TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

[erkumods]

TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

00. 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. The Dragon's Matchmaking Welcome to the Island, cherub dragons! The auspicious actions of your fellow Islanders have foreseen the reintroduction of dragons to the world. Unlike the hulking, possessive creatures of ancient lore (and recent hot springs), these well-meaning little critters love to help. Their small size and roly-poly frames make them unsuited to laborious tasks, but they will be the perfect companion to any residents who endeavor to pick up a small item, wish for their lunch to be delivered to an absolute stranger, or need a fire started from a tiny, flaming sneeze in their drafty homes. If a cherub dragon sees an Islander they perceive in need of their assistance, they will zip right in and refuse to scram until they’ve done the job! No visible struggles? No problem! The little dragons also love to play matchmaker. Persistent dragons will gleefully nudge together Islanders they believe will have chemistry, and sometimes they aren’t wrong! Of course, even if sparks fail to fly, the dragons’ trilling songs are known to kindle romantic feelings between strangers and long-time lovers alike. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. Ruins While the Islanders have been enjoying their autumn relaxation, the ‘bots of Erku have been hard at work clearing the surrounding forests of dangers for their guests’ safe habitation. If you are of deft hand with monster slaying, forestry, or even just hauling debris and weed picking, the robots will gladly exchange credits for help with reconstructing the recently unearthed mountain temple grounds from the rubble that remains there. Just follow the path of gently glowing mushrooms to the site of the temple ruins. Beware of lurking creatures, grabby plants, and falling rocks! The temple ruins are tall and breathtaking, despite the eerie chill of the fog that lingers just beyond. Or is it the fog that sends a shiver up your spine? After all, this place was very spiritually important to the original inhabitants of the Island, the robots say to anyone curious enough to ask. Although their own programming does not include religious worship, the Augur believes the restoration of this place to be vital to the continued augmentation of Eros energy. When questioned about the strange shadows that seem to slip from tree to tree, or the unsettling feeling of ghostly hands that seem to nudge volunteers deeper into the grounds, the robots respond with nothing but bafflement. Their sensors detect no unknown organic presence afoot. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Ritual Islanders who chase those mysterious shadows may find themselves particularly drawn to a structure that lay deeper within the ruins, beyond where the robots have made the most progress. Three sets of crumbling, moss-covered stairs join to form a central platform, which - despite the overcast skies - seems to emit a soft glow. Those who step onto the platform may begin to hear a quiet, compelling voice, which urges them to be free of their inhibitions and to offer their energy to the spirits to be multiplied hundredfold. Visions of naked bodies in the throes of carnal worship dance before the eyes. Those who are especially spiritually sensitive - or perhaps, just lucky - may feel as if possessed by a consciousness that is not their own, and that consciousness is filled with a burning sexual desire. Leaving the platform is an option if alone, but the intense and overwhelming urge to seek companionship will persist until an Auspicious Act is completed. Those who are fortunate to be joined by company within the temple will feel compelled to worship right then and there, no matter the risk of being seen. Within the walls of the temple, Eros energy is enhanced such that any erotic act - big or small - will be enough to break the spell. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

nam seonho | my country: the new age

[eolja]

A; (1) dragon friend

[the concept of anyone trying to Help Seonho do anything is such a rarity that it takes him like... a Minute or two to realize what these lizards(?) are doing, wow. He’s still somewhere on the beach, sodden and covered head to toe in sand, when the first dragon flies off in what he thinks is an attempt to lead him to a shelter. Maybe a lake where he can wash off all this sand??? Maybe to his death like he deserves…

Anyway onward he goes, peeling off his wet coat and shaking out the topknot in his hair, trusting in these dragons.

Only to end up staring at that same coat now thrown over the topmost branches of this extremely TALL tree where the dragons have lovingly left it to dry. Y’know, since seonho asked….]

That is... absolutely not what I meant by ‘the best way to get dry’.

[anyway now he’s just topless and staring at a coat that he’s sure will take him all day to get with roly poly dragons floating above him. is this sex island or just ‘make seonho’s life difficult’ island]

B; blocked, y'all are full of sin

[seonho is the least spiritual person he knows (even if he does go to the temple every year and do ancestral offerings but whatever…. God Isn’t Real and he knows that for a FACT(ish)) but there’s something about this mossy platform that’s just… like… giving off weird vibes.

Like sex vibes....... it takes him a moment to realize what exactly this central platform is for, and the expression on his face turns pale with something like pearl-clutching shock and also queasiness... because,]

Surely not -- here? [HERE?] Does it ever get... cleaned?

[everyone really be worshipping on this mossy stone platform? One of the roly-poly dragons (still tagging behind seonho because he’s a certifiable mess) starts flapping its little wings over the moss, intent on like getting whatever dust seonho has such a problem with out of all of those stone crevices.

Seonho presses a hand over his eyes like he’s waiting to wake up, then turns abruptly around in order to descend one of those staircases, hopefully... he doesn't smash (heh) into anyone,]

C; wildcard

[i WILL?? write a sinful starter because i am absolutely full of SIN (surejan.gif) so lmk.... i know it says 22 on his info post but he's 28 here from his current canonpoint!!]

i still don't (b)elieve you can sin

[lockedon]

[ Don't worry bud, even if some accidental smashing happens, your furry friend with a giant gun on his back's got you.

By which I mean—there's a pair of hands lifting to settle on Seonho's shoulders, steadying him in place lest they both trip and tumble down the steps to their untimely demise. ]

Watch where you're going.

[ The words are cool, but there's no particular bite behind them. They're simply meant as caution, and not a quick retorted insult. His eyes flick over Seonho's head and towards the dais, searching for anything that might have caused this man's sudden attempt at departure.

But....it's just empty. Weird. ]

Is something wrong?

[ Is Mothman back again....is he gonna have to cuddle yet another sad and suddenly lonely-feeling person.... ]

um 'bringing down the duke' in my kindle begs to DIFFER!!

[eolja]

[why did i think eustace was a catboy swordsman im wheezing at his giant gun,

Seonho would thank him for the save if he wasn't so rattled by both the feeling of Eustace's hands on his shoulders (the last time anyone has touched him without intending violence was like, eons ago) and at the realization that now he has Company......... maybe god does, in fact, exist to laugh at him, specifically. He backs up a step to give Eustace room, towards the platform but not totally on,]

It's the altar.

[also why this extremely vague question, huh eustace. there is just so much wrong right now!!! he's about to dissociate and talk all about it!! instead, Seonho looks up at Eustace, then at his wolf ears, and then at the softly glowing platform, and throws a dart at his panic board.]

Is it the custom here to just, [he... gestures. it's his 'have sex' gesture,] do it... out in the open?

[also MOTHMAN??? seonho might be a furry but he's not an insectophile (I THINK.......... unless shinobu is around ig)]

i'm going to read it now and judge its spice level for myself

[lockedon]

[ touken ranbu has told us that catboys only wield swords but i am here to prove them WRONG!!

Eustace is not here to prove anything though, only to check out this random temple in the middle of nowhere because that's just what he does. It's better than spending his days banging, at least, even though he's quickly beginning to suspect that banging was the whole reason this place was built.

When will he be free.

But clearly someone else here is suffering more than he is, and now that they're both steady, he lets Seonho go, stepping back to eye the temple critically. 'Do it', that's cute. ]

Not that I've seen, but this place likes to reveal new secrets every so often. I wouldn't be surprised if we're both supposed to go up there and worship [ note the heavy sarcasm in his voice ] now that we're here.

[ What a great welcome! And somehow he doesn't seem troubled by this at all?? His gaze slides back to Seonho. ]

Does that bother you?

[ This guy looks hella bothered, ngl. ]

it's EXTRA SPICY!!! there are no furries but there are women's rights to bang in it

[eolja]

[eustace trying to pursue other hobbies and just constantly being derailed by banging 😔 someone save him… maybe he should pray to this god about it.

Seonho does in fact look hella bothered, though it’s not directed at Eustace than it is directed at like... everything. At least Eustace supplied an upfront answer to Seonho’s dumb question, it’s more than what he’d expect from a stranger. (mostly because he just assumes the worst all the time now) Now, it’s Seonho’s turn to Be Honest to Eustace’s question.

It was a question, right. Was that like... a proposition/question??? The other man looks so unruffled that it’s hard for Seonho to like read his thoughts?? This is exactly why Seonho has NO game unless it’s like bought and paid for -- ANYWAY]

...Yes. [yes... YEAH] But my discomfort means little if I can achieve -- whatever we’re meant to achieve here.

[he will bang anywhere and everywhere if it means he can go home (he thinks)]

There is a point to this, yes?

[what if temple sex isn't on the A5 cards................. what then val]

women's rights do turn me on....

[lockedon]

[ then they sit around and cry and contemplate their place in the universe

But even if temple sex isn't on their cards, ritual is, so Seonho can thank his lucky stars that banging in this abandoned temple will in fact get him one step closer to achieving his hopes and dreams.

Whatever they are. ]

Depends. Some things are easier to earn back than others.

[ Like snack foods, sexy outfits, and the random species of animals that wander this island. Why someone picked geese over like, horses, Eustace will never know, but at least they make for a tasty meal.

He's gotta give props to this dude though for pushing on ahead despite everything. +1 respect point to this guy in his robes (or whatever he's wearing) and overly fancy hair. So, in honor of all that, he will ask: ]

Why? Are you planning on taking that first step now?

[ Who's propositioning who now. ]

can't believe we're horny for women's rights and yet we're here playing these two

[eolja]

[seonho's hopes and dreams are probably too abstract to achieve through banging.... but he'll be maybe satisfied if they bang sanitizer into existence 🤔

now though.......................... his instinct to refuse mostly stems from a.) what if they get like... altar germs!!! and b.) good BYE dreams of banging until after marriage and c.) eustace is like... objectively hot and seonho is maybe 50% self-conscious about his ability to perform now closes eyes... it's just really embarrassing for someone who's normally such a perfectionist!!!

but other than that he doesn't have as much of a conniption for this question at least. He's gathered his resolve, and he's always been good at compartmentalizing his feelings before making decisions. It's not as if this one involves killing people or ruining lives (hell yeah). He is the very picture of Calm Assurance (not).]

If you're amenable to it. And if you have the time, since I imagine you came here with other plans in mind.

[he's so calm that he gathers his hair off over the shoulder of his fancy-ish robes (it's hot!!! the humidity!!!) in a quick, nervous gesture that reveals (1) obviously red ear... shut up it's the humidity.... do complete strangers usually fck here... what if he's committing some erku faux pas by propositioning eustace... well whatever it's too late now!!!]

i'm disappointed in us, and also in me

[lockedon]

[ Oh Seonho, what a sweet summer child. If he has the time, as though there's anything to do on this island other than engage in bang and bang-adjacent activities. Want to read a book? It's all terrible purple prose smut. Want to exercise? All the equipment is covered in dildos. Want to go take a dip in the hot springs? Surprise!! You're now horny for anyone who joins you in the water.

Anyway, it sucks here. At least if he's going to have to bang, he can bang someone highly attractive. Even if Seonho kind of seems like a stick in the mud (says a definite stick in the mud). ]

I already did what I came here to do.

[ Which was to check out this new place that had suddenly sprung up on the island and see if it elicited feelings of horniness or not. (Spoilers: it definitely does.) So he will continue to stand here, doing nothing except for checking out the dude in front of him. What is he working with today... ]

If you're planning on making this a productive use of time [ calling sex a productive activity....lol ] then we should agree on what squares you want to fulfill ahead of time.

[ Off this imaginary card he's never getting because you're not apping, time to throw a dart onto the kink list and see where it lands. ]

make it up to us.... app a girl from [redacted]

[eolja]

[stop he might be a stick in the mud but at least he has nice hair!! Otherwise, his outfit really reveals nothing beyond the fact that he’s probably very hot (like physically) in it. He does have a sword hooked on the sash around his waist though, so at the very least, seonho probably isn’t a twink.

This is the least sexy thing Seonho has ever heard and he’s very grateful for it. It’s better for his nerves that he thinks of this impending situation as just a....... cultural exchange or whatever, it’s fine. He’s going to just go ahead and access the card on his bracelet the way a nice robot showed him earlier, ]

I was told the more squares, the better.

[in the driest tone he can muster for the words ‘the better’ because surely everyone here wants to accomplish sex bingo. But oh hey, there’s ‘ritual’. That should apply for this situation, easy. One down and however many to go! Maybe this will fire up Seonho’s competitive nature. He points at both the ‘ritual’ and the ‘hair-pulling’ squares because like, why not it looks easy (even if eustace’s hair is shorter than his >:/ ) then he stares at the one that says

‘handcuffs’ (thanks kink generator). He knows what handcuffs are, or at least the Goryeo equivalent, but wait… hold on,]

Does it only count if I'm the one who’s restrained?

i'll app a girl from redacted if you app mr. prissy pants here

[lockedon]

[ Give him a moment to sidle over and peer at the guy's (very wild) card. Damn, going for three kinks at once....he has to give the guy credit where credit's due, he's definitely taking this all in stride now that he's gotten over the worst (maybe??) of his pre-bang nerves.

So he will do the same and hold nothing back. Except his heart because he is not a romantic, sorry if Seonho was hoping for a wine-and-dine followed by a romantic walk on the (crab-filled) beach. ]

It doesn't matter who gets restrained as long as one of the parties involved is.

[ Which makes it a lot more convenient to line up squares when discussing the very racy topic of business bang. ]

The same goes for any of the squares. [ He flicks his hand towards a random square as if to prove his point. ] So you can pick whichever side gets you off more.

[ I really hate that this was the first tag I wrote this morning. ]

a;

[zutsuki]

[Sodden wet gentleman, meet sodden wet teenager. Tanjiro happened to take notice of Seonho's dragons making off with his shed coat, and eventually comes upon him having found it himself, walking up to stand an amicable distance from him with a sort of amused grimace on his face.]

...they're really not very good at being helpful, are they.

[eolja]

[the dragons are really playing the long con here -- they absconded with seonho's shirt so he could make friends with tanjiro, the best teenager!!!

Seonho at least, doesn't look as chagrined as he usually would at being caught being a complete fool. maybe it's because Tanjiro's being sympathetic, instead of being rude.]

I suppose I could have been more specific.

[he'll say "don't put my shirt in a tree" next time... one of the dragons floats on down to look at Tanjiro with Interest, since u know, he's sodden and wet too, and what do helpful dragons do when they come across wet people,

they start tugging on the sleeves of his shirt!!! hell yeah!! Seonho's face twitches between "oh no" and "this would be funny if I just hadn't personally experienced this", and waves his arm in an attempt to help Tanjiro,]

[zutsuki]

[Darn pesky dragons anyway! Tanjiro chuckles with a shrug of his shoulders, about to offer that he shouldn't have necessary had to be specific enough to not have his things stolen, when... Well, one of the dragons comes to thieve his haori and he joins in the swatting.]

Oh-- no, no this is okay! I don't mind being wet, I can dry off later. [Please don't steal his things and hang them from trees.]

[eolja]

[the dragons: sorry what was that tanjiro? please steal your things and leave them in trees?

Seonho, for his part, finally does something beyond wave ineffectually and instead reaches out to snag the most aggressive one by the tail,]

If you really want to help, then why not start a fire? [wait] -- A small fire.

[the dragons considering this and then discussing amongst themselves... "how BIG of a fire?" like tanjiro who can speak to birds won't overhear them,]

[zutsuki]

[Understanding birds and understanding dragons really just continues to prove Tanjiro is a wholeass Disney Princess, and at this particular moment he is kind of hating that. Though at least it's useful to prevent them from setting the whole area ablaze??]

[He waves his hands to get their attention and immediately is making a gesture with his hands as best he can with one of them mostly useless, holding his good one open and bringing it closer to his strangely shriveled left in a "small" gesture that he really hopes is properly conveyed.]

A small one!! Small fire! Did you not hear this man just say that...? [He gives Seonho a brief apologetic look.] I'm starting to think they have pretty selective hearing.

[eolja]

[im crying i forgot about tanjiro’s injuries!!! Which give Seonho pause, but he's seen and treated so many wounds in battle that it doesn’t really register as particularly strange. Though it is noteworthy, especially combined with Tanjiro’s youth. Perhaps he's some kind of soldier as well...

Also Seonho's starting to think that these dragons have selective EVERYTHING, even the one who’s still dangling from his hand, but Tanjiro's comment gives him pause]

-- Can you understand them?

[tanjiro?? You can speak… DRAGON??]

[zutsuki]

[He's a disaster with a beef jerky arm, it's true. He'll gladly explain that it doesn't especially bother him, should Seonho decide to question it, because he'd lose it again and again if it meant restoring his sister.]

[He blinks, frowning and looking between him and the dragons a few times.]

Sort of? It's... a little garbled, I guess. [I should actually consult the mods on this weird ability of his and if it extends to Erku creatures.]

[eolja]

[tanjiro... pure... also im sorry @ mods for godmoding tanjiro's dragon ability 😭]

That should make things easier for you... is what I'd like to say.

[the dragons are clustering around a little pile of driftwood, taking turns puffing on it... it would be cute if Seonho wasn't also like 50% nervous]

I'll look for some water just in case. And maybe the breeze will rescue my shirt in the meantime.

[Seonho says jokingly, while also 50% filled with DOUBT]

[zutsuki]

[I made sure to bring it up/ask in my app so... mmmmaybe it's okay, RIP.]

[He watches the dragons gather around the driftwood with a bit of a grimace, and calls over his shoulder in thanks.]

--oh, that's. A good idea, thank you! I might be able to get your shirt, when you come back... [What are weird spring-loaded demon slayer jumping abilities.]

A

[fistsofchange]

They're not too bright, are they? I think they mean well, though.

[Lin stared up at the jacket, trying to decide if she could get that high. It seemed only polite to help out people when you could, even if getting his jacket back might ruin the view.]

I might be able to reach it.

[eolja]

[Most of his discomfort at being like half-naked in front of a lady (look, he also has manners!!) is ignored in favor for really looking at Bai Lin. She is... absolutely not like anyone he's ever seen – her red hair for one is somewhat shocking – but her overall aura is... Hm. Whatever it is, it convinces him not to look as doubtful as he might feel.]

I appreciate the offer, however... It looks like a difficult journey, even for a skilled climber.

[you know, for a normal 100% human being which bai lin is, right]

[fistsofchange]

[A closer look might suggest that the roots of her hair of solid black, and that her hair might be dyed. She was 100% human.

Not normal human, though.]

Oh, climbing won't be necessary. Hang on.

[Lin took a few big steps back, squinted at the tree for a moment, then took ANOTHER few big steps back. Then she did a brief run up before jumping. The jump looked like it should get higher than two or three feet in the air, but somehow she just...kept going up. Like the laws of gravity had just thrown their hands up in the air, exasperated, and gone to paying attention to everything else going on because she CLEARLY wasn't interested in anything they had to say.

She actually didn't QUITE make it to the coat, but she was able to grab a branch. It turned out a bit of climbing WAS necessary. It took a few grabs, as the coat was out on a thinner branch that probably wouldn't support her weight and she had to leeeeeean way over while still holding on to the trunk before she was able to slip a finger around the sleeve and give it a pull.]

1/2

[eolja]

[bai lin







what on GODS GREEN EARTH WAS THAT]

[eolja]

[the fact that she didn't actually make it to the coat yet in no way lessened Seonho's Awe at her, uh, masterful... martial arts abilities? Had Seonho ever even seen martial arts master jump that high before? Did it count as martial arts if it broke the Laws of Physics? (probably)

There wasn't much Seonho could do besides.... move restlessly around the base of the tree with his arms out like he's thinking of catching her if she like........ falls. The tree wasn't so high up that it'd kill him, he's sure. He's endured worse.

it would suck for sure, but it's just bad manners to let Bai Lin break a limb after trying to help him]

[fistsofchange]

[It took a few tugs and shakes to get the jacket down without tearing it. Then she bundled it up around one hand and hopped back down, drifting down at an almost leisurely pace before landing with barely a knee flex.

She held the jacket back out to him.]

Here.