ercookies | TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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N A V I G A T I O N

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[ Jim chuckles at that. It's pretty obvious how things work around here, doesn't take looking at the digital entertainment on offer, but he gets what Peter means.

If he could look any more interested in Peter, then that remark about laughing during sex would definitely do the trick. Yeah, he definitely needs to catch up with him some other time... but probably not here in the library, with other people trying to read in silence. ]

Oh, right. Yeah. I'll be waiting, so you better, [ He winks as Peter leaves, then goes back to scouring through all the information here, in hopes of finding anything useful.

Unsurprisingly, the search proves to be fruitless. Well, mostly. He does manage to get his hands on some non-porn literature, a few titles that he even knows from home, and he downloads that onto his tablet so he can read them later. Should keep him entertained, at least.

Over the next couple days, he explores the city, the woods surrounding them, anything he can think of. He meets a few people too, has maybe a little too much fun with a couple, and he learns how to cook some very basic stuff by himself.

It's definitely nothing compared to what Peter's cooking, though. Jim doesn't really know who it is when someone knocks, but he heads over and opens the door, immediately grinning when he sees who it is. ]

Peter! Started thinking you'd forgotten all about me.

[ Looking down at that container. ] Is that for me?

[ 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.

I would've come bother you too, had I known. Where are you staying— [ He looks down the hallway curiously. ] Right next to me?

[ Well, that's— convenient. And quite a happy coincidence too. His lips curl into a smile, evidently pleased with this new piece of information, though it fades into a bit of a surprised expression. ]

Oh, no! You killed one of those cute geese? That's just terrible. [ He accepts the container nonetheless, with a smile and a thanks, stepping aside to gesture into the small flat. ] Come on in. And do tell me more about that Midwestern hospitality. You do give me a bit of a Minnesota vibe— I'm from the Midwest too, by the way.

Promises, promises. [ Peter makes a vague gesture towards a door that might once have been blue but not the pain had faded to a grey-ish one. ] Yes, my place's that one. I found my old ship in a ruined hangar but it's on the outskirts of the City so sleeping there and then walking all the way back to the city every day is too much of a chore. You're stuck with me as your neighbor for the time being.

[ Peter's still not sure how the Milano got here, more so because it got destroyed when they crashed on the planet Berhert, but he's not going to complain. It comes with his old clothes and a few useful tools, those will be very helpful to make his new apartment something more habitable. But that will be a worry for later, now he snorts at Jim's reaction. ]

I think you meant 'evil'. Do you know how many times one of those feathered monsters bit me? I'm lucky to have all my fingers. It died for a good cause but if you don't want the food, I'll happily take it off your hands.

[ Not like Peter's really serious about that, The smile is probably a giveaway as he steps into Jim's flat. ] Close but not quite. And for the next line, he forces the accent. I'm from Missouri, I grew up in St. Charles. Another Midwestern who found their way to space? I'm seeing a pattern here. Or a connection. Where are you from?

I will... [ He trails off for a moment, looking back to Peter with wide eyes. ] Remember it. Hold up, did you just say your ship is here?

[ Ho boy, nerd alert. Peter's just said the magic words, and for a moment he just stands there, container with formerly CUTE goose cooked and hot in his hands. ]

Hey! No way. I mean, unless I can get a tour of your ship instead of the goose, I'll take that.

[ But he's not going to refuse the goose. It just feels a little weird! He was petting the geese a day or so ago. Hell, Finn told him he had a goose as a pet the last place he was at. It's just... weird, okay? He'll get over it.

He lets out a snort at the accent, then shrugs. ] I'd tell you to guess, but we might be here forever. Riverside, Iowa. Deserted plains and corn fields as far as the eye could see, pretty much.

Yeah, she is. Good as new, certainly much better than the last time I saw the Milano. She can fly and I can explore the outskirts with her but I can't get it into the city or out of the planet. Believe me, it's the first thing I've tried to do, there's something that makes the navigator malfunction.

[ Peter is many things but a bad pilot, he is not. Whatever brought them to the city wants them to stay there. And it was NOT a cute Geese. It had teeth on its tongue! Nothing that has teeth on their tongue is cute or wants to be your friend, Jim. Nothing.

The captain's face, however, is very cute and Peter finds himself grinning more than before. ] Oh, I'll let you roam free around my big ship is that's what you want. You can keep the food too, no need to choose one of the two.

[ Peter can always hunt more of these evil, not cute at all, geese. His smile softens at the mention of Iowa. It's been so long since he's been there but things like cornfields are hard to forget. It brings back childhood memories. ]

Nice place, even if the cornfields have those scary auras at night. Like something's always lurking there. But the starry skies are always beautiful.

Wait, she can fly?

[ Oh my God. Jim is literally freaking out right now. Okay, only mildly freaking out. He can at least contain his excitement for the time being, but he will most definitely prod Peter for that tour very, very soon.

Also be prepared because a pet goose is definitely happening. ~~Mwahaha.~~ ]

Thank you, [ He beams at Peter, taking the container and putting it away in a tiny little fridge. Better than nothing, at least. ]

Right, [ He chuckles, but says nothing. You don't talk about the cornfields, Peter, nor the things that hide in the cornfields. ] I remember the clearest night skies, back there. It was one of the very few things I liked about growing up there.

[ Even if more often than not, stealing away a sleeping bag and spending the whole night out in the open, staring up at the sky, he felt more lost and trapped than anything else. ]

Like a bird. Much faster than that, of course, and I've don't think I've ever seen a bird do a barrel-roll like I do with the Milano.

[ Jim, your love for piloting is showing, it's utterly charming. Flying is one of the things Peter enjoyed the most about living in space and he's rather good at it, so he likes to talk about it and to show off.

If the little monster eats one of your fingers, don't come crying to me because now that handjobs are harder to give. ~~Peter should get a cat >:(~~ ]

You're welcome. I'll remember that you're around the next time I cook more food.

[ Thank god that there doesn't seem to be any cornfields in the city, is the last thing they need. It doesn't go unnoticed that Jim says 'very few things' and Peter gives him a kind smile but doesn't ask. It seems very personal and maybe with time, Jim will want to share it on his own. ]

It's too bad that around here the weather is so cloudy or foggy. I have star maps projectors on the ship, If you don't feel like eating, I could give you a turn.

Wow. Cool. [ Yes he's that nerd. ] Does that mean you can take me for a spin, sometime? Oh, can I pilot it too? That'd be so much fun.

[ God, he misses flying. Not a big starship, just piloting something a little smaller, like a shuttle or something of the kind. If Peter can do barrel-rolls with her, he can only imagine she's on a smaller scale than the Enterprise. Which, at the moment, is pretty perfect.

He practically leaps at the offer, moving closer to Peter. ]

We can go now?

[ Like???? YES??? ]

[ It would be a lie to say that Peter isn't pleased by Jim's reaction. Finding people who love flying and space as much as he does and that doesn't consider him a weirdo for it doesn't happen as often as one might think. It brightens his mood instantly, not like he isn't already happy to see Jim. ]

The cockpit has multiple seats and it's designed in a way that changing who is in charge of piloting it's a matter of pulling the right lever. A safety measure in case one of the pilots is incapacitated. I can teach you how to fly her with no problem and take over if something goes wrong. But don't scratch my baby, I just got her back. She was destroyed twice already.

[ Peter stops and looks thoughtful for a second too long. He's already decided that yes, they're going to the Milano, but seeing Jim so impatient is a lot of fun. He gives the man a smile that barely contains the mischief behind it. ]

Dunno...maybe I need some convincing.

[ Jim's even more delighted as Peter explains how his ship works. He knows he'll have no issues learning how to pilot the Milano, as he's always been an excellent pilot. This should be no different, he doesn't think. ]

Not a scratch, you have my word. I'm a great pilot, you can trust me.

[ And he does mean that. He wouldn't be this eager to ask Peter to let him pilot the Milano if he didn't think he could do it.

His eyebrows do go up at Peter's last words, though, lips turning upwards. ]

Oh? And how exactly might I be able to convince you? [ He walks closer to Peter, glancing him up and down. ] Not expecting me to beg, are you?

[ Ah, those pretty blue eyes are hard to ignore. Jim does seem trustworthy and Peter really wants to believe he's being honest. He's been fooled in the past, even by his own father, and it ended in such a disaster that real trust is a tricky thing for him now. But something tells him to pull his faith on Jim. ]

Okay. I believe you. Peter means it too, even if Jim probably doesn't - can't- understand the implications of his words.

[ It's easier when things turn flirty because Peter knows how to handle that situation better. He tries and fails not to smile in return looking at Jim fondly and leaning in. ]

Hm...no. Not now, not yet. I still have to do something worthy of causing that reaction.

[ Most people do tend to trust Jim eventually, but still he doesn't expect it, and he certainly doesn't count on it happening after just one meeting. He does hope to be able to prove himself with time, though, and maybe Peter will eventually trust him enough to let him take the wheel— so to speak.

He lets out an airy little laugh when Peter leans in to tease him back, eyes bright and grin wide. ]

Oh, really? Well, now you've left me even more curious. Are you going to show me, or... just building the mystery a little longer?

[ Time will say. Unless Jim has some sort of evil secret plan that involved destroying the Galaxy, chances are that things will go well between them. Tilting his head, Peter is only a few inches away from brushing his mouth again Jim. He pauses and licks his lips, hot breath softly tickling the other man's face. ]

Building the mystery sounds fine to me. [ He says in the end, leaning back with a grin. So he can be a teasing little shit, sue him. He gives Jim's shoulder a pat and then takes a few steps back. ] Let's say I'm convinced enough for now. Come on, we need to get to hangar quickly so you can see the Milano when there's still some daylight. Her paintjob is metallic blue and orange gold color, and it's gorgeous.

[ If Jim ever has any secret plan involving the galaxy, then it's going to be a plan to save it, not destroy it. So they should be fine there.

That actually gets Jim to part his lips, both eager and anticipating but not quite closing the distance. It's both disappointing and exciting when Peter leaves him hanging instead. Not sure if next time he'll be able to resist something like that (frankly he's not sure he's been successful in resisting yet, this time), but for now he'll play along. ]

Your ship better be damn breathtaking at this point, or else I'm going to be very upset, [ He laughs, shaking his head as he shrugs on a jacket, then leads the way towards the door. ]

[ It was very, very tempting to kiss Jim but Peter is in a playful mood. Waiting makes things more rewarding. Delayed gratification, as they call it. ]

I like to show, not tell. But yes, the ship is a thing of beauty, have some faith in me.

[ Jim won't regret it once he sees the Milano, Peter is sure of it. He is still smiling by the time the other man leads them out and he will just keep explaining the basic of the ship's operating system as they walk toward the Hangar. It's not every day that he meets someone as in love with a spaceship and flying as he is, they're going to have fun. ]

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TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

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And it's a wrap~