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

QUESTIONS

[erkumods]

Satoru Mashita | Death Mark

[markbearer]

II: Skullflowers

[So Mashita just got here and it seems like he's already getting roped into some kind of paranormal bullshit in the form of freaky flowers. He grimaces in disgust at these things, already regretting getting involved in the task at hand as some of the sap ends up on his hands.]

Great. I love having gross shit on my hands from fucked up flowers, it's the best feeling.

[The sarcasm is strong in this one, but to be fair, it's not the first time he's had to deal with weird plant shit. But at least this is a step up from Hanahiko?

... At least, until the hallucinations start, but hopefully you are not with him that happens, because a guy with a gun is probably a bad idea to be around if he starts tripping out here.]

III: Tarot

[Mashita has always been an abrasive individual who has to watch his back frequently, so that's nothing new for him really What is new however is the clingyness as he finds himself standing way too close for comfort to some people here.

If he gets called out on it, his response is about as abrasive as ever--]

Look, there's some weird shit going on and quite frankly you look like you would fall over from the force of a summer breeze. Consider this just doing my civic duty in looking out for the people or whatever.

[... Sure Mashita, that's totally a valid excuse.]

WILDCARD

[Got something else in mind that you want to do with us here? Feel free to hit us up!]

james t. kirk ▹ star trek aos

[winscenario]

▹ ARRIVAL & EXPLORING

[ Of all the adventures he's gotten himself into, getting outright abducted to some alternate reality is definitely a first. Captured? Sure, a couple times. Held for ransom? Been there. Running into some ragtag group of less than friendly aliens? Oh, yeah. This is definitely new, though, on a whole lot of different levels.

Trying to wrap his head around the mere concept of this place is giving him a headache, so he focuses on learning as much as he can about where he is. Eager as he is to find a way out, he's not stupid enough to think it'll be that easy, especially when so many people are already stuck here, not able to find a way out.

After claiming one of the apartments (though he foolishly still hopes he won't need it for very long), he heads out to explore what he can of the island. Various spots where he can be run into; he'll be at the library first and foremost, using what credits he may have to acquire a reading tablet, then downloading as much media as he can onto it.

Stupid of him to think he'd find anything useful, alas. Instead he ends up with a small collection of fiction, and an even bigger collection of very explicit erotica, that might have him shifting where he sits, clearing his throat before closing whatever it is he's reading or watching. He's not at all against porn, honest, but out in public probably isn't the best time or place for it.

The hospital earns a passing visit, if only to check what are the medical supplies like here, and from there he heads out to the gym, where he finds some useful spots to train, and some... interesting devices that just have him chuckling in amusement as he puts a hand over his mouth.

Seriously?, he manages to mutter, then from there, out he heads to check out the bathhouse.

He may have plenty to say about this place, but one thing he can't deny is how beautiful the architecture is, even if mostly rundown. It reminds him a lot of Ancient Roman ruins, and the bathhouse is the place that brings that to mind the most. While he wasn't planning on indulging in the baths, the steam rising from the water is incredibly appealing, and seeing someone nearby looking absolutely relaxed, he sighs and gives in, shedding the single towel wrapped around his waist and climbing in to take up a spot next to them.

... well, he was going to have to wash himself eventually, so he may as well do it now, and enjoy it in the process. ]

▹ HARVEST HUNT

[ It's not the harvest itself that interests Jim. Instead, he's more curious about exploring further beyond the main settlement of the island, and this seems just like the perfect opportunity for it.

He does take advice into account and looks for someone to join him, both during the journey and later on as they find somewhere to set up camp when the sun begins to set. He's intrigued by the crowns given to them, and either during the walk or later on, once they're settled down for the night, he'll idly inspect the flower crown he was given, an eyebrow raised in amusement, albeit still looking very much skeptical about it. ] You don't think these actually do anything to keep us safe, do you?

▹ SEEDS & SAP ▹ TAROT ▹ WILDCARD

[ If anyone would like to do anything with any of the other prompts or anything else not listed here, honestly feel free to PM me and we can hash something out! I cannot stress enough how I am open to literally anything. ♥ ]

William Harris (Queen) | Arrow

[slavophile]

| arrival

( Russia is its own version of cold and wet. William is well versed. But, William was on a plane coming from Russia, not in the ocean. He comes to as his body meets the sand, washing him ashore. Everything feels wet and heavy as he crawls himself out of the drink. Looking back behind him, he searches for plane debris, anything. He even looks up above himself.

That's when the robots approach.

He takes the offered towels, removing his shirt to dry himself off. And the -- hardware. )

This a bracelet?

( He doesn't put it on, yet, focusing on catching his breath. He searches his pockets quickly to try and grab his 2020 phone. But, he comes up with nothing.

Bracelet in hand, he wanders down the beach first. )

| iii. tarot

( As silly and random as the robots' fun and games sound, William's never been a 'joiner.'

He does take a break from tinkering with his bracelet and the network to socialize, however. He may not take a flower crown or go hunting for skull sunflowers he sees everyone has, but he'll take a fortune. He believes more in the metaphysical thanks to the Monitor and time travel.

Don't think. Feel, he's told. )

That's - that's not a fortune. That's like really vague advice.

( First, he'll turn to whomever is near him, maybe in line with him.

Without thinking, he grabs someone's skull sunflower. Other people have them. Should he. After a second. ) Sorry, is this yours?

( And then for comparison's sake, don't mind William just grabbing onto your wrist and holding it in his hands. ) Hey, can I check yours out? I'm good with tech.

| ii. seeds and sap

( He should've kept his hands to himself, but he wasn't thinking. At some point, he gets that sap on himself. Wiping it off on his now dry shirt does nothing, unbeknownst to him.

It's later on when he can't sleep, even though his sister is here in one piece, he can't turn his brain off. So, he goes wandering. Not that there's much to wander around or toward.

Stopping in his tracks, he brings his hands up in front of him. He shakes his head. No, he's had this nightmare before. Years ago. As a kid. )

Don't. Don't come any closer.

( He doesn't see whomever it is in front of him. He sees Prometheus. He sees the man that kidnapped him, that's responsible for his mother's death, for a very rough start with his dad. )

You're not here, you're dead. You've been dead.

( hit me up at pepperwood if you'd like a wildcard/have another idea )

harvest hunt

[unvarnished]

[August is more interested in the exploration himself, so it's nice he has a buddy to come along with him. Though he will still pick some herbs along the way out of curiosity. He actually thinks these crowns are pretty fun. Wearing foliage on his head kind of makes him feel like he's literally going back to his roots, in a way.

To Jim's question, he chuckles]

You'd be surprised. There were harpies hiding in mist a while ago, but they left you alone if you were wearing cat ears.

cor leonis | final fantasy xv

[cutsdeep]

arrival

[ it is strange, to go from sleeping to almost drowning - feeling like he's in that strange spot between wakefulness and dreams, only to realize he's surrounded by water.

but cor is nothing if not a survivor, so he kicks up and out of the depths, swimming his way to shore, buoyed by the currents. when he gets ashore, he takes a moment to catch his breath, only to be provided a towel and some kind of bracelet for communication.

which is good; his phone is missing. catch a slightly waterlogged man puzzling over his new accessory, his suit and the shirt under it clinging to him. ]

harvest hunt

a.[ he stays the night in the barracks, getting his clothes cleaned; the next day, his sword and phone are returned to him, which makes up for arriving without them.

the encouragement to gather food and to secure a source of money takes some precedent. he doesn't trust the robots, but violence doesn't seem to be the solution here. cooperation should work, at least for now.

he's provided camping supplies, and one of the crowns. when in rome, do as the romans do; so he leaves it on. catching the eye of someone nearby, he speaks, his voice authoritive. ]

It isn't a good idea to head out alone. Perhaps we should work together.

b. [ because he was fool enough to leave the crown on his head, the foraging trip turns... a little different than intended.

if you caught him with a flower crown, one moment your companion is there, and the next he's gone - cor disappearing into the foliage like a ghost, only a faint chuckle to the east any indication of where he's gone.

if you caught him with the hunter crown, you may suddenly be aware your companion seems to be intent on following your every move. or, if going it alone - there's the distinct feeling of someone watching you, and tracking your movements. the sound of twigs snapping nearby is the only alert you'll have. ]

tarot

[ curiosity abounds regarding this tarot reading, and so he indulges the robot offering it. the cards laid in front of him are unfamiliar, and the note that he will be brash and impulsive gets him chuckling.

but he can feel the magic settle over him a moment later, his eyes narrowing. the robot has no answers when he threatens it, mildly or outright - in fact, that gets him ushered away from the location.

he can feel a familiar annoyance bubbling up - something he hasn't felt in three decades. and, unable to hold it back, he summons his katana to his side and heads into the darkness.

there may be darker creatures in the night, but he doesn't fear them - he fears no monster, and no man. will you stop him?

if not, catch cor foolishly engaging the monstrous denizens in combat - or maybe saving your character if they happen to get themselves into a bad situation. ]

( ooc: feel free to wildcard me, or use alternate tarot options! )

[winscenario]

[ Jim hasn't put it on yet, hasn't quite felt the need for it and has admittedly been a little too wary to do so. He's not sure yet what he can or can't trust, here. ]

Fun stuff, sounds like.

[ Except no, not really. He purses his lips, dragging his thumb over some of the petals. ]

It's pretty at least. Not sure it'd suit me.

[unvarnished]

Hm, yeah, those are nice. You want to swap? Maybe this foliage crown will suit you better.

[winscenario]

You think so?

[ He shoots August a smile, shrugging and offering the flower crown. ] Sure, why not?

[ Once they've swapped crowns, he puts the one made of foliage on his head. ] What do you think?

Nakajima Atsushi | Bungou Stray Dogs

[gekkajuu]

((OOC: Unsure if I can app, but...
Atsushi is 18. I'm not really expecting smut with him right off the bat (not that I'd be opposed to it), so let's see if anything happens - but I'm also very happy with gen!
Will adapt to tense & format of your preference.))

1. Arrival

[Perhaps crawling out of the sea in an unfamiliar place populated by robots is not strictly the strangest thing that's ever happened to Atsushi, but it's strange enough. First thing's first: he tries to work out what's happening, not only going on what the robots are saying, but there's precious little else he can find out.

He returns to the beach frequently after that, just because he's not sure where else to go after a quick look around - and because, frankly, he's a little lonely. He should be able to handle this by himself, and maybe he is! But he can't help hoping to find someone he knows, and so he returns to the beach, sitting in the sand and looking out over the ocean, a little sad and very much yearning.]

2. Apartments

[A run-down apartment is more than good enough for Atsushi, so off he goes, finding one that seems like nobody's living there (or not anymore). He heaves a big sigh before nodding with determination. Time to tidy things, and start cleaning!

Maybe you suddenly have a neighbor? Or, if your apartment was a total mess, maybe you'll return to find a young man on an intense cleaning spree, muttering to himself as he works. He really didn't realize someone was living here already!

... Or you could lie and say it's your apartment, since that saves you the trouble of tidying and cleaning. Maybe it will work! Then again, you never know.]

3. Hunting

[Atsushi is honestly a little disappointed to get a foliage crown - the flowers looked nice! - but he's not going to be rude and reject it. The flowers are probably better left for other people, anyway. It's fine.

And before long, it really is fine - though arguably not for you. If you happen to be wearing a flower crown, you may find yourself tackled and pinned to the ground before you even know what's happening, the speed and strength of your assailant definitely more than human.

But he certainly looks human, when you realize what's happened. In fact, he even looks... embarrassed? He's definitely blushing, too.]

... Sorry.

[He says that, but he's not getting off of you just yet. He will, soon! He knows he's done something bad, and he'll definitely scramble to his feet in a second or two. But just for this moment, he's going to -... Feel kind of happy? Something like that!]

4. Clinging

[Atsushi might at least try to believe a fortune teller, but when the fortune teller in question is a robot, that feels a little strange. Still, it can't hurt, can it? And the robot has bothered to set up shop, and everything... Ignoring it seems rude.

"Hold on tight" is the advice he gets. He doesn't really get it, but... maybe it's correct? He just needs to hang in there. Then he'll be able to handle this place just fine. That's right... Thinking of it that way, Atsushi actually feels pretty good about the fortune the robot gave him. Whether it looked into the future or not, it's good advice, and he'll try to stick with it.

Turns out, though, that the "sticking with it" becomes very literal, indeed. You may not even notice the young man, inconspicuous as he is - though he's not trying to hide himself, and he's not impossible to spot. Regardless, he'll launch himself at you to cling to your arm with both of his.]

... Nice to meet you.

[Well, this is kind of embarrassing. He knows it is, too, but he really can't bring himself to let go - and he's surprisingly strong, in spite of being scrawny.

Or perhaps you managed to dodge him that first time? No time for conversation, in that case! Prepare for another cling-attack, this one a little more deliberate.]

Wildcard
Bring it!

[unvarnished]

[He grins and puts the flower crown on his head. The bright colors of the flowers stand out nicely against his dark hair. August gives Jim a thoughtful look]

I think you look good. Like a wood sprite. What about me?

[winscenario]

[ Jim smiles at the praise. He reaches out to nudge August's crown, fixing it slightly on top of his head. ]

Very cute. Kinda like a forest fairy.

▹ TAROT

[possidetur]

( she's drawn to the cards, pulled by her curiosity, watching for a time as people approach, slowly getting closer herself, not to have her own reading but to listen, observe. and it's through these observations that vanessa notices how many of the readings pull the same response, different cards but similar warnings given all the same. warnings that eventually she questions.

there's one such man that she finally speaks to, emboldened by him, finding herself a little more curious about him than any of the other men or women that have approached. she doesn't know whether he's seen her when she speaks up but it'll be hard to deny that she's familiar with such practices herself )

Those cards would tell you more than what this... creature speaks of.

( she's never seen a robot before, doesn't have a term for it, creature fitting best even if it feels imperfect )

If you choose to believe it.

[unvarnished]

A fairy..? [He makes a face, though he smiles a moment later] All right, I guess I can live with that. Since you think it's cute and all. [He throws a wink. He is being absolutely shameless about flirting]

Lysithea von Ordelia | Fire Emblem: Three Houses

[dualcrested]

Arrival

[It was probably bad that waking up in an ocean wasn't the worst thing that had happened to Lysithea in her life. Attempting to not panic, she kicked up to the surface of the water, letting the waves push her into shore. Reaching the beach, she stands, wringing out parts of her dress and hair before she takes the towel and bracelet from the robots, taking in her surroundings.

Leaving the towel resting over her head, she starts walking down the beach.]

Great. What now?

I - The Hunt

[Hunting, huh? She definitely wasn't Petra, but she could give it a shot. Plus, it would give her a chance to explore more, especially with the opportunity to go with someone to watch her back. (She could handle herself, tyvm, but sometimes having backup was a good idea.)

Setting one of the flower crowns on her head (although skeptical of their promises), she turns to someone standing nearby.]

Well? Are you ready?

II - Seeds/Sap

[Well, these are creepy. But, they were apparently worth something, and not the worst thing she'd seen due to her childhood and the war. So, she can be found out there harvesting the seeds that the robots want, paying no attention to the sap collecting on her hands.

It can be washed off later, right?]

Wildcard
[You know the drill, kidlets. Want to do something different, hit me up.]

[ooc note: So, if allowed, Lysithea is a weird combo of GD and BE. Aka, she was golden deer, but saved by Byleth at Deidru in a black eagles timeline. Yes, this happened my first run, lol.]

tarot

[unvarnished]

[Wow this guy is being super grabby. First he's grabbing August's flower and then tries to grab at his device]

Why do you want to look at my device?

Char Aznable | Mobile Suit Gundam

[grudged]

arrival.

[Upon washing up on shore, Char made an immediately beeline for the barracks. It wasn't the most comfortable lodging, as to be expected, but it was familiar enough. It was also far preferable to roaming the wastes; he may have been armed but he wasn't willing to tangle with monsters. Not this kind of monster, at least, though he had dispatched others in the past.

So here was Char, making his home in one of the stiff beds. He catches the eye of a fellow wanderer and smiles.]

Hey, how you are you settling in? Need any help?

[What a nice fellow.]

harvest hunt.

[Char had accepted the foliage crown with some trepidation from the robots. He wasn't exactly keen on wearing a glorified plant on his head, but he also wasn't willing to take any changes with the local fauna so he decides the slight sacrifice to his dignity was well worth it. At least he isn't wearing his mask, which would've made it even more awkward, but...

After some time, an unpleasant feeling sinks into his stomach. And like any good hunter, Char starts to take out the best spots to corner prey. And now he has managed to corner you.]

Going somewhere?

[Not anymore. Char doesn't approach quite yet, instead swinging his legs over the edge of a ruined building and smirking like a devil.]

seeds and sap.

[His father was dead.

His father was dead, long since buried, long since shot, yet here he stood. Right in front of his forgotten son, gesturing to him, even smiling. And Char, despite himself, can't help but be hypnotized by the sight; can't help but walk forward. And yet he was always too far. And he keeps getting further away, and Char shouts at him, stuck in the hallucination from the sap.]

Get back here! God damn you, you owe me that much!

[Beware to any soul who approaches Char now. He's lost in his madness and in his grief, liable to lash out at anyone... even himself.]

(( Warnings for potential violence in the last two prompts, and potential dubcon in the second prompt. Would prefer to steer away from outright noncon. Open to gen or smut for everyone; kinks are over here. Char is not wearing his signature mask, so looks a little more like this. Feel free to wildcard on any of the tarot cards, or choose your own adventure! ))

[slavophile]

( He's not usually grabby, August. Usually, he asks before grabbing. He got distracted from the flower. Shouldn't have grabbed for it in the first place, but he'd missed his chance earlier in the day. )

Comparison. Everyone has one, right? ( He'd go for his bracelet proper, but William prefers to turn August's wrist in his hands, dragging his fingers along. ) It's out there tech. ( Like Star Wars. )

[unvarnished]

[Oh, he doesn't mind at all. In fact, he's fine with it. His tarot card instructed him to hold on tight and he feels compelled to do that, latching on to William with his free hand]

If you say so. The most advanced tech I know how to handle is my motorcycle.

[winscenario]

[ The invitation is intriguing, even if Jim's not really a believer of fortune telling or anything of the kind. It's not something he's particularly eager to indulge in, and even if he does decide to take the robot up on its offer, he certainly doesn't plan on taking anything that comes of it to heart.

The warning, however, gets his attention. He lifts an eyebrow as he looks up at the woman who's just addressed him, interest piqued. ]

What exactly would they tell me, then?

[slavophile]

I'm -- not from this year. Or, planet.

( Not that he thinks this guy is? Speaking of this guy, his gaze breaks from his matching bracelet and he sees that, hey, this guy is attractive. Forties, maybe? Late thirties?

Not a priority he's had in a long time, and not one he should have on another planet. But, between the inappropriate bingo and his sister being here for a month, he's not sure what his priorities should be.

August grabs on and William doesn't let go.

Eyes back to August's wrist now. )

I think they're all uniform. Do you know if the robots make them or retrieve them?

Rei Kurosawa | Fatal Frame III

[cursemarked]

[A. Arrival]

[This isn't the first time she's woken up feeling water-logged and exhausted. It's also not the first time she's woken up in an entirely different place than where she started, but a sunny beach? Yeah, that's new.

She stares at the robots silently, accepting the towel and the bracelet warily. Barefoot and clad only in a soaked nightgown, she can't help but feel a tad underdressed, so after being left on her own to explore, she starts trying to find someone else to help her out.]

Hey-- Excuse me? I need clothes. [Please thanks.]

[B. Harvest Hunt]

No thank you.

[Despite the insitant, albeit polite, tone, the robots hear none of it. They throw a flower crown on her head, leaving Rei looking faintly unimpressed and she sighs deeply.

She waits about 3 minutes before tossing the crown to the side, catching the eye of someone nearby as she does so.]

Ah... [A bit embarrassed, she shifts her weight and rests a hand on her hip] ...It's not really my color. [Is her excuse. She goes to walk away, only to be interrupted by another robot appearing to toss another flower crown on her head.]

...Do they ever quit?

[C. Saps & Seeds]

[After playing around with the gruesome sunflowers for longer than necessary, Rei's taken to the baths to try and wash some of the red sap stuff off of her.

She's tried to time it so she's alone, not particularly keen on the public side of this, but mostly because... Well, she tends to be going around the time the robots are setting up their little tarot show.

Well, once she's stripped down, wading into the pools up to her knees, she can feel a shift in the air, that magic feeling that invades everywhere. Only, it manifests itself very differently for Rei. She suddenly gasps in pain and hunches over, a snake & holly tattoo forming and spreading over her skin. She gasps softly in pain and slowly begins to straighten after a moment, staring down at the bright ink now covering her.]

Damn it... I thought this was supposed to be halted here...? [She rubs lightly at her arm, but the ink doesn't lift away.]

[winscenario]

[ Jim chuckles, his smile sharp and eyes bright. ] I do, yeah.

[ August is very cute, even without the flower crown, and it's definitely a plus that he seems so open to flirting at least.

There's also something starting to tug at him, some inexplicable urge to chase him down, which is a little weird when August isn't even going anywhere. ]

So, what did you do before you ended up here, August?

arrival

[smoakshow]

( hope feels double-edged sometimes. having it means she can move forward and keep her head above water ( metaphorically, this time ) but the association of having it when she met her father and lost him to death anyway is like a knife stirring up her guts. and if he hadn’t died, her life would be the continuous garbage disposal where good things go to disappear forever. she needs it, she understands why it’s operational but a tiny, little part of her will always hate the way it sets her up for freefall. she’s not deliberately hoping to see anyone she knows from star city when she decides to comb the beach.

10k told her about zombie sea monsters and if it happens twice, she kind of wants a front-row seat.

glancing up through the robots and arrivals at the right moment makes her want to believe in coincidences. mia promptly forgets why, she forgets everything. the robot in her path is damn lucky she doesn’t bodycheck it aside into the sand to get through. she’s not thinking about when or where or how; her mind is a whirlwind of being a bratty little sister and growing up with a wicked nerdy brother. the same one she hasn’t seen since her engagement party. )

William! ( the reluctance she would have had once isn’t there now, mia launches herself at him whether he’s ready or not. touchy-feely repulsion that may be hereditary, who needs that? she has to hug him to be certain this isn't a figment of her imagination. five seconds turn to a comfortable eight and then, she has regrets. )

God, you stink. ( like seaweed and salt — and which one of those perverted electronic creeps disrobed her brother??? ) What happened to your shirt?

ruby lucas ( red riding hood ) | once upon a time

[ridings]

I. HARVEST HUNT

[ she'd believed she was going back to the enchanted forest, or at least it had been her intention when she'd used the magic bean to create a portal from storybrooke. but the island gives no indication that it's any part of the original world she'd grown up in, mysterious as she wanders through, guided by the cluster of robots that urge her participation in the current events. though ruby's partially unsettled by not arriving to where she'd wanted to go, she doesn't sense too much of a threat either, and when the seemingly innocent robots offers an array of crowns, she picks one of foliage, taking it with a polite smile as she places it atop her head.

there's no telling how long it takes, because even she doesn't fully sense it until it happens, the thumping pulses of the people around her, heartbeats loud like overwhelming drums, tempting her, luring the beast within, and when she momentarily closes her eyes, they open once more with a ring of gold in the iris — an awakening of the wolf.

without the red cape to hold back those urges, she snarls in her breath, teeth sharpened into points, before she breaks into a run, quick in her step with a faster pace than any mere human, that it's unlikely for her prey to escape. whoever they are, it doesn't matter, not as she pounces upon them to throw them to the ground, echoing a growl as she presses her weight hard upon their lap.

her fingertips brush against the vertical stretch of their throat, as she traces her tongue slow across her lips, hungry for that succulent beating pulse that calls to her. and when she speaks, her voice is low, hushed like a dark whisper, ] I want you.


II. SEEDS OF SAP

A. — [ she tries to help out, to blend as much as she can while she's here, gradually figuring out the state of her situation, and so she expects it'd be harmless to assist in collecting petals and seeds from those strange sunflowers. harmless is a joke, of course, because all that shouts at her from within is the idea of "cursed", something she knows all too well from a history of witnessing magic and all the terrors it supplies with the unknown.

but she's a werewolf, so if there's something threatening about a flower, she decides to believe she can likely handle it.

until she sees the figure of a woman on the beach, hair as wild as her own, darkness and hatred looming in her eyes. for every step through the sand that the woman motions closer to her, ruby takes a step back, gaze watering into a frightened stare, head shaking slow in the weight of her disbelief.

you killed me, she hears the figure whisper, voice more of an echo than anything clear, carried like the hush of a ghost. you chose her. and you killed me.

with a shudder, she grits her teeth on the verge of tears, sniffling with a growing sob. ] I didn't mean to. I'm ... I'm sorry, mother. I didn't — please.


B. — [ eventually, she's introduced to the baths, advised that the water contains healing properties that can calm her nerves and ease the visions of her ghosts. ridding of her clothes, she dips into the heated pool, lowering the entirety of her body, letting the water stop at her shoulders, long dark waves of hair floating along the surface in curled ends.

with a sigh, she lets her fingers drift back and forth through the water, her heartbeat calming as the weight of guilt silences away.

when she notices another figure in the pool, she watches them carefully, almost cautiously before she gives a partial smile, intended as a polite gesture though almost tired. ] Are you, um ... are you here to clear the visions too?


III. FLASHBANG DINER

A. — [ when she hears about the island having its own diner, she almost laughs, knowing that somehow fate had probably brought her and a grubby place like that together on purpose. it seems even when she tries to escape, ruby lucas and waitressing are still destined soulmates, meant to always come together, even in the midst of a deserted island.

it's not the worst, though, especially when she fits into the role easily, greeting customers with a well practiced smile, plates spun in her palm with such ease, there'd be no denying that it's a trick she's been doing for years — even decades — that it's many long hours before she begins to feel the soreness at the bottom of her feet, finally calling in for a break.

with the diner still bearing a bit of crowded, being the most popular and possibly only ordinary food establishment on the whole island, she steps over to an already occupied booth, sliding in to the other side, opposite the customer already there, tilting her head with a kind smile. ]

Sorry. Been on these heels all day. Mind if I just sit here for ten minutes?

B. — [ for the most part, aside from the lack of familiarity amongst the customers, it feels close enough to the same environment as granny's diner. at least it does until tuesday comes along, or as it is more specifically named in the establishment topless tuesday, a day that she's pretty sure granny would instantly have a heart attack over if ruby ever had the nerve to suggest it as an option.

it's seemingly shocking when she first hears about it, but after a moment of processing it, she figures she's got no real qualms about the whole thing, easily slipping out of her shirt probably almost a little more eagerly than the other waitresses.

because some of them aren't fully convinced to go the extra mile towards nudity, ruby decides to stay on their level for the first half of the day, greeting customers with a confident grin, not at all uncomfortable with her attire of a red lacy bra and miniature shorts so high at her thighs that the tiny apron manages to cover it in full.

perhaps the customer she confronts now is someone in the early afternoon, who might find her still wearing that crimson lace. that or they catch her later in the night when she realizes the monetary tips are a lot larger when she goes the extra mile, stripping that extra piece to let her breasts fall free, hardly shy in either scenario. ] Anything I can help you with?

IV. WILD CARD

( feel free to adjust the above prompts as necessary in order to better fit a scenario for your character or if you'd like to approach a different kind of prompt altogether, just go ahead and ask in a pm! for reference, ruby is also red riding hood from the fairy tales (with the change that she's also the big bad wolf), but since she's well aware of this, fourth walling is totally fine! ruby is canonically bi, so options are open to all, with the potential for smut, if it steers that way, in I, II-B, and potentially even III. ♥ )