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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
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. ]
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[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.]
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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.
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[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.]
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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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...I've heard there was no international travel in this country. Then, is that why?
[The man nods, expression solemn. "Lost a lot of good crews this year. Even knowing the risk... but you can't just take a man's livelihood and expect him to take it sitting down. I'm sure they'll keep trying. All we can do is hope some of 'em made it to land somewhere."]
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As long as there's a buoy there, then we should be fine.
[ Admittedly though, he is curious... and more than likely he'll get close enough to the line to try and see through to the other side, but they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. ]
Thanks for the warning. [ And then he looks expectantly at Shell, still fully intending to go to the beach even after all that. ]
no subject
[HE HAS NO FAITH or rather, it sounds like the kind of danger that Childe might find exciting.]
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Not at all.
[ But okay if Shell will let him, he'll gently take his hand and start leading them down a bit away from the stalls and towards the beach. ]
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[The beach isn't too crowded, with it being dark by now. A few children can seen here and there wading in the waves and giggling as they run away from the cold water. Even from the shore, they'll be able to see the buoy way off in the distance, with large reflective signs sitting upon floating platforms. It's far too dark to see anything past that point.]
[But as they reach the water's edge, Shell stops very suddenly, jerking on Childe's hand.]
--wait, hold on! Do you see that!?
[...there's nothing obvious, but Shell seems looks very concerned.]
no subject
It's perhaps a testament to Childe's inclination towards kids that he's not looking towards the water when Shell calls out, hit with a wave of nostalgia over his own siblings back in Morepesok. While Snezhnaya is much too cold to adequately enjoy all the activities associated with swimming, that didn't keep them from enjoying the beach in their own way.
But the tug on his hand gets his attention, and there's a tension to his arm when he's able to register Shell's words, his dark gaze scanning the horizon at the blond's insistence. ]
... there's nothing there. Did that story scare you that much?
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[He makes a frustrated noise, dropping Childe's hand.]
I can see in the dark as clear as you can during the day. Of course you can't see it. Maybe... if we got closer? You can bring us up to the line, right? If there's anyone on board, maybe it's not too late to tell them to turn around?
no subject
But eventually he does relent with something like a little laugh and a shake of his head, and his Vision lights up like a beacon in the darkness. ]
I really should have taught you how to swim. [ He begins, but it's still teasing and he's soon enough focusing on the task at hand. The water in the ocean at several points, coalescing together into one large, thrumming spiral, and if Shell can see deep into the depths of the water he'll see how it funnels, previously unshaped water coming together into one massive, gigantic tendril.
The horn of the narwhal breaches the surface first, with a great, haunting cry that reverberates through the area. It's drowned out by the popping of fireworks and the squeal of children, but it's not nearly as large as he can make it, by far, and is just big enough for two people.
As the creature comes around, cutting cleanly through the water with a sway of its tail, Childe takes the opportunity to deftly ascend onto its back and glance back at Shell. ]
Come on, get on. I'll try not to drown you this time.
no subject
[There's no hesitation as Shell nods, climbing aboard next to Childe. Be it heroism or simply a lack of self-preservation, concerns about what could be at the edge of that buoy are the furthest thing from his mind.]
Just take us as close as you can get without crossing the line. If the ship is just abandoned, I'll be able to tell from there.
no subject
As ordered, Childe navigates the narwhal carefully up to the reflective line marking the border. A part of him considers summoning his bow, but with the disadvantage of not being able to see well on top of his lack of mastery with the weapon, he imagines it wouldn't do much good.
Notably, the darkness of the water beyond reminds him of the endless darkness of the Abyss. It's something that has goosebumps prickling along his skin, not with fear but out of the want to fight. ]
See anything?
cw: death, gore
There's... more than one? Th-They're all...
[He doubles over suddenly, one hand moving to his mouth as a wave of nausea washes over him, while the other grips Childe's shirt to avoid falling off. But while Childe won't be able to see why... he'll be able to smell it.]
[From just across the buoy, drawn in by a noticeably very cold ocean breeze, comes the distinct scent of rotting flesh. The scent and the cold wind that carries it seemingly only exist this close to the line.]
[Regardless, it's clear that whoever was out there won't be coming back.]
no subject
Childe isn't as on edge as he should be, the scent of rotting flesh and not blood, coupled with the stall owner's comment about unstable time surges making it easy to put two and two together.
He wonders if the crew knew, and still went out to their death. He wonders if maybe someone forced them into it. None of these are things that matters, and his jaw tightens a little as the scent fills his senses, almost overpowering despite his probably much weaker human nose.
In Tevyat, they'd had the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to see to their affairs. Here, he's not quite sure who to tell. ]
Let's go back. [ His gaze slides over Shell's pale form, and he quickly commands the narwhal to move. It turns around with another splash of water, hopefully taking them away from the scent, and the haunting cry that resonates through and under them sounds particularly mournful as they make their way away from the sight and scent. ]
cw: vom
[Once they're close enough to land, Shell quickly clamors off and fall to his knees in the shallow water -- if only so he doesn't lose his dinner all over the whale. It seemed rude, okay.]
[But even after that, he still doesn't look so good, his face pale as he trembles. The kids from before have stopped playing, staring curiously over at the two, but seemingly unsure as to whether they should run to get help.]
...the next time... someone says not to go somewhere... I-I think I'll listen.
no subject
Once Shell scrambles off, Childe lets the narwhal dissipate and drop him to his feet. He makes his way over to Shell - not even really minding the vomit, because it seems like the waves conveniently take it away somewhere, out of his path - and casts one last glance over his shoulder at the dark ocean and what he imagines is the silhouettes of boats in the distance.
Honestly, perhaps it's good he found it out when he did, because for the first few weeks into his stay he'd thought about the lands beyond the ocean and if he couldn't navigate it to find his way back to Tevyat. Now he knows better.
Instead of pressing Shell for answers or bombarding him with questions, he instead just. Lays a hand over his back, palm warm against his skin, feeling the way he trembles under him. For all that he'd come off as a crybaby scaredy-cat, he's brave in some aspects. Maybe Childe's assessment of him after everything was said and done was correct. ]
Do you want me to walk you home?
no subject
...could you? I... feel a little dizzy.
[He did just throw up the only meal he's managed to eat all day, after all.]
no subject
Of course.
[ Before that, though, he stoops to pick up a shell; not a particularly big one, but it's still pretty enough even in the lights from the fireworks. His thumb brushes off the bits of sand from it, cleaning it as best he can before he tucks it into his pocket. ]
Come on. Lean on me if you have to. [ And there's. A hand around his waist. He's totally not flirting with you Shell, this is just bros being bros. ]
no subject
[Flirting is the furthest thing from his mind right now, alas. He leans against him quite a bit, notably unsteady. They may get a few people asking if they're all right -- particularly Shell, who isn't exactly getting any less pale, even as he feels his stomach settle down.]
[By the time they make it back to Shell's apartment, he's even a little out of breath -- but at least he'll be able to stand upright on his own.]
Sorry for dragging you into that. I didn't want for the night to end on such a low note.
no subject
The breathy way Shell navigates his apartment does have him looking over with some concern, and he wonders if maybe he'd been more affected by it than he thought. But, also.. he hadn't forgotten what Shell was, and what he needed. ]
Do you want me to try and cook something up for you? You really don't look too good.
no subject
[He walks past a mirror on the wall and look at himself -- frowning as he at least tries to fix his hair. He's a mess rn.]
Those kebobs were the only thing I ate today, and I didn't really keep anything down yesterday either... I'm not sure I'd be able to stomach any meat right now.
[C-Casually admits to going two days without eating??]
no subject
So... two days, then? You haven't eaten in two days? Maybe I should have gotten that eel for you after all.
[ It's nice and cold in here, at least, and he stands for a moment unsure of where to sit. Eventually he decides to just follow Shell, just in case the blond actually does keel over from malnutrition. ]
... Do you not have any blood or anything? If you keep skipping meals, you won't get any stronger, you know.
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cw smut btw.... belatedly
i can't believe we're smutting on the tdm
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