Text - Phase Two

[pishirogane]

Good afternoon, Moonblessed.

For those who missed my previous post, my name is Naoto and I've been busy further developing a project that finally reached its testing phase three months ago. I'm now announcing that it's time for phase two testing and I require several more volunteers. Though previous testers would be preferred, there's no obligation to participate again if you don't want to.

Contact me for further details, but know that it's primarily for those Iris-blessed.

Thank you.

Comments

[sleepinglotus]

[Ren wouldn't have considered much to be "unfortunate" about Iris, but it's entirely possible that he just has yet to experience those things.

It does get him wondering, though.]

I'm Iris. I'd be willing to help you test.

[pishirogane]

[Hmm... She's not sure. They're a recent arrival; but how recent?]

Come to this address. I'll provide more details and you can make a final decision then.

[He'll receive a private message shortly with directions to an apartment on level two.]

[sleepinglotus]

Alright. I'll be there shortly.

[pishirogane]

Make sure to knock when you arrive.

[sleepinglotus]

I will.

[And he does! When he arrives sometime later.]

[pishirogane]

[She answers shortly after he finishes knocking.]

Good day. You're one of my potential testers?

[sleepinglotus]

Yes. I'm Lie Ren. It's nice to meet you in person, Naoto.

[pishirogane]

You as well, Ren-san. Tell me, are you a recent arrival or have you experienced your Moon Cycle?

[sleepinglotus]

["Ren-san" again. There's a faint twitch of amusement in his expression but he doesn't say anything about it.]

I've been here about three months, and yes, a few times now.

[pishirogane]

Alright. And your changes? How bad do they get?

[sleepinglotus]

The first time I only gained rabbit ears, but it resulted in a migraine I wasn't expecting. Since then I haven't experienced that again, but I still get the ears, and my last Iris I also had a tail.

[pishirogane]

Hm... sounds like you're experiencing a gradual progression into your Iris blessing. Fortunate, but... I didn't expect this to be possible. You should still be able to be a tester, but without that drive, it might be too much.

[sleepinglotus]

Well...

[He hesitates, scratching thoughtfully at his cheek.]

To be perfectly honest, I... have actually been purposely repressing some things.

[pishirogane]

[Well, now that has her interest.]

I see. How's that been working for you?

[She knows how the question might sound, but she does want to know if repression could be a viable option.]

[sleepinglotus]

[He sighs faintly, giving a 'so-so' hand motion.]

Where I'm from, our abilities, called Semblance, are tied to our Aura. Unfortunately here, Aura is also connected to chroma, so it's been difficult to maintain a good balance of it all. It does work, but I spent a lot of time being exhausted.

[pishirogane]

Ah. Yes, anything like that now requires a great deal of Chroma. It might be a way to limit everyone, but it's only a idea. It may tie into why we're here at all.

Anyway, what I'm testing is to alleviate what I'm assuming you've been repressing. Of course, this method is by acting on it, but this will avoid the need for outside assistance unless you choose to want a companion there.

[But if he's been repressing it, she doesn't know if he'd want that latter part.]

[sleepinglotus]

It... probably isn't healthy, that I keep doing that. Some part of me has known that for a while now but I think even subconsciously I was doing it at the start because I was wary of what might happen if I didn't forcibly control my emotions.

[Really, an issue he's had since he was a child, amplified by being told straight up at arrival that these things were expected and normal here.

If he hadn't met Rise these are things he likely would have never realized.]

[pishirogane]

I see... The response is reasonable. At least, it sounds that way to me.

[As much self-control as she did have, when that happened, it was a struggle - had been a struggle.]

... So then, this product is, first and foremost, meant for Iris self-pleasure. The first trial did manage to help those who tested it, but a few refinements were needed which brings us to this second trial.

[sleepinglotus]

[He could have gone a long time without realizing that he could even have those kinds of urges if not for getting dropped here.

"Self-pleasure" of course makes his cheeks gain a bit of color, but as always he remains fairly composed.]

And it's a way to make the overall problems less... intense?

[Is what he's getting from this.]

[pishirogane]

[She nods.]

Though the true intensity of the sensation is different for everyone during the Iris Cycle, this helps release the tension and can restore mental clarity.

[sleepinglotus]

That would actually be very helpful to me, I think, rather than draining chroma with my Semblance.

[Even if the method isn't something he's entirely comfortable with, it really seemed like a much less damaging way to deal with his moonblessing.]

If you're alright with adding me to your trials, that is.

[pishirogane]

I have space. To be honest, there's been more women volunteering than men. There's only so much feedback I can get from my boyfriend too... It might delay when the final product for any male Irises by another month.

[sleepinglotus]

[Ren finds that amusing for some reason. He's noticed he's a bit of an odd one for being male and Iris. Not that they don't exist, but it does seem to be a moon that favors female individuals more.]

I'd be glad to help out then.

[pishirogane]

[It is rather strange... She wonders more about the distribution of Moonblessings now, but she would wait to look into that more later.]

Thank you. Wait a moment while I retrieve it.

[sleepinglotus]

[If nothing else, the mysteries will keep her busy.

Ren nods and stays where he is, feeling no real need to poke around or wander.]