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prismaticrap2019-05-08 05:12 am
prismods) wrote in prismaticrap2019-05-08 05:12 am
▶ TDM .003
▶ 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!
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.
▶ 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.
▶ Questions
If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.
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.
no subject
Kiyomitsu, it's really you!
[He pushes up, his hands on Kashuu's shoulders, just far enough to get a good look at his partner sword. And then the questions start pouring out.]
Did you miss me? How long have you been here? Have you seen the others? I should show you where we live here!
no subject
Once he get the chance, he sits up as well and really looks at his partner.]
Yeah? Of course it's me.
[Was there another Kashuu Kiyomitsu running around? But the barrage of questions caught him off guard, as he waits for a good opening.]
Wait, wait, stop! Stop! One at a time! [Gosh.] I got here not that long ago, I guess? I did see... Yamanbagiri, Izuminokami and Hasebe earlier.
[Mikazuki will come later on, maybe. And Kashuu's not really going to answer that first question.]
... And you guys have a place already?
[Which is actually good! Somewhere to stay and maybe act as their base camp.]
no subject
Yamanbagiri and Hasebe? I didn't know they were here too! That's great! That makes... [There's a very brief moment where Yasusada holds a hand up, as if he's going to count on his fingers. He gives up on that plan after about three seconds.] Well, a lot of us!
[He nods, grinning.]
That's right! We have an apartment we've all been living in together, you can come too! Come on, I'll show you!
[He jumps out of Kashuu's lap, a little wobbly given the circumstances, and then holds a hand down to Kashuu to help him up.]
no subject
[And then that get blown up into a slimy situation!
But now he's sitting up, Kashuu realise that Yasusada is sitting on his lap. And starting to feel... self-conscious? Maybe? Instinctively, he bring his hands to Yasusada's arms, about to (gently) push him off.]
By lots, exactly how many of us is it? Also, get off me, you're heavy.
[He's not that heavy, but it's easier to say than to sort out the feeling in his chest. Once Yasusada's off, Kashuu get up onto his feet with his partner's help.]
Show me the way. I'd like to see where you guys are staying out right now. Just how big is the apartment?
no subject
[Once Kashuu's on his feet, Yasusada pauses to help brush some of the dirt from his partner's clothes. He knows how much Kiyomitsu values his appearance, and it is sort of his fault that he's all dirty.]
It's not very big, but we're getting along okay for now. Although Kane-san and Daihannya-san hog the bathroom a lot, and Kane-san's hair clogs up the shower drain. It's nice to sleep with all our futons together though, it's kind of like being back in the citadel.
no subject
... Okay, okay, let him digest what he just heard from Yasusada for a moment. Although for a moment, Kashuu looks almost tired at hearing the Sanjou swords' names.
That mission is still fresh on his mind.]
So those guys are here, too... Wait, who's Daihannya?
[What a name... probably not the oddest one among them, really. But more importantly, he blinks at the mention of the saniwa.]
A whole different saniwa is here... Just him? No sword from his citadel?
[Kashuu will worry about what living in the apartment will be like later. But the saniwa's safety, among other things, is more important to him.]
no subject
He's an Osafune, like Shokudaikiri-san. He's very... um. [Oh dear, how to explain?] Pretty? And flirty. I don't think I've ever seen him not flirting with someone.
[After a moment he takes a step back to examine Kashuu, to make sure they've got all the dirt off of him and that his clothes are more or less straight, and he nods in response to Kiyomitsu's questions.]
Just him, as far as I know. A lot of us are from different citadels, actually. Up until now, I--
[O-oh. But... maybe he should ask Kashuu too, just to be sure? What if they're not even from the same citadel either? It's not something Yasusada ever expected or even wanted to think about, but....
He suddenly looks nervous, his eyes wide and his lips pressed into a thin line.]
Kiyomitsu... do you remember when I left the citadel?
no subject
[Probably not that hard to spot, if he have some kind of Osafune look.
But as Yasusada continue to talk, the same realisation also hits Kashuu as well. But it's a question he doesn't know if he wants to ask, or hear from. But it's important to ask.
And Yasusada say it first. Kashuu listens carefully, and then he blinks in confusion. Genuine confusion, too.]
... No, I don't? As far as I know, you're still with everyone else when I went on a mission.
[... Maybe he should ask his own question.]
Did you know I went on a mission with the Sanjous?
no subject
Kiyomitsu doesn't remember... but wait, maybe that has something to do with time, not their citadel? There was some very weird time stuff going on right before Yasusada arrived. He was sent back to the citadel when there were only a few swords serving there, he got shunted to Edo Castle, his time device broke....
A mission with the Sanjous? He starts to shake his head, slowly, as he's considering the question. Kashuu's been on plenty of missions without him. He was at the citadel first, after all. But if Kiyomitsu is asking, then it must be because it would be a mission he'd remember....
Looking suddenly crestfallen, Yasusada shakes his head again.]
No... I don't think I know the mission you're talking about either.
no subject
Ahhh, after I complained so much to "you" about it...!
[Well, somewhat. Kashuu knows better than to tell anyone about certain information from his mission. It's not his place, and only his Saniwa would know of it. But how much he feel frustrated by the Sanjous? Fair game.]
But I guess that's fine. I could tell you about it another time.
no subject
Does it mean that because technically this Kiyomitsu is some other Yasusada's partner sword, the two of them aren't partner swords at all?]
Ah, this different citadels stuff is really confusing. Mikazuki-san and the others aren't from my citadel either.
[But Kiyomitsu is here, whether it's the same one or not, and even his presence--while confusing--is a source of comfort. Finally Yasusada smiles and nods.]
I'd like to hear about it some time, if you don't mind!
no subject
[Or not. Kashuu doesn't really see why it matters, save for how much he can say. And it's just strange to let himself linger on how they're from different citadels.]
Yeah? I don't mind. Thinking about it again is almost making me want to complain again.
[Not really. Sure, the Sanjou do annoy him on occasions. But Kashuu sure sounds like he's used to whatever it is.
(He will never be used to Sanjou.)]
Are we getting closer?
no subject
[Kashuu's definitely a complainer at times; Yasusada knows this. But normally if he's complaining it's about something mundane like having to do chores, or getting dirty, or chipping his nail polish. He's not normally one to keep complaining about a mission so long after it's over, especially since those are the saniwa's orders. What could have gone so very wrong on a mission to make him act like this?
Since they've been talking they've also started off in the direction of the apartment the swords share--Yasusada pauses to get his bearings, and then nods.]
It's not much farther! [Out of habit he starts to reach for Kashuu's hand, to take it to pull his partner along. Except then he realizes that this isn't the same Kashuu and falters. Is it okay to do something like that with this Kiyomitsu?]
no subject
[That's as much as Kashuu put it. The details of the mission are pretty sensitive, and even if he trusts Yasusada, he doesn't want to speak too much out in public. That's his responsibility as the captain, and out of respect for his squad.
There's the slightest of surprise, before Kashuu's hand relaxes in Yasusada's. He did blinks, before he looks up and raise a brow at him.]
What?
[He doesn't seem to mind, regardless of which citadel they come from. That, and Yasusada isn't literally trying to chase him down.]
Aren't you taking me there?
no subject
[Yasusada nods, determination winning out over his confusion. Who cares if he's holding some other Kiyomitsu's hand?
At last they make it back to the apartment, and it is, as Yasusada had warned him, quite small. At least for someplace that 5+ swords are going to be living together. It had been cozy before, with the swords that initially arrived here in Lunatia. Now with new swords arriving it's going to be downright cramped.]
Here we are! We've all been staying here together so far. At night we lay our futons out here in the main room. Kane-san hogs the bathroom, which shouldn't be a surprise at all.
Oh, and I have a surprise for you!
no subject
Ugh, that means I got to get to the bathroom first before him.
[Clearly the most important issue here! But Kashuu blinks and looks over at Yasusada.]
Oh? What kind of surprise?
[And this? Kashuu is genuinely curious about it!]