seasonsmods: (Default)
Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsgreetings2024-04-19 01:03 am
Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme #8


Test Drive Meme #8
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION



Arrival


Part 1


You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.

The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:

An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.

All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.

Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.

And it looks like you're not alone.


Part 2


After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.

Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa.


The Message [ Click to Expand ]

Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.

Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here.

This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes.

We used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.

That's where you come in.

All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.

These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.

Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.

That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.


The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sizes companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.

In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.

First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.

Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.

Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.

Part 3


The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.

All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?


Let Me Kiss You in the Pouring Rain


Part 1


The months of April and May are the time for a strange weather effect that affects all of the districts, except the one in the middle and Frostreign. It's not weird that it rains, but it's what the rain does that has been dubbed as the Rain of Affection. It's raining very often until the end of May at different times in the affected districts.

Anyone who stands in the rain will feel the need to get close to someone. It starts with a need to gently touch someone, but can escalate into needing a hug. The ultimate craving is kissing in the rain, but that's the most it can make happen. It's a very Safe For Work Rain Effect.

After a successful kiss in the rain, the cravings slowly become less urgent, but the effect can start all over again at any given time. Once someone is completely dry, they will be safe from effects restarting again.

Of course, there are individuals who don't get too affected by the rain (at all or not as badly) and it only works if it directly hits someone. So staying in a shelter or being in the unaffected districts is definitely a way to avoid this whole phenomenon. Even purchasing and using an umbrella helps. The shops around every district are very aware of the need for umbrellas, so there's definitely a variety of them being sold. Some of the umbrellas have a variety of harmless magical effects, like changing the color depending on the users' mood.

Part 2


An unexpected secondary effect has been discovered with this year's rain. Anyone who tries to ignore the urges to be close to someone for too long (two hours) may find that some of their other feelings get amplified. Especially feelings someone might have been suppressing will suddenly feel impossible to ignore.

Hugging someone will make the feelings return to 'normal' easiest, as it's almost instant. Getting out of the rain and changing into dry clothes also helps, but the effects will go away slower.

Most of the shops around the districts have prepared private rooms for anyone who needs a place to calm down, in case they're far away from home. The various invisible shop fairies will also help someone contact their friends if they're unable to do it themselves - as long as they manage to say someone's name.

Just like with the regular effects, some people might be less affected by the amplified feelings. It really depends on the individual (= player's choice) how the rain affects them.


Shine Bright Like a Diamond


Part 1

Tents have been built into various places around the city, to give shelter from the rain. These tents are also workshops for crystal and gemstone crafts. A group of crystal miners have decided to share the rest of their gemstones and crystals so that people can make themselves magical weapons, protective armors and accessories or just normal decorations.

Crystal Mine is one of the places that was lost to "The Darkness" and it existed in the Autumn Segment. All crystals and gemstones from the mines have a natural magical aptitude, meaning they can be easily enchanted into various purposes. They were used for armors, weapons, accessories and such to help fight the monsters of the world.

All of the crystals and gemstones are in alphabetical order and the miners happily answer any questions about them, such meanings and symbolisms they might hold. They can also make suggestions for which ones to use in the same craft.

One of the miners is especially keen on telling about Birthstones and suggests using them as an accessory that you carry around everywhere. He's a firm believer that keeping a birthstone on your person will bring someone luck and protection from evil forces.

Part 2


Crystal and gemstone enchanting is managed by the teachers from the Magical Manor. They will hold lessons where they demonstrate how to get the results you want the most. The key is to be positive. The more positive feelings and words you feed the crystals and gemstones, the stronger the enchantment will be.

The enchantment can be anything from more strength into a weapon to just a nice, warmly glowing flower that helps someone sleep. Imagination is the limit, though even the enchantment can't make someone's armor permanently invincible or make their weapons kill things in one shot.

Enchanting your friend's, family member's or loved one's crystal or gemstone will make the magic twice stronger.

Those who have difficulties in being polite can either get fairy dust sprinkled on them to make them happy or they can ask someone else to help them. Needing to fake happy feelings will lessen the strength of the spells, but it works nonetheless.

Part 3


If someone does manage to pour negative feelings and words into their enchantments, they may cause the crystals and gemstones to form negative monsters. These monsters are ethereal and usually look like small goblins that eat positive energy from anyone within one-mile radius.

Attacking them with magic and weapons doesn't work, as they have no actual bodies, but trapping one between two people holding hands will make them feel overwhelmed by the sheer energy the handholding provides and disappear. They will do their best to suck as much positive energy into them before they do, though!

Someone who has their positivity stolen will slowly recover it over time (it takes at max. a day), but holding foreheads together with someone will speed to process.



Oh? A little extra


Starting from April 19th onwards, characters may find a peculiar basket on their table. This basket comes with any kind of pokeball (except Master Ball), some Pokémon Food and Treats, and a Pokémon Egg of any species that can have an egg (except the rare mythical/legendary/special ones that are able to). This Pokémon also has a chance to be shiny.

The note attached to the basket says "Sounds can be heard coming from inside! This Egg will hatch soon!" The egg will hatch anywhere between a few minutes to few days.

Anyone asking about how this came to be, the research center staff explains that it was a "metaverse miracle" and they asked the fairies to help them contribute the eggs to otherworlders, seeing as they already had Pokémon experience.

(NOTE: Pokémon Guidelines apply to these new hatching Pokémon as well)


OOC TIPS


- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.

- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.

- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a top level as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!

- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.

- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.

- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!

- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts are open.

- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.

- You can find monsters to encounter on Beastiary.

- FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.



code bases by tricklet
abnormalizes: neutral (she's all right she's all right)

[personal profile] abnormalizes 2024-06-15 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Eren could probably benefit from therapy, but that's not Evangeline's business to suggest and she'd be a hypocrite to bring it up anyway.

"If you think about it as making a gift for someone you care about, something to protect or help them, and think about why you want to help them - I think that works? It worked for me okay, at least."

She can't guarantee results for everyone, but it's certainly easier than trying to summon up positive emotions from nothing.
tethered_roamer: (OtA - Come again?)

Re: Let Me Kiss You in the Pouring Rain - 2

[personal profile] tethered_roamer 2024-06-15 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
This time Cole did wince, instinctively checking for a threat that wasn't there...but not including Dick in that quick scan of their surroundings. "...It's fine. If you could use some help, I've got literally nothing more important than to listen." It was meant to be a genuine offer, as much of a nothing is more important than helping as an I've literally got nothing going on.
abnormalizes: neutral blush ((the girl's a super freak))

[personal profile] abnormalizes 2024-06-15 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's a good idea. Is it hard DJing by yourself?
roundandaround: Sparkle eyes and intense face. (spends too much time around evangeline)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-06-15 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm... It's more like you can do more with more people! Back home, I'm not even our main DJ -- that's Maho-chan, the one who taught me how to use the turntables and stuff. She's the one doing that, and I'm our centre singing and dancing and getting the crowd pumped up. Rei-chan and Muni-chan do some of that too, but Rei-chan's our accompanist and Muni-chan's our VJ. So with all four of us, we can put on a better show than if Maho-chan were still a solo act, or than I can being a solo act now.

And besides! Collabs are really fun! When you're performing with someone else, a whole other artist or unit putting their song with yours and performing it for everyone... I don't know why, but it feels really special! And exciting! And happy!
cloudgazes: (pic#17246428)

I SHALL EXIST NOW I AM SORRY

[personal profile] cloudgazes 2024-06-16 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Shikamaru is usually fairly aware of his surroundings but still somehow he'd missed the person coming into the path of his stretch. Without even thinking he quickly makes the hand signs for his shadow paralysis to keep the stranger from falling, immobilizing them and then quickly shifting so he can put them on balance again before releasing the jutsu.

"Sorry about that," both the causing the stumble and just manhandling him back to steady feet basically.
hiori: (Default)

[personal profile] hiori 2024-06-16 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
That’s fair. I guess… there’s nothing like that for me.
roundandaround: Confused. (wait what)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-06-16 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
But there's gotta be something you like, right?
symptomof: (pic#17143683)

[personal profile] symptomof 2024-06-16 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah...

[ She nods and then glances away. She doesn't look uncomfortable or embarrassed, but meeting his gaze seems...strange at the moment, because she's not sure what expression she should make. Not that she's very expressive to begin with.

Once again, she's reminded of how different her upbringing must have been compared to most people. It's something she's always been aware of. How could she not, when all she could do was watch the people of Deathfalls live their lives from the window of her room? When the most she was able to talk were the few times she saw her brother and the fewer times she saw her parents?

She snaps out of her thoughts when he mentions standing close, her gaze shifting to his hand. She doesn't hesitate to take it, once again stepping close. Though she's no longer affected by the rain, she's glad to hold his hand again. It's warm. ]


Thank you. I...would appreciate that.
luckynumber13: (X to doubt)

Re: Let Me Kiss You in the Pouring Rain - 2

[personal profile] luckynumber13 2024-06-16 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Would you still want to help me knowing that the pain in your head is because of me?" Dick asked as he stepped further back in case Cole lashed out after being told that.
wingbound: (ugh // we're in a shitty situation)

[personal profile] wingbound 2024-06-16 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
If Levi notices that little scoff, he makes no comment of it. He's not buying the rest of it as just petulant teenager stuff, though. He doesn't think Eren is a danger to anyone but himself right now, but he's not making the same mistake twice.

"People who are fine enough don't usually cry on the couch in turd position," he says seriously. (He could have said fetal, but why? They're both curled up. Not to mention he has most likely only ever seen one of them, actually. Most people who aren't doctors in their world are probably the same way.) People who are fine enough also don't usually destroy the world, but he'll let that part be quiet for now. "Is it helping, at least?"

He's not about to tell the boy who has trouble with emotions to bottle up his feelings. If it's actually making him better then he's free to carry on and Levi will pat his back through it. But if it's not, maybe he needs some kind of distraction instead.
Edited 2024-06-16 19:21 (UTC)
wingbound: (looking down // now then as for you)

i was gonna say right back at u but no, i was faster eheheh

[personal profile] wingbound 2024-06-16 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Levi doesn't seem too surprised. If there could be local people and fairies, then the same applies to those coming in. It's only natural they don't know each other, though he has to admit the idea is rather amusing. ]

That's one less awkward reunion for you, then.
wingbound: (looking down // now then as for you)

oopsie-

[personal profile] wingbound 2024-06-16 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Right as he's convinced he's about to kiss the pavement, he's suddenly stopped by an invisible force. Luckily he's had the good sense to hold onto his shopping bags until that point, so nothing is spilled or broken as he gets straightened out onto both of his feet properly again.

He feels both thankful for whoever or whatever this was and uneasy, because something has sure just taken control of his body. The thought that anybody could do that had always given him chills. Even broken like this, he's still a deadly weapon that he doesn't trust anybody else to wield.

...his mind remained his own, though, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, he supposes. Finally, he examines the young man who speaks, frowning slightly as he does. He doesn't look familiar, but he's got a good face, he thinks. Levi doesn't feel immediately alarmed by him; that is... probably good.

"How did you do that?"
sungsolo: (Shadow travel (1))

[personal profile] sungsolo 2024-06-17 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[She seems to be lost in thought for a moment, and he's not sure what to make of the fact she's looking away, but neither does he pry or press. Embarrassment maybe? She doesn't seem uneasy exactly, but maybe a little awkward.

He knows enough to understand that awkward plus awkward just equals more awkwardness, so one of them needs to step up to move them past this.]


Then excuse me.

[He has enough clarity of mind to say it this time! And with that, Jinwoo uses the hold on her hand to draw her in, putting his arm around her shoulders.

To anyone else it would almost look as if he was hugging her, and technically that was true, but it was for the sake of transporting them.

Darkness pools beneath their feet, seeping from his own shadow and reaching up in tendrils, wrapping around them. The feeling is neither warm nor particularly cold, and doesn't feel like anything at all physically, but the darkness he's wielding is undeniably different from the Darkness haunting Ellipsa. Jinwoo is paying close attention to her reactions, just in case she shows signs of distress or alarm as he's quickly wrapped up in it and it swirls and rises, while the two of them begin to sink down.]
potatogirl: (Default)

[personal profile] potatogirl 2024-06-17 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Sasha squeezes and nods her agreement. “I haven’t kissed anyone in a very long time.”
silver_eyes_rose: (pic#14217775)

[personal profile] silver_eyes_rose 2024-06-17 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
“I know we just met but… can I kiss you?” Ruby asked curiously.
dreamsofwings: (94)

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2024-06-18 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Eren raises an eyebrow. Does Frieda know Reiner? Huh. Well, Reiner is an outgoing person, unlike Eren.

Eren also stupidly forgets how extremely obvious the two of them are. They were somewhat less obvious when this thing started, but now they don't care at all. Even people who barely know them could tell they're together, whether either of them dares to put a label on their relationship.
]

Yeah. With Reiner.

[ He doesn't elaborate, but his surprise was still obvious.

It probably seems weird to her, he thinks. If she knows Reiner, surely she knows where he's from, if not what he's done. He's a Marleyan. Eren hates Marley — also not a secret. It's complicated!
]

Okay.

[ He's not feeling combative (mostly) for once in his life, so he just does as she says.

Eren has no sense of modesty when it comes to taking his clothes off in front of another person. He's been in the military since he was twelve, and they didn't separate the cadets by gender. He's been naked in front of pretty much everyone he knows from home.

He moves slowly about it, peeling wet fabric off his skin. He does keep his underwear on, since he's aware other people can be weird about it. Good enough. He towels off with the towel, pulling the tie out of his hair and rubbing the towel over his already messy hair. Again, good enough.

If only she knew that Eren was directly responsible for her death too. But that's not something he's told anyone. Zeke will know eventually. Armin…might know. Even Levi, who shared Eren's insane mental space for a little bit, hasn't seen that particular thing. Eren plans to die with that secret.

So for now, they have…whatever this is.

He sits on the couch again, wrapped in the blanket, but still making a note to towel it off before Levi gets home.
]

Why are you bothering with this?

[ They aren't exactly enemies, but they sure as hell aren't friends. ]
dreamsofwings: (18)

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2024-06-18 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
Eren has never heard of therapy, but he'd undoubtedly refuse. We don't deal with our issues properly in this house!

"Oh, did you make one? What'd you make?" he asks. He is genuinely interested, but maybe it will also give him some idea of what he can or should make.
guilt_trip: (That's real fuckin' neato.)

[personal profile] guilt_trip 2024-06-18 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
[Decorated… okay yeah, that made more sense. For a minute, Russell had kind of thought this girl was just made of metal or something. He felt silly about it now and quickly turned his attention to the bracelet she displayed to take his mind off the embarrassment.]

…it’s really cool. How do you make them?
abnormalizes: neutral blush ((the girl's a super freak))

[personal profile] abnormalizes 2024-06-18 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I made a couple! Let's see, I made Zvei some rose quartz earrings - for compassion, because we're both really awkward when it comes to being sensitive to other people's feelings and I figured it might help a little? And I made Purple Mage a jasper necklace that gives them a little nudge if they've been motionless for too long, since sometimes they just kind of get caught up in thinking for hours at a time."

Useful things, she hopes. Definitely personalized to their needs.
wroughtandtempered: (42)

[personal profile] wroughtandtempered 2024-06-18 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. I use metal wire, pliers, and special hammers, mostly.

[ tapping the bracelet ]

This one is just wire I hit a lot. Flattened it out into the right shape, and then I used a smaller hammer to put in the scales.
guilt_trip: (the only icon you'll ever need)

[personal profile] guilt_trip 2024-06-18 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. … … Well, Doctor ran a medicine shop. Besides him, there was the mayor, Saxon, and his maid, Mireille. Yumi was the town’s sheriff - I know she liked to draw. Tabasa was really good with animals and a crack shot with a rifle. Cody was very knowledgeable about plants and ran the item shop. Her older brother Dogma looked after the church. They were both really devout. Gardenia ran a restaurant, even though she was the same age as me.

And…

[He pauses, considering.]

…That’s basically everyone in town. [Wow, cold as ice!! This is Informant erasure, Russell!!] We’d go explore the other towns and watch movies and stuff like that.
roundandaround: Earnest. (we can do it!)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-06-18 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
You must've had a lot of fun. [Rinku smiles.] Just try and focus happiness like that into the spell! Then I'm sure you'll get it right, you'll see!
potatogirl: (Default)

[personal profile] potatogirl 2024-06-18 03:27 am (UTC)(link)

Sasha grins. “Yeah! I’d really like that actually,” she says without a second thought, not letting up on the hug either. It feels nice.

silver_eyes_rose: (pic#14217780)

[personal profile] silver_eyes_rose 2024-06-18 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Ruby's eyes shine at that as she grinned as well. Not letting up on the hug, she leaned in to press her lips against Sasha's.
urtitan: (Morose)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-06-18 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[She may only have seen Eren and Reiner together in Eren's memories - a flurry of images and feelings, gone in a blink -, but having met Reiner on his own, she felt his warm-heartedness. If he were here now, he could make Eren feel better in no time, she's sure - at least as far as the rain's effects are concerned. Everything else... well, they're all in the same boat, aren't they? It's hard to guess how much the other titan shifters struggle with their predecessors' memories.

By the time she returns with the tea, he's nicely bundled up, which is an improvement. She sets the cup down in front of him, then takes a moment before answering his question.

There are so many things she could say. To make up for trying to look at your memories without permission, or Because you're Historia's friend, or Because it's the decent thing to do and we all have to help each other in this world - in any world. Instead, she decides to open up to him as much as she can by telling him the decision she's made as a result of everything she learned from him and Historia.]


...

I don't want to go home anymore either.

[It's a risk she's taking, albeit a vague one - what are the chances of Eren conjecturing that the revelations of the future turned her vow of non-aggression into a vow of active atonement? He'll more likely assume that she wants to withhold her titan from his father to prevent the impending war (which isn't wrong - she'd love to be able to do that, both as a vow-induced compulsion and the simple wish of a pacificstic person). But every time she has one of her "episodes" now, she feels compelled to eradicate the people of the Walls, and much as she doesn't want to, there seems to be no other way, even though she doesn't know the means. It drives her insane in a way that's worse than having to accept that she can't defend her people, that they don't deserve it--

She can feel her mind starting to fray at the edges. She stepped too close to the brink by thinking about these things, even just fleetingly. For a moment, she closes her eyes. She needs to leave before she starts ranting at Eren, before they argue again. But while she still has control over herself, she'll refocus her mind and give him a push to reach out to someone else - someone who can touch him without leaving them both in shambles, unlike her and Historia.]


You should call Reiner. You need to touch someone to feel better, that's what the rain does.
Edited 2024-06-18 12:40 (UTC)