diceofthegods: (Default)
diceofthegods ([personal profile] diceofthegods) wrote in [community profile] childrenofbajablast2025-04-01 04:09 pm
Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme #3

GOLDEN GREENERY
ALT TEXT

Bloom by The Paper Kites
1:24 / 3:33
▶︎
The Paper Kites are an Australian indie rock/folk rock band from Melbourne. The band was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist/guitarist Sam Bentley and keyboardist/guitarist Christina Lacy. Their 2010 single "Bloom" has been certified Platinum in the United States.

Recently, Town was decorated by locals and Fae folk both. Things are a bit more colorful and the sun is shining more and more instead of the continuous winter gloom from before. The world finally feels like it's coming alive again.

Sorry about your possible allergies as trees blossom and spit excess pollen.

There also seems to be an emphasis on both green and gold. Crowns or other accessories of clovers are being made for luck. Whether or not they're actually lucky, who knows! Dragon-bonded are also being enlisted in helping with post-winter (and post Mind Flayer) repairs. Those creatures did quite a number skittering around some homes so why not lend a hand - clawed or otherwise - now that you're here? It'll help with offworlders reputation if nothing else!

Meanwhile, the Fae appear to have taken to the opposite of helping as they are wont to do. They are instead trying to trick locals and offworlders both with glittering chests of gold that most would know are too good to be true.

These are mimics who will attempt to devour someone that falls for the temptation of quick riches. Not to worry though, they're relatively harmless and all just for a good bit of fun. You might need some help though getting unstuck since they can be pretty persistent once their trap has been sprung.
CH-CH-CHANGES
ALT TEXT
There comes a time in every young dragon's life where they begin to experience some changes. That might be nothing new to those established in Town by now, of course, as the majority of their changes have come and gone. Nothing can surprise them anymore about their dragon-bonds.

...Or so they thought!

Whether established characters or ones just pulled through the summoning circle, springtime is a season that throws almost all dragons for a little bit of a loop. It is a common rutting season and those hormone fluctuations can strike when least expected.

Even if outside of your specific dragon's season or newly arrived, they'll be swept up by the rest being in so close proximity and likely be at least mildly affected as well. Some handle this season better than others, but there are still specific things to watch out for as more 'universal' experiences.

    Heightened aggression - The ways that this can manifest varies wildly! Perhaps you're more easily irritated or frustrated. It's also possible that this presents as an increased competitive drive with someone else or just in general.

    Brooding - While usually described as an instinctual behavior of sitting on eggs to incubate them, for most dragon-bonded this will instead appear as a compulsion to cuddle up with someone dear. You have the instinct to keep them safe, warm, and where better than right here with you?

    Nesting - That stick is really neat. It'd look great in your home, wouldn't it? Dragon-bonded will feel the desire to create a safe and comfortable environment for themselves and friends. This often involves cleaning, organizing, and preparing a space. For what? Maybe your character doesn't know, but will feel the urge to do it anyway!

    Increased Libido (The NSFW Option) - For those of age, there will be a distinct increase in sexual desire that can be noted as well. While not everyone will experience it, it is something that can be present as an undercurrent either on its own or coupled with other instincts. (For example, the compulsion to cuddle isn't just that or nesting will be a result of attempting to breed.)


PLAYTIME
ALT TEXT
To help dragon-bonded with their seasonal and instinctual urges, Charlie and others have put together some games. They understand this might be a bit overwhelming and strange to those unfamiliar. So, why not make it as fun and enjoyable as they can?

    Horn Locking - All dragon-bonded will find that due to the season 1) if they have horns then they aren't going away no matter their attempts to shift and 2) they're extremely itchy. Even the newest among them will have small stubs of horns pre-maturely! To help combat this and channel some unexpected aggression, dragon-bonded are encouraged to lock horns with one another. It hopefully scratches both the literal and metaphorical itches they're dealing with.

    Scavenger Hunt(s) - To help with the nesting urges, a list of miscellaneous items has been given to dragon-bonded to search for. The reward for completing this list* is five (5) bond points. Charlie trusts that you'll find what has been asked for... but doesn't need to see it. Yes, that is a nice rock. It can stay in your home though, really.

    Baseball - Even if called something else here, people will realize quickly enough: this is just baseball. Dragon-bonded will be encouraged though to hit the ball with one of their draconic extremities rather than a bat. They can use their tail, their hands, or even their horns to whack a small ball as far as possible. This game is set-up to help release some of that pent-up energy as well as indulge in that competitive instinct.
Rocky Talky
One of the things that was given to you in your welcome pack from Charlie was a summoning-stone. Although it looks like, well, an ordinary stone- It's actually magic! You can look through it and see someone else's face too if you're both viewing your stones at the same time. It can also record your speech and deliver that to someone else in a snap.

One of the other features is that you can scrawl on it. It will turn your writing into legible text that you can send others to read on their stones. Of course, you need to attune yourself to your stone first. To that end, it prompts you to set up a Rockstar Profile:

COMMENT CODE TEMPLATE
Notes
⁂ Hello and happy Spring! Welcome to Children of Bahamut's third drive meme! If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback then feel free to ask here.

⁂ We have a top-level directory drive for ease of finding new players to tag! After some feedback, we ask that only new players link their top-levels though current players are allowed to top-level and enjoy the TDM if they so wish as well!
    (Example header: character name | canon )

⁂ The list provided by Charlie will have approximately ten (10) miscellaneous items on it to find and collect. You can decide what they are and we're operating on the honor system here of your characters going out and finding everything if you so wish. (Just let us know when you turn in your bonds that's what your character did and provide a link if possible, but know that one isn't necessary!)

⁂ You can customize the the Rockstar Profile however you wish! So long as its readable, have fun. The profile image appears best when a 250 by 250 square image. Anything too tall might stretch it strangely or cause issues. If you need to edit or crop a picture to suit, we recommend using Pixlr as a free option for up to three images! We're not sponsored or anything, it's just neat and convenient.

Full Navigation
zodiheart: (pic#17726176)

[personal profile] zodiheart 2025-06-09 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Themis is picking up on that unease through voice and body language, even with both of their draconic forms. He isn't especially comfortable with everything himself. Far from it. But he is also the type to relish in new knowledge and experiences, Nannan's curiosity aside, so it is affecting him less severely.]

Distraction is a valid manner of handling all that we must deal with. I have found, however, that it does not soothe any instincts or urges beyond that to stretch one's wings. It merely delays them for a time.

[The mention of itchy horns did draw his attention back to the way his own practically buzzed with the sensation. It grows until he cannot stand it, ducking his head and neck in an interesting display of flexibility so that his fore-paws can scratch at the most problematic spots. With a sigh, he manages to relieve the sensation for now, and returns back to his previous position.]

[The motion had not deviated his path of flying at all.]


I have found that working alongside the instincts tends to satisfy them. Not giving in to what they crave exactly, but finding that knife's edge balance of an action close enough to cause them to reduce while keeping my dignity intact.

This is, of course, easier to do with someone that one trusts.
recreator: Commission, Do Not Take (♇ | I'm not the love you knew before)

[nudging into nsfw mentions]

[personal profile] recreator 2025-06-27 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
How fortunate that I am able to count those I trust upon a single hand.

[Though the fortunate part in this case is that Elidibus is included in that highly restricted number. It does not, however, mean Emet-Selch is particularly keen to work out an action "close enough" to quell these afflictions, but distraction or no, he is feeling frustrated enough to at least circle the subject rather than veer away from it entirely.]

[--Or maybe it's that his horns are far too tall and heavy for him to dare attempt to soothe them mid-flight. He gives his head a brief shake instead for all the good it does, rumbling discontentedly.]


And is delaying them somehow not a manner in which one may keep his dignity intact? Spring cannot go on forever, and neither can these "urges" as you would call them.

Look, I am fully aware that I could simply swallow my pride and do something about them. Butt heads or engage in another manner of innocent physical contact. Yet when the season wanes and the dragons' instincts are shackled once more, it will amount to paltry little. The desire will be gone, yes, but the emptiness won't be.
zodiheart: (pic#17726176)

[personal profile] zodiheart 2025-07-04 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Instead, you could be kind to yourself and not allow these temporary urges torture you so.

[The blue of his eyes is made piercingly bright by the dark sclera that surrounds them in his dragon form. He fixes Emet-Selch with those eyes straight on, not needing to see to navigate his way through the skies, and the effect is a far more intensive stare than usual.]

Whoever said that you would remain empty at the end of this? That I would allow that to happen, were you to ease yourself in my presence. I mean not to offend any sensibilities but I see no strangeness in building a place one may deem safe within your home. That is how I have worked alongside these instincts. I built a nest and allowed those close to me to assist in its construction.

Do not think for a moment that I will think worse of you for such a thing.
recreator: (♇ | The deeper that I go)

[personal profile] recreator 2025-07-07 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
Do we not have enough individuals filching personal articles and weaving them into makeshift pillow forts already?

[Quite an impressive stare, this one, though Emet-Selch is not so practiced in his flying ability to return the look and remain aloft at the same time. Elidibus will have to be satisfied with a single pointed sideways glance and a slow, deliberate flap of his wings - one which has him billowing upwards a few ilms at a time thanks to the pocket of warm air that catches beneath. He bobs there a moment, leveling out again.]

You would also be mistaken if you think I find the idea of a nest too embarrassing to consider. I've already commissioned a wine cellar beneath mine abode, and next to my little project hidden on the ocean floor, well, what's a pile of dirty laundry, really?

["Torture" seems such a pointed and dramatic linguistic choice, and Emet-Selch chews on that for a moment more. Maybe Elidibus has a point that something tangible and material - however foolish - would be more impactful than clinging to ideas and impressions. Indeed, he could see the logic in that.]

After all, one does not get much more self-indulgent than that when it comes to building a "nest". Yet for all that I toiled, it could never compare to the genuine article. Not even a little.