ear. Sweet nothings, death threats, your secret kinks—no matter the words, you’ll want to kill someone softly with them.

B ⬤ The Swiffy bots that are assigned to the parks and gardens in Level 2 help keep things spick and span, but they’re due for maintenance and may attempt to sweep off any unfortunate picnics with their high-powered vacuums or leaf blowers. As they zoom across the paths, they chirrup about not treading on the grass and take off with picnic blankets, table cloths, and people’s clothes. Any nearby maintenance staff (who are all desperately trying to chase the bots) yell that a conk on the head will immobilize them. Once the malfunctioning bots are stopped, the staff approach to wheel them away while apologising profusely for the mayhem.

▶ Questions

If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.

Comments

nakahara chuuya | bungou stray dogs

[indensity]

TALES FROM THE CRYPT

b.
[Chuuya can be found crouched besides what looks like an ancient chest, poking cautiously at the mechanisms. It seems to be part of the wall, which is how he'd come across it. A moment ago he'd been helping with the digging, and with one large piece of rock falling away, there it was.

He's not sure what to do with it, though.

He could notify someone, he could ignore it, or he could try to open it. And he's definitely curious about what's inside.]

I could just break it open. What do you think?


c.
[When the seismic jolt hits, Chuuya barely even reacts. He's curious about this place now, and he wants to keep exploring, see if he can find some treasure. But when they're all herded out, he does follow. Being buried under tons of rock doesn't really sound like fun, even for him.

He doesn't take the climbing gear, though, just passes it along to the next person behind him.]

Need any help?

[He's still pretty calm, even as things start to crumble.]


THOSE KICKS WERE FAST AS LIGHTNING

[Of course Chuuya has been trying out the visors. It's a good excuse to work off some steam, and being trapped in a strange world is exactly the thing to make him need it. Downside: He definitely kept the visor on for too long. Everyone looks like a cerberus to him now, and it's annoying, and unsettling, and he's trying to just ignore it.

He's going for the snacks while he waits for it to wear off.]

They didn't mention the side-effects

[Or maybe they did, and he missed it. He definitely has no idea who he's talking to, though. Was he talking to you earlier, or fighting you? Whoops.]


MEAS TREES ARE THE BEES KNEES

[Chuuya went straight for the wine. It seemed like the only really important thing being sold at those stalls, although, again, no one told him about the side-effects. Instead of just the usual drunk, it's making him feel restless, want to seek out a person just for --

Whoever is unfortunate enough to walk by is grabbed by their collar and yanked close enough for him to lean up and whisper in their ear.]

I could snap your neck right now.

[He doesn't let go.]

Meas Trees

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi had managed to find a stall that was loaded with toasted breads and sandwiches, and he'd happily bought one for himself to eat as he walked through the stalls. It tastes delicious... enough so that he doesn't even notice the redhead reaching for him before it's too late, and he lets out a yelp as he's yanked over and down by someone, bicolored eyes going wide.]

What?!

[Snap his neck?!]

[indensity]

[Chuuya isn't sure why, but he can't resist twisting that collar in his grip, tightening it around Atsushi's neck. He hasn't even recognized him yet. To be fair, though, it's hard to recognize someone from this angle. His lips are just a fraction of an inch from Atsushi's hair,close enough that his warm breath gusts over it as he speaks.]

You wouldn't even feel it.

[Is it meant to be a temptation, or a threat? With his tone of voice it's hard to tell.]

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi can barely breath, not just because of the hand at his collar but the proximity, fingers tightening their grip around his half eaten sandwich. He shudders a little at the warm breath so close to his neck, mind racing.

Were they serious? It was hard to say. They could just be kidding--who would murder someone in broad daylight?--but he'd seen weirder.

...But he couldn't let anyone get involved in this, either. He reaches up with his one free hand, letting claws form at the tips of his fingers as he goes to grasp the wrist attached to that hand around his collar.]

I'd rather you didn't.

[indensity]

[Being grabbed by something that's definitely not a hand is what finally snaps Chuuya out of it. He doesn't let go of Atsushi, but he pulls back to have a look, eyes going first to the claw - oh, hey, looks like he grabbed someone interesting - and then to his face.

And then his eyes go wide as he actually recognizes him.]

You're that were-tiger.

[He does know his name. Of course he does. But it seems all members of the mafia are incapable of actually using it, or they've all been ordered not to for some reason, or they're all just dicks.

But Dazai's new protege victim is definitely the last person Chuuya expected to find.]

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi isn't letting go of Chuuya's wrist until he lets go of him, because he likes his head where it is thank you. His eyebrows raise in surprise though, at the familiar word. How...?]

...I have a name, you know.

[He hisses the words in petty annoyance, but that's probably not what he should be saying right now!! Now that the man's stepped back, he can get a better look at him. Red hair, black clothes--

...Black. Oh. A shock runs down his spine, his grip on Chuuya's wrist getting tighter.]

You're from the Port Mafia, aren't you?

[It was weird. Dazai arriving was already such a strange chance of fate, but some stranger from the Mafia too....? But who else would call him that?]

trees knees bees

[theartofdying]

[Well, this is familiar, isn't it? A hand clutching his collar, tugging him down, that low, throaty voice whispering death threats in his ear, the sound of revelers picnicking in the background--if he closes his eyes, he can almost pretend the meas trees are cherry blossoms, and this is a beautiful spring day from four years ago. In fact, for just a moment he does, the alcohol making his mind buzz and spin nicely, and for just that moment things haven't changed at all.

It's a nice illusion, isn't it? But it can't last, and a moment later he's opening his mouth to speak, to deliver some sort of off-handed insult as is proper and expected, only what comes out instead is a velvety purr of a response:]

Promise?

[Whoops. Looks like someone's been imbibing the wrong kind of wine.]

[indensity]

[Nothing has changed, has it? It’s been for years since Dazai disappeared without a word, months now since he turned up again working for the enemy. They’re on a different planet, with strange people, unfamiliar traditions. Nothing here feels right.

Except this. It’s always been like this, hasn’t it?]

On second thought, you deserve something more personal.

[He should be more focused on where they are, on getting information out of Dazai. He should be relieved, or annoyed, but he’s drunk and under the wine’s influence, and it’s so easy to just be caught up in the familiarity of the moment. He turns his head so his lips are even closer to Dazai’s ear. ]

I’ll kill you as slow as I can.

[He’s one of the most impatient people in the mafia, but some things are worth the effort. ]

[theartofdying]

[No, nothing has really changed. Except everything has changed. Except it doesn't feel like it? It's complicated. But this part, at least, this was never complicated. This was always the easiest thing in the world, and he never felt so alive as he did with Chuuya threatening him just like this.

Dazai tilts his own head slightly, and there's a dreamy smile curving his lips as he reaches up, fingertips lightly resting on Chuuya's wrist.]

When you say things like that, you almost make me want to die with you.

[Almost. At least Chuuya would make it worth it, wouldn't he? It might hurt, but then that was nothing new between them, was it?]

[indensity]

[Chuuya should be annoyed by the mention of dying together. He always hates it when Dazai talks about suicide so easily. But this time, all it does is send a shiver down his spine, makes his eyes go slightly wide in surprise.

He tightens his grip on his partner's collar, twists it.]

What makes you think I'd follow?

[He says it low like a threat, but Dazai caught him off guard with that statement.]

[theartofdying]

[Well now. This is interesting, isn't it? Interesting, and strange. Chuuya always got mad at him for talking about dying. And yeah, that fist tightens in his shirt, making his breath catch in his throat, but Chuuya didn't sound mad. Instead, he shivers, and Dazai can almost feel a difference in his voice.

He fights the tug on his shirt a little, then, resisting just enough that Chuuya has to work to keep him down at his level, and turns his own head so his lips are just a breath away from Chuuya's temple.]

It'd be lonely without you. And you're here, aren't you?

[It isn't an exact answer to Chuuya's question. It isn't exactly what he meant to say. In fact, he's not sure why exactly he's even saying any of this, except that he can smell Chuuya's scent, warm and spicy, faintly floral and familiar, laced with the heady smell he's coming to recognize as Cordis pheromones, and it's distracting enough that he isn't really thinking about the words. It just feels right, doesn't it?]

Tales: C

[inabluemoon]

[Vanitas seems equally unbothered by the crumbling crypt, still taking his time to examine some of the gemstones embedded in the wall amongst the odd symbols. He taps on one with a sharp nail, seeming to be trying to test how genuine it is even as another seismic wave sweeps through the caverns.

Blue eyes only glance away from his work as the gear is pushed his direction but he doesn't take it, almost instantly looking back towards his quarry.]

No, I'm almost done... Oops-

[He barely manages to dodge some falling rubble.]

[indensity]

[Chuuya could leave him behind, but he doesn't. So far the falling rubble is small enough that it's not a threat to him, so there's no reason for him to rush yet, and since he'd offered to help this guy doesn't feel like he can abandon him.

Though those gemstones won't do him any good if he's dead.]

Are you an idiot?

[He says it casually, before walking over to that wall he'd been saying. And then he just punches it, fist going through the rock, before he plucks that gemstone right out. And pockets it for himself.]

Or do you just want to die?

[inabluemoon]

[Truthfully Vanitas is mostly interested in the gem because he wants to compare it to some of the other crystals that he encountered on the way down and those utilized in the city. Of course if it doesn't yield anything interesting on that front there's a chance that the Prismals might give him something in exchange for it, and extra Chroma is never a bad thing.

He had almost wedged the gemstone out with one of his nails when Chuuya abruptly punches the wall, leaving nothing more than debris and a crater in the wake of his fist. For a moment the doctor pouts, watching what pocket the redhead puts the rock into before stepping after him.]

So is that strength your Moonblessing? Or could you always do that sort of thing?

[Still he doesn't seem at all concerned and he seems to have no intention of addressing either of Chuuya's questions.]

[indensity]

[Chuuya is a bit surprised by the lack of annoyance. He'd expected anger, or at least an objection, since he did just take the gem this guy had worked so hard to get. But when he doesn't get any of that, Chuuya just shrugs.

And grins.]

That's nothing.

[That's not really an answer, either. But it does come across as a boast, which probably says enough.]

You're going to get buried soon.

Meas trees!

[compendiums]

[ Not like Hakutaku hadn't indulged in the wine himself. Perhaps he's not as drunk as the other person, who's grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close.

At first, he had a feeling he did something wrong and brings his hands up in gentle surrender -- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -- but all that is washed away by a single line that both pisses him off and sends a shiver down his spine. And yet, all he can say is this: ]

What? That's bad luck, you know!! You can't snap an auspicious beast!!

[indensity]

Why not?

[Chuuya answers immediately. He turns his head, lips even closer to the stranger's ears, close enough that he might be able to feel the shift in expression as Chuuya grins.]

What's bad luck to a god?

[He doesn't know, actually, but it does sound like a good question, doesn't it.]

knees & bees

[wearingguess]

[ well, that's...


startling!

...but this particular passerby (a petite blond teenager in a wizard hat) manages to recover from the initial shock quite swiftly, and then sniffs dismissively. ]

No, you couldn't.

[indensity]

I could.

[Chuuya grins. He tightens his grip on the kid's collar, enough so that it should start to feel a little restricting.]

Don't worry, you wouldn't feel anything.

[wearingguess]

[ annoying!! titus sniffs again and turns his nose up a bit. ]

Don't be ridiculous. Anyway, you cannot simply go around implying you'll snap people's necks. Now, unhand me, if you please!

[indensity]

Why can't I do that?

[He obviously can, since he's doing it. Not that Chuuya really knows why, either - he's fine with threatening people, but he usually has a reason first - but he's too affected by the wine to stop and thinking about it.]

No.

[bloodisthicker]

[look, here Tarrlok is minding his own business and someone just fuckin

does that

alright. that's cool. admittedly, he has no idea if he's serious, but his pulse definitely quickens and he almost defaults to

...

...

no. try to defuse the situation. you don't wanna just grab someone by the blood and knock them unconscious because that would lead to way too many questions.]

So. Do you tell this to everyone when you first meet them, or am I just special?

[indensity]

[Yanking down someone a literal foot taller than you takes some effort, but Chuuya is willing to do his best. He does push up on his toes to get closer, too, though, because for some reason it's very important that his messages are murmured directly into this stranger's ear.

He lowers his voice a fraction more.]

Do you want to be special?

[He grins, lips close enough that he might feel it.]

It would only take a second.

[bloodisthicker]

[I mean Tarrlok is experienced enough to know that size doesn't actually correlate to how dangerous someone is, although it does kind of add to how weirdly surreal this situation is and how he has no idea how seriously he should take this.]

And what are you looking to accomplish with this?

[indensity]

Isn't it obvious?

[Chuuya honestly has no idea. He's not really aware yet that he's so affected by the wine - he'd expected to be drunk, but alcohol doesn't have this effect on him. Though threatening people does come pretty naturally to him.]