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March | 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 a country called 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, 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, it appears to be magic capable of distorting reality itself. But by the time they realized this was the case, they had already begun the process of rescuing others from similar worlds using that very same magic.
Until they find the means of resuming the flow of time back in your home world, you'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 Place to Call Home Tokyo, Kanto
Once orientation is over, characters will be given one of three options for housing. Housing will be paid by the government of Nippon until they decide to move elsewhere, with NRL providing a stipend for food expenses.
In lieu of providing transportation, all refugees will be granted an unlimited rail pass that they can use to travel all across Nippon!
But it seems there's something weird about Tokyo this month...
For those living in Nihonbashi, they'll find the bridge practically covered in... cats? Or at least, they look like cats. In reality, the entire district has become overrun with nekomata, a type of ayakashi that possesses cats, causing their tail to split into two. While harmless during the day, those hoping to go outside at night will find the creatures have seeming quadrupled in size, perched atop lightposts and fences and watching. While they seem to remain peaceful, it's definitely eerie, and the Samurai Guards have their hands full escorting people safely across the bridge.
Over in Little Edo, things are far less peaceful. Curses, it seems, are on the rise this month. Most recently: the rivers have become practically flooded with kaoseki, their human-like faces staring up at passerbys as they try to cross. Signs have been placed warning people not to touch them, as those who fail to heed that warning may end up with a week of facial paralysis.
And finally, over in Yoshiwara, things are... pretty normal, actually? But there is one things residents are sure to notice: it seems all the brothels in the district have switched to using a new variety of incense provided by the neighboring region of Chubu. The smell is far stronger than their usual aphrodisial blends, and seems to be having an odd effect on people. Rather than invoke feelings of arousal, it seems to be invoking deep, deep feelings in general. While none of the supernatural things occurring around town will be happening in Yoshiwara, you might just find yourself feeling moodier than usual, manifesting Kizuna effects at the drop of a hat.
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
Just as the linked "website" states, once a character clicks the provided link, they'll find a message on the network seemingly posted under their name, stating exactly what was on their mind twenty-three minutes earlier. Clicking the link again will repeat this process infinitely, but it will not work if shared by anyone else. Did you know magical computer viruses exist?? Because apparently magical computer viruses exist.
(As a note, this prompt has been edited so it displays without a need to scroll within the dialogue box itself, since the scrollbar didn't appear on all browsers!)
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.
What Lurks Down Below
Those who visit Nihonbashi often enough may be curious about the streets that run below the massive bridge that makes up the entire district. There's no clear way to get down there, despite the fact that people can clearly be seen moving about their lives on the lower streets. But that's all about to change.
During the first week of March, large signs will be placed around Nihonbashi indicating the subtle entrances located here and there that lead to the lower district in question: Shitaya, the lowlands of Tokyo. Once considered the heart of the city, the ever growing Nihonbashi soon overtook the entire district, forcing developers to move underground instead. The result is a complex network of underground tunnels, some more refined than others.
While the citizens of Shitaya generally keep to themselves, right now, they have a reason for wanting visitors to stop by. Because maybe if it comes from someone in the upper districts, their recent concerns will be taken more seriously.
A Thorny Situation Shitaya, Tokyo
On the upper levels of Shitaya, sitting just below the bridge that makes up Nihonbashi, is a vast network of waterways and city streets. To cross these water ways, both manned and unmanned boats sit docked at the end of each street, ready to ferry people across who need it. But it seems the streets are even more chaotic than usual right now.
Looking out across one of the major waterways, strange vine-like plants can be seen coiling over the water. But unlike other vines, these are more than just a mere plant: they're tsutsumi-bara, a type of plant-like ayakashi that takes the form of a creeping vine covered in painfully sharp barbs. They're known for growing unnaturally fast, particularly in wet areas lacking in sunlight. But even for tsutsumi-bara, these ones are particularly aggressive. Large walls of thorny vines appear to be intentionally blocking streets, and even trapping boats in the water, creeping over the edge to coil around the passengers. While the citizens of Shitaya have pleaded with the samurai guards for reinforcements, for some reason, it seems they aren't being taken very seriously. Of course, those whose grew up in similar slums might understand why.
In any case, the few guards who do show up could certainly use some help. The vines are easily cut, stopping their growth. But with the roots settled underwater, they'll just keep coming back. And anyone whose been snared will need medical attention to get the tiny barbs of the thorns out of their skin. If not immediately removed the barbs will break off and travel up the bloodstream, causing chest pain and a sharp pain when breathing out. A Yokai is capable of performing a spell to draw the barbs out, but given how few live in Tokyo, it may be a bit of a wait before the few volunteers living in Shitaya can treat them.
Ordinarily, invasive tsutsumi-bara are extremely rare in cities... did something happen to cause this?
Flowers of Evil Shitaya, Tokyo
Even after the vines have been dealt with, something still seems very odd about the district of Shitaya. Monks garbed in robes with their faces hidden by a wide-brim hat can be seen walking around the district, giving prayers to each individual shop, and setting strange talismans around particular streets and corners. If asked-- they'll say a strange presence has entered Tokyo through the waterways, and they're working to keep it from spreading.
The monk then points out towards the water, where patches of strange red flowers have begun to bloom along the side of the canal. Or at least-- some people will see the flowers. Only those who have witnessed someone die will be able to see them, and should they inform the monk that they can, he'll give them a warning: something bad is going to happen in Tokyo soon.
Much like the tsutsumi-bara, these are no ordinary flowers. They're blooms produced by the higanbana ayakashi, whose true body rests far underground. And while they're typically harmless, seeing them is considered a bad omen. Specifically: they warn those who see them that they'll be witnessing another death very soon.
The monk will provide anyone who talks to him a special talisman that wards off ayakashi curses -- but he warns that they're only effective against passive curses, such as those caused by the higanbana. If they piss off an ayakashi and get cursed for it, they're unfortunately on their own.
Culture Wars Shitaya, Tokyo
It doesn't take long to realize that Tokyo is clearly not the beautiful and peaceful city it presented itself as. Walking just a bit further down will reveal Shitaya to be Tokyo's slums, with makeshift housing crowded around the entrances of various tunnels. But it's not all just housing -- there's businesses down here as well, and those running them seem rather tickled that people from the upper levels have come down to explore. But even so, there's a sense of apprehension as well, uneasy about their motivations for coming down here.
But as many are sure to quickly pick up on, almost all of the residents of Shitaya look like Yokai. But they aren't: they're Hanyo, half-human, half-yokai hybrids who look similar to Yokai, but without a natural aptitude for magic. If asked, they'll explain that many of them are refugees as well, who fled the Western Kingdom after experiencing heavy discrimination. While some manage to learn enough magic to hide their Hanyo heritage, others aren't so lucky, and seek out a new life in the Eastern Kingdom instead. One shopkeeper muses out loud, "Perhaps if more people like you come into this country, things might change for the better someday?"
Of course, as easy as it is to think of this district as gloomy, the people here are far from it. With so many immigrants from the West, many have brought their culture with them as well, including a rather popular game called Kabe-Skate. Taking place in a tunnel that's been carefully carved to resemble the inside of a pipe, two competitors don roller skates to see who can reach the goal first -- the goal in question being a short flag attached to the ceiling, requiring a high enough speed to circle up the walls without falling. Given the tunnel isn't very long, they'll have to make tight turns to avoid crashing whenever they reach one end, all without losing speed or running into their opponent.
Of course, crashing might actually be the main draw for the game itself, as that seems to be what the crowd of on-lookers most excited. At least they provide a helmet?
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's March 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.
• More information on the ayakashi mentioned in this log can be found on the Flora and Fauna page!
• A friendly Inu Yokai is available to appear in any thread involving the removal of Tsutsumi-bara barbs. The process involves a chant and specific hand motions to guide the barbs out through an open wound. Characters may be sore for a few days afterward.
• Thanks to the monk's talisman, characters who see the higanbana ayakashi will not be effected by the ayakashi's curse. However, should they look at the flowers without receiving a talisman, they'll witness a death anytime within the next week, be it a car accident, a speeding ambulance that suddenly slows down, or someone drowning in the canal.
Please leave any questions about the TDM prompts in the thread below! General game questions can be directed to the FAQ!
Reserves and Apps are always open!
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souji okita | kaze hikaru
[ all of this is so scary, much easier to understand if it were nothing but a dream. however, what the eye could see, what the touch could feel, what the hunches could sense, everything shows to be quite real. he feels safe in his new acquired home for starters, amazed by the technology in nihonbashi, a place too modern that would seem western from the stories alike he once heard from yamanami and the hogen; the nekomata granted his first fright by the sight of them not looking like normal cats hanging around so casually. little edo is what he remembers from his own edo, from kyoto even, with the warning of not stepping onto the kaoseki which look creepier than the nekomata. this is no good. had he entered a spiritual version of his own world?
if possible, souji will stick to what he knows from such districts at the moment, offering his own piece of assistance to the natives that need protection from the nekomata until late hours. ]
b; this takes your soul as well?
black.flounder:huh
black.flounder:is this the right way to do this?
black.flounder:name's okita
black.flounder:okita souji
black.flounder:need to find the shinsengumi
black.flounder:and a place to eat
black.flounder:there are nekomata and kaoseki outside
black.flounder:are we dead and only fooled we're alive?
black.flounder:or cursed?
black.flounder:....... KAMIYA-SAAAAN!! WHERE ARE YOU?! 。゜゜(´Ｏ`) ゜゜。
black.flounder:--wait, what?
c; flowers of evil
[ must it count for someone like him to not only witness a death but be part of it? twice? or as many times? there's no shame in that as he did his duty. nevertheless, the reminder when watching the red flowers as two lives were taken by and dear to him is disturbing in itself, with talisman and all, doesn't make it mild. curses and ghosts frighten him more than the possible threat of a blade on his neck. ]
d; wildcard
( ooc: hmu @
B || un: supercoolguy
Also wat the heckers is a shinsengumi?
text; un: black.flounder
shinsengumi, the police force that serves the bakufu and the shogun and bring peace to kyoto.
It's so hard to make typos when phone keeps autocorrecting lmao
It ok it ok we can talk later!! Can't keep u waiting on an empty stomach poor guy!!
Where r u at I will taek u??
as a phone tagger i turn off all autocorrecting
thank you for your kindness! right now i'm at my home in nihonbashi. should we meet here or somewhere else?
[ dear gods, he has worse writing(?) than him. ]
Oh God no that could be disaster for me sobs
that's pretty close by! I'm around the area I can come look for yoo and take yuu to a market thers a street vendor that has the gooiest crispy takoyaki it's so delishis!!!
How do you loook like wat am I looking for
that's me everyday lol
takoyaki? [ never heard of it. sounds tasty, though. ]
huhhh... i'm tall, dark-brown hair tied in a ponytail, wear a haori kimono and hakama, carry two swords on my left...
...
... have a flat face? 눈_눈
[ uuuugh how he hates to say that. ]
"I'm tall" I'm crying
[...And Genbu leaves the poor choice of words at that as he puts his device away and begins searching about, thought it doesn't quite take him long to find Okita. And right on the money he was. Almost. The hair and the clothes were correct, and so we're the swords at least.
Genbu tries his best to approach the young man from behind, trying not to be noticed until he speaks, his voice deep and masculine, much different than the tone he portrayed in his texts.]
So you're tall, huh?
[Genbu stands looming over the other at over seven fulms, with a wide, cheesy grin plastered on his face.]
tall for edo era japanese standards
[ no response after that, sigh. so he's waiting outside for a while it did come as a surprise not by genbu's presence but his deep manly voice — whoa! a taaaall man. with horns. some drawings over his body as visible. questioning his height with good reason, sob.
....... don't eat him, please. ]
I--I am! Of course you're taller than me! You're a native?
I know, Genbu is just big boy lol
[Well, he may look like a yokai to everyone here, he himself was still not used to such a fact.]
But funny ya mention it! Where I come from, my homeland isn't much different than this place! Same language, albeit a few small differences. Lots of similar traditions and even clothes! It's uncanny!
[Genbu gives the midlander a warm smile.] Alright, friend, let's get some food in ya! Try to keep up!
[Aaaand with that, he begins moving. Ever the energetic man.]
XD
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a
he tells himself that during the day, but then gets lonely at night.
anyway, he's exploring Nihonbashi, thinking about getting some new clothes, because he sticks out like a sore thumb in his jeans, when he comes to... the bridge. he stares at the cats... cats? no, these are not normal cats. why are there so many of them? why are they staring at him? is there another way to get across?]
Uh...
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anyway, indeed. have a bushi behind osomatsu. he looks like a civilian who needs escorting among those weird and scary-looking nekomata staring at both. ]
Mind if we take another path, sir?
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Hm?
[the guy has swords on him? he kind of looks like a warrior of some sort. well, cosplay is more like it, but considering what the people in Nippon wear, it's not that surprising]
Oh, yeah. That's... probably a good idea. I didn't see one.
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Think I've seen another bridge with less cats. [ gods, how frightening can this be? ]
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That's good! I wonder why they're all gathered there.
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Is this a common occurrence?
[ noooo it's following them. sloooowly. ]
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I-I dunno! I just got here a few days ago! It certainly isn't common where I come from...
no subject
N-Not common to me either, so better leave from here...
[ ....... what-- what is that noise? the noise of heavy pacing? ]
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C
Kashuu makes distinctive footsteps as he walks, steady and consistent on his heels, as he walks around Shitaya to observe the flowers. He carry the talisman on him, but it doesn't mean he have to let down his guard. As he turns around a corner, Kashuu suddenly pause see another person ahead of him.
And they're obviously looking at the red flowers. After a moment, curiosity got him to approach the other man. But his footsteps grow slower when he feel something familiar from the other man.]
no subject
near one of the waterways where a vast patch of red flowers bloomed, he can sense someone coming, a dark-brown haired young man getting closer, his clothing very peculiar with the maruni shihoumotsuko crest printed on his coat and... that... sword... looks like...
excuse his grimness with such a face. ]
Where did you get that sword?
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However, Kashuu pause at the question. And his hand rest upon his sheathed sword, but he's not drawing it... there's no reason to, yet.]
Hm? Why do you want to know?
[Kashuu asks casually. Just in case this man mean something else, like where to find a blacksmith. A weapons merchant. Who knows?]
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Because that is Kaga Kiyomitsu. I have a sword just like yours. Where did you get it?
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Oh, this? I have it for as long as I remember.
[It's true, from a certain point of view. He open his eyes to look at the other man again. Once again, that familiar feeling strikes him hard. The familiarity is making him wary, because in his long life... there's not much to his history except for that time.]
Maybe it's a coincidence? That guy made a lot of swords, after all.
[If this man recognise his sword form, that narrows down a fair number of prospects...]
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That he did! I got mine because it was a gift from my sensei. When we celebrated my genpuku.
[ eyes throw a glance at the sword he's carrying, a light pout at the thought. ]
Right now, I've Okiku-chan with me. I've Yamatonokami back at the new house.
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But mentioning not just Yasusada, this man also say that name? It's clearly a nickname, but Kashuu is aware of the stories to know what it means.]
Okiku...?
[Kiku Ichimonji? Like in those stories? Kashuu take a step back.]
Who are you?
[Don't say his name, even if he practically expects to hear that man's name. Just give him one chance to dismiss his growing suspicions...]