February | Test Drive Meme

[jikan_mod]

Jikan Test Drive Meme

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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.

"In order to bring you here, we used the very same magic responsible for freeing our world... Kizuna."

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.

Over in Nihonbashi, refugees living in the apartments will be met with colorful gift baskets at their door, courtesy of their native neighbors. Each basket contains a variety of rice crackers, sweets, and winter fruit. But one in particular will have a little note wrapped around it: wine fruit, for the grown-ups. True to its name, it's a very juicy fruit with a wine-like aftertaste. The reason being that it's naturally fermented in a way to make the entire fruit very alcoholic, causing drunkenness with only a few bites!

In Little Edo, a very strange phenomenon is taking place, as legged-Kaoseki seem to have found their way into the neighborhood. Sporting cheerful grins, the living stones run on two legs and tumble about all over the place, leaving chaos in their wake as most scramble to avoid them. While this variety seems disinterested in cursing anyone, those who are able are asked to assist with sweeping them out into the countryside so they can do whatever they're doing in peace?? Curiously, should one bow in greeting to the bizarre little creatures, they'll follow suit and utter a strange noise that almost sounds like "hello".

And for those living in the Yoshiwara dorms, the renovations have been completed! Not only do all rooms now come with advanced heating and cooling systems, each dorm block will now have a small shared bathing area! No more walking across the street to a public bath just to take a shower! While the showers have privacy curtains, the bath itself is akin to a public bath, and is a small pool that can be shared by up to five residents at once. And what better way to get to know your new neighbors than to enjoy a little skinship together?

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

Inbox

Text

Audio

Credit

nrl_support: Hello time refugees!
nrl_support: Welcome to your channel!
nrl_support: This is your exclusive contact channel hub for everyone who's been brought to Nippon.
nrl_support: Neat, huh?
nrl_support: Why don't you try out the new video feature?
scienz_rulz_1899: hey guys :)
scienz_rulz_1899: you ever heard the phrase
scienz_rulz_1899: "new year, new me"?
scienz_rulz_1899: another refugee taught it to me
scienz_rulz_1899: and with the lunar new year upon us
scienz_rulz_1899: lets take that to heart
scienz_rulz_1899: and leave behind all the nastiness of last year
scienz_rulz_1899: ...
scienz_rulz_1899: also click this
scienz_rulz_1899: heh
scienz_rulz_1899: it works every time

Use this website to generate random quotes for your own character (for new players/characters) or their close CR (for current players/characters)! These will be posted to the network automatically under the name of the person it's pretending to quote (e.g.: Naruto clicks the link, and a post appears on the network under Sasuke's username that says "I heart boobs".)

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.
<raw-code><div class="container" style="width: 506px;margin: auto;border-width: 3px;border-style: solid;border-color: #C1272D;border-radius: 3px; max-width: 100%;"><div class="header" style="width: 500px;background: linear-gradient(#EF7E87, #C1272D);display: inline-block; max-width:100%"><div class="headertext" style="font-family: 'courier new';color: #F7F7F7;vertical-align: middle;padding: 5px;font-weight: bold;display: inline-block;"><font color="#F7F7F7">#nrl_time_refugee_support - online</font></div> <div class="headerbutton_container" style="display: inline-block;float: right;vertical-align: middle;margin: 2px;"> </div></div> <div class="chat_container" style="background: #DDDDDD; width: 100%;"><div class="chat_options_header" style="margin-top: 3px; display: inline-block; padding-left: 5px"> <div class="chat_options_button" style="color: C1272D;font-family: 'courier new';font-size: 12px;margin-right: 10px;display: inline-block;text-align: left; margin-left: 5px;"><u>I</u>nbox</div> <div class="chat_options_button" style="color: C1272D;font-family: 'courier new';font-size: 12px;margin-right: 10px;display: inline-block;text-align: left;"><u>T</u>ext</div> <div class="chat_options_button" style="color: C1272D;font-family: 'courier new';font-size: 12px;margin-right: 10px;display: inline-block;text-align: left;"><u>A</u>udio</div> <div class="chat_options_button" style="color: C1272D;font-family: 'courier new';font-size: 12px;margin-right: 10px;display: inline-block;text-align: left;"><a href="https://isopods.dreamwidth.org/2311.html"><u>C</u>redit</a></div></div> <div class="chat_messages" style="background: #F7F7F7;color: #C1272D;font-family: courier new;font-size: 14px;border-width: 2px 0px 0px 0px;border-color: #EF7E87;border-style: solid;border-radius: 1px;text-align: left;overflow: auto;margin: 5px;padding: 5px;"> <!---PUT MESSAGES BELOW THIS LINE--> <b>USERNAME:</b> message here<br/> <b>USERNAME:</b> copypaste for each new linebreak<br/> <b>USERNAME:</b> note: this code is designed for comments only and may break if put in entries!br/> <!--PUT MESSAGES ABOVE THIS LINE--></div></div></div></raw-code>

A Diverse New Year

Culture shock is something many refugees in Nippon have likely had to face at one point or another. The culture of Nippon is very distinct, and for some, very different from anything they've known in their home worlds. But Nippon is far from the only country on Gaia, and the time refugees aren't the only ones stuck in place.

With unknown time surges in the ocean making international travel too dangerous, many visitors from neighboring nations have also found themselves stuck in Nippon since the time loop ended. While some have settled in areas throughout Nippon, most tend to stick around the city of Yokohama, whose diverse blend of cultures makes it easy to carve out a little home away from home.

Stray Cat Kannai, Yokohama
Aside from simply taking the train, one of the more popular ways of getting around Yokohama is by renting a steam-cycle, which come in single and tandem bikes. Unlike a traditional tandem bike, both passengers must work together to pilot it! And "pilot" is the right term to use here. Upon reaching a certain speed and pulling a few levers, a pair of wings will extend from the wheels as the bottom release a large amount of steam, causing the steam-cycle to become airborne.

But there's definitely something of a learning curve, and even the locals have trouble steering once in the air. And while passing by, refugees will come across what appears to be a child stuck high up in a tree after losing control of their steam-cycle. The child is a Bakeneko Yokai, no more than three feet tall, and poofed up twice his normal size from how terrified he seems to be. With no one else around, it'll be up to them to save the day!

However, some careful driving and maybe a few cat scratches later, they'll find that this child isn't a child at all -- that's just how small some Bakeneko tend to be when fully grown. The man will introduce himself as a diplomat from Shikoku, visiting the east as part of an important business trip. Though he has nothing on his person to offer in gratitude, he swears to repay the favor someday, as a true Bakeneko never forgets those who've offered them assistance.

Lunar New Year Kannai, Yokohama
Over in Yokohama's Zhongguo Town, celebrations for the Lunar New Year are in full swing! Located in the Kannai Ward, Zhongguo Town is named for the neighboring nation of Zhongguo, a vast and powerful nation whose international influence can't be understated.

As the Lunar New Year is the largest and most important holiday celebrated in Zhongguo, it should come as no surprise that the entire district has been outfitted with bright red banners and glowing lanterns at every street corner. Things kick off on New Year's Eve, where a firework show takes place over the waterfront, with the displays big enough to be be seen all over Yokohama, and even from the coast of Tokyo! And in the days that follow, parades featuring lion dances and traditional performances can be found happening throughout the neighborhood. While this isn't the first new year celebration since the time loop, the fact that it's a second is just all the more reason to celebrate, as it further cements the reality that time is moving forward.

Of course, for many visitors, the food is one of the biggest draws to the festivities. Stalls selling dumplings, fresh spring rolls, and sticky rice cakes called nian gao can be found on nearly every corner, and many restaurants are offering special deals on those dining during the New Year... assuming you can even get a table, with just how many residents make reservations in advance.

But while little could ever possibly put a damper on the celebrations, some may find that a time surge has settled on a certain street. While seemingly harmless, should anyone walk through carrying food, they'll find their food has spontaneously spoiled, or reverted back to its base ingredients. Thankfully, most stalls will happily offer replacements, and perhaps a map with a detour on how to avoid letting it happen twice.

Eigo o hanasemasu ka? Isogo, Yokohama
But Zhongguo Town isn't the only neighborhood celebrating the Lunar New Year. Located south of Kannai in the Isogo Ward is a small string of shops and restaurants owned by natives from the distant country of East America. Those who come from worlds where English happens to be a language they're familiar with may recognize the bold letters used for their store fonts, as well as the language spoken by many of those who live and work in this little neighborhood.

One such place is a popular speakeasy called Antenna America, which offers all-you-can-drink happy hours and unique dishes from across the Pacific. Their claim to claim to fame is being the only place in Yokohama where you can order a burger and fries with your beer, and then finish off with a slice of pineapple upside-down cake, using only the freshest pineapple imported from... say, how do they get the pineapple here? Isn't international trade impossible right now?? If asked, the owner will suddenly pretend not to understand the language and flee the room.

In honor of the Lunar New Year, Antenna America is offering an exclusive dessert just for couples: a massive bowl of ice cream and fresh fruit, topped with chocolate, whipped cream, and a pair of sparklers to give the whole thing a festive appearance. Ordinarily the cost is extravagant, but should a couple manage to eat the whole thing in one sitting, it'll be free!

There's just one downside, of course. Honey is used to sweeten the fruit, and every one in ten bowls will contain honey contaminated by the sweet-love bee, whose honey works as a mild aphrodisiac. While the honey is supposed to be heated to negate the effects, it seems the chef can't read the packaging and simply uses it as is. Oops! At least there's an inn next door if customers need to excuse themselves for a few hours?

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's February 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.

• For the network prompt: please make sure you have permission from the other player before using incorrect quotes under their character's IC username.

• As all characters become Bilingual in Japanese upon arrival, those who spoke English in their canon (or a fantasy equivalent assumed to be English) will be able to understand the workers at Antenna America, but will find they make extensive use of 1920s slang, so they may be difficult to parse regardless.

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!

jikan_rpg ⌛ jikan_network ⌛ jikan_ooc

Rules ⌛ FAQ ⌛ Apply ⌛ Taken
Auxiliary ⌛ Hiatus/Drop ⌛ Activity Check ⌛ Bonus
Game Timeline ⌛ Code Directory ⌛ Contact

Setting ⌛ Housing ⌛ Businesses ⌛ Kizuna ⌛ Flora/Fauna ⌛ Magic
NPC Database ⌛ NPC Contact

Comments

Questions?

[jikan_mod]

Ask 'em here!

/has a dumb question on my first day here

[bythewaves]

do the kaoseki like music, and would they dance if mags played for them or anything along those lines

lilia vanrouge | twisted wonderland

[desmodontidae]

a place to call home;
[New year, new magical mishaps, it seems. Lilia can’t exactly say that he’s surprised that falling into a different world is a frequent occurrence - the appearance of the Ramshackle housewarden was proof enough - but it’s novel that it’s happening to him. Especially after stretching his legs and seeing more of the country - he hasn’t quite decided on where he’ll settle down, as he’s using this as an opportunity to travel just like he did all those years ago…

Which is how he’s found himself in Little Edo just in time to watch the Kaoseki frolic. The living stones seem to be having a good time, and he finds it incredibly charming. It’s also quite easy for Lilia to stay out of their way - it’s hard to trip something when you’re floating above it. The fae dangles in the air as he watches the humans trying to navigate the tumbling rocks, not making any sort of move to help just yet. His hand rests on his chin as he observes, making him look awfully contemplative for someone who’s hanging upside down above everyone’s heads.]

Khee hee… Maybe I should take one of these home with me?

[Now, does he mean his residence in Nippon or…?]

I wonder what Malleus would think of something like this.

[They’re not gargoyles, though, which is precisely why he wants to see what the prince would think. It might be cute - nostalgic, even - to see him try to work out the purpose of these little guys.]

stray cat
[There’s a cat stuck in a tree. Well. A person shaped like a cat, which makes it even funnier to Lilia. He at least has managed to hold in his laughter, but he’s also made no effort to help the Bakeneko down. It wouldn’t be all that difficult - with all of the magic at his disposal, he could get him down in a snap, but that would be all too easy. And what lesson would be learned? This is a teaching moment!

Also, it’s still just kind of funny, and Lilia’s just one little old man…

He scans the area, though with his keen hearing he can already tell someone’s approaching. He waves them over with one hand, while the other gestures at the tree.]

Hello there! I’m sure you can see there’s quite the predicament going on.

[What with how poofy the Bakeneko is.]

But I am clearly incapable of helping him down myself - so I would hope that you could offer me your assistance.

[Yes. Clearly incapable. He’s short, slim, and… looks young! Anyone would believe he’s just too weak and small to climb a tree and help the man down.]

antenna america;
[Food is something of a novelty for Lilia. He enjoys tomato juice quite a bit, but the taste of something is largely irrelevant. He didn’t put much thought into food before Silver, wanting the human to grow up healthy and strong which meant putting in all the effort he could to make food that was as nutritious as possible.

It didn’t taste good, but that wasn’t the point! The point was all of the vitamins and proteins and all of that stuff!

Still, food is an important fact of life for most other people. Something of big cultural importance for every country on Twisted Wonderland and for those that have found themselves displaced here. Who is he to not try everything he can? The fact some of the food is exclusively for couples doesn’t seem to bother Lilia, as he’ll drop into a seat across from anyone sitting alone, with a bright grin on his face.]

Let’s try this sundae, hm?

[Who could turn down a face like this?]

wildcard;
[Standard procedure, y’know. Lilia will be bouncing about, so feel free to find him anywhere! Or if you wanna plan something out, feel free to hit me up on discord or at revelries!]

gimme ice cream

[malefico]

[ at some point Malleus has migrated from staring longingly through the window to staring longingly from a seat in the corner, where he has a good vantage point of everything going on in the restaurant. with his back more or less to the kitchen he can hear the clattering of dishes, the natives of this land speaking in foreign tongues and the clink of silverware over plates as people dine and chatter pleasantly amongst themselves.

it's not quite hiding, but there's enough of him obscured by a conveniently placed potted plant that he can't be spotted from the doorway. in front of him is the menu, and after regarding it carefully for the nth time - pausing to watch as yet another lucky couple gets the mountain of ice cream delivered to their table - he contemplates on getting an actual, real meal and turns his thoughts to other things.

of course he isn't deep enough in his thoughts that he can't hear the goings-on in the restaurant, and when he catches wind of a familiar voice and spots equally familiar hair he pauses, immediately perking upright.

Lilia sits at a table on the other side of his potted plant wall chatting up someone who, up until now, had been sitting all by their lonesome. clearing his throat, Malleus sits up a little straighter and leans over to the side to call out to his companion in a clear, unmistakable tone. ]

Lilia?

fite me, i want ice cream

[somnolently]

Fath- Lilia!

[Silver's gaze goes from its occasional spaced-out sleepy to bright and pleased - or at least, so much as the young man's expression usually does.]

The sundae... Mm. [rubbing his eye lightly, Silver yawns and sits up a little more. he's fine, he's fine.] Malleus wanted one, too... it's a lot of food, but I can try to help. [he might be giving up with Lilia simply because he knows what kind of food his "father" makes.] He mentioned you were here, actually.

malleus draconia | twisted wonderland | ota

[malefico]

i ✧ lunar new year

[ although his arrival to this strange land had been met with no small measure of confusion, the scientists had done an adequate enough job at explaining his circumstances that he stopped trying to re-enter the door after a few unsuccessful attempts. the technology that they spoke about was foreign and alien, and rather than try and understand it implicitly he found himself taking to the streets instead with little more than an idea of where he was staying and a few other possessions.

the communications device was barely given a second glance, but knowing that there would be someone here, undoubtedly, who would know how to work it, he kept it on his person along with his phone and everything else he'd had on him when he arrived. it was less a concern and more a certainty that the others in his dormitory would undoubtedly follow - Lilia chief among them, but he would not discount Sebek or Silver in their devotion to staying at his side - and so he wasn't at all bothered as he took the streets and took in the sights and sounds of the world he'd found himself in.

the people of this land are strange, but there is a familiarity about them regardless. if he were to hazard a guess it felt as though he were trapped in a land somewhere in the Far East, but with vast differences between the world he'd come from and the world he was in now. for starters it seemed as though no one here was capable of magicks, and for the most part the people looked unerringly human. they gave him a wide berth as he made his way through but that did not stop the occasional child or two from bumping into his elbow or his knee as they weaved around him on their way to cause some mischief or other. he was given space less because of how intimidating he was - even though there were occasionally weird looks and mumbles, stares on his horns and on his overall stature and his clothes - but more because the market was crowded.

he can be found in a myriad of different places; sampling the food with curious intent, standing on the side watching a costumed lion bob and dip through the streets or even off by the waterfront watching the fireworks. as unapproachable as he may seem he's still alone, so those looking to say hello are free to seize the moment while they can. ]

ii ✧ eigo o hanasemasu ka? (aphro optional)

[ eventually his wandering finds him at a speakeasy by the name of Antenna America. there's a familiarity about it he can't quite place his finger on, but more importantly - that is a lot of ice cream. that is a lot of ice cream he could easily eat by himself, but since the dish had been touted as a couple's only specialty he is sorely out of luck.

catch him milling around the front every so often a respectable distance away, watching the goings-on with an intensity that seems to show only when the ice cream bowl is carried through the restaurant to another lucky couple. if he were a lesser person it might be safe to say he'd be drooling - but he's not. ]

iii ✧ wildcard

[ ooc; don't see anything you like? feel free to come at me with your own!! as a note Malleus's intro/cr meme post is here if you would like to hit me up for anything!! for the ice cream bowl prompt aphro is optional, but keep in mind he's likely to focus on the ice cream and not the fruit. ]

it's time for more ice cream

[caelestite]

[When the Navigator learns that the huge ice cream sundae is for couples only, he's not terribly bothered by it. It seems like a lot, even split between two people, and there's other unfamiliar foods he could try.

But it's hard to miss the feeling of yearning, even if that word seems a bit too... serious. Though as he looks around, searching for the source of such strong feelings, the person he sees looks pretty serious. The pointed ears and horns remind him of an Aurorian, even if he doesn't have the same presence of one, but it's still a reminder of home.

And, well...]

Were you interested in trying that out?

[He nods his head in the direction of a couple sharing their ice cream, before glancing up - and up - at this horny fellow.]

Kisara | Tales of Arise

[shieldmom]

[OOC: She is from post-game, so there will be spoilers, you have been warned! Although I'll keep it from anything major, but it may be unavoidable.]

Arrival

[There was something to be said about reliving an event multiple times, something Kisara really didn't think could happen. But then again, she and her friends lived through a literal planet merger so she had originally thought she had seen everything.

And she couldn't have been more wrong until she finally stepped foot into Nippon and was apprised of the situation. She sighed, leaving the NRL to figure out her next steps. Dohalim wasn't with her like he was originally. In fact, she didn't see anyone she knew at the NRL. If they were here, they weren't in the area. She looked at the communication device in her hand but thought against using it for now. While it could be convenient, she also wasn't familiar with this technology so there was a chance she would just mess something up and the whole reason for using it would have been moot.

Thus, she eventually found herself in Little Edo where she found herself needing to use her massive shield to stop the stone with legs from barreling into her. It stumbled back with a mighty clang and Kisara straightened back up, gazing at the creature warily.]

Er... are you alright?

[It seemed sentient enough (that face!), after all, just clumsy. It wiggled as if to shake itself off from the disorientation and then it looked up at her. Kisara stared back until she thought she heard a "hello" and then her brows furrowed in confusion and surprise. She bowed her head and answered:]

Hello. Are you... lost?

[It walked until it was behind her and then waited. It was then a native resident advised her what was to be done, asking her to help it to the countryside since it seems to be following her now. Well, she was no stranger to requests like this so, with a nod and a smile, she agreed and once she received directions to the destination she let what she learned now was called a Kaoseki toward the countryside. Eventually, she would have a few more trailing behind her. Guess it paid to have a giant shield and good manners?]

Stray Cat

It's okay, little one, I'll catch you! I promise.

[Kisara had removed her armor from her chest and arms, leaving her top have in just the black leotard like material as she held her hands out for the cat-child who was clearly nervous but unable to take the leap to get down. She wanted to soften his landing, after all and armor would do the kid no favors.

When he still seemed disinclined to move, she hefted a sigh and then shook her head with a laugh.]

All right, then I'm coming up there. Just don't move, okay?

[And thus Kisara, former Captain of the Elde Menancia Guard, was climbing a tree to save what she eventually found out was actually a cat! Or a bakeneko, from what she heard some of the locals say. Hm, now how to get down without dropping him.]

New Years Celebration

[Kisara had never really celebrated a tradition like this, even in Elde Menancia. But she could learn to like this, especially with the future might hold for Dahna now that they had put a stop to the Great Astral Spirit and the two planets had merged. After all, what better way to celebrate the future than celebrating the coming of a new year?

She had also been convinced to rent a kimono. It was beautiful and she felt a little awkward in something this nice and extravagant. But she didn't want to ruin the hospitality that everyone had shared with her thus far and decided she would enjoy herself for the day. She was good with money, so she was careful with how much she spent while still enjoying the festivities. She eventually found herself at the waterfront, looking up at the sky to watch the fireworks in actions. She had never seen anything so vibrant before! If only her friends were here to share the moment with her.]

Wildcard

[Wanna do something else? Just let me know! mossflower#4962 or PM this journal :3]

[ilqaras]

[originally, Dohalim had made the trip out to Yokohama partly out of his own curiosity, and partly to look up the local flora he could possibly bring back to his shop. honestly, he'd been so engrossed in his business so suddenly that he hadn't had much time to spend time for himself. perhaps he really should get some help; he hadn't realised that building a business from the ground up would be so much work.

but, learning experiences, he supposes. and what was a little bit of hard work? rubbing that elbow grease and whatnot.

but, catching wind about a fireworks display (and seeing them in the month prior at the party), of course he was going to go watch. after all, he should be focusing more on the pleasure part of this trip.

as he steps up by who he thinks is a random stranger, he watches on as the sparking of fireworks lights up and glitters the night sky, before his gaze flicks to his silent companion. perhaps he'd wanted to make a comment on the beauty of the display in the sky, or some poem about it, but when he sees a rather familiar face, all of what he'd wanted to say leaves him. instead, he stares for a moment more, as if he can't believe who he's looking at, eyes taking in the familiar honeyed eyes and soft feminine features of:]

...Kisara?

Silver | Twisted Wonderland

[somnolently]

1. A Place to (Really) Call Home [Closed to Diasomnia members]

[it hadn't been intentional, precisely. a thought that had come to Silver one day, and he'd signed up to be contacted when better housing became available. as a result, the near immediate reply is quite a surprise... but not one he's about to sleep on (hah).

in any case, once he's secured housing, he'll send a message to Lilia... and Malleus, though the housewarden will also get a personal visit to explain the situation and set up a time to arrive. it's a quaint little place, and Silver looks up at it with some measure of pride. his first foray into owning something like it, and moreover it's a space for all of them... he suspects Sebek might be a little jealous, if he were here. he usually was. does that mean Silver misses him?

anyway! by the appointed time, the young man has found himself a nice perch to wait for his dormmates (former dormmates? whatever). if either is a little late, though, he might just be dozing off standing up. it's fine, he's fine.]

2. Stray Cat

[staring up into the tree, Silver crosses his arms. just how a bakeneko managed to get so high into a tree... well. considering his options, he - glances to whomever is nearby.]

Well, this is quite a predicament. Shall we work together to help them?

3. Antenna America

[at first, it had been a smart enough idea. Silver had sat down for food and drink, leaning heavily on coffee and other things to help keep him awake. early on, it seems to be working, as the young man observes his surroundings.

... it doesn't last long, though. Silver's curse seems adamant in dragging at his senses, and eyelids lilt closed before long. some of the naps are short, his head barely dipping toward his coffee cup before he awakens once more. other times, he seems quite contentedly sleeping, hands resting folded on the table. dare to wake him up?]

4. Wildcard

If none of this works, feel free to hmu or write a freestyle starter! Outside of their home, Silver can be found mostly running errands - taking care of things like laundry and groceries for his housemates, visiting new venues to scope out what's around, ensuring a steady source of cell phones for Malleus' lightning abuse. He really does fall asleep pretty much anywhere doing anything, so I'm good with assuming he's just dozed off somewhere inconvenient. Or during a conversation. Or whatever.

ice cream time

[malefico]

[ Malleus announces his arrival - and his presence - via slipping into the chair opposite Silver, glancing up at a hovering waitress who had been on the verge of waking the human up. the look he gets is a startle of surprise - less so because of his horns and more so because of his sudden arrival, perhaps, but it's easy to assume the former and not the latter - and he ignores it in favor of nodding at one of the ice cream dishes being carried away on a tray to another lucky couple. ]

We will have that, if you please.

[ the waitress immediately scurries off to go and see to the preparations for said dish, and Malleus turns his attention to the dozing Silver, who may or may not still be dozing after his sudden arrival. ]

I'm glad to see I was not left behind in some strange, foreign land. [ not that there was any guarantee he wouldn't be left behind now that they'd found each other ... ]

Lilia is here as well, but I've not seen hide nor hair of Sebek.

asch the bloody | tales of the abyss

[charredflame]

A Place to Call Home

[to say he's annoyed is an understatement; for all manner of reasons, and while he keeps hold of his temper while the situation is explained to him - he's not happy about it. Not by a long shot, and that's a complicated thought he sets aside to handle later, if at all. He certainly doesn't care about these time loop nonsense - a lie, it just isn't a priority - and as soon as he's allowed to leave he storms off.

By the time he figures out the rails and where he's going, mostly, he's come across the Kaoseki. Or rather, someone dodging the Kaoseki bumps into him and draws his attention to them. It isn't as though he hasn't seen strange things before, but walking along like this is . . . he can't help but stop to watch, eyebrow raised and annoyance at his current situation briefly forgotten.

And while he doesn't outwardly respond to any calls for help, he may or may not subtly nudge a Kaoseki or two in the right direction]

Lunar New Year

[it isn't that he's interested in the festivities, it's that there's no use in ignoring them and if asked, he's merely out to find something to eat. Which would be all well and good if it would stop spoiling. The first time it happens he returns to the stall, absolutely livid until it's explained what's happening, but the second and third time he merely sighs and apologizes and decides maybe finding somewhere quieter to eat is a bad idea after all.

Later, he does find somewhere, quiet and private enough that he can at least enjoy the fireworks for a little while]

Eigo o hanasemasu ka?

[he doesn't recognize anything, surprise surprise, but Asch still finds himself near Antenna America at some point or another. He pauses to look at the advertisements regarding couples and ice cream, frowning to himself.

While he might consider the other food, if anyone suggests going for the couples' discount on ice cream he'll cut them off before they can finish with a firm:]

Absolutely not.

Wildcard

[you know how this goes. HMU on discord or at sociologize!]

we're getting ice cream bitch

[malefico]

If you are uninterested, I will take it.

[ this is spoken not from next to him, or from even a table in the corner - but by the doorway, where he lingers like an ice-cream phantom. ]

The ice cream, I mean.

lunar new year

[re_sonate]

[unfortunately for Luke (and because he shares House Fabre's "stupid gene"), it does take a while for him to realise that the time surges are to blame. however, when he does realise just what's going on, and a little chit chat with the umpteenth vendor willing to change his food with something fresh cooked again is he handed a map so he can finally get some food in him without the fear of it spoiling.

he'd bought extra spring rolls from said vendor in thanks.

not knowing where Law went, but trusting that they'd catch up with each other later, Luke unknowingly heads to the same place Asch currently is. but, perhaps it might not be as unknowing as he thinks, feeling his fonons resonate just enough that it catches his curiosity. but... nah, he couldn't be here, could he? if Asch was, Luke's pretty sure he'd hear nothing but the sharp ringing in his ears paired with "Dreck!!!!!!" in that perpetually angry voice of his.

however, his suspicions are confirmed as he sees the familiar red hair, and the resonance thrum just a little more; he nearly drops his food as he rushes over to his original]

Asch!

gorou | genshin impact

[kyuudouka]

lunar new year;
[The general has had a surprising amount of time to relax, which... is new. Even after the Vision Hunt Decree was ended, things in Watatsumi weren't peaceful. There were the remains of the Fatui and their delusion factory and opportunistic ronin, not to mention the monsters native to the island. His visits to Narukami and the Yae Publishing House also weren't things that he would consider peaceful, considering his dealings with a certain fox spirit, so the peace in Nippon once it's apparent time isn't looping is something Gorou's never experienced.

The festival celebrating the new year is just another thing he's never experienced before. Watatsumi wasn't without celebrations, but they had become few and far between as the war with the Shogunate dragged on, and were never quite as grand as this, anyways. There's so much to see - and so much to eat - that he almost doesn't know what to do first.

He explores as much of Zhongguo Town as he can, checking out all of the stalls of food and souvenirs, and he can be found enjoying the fireworks and watching the lion dances with his ears perked and tail wagging lazily.

...Unfortunately, he can also be found looking utterly dejected when his nian gao turns back to rice that scatters across the pavement.]

antenna america (aphro optional)
[Eventually, Gorou's exploration of the festivities leads him to other wards, which leads him right to Antenna America. Gorou isn't much of a drinker, as it were, and he certainly doesn't know what a burger is, but he hears the word cake and he's immediately intrigued. He doesn't know what a pineapple is, no, but maybe it's the best cake possible?

And then he sees the ice cream on offer.

His sweet tooth hasn't exactly been his greatest ally in Nippon, but it's easy to push that fact aside. If only he had someone to eat it with... The fact that it's couples only is incredibly disappointed, because it sounds so much more impressive then anything else in the speakeasy, and what if he doesn't get the chance to try it ever again? It's exclusive to the celebration!

...

He really does just look like a kicked puppy right now. Someone please help him, or drag him away from a bad decision.]

wildcard;
[you know the drill, same as it always is]

stupid sexy ice cream time

[brilliantdiamond]

...you know, between the two of us, I bet we could eat the whole thing.

[Suddenly Aether is here!! and also looking curiously at the special ice cream. Something about this place's decor feels reminiscent of a world he's visited in the past. How curious.]

Do you want go in together and split it?

[He flashes a little grin while he's at it, because yes, he knows exactly what this offer entails. But it wouldn't be the first time he's pretended to go on a date with a friend to get exclusive sweets.]

ice creammmmm

[acutabove]

[ the festival going on is familiar in a way he can't place, but he credits it to the fact that he's spent almost an entire year here in this strange, foreign land. the amount of parties and festivities he's seen are more than he can count on one hand, so it's easy to fall into the lull of things and easy to get caught up in sightseeing and looking around as he makes his way around the city.

there's really no need for him to pick up any souvenirs or any food, but that's not going to keep him from browsing what they have to offer, wondering if he can pick up any gifts to give to people just because. his wanderings take him to see the dances - and he has to resist the urge to join in, of course - past the stalls and to the quieter streets that lead out into other wards.

it's here that he spots the puppy-eared lad, standing and looking as dejected as if someone had told him there was a rule against letting dogs into the restaurant. it only takes a bit of guesswork to figure out what's got him looking so glum, and after watching one of the servers traipse on by with a mountain of ice cream and announce the delivery of it to the "lucky couple" he can ascertain what's going on easily enough. ]

Hey, darling. [ he says, sidling right up next to Gorou and draping an arm around his shoulders. ] Thanks for waiting for me. I hope you weren't here long. [ and to further the illusion, he leans down to give the lad's cheek a smooch. ]

lunar new year

[oneandoni]

[someone else is also exploring what the festival has to offer, mostly the food but there's so much to see that getting a meal keeps getting pushed off. It isn't like Inazuma doesn't have celebrations like this, but when they do he tends to hang on the outskirts, by himself or with his gang. So being able to walk through the festival without anyone giving him a second look is - new.

It's as he's walking through to find something to eat - something without beans, why does everything have beans in it, geez - that he spots the general looking . . . oh no a sad puppy. How can he resist?

He has no idea of the time hijinks ruining food yet, so uh, at least it's the thought that counts when he offers over his nian gou, untouched]

Careful, if your sad puppy look worked on me, folks are gonna be scrambling to cheer you up any minute now if you keep it up.

langa hasegawa | sk8 the infinity

[langa]

STRAY CAT ;

[ He has no idea how this guy got up in the tree, but part of Langa really wants to find out. He stands underneat the branches, tapping his chin as if he's deep in thought. After a few moments of thoughtful staring, he seems to get what he thinks is a genius idea, and he shouts up. ]

How did you get up there in the first place?

[ He turns to anyone passing by and offers, in a completely serious tone. ]

Maybe we find out how they got up there and used what they did to get them down.

[ He absolutely suggested they get a steam bike and get up to the top the tree so they can help the guy out. He pauses, seemingly realizing that it is a terrible idea and immediately comes up with one that is much more sensible. ]

Or I guess I could always climb up. Can you get me a boost up?

[ Somehow, he maintains the same, straight-faced expression through the entire interaction. ]

HAMBURGERS, PLEASE

[ He...recognizes the language here as English and he's pretty excited because he notices the word hamburger of all things. It's one of his favorite foods to eat. He gets a glass of water and orders three different hamburgers for himself - all with a variety of different toppings and with fries with each one.

He'll be sitting alone; however, he seems to be wearing a very serious expression on his face as he starts eating.

And he manages to eat each and every bit of food that he had ordered. And, impressively - he seems interested in one more thing. ]

Have you tried the pineapple upside down cake?

WE ALL SCREAM --
note: no aphro in most cases

[ Langa likes all sorts of food, and of course a mountain of ice cream speaks to him. But then he hears of a dessert that will be free if a couple manages to eat. He's eating into his food budget for today already, so he doesn't really have the funds to spare on a giant sweet treat like he'd like.

So it seems like this is ideal.

Unfortunately, he's also not particularly good at pretending to feel a way, and has never been a super emotional guy most of the time. He thinks of the dessert as if it were an amazing skateboarding or snowboarding completion, so he puts on his best (awkward) smile. ]

We -- can do the ice cream maybe?

[ Because honestly, he'll more than pull his weight. The dessert will be finished. ]

WILDCARD ;

[ Open to also doing any of the lunar new year stuff, too! if you need a custom starter let me know - or if you want to run free because you have an idea of your own - go for it! ]

Borgers - ignore my lack of icons I arrived late but I come bearing starbucks

[sk8r_boi]

[Langa may have started eating alone, but Reki soon joined the table with his own helping of food. It did not hold a candle to Langa's plate though. How did he put away so much food? Was it a Canadian thing? Reki watched the food disappear as he slowly at his food. They finished at roughly the same time and he was feeling a bit too food but...]

...What's upside down cake?

Riddle Rosehearts | Twisted Wonderland

[atamaosagete]

i ♥ Orientation/Arrival

[ To say it was more than a little disconcerting to end up somewhere else after the odd time loops was indeed an understatement. He’d pursed his lips but took it all in stride for the most part, though he did realize that he was without Trey, Cater, Ace, Deuce or any of the other Heartslabyul students so this was completely new territory.

He’d listened relatively patiently but also distracted because the ones giving them this talk, their appearances weren’t completely neat, hair out of place and their wordings could have used work. They should have stood taller when speaking… but this was not his place. At least until the end where he’d walked up to the scientists and the like to tell them the flaws they could fix before he headed out to find someone to talk to.

So. Naturally? While still decked out in his Dorm uniform, Riddle walked up to someone who he knew hadn’t been at Orientation but looked out of place with those he supposed weren’t natives. ]

If you have a moment, would you please explain this… kizuna matter more in depth? I’m afraid I don’t quite understand it as much as I would like.

[ At least he knew how to adapt, and wasn’t immediately losing it on the first person here or even the scientists and doctors. Time Loops, Being bound to a sort of unknown magic and this wasn’t even any place he’d heard of before. ]

ii ♥ Kaoseki Troubles…

[ Many people had been enlisted to help deal with these odd creatures, and Riddle felt there was no harm in helping sweep some of them out. He’d taken at least three out this way, and as one tumbled over it’s own feet? He sighed and moved to right it and lightly tapped it’s little head. ]

Be careful. Stand up straight and mind where you’re going or you’ll never stop tripping and falling. Understood?

[ He also did the same with another, before straightening up and crossing his arms over his chest. ]

Really. Why is it they seem to be no more than hapless children running around carelessly…? Someone needs to show them some discipline.

iii ♥ Antenna America

[ It was inevitable that he’d eventually find himself around this kind of area, lively and alive with people. How could he not get drawn to it? It was foreign to him in terms of what was going on here, but he didn’t quite hate it. So eventually he’d decided to go in and try some food to eat, but while he’d gotten something relatively small?

That didn’t stop his eyes from watching as the ice cream was brought to different people, a somewhat longing look plastered on his face. Such a dish was reserved for couples so he had no right to it, and it just made him a bit frustrated. If there was a way to get it, he would, honestly… ]

iv ♥ Wildcard

[ Wanna do something else entirely? HMU/Pm me on this journal! ]

ii

[hearttricks]

[oh . . . oh wow. So maybe he was following some of the kaoseki, curious and amused by the trouble they seemed to be getting into, and he definitely wanted to find out why they were heading out, but -

He stops short when he hears Riddle, and his face scrunches up, like he knows he's about to get in trouble but he can't help but find it funny anyway]

Can you even properly discipline the rocks with faces?

[he has to ask, ok]

ace trappola | twisted wonderland

[hearttricks]

A Place to Call Home

[honestly, he should probably be a little worried about the time stuff and being stuck in an entirely different world from home. But there's so much to look at and explore that he can't really be bothered. If he thinks of it like an abrupt vacation from school, then it's fine, right? Right.

He finds his explorations paused when he ends up in Little Edo; the rocks with faces tumbling around are far too amusing to ignore, not the mention the chaos they're leaving in their wake. He's been warned that they do usually curse people, but they seem pretty harmless to him - and hey, one even said hello to him when he bowed]

C'mon, this way, this way. [he's kind of helping, waving the grinning rocks in the right direction]

Stray Cat

[he wants to ride one of the cool steam-powered bikes. They might not be as cool as flying with a broom, but they come really, really close and especially so when the wings pop out. So what if people seem to be having trouble with it? He could figure it out.

Probably. But just to be safe and not to be lazy about it whatsoever shut up, he'll ask anyone who looks interested if they want to partner up]

Hey, you wanna give it a shot?

Eigo o hanasemasu ka?

[he is 100% confident in his ability to eat all of the ice cream the couple's deal offers, but it won't be free if he eats it himself, and it's really too expensive otherwise, tempted as he is. He's not all that keen on pretending to be a couple with anyone, but . . .

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for free ice cream.

You might find him sulking at first around Antenna America, but you may also spot him sizing you up, especially if you're by yourself and also interested in free ice cream]

Wildcard

[as always, feel free to hmu on disco or at sociologize]

Maglor | Tolkien

[bythewaves]

Seen This Before/Orientation
[ Has he seen this before? In his dreams, maybe. In his nightmares. It seems he sees it over and over, but maybe this is just a dream. It wouldn't be the first time he has had hallucinations. Or maybe this is punishment.

He stands on the edge of the bluff, and raises his voice in farewell, despite knowing even the sea winds will not carry his voice far enough, as the White Ship vanishes over the horizon, a last flash of light from Father's Silmaril as it goes.

But this time, something is different, and his head snaps up, eyes narrowing, at a tremor, a break, in the Song.

...............

Is that... a door? Might as well go through, he supposes.

On the other side he's utterly confused by the whole process, but he gets the gist enough to be kicked out politely to leave the scientists to their work. And then he's left on the street, confused, with a "phone" in his hands. He looks extremely lost, gaping at the surrounds like some country bumpkin, but with growing wonder in his eyes. ]

A place to call home

[ He's got no idea how he managed to navigate the transportation system, but he's somehow ended up in Little Edo, where he's promptly bumped into by a ... tiny... rock... with legs?

Oh! They're... kind of sweet. And they have manners! He smiles, charmed, when several bow back to him, although technically he had only been bending to look closer.

Curiously, he pulls out his harp again, and settles himself down to play. Maybe they might enjoy a tune? It's joyful, dancing music, something fit for laughter and full taverns, although he tries not to play too loud. Wouldn't want to disturb the locals. Even so, his songs draw attention, and eventually, he'll have an audience of both dancing people, as well as several Kaoseki, who have apparently found out they love music ]

Hey! now! Come hoy now! Whither do you wander?
Up, down, near or far, here, there or yonder?
Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail and Bumpkin

[ Yes he named the Kaoseki closest to him. Shush. And yes, those names are for ponies, not stones. No one ever said he was good at naming things. ]

Lunar New Year

[ The celebrations are strange, bright and loud enough to make him flinch, when the fireworks go off. But the Noldor have always been people of learning, and Maglor is a bard on top of that.

This is the most fun he's had (the most fun he's allowed himself to have) in centuries.

He can be found trying all the food with interest, watching the dances and parades with wide eyes... and cursing when his slice of nian gao spoils just before he can bite it. Oops. Didn't notice that time shift zone. ]

Manwe's eyebrows!

Lunar New Year

[gentledawn]

Who is Manwe? [A slender young man in white inquires, his head slightly cocked. Xiao Xingchen has heard many curses - and blessings - in this land and that one is...new.] Did your food spoil? The stalls will replace it for free.

[Also... Is everyone from your world so tall, Maglor? Xingchen is trying not to be rude, but goodness!]

johnny joestar | jjba (yeehaw)

[sundayshoes]

Antenna America - yee yee!

[ Now this is something Johnny didn't get to experience during his last stay here, standing in front of the speakeasy he finds himself staring at the signage with just a hint of doubt.

Does he go in or doesn't he? That's the question. ]

[infernaltouch]

Cold feet? You're standing there like you're mentally preparing yourself to go into a brothel. Something going on here?

Leanne | Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

[song_princess]

A place to call home (First come who wants her as their roommate):

This place so far, while it was true that she wished deeply to be anywhere but where she was locked up, she wasn't expecting to be taken to a place that was so filled with Beorcs and... Yokai? She was so utterly confused still as she kept her wings close to herself. She can remember repeating the same sessions of 'encouragement' from that mad Beorc over and over again before coming here. For now, she is supposed to find a home among these Beorcs but... Even if she made peace with them, she isn't sure that is of the right mind to be so close to them again.

Reyson.... Father... Mother.... What is she supposed to do? A dangerous presence was starting to invade Tellius but she is stuck here. She trusted and forgave Beorcs so easily before being kidnapped, but could she trust them again so easily?

A hand lifts to rub at her eyes as she tries to sort through the thoughts running through her head. Maybe she can find a roommate for now who doesn't mind being alone for most of the time. But for now, she stands still, flipping through fliers to try and not only understand them but to also see if there were any want ads.

Lunar New Year:

This festival.... It was so interesting and she wanted to know more about it. More importantly, she wanted to know more about the food and the music playing. Music and food and all the good vibes going on were healing in their own right. This was something she needed, needed so much.

Finding a roof to perch on so she can watch the events going on below as she eats some nian go. Watching and observing the festivities down below with a part of her wanting to join in but not quite sure how to yet. For now, she was content and perhaps as a small prank, she will toss a nian go at the head of a random person to see their reaction to either the attempt or to a successful hit.

Lunar New Year

[prince_of_the_moon]

She catches his eye long before she pelts him with nian. Leaping onto the roof-top in one bound, he peers down at her as if he expects...an answer? A greeting? Sesshomaru seems to give off the air that you should be groveling, why aren't you groveling.

Yet he has other reasons for facing her. Is she a demon? He doesn't think so. She doesn't have the scent of one. Then...why the wings?

"Speak."