▶ TDM .003

[prismods]

Fear is never boring

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"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

[thunders]

[ There's a quick flicker of surprise in his expression when Steve mentions Loki, but Thor makes no move to rush off searching for his brother. Instead, he sets the sledgehammer down and folds his arms. ]

A lot of things have changed since we last met. Loki is, I hope, among them. [ He sounds weary already. He knows that he's inviting an argument with a statement like that - and not one without merit - but he moves on from the topic. At the moment, they have more pressing concerns. ]

I've been here a couple of weeks already. The people are forthcoming, and I don't doubt their sincerity, but I still have more questions than answers.

[assembles]

[ There's no denying that Thor has a soft spot for Loki, and to some extent Steve can understand why. They're brothers, they were raised together, and there's always going to be a part of Thor that will feel attached to Loki, regardless of the damage he's done.

But it also means that he can't be impartial when it comes to him, and Steve can't just take him at his word when he insists that Loki has changed. ] He didn't try to kill me, so I guess he's got that going for him. [ It's a very, very low bar.

Thor has already been here a few weeks? He's the first person who Steve's run into who didn't just arrive, other than the natives, which means he might actually be able to shed some light on their situation. ]

That's more than I've got right now. [ Steve doesn't feel bad for letting the work fall by the wayside in light of this development, and it's not like there's really anyone monitoring them. ] What have you been able to find out?

[thunders]

[ Thor shakes his head, but ultimately the fact that no one was injured during their meeting is - progress. He doesn't intend to shield Loki from the consequences of his crimes, or from the people he's harmed through them, but he'll not lose remains of his family - not the brother he's grown with, or the one who stands with him now. ]

I have no idea where we are, or how we came to be here. Even Heimdall cannot hear me, and there is nowhere the light reaches that is hidden from his sight. [ He wouldn't say as much to anyone else, but he knows Steve is more than capable of handling an unpleasant truth. That Steve isn't looking to him for the answers he can't provide. ] Without his aid, we're to find our own way home, and in order to do that it seems only option is to generate enough Chroma for the journey.

[assembles]

[ While Steve has never met Heimdall himself, he has a general understanding of what he's capable of, so the fact that he isn't able to locate Thor in this place is not a good sign, to say the least. It means that they're on their own out here, that the people who are still back home will have no way to track them down. If they're going to get back, they're going to have to figure it out by themselves, and Thor confirms that.

He even seems to have some idea of how to go about it, which is more than Steve had been expecting. His chin tilts up, and when he meets Thor's eyes, it fully registers that he's wearing a patch over one. Or at least, he thinks that's an eyepatch. ]

What's Chroma, and how do we generate it? And... what happened?

[ He motions to his own eye to indicate what he means. The haircut is worth noting too, but a little less shocking than the possibility that Thor suffered a permanent injury. He's something like a god, after all; most wounds he sustains don't stick. ]

[thunders]

What? Oh, that. My sister cut it out. Don't worry about it.

[ Thor waves off the concern. Steve has found a wound that still bleeds, and Thor would sooner leave it hidden.

He turns away to pace as he speaks. It had taken him a while to care enough to retain any of the information he was so freely given, but he is making an effort now. ]

What they call Chroma is a sort of energy, like magic. It functions as a currency and powers their technology as well as their planet at large. It has some interesting restorative powers. [ He'd seen it himself at the festival, before his transformation took hold. ]

And like any magic, it's very particular. People who have been brought here from other worlds can generate it through acts of intimacy with one another.

[assembles]

Wait, your sister?

[ Steve's pretty sure that if Thor had a sister, it's something that would have come up by now, but this is news to him. He doesn't think that it's due to not paying close enough attention. He keeps tabs on his teammates pretty well, but Thor is always the exception given that he usually whisks off to Asgard or other planets in between the most pressing battles.

Steve isn't given much of a chance to press Thor on the subject, not when it's very clear that he doesn't want to talk about it. This isn't something Steve can just ignore, but their current situation does deserve attention too. He'll circle back to it.

Magic still isn't a word that Steve can parse very well, so he focuses on "energy source" instead. He can wrap his head around that. Arms crossed, he frowns when Thor gets to the point. ]

Acts of intimacy? [ That's awfully vague. ] Like what? How does something like that make energy?

[thunders]

[ Thor doesn't even acknowledge the first question. He's certain that the discussion is far from over - if Steve were of Asgard, he would be the God of Stubbornness. ]

Sex seems preferable, but any kind of physical affection will do it. [ Thor shrugs. He's not particularly bothered by that detail, although it is strange, even for him. ] I don't know how it works, only that it does. I imagine it's the same as my affinity for storms - it's something intrinsic to the nature of this place.

[assembles]

[ Out of everything that Steve's seen and heard thus far, this may be the most difficult detail to process. While it's true that Steve is a reserved person, it isn't necessarily about that. Yes, the idea of engaging in casual intimacy like that is strange for a person of his time (as much as he's adapted to the modern age, he hasn't exactly reached his own sense of sexual freedom). But more than that, he can't understand how the people of this world even figured out that this was a potential energy source in the first place.

Thor isn't going to have the answer to that, but his attempt to explain it is something, at least. Steve nods slowly, but this is a lot to take in. ]

You said that it's only the "moonblessed" who can generate it, so what were the native Prismals doing before we got here?

[ Has Thor already tried to generate his own Chroma? Steve isn't quite ready to ask that question yet. ]

[thunders]

Mining it, apparently. It's a finite resource, which makes the timing of our arrival fortunate.

[ There's some uncertainty in the statement. Thor is given to taking things at face value, especially earnest pleas for help, and the fact that the moons have supposedly called them isn't something outside the realm of possibility for him. But still, caution is a skill he's beginning to learn. Sometimes the universe works in mysterious and benevolent ways, but often times luck must be made where it cannot be found. ]

You needn't concern yourself too much as yet. You're welcome to stay with me while you get your bearings.

[assembles]

[ Fortunate, or just a little too convenient? There had been a time in Steve's life when that wouldn't have been his first thought, but that had been before he'd found out that the organization he'd been working for was actually housing his worst enemies. If they've been brought here on purpose in order to help these people create an energy source they were running low on, well...

It seems like it would have served everyone better if they'd just asked.

Thor attempts to set some of Steve's concerns at ease, at least when it comes to logistics. His head tilts up. ]

Where are you staying? In the city?

[ Someone had probably said the name when he'd been processed back there, but Steve can't recall it now, when everything had happened so fast. ]

[thunders]

[ Thor nods at the question. ] Yes, Lunatia. On the second level. It's not a large apartment but it should suffice.

[ Nothing like their rooms at the compound or the tower, is what he means, but he doesn't think that Steve will be expecting all of that. ]

You can borrow my beard cream. [ Thor cuffs Steve's shoulder, light and friendly. ] The new look is flattering, by the way. Glad I could be such an inspiration.

[assembles]

[ Lunatia, right, that was it. Steve nods, not at all bothered by the idea of having to cram in somewhere. That's what he's been doing lately anyway, shifting from seedy motel to seedy motel in hopes of not being seen or noticed. That's not addressing the fact that he grew up in a tiny, rundown apartment back in Brooklyn. He'll be fine.

The joking comment and nudge would normally earn more of a response, but Steve manages little more than a brief, halfhearted smile. He's still adjusting to this bizarre situation, and the fact that there's a whole long story behind the reason for his beard only makes him feel more mentally exhausted. ]

Yeah, about that... [ He draws a hand back through his longer-than-usual hair and lets out a breath. ] There's a lot we need to catch up on.

[ Thor's long lost sister, Steve blowing up the Avengers and earning fugitive status, it's a lot. ]

[thunders]

[ Steve is always too serious, but Thor can often encourage him toward ease even in situations like this. His reaction is telling. ]

I've not been away long yet it feels like an age has passed. [ Thor's expression softens. He folds his arms, but remains close at Steve's side. ]

What news is there? Whatever trouble you have found, can we not face it together?

[assembles]

[ Steve realizes that Thor likely has a differing sense for what a long time is, compared to a human. Different lifespans, different concepts of how time passes.

Still, there's an implication that Thor's had a time on his end too, and Steve would like to hear of it. In some ways, that would be easier than telling his own story, though he also knows Thor deserves to hear it, as one of the few members of the Avengers who hadn't been present. ]

It's not that simple. [ He shakes his head. ] I don't know if this is the best place to talk about it, though -- we might want to head back up to the moon base. [ He doesn't mean to be ominous, but he'd prefer to find somewhere quieter and more private to talk. ]

[thunders]

[ Well, that's worrying.

Thor agrees easily enough, and they fall into step, heading back to the base in silence that's neither tense nor comfortable. The base itself is a busy place, but Steve manages to find vacant living quarters with the sort of unerring speed that only comes from practice.

They settle in, Thor with his back directly against the locked door, and Steve where he's as close as he can get to comfortable.

It is better here, in privacy. Thor lets his shoulders slump, betraying some of his own weariness, but the concern in his expression is clear, and it isn't for himself. ]

Speak plainly. I want to know what's happened.

[assembles]

[ It's unclear if they're supposed to be here, but Steve's also pretty sure the Moon Knights would have stopped them if it was a problem. They can't blame them for wanting to have a private place to talk, given the circumstances.

Steve seats himself in the single chair that the room has, leaving the cot for Thor to settle on if he wants.

He doesn't think he usually speaks any other way than plainly, and he nods as he tries to figure out where to even start, and how to keep the story as abbreviated as possible. It's not something he's that eager to relive. ]

I was working with the new team. We were on an op and there was an accident. Wanda was trying to save me from what might have been a fatal blow, but she ended up causing civilian casualties in the process. [ A pause, and Steve frowns. ] It wasn't her fault, but you know the media didn't see it that way.

[ He lets out a long sigh, leaning into the chair back as he stares forward at the wall. ] As you can guess, the United Nations wasn't too thrilled with us after that. They wanted to crack down. They wanted oversight.

[thunders]

[ Thor nods his understanding. The media on Earth is a fickle creature. It can be difficult for civilians to understand the complexities of decisions - or even mistakes - made in the heat of battle.

Thor hadn't stayed long after the battle in Sokovia, but what little he had seen had been plenty. ]

What sort of oversight?

[assembles]

[ Steve tilts his chin down to rub at the taut, knotted muscle at the back of his neck. It's already been a long day. Or two days, since he can't be sure how long he'd been wandering around in that crystal wasteland. ]

Essentially, the UN would get to decide when the Avengers could deploy. They'd control what we did and how we did it. We wouldn't be allowed to govern ourselves anymore.

[ "The safest hands are still our own." Despite everything that happened in the aftermath of the Accords, Steve still believes that. ]

Some of the Avengers supported it, like Stark. Some of us didn't.

[ Thor can probably make some guesses as far as who fell into which category. ]

[thunders]

[ Thor nods, his expression clouded with thought.

He finds himself in the odd position of being both Avenger and King, and it's easy to imagine what it would be like if he were the one needing to lay sanctions. He can't help but think of the limitations of his role, and the politics and compromises that will eventually prevent him from acting as he sees fit.

One of the strengths of the Avengers had always been that they could go where they were needed, when they were needed. That their agenda was their own. He finds himself shaking his head, even before he speaks.

He looks over at Steve, and the set of his shoulders tells Thor almost everything he needs to know about how it played out. Still, he has to ask: ]

From the look on your face, I'm assuming you didn't come to some sort of friendly mutual agreement.

[assembles]

[ The good part about talking this over with a good friend, and a fellow Avenger, is that Thor is doing a good job of filling in the blanks. It makes this painful process at least a little easier than it would be otherwise.

Steve nods, leaning back to rub at his eyes for a few seconds before he responds. ]

It wasn't just about the Accords. That became secondary. There was another attack, this time on the UN, and... [ He pauses and looks up from his lap, meeting Thor's eyes. ] Bucky was framed for it.

[ Thor is aware of who Bucky is and what his situation had been, given that Steve had been looking for him while also helping the Avengers to search for Loki's scepter. Everyone had become at least peripherally aware of it ]

I was able to track him down and get the truth from him, but convincing everyone else that he wasn't responsible was a lot more complicated.

[thunders]

[ Thor raises his head, and surprise steals across his face the moment he places the name. For all that they searched for the stones, it was clear that Steve's friend was never far from his mind. It's good that Steve has finally found him, but it sounds like the circumstances couldn't have been worse.

It barely crosses his mind that Bucky could be guilty, or that Steve's closeness with him might cloud his judgement on the matter of his actions. ]

Surely if he was allowed to explain, with your support... [ Thor trails off, then exhales softly. If Steve had broken the law by refusing the accords, his support would mean little. Maybe even finding the truth wouldn't be as important as finding someone to punish for the crime.

It doesn't seem right, after everything Steve has done for his world. None of it seems just.

It's clear that Steve has more to say on the subject, and Thor nods for him to continue. ]

[assembles]

[ It would have been nice if it had been that simple, if Steve could have just vouched for Bucky and the Avengers could have all worked together to clear his name. But nothing was ever as simple as it should be, was it?

Steve draws a breath in through his nose, then lets it out, shaking his head. ]

Maybe we could have pulled that off. We were both taken into custody, and that should have been the time to work on proving his innocence. But then someone else got involved -- guy named Zemo. He broke his way into the facility where Bucky was being kept and triggered him.

[ Steve's brow knits and his hands wring together in his lap, not sure that Thor will follow that terminology. He's not sure there's anything similar on Asgard, a version of mind control that ironclad. ]

It took away his irrational thought, turned him back into a weapon. He was in kill mode, basically. I was able to get to him and contain him, but at that point we were forced into a fugitive state.

[thunders]

[ The nearest frame of reference that Thor has to what Steve describes is a berserker, someone who loses all thought but for bloodlust in the heat of battle. This sounds more deliberate in a way that makes him shift with discomfort.

He watches Steve's hands tighten against each other in his lap. He follows enough of the what, if not the how. He can ask after the details later, but he isn't entirely certain that he wants to know - or that it would be of any aid for Steve to speak of it. ]

Is that the reason for..? [ Thor makes a gesture to his beard. He'd commented on Steve copying him, but he's known Steve for some years now. He's neat and clean-shaven unless he has no other choice, much to Thor's disappointment. ]

[assembles]

[ Steve nods, wishing that there was a reason for the added facial hair that was more fun or interesting, but Thor's correct. It occurs to Steve that he might not need to keep it up in this place, given that they're as far from Ross' blood hounds as they could get, but...

That would also be acknowledging that they're going to be stuck here for a while, and he's not sure that he's ready to go there yet. ]

Tony, Vision, and Rhodes came after us, a last ditch effort to bring us back under the UN's control. There were no casualties, but some injuries. We got away, Bucky decided he wanted to go back into cryostasis until the triggers in his mind could be removed, and then the rest of us were on the run. Me, Nat, Wanda, and Sam.

[ It's an abbreviated version of what happened, leaving out the important detail about Tony finding them and how they'd almost killed each other after the revelation about Tony's parents. But Steve's not sure if that's his story to tell, or if he has it in him to relive it right now. ]

[thunders]

[ It pains him to know that the rift between them has not been mended even now. He would never have imagined that he and Loki would begin to reconcile before the Avengers did. ]

Wanda is here. I met with her not long ago, but I've seen no sign of the others.

[ He suspects that they would have found him by now if they were here. Thor has no stake in this quarrel, but even if he did he would not see any of them come to harm.

He moves over to where Steve is sitting and puts a hand on his shoulder. ]

I'm sorry, my friend. You searched a long time for it to end so bitterly. How do you fare?