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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
[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.
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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.
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[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??]
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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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It... might be a little longer than that?
[By which he means he's not sure, since it's hard to tell how much he was able to digest before some of it comes back up.]
I do have blood in the freezer I can thaw. But-- I'll have some later. Vampires don't need to drink as much as humans need to eat. This is hardly the longest I've gone without.
[There's nothing reassuring about that sentence!!]
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Still, Childe lingers; he doesn't look so much nervous about the ending of this little "date" of theirs as he looks concerned over Shell's well-being, but he knows he can't force him to do something he doesn't want to, no matter how it would benefit him.
He perks, then, reaching into his pocket, taking Shell's hand in his and laying something into it. ]
Here. I'm afraid it's not much of a souvenir, but it suits you, I think.
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[Perhaps a reminder of the beach isn't really the best thing right now, but that's not how Shell is looking at it.]
[Maybe it's been obvious, maybe it hasn't been. But Shell's always been a very lonely person. Aside from Ellie, the only real friend he had growing up was Reign, and even he only ever knew the powerful Shell Overlord persona he was forced to act as in public.]
[He's never gotten a gift from a friend like this before.]
It's so pretty... I-I don't know what I did to deserve a gift, but-- thank you.
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But... that's a good reaction. Childe's gaze lingers, tracing over long eyelashes, catching the way Shell's face lights up. Despite the irony of it, Shell's a little like a sunflower, and Childe...
There's a lot of conflicting emotions here. It's not the same as what he feels for Zhongli - and that's a hell of a lot to unpack in its own right, especially considering Childe doesn't give thought to those emotions more than he has to - but it's not terribly different, either.
It's strange. Usually he throws money at people to get their friendship. He hadn't really had to do any of that with Shell yet. ]
If I'd known you'd have liked it that much, I would have found you a nicer one.
[ But he's lifting a hand, bare fingers brushing against a strand of hair clinging to Shell's cheek. His thumb brushes over it soon after, and for a moment his brows furrow, gaze fixated on the dark circles beneath his eyes, the generally emaciated, unhealthy look he'd carried from when they'd last seen each other. ]
If you feel like you need to do something to deserve it, you can start with taking better care of yourself.
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[Perhaps then it's for the best that Childe's words hit so hard. His expression quickly falls, as his eyes turn towards the ground.]
I... don't exactly have anything I say to that, do I.
You and I both know the thing I need if I want to be healthy.
[Was it foolish to keep being stubborn? Would he be betraying himself if he gave in?]
[He doesn't think his choice is wrong, but... well, One said it best. Shell didn't worry about himself. Perhaps all of this was just a different manifestation of his previous self-destructive tendencies.]
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[ And then he lets his hand drop. There's no arguing with Shell on this, he thinks, especially since it seems like the blond's made up his mind. Childe can appreciate that little show of strength, even if it might end up killing him. He thinks he can perhaps relate more than anyone.
But even still. Maybe it's because Childe understands that he reaches up to take the red earring out of his ear, folding it over into his hand, the sharp end pressing into his thumb with a hiss of pain. It's brief, but unmistakable; the little bead of blood on his thumb is bright against his pale skin.
It's not much, but it's something. ]
Shell. [ He says, and his voice is firm, even. ] Drink.
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[He takes a breath as if to speak, but when Childe holds up his bloody thumb and gives the order, suddenly everything around him feels like it's frozen in time. The last person to say that to him, the last person he drank from... was this okay? Could he really lean on something like this again?]
[What would One think if he saw Shell right now? What would he want him to do?]
[The hesitation seems to last forever, despite only being a few seconds long. But ultimately, that's all it takes. Gingerly holding on to Childe's wrist, Shell leans forward and presses his lips to the blood, licking up the few drops he's offered.]
no subject
It's perhaps unfortunate that Childe doesn't have anything proper to work with, but he does toy a little with the sensation of a tongue lapping at his thumb, gently pressing it against the other's mouth. His fingers come up to cup the side of his face at the same time, and his free hand goes to sift through those pale blond strands to pull them away from his face. Is he crying again?
He wonders what it tastes like. It would probably just taste like blood to him, but to Shell he wonders if he can tell just how many people Childe has killed. He wonders if there's some remnant of the Abyss in his blood.
Maybe it's this thought more than anything that has him pulling his thumb free so he can properly cup Shell's face, pulling the man in abruptly to kiss him. ]
1/2
[The taste is so different from any blood he's had before. Still human of course, but nothing like the selectively bred humans back home. The flavor was fuller, and had a quality that quickly made him want more than that the measly drops he's been offered.]
[And there's something else, which he can't quite place. A flavor he's never tasted in blood before. How would he describe it...?]
[With his mind elsewhere, he's completely blindsided by the sudden kiss. And yet for a moment, he returns it, a pleasant tingle running down his spine--]
no subject
[The look on his face is hard to describe. He's blushing, certainly. And tears from moments earlier are still there. But while he's pushed Childe back, he doesn't push him away, one hand still holding his wrist while the other keeps holds of his shoulder.]
Childe, what-- what was... that?
no subject
A sheepish look overtakes his face, and he actually laughs a little, sounding less embarrassed than he looks. ]
Ah - did I read the mood wrong? Sorry.
[ To his credit, though, he doesn't continue, but he doesn't pull away, either. His thumb stings a little from where he's pricked it, but the blood beading onto his skin is slower this time around, like it's already started to slow down. He uses that hand to gently brush the tears threatening to spill from Shell's eyes in a gesture that's probably more affectionate than it should be. ]
no subject
[Shell still doesn't pull away either, his grip relaxing, but still very much present. The taste of blood is still on his lips, now mingled with something unfamiliar. He feels like he doesn't know how he should feel right now. Guilty, maybe?]
You just... surprised me, is all.
no subject
It's not the worst reaction. And Childe, to his credit, isn't put off by it, not enough to pull away, so he lingers there in that weird limbo and lets his hands slide from Shell's face to his shoulders.
Eventually he speaks, and the question he poses has several meanings: ]
Do you want more?
no subject
[...]
Maybe... we should talk about it first?
[He doesn't know which thing Childe is offering?? But his answer would be the same either way. The hand would be a terrible place to try and drink blood from, and... well, it's not like he didn't enjoy that kiss.]
no subject
But at Shell's words he lets out a thoughtful hum and cocks his head a little to the side. What was there to even talk about? ]
All right. I'm all ears.
[ It's clear from the easy tone and the relaxed posture that he has absolutely no issues with either, be it serving as a source of sustenance for Shell or else just casually making out with him (as friends do). ]
no subject
...w-well, I've only ever done this twice. So... it might not be a very clean bite? And it's going to hurt. And you might be a little anemic after, so we should be sitting down...
[The concern is legitimate but this is like 75% stalling.]
no subject
Childe rolls up his sleeve to a manageable degree, remembering the last time they were in this situation. It didn't seem all that long ago, really. ]
I've been chewed on before, it's fine. Your teeth are a lot smaller.
[ The pain comment hardly gets him to bat an eye, though he knows from experience how badly anemia - and by extent, overexertion - can affect him. While he's pretty sure he's recovered from his last stint in using Foul Legacy, it always took a lot out of him and it wouldn't be too unlikely that he ended up feeling fatigued from losing a little blood. ]
I'll be disappointed if you don't make it hurt a little. [ He teases, and casually just sits himself on the floor. This probably isn't helping the masochism image Shell has of him. ]
no subject
I'm not going to chew on you.
[He sits down in front of Childe and reaches for his arm, quickly reminded of the last time they tried this. And that had just been a dare to bite him. This time, he would actually be drinking from him. And yet somehow, he doesn't feel quite as anxious as before -- though he's still going to cry while he drinks. There's Trauma there okay.]
...but if you start to feel dizzy, tell me, okay?
[And with that last warning-- he bends down and bites into the upper flesh of his forearm. It's clearly not strong enough the first time, despite how sharp those fang will feel against Childe's skin. Which is why the second ends up more like a full-on bite, ensuring the fangs get deep enough, while likely bruising the skin around it.]
no subject
As soon as he feels fangs pierce his skin Childe lets out a long, drawn out hiss, his legs shifting under him. He's still got a hand free, and he uses it to gently thread fingers through Shell's hair, pull it away from his face so he can watch the way the blond drinks from him.
He's always thought Shell pretty, for a man, from the first moment he saw him. It had been a passing thought then but now, with the blond knelt before him with his mouth latched onto his forearm, Childe can take a moment to fully appreciate him. Long lashes and pale skin and bright eyes; perhaps he has a type. ]
... how does it taste?
no subject
...it's delicious. It tastes a little different from the blood I've had before... I don't know if I can describe it.
no subject
So he remains as still as possible, the fingers in Shell's hair squeezing a little in encouragement.
The prick of pain has started to fade away, and he wonders if he'll have a scar there to join the rest of the markings scattered on his skin. ]
It almost makes you wish you'd taken me up on my offer sooner, right?
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cw smut btw.... belatedly
i can't believe we're smutting on the tdm
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