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Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsgreetings2023-10-13 12:35 am
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Test Drive Meme #5


Test Drive Meme #5
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.

Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.

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?





Light a Candle For You




Part 1


All throughout the city, a festival is taking place. It's the festival to honor the dead. The areas are decorated with aesthetically appropriate lights and different flowers. Upon a closer look it becomes clear that all the flowers are bundles of flowers, based on the otherworlders' flower charms. Where a characters' flower is depends on their Season, but all of the appear in the Nightwake Center district.

The main part of the festivities is to light candles in various places. There are even floating lanterns, that can be either launched to the skies or put on surfaces of water. Those who have lost (= to death) someone at any point in their life will receive a message from them in their dreams and otherwise pleasant dreams about them if they light up a candle during the festivities.

Those who have died before (back in their world or on Ellipsa) will receive a protective light around them if they light up a candle. This light will also let the natives know to treat them with kindness and respect during the festivities. They will even receive special bonuses at some of the shops and restaurants, like discounts or extra items. The light itself will decrease any damage done to them for the rest of the month. The light will dim "when needed", but even as it's not easily noticeable, it will continue to protect.

Characters may receive both of these effects.

Part 2


The second part of the festivities involves making small ghosts made out of paper or cloth. These crafts are for the local ghosts to possess so they can be seen by everyone. Once the ghosts have possessed the crafts they will hover around the place, experiencing the festivities better than in their ethereal form. Only ghosts that wish to move on to the afterlife will possess the crafts.

Some of the ghosts gather at the Blossomcrown Park where magical crests have been set on various tables there. These ghosts are those who have been waiting for this moment to pass onto afterlife. Everyone visiting the bonfire will be given a special flower wreath. The goal is to wait for one of the ghosts to move and take hold of the wreath (literally holding onto it with their craft ghost forms) before placing it on the crests together with another person. This will help the ghosts to cross the border into afterlife. The wreath disappears after the ghost has passed on. This ritual can only be done at this time of the year, as the air is filled with a mysterious essence that helps with passing on. The scientists have yet to properly determine what the essence truly is, but it seems to concentrate on the park and at least it's not dangerous for the living.

The park also has some places to just sit down and enjoy the atmosphere at the park. There are also some food and drink stalls.







We All Become What We Pretend To Be




Part 1


The final part of the festivities is the multi-day Costume Party Masquerade happening in the largest airship of the city. The ship circles around the whole city of Nightwake, occasionally stopping at the dock and taking new passengers (or letting old ones out) before continuing on again. The airship is special, as it has a giant ballroom in the middle. There are also cabins, some more private and some more communal for those who just want a quick place to crash rather than a proper room.

Everyone who boards the airship must wear some sort of a mask, but they also have to be in a costume of some sort. Those who don't have either or both will be guided to a dressing room where the magic will pick them whatever they are missing at random (= of player's choosing) and dress them (their current clothes will be waiting for them at the airship station later). No one escapes the rule of a costume and a mask around here!

A magic is also applied to everyone's mask, making it harder for anyone to recognize the person wearing it (possibly even those who know them very well). This is said to add some level of mystery to the evening. Of course the spell will pause whenever someone takes off their mask and that may reveal a secret to someone. No one will just automatically forget if they saw someone take off their mask.

The music encourages people to dance and be brave in asking a stranger to dance with them. Thanks to the atmosphere of the masquerade, touch energy will feel even better than usual, even if you'd be "fully loaded".

Part 2


Another sort of magic sneaks into the party, as people's costumes start to take over their personalities. Someone dressed up as a king might start acting all regal, while a vampire look-a-like might try to bite someone in their neck. Some might even lose the sight of who they really are and completely take on their new roles for the time they're in the airship and in the costume.

Fairies will start trying to bomb people gone weird with water balloons, as a splash of water on their faces will wake them up from the trance (even if the said person is wearing a mask). They're even teleporting water balloons for others to toss - especially if it looks like someone is acting a bit too dangerously.

Another way is to strip them out of their clothes, but that might be something reserved for the privacy of a cabin, rather than the ballroom.

Even once someone has been freed from the spell they can unfortunately be spellbound again later on - but it's just less likely.




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
wingbound: (sigh // you can't go back)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-01 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Levi feels the urge to swat him for that, exacerbated by the magical atmosphere compelling people to crave and enjoy the touch energy more than usual. He hesitates for a bit, if only because their relationship had never been particularly heavy on actual contact, but, well. One of them died and the other might as well have, this place is a whole new life and that might as well come with other news. ]

[ He settles for huffing and lightly punching Erwin in the tits chest, not aiming to hurt, just express a sentiment of you're being insufferable. ]


Oi, you just got here, you're not allowed to die of old age for at least another month.

[ A year. Ten. Twenty. However long they're allowed to stay here. ]

And don't pat yourself on the back too much, that was just lucky timing.

[ THE MAGIC MADE HIM DO IT!! Though honestly if he was aware it was Erwin from the start he probably would have gone along with it without any magical influence at all, if maybe with some more grumbling about how he has no use for picking this skill up. ]
offeredhearts: (bedroom eyes)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-02 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Erwin bites down on another laugh, putting his hand over the spot where Levi struck - warmth blossoming there instead of pain. Perhaps it's just the magic of this place, apparently fueled by touch, perhaps it would have happened anyway, because they're reunited again. He fakes a wince, but it turns immediately into a smile once more. ]

Understood, Captain.

[ His grin widens a little before settling into something more knowing, fond. ]

Oh? Are you saying someone else could have gotten to you instead of me?

[ Not unthinkable, but it's fun to tease him a little anyway. ]
wingbound: (blank // talking)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-05 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Good--

[ He might look a little flustered for the whole moment it takes for him to shove his mask back on; steel gray stares at Erwin from the left eyehole of the skull while the right remains empty, tone undecipherable. ]

Are you saying you're special, then? [ Because he'd be right in a lot of ways, even if maybe not this one, but there's no need to let him flaunt it right now. This whole teasing thing works both ways. ] Better get a bigger mask, your head's starting to peek out around the edges.
offeredhearts: filling the deepest of needs (a gentle warmth)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-05 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Erwin leaves his mask where it is for now, and is already somewhat disappointed Levi's replaced his, though his expression doesn't change. ]

Then it's a good thing you're here with me, otherwise I might get delusions of grandeur.

[ Because that is how it has always been - Levi grounding him back to the earth, his reminder and guardian of what really matters. ]
wingbound: (talking // blank)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-05 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's fine. Now he knows it's really him, and Levi has a convenient way to hide when he's feeling called out. ]

[ Levi makes a small, vaguely amused huff and lightly prods Erwin's jacket. ]


Well, you're already dressed the part.

[ He's clearly not too bothered by that thought, either. There's worse things to do than being a smug asshole. The touch lingers perhaps a moment too long; it just feels too damn nice, like warmth and magical energy is just flooding into him through his fingertips. ]
offeredhearts: (with deepest fondness)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-05 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed.

[ The touch lingers, and Erwin still hasn't decided if he can determine (or care) if it feels good because of magic or just the newness yet of it all, but Levi stays long enough for him to catch his hand again. Because if one dance was supposed to be enough, it doesn't seem so now. ]

May I have this dance, Levi?
wingbound: (frown // explaining)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-06 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Levi doesn't pull away, doesn't quite step closer either, apparently contemplating. Then he gives a light shrug. ]

Suppose I should encourage you for asking like a normal person this time.

[ That seems to be a "yes", since he's stepping closer again, his other hand drawing a few awkward figures in the air before settling at Erwin's waist -- that's how he thinks it went last time, right? ]
offeredhearts: filling the deepest of needs (a gentle warmth)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-07 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Erwin waits patiently for Levi to make up his mind; he's always had plenty of it, and plenty of practice with his Captain.

His smile widens, and while perhaps he should pull the mask back down, he doesn't find it important enough to break contact with Levi to do it. ]


Perhaps I was trying to impress a new acquaintance before?

[ Does that mean he doesn't feel the need to impress Levi?

Hands on the waist seem to work well enough. Erwin keeps them on the periphery of the dance floor - there's no need to rejoin the crowd and risk knocking into people again, or making Levi potentially agitated at the throng. Besides which, it's easier to just talk at a distance away.

It really is a shame, though, missing an arm at a time like this. They manage, but it isn't the same when he could be guiding Levi much more elegantly with both hands instead of one. ]
wingbound: (sigh // you can't go back)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-10 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It seems patience gets rewarded! ]

[ Levi huffs softly, his arm relaxing a little because ribbing at each other is just what they do but he can't muster any genuine annoyance just yet, not after being apart for so long and finally managing to find each other again in a different fucking world. ]


Uh-huh, and what am I, yesterday's soup?

[ Wait, no, that makes it sound like he wants to be impressed-- ]

Spare yourself the trouble next time. It does the opposite. Unless you're talking to some fancy fuck that uses twelve different forks at the same dinner.

[ And yet, here Levi is. Dancing with him. Don't overthink it. ]
offeredhearts: (bedroom eyes)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-14 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ It does feel good. After the trauma of death and the effervescent existence of being a spirit, it's wonderful to find their old rhythm again. ]

Sometimes soup is better the next day.

[ Is that a compliment? Yes, because Erwin Smith can be a suave motherfucker when he choses.]

[ He chuckles. ] Well how was I to know when you're wearing a mask like that?

Perhaps next time I will simply sweep you off your feet.
wingbound: (frown // they're toying with us)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-15 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you seriously comparing me to soup right now?

[ His tone is flat, maybe with a hint of both incredulity and mirth. ]

[ Erwin. Erwin please, that is not "suave" at all. At the same time, it's so painstakingly Erwin that Levi can't help breathing out a little soundless laugh, exasperated and fond at the same time. He can't imagine him ever singing praises to some noble lady's presence by comparing her to an unit of potentially expired food, but he was usually putting up a front pretty hard in those situations. And this isn't it; this is just... them. With all their flaws and quirks and weirdness they've grown familiar with over the years. ]

[ He huffs. Clearly, he should have known. Or maybe just defaulted to not using all of his big words on allegedly new people! It's not hard! ]


Maybe you should've dropped yours.

[ He may or may not be talking about the actual masks they've been decorated with here. ]

Yeah? Better give me a heads-up then, I'd hate to see you losing any more arms.

[ It's an empty threat and they both know it. ]
offeredhearts: filling the deepest of needs (a gentle warmth)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-15 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm rather partial to soup, in fact.

[ It's absolutely suave. It got Levi to laugh, didn't it? A resounding success, as far as he's concerned. Erwin smiles, because he can't remember the last time he'd made Levi laugh over something so inconsequential. Perhaps at some point in those last two months prior to their ride to Shiganshina, the last space of time when things had been almost normal. Yet their moments of levity had still felt farther apart after everything.

It feels good, now, to not have to worry about it anymore. His fingertips press a little more firmly against Levi's waist, just for a brief moment. ]


...I suppose I could have.

[ Erwin returns, softer. Perhaps Levi is right. ]

Mm, I'll do my best. Going without both would be terribly inconvenient.
wingbound: (pained // not you too)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-16 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Huh. Always figured you were more of a steaks guy who couldn't afford it.

[ The metaphors are getting a little muddled... or maybe they're not and that's the point, who can really tell. ]

[ Okay, so maybe it is just a little bit suave. Though truly, Levi's amusement has little to do with his choice of words and a lot to do with it being Erwin saying them. It's surreal, seeing him like this, not weighed down by his responsibilities, by his position, by his dream, just being a goddamn insidious dork and slow-dancing in ridiculous costumes with a little rude asshole like he's actually having the time of his life. ]

[ It's a good look on him. ]

[ Levi makes a vague noise of agreement -- of course he could have -- and contemplates that firmer touch for a moment, but doesn't find it genuinely objectionable. It feels nice, like thrumming energy being poured right into his body. Huh, perhaps he'd been slacking on his existence handshakes this week, though Hange usually had him covered on not turning into a statue ever since they got here... ]

[ Anyway. ]


Good. I can certainly do without having to wipe your ass for you.
offeredhearts: (smirky smirk amused)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-17 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm the son of a teacher. Not that I can't appreciate a good steak, but humbler foods are more comforting to me.

[ Hard to say what (or who??) the steak represents here. Perhaps it doesn't really matter; Erwin doesn't have rich tastes, even after having experienced what nobles feast on in Mitras. He can never eat it without imagining his soldiers living off yeast bars and beans and root vegetables in the winter months. ]

I thought that might be an argument in my favor. [ Plus, it would be much harder to touch him like this, and share in the gentle of power and affection that passes between them. ]

Even so, I'll be sure to be careful.
wingbound: (frown // contemplative)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-17 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Levi bites back a coarse reply to the first statement only out of respect for his mother. ]

Yeah? Hear rat stew is great this time of year.

[ But he knows Erwin well enough that he knows he means it. Are they still talking about food? Maybe, but it's the same for their relationship, isn't it? For whatever unfathomable reason, he's always seen more in Levi than he ever did himself, and built him up accordingly. For that, he'll always be grateful. ]

[ So maybe he won't give him much more shit about it. ]

[ Instead, he dead-eyes him for the rest. ]


It is. On the other hand, you don't need your legs for that.

[ So do be careful, Erwin. They have a second chance here, they can do things they didn't get to do or try to change things they regret or just be different. And Levi learns from his mistakes. If he thinks Erwin is about to launch himself headfirst into most certain death again, he won't hesitate to disrespect his wishes this time. ]

[ But hopefully it doesn't come to that. ]


offeredhearts: filling the deepest of needs (a gentle warmth)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-17 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There are perhaps other, weirder places all that could go, but it's probably best to leave it there. ]

[ Their dancing has devolved into little more than meandering steps in a slow circle. It's not hard for Erwin to grasp Levi's meaning then either, and he smiles down at him, lips closed and gentle, perhaps a hint of ache in his eyes. Perhaps he should regret his decision to go, should have let Levi keep him there and had them carry out the mission. But their enemies still would have been there, and there wouldn't have been anyone to lead the charge to let the rest of them do what needed to be done.

So Erwin can't say that he regrets his decision, even if Levi might. But he's done that once. Levi freed him to do his duty to humanity, the cause that had truly become his own in the end. Now there is no need for that, and he can afford to be selfish, if only for Levi's sake.

His hand creeps halfway around to the small of Levi's back before he realizes, nearly drawing him close enough for an embrace. ]


...No.

I'll be careful, Levi.
wingbound: (blank // listening)

[personal profile] wingbound 2023-11-18 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's something that still hurts, even if the searing agony of it had slowly dulled to a background ache over the years. Erwin is right, of course. If he hadn't been there, they may have all died instead. And yet, looking back, now that he doesn't have to fight, doesn't have to make decisions or worry about things weighing him down, he can't help but wonder if they could have arrived at a different outcome somehow. He may not regret it exactly, but he's certainly thought about it plenty, always arriving to the same conclusion. He's not sure if that makes him feel better or worse. ]

[ He just nods, and maybe his grip on the other man gets a little more firm in return, but he doesn't say anything more, just enjoying their slow sort-of-dance until he sees a goddamn water balloon sail past them and explode on a party-goer further away. ]


...I'm getting out of here.

[ The fact that he says it aloud, though, means that Erwin is indeed invited with. ]
offeredhearts: (Our faith in the prize)

/fin

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2023-11-18 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's even more of a blessing, then, that they have this chance again. One that Erwin will be sure to never take for granted.

-- the water balloon is a surprise (especially having no notion of balloons at all), and Erwin is inclined to follow Levi's lead, perhaps to somewhere quieter and more private. ]


Yes, let's.