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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 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!
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 quickly set up with its own theme and decor, with this week featuring a high school romance car! Upon passing through, passengers will find their clothing magically replaced with (potentially ill-fitting) school uniforms! If they want their original clothing back, they'll have to gamble for them, and hope they don't lose whatever clothing they've got left. 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, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and refugees will be encouraged to visit one of the many shrines populating the district to receive a Spring Blessing. Of course, it's just an ordinary fortune that happens to come on sakura-pink paper. But for the refugees, the power of Kizuna will cause whatever fortune they receive to come true. And these fortunes are distressingly specific, ranging from "Don't flirt with the cute girl at the tea shop, she'll break your heart and your wallet" to "That new restaurant you tried last night gave you food poisoning, hurry home!" Are the fortunes coming true, or are they somehow reading the future? How mysterious.
In Yoshiwara, it's spring cleaning season for the dorms! And not just any cleaning. It seems some residents have been complaining about strange laughter in the walls. As a professional comes in to flush out the cause, residents will be warned to keep an eye out for the tickle mehehe that will be trying to hide in closets and under futons. Sure, they're harmless. But unless they want to wake up with a furry new bedmate, they should consider grabbing a broom to help clean up.
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. 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
Oops! Looks like the new camera feature was already recording! Thankfully, this is the only time an accidental video will occur. Videos and photos are still lacking full color, appearing to be slightly sepia-toned, but otherwise lacking in color variety with a very poor resolution. But hey, better than nothing!
Current characters will be allowed to upgrade their current magi-comms at no charge!
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.
Stamen And Pistil
Life in Tokyo is finally getting back to normal after the bizarre influx of ayakashi late last month, and just in time for cherry blossom season! All around the city, streets are lined with trees filled with pink blossoms, as shops begin selling special, limited edition items to ring in the new season, and the people break out the picnic baskets to drink beneath the blossoms.
But pretty flowers aren't there only thing that spring brings to mind. Spring is the season of love in Nippon, and as the new arrivals are sure to find out, that theme is something the people of Nippon take very seriously.
Hanami Happenings Little Edo, Tokyo
Those looking for a good way to spend their day and enjoy the nice spring weather should look no further than Little Edo, where most of the city's cherry blossom trees reside. Nearly every corner is painted bright pink from the colorful petals carpeting the landscape. And beneath the shade of these beautiful messengers of spring, it's customary in Nippon to hold gatherings with friends and enjoy drinks and merriment in a practice known as Hanami.
One of the largest parks in Little Edo, sitting at the foot of a rather beautiful shrine, is where most of the refugees will be invited to join a special Hanami being thrown by the people of Tokyo, to honor the refugees for saving the city last month. Large blankets are spread out beneath the trees, with free bentos, sakura-themed snacks and treats, and no shortage of tea and beer for anyone to come and drink. It seems even the officials are looking the other way should someone below the legal drinking age of 20 decide to take part.
In fact, one vendor seems particularly interested in having the refugees try their new sakuramochi-flavored beer. With a mild hint of cherry blossoms in every sip, it's the ideal way to enjoy the Hanami season. And unlike normal beer, with it comes a special property, as those who drink it will become more relaxed and friendly, creating a warmer atmosphere beneath the cherry blossom trees.
Towards the end of the day as the sun begins to set, a special ceremony takes place, where a new cherry blossom tree is planted in honor of the refugees. There, an official speaks on behalf of the emperor, who was unable to attend, but wished to extend his gratitude to the refugees. However, the moment the plant is in the ground, to the shock of the crowd around it, it spontaneously begins to grow before their very eyes, until it's become a fully grown and towering tree, bursting with pink blossoms. It'll be the talk of the town for the rest of the month, as the citizens come to see it as a sort of blessing of behalf of the refugees.
Flowers of Evil Little Edo, Tokyo
While the city has mostly returned to normal following last month's madness-inducing pollen incident, as it turns out, jubokko pollen has left a lingering effect on a number of the cherry blossom trees in Little Edo. These trees are easily identified by the red blossoms growing among the pink ones, their petals refusing to fall no matter how strong the wind blows.
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. Once enough confessions are made, the red petals will gradually wither and fall, removing all enchantments from the tree.
But even among these enchanted trees, there's one that's even more different from the others. While most people will only see an ordinary cherry blossom tree, those who are prone to feelings of bloodlust will see it for what it really is: a tree covered entirely in blood-red petals. Those who see its true form will be struck by feelings of inexplicable terror, and will be unable to explain why. Not even leaving the trees sight will calm then down -- but some comforting words or physical affection from someone they've bonded with will quickly calm them down.
Dick 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 outside of Tokyo on a tall, narrow hilltop that juts out of the flooded landscape. 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 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 every few years, 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, 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?
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!
• 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.
• Feel free to get creative with what sort of gambling takes place in the Loop Line prompt. Gambling is otherwise illegal in Nippon, but is pretty common on Friday night Loop Line parties.
• Despite everything, Kanamaru Matsuri is considered an all-ages event!
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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But its nothing Genbu couldn't handle. Especially when he's in such a happy state. And the guy himself was willing to come over and sit down, so that's a first step to warming up, right? Maybe he's just shy? Genbu flashes a bright smile in contrast to the cranky stranger as he holds out a bento.]
Ya sure? Granny can make a mean bento!
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How do you eat it?
[He doesn't reach for it, but his body language says he's reconsidering.]
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Ya use these!
[Genbu then takes the chopsticks that were attached to the side of the box and holds them up.] Ever used 'em?
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No.
[He doesn't talk much. Right now he's staring at the box resting in his hand rather than up at his companion.]
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He takes the lid off the box, revealing a block of white rice, with flakey cooked salmon and a pile of roe next to it. In another compartment was a few pieces of rolled up omelette, and in another, some veggies.]
Here...ya hold one chopstick kinda like a quill, and then hold the second one on top of the first one like this!
[With that same gentle touch, Genbu takes the man's other hand in his, placing the sticks inside his fingers the best way he can.]
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He feels kind of embarrassed being directed like this, his mouth set in a grim frown as a flush colors his pale cheeks and ears rosy pink. Once his companion has set the chopsticks between his fingers, he holds his hand awkwardly in the air for a moment, then tries to open and close them.
He's dexterous, but it's still awkward.]
...Are there no forks or something?
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[Genbu watches in amusement as the man struggles to use the chopsticks.]
Here... [The bold Raen scoots up and shuffles around until he's behind the smaller man, holding out his hand next to the other's. He places his much larger hand holding chopsticks next to his frowning friend's, and demonstrates.]
Like this, see?
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Hn. Shit.
[He looks at the demonstration, then decides to give it a go, digging the tips of the chopsticks into the rice and fish. It takes him a moment to grab things, and in the end he sort of ends up half balancing a fish and rice mound on the sticks, but he at least succeeds in shoving a clump into his mouth.]
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YEAH!! THATS IT!! Oh I'm so proud of youuuuu~
[He gives the man a big hearty pat on his back, before returning to his original position.]
Aaaand, you'll need to wash that down with a nice cold one, yeah? [Genbu gives FrownMan a mischievous grin, pulling out a pink can from a box.]
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He won't admit it out loud, but it tastes good.]
Is that beer?
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[Genbu was way too tipsy at this point. But boy was this guy here so grumpy! Perhaps a little alcohol will get him to relax a little? Only one way to find out...]
Name's Genbu! You can call me anythin' ya like, though! How about yerself, frownypants?
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[He's never... He never saw the point in indulgences like this. Maybe he's kind of a teetotaler. He always had to watch his back and be alert.
However, in mind of recent revelations. Fuck it. He puts the bento down to crack the can open.]
Heine... Rammsteiner.
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With a nod, he chugs his own beer as the quiet man introduces himself.
And then, Genbu squirts the beer out of his nose, followed by coughing.]
Oh Gods did ya say yer name is Heinie!? Is Heinie yer name, is that what ya said?
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Unlike the gentleness before which had brought rosy pink to his face, Heine seems to take the teasing calmer. His brows furrow, and he smiles, though it's sort of aggressive. He's used to brushing off these things.]
You done? Out of your system?
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[Gods, he's trying so hard not to laugh.]
I-its uh...it's an interestin' name fer sure!
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It's Heine. [He stresses it, which makes his accent really stand out more. 'Hei-nah'. Which is, still, unfortunately still really close to hiney.]
It's normal.
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[After taking a few more gulps, Genbu points to the broken horns that rest on his head.] Sorry, these horns ain't what they used to be. Gives me hearin' troubles, sometimes!
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You hear with your horns?
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[Genbu just...seems so happy right now.] how about yerself? Ya seem different from yer average midlander!
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Huh. I'd thought you were a fetish mutant.
[Just nonchalant. He drinks his beer, falling quiet again. He looks out at the other people enjoying the cherry blossoms, lost in thought wondering what's worth sharing.]
Different's... probably the best way to describe me.
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[It's pretty clear at this point that Genbu is too drunk to listen to everything the so-called Heine said. He takes another gulp of his beer and...ah, no more beer in this can.]
I tell ya what, if ya said something like that to a Miqo'te or a Xaela, you'd get yer ass kicked to next fortnight!
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[For a moment, he gives Genbu this weird expression, looking at him as he goes off like that and just lets him get it out. And then he laughs, genuine, and waves a hand--]
Sorry, you just remind me of a friend of mine. He just gets really mad sometimes, and then he'll start going off like that...
[He smiles at his beer, looking at it as he reminisces, then finishes his can off. He already feels warm. It's more pleasant than he expected.]
It's not something bad. Where I'm from, you'll find fetish mutants-- demi-human hybrids. They were always good to me. We're... the same.
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It hurts.
But...drunk or not, Genbu gives Heines the benefit of the doubt, and listens.]
So...you're a fetish mutant...too? The hells even is that?
[Well, if it's something that's normal in his world, wouldn't Genbu be just as bad as the others judging him if he got so angry at Heine?]
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[How does he tell a stranger the depth of his monstrosity? His mother is far from here. It’s best that he doesn’t get him involved.
His collar hurts even with the warmth and relaxation of the beer, and he rubs his neck to try and relieve it.]
They’re just people, just like any human. Remnants of an age of genetic manipulation a long time ago. Some have cat ears and tails and others have horns or tusks or whatever.
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[Genbu stares in awe as Heine talks, sipping from his new can of beer he just opened up.]
So...artificial miqo'te and au ra, huh? Damn, that sounds like somethin' Aulus might try to do. Damn.
[sip]
Oh uh, miqo'te are cat-eared humans like the ones ya mention, and au ra are people like me, the horned folk. Though we're born like this, it's our kind of human. Nothin' manipulated or whatever.
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