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seasonsgreetings2024-04-19 01:03 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2024-04-19 01:03 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #8
Test Drive Meme #8
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
- 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.
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[So he wasn't on the prowl... but honestly, it's already too late. They're both wet, so they're both screwed. Koro's apparent fear isn't unwarranted at all, given that last year Hijikata ended up fist-fighting someone in the middle of the street over an unwanted kiss.]
...
I'll go with you. If shit hits the fan, at least it'll be just us.
[If it gets to the point where the compulsion for contact is too strong to resist, he'll rather grab a hold of Koro, who's in the same predicament, than an unwilling stranger! He'll leave it up to the other man whether he wants to just take avail of the nearest shelter or try and make it home (which isn't exactly around the corner from Dayrise, but maybe if they take the teleport nodes, they can make it back before they go completely nuts for touch!).]
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[Koro replies so suddenly, even more odd with the firmness in his tone.]
Don't. Don't follow me. It's too dangerous.
[The more he talks, the more it seems quite obvious that he's speaking from something personal. He stares at Hijikata one last time.
Before taking off. Oop, there he goes! If Hijikata gives chase, he'll see him run into an alley way.]
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If it's too dangerous, then you should heed what I said all the more!! What's going to happen if you run into some random civilian?!
[He's on your tail, Koro! Unless he pulls some demon trick to escape, the samurai will either grab or corner him.]
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[WAIT HE'S CHASING HIM?? This is...ironic. Koro assumed Hijikata would be glad to not to have to keep dealing with him after he runs. But here they are...Koro almost can't help but weakly laugh.
He keeps running. He stops when he runs into an alley fence. Damn it! Wait... he's a demon!
Shwoop! Koro teleports behind the fence and keeps running. How far is Hijikata planning on going after him?]
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[He says that with such offence... clearly, he doesn't see himself as being on the same level as a civilian at all. When Koro teleports to the other side of the fence, Hijikata scales it.]
You moron, don't you understand that you're a danger to society?! That's why you're running, isn't it? Stop right where you are!! I know how to deal with this shit!
[Does he? Does he really?]
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[Koro is met with a dead end: a tall wall with no hint as to what's on the other side.]
...force. Fuck!
[All he can do is stand there, unsure of what to do. He can't teleport if he doesn't know what's on the other side! What if it's an innocent person?
When Hijikata catches up, he'll find an odd, still Koro facing the wall. Standing.]
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Calm down. We've got this. We just need to keep in contact until the urge dies down, then we'll be back to normal... if we can get dry, that is.
[Without an awning or anything in sight, they can only hope that they'll either burn up the urge, or the rain will die down, or both. Even as Hijikata feels Koro's solid back against his own, he craves more, but he fights the desire. Surely, his willpower is stronger than this bullshit!
(It isn't, and on some level, he knows. After all, last year he ended up assaulting Levi, that grumpy little bastard, and the forced kiss resulted in a nasty public street fight, with spectators and all. It was mortifying. Given Koro's warnings, won't this be even worse?)]
...
How fireproof are you? Maybe I can dry us up that way.
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An urge that is not his own. A foreign feeling that turns on the defenses of his body, of his very being. Nothing is allowed to take control of him. Nothing. The fight for control enrages inside him.]
... I'm probably pretty fireproof. After all...I seem to be doing just fine—
[His voice seems... different. It's still the same, and yet there's some sort of tone in it, something ulterior. It becomes obvious something is up when Koro quickly turns around while Hijikata's back is facing him, and embraces him from behind. He holds him tightly, not intending to let him go any time soon.]
...Despite this fire burning inside me.
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(He definitely didn't ignore Koro's warnings because it's exciting, or because the rain is a convenient excuse. Neither because he's a repressed, buttoned-up man who rarely allows himself an outlet for his needs and desires, nor because Koro is friendly and handsome, and he's attracted to him. Oh no.)
At the embrace, he doesn't balk or fight. It's a relief, really. He runs his hands over Koro's. Such nice hands. They undid all the tension and knots in his body back when he gave him a massage. Koro's a kind man, isn't he? He has no idea what a rotten one Hijikata is, using the pretense of his job to corner him like this, under circumstances that cause him such distress.]
You couldn't think of a cheesier line, could you? Let's see if we can handle it without more fire, then.
[Being held feels so goddamn nice, all the more with the energy exchange enhancing the sensation, but he wants to return the gesture, and it's hard in his position. If nothing else, he lets his hands wander from Koro's forearms to his upper arms, then raises one hand to touch his jaw.]
Isn't this already helping?
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[Koro watches as Hijikata seems to be rather I bothered by this sudden attack. The way he gently strokes the demons arms excites him a little. A low growl emits from deep within Koro, something like a lion, but deeper.
Is...is he purring??]
The little lamb deliberately ignores the wolf's warning...and now he's caught in his clutches...speaking such shameless words...
[There's a sort of sing-song to his tone. Teasing. Hungry. Koro copies Hijikata's move, and teasingly slides his hand up Hijikata's chest until it reaches his chin, which he lefts to try to face him. If Hijikata is able to see, he'll notice Koro's eyes glowing a bright, piercing red, different from his usual muted crimson.]
Tell me, Hijikata, my bold little lamb, are you saying you want to be eaten?
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Oh, come on. Do I look like a lamb to you? I'm an old ram, if anything, with tough meat and horns fit to give you a concussion.
[He may not have literal horns on his head right now, but he well remembers his monthly partial bull transformation back on Prismatica, along with the urges the red moon brought. Is that what it's like for Koro all the time?
Despite his playful warning just now, he leans up towards him, trying to bring their faces closer together. If both parties are affected, encounters in this rainfall don't have to be all bad. Not at all. And afterwards, when it's over, it'll all have been the rain's fault. How convenient.]
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Hm. Tough meat?
[The move is quick. Koro quickly spins Hijikata around and holds him properly, strong arms wrapped tight around the smaller man's body.]
I'm sure I can turn you tender.
[With that, Koro moves a hand up to the nape of Hijikata's neck and closes the gap between them at last, hungry lips pressing against the other's.]
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I don't know. Can you?
[He'd have bantered more, suggested that it may happen the other way around - or is Koro tender already, he might have teasingly asked -, but he, too, is hungry for the kiss and doesn't want to spend more time talking. He strains to meet Koro's lips - in fairness, it's easier now that he's facing him - and doesn't even bother to keep it chaste, immediately trying to get his tongue in the other man's mouth.
His hands wander over Koro's broad back, down to his sides where they admiringly caress his nice firm waist, then they trail over his hips before wandering over to his tight ass. Hijikata can appreciate such a handsome build in a man, and won't it be all the nicer to treat a tall, buff guy like Koro like a dainty little thing? He hopes he'll be able to make him feel special, even just for this quick and dirty make-out session in the backstreets.]
no subject
Koro moves an arm down to around Hijikata's thighs and quickly lifts him up, making them both eye level. No longer straining his neck, it's easier to kiss, and Koro intensifies his while his purrs grow louder.
And if Koro takes an inch, he'll want a mile. Just holding Hiji up isn't enough! Koro quickly moves towards a wall, pinning the cop between brick and solid muscle.]
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Koro...
[That's as much as he manages to breathily murmur in between kisses, not wanting to stop or even slow down despite his mild confusion. With Koro's lower body out of reach for the moment, he caresses the sides of his neck before moving his hands down to his shoulders, sliding his fingers under the drenched shirt.
He can feel Koro's chest against his own, and damn, it's so warm and broad, he really wants to give it a good squeeze or several to see whether it's all solid muscle or there's some softness in the mix, but even that is easier imagined than done with how pinned he ended up. He moves his legs a little, not getting anywhere - Koro doesn't appear to be straining under his weight at all. When's he going to set him back down?! He'll probably have to ask when they break their kiss to breathe, but he's not going to rush that when it's so enjoyable to feel Koro's tongue moving against his own.]
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But the hunger in Koro's gut slowly begins to fade. Koro pulls away, his red eyes once again piercing Hijikata's as he rests his forehead upon his. But after a moment, those glowing red eyes dim, and turn back into his usual, deep crimson. Koro looks around confused. What just happened? Why did he suddenly gain control of himself again?]
I... don't understand...
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It's over. We got through the rain's effect. This wasn't so bad, was it?
[See, he totally knew what he was doing when he told Koro to stay with him!]
You can set me down now.
[They should buy themselves new umbrellas as long as there's a pause in the rain.]
no subject
Wait...I thought...is the rain not an aphrodisiac?
no subject
[It's PG-13 rain! Hijikata moves his legs a little again to indicate that he'd appreciate being back on solid ground. Much as he enjoyed the rush, it's over now, and he wants to smoke!]
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[Koro does pit Hijikata to his feet...but he doesn't quite let him go either, instead opting to wraps his arms around the other's waist and hold him close while the demon leans forward and rest his shoulder into the crook of the cop's neck.]
Back in prison...there was a lilac colored rain that gave those under it an insatiable lust. It turned me into a monster...
I was scared I'd become that monster again.
no subject
No, no, don't worry. You're okay. Besides, I was equally affected.
[Koro is a good man, unlike him, who's curious about those glowing eyes that looked at him with such hunger mere moments ago. I bet I could tame you if you wanted to, even in that state.]
no subject
So...what now? Are we really safe? Or do we need to get out of the rain?
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Yeah, we should get a move on before it picks up again. We need to pick up some umbrellas.
[Part of him is in no rush to break this embrace - Koro's body is so nice and big and warm -, but they've got to be responsible adults about this!]
no subject
[Koro doesn't seem to want to move. He's so comfortable where he is right now. It feels so nice to just stand there, holding onto a small body, and just breathe.]
Just a little longer...
[Koro murmurs it into Hijikata's shoulder, tightening his embrace. He is unable to resist kissing the skin his face is pressed into.]
no subject
Hmm, alright, I won't rush you. After all, that was quite the scare for you.
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