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September | Test Drive Meme
Jikan Test Drive MemeMinimize
You've seen this before. The thought strikes suddenly, during whatever it is you were doing. Having an important conversation? Running away from home? Dying in the midst of a fierce battle? Where ever you are, one things is true: you're certain this isn't the first time you've lived through this. But upon realizing this, that's when it happens. Like someone hitting rewind on the VCR, you're back where you were ten minutes ago. And it happens again. And again. And again--Until finally, something is different. A door stands in front of you. Will you go through it? Nothing else seems to be working, so this might be your only chance.
Upon opening the door and heading inside, a strange feeling overwhelms you. It's comforting and warm, like being enveloped in a soft, heavy blanket. You hear a voice murmuring in your ear, but it's unintelligible.
And in the next moment, you've appeared in a laboratory, surrounded by the unfamiliar yet worried faces of people in lab coats, speaking in a foreign language that doesn't sound so foreign to you anymore.
Nanjikan Research Laboratory
There isn't much time to process what's happening before characters are ushered out of the arrival room. They're passed between a medical and a psychiatric team, checking them for injuries and psychological trauma. Their every need is met: food is offered, injuries are tended to, and questions are answered. "You're in the Eastern Kingdom of Nippon on a planet called Gaia," they explain. "You were brought here because you became aware of the timeloop... we'll explain everything."
Orientation Nanjikan Research Lab, Tokyo
Everyone is brought to a large auditorium, where dozens of other people looking similarly out of place are seated around them. The scientists and doctors from before file on stage, thoroughly explaining the situation. What they experienced back home was a timeloop. While the loops in their home worlds are smaller and likely to resolve on their own, the fact that such a small amount of time is being repeated is what makes them so dangerous for those who become aware of it. And they've been working around the clock in collaboration with the neighboring Western Kingdom, checking adjacent universes for others who've become aware. While the technical explanations may go over the heads of most, that's not the reason they were all brought together like this.
And they continue to explain: their own world was trapped in a year long loop for decades, if not longer. Through the use of an ancient form of bonding magic, they bound their world to the present flow of time, allowing it to progress past the timeloop. Or at least, that's how they thought it worked. In truth, Kizuna is very powerful reality-warping magic. And thanks to the powerful bond all refugees now share with the country of Nippon, the magic surrounding them will only continue to evolve.
Until they find the means of resuming the flow of time back in your home world, the refugees will just have to make due with this one. But not to worry, because Nippon is fully committed to taking care of everyone!
A Place to Call Home Tokyo, Kanto
Once orientation is over, characters will be allowed to choose housing in both Kyoto and Tokyo, enabling them the means of easily living between both Kingdoms if they please. These housing options will be fully paid for by the government of Nippon, with the NRL and MRU providing a stipend for food expenses in Tokyo and Kyoto respectively.
In lieu of providing transportation, all refugees will be granted an unlimited rail pass that they can use to travel all across Nippon! Thankfully, express routes connecting Tokyo and Kyoto will be running at all times of day, allowing refugees to freely travel between the Eastern and Western Kingdoms as they please. While this TDM and its prompts are focused on the Eastern Kingdom, you are welcome to have your character arrive in the Western Kingdom instead.
In Nihonbashi, an exclusive new sweets shop called Suipara has recently opened its doors, and the people of Tokyo have been positively raving over it. An all you can eat buffet featuring dozens of pastries and cakes, with the variety of flavors changing by the hour. Unfortunately, there's a catch: only couples are allowed to dine in the shop, with a kiss required for admission. While some will have no problem grabbing their lover to gain admission, others may need to get a little more creative. Why not find someone else looking for a date and go together? It's just a little kiss, after all!
In Little Edo, a neighborhood gardening contest is underway, as each home aims to be crowned the most beautiful in Tokyo. Refugees are encouraged to join in, as each shared home in Little Edo is already outfitted with its very own garden! Of course, pretty much all of them will need some heavy TLC before they can be considered contest-worthy. The prize for the winning home is one million yen, with dozens of runner-ups winning ten-thousand yen, so this isn't an opportunity to let pass up!
Over in Yoshiwara, an amateur theater troupe is holding auditions for a stage production that just so happens to feature the refugees themselves! A dramatic re-telling of their quest to save Tokyo back in March, the showrunners seem especially keen on involving as many refugees as possible! Will you play the heroine that slays the final Jubokko Tree? The fanservice hero that gets tangled up in an overzealous Nuruname Bloom? Or maybe the god of destruction itself? Time to work on your best Gojira impression!
NRL Time Refugee Support Network
Once they've received their housing assignment, all refugees will be given small handheld devices called magi-tech communicators, or magi-comms for short. They're heavier than a conventional smartphone would be, but far sturdier, and powered by the ambient magic that flows through the city. Now available with limited sepia-tone color, and video cameras! They don't need to be charged, but they won't work outside of cities at all. Upon booting it up, they'll find a message linking them to a special channel for refugees.
#nrl_time_refugee_support - online
Use the following code for your top-level if you'd like! This is how network communication will look for characters in the game until more advanced magi-tech comms become available for characters.
Capitalism
With August finally behind them, it was time to say goodbye to summer and hello to the fall season! Of course, it's still pretty hot in Nippon this time of year. And with many of the refugee housing options lacking in proper air conditioning, many of them are likely just sitting around at home, counting down the days until the summer ends.
Or are they? Player characters aren't the only refugees here in Nippon from other worlds. And as their numbers steadily continue to grow, so too does their influence around Nippon begin to spread. And nowhere is that more apparent than in Yokohama, long considered to be the international city of Nippon, now set to become the interuniversal capital of Gaia.
Coffeeshop AU Kannai, Yokohama
As many refugees may know (or not know), coffee is something of a luxury in Nippon. Due to a lack of international travel and trade, coffee imports have ground to a halt, with the remaining stock being heavily regulated by the Port Market. The only place where one can find true, undiluted coffee is Yokohama, whereas versions found throughout Nippon often substitute a similar bean plant that's been flavored to resemble coffee.
But times are changing! A new chain of coffee shops has begun popping up all over Yokohama-- Moonkicks. The brainchild of a native coffee fiend and a refugee with the unique ability to grow seemingly any plant from his body, this chain boasts genuine coffee at a reasonable price, and even sells coffee beans by the pound! But how exactly does co-founder Shailesh grow coffee beans from his body-- look, don't ask questions you won't like the answer to.
But Moonkicks offers more than just good coffee. With a refugee as one of its founders, every location aims to serve as a community outreach center for fellow refugees, offering services provided by and for refugees only. And after the timeloop fiasco last month, this month has introduced a special afterhours refugee support group. Free coffee and snacks are provided, as new refugees are given a space to mingle and old refugees an opportunity to talk about things that have been bothering them with their peers.
Although some may not be keen on the open nature of these discussion forums, there is one side effect of attending. Regardless of whether they actively participate or not, all refugees who attend will leave with a temporary feeling of euphoria, as well as a lingering sense of familiarity and comfort whenever they visit a Moonkicks Coffee House. It seems gathering that many Kizuna bonds in one place can have a positive effect on people. Who knew?
Fashion Forward Kohaku, Yokohama
Starting with a single boutique in Yokohama's Kohaku Ward, Fils de Splendeur has quickly grown to boast three locations throughout Kanto. Born from a single refugee's desire for "modern" clothing, Fils de Splendeur only carries fashion trends from other worlds. While many of the fabric choices have been substituted for what can be easily found in Nippon, there's no denying that the styles are certainly unique. "Modern" seems to be relative, as those from a true modern day era may still find some of the choices to be a bit esoteric, with very few plain or normal styles.
Hoping to ignite a passion for fashion in her fellow refugees, owner Adeline is offering one outfit or one bespoke clothing item for every refugee who shops in her stores. Of course, as a shrewd business woman, she's not just giving them away for free. Those who wish to take home a full outfit or have a favorite garment from home recreated must be willing to model that outfit for her upcoming catalogue. Photoshoots of refugees in costume are scheduled all across the city, with Adeline hoping to both advertise her clothing lines, as well as boost Yokohama's image as a melting pot of culture.
But it goes without saying that Adeline can be a little... over-enthusiastic. With her fabric manipulation ability, models who wear her clothing particularly well may find themselves suddenly transformed into a different array of outfits, or added to the mix with other refugees for themed photoshoots. Themes range from very peculiar wedding attire, modern day street fashion, definitely-not-modest-enough-for-1920s-Nippon swimsuits, and... cowboys? Well, someone has a taste for that, at least.
And for those who are interested in being paid for their modeling work, they'll also have the option of doing a private photoshoot for a burlesque calendar as part of a collaboration with Yoshiwara's Sakuranbo Voyuer's Club, which boasts a staff made up almost entirely refugees. While these photos will be more risqué in nature, they won't be outright pornographic. Those who accept this offer will be paid for a full day's work, and even offered a set of old timey lingerie to keep!
Danger Drinks Port Market, Yokohama
Perhaps the most famous neighborhood in Yokohama is the Port Market. Originally named for a famous night market that occupies much of the port area, it's also the name of one Nippon's largest criminal organizations. While their power and influence extends throughout much of Yokohama, the port area itself is their territory. And yet despite the dangerous reputation, the Port Market remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Yokohama. There are hundreds of stalls and shops that are always looking for employees, with the nature of these shops growing seedier and a little less legal the further down into the lower levels of the market you go. Despite the risks of working so close to potential criminals, the Port Market has become a popular choice of employment for any refugee looking to move up in the underworld.
One such refugee has quickly made a name for herself. Known only as Hex, she's the owner of one of the most popular night clubs in the Port Market, owing in part due to her own special power. What exactly this power is seems to be unclear, but what is clear is that very mysterious things tend to happen at this club. And this month, Hex plans to expand her business, inviting refugees to attend a weekend party in the hopes of finding a business partner to open a second club in Tokyo's Yoshiwara neighborhood.
The club itself has a very distinct theme, with dark and spooky decor, a steam-powered fog machine for the dance floor, and no shortage of interesting and unique drinks, most of while seem to include some kind of spell. The Smoky Strawb is a sweet berry-flavored drink that invokes feelings of confidence and self-assuredness. Blood On My Lips is a stronger drink with a sugared rim that stains the lips of the one who drinks it, causing the drinker to appear irresistibly kissable to those around them. And the very aptly Kinklist is a coffee-flavored drink that turns completely white after a sip, before causing a person's deepest sexual desire or kink to appear in black ink on their cheek until they finish the drink.
And finally, the Skull Drink is... well, it's just a non-alcohol cocktail put into a fancy skull cup. Designated drivers wanna drink fancy too, you know.
Refugees who attend the party on the first weekend in September will drink for free, so new arrivals won't need to worry about breaking the bank if they want to drink the night away!
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's September TDM! The TDM is considered game canon, and also serves as the intro log! That said, whether you choose to carry threads over to the game or not is up to you!
• Current players are more than welcome to top-level, or take prompts from the TDM and use for their own logs! This may change in the future depending on how busy TDMs become.
• CRAU characters may start regaining their CRAU memories one month after the TDM. However, vague feelings of familiarity are allowed between previous game CR! For more on this, please read the FAQ!
• You do not need to sign-up for housing! Choose whichever style you prefer. Roommates can be chosen by the characters or can be random. If you want to switch housing later, your character has the option of moving at the beginning of each month.
• Refugees must continue to maintain the act of appearing as a couple to stay in the sweets shop! If they make it too obvious that they're faking it, they may be kicked out.
• Feel free to get creative with that sort of clothing your character can find in Fils de Splendeur, keeping in mind that it's not the sort of place that would carry basics such as plain modern t-shirts and pants. Think: avant-garde meets RPG character. However, your character may request a plain/modern clothing items as part of their reward for modeling it for Adeline.
• Your character is welcome to pick up a job at any of these shops if they so please! There is no need to sign up for this!
Please leave any questions about the TDM prompts in the thread below! General game questions can be directed to the FAQ!
Apps are always open!
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