▶ 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

[kegawa]

Unfortunately, Master isn't around... at least, to my understanding.

[ His "ears" droop at the thought that their separation may be longer than just a few weeks. This will be longer than any mission he's been on— without communication, without direction. If only he knew what to do from here.

Her warm hand is a nice distraction, though; Kogitsunemaru leans against her touch a little too eagerly, and he only realizes what he's doing when he feels her breasts against his chest. His face is flushed— he doesn't often get touched by a woman, now that he thinks about it. ]

Y..you may pet me whenever you like, too! You smell very nice... like. [ Inhale. ] A garden.

[ It reminds him of home. ]

[byanyother]

How sad...

[ And it is, in its own way. She's never preferred being chained to any one person or place, her desire for free choice far too strong to allow anything else, but she's well aware that there are those that do best under the guidance of a strong hand and a steady presence. ]

I hope you can meet up with them again soon.

[ She gives him one last scratch on the head before pulling away. His company is nice - she wouldn't mind staying around him a bit longer. ]

People used to call me Rose Queen once, you know. Maybe it was because I smelled so much like flowers.

[ Except she knows exactly why they called her that. ]

[kegawa]

Master would want us to make new friends and memories, I think. I hope I can see them again, too— but I need to also be prepared to survive on my own.

[ It's easier said than done. The thought alone is demoralizing, but it's hard to think about that when a pretty lady is petting him... or was petting him. ]

Rose Queen... haha, that suits you. [ He cants his head to the side, observing her. He senses it's more than just the smell; he can feel there might be something beyond that. But right now is perhaps not the right time to push. ] What do they call you now?

[byanyother]

[ It's a wish she hopes for as well, though she's already said as much aloud. No point in wishing for what could be, as nice as it is to dream. There's plenty already to marvel at in the here and now. She doesn't think her old identity is one of them, though he seems impressed all the same. ]

Not much different, [ she says, laughing faintly. ] Rosetta sounds much the same, don't you think?

[ She hasn't strayed too far from her origins.

The warm breeze picks up, catching a few stray strands of his hair, and she reaches out to tuck them back into place. (They're so soft, who can resist?) ]

And what about you? What did your master call you?

[kegawa]

[ He's rubbing his chin idly in careful consideration, then finally nodding in agreement. ]

Lady Rosetta, then! It sounds the same, but... [ He moves closer to her, as though to sniff her out. ] Were you a queen before?

[ Why else would people call her the Rose Queen? Kogi nuzzles the hand that helped tuck his hair back in place. And discreetly, he holds her hand there, urging her to cup his cheek... and how could he resist? She has such a gentle and caring touch. ]

I am called Kogitsunemaru. It means "little fox," but as you can see, I'm not very small... [ He can even go into how his tachi is small but... that's a complicated matter on its own. He doesn't need to confuse not one, but two GBFs. ]

[byanyother]

[ i hate you so much, i take back every smush request i’ve ever made ]

Mm, I had a forest that I ruled over once.

[ Which is basically the same thing, so no point quibbling over the details. The rest of it probably isn’t worth mentioning - or at least, isn’t something she wants to mention at this point in time. ]

But that was a long, long time ago. [ She looks at him briefly, a small smile on her lips. ]. Maybe I’ll tell you that story one day.

[ For now, she follows his subtle cue, leaving her palm against his warm cheek for a lingering moment. ]

You might not be little, but that just means there’s more of you to love, isn’t there? Though you seem quite loving already.

[kegawa]

You ruled the forest! [ He's excited about aspect. In his world, there's no such ruler to speak of, but it makes sense when she would have such a unique scent compared to other dwellers of this world. ] That means you looked after foxes like me.

[ Then he beams at her. ]

I would love to hear about that story one day, your Highness. [ Which he isn't sure is the appropriate way to address her, but it seems like a safe bet to make. He covers her hand with his, fingers curling around her. ] I want to know all about your forest!

[ And when they finally part, he presents himself with more grace— his bow is more a curtsy, full of respect and appreciation for a reign he's never even experienced. ]

I'm humbled by your kind words. I was quite lost upon arriving here... but I feel a little better now that I know I have a Queen of the Forest in our numbers.

[byanyother]

[ He sure is laying on the flattery thick there. It works, of course, because what woman can resist being treated like a (literal) queen, but she's far too old to to let it affect her much these days. ]

Just Rosetta is fine, [ she laughs, waving one hand. ] I'm not so different from everyone else here.

[ If she's learned anything, it's that the Moonblessed come from all walks of life, with vastly different experiences under their belt. Kogitsunemaru, too, must have quite the stories to tell. ]

But we're all newcomers here and should stick together, don't you think? Maybe I should keep you company until you feel more comfortable here.

[kegawa]

[ He allows himself a small smile at that— not out of disbelief, but his senses pick up so much more about her than just "everyone else here." But like her, he has his own secrets— and if he doesn't want her to pry, it's best that he doesn't pry also. ]

You would really do that? I would appreciate that a lot!

[ There's something very... nurturing about her, he feels, at least. If there's anyone who can take care of him in Master's place, she's surely a likely candidate to do just that. ]

So— you're a newcomer too?

[byanyother]

[ He's interesting in myriad ways, and she's nothing if not drawn to unique people and unique habits. There's always something new to learn, even for someone as long-lived as she is. ]

I have plenty of time [ literally ] and I would much rather spend it with people I like.

[ Not that she doesn't love Lyria and Gran and everyone else on the Grandcypher of course, but why stick to the familiar when there's so much else to explore?

At the question, she nods. ]

I've been here a few weeks now, long enough to learn a little about this place. You won't get bored any time soon, I don't think.

[kegawa]

[ Plenty of time is something he can definitely relate to— swords only die when, well, they are irreparably broken. Kogitsunemaru has outlasted many reigns, but unfortunately, he's only ever spent it on display or in stories and songs. He's been mostly alone for centuries... so indeed, spending all his time now with people he likes is a shared sentiment. ]

Well said, Rosetta. I will employ that way of thinking as well, for as long as I'm here. [ Then he beams; he's utterly flattered that she would imply she likes him enough to spend time with him. ]

I won't? [ Not that he had much going on at the Citadel when they weren't in battle, but— ] What is it that... happens here?