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July | 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.
In Nihonbashi, the lingering rainy season means the streets are consistently rather wet, causing an increase in accidents as people slip and slide all over the place. Which is dangerous enough on any busy street, but Nihonbashi is completely elevated, with only waterways and the streets of Shitaya below. Thankfully some areas are equipped with nets to prevent people from getting seriously injured, but even so, refugees might just find themselves being called over to help pull someone out from the water!
Things are a little more frustrating over in Little Edo, where some streets have become so waterlogged, they've actually flooded. None of the flooding is too bad, but some refugees might be unfortunate enough to wake up and find a little pond has formed in the genkan, causing their shoes to float away! Better hope your neighbors are proficient in Mizu magic to get rid of all this water!
And over in Yoshiwara's dorms, predictably, the ceiling leaks. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if the rooms were big enough to place a bucket or two. As it is, many should expect to wake up with a soggy futon. Thankfully, certain rooms seem to be entirely unaffected, so refugees will just have to share those rooms until repairs can be done! Just think of it like a bonding exercise.
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
All refugees who see this message will receive a giftbox of Japanese snacks delivered to one of their residences. Strangely, it's not a snack that exists anywhere in Nippon, so this is the only way they'll be able to try Pocky!
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.
Tanabata Festival
As the new month rolls over, most of the refugees have now physically recovered from last month's ordeal, in which a criminal organization from the Western Kingdom held over 100 refugees hostage for nearly a week. Most of the criminals were caught, but the scars of the incident still linger, with many refugees feeling uncomfortable in public and wary of the native population.
In response to this, the people of Tokyo wanted to do something for the refugees, to let them know the majority of the people in Nippon absolutely love and appreciate them. And Tanabata is the perfect time for such an occasion!
The Wish Weaver Nihonbashi, Tokyo
According to legend, back before Nippon was two distinct kingdoms, a human empress by the name of Orihime fell in love with Himeboshi, the Princess of a distant Yokai clan. Aware that bonds between Human and Yokai were forbidden, Orihime attempted to elope with Himeboshi. But she was caught, and Himeboshi was exiled to the furthest reaches of Nippon. Orihime is said to have wept endlessly, and soon, the people began praying for her happiness. Through the power of their bond, the wishes of the people came true, and Orihime's tears became a long river, which Himeboshi was able to follow to reunite with her. For this reason, Tanabata is held at the end of the rainy season, when Orihime's tears have dried and Himeboshi can safely follow the river to return to her side.
Clearly the legend is a little different from what some refugees might be familiar with, and many natives insist there's historical precedent for it being true. In any case, on Tanabata, it's customary for people to make wishes and hang those wishes on stalks of bamboo. While many make wishes for their own happiness, wishes made for the sake of others are said to have a higher possibility of coming true.
All around Tokyo, little displays of bamboo can be found set up on nearly every corner, where people have been writing wishes on rice paper and hanging them on the bamboo. Refugees are sure to notice just how many of these wishes are explicitly for the sake of others, with the bulk of them focused on wishing for the refugees health and healing. But actual wish granting isn't unfamiliar to many refugees by now, as incidents of wishes coming true have been reported since as early as January. And this month is no exception, with one important detail: any wishes read out loud by a refugee will eventually come true, in one way or another. This effect will only last until the festival's end on the 8th, by which time rumors will begin to circulate about the refugees holding some sort of sacred power.
Fire Flower Tokyo Outskirts, Tokyo
Tanabata is a bit wetter than usual this year, but that isn't stopping people from enjoying the brief sun breaks that occur throughout the month. One week in particular sees crowds headed for the Tokyo Outskirts, the name used to describe the flooded region between Tokyo and Yokohama. Once a bustling and busy city, a time surge caused the land to abruptly shift hundreds of years ago, well before it was understood what time surges were. The result is a large expanse of water that stretches like a river through Kanto, connected to much of the flooded areas up north.
Over the years, the artificial Tama Beach was built just south of Little Edo, allowing for some sandy shores. Here, small stalls selling fireworks can be found, which are all offering special deals for refugees. They mostly sell just sparklers and the occasional ground dancer, but one firework in particular has an interesting effect. They're small, slow burning fireworks that take the form of a small fire flower held on the end of a thin string. As it burns, the petals fall based on random timing. And this timing is what inspired a game: The first one to lose all their petals has to tell an embarrassing story!
Refugees may find themselves being corralled into playing this game with children and young adults alike, eager to share their culture and maybe get a funny story out of it. But they should be careful, because while most flowers burn red, those that burn blue burn much faster, and come with a small truth-telling spell to encourage honesty. Just make sure to keep the stories G rated if playing with local kids.
Bamboo Wishes Tokyo Outskirts, Tokyo
On July 7th, the Tanabata Festival begins properly, with festival food and games set up along the Tama Beach. Those who attend are encouraged to wear their brightest kimono, to match the colorful strips of paper used to make wishes. But this year is very special, as for the first time in a very long time, the emperors of the East and Western kingdoms are set to make a symbolic appearance together on a ship crossing the Tama canal, in honor of Orihime and Himeboshi's reunion.
As such, the crowds are larger than usual this year, with a higher number of Yokai attendees than ever seen in Tokyo. With this in mind, security at the festival is much stronger, with Exorcists from the West in attendance to prevent any suspicious magic or spell activity. Powerful Yokai magic users, the Exorcists are the Western equivalent to the East's various Hunter clans, specializing in taming dangerous beasts and ayakashi. While taking their job very seriously, many have also brought familiars to entertain the crowds, including a strange nekomata with an odd, bus-like appearance, allowing passengers to go on high-speed rides bounding across the tops of buildings and trees. Care to take a ride? They promise he doesn't bite!
The festival runs late, well until midnight, when all the bamboo wishes around Tokyo are collected and brought to the water. Here, the bamboo is sliced and cut in half, creating little boats for stacks of paper wishes to sit on. The paper is lit with a match, and the boats are sent out into the water, creating a beautiful display of hundreds of little lights that slowly flicker out as the paper and bamboo burns together. Refugees will be asked to set out the first boats, with the hope that their wishes are granted.
But come the end of the night, only Katsuragi-no-mikoto, emperor of the West, will be seen briefly aboard the royal vessel, looking a bit forlorn as he waves to the people on the beach. Were they not able to meet after all?
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's July TDM! The TDM is considered game canon, and also serves as the intro log! That said, whether you choose to carry threads over to the game or not is up to you!
• Current players are more than welcome to top-level, or take prompts from the TDM and use for their own logs! This may change in the future depending on how busy TDMs become.
• CRAU characters may start regaining their CRAU memories one month after the TDM. However, vague feelings of familiarity are allowed between previous game CR! For more on this, please read the FAQ!
• You do not need to sign-up for housing! Choose whichever style you prefer. Roommates can be chosen by the characters or can be random. If you want to switch housing later, your character has the option of moving at the beginning of each month.
• For current players apping a second character, you have the option to have your character join the game by being wished into existence during Tanabata through the power of Kizuna. These characters will be encouraged to visit the NRL immediately to be examined. They will remember a time loop, but will not remember seeing a door, instead appearing in Tokyo after hearing the wishing-character's voice calling to them. How they appear is up to you, so feel free to get creative or silly!
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
[ He's teasing, of course, tone light and careless. There's a few people lingering nearby, trying to get at the stalls, so he does the nice thing and steps out of the way enough they can squeeze on by.
Idly, he wonders if maybe he should have also changed into something more fitting for the occasion, but he thinks that dressed as he is Shell looks especially defenseless and finds himself not minding missing out on his chance to change clothes for the festival. ]
What brings you down here, anyway? Last I heard you said it was too hot to be outside.
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[Is asking people to fight you all the time a fetish? Because if it is, it's definitely Childe's.]
[But more than just move out of the way, Shell starts walking -- gesturing for Childe to follow. There's more than just food stalls, after all. There's games, shops selling knickknacks and things, more places for writing wishes, and... a mysterious booth with a huge pool full of eels?? Don't question it.]
Ah, but it's definitely too hot! I couldn't be here any earlier, since I needed to wait for the sun to start setting at least. But I don't want to just spend all my time cooped up inside -- especially not with something like this going on! I've never seen a festival like this before!
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Childe gives a thoughtful hum as his eyes roam over each stall in turn, paying particular attention to the games and various knickknacks. If his gaze lingers overlong on something that looks sparkly and expensive, he doesn't comment on it or make a move to go examine it further, and in no time he's glancing back to his companion with something of a grin playing on his features. ]
Well, I do still want you to use your pheromones on me. I imagine it's not best to do it in a crowded place, so you're safe for now.
[ And then he resumes eating his skewer, again just. Shoving the pointed end of it in his mouth like a menace. ]
I suppose that explains why you've dressed down for the evening. [ He remarks with a nod of his head. ] You look like one of the locals here. Well - perhaps a bit paler than most, but I don't think anyone particularly minds with all the refugees running around.
But - why did you have to wait for the sun to set? Is it that hot? And they don't have festivals like this where you're from?
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Ah. I guess I do look a little weird like this... I was hoping it'd help me stand out less.
[Owch, his self-esteem.]
But of course it's hot! And my skin burns a lot easier than yours... normally I'd be nocturnal, but there isn't much to do at night when most people are sleeping.
It makes me glad this festival is happening so late. If anything like this did exist back home, I'd never heard of it.
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definitely not
probablybut it doesn't hinder the pace he follows Shell with, long legs keeping him a constant at the blond's side. ]
Probably no less weird than I do. There aren't really a lot of people around here with my hair color. And at least you tried a little to fit in, you know? [ He makes a vague gesture to himself still in the outlandish grey pants and deep crimson shirt, the Fatui mask still pinned to his hair. Compared to the different colorful and simple robes people seem to be garbed in, he probably sticks out like a sore thumb. ]
Ah... I really feel like you'd end up liking Snezhnaya. Snowy hills as far as the eye can see, not all that much sunlight... You'd probably be glad to see the sun, if only because it saves you from freezing to death. But given how much you appreciate the cold, I don't think that'd be much of a problem for you.
[ And he bites into the skewer again, idly glancing over to see if Shell's made his way to another vegetable. The next portion on his own pointed stick is meat, and he deliberates just handing over to Shell with gloved fingers but ultimately decides against it.
Shoving it in his face works just as well, after all, and he's gonna go ahead and do that now. ]
How late do you normally stay up till?
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[Which... it's a little........ i-is he expecting him to just bite it off?? Well, it's right there. He can just bite it and slide it up off the skewer! But that seems really embarrassing when someone else is holding it.]
[So clearly the answer is to offer him a veggie in the same manner at the same time!! ...people are gonna think they're a couple if they keep this up.]
W-Well, back home I wouldn't even wake up until past sunset. I've been trying to flip it around here, but I still end up staying awake until 4 or 5 am. So I either sleep in, or don't sleep much.
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Huh. That is pretty late. [ He's moving his other hand over as he speaks, as though the gesture is one he's not even thinking about. His hand is still gloved, which is probably a mercy to Shell when Childe gently lays them over his wrist, holding him steady to the blond doesn't actually stab him with the skewer.
Childe's own skewer hand is held with the sort of unwavering steadiness that comes with years of practice with sharp objects, and he curls his free hand gently around Shell's pale wrist to keep him there as he leans and monches off the veggie. ]
Is sleep something you actually need?
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O-Obviously! What living thing out there doesn't need sleep? I slept in until noon today, so at least... I don't feel tired today.
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... hey, are you -- [ He tries to think hard of what he'd been told when he'd first arrived here. Something about the unintended effects of magic and bonds, but he couldn't honestly recall. A bond to the land? It made no sense to him, who was only familiar with magic to the extent of the gifts granted by the Archons.
Was Shell an Allogene? At least... his world's equivalent? But that made no sense, since he was so amazed by Childe's own display of magic. ]
... are you okay? [ His gaze shifts from where he'd seen the flowers to Shell's own expression, curious. ]
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[But the flowers aren't solid, and they seemingly dissolve into a silent burst of sparkles that fade into nothing when touched. Which is enough to draw Shell's attention.]
A-Am I-- what?
[And for Shell, who's only experienced mild effects like sparkles, the flowers actually startle him a little -- and his reaction is to reach up with his free hand to shoo them away. These too burst into sparkles, but more bloom to take their place.]
Wh-What's all this?
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But at least he does let his hand drop, which should hopefully maybe help with Shell composing himself enough not to have these kinds of intended effects - though he has to wonder, given that he does remember being in the lockers with Shell and how the blond had seemed to sparkle back then, too.
He'd been with Childe then, and he was with Childe now... Was there some kind of connection? ]
Are you nervous?
no subject
[Said the nervous man in a nervous manner.]
I was a bit caught off guard when you offered the skewer like that, but... do you think it's that magic they said is keeping us here? I heard it can have strange side effects, but...
[The flowers do seem to be fading away now at least.]
no subject
If it's a new form of magic he's not entirely familiar with, he wonders how much of that would be an asset to his quest for power. ]
Perhaps. I thought I noticed something a little similar before, back in the lockers. But maybe it really was nothing.
[ Still, though. He's going to keep an eye on that. ]
Have you gotten a chance to look at any of the games, yet? Anything strike your fancy?
no subject
[How long has he just been sparkling at people?? He'll try not to think about it.]
Ah, but I haven't, actually. Though I'm a bit curious why there are so many booths with tiny fish. And-- that one with the strange long fish.
[He means the goldfish game of course. But the long fish are definitely eels, a part of the eel fishing game, because that's a thing.]
no subject
please be the Twilight style vampire ]
They're much too small to eat, so I imagined that's why there's multiple. But it doesn't make the most sense, given how easy it is to go down to the beach and just fish them out... [ His gaze follow where Shell's looking to, and he perks a little in interest. ] Oh - I think those are eels? They're actually really small.
[ If he had enough, he could probably make a stew or something... ]
Do you want to give it a try?
no subject
An... eel. I wonder if those used to exist back home...
[He's so curious now?? Weird long fish??]
[But he nods, approaching the eel booth and paying the small fee, before being handed... a stick.]
...so we just scoop one up then? That doesn't seem too hard.
[He tests it by poking at the water, and predictably they all scatter. They're kinda nasty looking.]
no subject
Childe follows along amicably, studying Shell's outfit from the back. Somehow, he'd expected it to look more girly, but the blond cuts an impressive figure. If he didn't know how he fared when being hit with Electro, Childe would probably think him a seasoned fighter. ]
Interesting, but not unexpected. You really haven't been fishing before. [ Childe comments, squatting down beside Shell and debating the merits of trying it out for himself. From up close, they really do look much too small to eat.
Perhaps predictably, his Hydro Vision glows, and he glances at one of the eels before looking to Shell. ]
Try that one. If you catch it, I'll fry it up nice for you.
no subject
Well, I didn't even know what it was until you told me.
[But hmm. That one? Is Childe planning to cheat?? In any case, he goes for it, trying to snag the stick underneath the eel's belly. Normally, it would probably slide off as soon as he lifts it.]
no subject
Sometimes people like to feign they don't, as a tactic to excuse their lack of skill. [ Childe explains humming as the eel seems to... just stay in place, despite wiggling. Is he cheating? Who knows. But the Vision stops glowing, and he grins over at Shell with a casual wink. ]
Look at that, you're a natural. Maybe they should start calling you the eel-whisperer.
no subject
[Meanwhile Shell, completely oblivious to the help he received, looks delighted. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this is arguably the happiest Childe's ever seen him, if only because expressions like these are the sort he usually saved for really only one other person in his life.]
Wow, I actually did it on the first try!
Should I try it again? Maybe I can catch enough for both of us?
no subject
And then of course he glances away, peering down into the tank. ] But honestly - there's a lot bigger ones in the ocean, and they're free on top of that, so I feel like it would be better to save your money.
We probably don't even have to cook this one and you can keep it as like... a pet or something. Kind of like a dog except you don't really have to walk it. [ Right??? Unless this is like... some kind of aphro eel or something. For as long as he's been living here, he wouldn't doubt it, and he takes a moment to scan the signs around the booth to make sure there's no underlying effects of keeping one of these little creatures. ]
no subject
[Literally the only thing Shell would be able to have any kind of authority on this is based on how humans taste??]
[But they're just normal eels gosh!! Freshwater, specifically.]
But I don't know if I'd be able to take care of something I barely know about. I'd hate for it to starve if I can't find what it eats...
[Just gonna.... lower the eel back in then. Go, be free.]
no subject
Not necessarily. But if seasoned right, maybe. For us humans, sustenance is usually a lot more important than taste, and something like that wouldn't be near enough to sate my hunger.
[ They're still talking about eels, right.
Eventually, Childe rises to a stand from his squatting position, offering a hand to help Shell up, too. ]
Of course, if you'd rather avoid the water, that's fine, too.
no subject
[THIS DATE GOT WEIRD REAL FAST]
[But that seems to catch the attention of the stall keeper. "You boys going in the water? Well, make sure you don't cross the line. You'll disappear."]
[Hm.]
no subject
Yeah. [ He says, first to Shell - and then to the stallkeeper, he raises a brow. ]
What do you mean by disappear? What line?
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cw: death, gore
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cw: vom
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cw smut btw.... belatedly
i can't believe we're smutting on the tdm
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