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April | 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.
For those bound for Nihonbashi, be careful not to board the train too late at night. Because on Friday nights, the Loop Line's final train of the night is a party train! Every train car is set up with its own theme and decor, with this week featuring the return of the ever popular sexy maid cafe in the rear of the car! Dress up in a surprisingly demure maid outfit (this is 1921) and take customer orders, or have a seat and peruse the menu. Aside from a small bar, there's no actual food service or exchange of currency going on here, so it's all in good fun! The train will loop endlessly past the same station until sunrise, so hopefully they weren't planning on an early night's sleep.
In Little Edo, a Great Nippon Salamander has been spotted wandering the streets in search of clean water. While this may not seem like a big deal, these creatures range in size from that of a large dog to that of a large house. To subdue the creature, the local hunting clan, the Hanzaki, are searching for volunteers to help coax the salamander back out into the swamplands of the Tokyo Outskirts. While the safest method is to lead it using a hose or another source of water, those looking to get the job done quickly may instead choose to fight the creature, causing it to flee in whichever direction they point it in. Careful, they move faster than you think!
Over in Yoshiwara, the Tokyo branch of the refugee-owned nightclub, Club Hexxx, has finally opened its doors! Enjoy a dark and spooky atmosphere while listening to the latest jazz hits. And best of all, refugees will be offered a free glass of Club Hexxx's signature drink: Kinklist, a coffee-flavored drink that turns white after one sip, and causing the drinker's deepest sexual desire to appear written on their cheek in black ink. The text will remain until they finish the rest of the drink.
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.
Springtime Flowers
With the changing of the seasons, the cherry blossoms have finally bloomed, painting the landscape with dashes of pink and white on nearly every corner. Not even the busy citizens of Tokyo can resist stopping to smell the flowers, or even enjoying picnics underneath them!
And those looking for the best place to view the flowers need look no further than Little Edo, a suburb in south Tokyo that borders the vast wetlands that separate Tokyo from Yokohama. And between the lush parks, interesting shrines, and mysterious ruins, there's no shortage of things for those settling in to explore!
A Very Special Festival Kanayama Shrine, Tokyo Outskirts
While most residents are celebrating the spring season under the cherry blossoms, a different sort of celebration is taking place at the Kanayama Shrine, located just south of Tokyo on a tall, narrow hilltop that juts out of the flooded landscape. Once more, it's time for the annual Kanamara Matsuri, and all refugees will find themselves invited to the little island to see the festivities. And what sort of festival is it, you may ask?
Why, it's the Festival of the Steel Phallus! According to legend, there was once a plague of a type of ayakashi that was known to live in the genitals of humans, whose vicious bite caused the birthrate of a certain city to drop down to zero. To combat this, an afflicted young woman asked a blacksmith to forge a steel phallus in order to break the ayakashi's teeth, freeing her of the curse. It's said the original phallus remains enshrined in the innermost chambers-- and in honor of this most venerated dildo, a festival is held every spring to celebrate sexuality and fertility, all leading up to a procession in which a giant steel phallus is paraded around the island.
(And no, I didn't make this one up.)
Refugees visiting the shrine will find no shortage of phallic-shaped foods and merchandise. Outside of the wide array of oddly shaped dildos to choose from, in terms of food, there are stalls selling lollipops, popsicles, sausages, grilled squid, octopus balls, cream-filled dick waffles-- but there's more at work here than a simple theme. Those who choose the popsicles will find themselves with a temporary oral fixation, causing an urge to have something between their lips at all times. Now, is this a naughty trick, or merely a marketing ploy to sell more popsicles? It's hard to say.
But the real treat is inside the shrine itself, where a single dildo stands tall among gilded offerings and flowers. The inner chamber is only ever put on display once a year, and for good reason. Anyone whose eyes fall upon the majestic phallus will become overwhelmed with a desire to fill or be filled - which might just be why viewings are done in groups of two or more, with the outer doors of the shrine closed behind them for privacy. There's a nice pile of pillows and no shortage of lubricating oils available, so why not get into the spirit of the season with a friend or two?
Flowers of Evil Little Edo, Tokyo
Festivals aside, many people are coming out to Little Edo to enjoy the array of cherry blossom trees for Hanami, or flower watching parties. Of these, the refugees will find themselves invited to a special gathering, taking place under the shade of a massive cherry blossom tree that was planted in their honor the year before. And yet despite it's young age, it's the largest tree around, continually growing since the initial growth spurt when it was planted. Although most understand that it was likely Kizuna that caused its sudden growth, locals have begun treating it as something sacred, leaving offerings and making prayers beneath its branches.
And should the refugees decide to take part as well, they may be surprised to find that whatever they wish for comes true. These wishes are rather limited, and some may only exist for a few minutes. But for those wishing to meet someone from home, the may be surprised to find that the person in question will appear beside them in Nippon... (See notes below for details!)
But while everyone else is enjoying the cherry blossoms, a certain park in Little Edo is drawing crowds for a different reason. After last year's outbreak of jubokko ayakashi, the cherry blossom trees in this area were permanently stained by the jubokko's red pollen, causing the pink petals to develop distinct red veins.
However, unlike the jubokko's pollen, these petals carry a very different effect. Anyone who stands under the shade of these trees will feel an irresistible urge to confess something. This can be something minor, like a strange food combination they are particularly fond of, or something major, such as the name of the last person they had sex with. This urge will linger even after leaving the flowers, until they've either confessed enough to appease the tree, or until the trees go bare when the blossoms fall.
Underwater Mysteries Tokyo Outskirts, Kanto
Those who are familiar with some version of Nippon may find the changed landscape to be rather confusing. Due to a massive time surge many decades ago, the entire region of Kanto was flooded, leaving many cities underwater or transformed into swamplands. As nature took over, the flooded region surrounding Tokyo came to be known the Tokyo Outskirts.
Ordinarily, exploring this area can be rather dangerous, given both the presence of dangerous Ayakashi and the unstable landscape that's peppered with the ruins of drowned cities. But this week, those looking for a little adventure can take part in special boat tours exploring the ruins and viewing the cherry trees from a unique vantage point.
Up to four people can fit in a single steamboat, which is preprogrammed to follow a path that will take passengers past the top of a large hill that's almost completely covered in cherry blossom trees, with the ruins of a few old buildings just barely visible beneath the overgrowth. But beauty aside, the real marvel is within the water itself, which is clear enough that one can look down and see roads, trees, and even entire buildings still mostly intact beneath the surface. You'd think the water just appeared one day, given that nothing seems to have been destroyed when the flood occurred.
But not every trip will go as smoothly as planned. Hidden beneath the pink petals that pepper the surface of the water, unlucky refugees may spot the long, long body of an Ikuchi, the sea serpent ayakashi. Thought to be the longest Ayakashi to exist in Nippon, these thick, snake-like creatures may take entire minutes just to pass under a boat. Spotting the body is simply distressing, and thankfully not of much concern. But should someone make eye contact with the third eye on top of its head, the Ikuchi will climb over the side of the boat and coil around it, attempting to drag it beneath the surface. And for the one who initially made eye contact, they'll find themselves affixed with a curse that temporarily makes it impossible to float in the water.
Thankfully, this ayakashi isn't interested in attacking those who fall overboard, and there's plenty of spots where the water is far more shallow. But those who fall in will have to wait until another tour comes by to ferry them back to shore.
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's April 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!
• For this month only, please include in your top-level if you are a new player without an invite! Those seeking an invite can do so here!!
• 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.
• Despite everything, Kanamaru Matsuri is considered an all-ages event!
• Wishes can be anything, from food items to items from home. All characters in the game will be allowed to redeem one item, magical or otherwise, from home using this prompt! However, for new character apping into the game, you have the option to have your character join the game by being wished into the setting. The wish can be anything from a direct plea to see a certain castmate again, or even just a wish for more friends that goes awry. These characters will still remember a time loop, but will not remember seeing a door, instead appearing in Tokyo after hearing the wishing-character's voice call to them. These characters will then be encouraged to visit the NRL for orientation, and will be offered an explanation that Kizuna saved them from the timeloop directly.
• While characters may attempt to fight the Ikuchi, it will not fight back, and cutting its body will cause it to grow another head and become another separate Ikuchi. This new head is also capable of cursing people, so it's probably best to leave it alone.
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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no subject
It's taxing if you don't know what you're doing, but...anybody can use it.
[ And as she hands the Materia back, maybe she can too! There's way more kinds out there to learn about, after all. Her small smile is met with a more softened expression of his own, not quite smiling back but still nodding with a gentle "mm". ]
Yeah... I doubt it's just people from Teyvat or Gaia getting pulled here.
[ So long as they're all on their side. He starts walking again, a more slow pace than before as they cross the street. With Cherry Blossom season in full bloom, the streets were scattered with petals, caught in the wind from time to time; it's a picturesque scene- something Cloud's never really experienced before. Suffice to say? It beats the dreariness of the slums any day. Hell, he even likes it more than the upper plate districts. ]
So what about you, Ayaka? [ A beat. ] What do you do back home?
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... without needlessly being too talkative about it, or confusing him with more and more terms, anyway. ]
The Kamisato Clan heads the Yashiro Commission— an organisation that works for the Shogun, the leader of our nation. My brother is the head, and I handle some affairs, as well.
[ She could say more about what it is the Yashiro Commission does. It may sound big, but they do not hold that much power. Ayaka takes pride in everything they do, though. It has always been fun.
Oh, that reminds her! ]
Before I found myself here, I was in the middle of organising the upcoming festival. I was writing invitations for our guests.
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[ No wonder Ayaka's so good at making conversation and leading said conversations. It comes with the territory. He raises a brow at her explaining what she was doing before arriving. ]
And you were caught in an endless writing loop.
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[ She lets out a sigh, looking down at her right arm for a moment before looking back at where they're headed. ]
My arm was sore when I got here, but I was given a cold compress while I was being oriented on this world.
[ Not the most glamorous look, but she was alone at the time so it was okay! ]
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[ He's not lecturing her about it. More or less agreeing. It's something he thinks of that's happened during his tenure with Shinra. Of course, being someone as enhanced as he was for combat, a little bit of writing just needed a roll of the wrist to remedy. Still, he gives a thoughtful hum before deciding to chime in, ]
Not that you need it now, but, there's more to Materia than just offensive magic. [ He shrugs as he inspects his bracer on his arm, slotted with some more little shining spheres. ] I can heal too. If your writing hand starts getting tender.
[ Despite his dry yet light tone, he's just kidding. But...he's grateful that when they started traveling to Kalm, his loadout was balanced out. ]
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[ In fact, it's very impressive! Ayaka may know how to do first aid, but she doesn't have healing "magic". Other Vision bearers are capable of such a gift, but since her Vision was given to her at a moment when she wanted to do more and beat her brother in a duel, her skills lean toward the more offensive side of things in a battle. ]
I'm sure you've helped many people with your talents.
[ Wait, hang on a second. She heard it as soon as she said it! ]
Oh, yes! You helped me, too. [ She claps her hands together as she remembers, a little bit of excitement in her tone. These kinds of interactions aren't very common for Ayaka, so she might come off a tad bit eager now. ] I'll have to make it up to you at some point.
no subject
I've dipped my toes here and there.
[ Water filter replacement. Monster clearing. Mako reactor inspection.
Eco-Terrorism.Rescue missions. ... Espionage. dafksjh ]Nah. You already have. [ He gestures leisurely with a hand at his side. ] We both had the same job. The way I see it, we covered each other.
no subject
I won't insist, then.
[ Looks like the Hanzaki clan's headquarters is nearby, too. Ayaka shouldn't really care for a reward, but she could use the extra penny or whatever loot she can get. ]
Will you be doing these sorts of commissions again in the future?
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[ When asked if he would be doing these sorts of commissions again in the future? There's a subtle smile on his face as they make their way up to the front entrance of the Hanzaki clan's headquarters. ]
For a price.
[ All business as usual, it seems like. The two don't spend very long in the lobby, meeting with a representative of the clan's head in regards to the Great Nippon Salamander. Word had already reached them that the creature had departed, so of course, it was up to the two to fill in the gaps. As for where Cloud chimed in on the progress report?
He relays what he saw and carried out. Ayaka had been the one to locate the beast first. She also successfully lead it towards the outskirts of the village. Cloud doesn't gloss over his involvement however. It was a team effort in subduing the Salamander! When the Hanzaki representative returns with their payouts, Cloud thinks nothing of it and takes his leave shortly after. As they walk, he fans the small batch of bills in his hand, not showing it off so much as getting a good look at it. ]
Definitely different from gil...
[ 60% to Ayaka. 40% to Cloud. A job well done. ]
no subject
As they leave, she watches Cloud as he takes out the money he's received. Oh— he's just... all that in public, huh? What if someone came in and snatched it?
Her movements are much smaller in comparison as she opens the pouch she placed the bills in. Ah— it looks like what she got is thicker? Could it be that she got more? ]
I don't think they gave us 50-50. This is a little unfair to you.
no subject
[ Not to downplay what he did, but at the end of the day, Cloud technically tagged along and joined her in time to make things easier. For all his talk of money and getting down to business... ]
I did it for a price. [ Yeah that was on purpose. ] Never said for how much.
no subject
[ Hmm... it seems a little forceful to make him take the money, especially when it doesn't seem like he's interested...
Ah! She recalls a stall that they passed by not too far from here. If her intuition is right, the snacks there should be very familiar. ]
I know. [ She takes a few steps forward to get ahead of him, turning around quickly so she's facing him. Her ponytail sways when she turns, as if the wind was accompanying her each step. ] Let me treat you to a snack. It's not much, but I would like to show my gratitude in proper.
no subject
Lead on, then.
no subject
[ She'll walk properly after that, not leading the way by walking ahead of him, but to walk by her companion's side and guiding him as to where to turn, where to go, what to look out for.
It doesn't take long before they're at their destination. Their surroundings are busy, but the sakura petals falling off the giant sakura tree closeby make the scenery more tranquil than it should be. Ayaka and Cloud stop by a cart with a young man cooking some things on his stove, and behind him is a table with various things like a pitcher, a container for water, various colours of powder and the like.
It's a milk tea stand! And he also sells takoyaki. ]
No one I know has ever said milk tea isn't good. Pick a flavour— I'm sure you'll like it, [ she tells Cloud. As for her? She gets a matcha flavoured milk tea with black pearls. Two servings of takoyaki, too. Four pieces for her, and another four for the blond. ]
no subject
Can't say I've ever tried...
[ As for what flavor? He really didn't know what to pick. There were so many flavors to choose from! Thai, Mango, Taro, Brown Sugar...? He brings a hand to his chin, tapping his foot some as he deliberates, not wanting to seem indecisive. In the end, he goes for Strawberry with the black pearls! He nods to the young man who gives them their drinks and takoyaki, of which Cloud is also curious about. Stepping off to the side, milk tea in one hand and little container for the takoyaki in the other. After stabbing a hole through the top with the really wide straw, before he can take a sip, he turns, ]
Thanks, Ayaka.
no subject
[ Much better! This is right, she thinks. And with their orders served, she heads on over to a nearby bench, unoccupied and clean. She sets down the takoyaki and milk tea first before sitting down, careful with her skirt when she does. ]
Don't eat the takoyaki right away. [ Hopefully she isn't too late with the warning akjfkd ] You might burn your tongue.
no subject
[ "Don't eat the takoyaki right away. You might—" ]
[ It's too late, Ayaka. ]
[ "—burn your tongue." ]
!
[ Luckily for Cloud? It was more of a nibble/test rather than a gluttonous chomp. It's hot. Really hot. But he pulls it away quick enough, looking the most startled he's been since meeting the younger Kamisato. And they just threw down with a giant amphibian. ]
Hoo...
[ He's just. Gonna let that cool for a couple minutes. And ignore the embarrassed blush. ]
Sorry.
no subject
[ That is— she did warn him, but she was too late! Ayaka's small plate of takoyaki is on her lap as she covers her mouth with her hands, eyes wide as she observes him. He doesn't look like he's in that much pain, so he should be okay, but... ]
... no, if only I'd warned you sooner.
[ She heaves out a small sigh, but since he's not crying about it, the sigh is more of a soft laugh. ]
Well... at least it's a lesson learned.
no subject
You've got me for next time.
[ Implying he'll be gung go for the next time. If there even was a next time. For being trapped in a different world altogether, people like her made his adjustment period easier. ]
no subject
[ Oh! She has to look away and hide her expression by sipping through her straw. Ayaka's not used to making friends, let alone making friends this quickly! She's... excited.
Clearing her throat— rather loudly, too—she finally sets down her milk tea. No need to act like it's so new to you, Ayaka! ]
Yes, next time. I'd like that, Cloud.
no subject
To that then, he decides to raise his cup of milk tea, a faux cheers gesture. ]
To next time.
[ For a while after that, Cloud enjoys the quiet, the ambiance of festival goers coming to see the giant sakura tree making his first time having milk tea even better. Even if his eyes go wide for a second when he sucks up his first pearl. It was good! After a good moment or two of silence, he holds the drink up, looking at it from the bottom to see some of the boba. ]
Bet this would be big in Midgar.
no subject
[ A toast! A promise that Ayaka will search for Cloud days or weeks later for another adventure ending with milk tea and snacks. Maybe another time, they can eat other things like dango, or mochi. She's also gained more confidence now in that she can make snacks for her friends. That'll be something in the future for sure.
They sit in silence for a good bit, not awkward, but Ayaka does hope that Cloud isn't bored with her. In Inazuma, when she would spend time with the Traveller, there would be much to talk about, but they had peaceful moments of silence, too. It was the same when she spent time with Thoma or her brother. But those are people she knows well by now. Cloud? Someone she just met. ]
Midgar? [ She looks up at him curiously. The name holds no meaning to her at all, but she wants to know. ] Is that where you're from?
What sorts of snacks are popular there?
no subject
[ As for what's popular, snack-wise? That gets him thinking. At first, he might have thought more conventional western urban examples... But after spending so much time in the slums? ]
Hard to say. It's kinda like a melting pot. Pizza, kebabs, BBQ, sushi... [ He could keep going but really, ] You never know what you'll find. Especially in the slums.
no subject
It was only a few months ago when pizza was introduced to Inazuma. It was so delightful to try it! The bread was thin, but it held the sauce perfectly, and the cheese would melt and stick to your teeth— Oh, but I'm sure you know that already! [ Pardon, she got so excited! Barbeque, she already knows. And the others, too. Pizza was just so magical, and she's so lucky to have tasted something from [redacted] ]
no subject
Yup. You can throw just about whatever you want on it too.
[ Speaking of food in Inazuma... He finally decides it's time to give the Takoyaki another try, now that it's had a chance to properly cool. ]
Do they got this back home too? [ Takoyaki, that is. Sure enough, after he asks and he preps to listen? He takes another bite. This time a nice sized one as the softness of the octopus and the outside melts in his mouth. Luckily, without a mess around his mouth. ] ]
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