TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

[erkumods]

TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

Arrival This time, you come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore. Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased. With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a rundown apartment, a tent on the beach, or a bed in the "comfortable" new barracks. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● I. Harvest Hunt As the daylight grows shorter and the muggy heat of the island’s summer gradually shifts to temperate days and chilly nights, Erku’s accessible wilderness explodes with a colorful collection of tempting fruits, fragrant-smelling herbs, and nuts and seeds plumped and ready for harvest. With warnings to beware of monsters, the robots of Erku encourage Islanders to take advantage of the land’s bounty by distributing basic camping supplies to those who are interested in exploring, hunting, and harvesting. They strongly encourage making the journey with a friend! Any surplus foods that Islanders bring home with them can be exchanged for credits with cafeteria robots! Just be careful out there - some of these fruits have strange effects once consumed. For extra protection out there in the wilds, the robots have fashioned crowns of flowers or foliage to wear on their adventures. The sweet and herbal smells from the crowns will discourage most Erku-native monsters from approaching, they assure - this is ancient knowledge from the planet’s long-gone civilization, so it can’t be wrong! What the robots don’t know is that the crowns have a deeper, more ritualistic purpose: after a few hours, the scent of flowers or herbs begins to awaken primal instincts within the wearer. Those who are wearing the foliage crowns feel overwhelmed by an urge to hunt, while those who wear the flower crowns delight in every opportunity to tease, outrun, and outwit the hunters. What happens when the chase ends? Well, that depends on the personalities and the chemistry between the hunters and their prey. While the robots are very insistent on placing crowns atop the heads of any Islander they see, they aren’t stuck on in any way and they are easy to remove, which can prevent or break the hunting trance. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. seeds and sap Of particularly high credit value, the robots explain, is an elusive flower known as the skull sunflower. It appears exactly as one might imagine: at the center of an otherwise innocuous, towering sunflower is the gruesome visage of an open-mouthed skull. Don’t worry, the flowers are harmless! Even if it’s strange how the empty-socketed eyes seem to follow your every move. And why is it that the teeth - which, on closer inspection, are actually the seeds of the flower - only seem to chatter when your back is turned? Any Islander who can withstand their heebie-jeebies long enough to collect the petals and seeds from the flowers will fetch a handsome reward in credits upon exchange with the robots. Beware the sticky, blood-red sap that seeps from the eyes of each skull, however. Those who absorb too much through their skin will begin to hallucinate, visions of frightening or emotional events from their past dancing in the shadows. One might even mistakenly imagine that another Islander is someone they recognize from their past, someone who meant something to them - no matter whether that person is alive or dead in the present. The hallucinogenic effects of the sap can last for hours, or they can be shortened by a dip in the public baths. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Tarot Night comes, and in the darkness, a robot sets up a table by the beach. A solitary candle sits in the center, illuminating a deck of cards. F̶i̴n̵d̸ ̸y̶o̸u̸r̵ ̵f̵o̸r̷t̵u̶n̶e̷?̴ The robot reveals tarot cards and will do a variety of spreads to tell your fortune. Each fortune can be distilled into one central theme, which characters will find pervades their life for the next 24 hours. There is magic afoot: it can be sensed, and perhaps even dispelled, if luck is on your side. Though most robots on the island show a capacity for greater-than-average artificial intelligence, this pseudo-psychic 'bot -- M.S. Cl30 -- is less advanced. It only has six interpretations prepared: Always watch your back. - Characters will be compelled to walk, or even speak, backwards for the duration of the day. Those who mishear it as "wash your back" may spend longer in the shower than usual. Fake it til you make it. - Characters will feel compelled to act performatively. They will more readily fall into acts for serious or flirtatious roleplay, or try on costumes that reflect a particular persona they're interested in exploring. Faked orgasms will seem quite realistic. You will receive an affectionate letter from a friend. - Just as it is said, someone will be compelled to engage in correspondence - and whether it turns dirty or not, well, that's up to you! Characters may also quite literally receive an article of clothing with a red letter sewn on the top. What could it stand for? Hold on tight. - Characters who are given this life advice will start to feel rather clingy. They'll attach themselves to someone's side and refuse to leave, or they may find a "security blanket" item and won't let it go. You are a generous, giving person. - Characters will feel compelled to do something kind for someone else. Maybe they'll invite someone to the movies, come over and cook, or do that thing their partner is always asking for. Don't think. Feel. - Even if they weren't before, characters temporarily experience impulsive and hot-headed urges. They will also become very tactile. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[gradual]

Well, you know as well as I do that holding grudges is a thing that runs in our family. Isn't that why we spent all those years running from our father? ( it's not as if niklaus can forgive and forget either. didn't he make that poor girl's life a living hell? had her running and hiding for centuries? what was her name? the doppelgänger. )

Luckily for you, it is entertainment that I seek. Yours and mine. ( decades spent in a coffin asleep. of course he'd be itching to have fun. ) I have to admit, I was hoping I'd see Rebekah before anyone else. Our dear sister would appreciate being here. But—better you than Elijah. I'm bored enough as is. ( he goes to sit on a fallen tree trunk, looking every bit at home on the island. kol's been here for a little over a month now. it's the longest he's ever been away from his family, and just as he'd always imagined, he's enjoying it. they should have parted ways centuries ago. sticking together hadn't done him any good. )

[winscenario]

[ Jim's well aware they should stop right now. Well, not stop, but definitely slow down a little there. He still enjoys being close, and he doesn't want to lose that connection, but if they keep going they're going to end up having sex and he's really not sure that that's the best idea right now.

Those hands on his skin are doing very little to help keep his mind clear, though, just like Finn's lips on his neck. He lets out a shuddered moan, head tipping back slightly, gripping Finn's shirt tightly.

Somehow, he manages to muster the strength to pull back, even if only an inch or two. ]

We should... [ He pauses, clears his throat. His cheeks are warm, and he cups Finn's face with one of his hands. ] We should, maybe— slow down a little.

[spacerat]

At the end of the day Duo's still not privy to the entirety of Zechs and Treize's plot. The idea of creating a horrible war to get people to abandon war went a bit over his head. In the end, he has to trust his own gut - which is that last he saw him, Zechs was on their side. So he goes with that, instead of hostility.

Doesn't mean it isn't awkward as hell, though, as he unloads back some of the canned food, watching Zechs out of the corner of his eyes.

"I've heard of worse stories. At least here, the amount of violence has been minimal, and I don't think I've heard anyone report an assault."

Minimal, not non-existent. Then again, it's been everyone else against the flora and fauna, not anyone fighting amongst each other, for the most part.

After a moment, he peers towards Zechs, hands stilling on the counter.

"Did you... come with your mobile suit? I destroyed mine, but it was here when I arrived."

[sharpestsword]

You would trust me so quickly?

[ She certainly won't lose track of him this way. It's kind of nice being this close and able to feel his warmth. She can't help but reach over with her free hand to brush a lock of his hair away from his eyes. ]

[rewild]

Oh well, in that case, here I am to make your existence that much better, Kol [ he spreads his arms, tilting his face up to the sun. he has to admit, that does feel nice after what seemed like the eternal doom and gloom of new orleans.

maybe he can work on his tan. klaus doesn't know if he's ever had a tan before. today would be a good day to start, wouldn't it?

sighing, he looks back at kol and moves to uncap the bottle. ]

Go ahead then. [ he gestures at kol with a flick of his wrist. ] Tell me what this place is and why I am here. And I suppose you can fill me in on what you've been doing too. Maybe I'm a little interested.

[hatejakku]

[ Even though that moan makes him hold tighter and shiver, Finn does pull back when James does. It's not by much, seeming pretty clear that he doesn't want to get much further away.

His cheeks are warm, too, while he takes deep breaths, his eyes half-lidded and clouded even as he finds James gaze. Slow down. They should slow down. ]

Sorry. [ His hands slide away from beneath his shirt, kind of reluctant to leave the warmth, but they find a new home in similar spots only with cloth as a barrier. Through the connection, there's some confusion and guilt but mostly caution. Protectiveness. He doesn't want to mess things up.

And Finn recognizes that would include closing this connection he somehow linked, realizing that they've overwhelmed each other with it even if he isn't totally sure what part made James start getting physical. Not that he's complaining. But, with some reluctance, Finn pulls away in the Force, attempting to put his mind back in his own head. It's just... really difficult to let go of all that light. Makes him feel a little darker and colder even though he can still see it. ] You're still just as beautiful, you know.

[ That's probably not the right thing to say, and he glances down as soon as it's out of his mouth, but that same mouth twitches along one edge into a smile. It's just the memory of saying that over and over. He used to love telling him as much. ]

[gradual]

( kol lets out an easy grin. his post-coffin life has been nothing but a blast. there's not much to frown about lately. he's even found himself a new orleans witch to play with and not just any witch, but a descendent of mary-alice herself—who happens to be quite fond of him. however he's not going to mention davina to klaus. not after what his brother did to mary-alice and astrid; trapping them in the fauline cottage and worse still—taking away his paragon diamond. yet another thing he'll never forgive. )

We're here because apparently this island could use a little beautification. Although, honestly, I don't mind how it looks in its current state. ( he shrugs, having not bothered to contribute a thing so far, even if he has cleared out a couple of squares here and there on his card. ) Anyways, we are trapped with no way out. And if it's magic that's keeping us here, it's not anything I'm familiar with. ( and he knows plenty. )

You're not going to start huffing and puffing, are you? It would be a waste of your breath.

[grudged]

Is there any particular reason I shouldn't?

[Other than the fact she would've shot or stabbed him a few moments ago, but...]

[stopfen]

[miKASA does not get over there.

Her and Annie were on...Better terms than they had been. But she liked her space and didn't want to push her luck. Even if she was pretty sure this was Annie and not some random, there was still 5% unsure. What if she was hallucinating words as well. What then?]

I was on the airship, it wasn't two days ago though... I just woke up treading water.

[It had been cold. And she'd wondered how she'd been passed out in it, but walking up the beach had been her only option. At first, she'd thought that the airship might have crashed, as little sense as that might have made.]

[birdmetaphors]

[Yuri chuckles softly at the sass. He busies himself with wringing out his jacket. Honestly, he's trying to plan out his next move. He needs to find a secure place to claim, somewhere out of the way where he can finish trying to dry out his clothes in private.

But in the meantime, Annie gets a bracelet and seems to understand the robot at the very least.]

It's a little pointless to yell at them. I believe that their existence relies on us -not just you and I, but everyone who has washed up here- being intimate, kinkily so apparently.

[He half expects that she still doesn't understand what he's saying, which is annoying but fine. What could he do about it?]

[rewild]

Beautification? [ klaus peers around, genuinely confused about that. while this might not be his ideal vacation spot, it does look rather nice and exactly like a spot that unimportant people might travel to with their hard earned money.

it's cute. quaint. klaus hates it but if kol is to be believed, there is nothing he can do about it.

that isn't going to stop klaus from trying, though. ]

Are you saying I've been brought here for manual labor? [ well, that's boring. and here he thought this might be an adventure. ] I'll admit I left my toolbelt back at the compound. Guess I'll have to sit this one out.

[markbearer]

[Mashita sighs, back to sounding exasperated.]

Because more often than not, they are putting living people in danger of joining them in death, Yashiki. And I'm not interested in that happening before it's actually a person's time to go.

[There's a pause, before Mashita reaches out, grasping Yashiki's shoulder, because apparently he needs to actually say this to get it through the other man's thick skull.]

And in case you haven't noticed, that's supposed to include you as well, dumbass.

[silky_bearing]

An acquaintance. Small frame but surprisingly powerful, hair and eyes perhaps a shade or two darker than your own. They keep it very long, longer than Lady Rhea even.

[As he speaks he dismounts, turning to deal with Darby's tack before anything else. But once she is able to graze more freely he turns back to Seteth.]

They openly talk about being non-human and just... generally have a rather unsettling disposition. Not unlike the Professor was at first. Detached... it's quite strange.

[hello_again]

[The sudden action caught her by surprise, she'd been so wrapped up in her thoughts that the next thing she knew her face was incredibly close to her friend's.]

W-Weiss...

[She was so conflicted, she didn't want to hope. How could they change things? and if they did what would that mean for everyone who remembered her dying?

Weiss was right about one thing that wasn't so complicated at least]

That's right, I'm right here right now.

[She gives a small smile, glad Weiss was here to comfort her.]

Thank you.

[Though now that things were settling down she was noticing the situation around them. Naked, incredibly close. Her cheeks warmed, but she didn't want to be the one to move away.]

[spacedisaster]

[ Peter isn't familiar with Vulcan's biology and thus he's not aware that even the slightest touch might be enough for an experience to be shared. Given their talk, he's been thinking of Meredith. First, the good memories where they listened to music and sang along with it, when his mother was still healthy, her golden curl framing her face and her smile bright.

He doesn't have a lot of those because even the happiest of memories turned into bitter ones, a reminder of what he had lost, once her brain cancer took over. Her long curls were no more, her skin pale and frail, no more dancing to be had since she couldn't even leave the bed or stand.

Spock speaking up once they sit down brings Peter back to reality, focusing on the other man. He gives Spock another pat on the arm and an 'it's no problem' look. ]

We're stranded in a city that doesn't even have a name, left to figure out how to survive in it. Accidents happen, don't worry too much about it. What's your profession? And while we're at it, what's your name?

[ Peter wouldn't leave him alone anyway. Not when he's drugged to the gills and vulnerable in what's undoubtedly a sex planet. ]

[spacedisaster]

I'm sure you have plenty of other positive traits to compensate for the flawed judgment. Nice hair, for example.

[ Peter feels fine since he really hasn't been in contact with the red sap directly thanks to the gloves, so for now, he's also not noticing that anything might be off.

Klaus goes on about how Ben and he used to interact and Peter looks slightly more confused by the minute. ]

That must be difficult to handle. Was your brother a spirit or...? I died once as well, along with half the galaxy. I spent five years dead, in fact, and got resurrected last week.

[garreg_much]

Green hair and eyes?

[Seteth folds his arms thoughtfully, head canting to the side as he reviews his comrades. A slender man with very long, dark hair, a flat and distant affect, someone who spoke openly of their inhumanity.....

Try though he might, he can't recall anyone who fits that description--and even if they had changed their appearance over the centuries, the name itself isn't familiar, either. That's not to say they couldn't have chosen a different one for themselves, of course--heaven knows he discards his own name and appearance as routinely as a serpent sheds its skin.

What baffles him most, though, is the more personal description. The Professor was the way they were for a reason, weren't they? So that should mean..... hmmm. The mystery only deepens, it seems.]

The Professor is a..... somewhat unique case. Such a demeanor isn't one I would expect to find in any of my kin. Nor have any of us lived so openly since the war, to my understanding.

[spacedisaster]

[ Oh, no, Peter's immediately feels bad for mouthing off. He couldn't help it and now he's thinking that if Finn ever realized the power behind his kicked puppy eyes, the whole galaxy will be in trouble. He pats the man's back again just to see if he can compensate for the hurt with some casual affection. There, there. ]

Sounds like she cursed you instead. Maybe if we go see her she can fix this? Or gives us advice on how to make it stop?

[ It's better than doing nothing because at some point one of them is going to need to leave somewhere, or sleep, or ...do any of these normal things one does alone. ]

Heh, oh you have no idea Finn. One of my teammates is a talking tree, the other a sentient raccoon. 'Interesting people' is a good definition for the Guardians of the Galaxy. What about you? any of your friends here?

[spacedisaster]

[ The surprise goes both ways. Peter immediately recognize those bright blue eyes and the nice smile that goes with Jim's handsome face. It's hard not to grin in return and he doesn't try to stop the urge. ]

Forgotten? I wouldn't dare, nor I could have done that if I tried. You leave a memorable impression, James. I didn't know we lived this closer or I would have come to pester you much sooner.

[ With a pleased look, he offers the container to the other man. It's still hot to the touch. It might not be flowers and chocolates but considering the planet they live in, it's still a nice present in Peter's opinion. ]

I've made some roasted goose and figured it wouldn't hurt to share. My mom used to cook too every time we got new neighbors. Call it midwestern's hospitality.

[consecrates]

[ wow, apparently being washed ashore on a weird island doesn't dent his ego one bit, does it? davina's not sure if that's comforting or not; she supposes that it runs in the family, seeing that his little brother even revels being here.

if she were allowed to tick a box every time she makes a sigh towards a mikaelson, she would've cleared her card already. if only the mechanics of this place is that simple. ]

How about you owe me a favour? That works for a pitiful and disarrayed vampire, right?

[ his family loves those, favours. sure, they don't always keep their word, liars and betrayers that they are, but a favour is a favour, and she knows she can use it as leverage one of these days. ]

[winscenario]

It's okay, [ He says, a quick response, wanting to ease Finn's worries. He's smiling a little when he meets Finn's eyes, forehead pressed to Finn's for a moment there. ] It's okay. I don't mind it, actually I liked it a lot. Just... don't want us to get overwhelmed, is all.

[ Which may or may not be happening already, even with the bond between them being broken. Quietly he regrets that loss, but he says nothing. Maybe it really is for the best they give that a break for a little while.

Either way, it looks like Finn's got plenty of ways to surprise and overwhelm him anyway, and that little comment there is met with a sudden yet soft laugh, lips curled up in a bashful smile, head bending forward so he can press his forehead against Finn's shoulder. ]

[hatejakku]

[ At least they're of the same mind that getting overwhelmed - or, well, more overwhelmed - isn't a good idea right now. Still, the whole thing gives him an idea of what could be, and it's a much better picture than he assumed beforehand. For a brief moment, he allows himself to hope for what they had or perhaps just something like it before he brushes that to the side.

Distracting himself is easy to do what with that shy, bashful reaction. Not that he's complaining about it or about how close they are right now. He wraps his arms around James, laughing once breathlessly and so so happy, bending his head forward to press a more chaste kiss to his neck.

James is surprised to hear such a thing. That's new. Finn will definitely have to tell him more often this go around. ]

I liked it a lot, too. I... never did that before. [ Which means he's suddenly realizing that he actually did that and he's thankful to James for pulling that out of him. But he doesn't say it. Finn just rests his face in his neck and enjoys this. It somehow doesn't feel as close as when they were connected, but the privacy of his own mind allows him to feel okay about getting a little overly emotional right now.

Because, no, that wasn't overly emotional before. He's just... really happy. ]

[occulti]

<sub>[ Klaus is genuinely trying to focus on what Peter is saying, but the distant sounds of helicopters and firearms pit-pattering catches his attention and he actually looks to the sky, trying to see the source of the sound. It isn't a new sensation— hearing things that aren't there— but Klaus doesn't know what exactly is causing it.

His eyes fan shut for a moment, squeezing. ]</sub>

Uhm. Yeah, he died and was a spirit. I guess that's just something that happens here. People's spirits come here and get their body.

_{[ Finally, the noise is a bit too much. ]}

Heeeey. Do you hear something? You know, kind of like guns and helicopters going off...?

[lyingheart]

She lifted a hand from the water, making a stopping gesture.

"Stop. Explain why you said this body, what trasmigration is, and what you mean by tropes." Her headache slowly blossoming was almost welcome compared to the uncertain headache from earlier hallucinations. Now she was fully in reality, and confused as hell.

[lyingheart]

[ Annie would appreciate the effort more if she conceived of herself as a lady, but she still does because politeness is worth a lot, and so, now she gives him a fairly even look and goes blunt and direct in her best possible... self.

That this is in fact her most true self is perhaps why she's difficult as a friend. ]

The chart about what kind of sex they want us having?

[ Lewd is such a nice way to say it... ]