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

[winscenario]

[ It's fine, honestly. Jim knows what Finn means, and he's not the least bit upset by the implication in Finn's words. It feels... nice, having someone who wants him around this much.

It also feels a little like he's just taking advantage of it right now, when he knows he can't return Finn's feelings, at least not just yet. But that's not something he thinks too much about, just now.

He's a little reluctant, but he gets off Finn's lap at the urging, sitting on the mattress with his legs folded up and his back against the wall. Actually he meant he'd just move the plate to the floor, but if Finn wants to get it back to the kitchen, he'll just sit there and wait for him to come back.

He is assuming Finn will come back, anyway. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Of course, Finn's coming back. He couldn't dream of leaving right now. At least, not any further than the little kitchen. And he also kind of assumed that Jim meant just moving things around, but Finn's still of the mind that... this was a lot. It was a lot and it was fast and- and he's not going to freak out about it. He's not going to freak out about Jim possibly freaking out (who is likely not freaking out) but anyway-

Finished with his little mission and not sure how to spend more time away even if he wanted to, Finn does, indeed, come back. He sits on the mattress, leans against James, and sighs. ]

I'll practice more, in case you ever want to try that again.

[ He needs to practice, anyway, but this is such good motivation to get over the fear of trying. ]

[winscenario]

[ He shifts a little once Finn comes back, smiling as he sits next to him again. He eases into Finn's personal space without thought or hesitance, feeling completely comfortable. ]

I do, [ He says quickly, somehow surprising even himself with that statement. He doesn't take it back, though. ] That would be... nice. And you can always practice with me, if you want.

[ He knows what Finn meant, that he'd practice so he wouldn't somehow lose control with him, but Jim's fairly sure he can handle it. Even if he couldn't, he wouldn't hold any incidents against Finn. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn would certainly hold any incidents against himself, and James would at the very least get pretty irritated due to Finn never coming out of a cave he dug. But he knows all this, knows that James wouldn't hold it against him, not if he didn't intend for such a thing. That honestly makes the idea hurt that much more. ]

Maybe. Sometimes.

[ He's smiling when he says it, though, because this time went okay. No one got hurt, at least. So long as he's in a good mental place, it should be okay. ]

Thank you.

[winscenario]

[ Jim figures that any mind link is safest when all parties involved are in a good mental place; it goes both ways, really. In a way, he's sure that's the reason why his mindmeld with Ambassador Spock was as rough and chaotic as it was, with the Vulcan's emotions all over the place. Inevitable for that kind of thing to bleed over.

So no, he's not planning on encouraging this when either (or both) of them might be emotionally compromised. Debilitated. But otherwise, he sees no harm in trying again sometime. ]

What are you thanking me for?

[ It's not like he was doing Finn a favor; he enjoyed that too. With a smile, he leans in to kiss Finn near the corner of his lips, curling up closer to him. ]

Should we lie down? See if we can get some sleep?

[hatejakku]

[ It's hard to say why he's thanking him because there are so many reasons. For being there, for being him, for still accepting Finn, for enjoying his company, for trusting him, etc etc.

But he doesn't answer the question. Finn just smiles when he's kissed and pulls them down until they're flat on the mattress and he can hold him properly. ]

That sounds like a good idea. First night's sleep in a place like this is usually hard but... I think it'll be all right this time.

[ He punctuates that with a kiss to his forehead. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim follows Finn's lead and lies down on the mattress. More of a flop, if they're being honest here, and Jim lets out a soft, airy chuckle, even as he scoots closer to Finn.

He nudges the covers up their bodies, tugging them up the rest of the way with his hands, so they'll be tucked in and a little more comfortable. Then he drapes an arm over Finn's waist, nuzzling into the nook of his shoulder with a sigh. ]

Mm, yeah... think I'll sleep just fine, tonight.

[ Which is an odd thing to think, when Jim can hardly remember the last time he's even shared a bed with someone, much less so like this. ]

[hatejakku]

[ It's fortunate that Jim doesn't really mention that last part, because Finn is weirdly confident right now. It helps that he knew first-hand how James felt, so he doesn't think too terribly hard about it.

At least, not right now and not in that way. Maybe part of it is that he doesn't want to ruin this tonight, wants just this all to himself. Being a little selfish and all that.

Finn doesn't say anything. He wraps his arms around James, one hand resting on the back of his neck, and he just tries to... stay as much in this moment as possible. Maybe it will be difficult for Finn to sleep tonight, after all.

It won't be. ]