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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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Rainy days
The albino is awake when he hears a knock on the door, but he's not really expecting guests though -- is he ever? -- he ignores it and hopes they go away. It's only on the second knock he gets up and opens the door, dressed in his own pajamas. He peeks out, his red eyes flicking up and down the soaked form of his guest.
Despite it being Kuro -- or maybe just in spite of it -- he closes the door, especially since his choice of wording just immediately reminded him of the very weird dynamics of their relationship. He groans, then opens the door again.]
Yeah, come in. I'll get a towel.
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He himself was trying to forget the vast majority of that week, frankly. There was too much that had happened he just... didn't want to deal with. Is that healthy? Probably not, but it's how he's lived the past several centuries.
So when Heine closes the door only to open it again, he's greeted by a bit of a pout.]
Nice to see you too. [Said with some deadpan.] Thanks, though. My futon got soaked through, along with all my blankets. The idea of sleeping on wet tatami is gross.
[He did wash himself off in the sink because roof water was unpleasant, but he was still fairly damp because of it. He steps into Heine's apartment when invited in, wearing slightly damp pajamas and the fuzziest slippers he could possibly find.]
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[It's not like the dorms are particularly large. Once Kuro inside there isn't too much else to explore, though Heine's dorm in particular doesn't particularly have much warmth about it, like the only window being covered by a thick curtain. From the way the futon is ruffled, it seems like he even sleeps on top of his blankets instead of under them.
The clearest sign of life in the dorm, and maybe the most sociopathic, is the clearly growing amount of methods to kill people stored here. Heine's guns and chain are sat upon the only table in the room, the casings out, but there's also... quite a few knives and even a katana laying around.
Getting past that, is that a Wii hooked up to his television?]
I don't usually have people over.
[In other words, he's preparing Kuro for low expectations for knowing how to entertain a guest. Heine goes and rummages around in the only small closet there, then tosses a towel towards Kuro.]
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[Kuro rarely opens the curtains in his apartment for his own reasons, so Heine's don't get as much as a bat of the eye. The rest though...
Hm. That's a lot of knives. A collection? Does he want to know why he needs that many? Probably not.
Most importantly though, he spots the Wii just as Heine tosses the towel his way. He catches it quickly, focus now on the game system as he starts to towel his hair.]
Is that a Wii? How'd you get one of those here?
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[Which it's the only space in the dorm besides floor nearby it to sleep anyway. It wasn't like these rooms were particularly large, but it also leaves the question of where the albino was going to sleep if Kuro is in his bed.
HM.
Heine's settled down on one of the cushions near his table as Kuro towels off, and he was about to get into sharpening a knife that he had laid there when the vampire asks.]
It just kind of showed up one day. I used to play a lot of video games back home.
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[His feline ears prick up, curious-- and a little confused, by that statement.]
Lucky... I wish I had my PSP with me, but it got wrecked in the Thames...
[RIP, he knew yee fondly dear friend.]
I used to play a lot, too. What games do you have?
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[If he sleeps at all, but he does feel tired after a while. He was planning on sleeping, but he’s not too sure now.
He props his head up on a hand, thinking for a moment.]
The Thames, huh? England? [Anyway.] Not too many. I have Mario Kart and a few rpgs. A horror game or two. I can’t complain— it’s not like I can find more here. You can take a look.
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I only go out when it's dark though, so I can relate.
[Rather: He turns into a cat if he so much as steps out into the sunlight, so most of his functioning hours have to be at night.
That being said... it's hard to want to sleep now that there's something fun to do right here in front of him. He rubs the side of his neck a little awkwardly, in the same manner he might have fiddled with his hood if he were wearing one right now.]
...S'okay if you're not up for it, but... want to play a few rounds of Mario Kart?
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The day sky... fills me with a sense of dread.
[He recalls how horrible he felt when he first saw it, like he was going to be swallowed up. And then he fell.
His eyes flick back up, welcoming the distraction from his memories.]
Yeah, sure, I haven't had anyone to play with for a while. Toss me a controller.
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Hm. That brings up a whole bunch of questions, and Kuro looks surprised by the answer.
But those are questions Kuro isn't going to ask, because he recognizes a need for a change of subject when he sees one. He's not that great with people, but avoidance is something he is very familiar with.
So he reaches for the controllers, picking up one for himself and tossing the other to Heine.]
'Kay. I'm calling dibs on Yoshi.
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He catches the controller effortlessly, and then he shifts out away from the table and over to the futon. It's a much more comfortable spot to play from, and a better angle to direct the console to turn on from.]
Fine. I'm more a Rosalina guy. [He thinks she's cute.]
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Kuro decides to settle on the futon next to Heine, now that he's mostly dry. He leans back on one elbow, watching the wii turn on.]
Rosalina's nice and cute. Good choice.
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Fortunately not.]
It has all my unlocks, so it must be mine. Badou and I used to play every so often, but he’s a poor loser.
[Does he miss Badou? Hard to say. His life is definitely quieter without him always getting into trouble.
He looks over at Kuro where they’re sitting next to each other.]
I figure you live in here. …You could come over, if you like.
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Huh... Wonder how it got here. I only arrived with the clothes I had on me. Is Badou a friend of yours? I promise I won't be a sore loser, but I'm not planning to lose.
[Curious.... He tilts his head back towards Heine, a little awkward looking given he's leaning back on one hand at the moment, but soon his eyes go a little wide in surprise.]
Seriously? I mean, yeah, I do live here in the dorms... but you're cool with that?
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Probably the same way we did. Badou was... [Was he his friend? Honestly Heine has a terrible basis for figuring this out.] My partner.
[The console finishes booting, so Heine gets the game open and onto map selection. He's going to choose a random course to start with, but Kuro's surprise takes him by surprise too, and color rushes to his cheeks.]
It's not a big deal. Besides, you need a place to crash until they fix the walls, right?
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[Kuro shoots him a considering look at the word 'partner'. That word can mean a lot of things, but the first thing that comes to mind is... well, his relationship with Mahiru. Friends, yes, but... Mahiru was his partner more than he was his master, he knew. But did that mean the same thing to Heine?
But his musing on what that word might mean is interrupted by the offer.]
...That's... You really mean that? It won't be an inconvenience?
[He isn't even paying attention to the screen right now, he's so surprised.]
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Ew. Work partner. He’s an idiot and always getting into trouble but we work… I guess, pretty well together. He’s an information broker. …I’m more suited to killing.
[He’ll just outright say it. But it’s fairly clear why the dynamic works. Heine is far from personable, so he needs someone to handle that side of work.
Kuro is making this a big deal so the albino is just going to tsun harder, grimacing as his cheeks remain rosy. He nudges Kuro with an elbow, trying to direct his attention back to the screen.]
I don’t really eat or sleep. You wouldn’t be in the way.
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Oh. A work partner...?
[Huh. He can see that though, with how reserved Heine is.] So he does the people stuff and you do the fighting, I'm guessing.
[Kuro doesn't really think twice about the blasé admission that Heine kills for a living, even though he's a pacifist. Sometimes that's just what pays well, or what you have to do. He knows more individuals who have murdered excessive amounts of people than not, really.
He tilts his head at that lingering blush, but ultimately turns to face the screen after a moment.]
I don't take up much room if I don't want to, so I won't be in the way anyway. But what about your personal space? You're okay with me hanging around?
[Heine seemed like the kind of guy who enjoyed his alone time, honestly. But also--] And you mean you don't eat or sleep like... period?
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[Heine enjoys that about Badou, and it's pretty obvious he does, since he smiles as he mentions it. Reminiscing about the ways he bullied Badou since they met keeps his mind off other thoughts about his missing partner.
He's going to make sure Kuro isn't looking at him as he starts a race, and Heine's eyes squint as he focuses on the screen.]
I used to have a lot of brothers and sisters... I won't mind. I can always leave for a bit. [And he's gonna grab a shell.] I get tired eventually, and I think I feel hunger sometimes, but I won't die if I don't eat. So I really only do when I'm around other people eating.
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[Oh that... sounds ridiculous, and there's a snort of amusement from Kuro before he's focusing on the race.] I guess that makes sense.... I have a lot of... siblings, but we've never really lived together like that.
[He makes a face as Heine grabs that shell, but doesn't hesitate to snag a banana when he spots it coming up.]
Hm... I guess I get that. It probably won't kill me either if I don't eat or sleep, but like... don't you want to? Eat because something tastes good, sleep because it's comfy?
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[Heine on the other hand, if it wasn't obvious from his behavior when he was blazed out of his mind on uki, doesn't really partake in much.]
It was a long time ago for me. [He did say 'used to', as in the past tense.]
[Is he trying to seek out Kuro's Yoshi specifically? Yes. He's a bully.]
Heh, you sound surprised. I like to lay around, but honestly, I don't have good dreams. And food and I... we have a complicated relationship, thanks to my mom. A coffee is a nice though. Maybe a cinnamon roll.
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[Oh, he certainly remembers. Kuro's had his own indulgences over the years, so he usually isn't nearly as bad, but... well, Heine's blood took care of that.
He makes a face at Heine sticking to him like glue, tongue peeking out from between fangs as he concentrates. If he can just get ahead--]
Ah... [A long time ago, huh...? And the way he'd reacted when they met-- Hm.]
I suppose that's fair, if you've been put off it like that. Laying around in a nice blanket pile is nice too. [Said as if he is very fond of it as a pastime.] ...Guess we need to find you a place that makes cinnamon rolls around here.
[And he's managed to get ahead just a tiny bit, so bombs away with that banana peel.]
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[Everyone seems to have complicated families. Heine wonders if he's maybe finally escaped his. He's still figuring out if that's what he even wanted.]
If you find one, let me know. [And since Kuro is only just in front of him, he goes spinning. Heine frowns and leans, doing his best to get back on track so he can launch a homing shell.]
...So, blood. Do you have to drink it? I don't think I've seen you eyeballing an arterial vein at all.
[Yeah, he's maybe bringing this up to bully him and make him mess up.]
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[It's the least he can do if Heine doesn't even eat that much. Guy deserves a bit more to enjoy in life if it's that dull.
Of course, maybe he is enjoying poking at Kuro's sore spots. His fingers twitch and shoulders go stiff, which makes his kart go veering very close to the edge.]
...No. It won't kill me if I don't drink it. I get by on regular food just fine.
[His tail lashes behind him.]
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Heine really goes for those sore spots though, and he doesn’t hesitate to take advantage of the distraction, yeeting that shell at him as Kuro’s kart veers.]
What’s the point of being a vampire if you don’t suck blood? Isn’t that just an immortal guy with a blood fetish then?
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cw for suicide idealization
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