▶ TDM .007

[prismods]

SHOOTING SHARK

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"Blue Oyster Cult - Shooting Shark" (Watch on YouTube)

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.

▶ Keep all Hands and Feet inside the Burning Vehicle at all Times
Iris Moon, Government Center (Arrival) and Outer Space | top

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 mix tequila with xanax 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. Eventually you’re called back from exploring, escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the moons and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as Prismal locals. The next destination: Prismatica.

A. After settling into the ship and selecting the current in-flight movie, Back Door Slugs 9, you and those around you may eventually feel a bit of turbulence during the movie’s highly anticipated climax. Did anyone notice it, or is everyone too focused on the hot characters?

At first, it’s a small jitter that’s easy to miss or brush off. But as the transport vessel travels on, the shaking progressively escalates to erratic tremors strong enough to cause severe nausea. A minute later, a voice over the speaker announces the ship will have to make an emergency landing, citing technical difficulties.

Sparks can be seen overhead as more ship parts malfunction. This is a good time to hold your neighbor’s hand, say your last goodbyes, and apologize for that horrible thing you did in the sixth grade. Grip your seat with the might of every god you can think of.

B. Another minute later, a follow-up announcement states that external entities have breached the transport vessel. Everyone is warned to be careful and watch out for each other. Small fires will have to be put out before they worsen with either magic or emergency equipment onboard such as extinguishers. In-flight robotic attendants will be scuttling around to perform immediate repairs.

Eventually, an entire power panel bursts, and prismatic jellyfish unnaturally spill out. The jellyfish will try to latch and suction onto any technological devices close by such as the television screens on the seats or communicators and will show preference to Iris Moonblessed over the rest. Be ready to help and pull numerous jellyfish off both the faces of Moonblessed and Prismals!

▶ Jaws IV: Jaws Harder
Planet Prismatica, Outer Lunatia | top

The emergency landing successfully completes and the transport vessel will safely land on top of a gorgeous lake filled with tiny glaciers floating by. When reached out and touched, you’ll find out that the “glaciers” are surprisingly cool crystals and not ice.

The ship will be left hovering idly on the water surface while passengers are ferried to solid ground using portable emergency boats. However, civilization is still a distance away.

A. You’ve probably heard of flying sharks from a veteran Moonblessed. But how about sea lions? These aquatic lions are born with scaly skin and gills outside of their crystallized manes. Unfortunately, they haven’t tasted fresh meat in quite some time. If there are any injured onboard or near your boat, the chances of the sea lions detecting people will be higher as they are drawn to the scent of blood. Growling hungrily, they will be quick to latch onto the boats, biting the edges, and trying to knock everyone overboard for dinner.

After surviving through so far, the Prismals guide everyone to a nearby encampment run by humanoid rabbits. They are tall, built, and have a habit of mentioning their virility an awkward amount of times. They are also generous and will share their game meat and fresh crops while allowing everyone to rest for the night at the only inn in their village.

B. There is no running water all the way out here, so if anyone wants a bath, they’ll have to do it traditionally. The village protects a natural spring, which is a good place to bathe away the sea water. Around the spring, the rabbit folk’s friends — little scintilla chinchillas — will shock away any predators that dare to approach their sanctuary! Be at ease and feel free to offer your friends shampoo massages.

The next day, the rabbits can be seen hacking away at some of the wilder-looking plants for an easier pathway. If you wake up early enough, you can ask some of them for a tour of the beautiful greenery. They mention that it’s thanks to the Moonblessed that their crops have been doing so well lately — the result of all the chroma influx. The rest of the journey to the city will be smooth sailing.





▶ It’s Free Real-Estate
Level 2, City of Lunatia | top

Welcome to Prismatica’s hub, Lunatia, the city of your dreams! A bustling metropolis lush with bright lights, vibrant colors, luxuriant plant life, and all the conveniences of technology absent from your own world… It seems like paradise to all the uninitiated. After a quick tour of the city, new arrivals can find themselves getting cozy in their new homes.

A. Find new roommates and say hello to your neighbors! City officials will give you directions to the designated districts across Level 2 and instruct you to pick out a unit. Each apartment complex has a different aesthetic, some may look cozy, some stylish, and some bizarre. The free accommodations have a basic living space that can only fit two or three people at most in one unit.

Starter Chromaspace furnishings are provided which can be controlled with the touch of a built-in panel. Examples are color-changing curtains, transforming sofa beds, cabinets turning into tables, etc. Customizing your apartment or moving out will have to wait until you earn more chroma. Until then, why don’t you check out your new neighborhood or explore the city levels? Maybe your new roommates or neighbors can give you a “hand” with allowance for dinner.

B. A new high-end boutique, Prissy Polyp, has opened in Level 2. As compensation for what happened, both Moonblessed and Prismals that were affected in yesterday’s flight will receive 50% off their total purchase. Those unaffected will receive 30% discount coupons as a promotional gift. All are encouraged to visit with their friends or special someone, try on some things together, enjoy each other in the fitting rooms, and deal with the loud, ear-blistering background pop music.

Their clothing collections are characterized by bright iridescent designs, some features such as design patterns may glow ethereally in the dark. One of their signature dresses features a one piece (also available on their trench coats) that can amplify the appearance of one’s decolletage, gluteal muscles, and/or bulge with the press of a neon button. Another item among their collection is the maiden sweater: a sleek, backless sweater that shocks those who attempt unwanted touches. Others include skin-tight leggings (also available on their shorts or pants) which produce pleasant and relaxing vibrations on all lower extremities and fashionable polyp-shaped hats for all kinds of people. It’s a huge shop, you never know what else to find in there.

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

▶ IMPORTANT! By request, we've uploaded image samples for the Prissy Polyp clothing collections! Note these are merely samples for a visual guide and we will leave more selections to players.

▶ As a reminder, test drive memes are for new characters only. However, current players are more than welcome to use these prompts for their own posts in the IC communities, personal inboxes, catch-all posts, etc.!
▶ As our test drive memes are game canon, feel free to keep any threads that happen here as canon for your character should they be accepted.

Comments

Wen Ning | Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Untamed) | Iris

[goodboyplaydead]

ARRIVAL
[ It's not as though Wen Ning is unaccustomed to being the center of attention. Just that the attention is generally of the negative or fearful variety. The people that gather curiously around him now are neither. He's not quite sure what most of their words mean, aside from their concerns about illness. That one is understandable, given the prominent veins that show beneath his far too pale skin that looks uncomfortably close to death warmed over. He tries to explain that they need not worry but finds it hard to get a word in edgewise, frequently starting and stopping amid more of their poking and prodding as he tries to duck away from the touch, so all that comes out is a jumble of soft-spoken sounds.

When they finally give him enough space to breathe again, his immediate thoughts go to A-Yuan and anxiety over how they had gotten separated. While he knows the Young Master is capable of handling himself, this place is unfamiliar and that keeps him on high alert. He must find A-Yuan as soon as possible. Even if it means tentatively approaching someone to ask if they have seen him, doing his best to keep his gaze from sliding downward. ]

WHY IS EVERYTHING ON FIRE?
[ His search had taken him aboard a vessel more enormous than anything he's even seen. It was like a small flying mountain, only one made of material that he couldn't recognize. Any uncertainties he had about boarding the strange craft were forcibly put behind him with the knowledge that if A-Yuan wasn't at the government center, he must be on one of these "moons" the people spoke of. He had to see for himself.

Unfortunately, it seemed that this particular vessel was not as sound as the advanced material promised and now he found himself rushing to help douse the fires springing up all around the passengers. He was considerably faster than most of them, even if he was initially startled by the peculiar device they used to extinguish the fires. But once he saw how it worked, he simply nodded and set himself to responding to every shout for support around him, clearing the distance between each person in remarkable bounds without any need for running.

If you're battling your own flame, you might see him leaping toward you like some sort of goth jungle cat, long hair whipping behind him. Truth be told, it's probably slightly alarming with his dark clothes and almost wraith-like appearance. ]

FUN WITH BUNS
[ Despite all the things Wen Ning has seen today, nothing prepared him for human-rabbit hybrids. How is such a thing even possible? It can't be the result of any cultivation; these creatures behave as if they have a society of their own. An odd mix of human and rabbit tendencies, including their unexpected interest in meat. It's enough to distract him from their soft appearance, which he might consider cute under other circumstances.

Like the people at the government center, they show no apprehension toward him and are eager to offer what they have. The generosity causes a pang in Wen Ning's chest as he's reminded of happier times with his family in the Burial Mounds. Those days had carried their own hardships, but the sense of camaraderie had supplied a warmth that made it easier to forget their harsh surroundings. The memory brings a hard lump to his throat, as he thanks the rabbit people in a quiet, slowed tone.

He finds himself staring especially long at the bowl of meat provided to him, lost in those ancient memories. This makes it all too easy for him to accidentally bump into someone while wandering around the encampment, still focused on his search. ]

ON FIRE! Up to you whether they... can recognize each other.

[sizhui]

[ Honestly, Sizhui would usually have avoided anything like fire.

Except... it's Sizhui, and he's seasick. So the hem of his robe might have caught a little bit on fire as he was trying to put out one. So the shadow rushing in to help him gets him to turn, and smile genuinely, even while his face is slightly green. ]

Thank you, I didn't realize--

[ ... oh. ]

of course they can!

[goodboyplaydead]

[ While Sizhui's face might be various shades of color right now, Wen Ning's pallid visage brightens as much as it can when the boy turns to him. A relieved almost-smile crosses passes briefly over him. For a moment, he even forgets that he's supposed to be smothering the tiny fire by Sizhui's feet. ]

A-Yuan, you were here.

[ The people back at the center had been wise to suggest he travel here. What's more, the last of his kin doesn't seem too troubled by his surroundings. A-Yuan is as quick to adapt to a new situation as ever. ]

Ah!

[ His quiet admiration is quickly interrupted by a yellow flash of flames in the corner of his vision and he immediately sets to blasting it with the device he was given, ]

Forgive me for not acting sooner.

Yassss!

[sizhui]

I'm here.

[ The surprise and shred of concern quickly melt into a still-queasy, but rather bright, smile. (Of course he's concerned. Two months or so ago, Wen Ning was here, alive, but from a time when he remembered A-Yuan as a small child already. And Sizhui knows what would have happened next. To see Wen Ning from this much later...

It's a relief.) ]

Don't worry about it. Are you all right? Has anyone-- [ .. he swallows down a bout of nausea and shakes his head. ] Let's see if anyone else need help, all right?

[ There'll be time to talk later. But, yes, Cousin Ning, he knows. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ That gentle, innocent smile always fills Wen Ning with a warmth he knows he cannot truly feel. He wishes he could return even a semblance of the expression and can only hope that A-Yuan can understand just how much it means to him to still receive such a fond gaze. He manages a soft nod. ]

I did not know where you went. After we separated.

[ He tilts his head for a moment until he realizes that Sizhui must suspect casualties from the crash. Wen Ning had yet to encounter any injuries that would suggest anything like that and starts to tell him when the boy changes course. He nods again, closing his mouth, and attempts to straighten his stance. ]

We can look. Together.

[sizhui]

Yes. Together would be... better.

[ There don't seem to have been that many injuries, but the fire might change that. Even if Sizhui wants really badly to just go ashore, this is still not about him. ]

Wen Ning... this might sound strange, but what was the last thing you remember, from before showing up on the moon here?

[ If they've separated, then it's a different time than Sizhui's. But also he called him A-Yuan, so it's at least after their conversation before they reached the Lotus Pier...

It's safer to ask. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning looks back at him, a bit confused by the question. Had something happened to A-Yuan's memory? Perhaps he had hit his head during the crash. Though he hadn't seen him on the vessel at all throughout the journey, as rocky as it had been.

Still, if the information would help... ]

We were traveling. On our way to Qishan. To create a memorial for the family.

[sizhui]

Oh! All right... [ Sizhui nods, and after a moment of consideration, smiles again. ]

The last thing I remember is leaving Hanguang-Jun and Senior Wei after I had to talk with them, once they left the Guanyin temple. So you're a little later than me.

People here can be brought in from really different times. But it's all right, I know who I am.

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Different times? He's not too sure what to make of the information, but A-Yuan knows the important things, and that's enough for him. He doesn't want to think what it would be like to have the last of his family no longer recognize their bond. Finding A-Yuan again had given him joy that he shouldn't have been able to feel anymore. As does every moment he gets to spend around the junior.

He gives a short, purposeful nod. ]

Mm. We spoke after. About our plans. I was honored you wanted to go.

Everything is on fire (I was so excited I forgot to say which!)

[guangyao]

[ After the atrocity that is Back Door Slugs 9, the ship somewhat deserves to be on fire if you ask Jin Guangyao. Anything that presents such a trash story does. Except everything is legitimately on fire and there's just chaos all around as people start trying to put things out. Time to help, not only does it look like doing something decent, but the simple fact is that Jin Guangyao wants off this damned thing and the sooner they properly arrive the sooner he can disembark.

So when Wen Ning jumps out of nowhere, the sect leader is pretty sure he feels his soul leave his body. The Ghost General seems intent on putting a fire out and as long as it's that and not putting Jin Guangyao's life out then he can deal.

Barely.

Where's the exit? ]

It looks like another fire is starting over there.

(it okay, btw forgive me for referencing untamed ending)

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning is so focused on the task at hand that it takes a moment for him to recognize the voice. It takes even longer for him to accept that it's the former Sect Leader actually speaking. He'd been there for the destruction of the Guanyin Temple. There was no way someone as mortally wounded as Jin Guangyao could have survived. Yet, here he stands before him without any indication of being a walking corpse like Wen Ning. It sparks that buried feeling of rage within him, enough that the resentful energy is almost palpable around them.

But with so many people close by and so much else going on, he dare not act on it here. He will not be the cause of more suffering among others. He will find his new path, just as he assured Young Master Wei upon their parting.

Instead, he stares back at Jin Guangyao with unblinking eyes and manages in a carefully measured tone: ]

You escaped former Sect Leader Nie.

fun with buns!!! reaches for my boy..

[necrowed]

[ wei wuxian isn't the one wen ning has bumped into, but he had been close enough to see the scene go down; the nameless third party could have clearly thrown a bigger tantrum over such a small incident, but instead simply opted for a scolding over something so little, an accident neither had much fault in (or both were to blame, however one wished to see it).

he knows wen ning best than most people, better than all those who still breathe life. despite his title and appearance, he is ultimately a soft person — kind, timid, unable of hurting a fly.

(it doesn't excuse those he has come to hurt, because wen ning is still a knife no matter what.) ]

Wen Ning!

[ he calls loudly enough to drown under his voice the complaints of the person the corpse had bumped into. figures these kind of people take advantage of those who look too harmless (despite, you know, wen ning's general undead appearance), and the presence of another who might know of them immediately wards them off — and so, as expected, the person storms off, mouthing their insatisfactions down the streets.

wei wuxian lets out a quiet sigh at the sight, and gestures for the other to approach. ]

the goodest boy

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Even after all he's said about wanting to find his path, Wen Ning instinctively responds to the call of his master's voice like a well trained dog, snapping his head in Wei Wuxian's direction. He only half notices the person who had been previously grumbling at him walking off in a huff. He's glad they lost interest, even if they matter less now that he knows Young Master Wei is here as well. Maybe he even knows how they all ended up so far away from their world. It's become quite clear that realm is something else entirely. If anyone could solve this riddle, it would be his ever resourceful master.

He quickly moves toward Wei Wuxian, the bowl of food still clutched in his hands, even as he bows his greeting. ]

Young Master. I did not know you were here.

[necrowed]

[ up close, wei wuxian can look over wen ning, see if he's hurt anywhere. it's a bit of a bad habit — the ghost general of all people do not need such delicate concern, but he delivers nonetheless, every time they part and meet. wen ning is powerful, but he is not immortal, even as a fierce corpse. he does not feel pain, but he can be hurt, can bleed, can die, again, and it's something he refuses to let happen to someone so dear.

he eventually sighs in relief, a small smile blossoming on the cultivator's features.

(due to the ways of this place, too, the canine ears and tail that wei wuxian unfortunately adorns now relax as well, once tense and alert in case something happened. but wen ning is safe, and he has nothing to worry.) ]

Of course not. You probably just got here, right?

[ he can tell new people always show up around the same time of the month, and this is wen ning, too. he'd have certainly looked for him the moment he arrived. ]

What were you spacing out for? Were you hurt somewhere?

[ because even if physically there seems to be no changes, something could've affected his brain, his behavior. he almost wants to instinctively reach out and palm the behind of the corpse's head to check for any nails — xue yang is dead, but he'd rather be safe than sorry. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning is in his usual condition, although there might be some burned patches of cloth here and there from him dealing with the fires earlier. Thanks to being shown how to properly use an extinguisher, he managed to avoid burning himself in the process. He watches Wei Wuxian carefully, as the other looks him over, wondering whether he should take this concern to mean Wei Wuxian is familiar with the dangers of this place. He will have to remain on alert for now.

But it's hard to shift his attention to guard mode when his gaze seems fixed on the unusual pair of furry ears now attached to his master's head. Their precise movements indicates they are no mere decoration but are somehow part of the man. The realization leaves him at a bit of a loss and he tilts his head slightly to study them some more.

He only manages to straighten again when his master starts asking him questions. ]

Yes. I was looking for A-Yuan.

[ He shakes his head slowly, feeling embarrassed over being found in such a shameful state and further worrying his master. He had hoped to never do that again when he had informed Wei Wuxian he would find his own way from now on.

His dark hair falls in a curtain over his face. ]

I am not hurt. I was... [ He struggles to find the right word. He's not sure Young Master Wei wants to reminded of those days at this moment. They hold painful memories for him as well. ] thinking. Forgive me for worrying you.

[necrowed]

A-Yuan?

[ the name, admittedly, catches him off guard. a-yuan is an old name, the name of a child wei wuxian believes to be long dead. he had been all alone at the burial mounds after wen ning and wen qing turned themselves in at koi tower. he had been all alone during the siege at the burial mounds, and around that, wei wuxian no longer remembers what happened. what actual end came onto that innocent child.

for a moment, he allows himself the question if wen ning is from way far back. he knows from his appearance alone that no, he's most certainly around his time, and searches in his memories for anyone named yuan who wen ning could know. ]

... Sizhui? He's here too. I live with him, actually.

[ whatever reason wen ning has, he won't pry at the moment. he can read his friend well; despite his appearance, wen ning wears his heart in his sleeves. wei wuxian brings a hand to his shoulder, squeezing it gently. it has always been a way of comforting him. here, he continues to do the same. ]

Don't apologize. Were you thinking about those times?

[ it's hard to fool him, after all — the bowl wen ning holds in his hands confess enough. the other man is much more likely to think about those happy days even now, after so long. he does not fault wen ning for it; he's more sensitive, more emotional, and to him, too, they mean a lot.

but they're in the past, and it's best to keep them there. safe, sound, memories that could make him melancholic, but memories he holds dear to his heart. it's best to leave them in the past, somewhere they won't be tainted and ruined. ]

You're always reminiscing. Did you want to bring this food to Sizhui? I'll take you to him, so don't look so gloom. You're already so pale, it just looks scary.

[ said in the most affectionate and kind tone, of course. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ If Wen Ning could express anything similar to shock, he would be doing so now. As it is, his tone remains even as ever, only the casual lift of his head to suggest he was taken aback by the statement. ]

You live here, Young Master?

[ How long has that been the case? And how long has A-Yuan been staying with Young Master Wei? He had only just recently been separated from his cousin during their journey back to Qishan.

He nods, unable to keep from looking down. He should have known Young Master Wei would figure things out quickly. Even if he knows the man only wanted to empathize with him, he still feels guilty for troubling him. He tries to shift his thoughts back to A-Yuan and the idea of sharing this special meal with him. It helps him lift his gaze properly again, especially after his master's coaxing tease. ]

Mm. I would like that.

[necrowed]

Hm? Of course I do. I've been here for months. Where else would I live?

[ it's not really a choice, really. the place itself isn't bad... he has things he should be doing at home, but figures they're put on hold if people don't notice his absence — or even better, if he never really left his world. like there's two copies of him in existence, or something. things wei wuxian has never bothered to think about much, if no harm is coming from it.

he gives wen ning's back a few taps, an indicator for him to start walking and follow him. ]

Don't look at me like that. It's not that bad at all, and I haven't gotten in trouble even once yet!

[ key word: yet. ]

There are a lot of us here too. HanGuang-Jun, Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng, Sect Leader Nie... [ it's such a long list. he counts each of them in his fingers. ] There are even cultivators from other cultivation worlds.

[ his expression, once soft and friendly, turns a little serious. ]

What's more impressive, though, it's that a lot of us are from different points in time. What's the last thing you remember?

why is everything on fire? (wen ning does not deserve this)

[inuko]

[ Shino does what any sane, sensible, deathly afraid of undead young man of eighteen does when suddenly confronted by someone who looks, feels, and may even be one of the undead.

His knees go promptly weak, his heart jackrabbits in his chest, he screams, and he bursts into tears. In the middle of these spot fires on a crashing airplane, because if anything was going to take him beyond his limit, this was the situation that would.

Murasame was in sword form from attacking the jellyfish, but he's fumblingly jabbed and stuck between seats and then dropped altogether as Shino falls down almost on one of the small fires, gasping for breath and wide eyes in his whole tear, frankly ridiculous and beyond normal levels of fear terror. To the point where he is, for the moment, entirely incapacitated by it. ]

(such is his un-life)

[goodboyplaydead]

[ The scream initially causes Wen Ning to step back, not wanting to further frighten the young man. This reaction is one he's all too familiar with from those around Shino's age. Though he had taken heart that many of the younger cultivators were gradually overcoming their ingrained fear of the one they knew as the once terrible Ghost General.

But as he watches Shino struggle with his weapon before abandoning it along with what appears to be all rational thought in his panic, Wen Ning determines that the young man's safety must take precedence over his fear. He moves purposefully forward again and reaches down to pull up Shino by his shirt and toss him lightly from the flames. He can only hope the limited contact will keep the young man's emotional condition from deteriorating even further.

As soon as Shino is clear of the fire, Wen Ning makes quick work of the surrounding fires with the extinguisher. He glances back toward Shino to see if he's begun to recover. ]

[inuko]

[ See, at least the Ghost General would be something fascinating, and if he knew Wen Ning were coherently there in a fashion, he'd be much more calm. But the problem was him running along and Shino's panic slamming in hard and fast, and then, being thrown? That doesn't leave him time to piece together how rational Wen Ning is being, so instead, he hits another seat when he's lightly tossed away, hits his head, ends up curled up on his side protecting his head, and tries to make himself smaller. Eyes closed, breathing ragged and hiccuping, as he tries so damn hard to work himself through a panic that's only increasing because he can't get enough air, and he can't get the air he needs because he's panicking, and there's no one familiar here, no one at all, and he's amping himself up and literally shaking.

At no point does he call out to his demonic half, which is good, since Shino's also not bleeding or otherwise bring Murasame into action believing Shino's honestly in danger. Then again, he's on a burning spaceship. He's in constant danger.

But it's not danger from another creature or person, which is the important point here. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ It seems he's only worsened the situation, given how Shino has gone into a protective state. But what else is he to do when his mere presence seems to be the cause of the young man's distress? He can't simply leave him on the plane to be harassed by any other fires that spring up. He can try to carry him out, but there's sure to be even greater resistance to that. He wishes someone else was paying attention to them, someone who might be more capable of handling Shino's panic.

All he can do is hang back in indecision, uttering a faint and slow: ]

It's not safe here. You must leave.

[inuko]

[ The undead, notably in his overactive mind, can't speak, and it's with irony that the slower, fainter nature of it is more soothing than the quick pace of his heart hammering almost too loudly in his ears. ]

Can't move, [ He gets past grit teeth, still curled up in his ball of a person. ] They'll eat me.

[ Shino, you literally have a demon in your body who eats people who attack you. You can't die! You're fine, you equally undead in your own way person! More than that, he just stated that to the person he apparently thought was going to eat him.

Unfortunately for Shino, shock therapy and immersion are far better teachers than anything else... once he's not lost to the fear. ]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ They? Is the young man referring to him? Or is there something else unseen that he's afraid of? Wen Ning looks closely around them to be sure. When he finds nothing, he returns his gaze to Shino and tries in an even more languid tone, shaking his head: ]

I will not... I want you to be unharmed.

[ Will that be enough to get through to the young man? He pauses for a moment before offering his hand as carefully as a flower bud opening to display its petals. ]

[inuko]

[ Shino's not even sure right now, not operating on anything like deeper reasoning or logic. However, irrational emotions respond to equally irrational stimuli at times, and the words are something he can hear and hold onto. Through a sobbing like breath, he says: ]

Promise?

[ Which is... such a childish thing to say, in so many ways, but it's the one entreaty he can make when what he desperately needs to hear is yes. He's only managed to look toward Wen Ning through his own hands, not so much ignoring that outstretched hand as simply looking past it, unseeing, to focus on his face. ]