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Entry tags:
May | 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 front of a mysterious stone shrine in the middle of a forest, surrounded by the unfamiliar yet worried faces of fox-like humans in red and white robes, speaking in a foreign language that doesn't sound so foreign to you anymore.
Maryouku University
There isn't much time to process what's happening before characters are transported to the nearby Maryouku University. All injuries are completely healed, and those under mental duress will have a powerful soothing spell cast on them to calm them down. Their every need is met: food is offered, and questions are answered. "You've arrived in the Western Kingdom of Nippon, on a planet called Gaia," they explain. "When you became aware of the timeloop, we... well, let us explain."
Orientation Maryouku University, Kyoto
Everyone is brought to a large auditorium, where dozens of other people looking similarly out of place are seated around them. The Kitsune Yokai from before filter on stage, as well as a number of humans and other Yokai in labcoats. And after a brief introduction, they begin to explain. 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, 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 a means of resuming the flow of time back in their home world is found, they'll just have to make due with this one. But not to worry, because Nippon is fully committed to taking care of the refugees!
A Brand New Home Kyoto, Kansai
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 cities 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! As of the beginning of May, 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.
Over in Higashiyama, the Love Festival is in full swing at Jishu Shrine. In addition to typical festival foods and fare, visitors may be inclined to try the koiuranai-no-nishi, a pair of stones ten meters apart bearing a legend that says anyone who can cross from one stone to the next with their eyes closed will have all their relationship dreams come true. Unfortunately, some troublemaker has decided to curse one of the stones, causing anyone who attempts the challenge to temporarily fall madly in love with the first person they see when they open their eyes, whether they know them or not!
Over in Gion, a certain movie producer is seeking refugees for minor roles in a dramatic retelling of the mass-kidnapping that took place last year in June. Probably not the nicest way for new refugees to learn about such a traumatic event, but hey-- this guy pays well! Those auditioning will be placed in pairs where they'll need to recite a love confession between two refugees, as one lay dying in the other's arms... which never actually happened. For all the injuries, no refugees actually died back then. But those who can prove themselves with their acting skills might just find themselves invited to be part of the main cast, or even land future roles and enter the realm of showbusiness!
In Uji, preparations are underway for a special ceremony to be conducted later this month, put on by the Emperor himself! Of course, typically "ceremony" is just another way of saying "lavish party" where the Western Emperor is concerned. Regardless, volunteers are needed to help spruce up an old villa for the party itself, where it seems a colony of nyagumo have taken up residence. Thankfully, most appear to be the domesticated variety and can simply be carried outside, but those in charge of the top floor better look out for the wild one, since it's nearly five times the size and venomous.
NRL Time Refugee Support Network
Once they've received their housing assignment, all refugees will be given small handheld devices called magi-tech comms, 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. 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 Lovers
As flowers bloom in the countryside, over in the Western Kingdom, it's time once again for the month of love. Traditionally, it's the month where marriage proposals are made, weddings take place, and couples decide to settle down and start a family.
And in celebration of this beautiful season, numerous festivals and events can be found taking place all over Kyoto. In particular, the Ukiyo district, known for it's patronage to the arts, seems to be intent on drawing in refugees this month.
Archive of our Own Ukiyo, Kyoto
Art has always been known to flourish when times are peaceful, and Nippon is no exception. But one such art is finally gaining a foothold in the west: doujinshi, fanworks based on existing properties and media. And to that end, a special doujinshi festival is taking place at the beginning of the month.
But this is no ordinary doujinshi. This is refugee doujin, which stars well-known refugees and their friends. With thousands of refugees scattered across Nippon, telling tales of worlds far beyond anything the people of Nippon have ever heard of, it's no wonder they've become an object of interest in the eyes of the native people. And while most of the doujin changes names and places around, some are a bit more blatant, borrowing names and appearances wholesale.
But what kind of stories will they find? Perhaps the dramatic exploits of the refugees who were swept away to the land of Bakeneko this past March? Or maybe a steamy romance between a wandering samurai and the son of a powerful shogun? Or maybe the ever present tragedy of being forever separated when one side is forced to leave Nippon? Or, for true connoisseurs, they may even find the booth selling a magical book that automatically illustrates the reader in a random genre of manga, be it romance, fantasy, or pornography.
Honestly a good case could be made that all of this is more than a little invasive and could pass as sexual harassment. There's even some cosplayers! But it's all in good fun, and also thoroughly protected by Nippon's freedom of artistic expression laws. And for those who have just arrived, they'll be able to learn the "true" history of the refugees lives in Nippon so far!
Just be sure to keep an open mind when wandering through the 18+ section.
Fortunate Feelings Ukiyo, Kyoto
Although typically not the most popular tourist destination, as the oldest temple in Kyoto, Koryuu-ji is holding a special exhibition of rare ancient artifacts said to posses fortune telling abilities. Perhaps in a world of magic, this may not seem like a big deal. But this one is rather special -- because in nearly a thousand years, it's never been wrong.
The artifact is actually comprised of a set of small statues: two bodhisattva posed in deep thought, their faces expressionless. But upon being asked a question, a positive answer will cause one statue to smile, and a negative answer will cause the other to cry.
Naturally, there's a limit to what people are allowed to ask, as a power like that could potentially be used to sow chaos. But given the season, most people visiting are doing so for matchmaking purposes: should a pair approach the statues, the response they give will reveal whether or not the pair is compatible. Of course, whether or not this is romantic, familial, or platonic compatibility is rather open to interpretation.
And as a special deal for refugees, they'll each be allowed to ask one question, in addition to having their compatibility with whoever they came with assessed. This could be a friend they've brought along, or a fellow stranger waiting in line who may just be a fated to be with them someday!
But please don't blame the statue for the inevitable messy breakup that it predicts.
Flower Power Ukiyo, Kyoto
With spring in full swing, flowers are blooming all across Nippon. But for those who were present last year, they may see a rather distinct flower they don't recognize. It can be found blooming just about everywhere in Kyoto, with natives occasionally commenting that they've never seen anything like it. And perhaps the most curious thing about them is they only seem to bloom when someone is nearby, the bulbs otherwise snapping shut when they step away.
But for the refugees, they'll notice an additional effect: when giving the flowers a sniff, the petals will gently close over their nose as if giving them a soft kiss. And they smell delightful -- how charming! Surely there's nothing suspicious or dangerous about such cute little flowers, right?
Of course there is, you know where you are.
Upon inhaling the pollen of these pretty little flowers, the Refugees will feel a little light-headed -- but also warm and happy. It creates within them a desire to share that warmth and happiness with others through physical affection. They may find themselves leaning on a stranger's shoulders, gently holding the hand of an acquaintance, or peppering the cheeks of a dear friend with soft kisses. This effect grows stronger the more pollen one inhales, and with just how windy it can get in the city, there's no need to get quite so close to inhale the pollen.
But what it is? Plant, ayakashi, some strange mutation of both? The locals genuinely don't seem to know, and soon, Exorcist clans from across the West begin pouring into the city to better study these strange new flowers. But overall, the general consensus appears to be that they're rather harmless.
Still, just make sure the flower that you sniff isn't actually a Sakebana in disguise. They're known for being a little on the loud side.
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's May 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, in both Kyoto and Tokyo. 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.
• Incoming characters are welcome to find doujinshi about castmates not currently in the setting, with the implication that they may have been in the setting before. Make sure you have permission before finding doujinshi of characters currently in the game.
• The statue's predictions are 100% accurate, but open to interpretation because of how limited the answers are. For instance, the statues are capable of both crying and smiling at the same time for complex situations. That said, please do not intentionally write the statues being wrong.
• The severity of the flower's effects is entirely up to you!
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
So with that being said, it's hard not to notice there's something in the bar that sets him on edge. It had looked like an okay establishment when he'd first walked in but he can feel the sensation of eyes on him, intent and heavy.
Maybe it's just someone checking him out, but he's pretty sure that's not it. A pickpocket waiting for him to get a little more tipsy, maybe? Possible. He doesn't have the rep here he would in certain sections of Yokohama-- for good and ill.
He pinpoints where that stare had been coming from just in time for Setsura to bump into the barfly... and thanks to that, him.
She can try to head out the door, but a leather gloved hand shoots out quick as a flash, snagging her wrist with a firm grip she knows well.]
So.... checking me out, or is something on my face?
[It's said casually, testing the waters for a reaction.]
no subject
The least she can do is help out with that question. She answers him whole-heartedly by committing the sin of wasting alcohol by throwing her drink in his face.
He's going to yell. She doesn't care. She doesn't -- she jerks her wrist in an attempt to make him let go, her strength unchecked. She needs to leave. ]
no subject
Suspicions that are well and truly thrown out the window with the acrid splash of alcohol on his face, up his nose. He coughs and sputters, grip not withdrawing-- if anything it grows stronger, fury building in Chuuya's eyes. He is perfectly capable of holding Setsura here, as she knows well.]
What the fuck is your problem?! You were the one staring at me like I was some sorta mark!!
[His voice is brusque and high, irritation building.] At the very least you could explain why!
[That was a hell of a reaction for a pickpocket, if she really was one. Chuuya isn't so sure now.]
Chuuya's No Good Very Bad Day
[ The glass the contents of which she'd only just emptied in his face abruptly shatters in her hand. She'd barely tightened her grip. Barely is all it takes to make it rain glass and blood mingled with alcohol on the atop the floor. Several shards and larger pieces fly in this direction and that upon making impact, but Setsura's attention isn't there. It's entirely on Chuuya, her head whipped to turn a furious gaze on him, and the shift in her dialect turns the head of patron and bartender alike for how rough it is, causing some of the rougher customers to blush alongside their clear surprise.
It's expected, excusable from the man who'd been treated to a lady's drink in such a fashion, but from the lady? That sort of speech?
Setsura could care less if she cared at all what the gaping fools around them think of her. She cares as much as she cares about her blood beginning to smoke and evaporate, the injury already beginning to close. She jerks her wrist again, this time with the intention of shaking him to his feet. He's sturdy, but she can move him.
He's not anchored right now. ]
You've got some fucking nerve, Chuuya Nakahara! You put me in this situation! I don't owe you a damned thing! Now [ jerkjerk ], let me go already!
no subject
And he's struck speechless for a brief moment just by the look in her eyes, the bright fury and something else he can't quite pin down. It makes it far easier for Setsura to yank him to his feet, stumbling.
What finally brings him out of his stupor though, is--]
How the hell do you know my name?! The fuck did I do to you?!
[That rougher dialect matches her own, his tone sharp and snapping, but definitely carrying a hint of confusion amid the crassness. Kouyou taught him how to treat a lady, but that just meant treating her as an equal.]
no subject
Get bent!
[ -- to separate herself from him and this. She's pissed off and hurt. Why the hell won't he just let her go already? ]
no subject
Or maybe you could just--
[He's interrupted by a sharp, high pitched whistle. The bartender joins the yelling now, pointing at the door and shouting at them to leave before he forces them to or calls the authorities.]
Shit.
no subject
[ That they utter the same curse in unison is -- it doesn't matter. ]
Excuse us.
[ "Us," she says to the bartender because it's such a deeply engrained habit and... she's walking. If she has to yank Chuuya off his feet and drag him along, she will, but they're leaving. She's leaving and has has no intention of stopping after she crosses the threshold of the door even though she has no particular destination in mind beyond away from Chuuya. ]
no subject
Still, he's willing enough to leave alongside her, still wanting answers and not particularly enthused by the possibility of getting the cops called on him on his first day here.
Oh sure, it'll happen eventually-- but they'd have to catch him.
As they step outside however, he refuses to loosen his grip. Setsura's seen this kind of determination on his face, surely.]
Alright, now I want answers. Why the hell do you know my name? I'm not letting go until you tell me, and trust me when I say I can make that happen.
[He'd pin her there with gravity if he really needed to.]
no subject
You were here before, alright? Your loop resolved and you left. Now you're back and you don't remember a damned thing, so no. You don't get to make demands of me, Chuuya. You let go once. It shouldn't be a problem for you to do it again.
no subject
He bristles at the accusation in her voice, at the idea that there were things here--people here--that he couldn't recall or hadn't apparently lived, but had known him.
It sat poorly with him, for a variety of reasons.]
So let me get this straight... Are you saying we were friends or something?
no subject
Yeah. Something like that.
no subject
But something about this sat oddly in his mind. It didn't sound at all like him to abandon a friend. Except...]
If you knew me any, you'd know that I don't abandon friends for no reason.
no subject
[ She knows. Behind a particular closed door in a particular house in Little Edo is a shrine. She hasn't forgotten, she just... ]
no subject
[Chuuya didn't just abandon people. He understood the pain of betrayal plenty enough.]
no subject
[ She rests her spare hand atop her hip and drops her head with a shake. ]
You didn't leave. If it was you, that person might not even exist anymore, in which case it's not your problem.
I'm doin' a real swell job of handling it, though. Couldn't even make it past you at the damned bar...
no subject
[He grumbles and finally lets go of her hand. She... doesn't seem like she'll run this time.]
I don't understand any of this time loop nonsense, damn it. But hell, I guess it isn't unreasonable to be upset either.
no subject
[ She's shaking her previously gripped hand out and flexing her fingers. ]
Higuchi-san and Akutagawa-kun went back, too. Even if the lot of you had your reasons, it doesn't mean I had to like it. I'm a very reasonable woman!
no subject
[He seems startled by that. From what he'd assumed, he figured the the people they could pull free from the time loops were random. But for two other people from the mafia to end up here...?]
Shit, I ain't saying you had to like it. I'm just saying....
[what is he saying, exactly? He's not the Chuuya she lost. He doesn't remember her. He can't just fix the hurt that was caused.
But it still settled wrong in his gut to just leave it at that.]
...What's your name?
no subject
Well, more questions. Still, this one stings. ]
Setsura Light.
no subject
[He tests the name out for a moment, considering it, considering her.
He's not sure if his next words are going to hurt more than help in this situation, but... he couldn't not. He'd lost too many friends over the years not to.]
How about this. Yeah I don't know you, and that's just how it is. But... I think I'd like to, if you'll let me. I really don't like the idea of just leaving someone who could be a friend alone and guessing at the 'what-ifs'. If you ain't comfortable with that though...
no subject
He can't remember or come into the same sort of knowing Ranpo could. He isn't the same man. He isn't her Chuu... but he is Chuuya and she'd liked Mr. Wine Connoisseur well enough before he'd become that.
It's going to take her some time to process this. She's sure her Fortune when it comes to feelings sours. There wasn't a death bed love confession this time. The guy just got straight up wiped out of existence.
She drops her head and sighs, something like a smile tugging at her mouth. ]
Somebody's gotta keep you out of trouble and drinking hasn't been nearly as fun without you around.