Test Drive Meme #4: Season of Ripening

[royaldecreemods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the Royal Decree Test Drive Meme!

If you're new here – hi, hello, welcome! This is your chance to give your potential character a little test run and see how they might fit into the world of Rosavelle. You can find all the relevant info over on our Navigation Page, so take a peek if you need to get caught up on the setting, rules, or just want to gnaw on the worldbuilding a bit.

This TDM is non-canon to the game overall, but feel free to treat individual threads or CR as canon between characters if everyone involved agrees. We've included some prompts and locations below to help spark ideas, but as always, feel free to go off-script and go ham!

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The shift in weather Ripening brings to Rosavelle is impossible to ignore. The air grows heavy and thick with humidity that clings to basically everything and unlike the passing showers of earlier seasons, rain now arrives in frequent and stormy bursts - sudden downpours that sweep through the streets and canals with little warning, soaking everything in their path. It rarely rains without pause, but clear skies offer little relief. As the weeks pass, the rising heat turns each shower into lingering mugginess, leaving the whole island feeling stifling. Hope you enjoy being overhheated and damp all the time!!!

It's not all doom and gloom, thankfully. True to the season’s name, fruits begin to swell and sweeten on their branches, with the first harvests ready by midseason - a sure sign that Ripening is well underway.

By now you've likely found your footing in the ebb and flow of island life and you know how things go around here: when someone needs a little warmth, a little effort, or a little magic, the people of Rosavelle come together - and that includes you!

PROMPTS

Honey Downpour

The beekeepers of Primavain are in a panic: the relentless rain has driven their hives into overproduction and now thick, golden honey is starting to pour from the combs in a tremendous waste of hard work and delicious treats! The bees themselves are docile (if a bit reluctant to exit their homes), but the situation is rapidly getting out of hand. Volunteers are needed to help harvest excess honey, redirect curious crowds and maybe convince a few stubborn bees to relocate. Or, if you're less helpful, you could always sample a bit… purely for quality control purposes, of course.

The Drip-Drop Duel

Somewhere in the Castle Grounds, an extremely niche and equally petty disagreement has escalated. Two scholars, both convinced they have perfected the superior rain-deflection Bloomcraft, have taken to demonstrating their work in increasingly dramatic fashion. And now there’s a localized "dueling" ground where rain refuses to fall normally, instead redirecting itself in arcs, spirals, or suspiciously targeted torrents. Spectators are gathering, bets are being placed, and volunteers are being roped in to test the limits of each spell. Step in to assist, sabotage, or simply survive the increasingly creative ways water is being weaponized.

Puddle Predictions

Something odd is happening in the streets of Bellvine Hill: certain rain puddles have started reflecting things that aren't actually there. A clear sky where there should be clouds, a stranger standing just behind you when you’re quite certain you’re alone or fleeting glimpses of moments that haven’t happened yet but will do in just a few moments. Naturally, this has drawn a crowd. Some are treating it like a game, trying to find the strangest reflections, while others are attempting to interpret what they see. Pair up to compare visions, test which puddles are the most reliable (if any) or dare each other to act on what you glimpse. It’s probably harmless. Probably.

Runoff Relay

With the heavy rains feeding into the canals, the water flow through Marelys has picked up speed, carrying with it all sorts of debris from upriver-driftwood, stray fishing gear, and the occasional very confused fish. The dockhands have organized a cooperative effort to intercept anything useful before it's swept out to sea, forming a chain of volunteers along the canal's edge to catch, grab, and pass things along. It's efficient! It's practical! It's also turned into a slightly competitive relay, with different teams trying to outdo each other in speed and quantity. The victor doesn't seem to get anything more than bragging rights, but isn't that what competition is really about at the end of the day?

Canal Critter Convoy

The rising waters have displaced more than just goods - small canal creatures have started turning up in all the wrong places. Tiny fish in fountains, curious crustaceans in market stalls and at least one very indignant waterbird refusing to vacate a bakery doorway. A coordinated effort is underway to gently relocate these wayward critters back to their proper habitats. You can help catch and carry them, guide them along flooded pathways, or simply keep them calm (easier said than done) until more help arrives.

Leaky Greenhouse Blues

The Everbloom's Greenhouse is not supposed to leak. It is, in fact, famously not supposed to leak. And yet, with the relentless rains of Ripening bearing down on the glasswork overhead, a series of suspicious drips have begun appearing in the most inconvenient places possible. Now the gardeners alike scrambling to catch the leaks before delicate plants get overwatered (or worse, offended). Volunteers are welcome to help patch things up, hold buckets in increasingly awkward positions, or attempt to soothe particularly dramatic flora that have decided this is a personal slight. Just try not to track mud everywhere - some of these plants hold grudges.

The Overripe Affair

The Season of Ripening means abundance but someone may have gotten a little too enthusiastic. A Primavain orchard has produced fruit so perfectly ripe that it's started to… burst. Not rot, not spoil - just gently (and sometimes not so gently) popping open under the pressure, releasing sticky-sweet juice and an almost intoxicating fragrance into the air. It's drawing crowds, insects, and more than a few opportunistic snackers, and the orchard keeper is at their wit's end. Help harvest the fruit before it explodes, find creative ways to contain the mess, or just brave the chaos and see how many you can catch mid-pop. Fair warning: you will get sticky. There is no avoiding it.

(CODE)

Comments

ai hayasaka | kaguya-sama: love is war

[maidfree]

i. arrival (barracks)

[ what a weird invitation. she thought it was one of secretary-chan's games, structured in such a way that she had to wonder what she was playing at. yet when she agreed to it, and she was brought to rosavelle, everything presented itself to her, and it took her a while to get over the initial shock.

well. given everything she'd been through recently, and everything she'd heard about recently (thank you, kaguya.) this wasn't a bad idea. she'd take it in stride.

as a result, she's dressed in fairly traditional clothing, unpacking and getting herself acclimated to her new room in the barracks. as she stepped out of her room and into the hallway, she nearly runs into someone. oops! ]

Oh. [ a new face, meeting a new face. or rather, an older one for the blonde girl as she bows her head. ]

Pardon me. I'm terribly sorry, this new world has me thrown for a loop. [ it hasn't since she's gotten here. in fact, she's acclimated quite well. regardless, she bows her head once more. ]

I am Haysaca A. Smithee, a new advisor to Princess Calanthe. Thank you for your hospitality, I look forward to working with you.

[ her new freedom and outlook on life at shuchiin didn't mean shit in a new world. as she always had, ai hayasaka lied as easily as she breathed. ]

ii. busywork (library)

[ one way to gain favor within a new environment? prove your worth. hayasaka looked natural in a maid outfit of course, and assisting with efforts in the library not only gave her an opportunity to endear herself to those that frequented, but also to educate herself on the goings on of this world. learn more of rosavellian traditions, manners, people.

...and okay, she may be also amassing a collection of romance novels to read in her spare time. she can't really ignore the reason she was here, can she?

after a few days of working, she's gotten most of the aisles down and is already not just getting speedier at replacing tomes, but directing traffic at the same time. the skills she'd picked up as the head maid of the shinomiya family, a team working under her, were starting to transfer. as such, you may have thought to join this quest as well... and now, you have this girl looking through the books, trying to hand over another one to her partner. ]

Here. This one goes between "An Umbrella for Two" and "Uncovered Passion". I don't remember if "The Unbridled Romance" has been checked out recently, but it'd go just before that.

[ she's saying all this while sifting through what felt like a neverending multitude of books that started with the word "Love". this'll take her a while, but she's up for it. ]

iii. rehearsal (theater)

[ wait, was she here in time for the games?? don't worry, nobody's going to think this nonsense is canon.

as such, there's an even newer (older) face at bloomlight theater. what looks to be a young man, bright blue eyes and short black hair standing in front of a local. they adjust their glasses, and step forward to speak, eyes fixed on their partner. ]

I'm sorry I've taken so long to come to this conclusion, but... I truly and absolutely do love you. [ the boy's face seems to be incredibly serious about this, forcing out a blush in addition to their words. their eyes nervously dart here and there, indicating that it's taking a lot of courage for them to be standing in this spot.

dramatically, they clench a fist around their heart. ]

It would be a great honor if you were to be mine, for now and forever.

[ the local... seems very impressed and kind of happy about it? after they nod, the young man stands up straight and speaks clearly again. ]

Good. Even though I broke eye contact, you maintained yours. I noticed you were fidgeting with your hands a bit, and that may be a little distracting. Still, you're making great progress. When he does confess to you, you won't want to run away this time.

[ looks like this one got caught up in helping with someone rehearsing receiving a confession. even though hayasaka herself has no experience with confessions, she's sure about the emotional weight the words can carry.

alternatively, somehow, the young man above said this... to you?! what's your reaction?! does it work on you? are you wondering how the hell she got this get-up so quickly? ]

(( replies for this prompt'll be coming from haysaca. ))

iv. grumbling (greenhouse)

[ okay, now seriously, how the hell did she actually get mixed up into this. of all the things to volunteer for, she thought there'd be something a bit better when it came to "help with the big tree's greenhouse".

she's been standing by with this bucket over her head for twenty-five minutes now. she's sure her arms are going to fall off any second now, and she can't be bothered to put on a mask for this one. ]

"Just a few minutes," my ass. This spot's not even getting any--

[ just as she complains some more, a few drips hit the water in the bucket. with a long sigh, she maintains her pose. this sucks. ]

The least they could do is let me sit down-- [ she gets the impression that someone doesn't like that, and so she has to clarify. ] No, I don't mean on you. I meant... never mind.

v. and other such things

[ the usual. if you have any questions or any prompt ideas hit me up in the discord or at jusenkyo! feel free to call her out on her shit, or give her a hand. i'm open to anything! ]

iv

[generally_treacherous]

[ Relief comes as a giant of a man brusquely removes the bucket from Ai's hands. ]

There's a perfectly serviceable floor.

[maidfree]

[ ...this guy really IS massive. problem being: ]

I suggested that. But I swear I felt like I was being glared at, like the flowers thought I was looking down on them.

[ she sighs again. ] What the hell am I even saying...

[generally_treacherous]

[ His first impulse is to dismiss the idea out of hand, but this is the Everbloom's greenhouse, so who fucking knows. So fine. Not the floor. ]

Well, I have the pail now. See if you can do something about that leak.

[maidfree]

[ he might as well be asking her to learn how to fly... well, she'll have to think of something anyway. hmmmm. ]

Perhaps if we provide momentary cover? Like an assortment of umbrellas... it may not help with sunlight, but it'll be a start.

[generally_treacherous]

A lack of sunlight would prove more detrimental than an occasional drip.

[maidfree]

Is that true even for magic flowers--

[ and almost as if on cue, the flowers look like they're shaking a little bit. maybe it's swaying, but it seems too fast to be swaying? ]

Okay, okay, no umbrellas. Calm down already.

[generally_treacherous]

There must be something they use for maintaining this building around.

[ Where even are the actual groundskeepers? Uther would never tolerate this lack of discipline in Ostia. ]

i

[holigay]

[ The one Hayasaka (nearly) bumps into? A tall reindeer girl. With a bright red nose. And fur, and antlers, and- well, she's a reindeer girl. ]

O-Oh, hello...! Another human? There sure are a lot of them around here...

My name is Noelle... Noelle Holiday... It's, um, nice to meet you...?

[maidfree]

[ ...a. reindeer girl?

named... noelle holiday.

...

how on the nose can you get? hayasaka blinks a few times. ]

A... pleasure to meet you, Miss Holiday. [ a small pause. ] Are there not many humans where you're from?

[holigay]

Not... really? Just the one. They're a, uhh, friend? Or... more like somebody I grew up with... no, I guess "friend" is fine.

B-But that is to say! I've met humans before! Just, not many. Not nearly as many as there are here...

[maidfree]

I see... well, if it is any consolation, I've never met even one reindeer girl. Perhaps we'll learn more about each other as the days go on. There's also no need to worry, most humans are harmless. Certainly, I am.

[holigay]

O-Oh, really? Well, I mean... meeting any one sort of monster is probably a pretty low chance, I guess...

Especially if human cities are this... human? [ Human-filled? Human...centric? Well, wording doesn't matter. ]

[maidfree]

Hm. I'd say that I've met monsters, but they're more figurative than literal.

[ still humans, only kinda sociopathic. or, overly weird. ]

Where I'm from, actual "monsters" don't exist. You would be the first one I've ever met in total then. It's an honor.

[ she's mainly sounding polite about it, with a little bit of humor mixed in. what else would human cities be? ]

[holigay]

W-Wait. No monsters at all? How does that work...?

[ Well, no, okay. That's dumb. That's a dumb thing to say. CORRECT YOURSELF NOELLE BEFORE YOU LOOK DUMB IN FRONT OF THE HUMAN GIRL. ]

I-I mean! No, okay, it's obvious how it works. I just... It's hard to imagine world without any monsters, you know?

[maidfree]

[ hm, already dealing with some culture shock. interesting way to start things out, she seems genuinely put off by the idea. ]

If that's all you've known, I would think it would be. I think this world might be the closest thing you'll find to it, as different as it is for both of us. Hm, perhaps that's part of the Princess's reasoning for gathering advisors from different worlds.

[holigay]

A-Ah, I see! Y, yeah, that must be it. [ Nobody told her about this part of it, but! She supposes that makes sense. Introducing people to things they don't know! Or... something. ]

Well, I'm not much of a.... first impression, for monsterkind. Sorry you couldn't meet somebody more impressive! [ How did this even get to this point? Jeez. ]