prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .007

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▶ TDM .007

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah... yes. Some things are more difficult here, while others are easier. It balances itself out, somehow.

[He wants to pursue the question, but the thought of forcing a conversation back in the direction he wants it to go would feel rude. Something like that would just bother the other man-- maybe he's not too close to the people he lives with here anyway.

Which shouldn't feel like a relief.

It's not too far until the voice announces that they've arrived at their destination.]

My room is on the fourth floor.

[What an ominous number... but he's been living in a coffin house. These things hardly bother him anymore.]

Ah, isn't that convenient? This is the building I chose as well. I'll be able to visit you any time.

[ Visit you, but not let Xiao Xingchen visit him.

This is as close as he'll allow. They can't live together, and he can't let Xiao Xingchen into his own apartment, but like this he can come by whenever he wants to. Even better, he doesn't need to go outside, where someone might take notice of him coming and going.

He's pretty sure it's a large enough building that Xiao Xingchen won't be able to figure out which place within it is his, even if it reaches the point where he's actively looking. ]

Is that so?

[That nuance escapes him, since Xiao Xingchen thinks of it as a given.

Well, their old living quarters were small and likely dreary, so maybe it's understandable if he wants a little more space. Or doesn't want to move his stuff over. Besides, he'd rather be the one with the visitor than feel as though he was imposing. It's fine. Really.]

That's wonderful! I... I feel as though my luck has improved now, since I found you again.

[He laughs a little, a bit embarrassed at his own words. It just all comes as a relief that not everything is as troublesome as before.]

But if you visit now, I'm afraid it'll only be me in there. I haven't changed or added anything at all.

[Should he attempt to decorate, just for his friend's sake? It might help...]

[ No, daozhang, your luck really sucks. Your luck might just be some of the worst out there.

Of course he doesn't say it.

Xue Yang laughs as well. At Xiao Xingchen's words, and at the whole thing. This whole situation is messed up; how did they ever get here? ]

Were you planning on adding something? Maybe a few coffins to make it feel like home? Line one with straw in case Little Blind shows up here too?

I like it better when I have daozhang all to myself, anyway.

[ He deliberately adds a bit of a childish, pouting tone to the words. It sounds like it's something silly, like perhaps he doesn't want to have to fight anyone else over candy. Nothing like how the presence of another person could very well destroy everything established between them for a second time. ]

[If Xiao Xingchen was a more boisterous sort, he might have elbowed the other man for such remarks. But he only turns his head down a little as he smiles again, far too weak to the man's words at all times.]

Really? You've both had me for every day for years now, and that's still not enough? You'll become too spoiled if it's just us two.

[Never mind that he himself was the one hoping they could spend as much time together as possible. He does fear for A-Qing, but if this luck of his keeps up, it's possible she'll come here soon enough too.]

It's understandable if a coffin house has coffins. But if anyone else visits, they'll believe I have some strange hobbies.

[Because he might make others friends too, maybe. Right?.]

[ NO, NO OTHER FRIENDS, ONLY XUE YANG ]

But you do have strange hobbies, daozhang. Going out night-hunting every night isn't exactly normal. Maybe you just shouldn't invite anyone else over at all. I'm all you really need.

[ His tone of voice is joking. He's completely serious. ]

[It's true that cultivators aren't like most others, which would make it difficult to relate to an ordinary person. Still, he laughs again, not catching anything strange in those words.]

I'm honored that you still enjoy my presence so much.

[But if the man doesn't care to move in, it'll get terribly lonely. Those words might come off as guilt, and besides, it's not like the man is serious.]

Then why don't you stay over for dinner tonight? I have something for you afterwards.

[Something purchased out of habit at the market, after so long of buying them for his housemates.]

Why wouldn't I enjoy your presence? It's only been a few months. It's not like I've forgotten about living with you.

[ Half a lie, half the truth. It's been much, much longer than a few months, yet Xue Yang still absolutely hasn't forgotten. ]

I'll stay over, but daozhang, do you know how to cook here? The things they've put in the kitchen can be really strange, and you can't see to inspect them.

[ If he has to teach Xiao Xingchen what things he knows when it comes to cooking, he's fine with that. He doesn't mind being helpful for him, and he doesn't want the two of them to eat together in public. ]

Um, no...

[At least before, Xiao Xingchen had some past reference for what he was doing. He's sure that everything here must be done different, just like everything else is now. Not that he can help looking apologetic about somehow not knowing what to do.]

If you don't mind the trouble, we could make dinner together.

[They used to distribute the daily tasks and chores between the three of them, but now the man would be a visiting guest rather than a housemate.

Will this new city change what else they are to each other?]

We wouldn't want you to starve, now would we? I'll help you out. I did say you could ask me questions, and you can rely on me a little. I can show you around the kitchen whenever you want.

[ Not that he's an expert, but he's had enough time to figure some things out. ]

[That's true that he said that, and Xiao Xingchen reasons that he's thinking all too much about everything. He has some questions he wants to ask, but he'd just feel strange if he did, and the answers aren't too important anyway.

He smiles towards the other man.]

All right. We should go there, then.

[When they arrive at the room, it's just as he said, with nothing inside to mark it as his own. Reaching out and touching the edge of a table, he places down a couple of bags of groceries. Inside the bags are grains and vegetables, mostly things not too different from what they had in the coffin house.]

There were so many new things at the market that I'd never heard of. Have you tried anything new?

[He laughs softly.]

You've found something sweet, I'm sure.

Edited 2019-09-25 01:26 (UTC)

[ Xue Yang casually looks over the supplies when he gets the chance. The markets here tend not to sell anything weird or half-spoiled, so he doesn't expect to find that Xiao Xingchen's blindness has been taken advantage of, but it's... can it be considered a habit if it's something he hasn't done in years?

At the question and the following comment, he laughs. ]

Plenty. There's pastries, steamed buns with sweet fillings, all types of candies... It's a wonder I even eat anything else.

You're probably going to have to get me back into good eating habits, daozhang.

I'll definitely need to make food of more substance for you... but eating all of those sweets, and you still crave more? They don't lose their taste even after you've had so many?

[Perhaps here, the other man would never have to think of running out-- maybe he'd end up growing tired of the thing he desired so much, tired of having it all the time.

It's another strange thought.]

Not for me. Even if I ate all the sweets here, I probably would still want more.

[ Why ever stop when you could not? ]

But I do pace myself. Everything takes Chroma, so I can't spend it all on things to eat.

[ Wouldn't that be embarrassing if he lost a fight because he'd spent too much money on candy. ]

[Right... energy and currency being so deeply tied with each other makes little sense to him, but these Prismals don't intend for people to rely on conventional work. A person could do nothing but moonlace all the time and they'd thrive. The fact that the other man loves sweets that much draws out another laugh-- he shouldn't have expected anything less!

He places a hand where the other man's shoulder must be, nudging him towards the kitchen, mostly obvious from the large counter space. The rest of anything in there feels unfamiliar.]

And yet you spend your money only on sweets? It truly does sound as though you need me.

[Though the touch comes without the intent for Chroma, it lingers again.]

I try other things.

[ But he says it in a way that implies it's mostly sweets.

He lets Xiao Xingchen's touch stay on his shoulder for a moment, then puts his right hand on top of Xiao Xingchen's. He gently takes a hold of it from the back so he can lift it off his shoulder and start guiding him around the kitchen.

The first thing he puts Xiao Xingchen's hand on is the door of the fridge. ]

This big thing is a refrigerator. It has two different sections that are different temperatures, and it doesn't even need to use ice to stay cold.

[ He guides his hand to the handle, and helps him pull the door open so Xiao Xingchen can feel the cold. ]

[Definitely will be needing to have him eating proper again.

He lets himself be led around the room. Perhaps out of some still lingering pride or too much shame to face others, he had trained himself to figure out the world around him without his sight, and didn't rely on anyone to guide him around so closely for the time he spent wandering the land.

But this man... it's easier to let his guard down with him, somehow.]

Ah, that's very useful.

[His own voice sounds more distracted than interested in this thing. The air on his face is cold, in contrast to the growing heat there. Must be because this Chroma transfer is messing with his mind all too much...]

[ Xue Yang's gaze moves to Xiao Xingchen's face and he studies it for a little while as he moves him to the next things. ]

This is the sink. Water comes out here. You twist this to make cold water. This one makes hot water. You can use both at once.

Here's the stove. The fire burns here. You don't need to use any wood for it. Just twist these like this, and--hear that? That starts the fire. Then you can make it larger or smaller like this.

This is where the pots are. A lot of them are strange shapes, but they all seem to cook things normally. A lot of the panels are doors that open, and a lot of things are hiding inside, so you should feel through them at some point.

This thing is called a microwave. I don't know if you'll be able to use it without looking at it, [ probably, but he hasn't put in the effort to try, ] but it uses magic to make food hot quickly, without using any fire. It's really useful.

[ And now that the tour is concluded, Xue Yang leaves Xiao Xingchen's hand on the counter with his own still resting on top of it. ]

[Sink, water... stove, fire... Xiao Xingchen is sure he has the gist of everything, even if his focus isn't as keen as it usually is. Though part of him wishes that this was all more complicated. The man could go on longer about this or that detail, holding onto him like this--

It takes a pause that goes on too long for him to finally speak again.]

I-- thank you. I think understand it all now. Then I should...

[Start cooking now and try it for myself, he should say, his words trailing off instead. That would mean he'd have to finally collect himself and stop thinking about this pleasant feeling. His voice sounds more like a timid mumble, and his pulse feels a little faster than usual, but he still doesn't pull away his hand.]

[ Xue Yang notices the way he trails off, and turns to study Xiao Xingchen for some amount of time. It's harder to read subtle expressions when the eyes are covered, and he's out of practice at picking up the proper cues from Xiao Xingchen in particular. But then his gaze falls to the counter, where their hands are still together.

It feels much nicer than holding hands back on their world ever did. ]

Daozhang?

[ He prompts gently, more than fine with leaving this as it is if Xiao Xingchen is too out of it to hear him. ]

[Being called manages to take him out of his daze, and with a light shake of his head, he smiles again at the other man.]

Forgive me, it's been an exhausting day. I had better get dinner started.

[He takes his hand away, though with as much reluctance as the time before. Then he goes to search through the pantry for a pot to cook in-- something that will fit a meal enough for both of them to have a generous helping. An extra large helping for the other man, so he'd finally have more than only sweets.]

I hope you don't mind some congee. It'll have more than what we usually had for our meals before, at least.

[Some more seasonings and such, as he'd thought he'd be cooking for some roommates. This man might not be one, but he's still glad he prepared something more hearty than the usual Yi City fare.]

[ This is the part where A-Qing would raise protest. If daozhang is tired, then he should rest, and she'd point her attention at Xue Yang. Tell him that daozhang is already doing so much for him, so why can't he prepare food from time to time? He even has his sight, so it should be no problem.

A-Qing is not here, and Xue Yang is nowhere near so noble as to steal a burden that Xiao Xingchen wants to and knows how to bear. ]

I've gone long enough without daozhang's congee that it'll almost be nostalgic. I'm not about to complain.

[ They're words that might seem strange if it's only been a couple months since they separated. But it hasn't. ]

[Xiao Xingchen takes the pot and the rice over to the sink, since he was told the water would come out from there. Yet his mind wanders to the feeling of the hand over his, rather than the--

Suddenly, he stops, bending at the waist over the side of the sink. He'd been too preoccupied thinking that he bumped into the side of the sink! Not very fast, and he only bent at the slightest incline, but... it's still terribly embarrassing! Why did he do that?

At least he's turned away from the other man, as he feels his face flush. Hopefully the man didn't notice, anyway. Now he just has to fumble around for the knobs before finally turning the water on.

He almost wishes he was alone at this very moment.]

[ Xue Yang noticed. He's been watching Xiao Xingchen like a hawk; of course he noticed. His shoulders shake as he holds down a laugh, but he manages to stay silent. He takes a moment to make sure his amusement won't come out in his voice before calling over, ]

There's a lot of vegetables here. Were these all going to be for yourself?

Ah... I bought enough in case anyone else came to live in this room. It'd be a dinner enough for all of us, but I don't know if anyone else is coming.

[Summoning back that collected cultivator aura, he turns the knob and rinses the rice, adding more water before carrying it to the stove top. Then he has to rinse and cut everything going into the congee. This part is all familiar enough that he does it as naturally as ever.

Being suddenly put into a place to live with new people feels strange, but he might as well help around, since they're all in the same boat here.]

Does it look like anyone else came by?

[In case there's something he missed, with anyone putting their belongings anywhere.]

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me, frantically googling "ancient chinese kitchen" for points of comparison

all that so xxc can only half pay attention

it's okay, this entire sequence was half so I could write that description of a microwave lmao

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