![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
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!
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
jikan_rpg ⌛ jikan_network ⌛ jikan_oocRules ⌛ FAQ ⌛ Apply ⌛ Taken
Auxiliary ⌛ Hiatus/Drop ⌛ Activity Check ⌛ Bonus
Calendar ⌛ Code Directory ⌛ Contact
Setting ⌛ Housing ⌛ Businesses ⌛ Kizuna ⌛ Flora/Fauna ⌛ Magic
NPC Database ⌛ NPC Contact
no subject
There’s a moment where he considers taking his hand again, but Childe resists it and instead takes to lighting the end of his flower. They have a bit of time before they get there, after all.
It should be perhaps a little alarming his burns blue instead of red, but he chalks that up to it simply being another variety.
Once they get out of hearing range of the kids and closer to the stalls he finds himself humming: ]
I still want to spar with you sometime, you know.
no subject
[Zhongli hasn't used any of them so far yet, so the color of the fire flower doesn't seem at all odd to him. He smiles wryly at Childe's statement, utterly unsurprised by the challenge.]
You've told me as much before. But I don't think you've ever told me 'why' though.
no subject
I’m sure, being a refugee, they might forgive a few missteps.
[ The stall bearing an assortment of kimonos on display is coming up, and Childe eyes a promising looking one with gold trim thoughtfully. ]
It’s mostly because the Traveller said I didn’t stand a chance against you. Though I’m curious to see how you fare against my Foul Legacy form.
[ Ah. So that’s what the blue smoke does.
He realizes instantly the words he’s let slip, but tries to play it off casually… by simply not addressing that little flubbub. ]
What do you think of that one, xiansheng? [ And he points at the gold-trimmed one. ]
no subject
[At least, that was Zhongli's thinking. He glances about at the clothing thoughtfully as he approaches the stall, curious. He wasn't lying about the fact that bright, festive colors didn't tend to suit this form.
He pauses in his casual examination when Childe says that though. There's many things he could have said in response to the traveler's belief in his skill, but his focus is drawn to something else entirely.] Foul Legacy...?
[But Childe is moving on, so pursuing the topic is probably unwelcome, and Zhongli has no desire to discomfort the other man today in spite of his curiosity. He examines the kimono instead with the eye of someone who knows craftsmanship of all sorts.]
It is a well made garment. The color is subtle but rich.
no subject
The stall owner, whether because they genuinely agree or they want to make a quick sale, eagerly takes the kimono off the display and waits for Zhongli’s final decision. There’s a few more, of course, varying shades of different designs that flutter a little whenever someone passes by as though in invitation. There’s probably some with dragon motifs if they look hard enough, but somehow it feels like Zhongli wouldn’t be that flashy.
Actually, Childe thinks as he glances down the consultant’s backside to the designs embroidered at the bottom of his jacket. Maybe he is a little flashy.
… Archons, how did he not put two and two together earlier? ]
If you want, I could even braid your hair for you. [ He’s maybe a little teasing. ] I did it enough times for my sisters I’m practically a professional.
no subject
[He glances over the kimono again, reaching out his hands to examine the cloth more closely. It's clear he approves from the gleam in his eyes.] The fabric is well made. The weave is light but sturdy, it's clearly been made with a day like today in mind.
[airy and easy to move in during the festivities, but ornate enough to fit in. Sand would never be a troublesome problem for Zhongli, but it could be for more delicate clothing. He 'hmms' thoughtfully under his breath, before shooting the stall owner a grateful smile.] I'll take it, then.
[A glance towards Childe follows, a small quirk upward at the corner of his smile following.] A change for the day would be fitting... It's been some time since I braided my hair, so you're probably far better practiced than I am in that regard. Your expertise would be appreciated.
no subject
Paying for Zhongli, too, is almost instinctual, and Childe has half a mind to keep a running ledger if only to be able to pull it out and tease the consultant with it later. But it's not like Tevyat, where they keep monetized receipts of every single bill that Zhongli has sent to the Northland Bank; here, while Childe is paying for a majority of the former Archon's purchases, he does so without any worry about remuneration.
Zhongli will pay him back in his own way. He usually does.
By now the firework has long since burned out, and Childe discards the charred remains of the stick carelessly with a wry smile at how he'd let slip that precious piece of information. It wasn't something he would have given away freely, but considering Zhongli hadn't pressed the issue he imagined it would probably come back to bite him in the ass later.
All that's left to do is to wait, and Childe lingers for a moment out of the way in between the stall and the tent, carrying an empty tote-like bag in hands to store Zhongli's clothes when he's done. ]
I need more hair down icons, smh at myself
By the time he returns, he has his clothes neatly folded in his arms, and he looks... different, out of the detailed, sharply dressed layers he usually wears. The kimono seems almost casual next to his usual coat, the fabric hanging just a bit looser on his body than what he usually wears, the gold trim adding a hint of ornateness to an overwise gentler silhouette than normal. His hair has been left down, as well: It softens the lines of his face, just a little.
He thanks the shopkeeper in a quiet murmur, glancing towards Childe with a soft, pleased smile.]
I hope I didn't make you wait too long.
no subject
So to Childe, it hasn't taken that long between paying for the kimono and now, and when Zhongli finally calls out to him it's then that he glances over, expecting Zhongli to somehow make even the new outfit look stuffy and refined.
But he doesn't, and the sight of Zhongli coming towards him with a smile softening his already ethereal features, hair down, the golden tips framing his face beatifically... Childe feels for a moment like he's stepped into another world. The rest of the bustle in the streets falls away, sound, sight, people, and he can only focus on what's in front of him.
Zhongli.
His throat suddenly feels dry and he swallows ineffectively. There's static in his ears and he thinks he's dying.
He looks good. He looks amazing. Suddenly he sees what every single Liyuen citizen has seen when they sing praises of Rex Lapis, their love and adoration evident in the painstaking care they carve statues and create paintings and stories about their beloved god.
He's beautiful.
Childe opens his mouth to tell him as much, tell him how good he looks, how they should ditch the festival and go somewhere else because he wants to see the way the moon makes his eyes glow like the richest deposits of cor lapis.
Instead all that comes out is a breathy: ]
What.
no subject
Zhongli pauses in his steps when Childe glances his way, and it's... for once, he's at a loss for words on how to describe the man's expression. Surprised? No, he looks too focused for it to be surprise, and yet... something about his gaze stirs something in his chest in a way both uneasy and pleasant. He wants to look away as much as he wants to keep those eyes on him, and maybe his own intense gaze betrays that desire.
If his smile seems a bit sheepish for it, then perhaps it can be forgiven. He resumes his path to Childe's side, stopping in front of him.]
...Ah... I was assured by the stall owner that I was wearing this properly, so hopefully it doesn't look strange on me. Though I do hope you were being genuine when you offered to braid my hair.
[His hair tie is in the hand not holding his clothes, removed earlier. He could always put it back up if Childe was joking, but...]
no subject
Wordlessly, he holds out the bag for Zhongli's clothes. It takes maybe a beat or two, but he's starting to come back into sorts again; although he is still unable to take his eyes off of Zhongli for even a moment. A bit longer and he can actually bring himself to speak, and when he does his voice is a lot more softer than it usually is. ]
It's perfect.
[ Ah, maybe that's too much. Still - he's not going to take it back. Not when it's true. ]
Yeah... Yeah. I can braid your hair for you. Let's get back to the beach and I can do it while we walk or something.
no subject
His face feels warm.]
I... am glad you think so.
[He focused on the task of sliding his clothing into the bag, tucking some of his bangs out of his face when he's finished.] And I think I would like that, thank you.
no subject
In little to no time they make their way to the beach and Childe can see a few children scattered around here and there crouched by their fireworks. He remembers the one Zhongli still has, unlit, and wonders over if that's what had compelled him to tell the truth. He was normally a truthful individual regardless, but never that truthful. ]
Have you ever done your hair up before? [ He's moved to twine a bit of Zhongli's hair around his fingers, just to feel the thickness and softness of it. ] I only ever see you with it pulled back.