( TDM #7 )

[spellbindmods]

TDMs can be used for anyone interested in the game and/or testing out a new muse.

Test Drive samples are encouraged to be used for your application sample, though they are NOT a requirement.

Feel free to use one prompt, multiple prompts or make up your own!

These threads can be considered game canon upon game opening if you so choose.

Telepathy and magic can be used at any point in time on the TDM, from Prompt A to your wildcard prompt. A specific prompt exists, however, that makes sure all characters have an equal chance to use this mechanic within the TDM. You're encouraged to have characters use telepathy and their magic accidentally or even purposefully on any TDM prompt.

If you aren't set on your character's power yet or want to try out a few, you're still able to use the test drive. Maybe your character is a late bloomer and hasn't fully unlocked their intuitive drive yet. In the case of multiple powers, only prompts that contain the power you choose for your application will count as potential game canon threads.

While only one character can be apped or reserved during a cycle, feel free to post with more than one character if you like! This is for those who are uncertain of their first choice or who would like to try out different characters within the setting.

IMPORTANT: This world is low-frequency. No canon powers or abilities are allowed! Also check out the setting information for more info about Shehui.

You blink and that's all it takes. At first, the picture doesn't come in clear, like you're waiting for a screen to fully load -- more aptly, it's like you're waiting for a camera to focus so you can find image clarity. Before you happened to rapidly close your eyes and open them, your life was normal...well, normal for you, anyway. Fighting an alien, making a quesadilla, dying. And then that blurry picture suddenly takes over. There's a lot to take in here -- you feel weird, your surroundings are weird. Everything is just weird. For starters, there's that new piece of jewelry inserted in the space above your chest. That certainly wasn't there before you opened your eyes. A ▢ Perhaps the signet in your chest isn't the most pressing matter right now. You notice that the building you're in (Chips!) is pretty large -- but even that isn't the most demanding thing capturing your interest right now. It's the video game you're in front of. Maybe it's Duck Hunt, or a zombie killing game that involves those huge red and blue guns. There are a variety of arcade games in Chips!, after all -- but are you Player 1 or Player 2? B ▢ After a strange incident a couple of days ago, the area around Anmung tower has been essentially dead. This may or may not be lucky for you -- since you're on the top of the observation deck, and all. If you're afraid of heights...oops. It's not that people aren't allowed to be up there, it's just that there aren't too many people. The view is still pretty good, though! C ▢ Let's say that you just want some answers and information about the strange signet you now have. You may find some success in asking around, but be warned: not everyone in Shehui will know what the fuck you're talking about. If you're lucky enough, you may eventually run into a coven member that will be able to explain. D ▢ Since your character didn't show up via any special means, they may not know that magic is a bit taboo in Shehui. If their new magic manifests, it might be a bit of an issue. Locals certainly won't like it, and they'll definitely attract the attention of more than a few monitors. The good news? This is also a pretty good way to snag the attention of a coven member who is here to help! E ▢ Let's get back to some fun stuff. Your character is enveloped in darkness for a brief moment, something clasped in their hand. Lights, camera, action -- the glowing screen that suddenly flashes on turns out to belong to a karaoke booth TV! You and and someone else have been locked in this booth for an hour -- at least there's a mini bar and some snacks! F ▢ For something not so fun, the snowfall has stopped in Shehui, except for those residences and businesses who want to keep paying for it. A lot aren't willing to cough up the credits, so it's safe to say the streets aren't. Everything is frosty and slippery, from melted snow to frozen water littering the sidewalks. Watch your step or you could hurt yourself...or bump into an unexceptional stranger! G ▢ Finally, you may have had the fortunate luck of ending up in the coven's apartment complex. There are names on the door to all apartments, if you want to go exploring. Whether you find the name of someone you recognize, or maybe you just want some shelter from the cold weather, knock knock...is anyone home? H ▢ Wildcard! How will your character react to this strange world?

GAME NAVIGATION

Comments

Lapis Fathalla | Original

[oneirism]

(B.)

[Being so high up, to see everything from this view and see the lights of everything is always a nice sight, and this time is no exception. Lapis seeming very relaxed and carefree about being so high up - maybe a little too carefree, since she sits on the railing, letting her legs swing over the edge.

It's dangerous, yes, but she's done worse things than this and she's confident enough in her balance to know she won't fall. Her ghost companions are somehow gone, and they can't catch her if she falls, but she decides she's steady enough to stay put. This is why she can just peek over her shoulder at whoever else is there, offering a little wave before her hand rests against the railing once more.]

It's a nice view from here, huh? I thought it would've been busier around here though. [But whatever, it means she can hang around the railing like this without getting yelled at. That would've been annoying.]

(E.)

[For someone normally so deadpan, Lapis is pretty stoked for karaoke. Who cares if they're stuck in here, they can sing and that's more than enough to ease any of her worries about being trapped. She's sure she and whoever her unlucky companion is can break the door down if they're trapped for too long. At least she hopes they can.

And it's not like they'll starve or anything either, so it's all fine. She'll even be as nice to let her new partner in singing to go first.]

So, what song do you want to do first? I can recommend some if you're not sure. [Singing first, escaping later.]

(F.)

[Lapis is on fire.

Like, literally on fire. The edges of her feet had suddenly lit up as she slid along the frozen tracks of water, bringing her to a sudden stop as the frozen layer melted beneath her feet. Now she can't really stop it, the fire seeming to seamlessly sprout from her feet and over her shoes - not even a few good shakes can put it out.

So, instead of being horrified like a normal person, she instead uses this new power for good - or at least, to make something less annoying. Now sing her new flame feet to melt the icy paths, luckily not getting much in the ways of dirty looks from locals, since they're avoiding the paths.

She doesn't, however, notice how the tips of her hair are on fire. Or the back edges of her dress. Just a couple of the downsides to fire transformation....]

b

[dividepain]

[ The sight of a girl sitting on the railing is outright terrifying. From what Laphicet has seen this building is rather tall, too. She waves at him like it's nothing, but he can't help coming closer to grip the fabric of her skirt just to make sure that even if she loses her balance, nothing bad will happen.

While doing that his face becomes bright red. At this rate, the blush might spread across his neck and even tip of his ears. ]

I'm sorry but...! Y-You might fall...

[oneirism]

[Of all the reactions she was expecting, him coming over and gripping her skirt wasn't one of them - gold eyes blinking at him owlishly for a moment.

She's still quiet and still once he speaks, mentally debating what to do. On one hand, he does seem genuinely worried, and on the other, seeing him turn red like that does make it tempting to tease him a bit...]

I've been higher than this before, don't worry. [With that, she leans forward juuuuuust a little bit-

- BUT she doesn't want the kid to freak out, so she then immediately shifts further back - bringing her legs under her and back over the rail to plant firmly on the ground.]

But is this better?

[dividepain]

[ The moment she leans forward, Laphicet gasps loudly but before he can yank her skirt and pull her back, she turns to him. Only then she realizes that he's been holding his breath after that wheeze. ]

It is. Much, much better. [ He can finally let out a relieved sigh. ] The view is beautiful, but not that much to risk your life for it...

[ Laphicet hasn't realized just yet that he's still holding onto her skirt. ]

[oneirism]

[Lapis can't stop the soft giggle escaping her when he gasps, but she still moves herself back onto the ground - deciding that she's shocked him enough. Smiling down at him softly, realising now that he really was that worried.

And that he's still holding onto her skirt.]

I can assure you that I won't fall now. [She'll wait for him to understand what she means - her voice taking a faint, playful hint to it.]

[dividepain]

[ It doesn't take long from now, at least. Laphicet's gaze shifts from her face to his own hands still gripping the fabric. When he finally lets go of it, he also takes a few steps back, surprised by the discovery. His blush gains a darker hue, too. ]

It's just...you had me worried there for a second.

[ Maybe it's still not too late for explanations. ]

Don't do this ever again. [ Now he's huffing as he scolds Lapis, it seems. ] Okay?

[oneirism]

[His surprise and his darkening blush pulls another giggle from her, shifting to lean against the rail now. Her expression becoming neutral once more, though she watches him curiously - giving another owlish blink at how he's scolding her.

It's... odd. She can't really try to poke fun or tease, since he seems so genuine - so she can only give an uncertain nod, humming quietly once more.]

Well okay, I won't do it while I don't have my powers. [Because being able to teleport erases the worry of falling, after all. And also having ghost friends to catch you too.]

But I'm surprised, I didn't think you would be so worried.

[dividepain]

[ In retrospect, he might have gone overboard but he's pleased with the final effect—Lapis listened to him. Smiling a bit sheepishly, Laphicet fixes his gaze on his feet. ]

It's a really tall building, that's why... [ Mumble, mumble. ] What kind of powers do you have, miss?

[oneirism]

[At least Laphichet has succeeded in what most couldn't - which is getting her to listen to him. If it was anyone else, Lapis would've seen how far she could push them.

But it's hard to be so mean when he's so genuine. It's why his mumbles only get a soft giggle at most, before she thinks of how to answer that.]

Well, one of them is that I can teleport. [And, after debating for a moment, she describes her other power just as bluntly.]

I can also see and talk to spirits, so if I fall from anything, they usually catch me. But I can't see or hear them at all here.

E

[bulletbiter]

[ Deadpan meet deadpan. Though Julius is more of the thoughtful type of deadpan, picking up the leaflet on the table and examining it. ]

Is it definitely compulsory?

[oneirism]

[Meanwhile, there's the sense of Lapis sparkling under her deadpan - her excitement still clear, even as she moves over to take a peek at the leaflet too.]

I imagine so, why else would someone lock us in a karaoke booth? [So yes, she is gonna make you sing, Julius. There is no escape.]

[bulletbiter]

[ ]

[bulletbiter]

[ ... well, it's not like he has any other choice. So he will nod. ]

I can try, but I am not good at it.

[oneirism]

[HER LOGIC IS PERFECT!!!

And once he nods, he'll immediately get a microphone offered to him. Golden eyes watching him expectantly now - any chance to escape is now lost.]

Being good at it doesn't matter. It's about having fun.

[bulletbiter]

[ Having fun is alas still not something he's used to. It's kind of awkward being watched like this, especially since he isn't quite sure of what he's supposed to be doing... ]

I see. [ uhhhh ] Do I pick something from this list?

[ He's never heard of all of these songs before... ]

[oneirism]

[Well, Lapis will help him learn about fun! Or force him to learn. Both work.

But it seems like he's a newbie at this, so she nods as she reaches to scroll through the list.]

Mmhm, that's right. You don't have to know the song, the words will appear on the screen.

[She scrolls through some more, before sitting back - letting him have a look now.]

So first, just pick a song you like the sound of. A little preview will play with you hover over it for a second, so you can get a better idea of it.

[bulletbiter]

[ (wow why does that sound terrifying) ]

I see...

[ He'll scroll through until he finds one with an innocently nature-sounding title.... and then frowns as some sort of country ballad starts playing. ]

Are the songs all like this?

[oneirism]

[(because she'll make him sing this if she has to)

Anyway, she'll let him scroll through, before almost frowning as well when he lands on a country ballad. Immediately shaking her head, before reaching over to scroll through a couple more songs - eventually landing on one that causes a pop song to play.]

Nope, there's different genres. I think with your voice you might suit something like... [Lapis reaches over to scroll through a few more songs, eventually landing on something that sounds more like symphonic metal/rock.]

Something like this!

F! (▰˘◡˘▰)

[sunderings]

[ He has never before seen snow.

Roland Empire (his kingdom, his home) is southern country, banked by the sea and its warm coastal currents, its rolling midlands never without greenery; its fields never without crops. But here, in this place—this city called Shehui—snow has freshly fallen upon the ground, and though the King cannot wholly perceive the temperature himself, logically, he knows it must be cold. His breath crystallizes in the air before him as he crouches by the side of the path (ice and slush dampening his outer layer of robes), fingers delicately outstretched as he reaches to touch an undisturbed bank of snow...!!

(It is the most beautiful thing about a city enclosed within a great dome, where all is glittering lights and towering constructs. Awe-inducing though the advancements made by humans had been, this is by far more lovely: the quiet to be found on a lesser taken path, the peace to be found in the stillness of ice and snow.)

Only to find himself tumbling forward, into that very snowbank, moments later??? Behind him: a skid upon the ice, momentum, and steam rising from the walkway, the combination of the three causing the King to (ungracefully) lose his balance and (ungainly) fall into the snow with a soft noise of surprise.

Oh.

Popping back up, he glances back, behind his shoulder, to glimpse whatever—whoever—had blitzed past him??? ]

My Lady.

[ And he spies, there, a girl on fire—though, perhaps, it would be wrong to call her a girl. They are similar in age, he feels. ]

Your hair...?

[ Her dress. Her shoes. They're all aflame?? But she seems not to be harmed by it, for the fire is likely her own—altogether, Sion has seen stranger applications of magic. ]

Is it normally set ablaze?

[oneirism]

[His call doesn't get Lapis' attention - rather, it's the sound of someone taking a tumble into the snow, concern prompting her to slow down. Coming to a complete stop when she's called "My Lady" ("Lady" is not a word usually used to describe her), gold eyes blinking at him owlishly.

A hand automatically going to her hair at his mention, blinking once more when she feels the warmth at the edges - the flames flickering around her fingers harmlessly. A curious hum escaping her as she reaches to bring one of the flaming strands to her eyes, before her attention turns back to Sion.]

No, not usually. I've only really started setting myself on fire today. [She gives a flip of her hair, her brows furrowing as she turns and sees the strands still burning - at least it's almost pretty, seeing the brown lighten and shine before it becomes flames at the tips.

And then she notices how her dress is on fire too. Welp.]

I can't seem to put myself out either.

[sunderings]

How troublesome. [ Shaking his head with a laugh, the fringe of his hair bounces lightly with the motion! ] You'll not be able to venture indoors like that, I'd wager.

[ No more than she would be able to properly walk amid the locals of Shehui. This, Sion has become aware of by (unfortunate) circumstance: the people who dwelled within the dome of a city valued community above all else, such that they approached any anomaly, any outlier, with ill-disguised caution and fear. And for Sion, who always is shrouded by the glow of gold-touched light which limns from his skin, it had meant being avoided (and monitored) from the very beginning.

And lo: he'd found himself taking to the secluded avenues of the city itself.

(But for his companion's benefit, he'll not breathe a word of it.)

Instead: ] What manner of invocation did you use to call forth the flame? Perhaps therein lies the key to dispelling it.

[oneirism]

[There's a soft hum of agreement at his words, a hand reaching down to give her skirts a good shake - instead only causing the flames in the dance in the cold air. Still rather oblivious to the natives views of magic, having simply kept to herself as she wondered the frozen streets.

Gold eyes then turning back to Sion, the light shining softly from his skin prompting a blink - wondering if it's simply the light of the flames. Curiosity telling her to peek closer, but she keeps her distance - not wanting to burn him accidentally.

Instead she focuses on his words, humming for a moment as she thinks - absently letting her heel trail across the frozen path in front of her, leaving a trail of melted ice behind.]

I didn't really do anything... But I did think that walking on the ice was a bit annoying, so maybe that prompted it.

[sunderings]

[ A bit annoying, she's said, and for a moment, Sion's brow furrows in thought—so she'd woven no equation, no spell, to call forth the magic which bathed her figure in flame—before easing with a measure of familiarity: rather like sword, a manner of magic innate to only him, perhaps her fire is an extension of will. Of her desire to simply do away with the ice beneath her feet altogether.

(And well, it certainly had accomplished just that!) ]

Think, then, on an annoyance of equal measure: how vexing would it be, to return to your quarters after a day spent out in the winter's cold, and not be able to move about as you please?

[ And if that should not work, Sion has already thought on a plan b, one which he readily enacts by extending his hand to her—palm barefaced and open, fingers gently outstretched—such that she'd need only to shift by a hair's breadth to grasp it.

(Just as he cannot feel the cold, he cannot feel the heat of her flame—he would not draw back nor would he flinch away if burned.) ]

Or perhaps, even, what it might be not to be able to reach out to someone, if you wished to.

[oneirism]

[Emotions are a powerful thing for Lapis, even if she does her best to hide them - it's not too surprising that her annoyance at the ice could be what caused the flames. Now she needs to figure out why she's suddenly able to set herself on fire.

But she'll think on that once she puts herself out - her attention completely on Sion as he speaks, nodding in understanding. Yet, that doesn't pull much annoyance to her, not caring either way about returning to somewhere that wasn't even home. It was all the same to her.

About to say that doesn't work, before tensing as he offers his hand - the fear of hurting him prompting her to immediately shift back just slightly. People never got close to her often, and now that she knows she's an active danger, she doesn't want to risk anyone getting close.

Her brows furrowing slightly at his words, since without her sister here, there wasn't anyone she would reach out for. For once, she hesitates, both at the unfamiliar gesture and the thought of burning him.]

But I never really do that anyway... And what if I hurt you? I don't want to risk that.

[sunderings]

Do not say 'what if'. [ —though the sound of his voice is a gentle thing, somehow yet it is resonant with conviction. With faith in his companion, though they've only just met. And if asked for a reason why (why be so trusting? why put oneself at risk? why reach out to another person?), Sion would answer only with: "we are human". ] Say, instead, 'I will not hurt you'.

[ Unwavering, his hand remains outstretched, though he does not make to step forward where she draws back—never, has Sion been one to force another. ]

If you've never reached out to someone before, then perhaps this can be the start? [ Privately, he wonders what sort of life she must have lead before arriving the city, awakening to find herself alone and with only a signet emblazoned upon her chest as explanation. How lonely, that must have been, and how lonely he'd been before falling into a bank of snow. ] You and I, we are not alone, not here.

We can help one another. If nothing else, believe in that.