Test Drive Meme 004

[iyashikeimods]

Test Drive Meme 004

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Cruising Through Trouble

At the stroke of midnight on the first day of July, just as it had begun.... The rains have stopped. The fog has cleared. The forced nightmares, the aches and pains, the paranoia, and the pressure that sat like a weight in your lungs and chest have all... ceased.

For a moment, the whole of Iyashikei seems to hold its breath, waiting to see if something is going to follow, if there is somehow yet another shoe waiting to drop... but... no. No, there is nothing that follows. The sky becomes clear. Rainbows streak across the sky every day. Heat rolls in with the summer season, helping dry up at least some of the water.

Iyahsikei is a flooded mess, from the Outer Rim to the Main Hub. Animals have escaped their pens, felled trees and leaves are blocking already burdened sewer drains. Those who went to the schools for shelter still need care. While restaurants and hotels are happily taking in anyone to feed for free or in need of a hot shower or bath, all of Iyashikei is here to help while everyone is getting back on their feet, but it doesn't change that serious damage has been done. Some people are falling asleep where they stand, finall free of the nightmares.

Now, more than ever, it's time to practice helping others. There will be teams created to do various jobs:

Debris Clean-Up Team: Exactly what it says, wearing safety vests and hard hats, you will go around where you can, where the flooding isn't too high, and collect trash, branches, pick up fallen items, and cleaning up anywhere and however you can.

Care and Comfort Team: There are hungry, tired, and injured people. They need food or medical attention, or maybe just a nice warm hug. So you will be tasked with doing just that, helping hand out or make food, or giving medical care (magical or scientific).

Search and Rescue Teams: The teams will be divided into two smaller teams. The Scouting Team, those who can look over large areas or detect lifeforms inside buildings and locations. The second team is the Rescue Team. After all, there are still residents and pets that are missing. The Rescue Team will go out where the waters are highest from scouting intel, and get any beings trapped in their homes or animals that have wandered too far from home to safer locations. It should be noted: The Council will only allow those who are physically or magically capable to be on the Rescue Team.

But even with all the effort everyone is putting in, it doesn't seem to be making a dent in the problem, and people are just exhausted after such a horrendous month.

The Council has no idea why the rainy season was as bad as it was. Not only does there need to be an investigation, but there needs to be a much more thorough clean-up, reconstruction of various homes, sewers, and buildings, and most of all, they need to make sure nothing like that happens again! To do THAT, they need to get everyone somewhere safe, somewhere people can relax and recuperate, and out of the way of all the magic and science about to happen.

Which is why all of Iyashikei is going to be evacuated. No exceptions, no excuses.

Of course, even evacuation is a bit different in Iyashikei. You and all of the Iyashikei denizens are being put on a luxury cruise liner to get to your destination.

No, you don't have a choice, even as a new arrival. Paperwork will have to wait, new arrival! Everyone will be ushered out of the city and the Farmlands. As you head towards the elevated docks on the edge of the Main Hub, you may start seeing some brooms with arms walking around Iyashikei with buckets, dustpans, and other clean-up and construction supplies. The especially keen may hear distant music coming from City Hall. The brooms can enter all the flooded areas without any issue, carrying out whatever task is asked of them.

As for the luxury cruise liner? After a quick safety drill about life jackets and muster stations, you can start enjoying a three-day cruise across calm waters!

There are all-you-can-eat buffets, fine dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, trivia games, BINGO with prizes, dancing at the discos (or panicking, if you prefer), karaoke nights, line-dancing, pools to lounge in or by, spas where you can get massages or mud baths, or maybe you want to sit inside at a jazz bar and watch the water go by the windows while Iyashikei becomes smaller and smaller on the horizon. Those who may need medical attention will be attended to by the cruise ship's medical team.

There's just... one thing.

You see, with the need to get everyone safely out of the city, everyone is going to need to have a cabin-mate! The cruise ship IS huge, but so is Iyashikei's population. No private rooms here. You will be assigned a cabin and a random cabin-mate. Only married couples or those with a dependent get to share the same cabin. It's sure to be okay. Besides, it's only three days! Who can't get along for three days!? If there's REALLY an issue, you can always go to the guest services desk and they will re-room you with someone else.

Rites of Fire

Just where is the cruise ship taking you, anyway?

The ship will dock at a beautiful and lush volcanic tropical island. If you've ever wondered where the majority of the tropical fruit, chilis, and more exotic foods come from, then here is your answer. The air is warm, the sun is shining bright, and you will be shown to a cabin out on the water (all of them have modern plumbing) where you will be staying until the Council can figure out what is going on back in the Main Hub and Outer Rim. This time, there ARE private cabins for those in need of them, but you CAN expect roommates... again. At least this time you get to pick your roommate!

Welcome to Kai Island!

Home to a volcano goddess and her people. She heard of the storm that hit Iyashikei, and in the spirit of hospitality and helping, she has opened up her island for everyone to restore their health and revitalize their spirit.

Kai Island follows the same rules and ideas as Iyashikei does; people are here to help one another. You will be asked to do the same if you are able. You may be asked to help clean up the beaches and reefs, help out at local stores or the island hospital, especially with such a GIANT population burst coming in, helping with the local wildlife, or helping gather fruit and other tropical crops for the masses, or cooking them for the nightly Fire Rites!

But the locals also want you to relax and rejuvenate, especially after such a harrowing time you've endured.

There are all sorts of activities for you to try out. For the more adventurous, there is: kayaking, canoeing, hiking trails among all the flora to hidden waterfalls, snorkeling, surfing along the waves, horseback riding, tubing along rivers and in lagoons, exploring hidden caves along the shores, and ziplining among the trees. Just like in Iyashikei's forest and desert, Rangers are there to help guide, rescue, or educate those who might need it.

For those seeking more relaxation, there always seems to be a hammock somewhere nearby on the beach; you can grab a fruity drink to help beat the heat, partake in some yoga and meditation by the waves, enjoy the cafes and restaurants, or you can visit the community center to learn about the Kaian people and their goddess.

New arrivals will arrive in the temporary Welcome Chamber... er... Cave. There's still the Welcome Committee there to greet you, but you won't be able to fill out paperwork to return home until the ship takes all of you back to the actual Main Hub. There is no Council member you can talk to right now, either. They're all dealing with, well, everything going on in the Main Hub and Outer Rim. But do not fear! You are under the volcano goddess's protection while you are here as her guests.

Although that DOES mean you will be expected, just as the Kaian people are, to honor the volcano goddess for the bounty she provides to this island.

How, you may ask?

The volcano goddess loves a good show! After the sun sets, you will see all the locals head towards the beaches to gather in groups around bonfires and hold their nightly Fire Rites! There's lots of food served at these, so you're welcome to bring a dish to share or to sample something you've never tried before. Careful, this food tends towards spicy and flavorful.

The Fire Rites take all shapes and forms, however, the most common type of performance is people who dance with fire in some form or fashion. They twirl it, play with it, and dance with it. However, if you're worried about being singed, don't worry, it isn't just physical fire, there is the fire in the soul as well! Be it a poem of your own making, a song, a dance, a staged duel, or any sort of performance to show the fiery passion in your heart, will be more than enough for the volcano goddess to be appeased. And you will be expected to perform at some point during your stay.

The longer you hold off on performing, you will start to notice a tattoo forming on your palms, starting as an ember, and after every missed chance to perform, the ember grows into a flame, then it grows from your palms onto your hands. Another missed performance? And the fiery tattoo will crawl up your arms. The brighter and bigger the fire tattoo, the more and more compelled you will feel to perform until you give in to the Fire Rites.

Of course, if you need help, the Kaian locals are happy to give you a Starborn fruit. The Starborn fruit looks identical in almost every way to a Star fruit except that, at night, it glows. Should you bite into a Starborn Fruit, you will find that you begin singing about every strong emotion you feel, and nothing can stop you until the song is done or the feeling passes. Also, they're all over the island. Don't worry, the effects of a Starborn fruit are only for 24 hours unless you eat it every day.

Down Where It's Wetter

As your stay on Kai Island continues, more often than not, when you look out into the water, you may notice some very... VERY large fish tails breaching and then dipping back into the waves. Maybe during the day, you notice some people way out past the surf just bobbing along in the water.

Or maybe you're just a very forthright person and ask a Kaian local about it, and what is going on.

As it happens, there is a cenote on the island with a crystal clear pool inside it. Getting there is not exactly easy, but it's possible to get there after a few hours. You will need to go on quite a hike into the center of the island, past waterfalls and along steep stairs. Getting there by yourself is impossible, so a local will need to guide you. There's no reason to try and be sneaky about it, though; the Kaian are happy to share this aspect of their culture. So long as you're respectful to the cenote, the Kaian's will take anyone who wants to go. Once you get there, if you completely douse yourself in the water, then you'll get to enjoy a rather amazing bit of magic.

The water gathered there in that cenote will turn you into a merperson!

Now, after completely dousing yourself from head to toe, any time your feet are completely submerged in water up to your ankles, you will transform. The downside to the transformation is that you will end up with either one or all three side effects: having a tendency to hoard something, a love for singing out loud whenever the mood strikes you, or a sudden disinterest in other people's personal space by grabbing, holding onto, or hugging whomever is nearby.

The magic of the water will last for as long as you live on the island. If you're thinking you'll just swim back to Iyashikei, the magic fades away after five miles out from the island's coast.

Those Re-Quests to clean up the sea floor suddenly make a LOT more sense.

A Kindly Curious Question

There are several little beeps, or depending on whether you've begun customizing it, maybe a little song instead starts to play on your Glimmer. A little envelope notification appears and does a little wiggle. Should you open this, a cute little message appears:


Hello hello Iyashikei!

This is the monthly Kindness Curious Question (K.C.Q.)! What are your FAVORITE ways to relax? Answer honestly to get your sticker!

Answer honestly on the Glimmer and you'll get your K.C.Q. Digital Sticker! It will immediately go into your K.C.Q. digital sticker album folder on your Glimmer.

What's the point, you might ask? Well, when you open that sticker and press on it, the little sticker will prevent you from getting sunburnt!

< isopods >

Comments

Whaaaat I can’t heaaaaar you! XD

[prettypunchy]

[Long as Pitaya gets her… point. Honestly, it’s a good thing Knight Cookie wasn’t here or he’d have a sugar attack. The princess’s boldness doesn’t fade sadly.

There is a sound of ‘poof from Pitaya when he averts to his cookie form. Princess is taken aback. Well… it’s the first time she ever had forced Pitaya back to their form. Even a small victory earned a huge grin. The staff is pushed away and close to her again as Pitaya well… goes Pitaya.]

Yeah, you could.

[Princess continued to smile. Yes, she could be a crispy dough any moment. They had fought, she held her ground long as she could.]

But you didn’t. You’re not so bad when you’re not.. you know, bad. It’s a start!

[Princess watched silently as they crawled under their bed to retrieve… a weird thing. The princess can’t help but seem curious, tapping her chin with a soft hum. Before she could ask, the door knocks.]

Oh? Be right there!

[She scoots to the door, thank goodness for mouse size doors. To the servant on the other side, she looked like a mouse. Anyway, she retrieves the drinks and zips back inside.]

Watermelon juices are here, thank you! Here you go.

[Princess Cookie sets it close to them on a coffee table before scooting away from the scene. Because what she does next, making her drink wait, taking a peek under their bed. What lies in the treasure cove of the dragon?]

[dragontongue]

[Honestly what could one expect after nearly having a damn staff stuffed up their nostril? Pitaya didn't ask for a swab, thank you very much, they are as healthy as an ox!! But their Cookie form is easier to get things done, even if it means being smaller and less intimidating... In all honesty, maintaining their dragon form does actually take up more energy sometimes, so they either need to rest or eat a lot to regain their lost reserves. The Cookie form is better for that type of conservation of power...even if it feels odd to be a Cookie for so long.

With a snort and a scoff, the red dragon swishes their tail and crosses their arms. The nerve of this kid to call them out like that!! Not bad? Not bad?! Harrumph! They are the most fearsome and dastardly!]

Appfff--! W-Well, it wouldn't be much of a challenge if I were to sssimply crumble you into itty bitty crumbsss now, would it? And the messs afterwardsss would need be cleaned right away...which I'm not too keen on, you sssee. I dissslike those giant Witch-servantsss mucking about my ssspace.

[Because they would clean up their nest, and probably take back all their stolen loot. >:C Horrible. How dare they, really. Pitaya pilfered all that fair and square!! But anyway, the servants do have their uses...namely in bringing them things they ask for. It's so convenient!! And quick! Pitaya isn't at all surprised when the door knocks and two thimble-sized steins of watermelon juice are offered with the utmost care to Princess Cookie. Seems Pitaya has actually used the service before...after a lot of trial and error.

Regardless, they take their stein and knock half of it back with a few big gulps, hissing happily and smacking their lips before wandering back to their haphazardly put together nest. It's no Dragon's Valley, but it will suffice...for now. It really is just a mess of stolen cloth napkins, silverware, shiny pens, a poor person's keys, and even a few plush toys probably stolen from a gift shop aboard the cruise liner somewhere. S-Some of the stuffing has already been ripped out, and there's a not-so-subtle scent of singed fabric, too... Seems the dragon has been chewing on the poor things...]

Aaahh~! I must say, the juice here doesssn't quite compare to the Hollyberry Kingdom, but you puny cookiesss do have competition, hahaha!!

[prettypunchy]

Uh huh.

[Honestly, she didn’t pay too much mind to Pitaya’s threat. In one ear and out the other. If Pitaya was really in the mood, perhaps. As Princess Cookie saw it, nothing happened, Pitaya is fine, let’s move along. Witch-servants, huh. She will have to pry one of them later. So much to do and only on a ship. Princess really needs to sit down and find where to start her adventure. So many questions, so many to bother. But more importantly—-

Okay, after assessment of the dragon’s next, the young cookie takes a step back fear painted on her face as she covers herself and—-]

Ahhh!

[Ah, the horror she just realized upon peeking into the dragon’s den. Her frosty brow narrows, bobbin her staff like a baton with a huff. She shakes her head, nope this won’t do.]

Who would have thought the Great and Powerful dragon is so—-disorganized. There are drawers and closets here you know! Even a cookie could get lost just by looking at it! Oh? What’s this?

[Nope, she doesn’t wait for a reply. Instead, curiosity gets the best of her and she is rushing further under the den (bed) to get her ginger hands on anything there. It doesn’t take long to find a life size plush of a turtle and she couldn’t help but gasp in excitement!]

It’s a watermelon turtle!

[dragontongue]

[While many of their threats really are just them blowing smoke, they make it very evident when they mean business and that people really should heed their warning. Sort of like now, actually. Though nothing close to their actual den and throne in the Dragon's Valley, Pitaya still deemed this mishmash of stolen objects theirs now, and claimed it all as their home, and more importantly...their hoard.

The fearful shouts and cowering does get them to turn their head a little in the cookie's direction, more confused than anything even resembling concern, though that confusion swiftly becomes shock and indignant fury as this overly bold little crumb not only marches into their new nest uninvited, but dares to put her pilfering little hands on what they have claimed?! The stein of juice smashes loudly to the floor as they toss it aside and swiftly rush the young princess, making to grab her wrist firmly in their grasp. Scales dance across their face, claws extended, and their tail whips back and forth like an agitated cat.]

Mind yourssself, little Cookie... Do not forget who I am, and where you are. You may look if you ssso pleassse, but make no missstake... If you touch the treasuressss I have claimed again...

I will claim your head.

[prettypunchy]

[Perhaps she should of listened to some of the dragon stories, she knew of some, and dragon cookies were… are with pride. The shattered juice caught her off guard for a moment. She didn’t even have time to turn, only to have her wrist snatched by the dragon’s claw.

…She never felt a dough go suddenly mold or sour, and sure as hell that’s the atmosphere she was feeling. The princess felt petrified by their grasp. Was it their power? Her fear?

Still, slowly.. she turned her head and dared to look at them, red bean eyes meeting theirs. To say, this felt far different than meeting their dragon form back at Hollyberry. YET, this is absolutely rude! Princess tries to snatch her hand back from them.]

Ngh- You don’t have to be rough! [Still trying to wiggle!] And that hurts!

[dragontongue]

[Indeed, Princess Cookie should have listened. Pitaya is a bit of an oddball when it comes to their species - they actually enjoy being around Cookies far more than the others do, though it could come from their thirst for battle. Still, their closeness to the Cookies means they've become more open to understanding the little crumbs, and adopting some of their mannerisms, too. Still, they can't change what they really are at their core, and a boundary has been crossed right here and now, so blatantly. If this Cookie was anyone else, and if Pitaya was angrier, or less endeared to the Hollyberrians...

She wouldn't get a warning. She wouldn't leave with just a scratch.

They don't tighten their grip, but they don't relinquish it just yet, either, meeting her glare with a slit-eyed one of their own. Bold...and brave, the features are so similar and yet not quite. Yes, this is certainly a descendant...even the scent is similar, but different.]

Isss that really what you're going to sssay while in the posssition you're in? Mannersss essscaped your generation, didn't they?

[Translation: apologize. Quickly.]

[prettypunchy]

[Though their greetings were brief back at the Hollyberry castle, Princess Cookie knew the dragon didn’t dwell much with her. Sure, she held her ground before, could do it again, but the atmosphere felt.. different. Before, she was faced with a dragon form, now… it’s more cookie, close to her akin.

Before Princess could argue some more, the dragon spoke. Does the dragon not remember their last encounter or was she just a small dough to them? The princess’s red bean eyes blinked from the dragon’s words, like a jawbreaker suddenly lit up inside her head.]

You want an apology? [She should be afraid, if anything she seemed more dumbfounded and contemplated. If anything, they should be apologizing for taking a huge chunk of wall back at the Hollyberry Castle! —But, ah dragons. Another moment pass, then— she clears her throat.]

Pitaya Dragon Cookie. I apologize for touching your stuff. I wasn’t going to take it.

[dragontongue]

[Princess Cookie also had a hell of a lot of backup, was on her home turf, and because Jungleberry Cookie had been dealing with Pitaya for many, many months - perhaps even years - she knew the dragon's habits and how to deal with them in case something bad were to happen. Truly, the queen had a contingency plan, and it worked like a damn dream. Here though? Princess Cookie is dealing with a powerful, ancient being one-on-one, away from a place she knows, and with no plan in place. She's very, very lucky she is who she is, otherwise this could have gone so much worse.

If they do remember their attack on the Hollyberry Kingdom, they...probably blanked on everyone there aside from Hollyberry herself. Pitaya doesn't exactly regard that as anything worth remembering, either...mostly because it happened so long ago, and they were driven out by Hollyberry herself. Did they destroy property and probably get a few Cookies injured in the crossfire? Yeah, definitely. Even if there were no casualties, in a panic like that, someone was bound to sustain at least some minor scrapes. But to the dragon...they simply don't care. As it stands to them, they paid the price already, so that's the end of it. They don't dwell on their defeats, or things that don't matter.]

Not my ssstuff, you wretched brat!! My treasuresss! Have you truly not been taught anything of my kind by your mother and father?! [They are indignant, insulted, and deeply scandalized, but release her nonetheless, huffing out a few puffs of smoke before making their way back to a makeshift little throne they built of plush pillows and super fluffy towels, sinking into it.] Apology accepted, but I advissse you in the future to think before you act, little monarch...

Unlesss you have the power to back up that bravado of yoursss.

[prettypunchy]

[Her mother, Jungleberry Cookie, was and still a tactician. Not to mentioned she even tested her own daughter out! Like… RUDE? But it was out of love, and Princess understood in the end, still didn’t like it. Her mother was approved by her Papa and Hollyberry herself to take care of the kingdom.]

They forgot to mention your mannerism, talk about being so vulgar and rude! Do you have anything else to say? [She spat out that first, rubbing her little arm… then cheerfully calms as she continues. Sorry Pitaya, she couldn’t even hold her tongue from a pirate.] How you and Grand-mama fought. Pride dragons, yada yada. Today, I learn something more. Your treasure isn’t exactly as described in the Hollyberry library.

[She spoke, still smiling and cheerful. It was all a misunderstanding, and didn’t mind to let it go. Still…

She watches them as they plunge themselves on their eh heh.. ‘thrown’. It actually, looks pretty cute from here, judging from the collection and how they lay around.]

Actually, I do. [Again, still cheery as she waves her mace, tapping her free hand against it. Oh? Does her nifty device take pictures by chance? Hmm. She fiddles with that too.] I held up against you pretty good last time. I don’t think I’ve fought that hard before. I fought pirates but, they washed away.

[dragontongue]

[Jungleberry certainly did maintain the Hollyberry Kingdom like a well-oiled machine... When Hollyberry Cookie left the first time...it was a bad time. Pitaya did not take kindly to their rival and source of entertainment just...disappearing suddenly, so it makes perfect sense that in their blind fury and contempt for the little Cookies, they did some pretty nasty things. Do they regret it? Maybe - it'd be an impossible task to pry that answer from the dragon...

But oh, this whelp. She's really, really testing her luck... As if insulting them wasn't bad enough, but that low-blow to ridicule what they've had to scrounge up from this world to rebuild their nest, their throne, their hoard. Pitaya's muscles tense, their body going a little rigid, and their pupils turn into red pinpricks as they bare their sharp and pointed teeth. Do they have anything to say? Oh, yes, yes they do.]

Get out of my sssight.

[That is your only warning.]