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Chroma, Moonlacing, and You

a breakdown by Anonymous for the Moonblessed
Congratulations! You're now on the planet Prismatica, in the city of Lunatia, population: Prismals and Moonblessed. (That's you!) What do you want to know about Chroma, Moonlacing, and your survival in this place?

What is Chroma?

To recap what the Lunar Scientia should have said when you were processed, Chroma is a form of energy that we, the Moonblessed, generate. In Prismatica's history, Chroma was also produced through various means on world, but since the Calamity, Prismatica has only been processing energy crystals for demichroma to keep things working. Demichroma is both a less powerful form of energy and the standard currency throughout Lunatia, and is what any person working in the city will be paid in. Weird enough yet? It gets weirder.

Why should I care about Chroma?

You should care because if your body's Chroma levels fall too low, you'll begin crystalising. You need direct infusions of Chroma to reverse the process, and the only way of getting that Chroma is through moonlacing.

If your body loses all Chroma, you will completely crystalise and die. This should be difficult. Should be! If you're feeling horrible, take at least one hand held out to you so you don't get to this point. See What happens when we die? for more information.

What the fuck?! Why do I lose Chroma?

Chroma is a form of energy. It seems like it may be linked with your life energy here on Prismatica. Living your life means burning energy, and now you don't only use the energy of food or whatever the fuck usually keeps you functioning, but also use Chroma in order to stay functional on this world.

You lose Chroma because you burn it up like any other energy source by existing. Which is why you need to moonlace for more Chroma to stay active and healthy.

Be warned, Moonblessed! You can burn through Chroma faster by doing any of the following:

participating in any non-moonlacing related physical activities that take a lot of normal energy;
using any special or advanced abilities you may have (magic, superpowers, energy manipulation, psychic abilities, any and everything, even whatever you're thinking about now, probably);
or being under the influence of outside forces. Are you influenced by the Cordis moon? Sorry, Moonblessed, but you may find your Chroma consumption goes up whenever your moon's in phase! Have you been drugged with Glow? Welcome to your new energy vampire urges!

It's fucked, we know.

Then what is Moonlacing?

When one Moonblessed and another Moonblessed come into physical contact, they generate Chroma. Think of it as a reaction that naturally occurs when two Moonblessed come into contact and maintain that contact, though it does not appear to work well or at all in instances of senseless violence or force. Sparring is a different matter, but punching someone for no reason or choking them for Chroma if they're not into breath-play and haven't given consent is not going to work.

Moonlacing is the name for this process of Chroma generation between two Moonblessed. No one knows what the fuck is up with it, only that it happens, and can be measured for how much Chroma-energy is generated at a time. Chroma is weird, because you need it to live, and yet it also is credited as "energy" you've added to Prismatica... and since energy is money here, it's money you've earned.

Now, Chroma that you naturally lose seems like it's absorbed by the world around us, or by some technology the Prismals in Lunar Scientia use, or maybe both or something else, which is how it's out there getting measured by Lunatia. Chroma you consume directly to use any abilities you have does not get released out into the world, but still appears to be counted as currency "earned" at time of moonlacing. This Anon doesn't understand it either. Financial records are visible and yet still mysterious.

How do you Moonlace?

Any way you can imagine that isn't rejected by one or more people involved. Two things of importance to note:

Moonlacing does not require direct skin contact.
Moonlacing will always feel good, but that does not mean all moonlacing will feel arousing. (Arousing can be of any associated emotion, okay! Any emotion! Any emotion!)

Addendum: While moonlacing is necessary, we advise you only moonlace with people you find tolerable. We advise against forcing yourself to moonlace with people you can't stand.

Forms of moonlacing contact can include, but are not limited to:

Napping on or in physical contact with someone. (Also ideal when you have a full animal moonphase form.)
Clasping a shoulder or upper arm.
Holding hands.
Brushing each other's hair.
Shoulder massages.
Wrestling.
Supporting your drunk friend home. Or at least out of the bar.
Carrying someone.
Hugging.
Cuddling.
Snuggling. (Is there a difference between this and cuddling? This Anon just does not know.)
Leaning shoulder to shoulder.
Kissing foreheads, cheeks, hands, anywhere really.
Everything remotely sexual does too. I'm not making that list for you. Sexy Anons out there can make that list for you!

The take away point is this: moonlacing is necessary to keep your chroma levels high enough so that you don't crystalise and die. So don't be a fool: moonlace. Survive. Those who want to go home under their own choice are only going to have that chance if they don't kill themselves along the way.

Can Moonlacing help heal?

For those who participated in recent tournament events, the answer appears to point toward "yes." However, it should be noted that increasingly more intimate levels of moonlacing were better at helping bodies recover quickly: kissing provided more than hands held over wounds, but massaging helped muscle aches, embraces helped generate enough Chroma for people's natural abilities to take control, and so on.

Short of something incredibly ill advised with someone suffering fatal injuries, moonlacing is not enough to save you when you're already dying. Talk to Prismals, and they'll tell you even in their general knowledge, "healing" was for minor injuries. It's what all those kisses exchanged before people swaggered out onto the arena were about, and all the hugs from Daddy Dearest before we went down. Moonblessed seem to be able to heal more than minor injuries with enough moonlacing, but it is not! Enough! To prevent you from dying if you've lost all your chroma already. Understood?! Don't go testing this out!

What happens when we die?

When you die, either because you used all your Chroma or because you managed to kill yourself or get yourself killed... your corpse is encased in crystal. Just your corpse. You're movable by anyone who can manipulate the crystal sculpture you've turned into, and as this Anon has been assured, the Prismals will take care of the crystal body if your friends don't want to.

But wait! There's more! Like everything else here, it gets weirder. After enough chroma has slowly seeped back into your body... you resurrect. Not entirely okay, but at least you're not fucking dead because you fucking died.

Prismals find nothing weird about this. Crystalising when you die is normal here. The not normal part is coming back out of the crystal, which if you remember waking up on the moon? Sounds like the same fucking process.

What happens when we disappear?

Great question. No idea. Does anyone have an answer from Lunar Scientia about this?

This is "as accurate as it can be right now," which means if you have information to add, comment for Anon to update. If you have questions, ask and this Anon or any of the other people reading can speak up and try to answer.

A question for anyone who knows: is there any noted increase in overall moonlacing if more than two people are involved in an act of moonlacing?

[ What follows is an audio version of this post with a big, green play arrow for anyone who doesn't read; it will narrate this post and replies in a voice oddly similar to Samuel L. Jackson. ]

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[ It has been three weeks since he has seen him. Did he die in that time?! After all that talk...!

He is thinking of showing up at his house -- was he not invited to come over whenever? Something of that sort? ]

Very well.

Surely one cannot classify this crystallization as true 'death' if it is possible to recover from it.

Mmn.

[ And a long pause follows.

Is this better than texting? One wonders. ]

Those that use moonlacing improperly. Should a punishment be added? Those that would use it to not find those tolerable, but those desperate. Since death is not permanent, it should be used as a threat.

[ There's that demon logic! Yay! ]

[ functionally immortal in the STUPIDEST WAYS EVER please xie lian don't. don't say it like that! people will read this and be dumbasses! it's inevitable! ]

Death isn't permanent as long as two conditions appear to be met: they're capable of slowly recovering chroma from the world, which means that other Moonblessed around around and producing chroma, and second, they don't disappear in the process. I don't have an answer for where disappearing people have gone, but I know that people have been here then disappeared, out of contact. You can see at least one example in the past on this feed.

So... yes, they are, but not free from experiencing the full pain and effects of death. Who knows how long each resurrection takes? Who knows what multiple resurrections might do to a body, or a mind? We don't have that information. I don't recommend we trying gathering it either.

Was Frankenstein alive when he was simply stitched together body parts? When he had no pulse? No brain activity? No breath in his lungs? Before the lighting struck the pole and went shooting down to his table, sending electricity through that collection of organs and skin and bones?

You're going to need to give me your definition of true "death" if you think that just because you can resurrect means you didn't "die" in the first place.

[Hey this one sounds familiar...good thing his cuff got rigged by Iron Man to bitch baby mode, so he understands how to use it

UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE]

Oi! Is this that Shen Qingqui guy?

[ Oh! He recognises that voice, too, but at this point why is everyone talking to him on his own anonymous post?! DID HE FUCK UP THAT BADLY SOMEHOW?! No, it's unlikely that, but he still has to wonder for all of five seconds before rallying to respond. ]

Ah, hello, Inuyasha. Yes, it is.

[ He did indeed leave that open invitation for tea! So it's entirely possible to just show up and ask in person; he's not moved, after all. ]

Thank you.

[ For not pressing the point here. ]

What's this about dying?! You didn't bite it at the casino did you?

[ Oh please when in the world has he been the guy constantly biting it?!

Ignoring that he is, in fact, someone who often gets injured! And might get into trouble! But he's only died... ... ... twice? And definitely not here!

As much as he's frustrated on some level, he's not blind to the fact asking is not something anyone has to do, and Inuyasha's concern does touch him. He makes an effort to ensure his tone is softened just enough to show he's aware and thankful, because his general conversational tone is fairly cool. ]

I assure you, I didn't die at the casino or in any of the ensuing events. Thank you for your concern, Inuyasha. It's kind of you to ask.

[ yeah this doesn't explain why he knows anything about death or pouring chroma into someone dying does it :) ]

At that point, Frankenstein had not yet been alive, and was therefore an inanimate object. My definition of true 'death' would include 'irreversible', but I'm a lawyer and not a doctor.

( He debates sending this second part, but only briefly...)

I must also note that 'Frankenstein' is the name of the doctor whom created the monster.

[Look you never know with mortals they've got bodies like tissue paper, it's more a miracle that any of them survived past the middle ages. And this guy was a stranger but he was also a kind of nice one, sort of. And also, he stands by his words here:]

Good. That'd be a really pathetic way to die.

So who was it then?

I'll admit I'm not a student of European Literature. It seems kinder to call him by the doctor's name than by "monster" or "creature" or "thing."

[ which as a word choice may say a lot about the Anon who is most certainly Not Shen Qingqiu. Never. ]

Let me pose it in another way. Having a total, complete cessation of heart, lung, and brain activity, having no energy left in your body, having no soul left in your eyes... being in every way dead, have you died less because your body was then encased in crystal and left in that state of no life for weeks at a time? That at the end of it, you'd been reconstructed and given life again?

You still died. It was still at true death, not a trick, not reversible. What happened after you died doesn't influence the fact you'd died in the first place.

[ the problem is he's talking to the man who had to hold someone in his arms and feel him die in every possible way he couldn't stop, and then endure on after, carrying a crystal corpse out of the Lightless because what else was he going to do? there's no way for Shen Qingqiu to be properly removed from this. it's still too soon, and Binghe's resurrection too recent, too flimsy. what if he dies again!? what if it just happens, randomly?! they don't know that it won't! ]

[ to be honest ]

I don't know. For one, does moonlacing function when improperly engaged? Used? Are we all going to agree on what constitutes of improper moonlacing use? Moreover, we have no legal weight here. At that point, shouldn't we turn to the Lunatian legal system? We see the city has technology that can block abilities. It seems they'd be able to manage a punishment system if someone does what they shouldn't according to their laws. Which are at present the only laws enforced here.

There's a lawyer responding to this post below. They may have greater insight into the possibilities, as it may be closer to their field of study. Depending on what law they cover.

[ The sound of air moving quite quickly. ]

I don't care anymore about this.

Goodbye.

[ He has other concerns is more what he means. ]

[ While this is a fair point, Inuyasha, it's also a miracle that Shen Qingqiu has managed to survive the last oh, six years? He didn't live past twenty the first time! (Wow he's not ever going to be able to build a case to defend himself with the actual facts.) ]

... It would have been an avoidable one.

[ He agrees, with a note in his voice that sensitive ears will hear as a hurt mixed with a cold kind of anger that's being very, very tightly controlled right now. Then he's saying who was it, and Shen Qingqiu sighs. ]

That's not a discussion to have over these devices. Or more, it's not one I'll have over these.

[ Binghe deserves so much better than to overhear any vague story his Shizun shares, because he sure as hell won't name who it was anyway, but yeah. It's easier to handle in person.

... Please ignore the fact your half brother is on his way to haunt his window sill... ]

Goodbye!

[ HE'S COMING OVER 囧 ]

[ Poor Shen Qingqiu. Let's all pour one out for him. ]

Whatever personal feelings I have on the matter are my own. They're not up for discussion or the feedback of others.

[ He had considered this an open forum to discuss his thoughts at first, but it changed into something else, more of a realization that he doesn't require that validation to know himself- even in a place like this. Shutting off any immediate desire to communicate things that no one else can dictate when Binghe doesn't need anyone to mirror these ideas back. ]

None of that changes with your phrasing. So if you alter anything, that's entirely your decision to make, not mine.

[Buddy you might want to find a new lifestyle if you can't even hit your second decade without kicking the bucket. So speaks the guy who got skewered on a tree for fifty years as a teenager BUT REGARDLESS

Inuyasha is not well versed in delicate matters. He can hear the slight squeeze of the throat (even through the sieve of the glass bangle, this thing works some real fucking miracles doesn't it?) and he can tell it's a sore spot. What should he have expected? It's death. Even if what he claims is true, such things are never felt lightly.

Should he back off? This was important to everyone, though. Wouldn't keeping everything a secret be selfish? Didn't they all deserve to know everything about what dying here might entail?

Inuyasha has been quiet for more than five seconds. Yet another modern miracle.]

Well if you want to be mysterious then go ahead. [He'll leave him alone. It's better to not prod fresh wounds.] Tell me later sometime.

[ Binghe...................................................

Shen Qingqiu sighs into his hands, rubbing his face. It's not like he's going to forget anything said here, so he's going to have to change something, but it's equally obvious right now that he's done a grand job of getting Luo Binghe to want nothing to do with what really bothers him about all of this.

And it's so very, very hard for Shen Qingqiu to understand why Luo Binghe had preferred dying over anything else. His fear that the same isn't far off, that whatever allowed this is fragile enough to shatter under the slightest pressure, and he'll be back to a crystal statue, no life to him at all, is as present as his every other confused emotion all tied back to the same man—Luo Binghe.

What does he even say to any of this? Yes, it's everyone's individual decision. No, I won't accept that none of this is up for discussion, because what the hell am I supposed to do if you're not okay, and I'm not there, and what if, what if, what if in this world with no guarantees, no plot threads to follow, nothing to model expectation on.

He's got nothing he can say, let alone as Anon, so instead, he goes for a vaguely remembered quote from a movie he doesn't know that he ever saw. ]

As you wish.

[ Because he simply doesn't know what else to say when he cares about what he thinks on this, even as he's so angry because he'd been so scared, and it's all so easily, stupidly fixed. So why had it needed to be broken at all?

Why had he been broken at all? ]

[ That entirely charming reference, repeating Westley's words that are an oath and declaration in every way, are tragically lost upon someone without any knowledge of the story. All he grasps is the conversation coming to an end with some manner of respect for his stance on the matter. A better outcome than possible alternatives when tensions rose and something had distinctly felt like the start of an altercation began nudging itself into existence, all for reasons he couldn't understand. ]

Thank you.

So the rules don't respect a firm belief in personal space. Good to know... I guess.

[ Funny how the gripe seems more aimed at part of an institution than at the people comprising it. ]

I think I do have questions. What's the Calamity? And does chroma happen anywhere else in the universe, like with a different name? I'm kind of interested in its alive-again properties, or different versions of it in other worlds. Like without the crystal stuff or with different rules.

That's terrifying!

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Page 4 of 15

anonymous text post

Chroma, Moonlacing, and You

What is Chroma?

Why should I care about Chroma?

What the fuck?! Why do I lose Chroma?

Then what is Moonlacing?

How do you Moonlace?

Can Moonlacing help heal?

What happens when we die?

What happens when we disappear?

permavoice HE'S CONCERNED

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RIP SHIZUN RIP

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voice, sorry

never be sorry, i'm laughing

I MEAN with no context it's very concerning yes

good because i'm laughing too, get wrecked shizun, get smoked sessho

he's like DO I LOOK LIKE THE KIND OF GUY WHO DOES THAT (yeah) (you do)

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he super does

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you realise he's probably texting this as sesshomaru comes over

i do and it's beautiful

yeah everyone's calling him out it's so appropriate

and here he still has to respond

I'M LAUGHING SO HARD

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what if both brothers showed up at the same time....jk i don't hate sqq's landlord that much

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text ∞

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