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TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE
| 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 |
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[ he can't help but admit that. they're very round, the little feet are cute, and the chirping is like no noise he'd associate with what he'd consider a dragon. he found this one sitting atop his daggers, too; he can only assume the creature had something to do with getting them back.
he shakes her hand - his grip also firm, and the smile widens a bit more - before he lets it go. ]
A pleasure to meet you, Diana. [ the island isn't exactly a vacation, no. he's gotten some of the lowdown from the robots and other people, so he's at least aware of the a5 and what's expected of them. again with sounding like a horny faerie tale from back home. ]
Well, good to know I haven't accidentally offended some staple of the island.
[ he reaches up to poke the dragon, who makes a noise where it's settled in the hood of his uniform. he looks back to her. ]
How long have you been here, then? From what I understand, everyone isn't a native outside of the robots.
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I think the only thing you might offend here are the cats. But cats seem to be offended by almost anything.
[Gods, these plump little things are far too adorable. If they weren't clearly harmless, she might be suspicious. But over the past year or so, she's honed her "sex city" instincts for detecting trouble, and is fairly certain that at this moment, they're safe.]
A few months. [Said casually, as if this is an everyday sort of thing for her. Which, by this point, it basically is. The dragon on her shoulder burbles, and puffs out a ruby flame; she doesn't seemed concerned at all about catching fire. Instead, she just reaches up and pokes its snout to get it to stop.] The community was completely abandoned when the first of us arrived. Much of our time since has been spent making it habitable.
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[ even coeurls. don't fuck with couerls, and they won't fuck with you. it's a lesson learned in spiderwebbing lightning scars across his body. he watches her intently, none the less, listening to her speak about her time here and poking the dragon.
he smiles seeing the flames, resisting the urge to conjure his own as he had with the one following him. ]
So what they said about restoring the place is true. Is the method true as well?
[ he asks it bluntly. they'd implied that having sex was the quickest way to restore the island; and he's already come across various improvements, like the greenhouse, the barracks and the baths. ]
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[Not that she's planning to take a cat into the house any time soon, but the short time she had some as pets, they seemed fairly self-sufficient and, yes, to not really give a fuck about anything. That was something she couldn't really complain about.
Ah, they've come to the crux of it all. Diana pauses a moment before answering--not because she's trying to be cagey, but because she's been caught a little off guard by how straightforward he's being. Most people who feel the need to ask about it are embarrassed, at the very least. But she doesn't get the feeling that he is--rather, he seems as if he just wants to know the facts, know what he's in for, and that's something she can admire. She meets his eyes again, still idly petting the dragon on her shoulder like it's the most natural thing in the world.]
It is. [Candidly, no fuss or blushing.] The Augur has informed us that the best way to repair the island is by having sex, and so far, it seems to be true.
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I suppose there are worse places to be stuck. The company's nice, at least.
[ a light flirtation, but nothing with real heat behind it, still accustomed to social norms where coming on too strongly isn't good. ]
I've seen some of the newer items - they stand out against everything that's falling apart. I'm glad there's basic things in place and not everyone focused on getting a bar running.
[ his tone is so wry. ]
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[A light flirtation, but one Diana takes note of. A smile pulls at the corner of her lips. Pragmatism isn't a bad trait. Amazons don't believe in hiding their desires, or denying themselves what they want. In some ways, that makes it seem as if places like Duplicity and this island shouldn't bother her so much. But they do--she's never liked feeling caged. And despite the improvements to the island, when all is said and done, it's still its own kind of cage.
Diana laughs, a melodic sound from deep in her chest.]
Some of us know that people need more than alcohol to survive. [She flashes him a grin.] Though it wouldn't hurt to have a nicer place to get it.
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no choice about that, but to focus on diana, the lovely laugh she gives him when he flirts with her a little. he likes her already. ]
Duly noted, and taken into consideration. [ he had, after all, once worked at a bar and that had been a long-off dream of his, to open one again. after everything. and now that he was dead and everything was beyond his control, it seemed appropriate as any a goal. ] But glad to help with the basics, first. Although it seems I'm arriving a bit late to that party.
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Diana rolls her eyes skyward, a mock show of exasperation. Well, partially mocking.]
Trust me, there's still plenty of party to go. [She says "party" with a healthily sardonic tone. But a moment later, her expression softens.] If you can think of anything we need, say something. We can work on it together.
[Perhaps not the best choice of words, which she realizes a moment later. Ah, well. She clears her throat, reaching up to pull a lock of her hair from the little dragon's mouth. Luckily, it isn't singed.]
Well, you know. Make a group effort.
[Nope, still not great. Hera help her.]
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he'd continue the metaphor, but then she mentions working on it together - quickly amended to making a group effort - which only makes the teasing smile on his mouth grow, his eyebrows raising up as if to ask really? ]
Lend each other a helping hand?
[ he finally laughs, his dragon falling off his shoulder as he does and floating back up after a moment. ]
I get what you mean. I'll be sure to keep it in mind. I can't think of anything at the moment, but I haven't finished canvassing around, to be fair.
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There isn't much to canvass yet, fortunately.
[Or... unfortunately. Gods, she misses having a place to get good coffee.]
Until we figure out how to get home, we might as well try to live semi-comfortably. Anything you can think of might help.