ercookies | TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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N A V I G A T I O N

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Oh! Goodness... I really hope you don't have many of the latter kinds of people here.

[ It's good to see she was right about him in a way, though the way Tanjiro folded a bit more against his knees was concerning. Should she not have said that? Biting her tongue and deciding not to ask about it, she did perk up a bit and nodded before remembering he couldn't really see her at the moment. ]

Of course! I'll answer any questions you have about this place, Tanjiro-san. [ A beat follows that, to which she considers the other thing he'd asked her. ] I don't mind if you want to call me Kasumi, since i'm calling you by your first name, too.

[ In her eyes it just seemed logical and he seemed trustworthy so why not let him call her by her first name? There was no harm in it. ]

I haven't seen any, yet... [It's literally only one person, yet he says "any", like there are multiple. Tanjiro gets along with everyone, who are we kidding. He smiles a little wider, and shifts to lean back, but brings his knees with him. He winds up folded like a little collapsible chair of some kind, leaning on his back end with his toes perched up on the edge of the ridge he's sitting on.]

Kasumi-san it is, then. How long have you been here?

That's a relief! I'm sure there won't be many, but who can say?

[ Kasumi laughed softly behind one hand, watching him for a moment before quietly counting out something on her fingers with a sheepish smile on her face. There was something off about this place and with what Tanjiro had said before, a part of her was still a bit concerned.

A peristent nagging still was there at the back of her mind, and she had to wonder if he was feeling it much worse than she was. ]

About four months, I believe. I didn't realize it's been that long already.

[He's mostly just rattled, and has been since he first got to the ruins, by way of things pushing him further and then straight up talking in his head. That's a pretty new development, and not one he really cares for.]

[He hums, nodding, and drops his knees to sit like a normal person again, letting his left hand just kind of chill in his lap while he sets the other a little behind him to lean on.]

Four months... Time sort of gets away from you when you're reeling from being in a new place, hm?

[ To be honest, hearing a voice talking to you in your head would be more than a bit unnerving for anyone. Except for Persona users like herself, to which it wasn't entirely unusual.

She blinked, noting the way he was handling himself just then but not wanting to ask about it yet since it could be an offensive issue. Was it some kind of injury? Either way she knew she'd wait a bit before maybe deciding to ask him about that. ]

Yeah. It really does.

[ Kasumi shook her head, her smile bright as she looked towards the temple around them. ]

I mean... it's not like it's bad, or anything. I've met some really nice people here and now i've met you, too!

[You could call it that. His arm is basically completely lame from the elbow down, but he mostly doesn't let it bother him. Mostly.]

[He smiles, following her line of sight around the ruins.]

Mmn... This question might be a little, uh. Awkward? But I can't really figure out much of the... [He shakes his wrist to jostle the device there, because he's really not sure what to call it.] This thing, but... This guy came up to me on the beach when I first arrived and was talking about there being some kind of weird sexy bingo card. [His ears have gone a little red, and he's definitely looking at his wrist, and not Kasumi.]

[ It sure didn't take very long at ALL for her to figure out what Tanjiro was talking about, what with bringing attention to the bracelet along with what he'd said. Her own cheeks turned a soft shade of pink and initially, she just nodded. ]

You... can access your own bingo card through that bracelet, and there's squares that you have on it to fill out with other people. Through filling it out, they reward you for it.

[ Oh gosh she sure was blushing pretty good now, but thankfully not stumbling over things like she thought she would be. ]

I can help you with accessing it, and maybe understanding a couple of the things on it so you're not completely lost with it.

[The redness to his ears makes its way inward and travels down his neck, and he shifts to hook the thumb of his lame hand into the bracelet to carefully tug it off, setting it in his left palm to tap the screen. He really ought to wear it on his left wrist instead, so he can actually use it without removing it, but it's fine.]

...it's... I think I know what most of them mean, it's just. That seems like such a strange way to reward people. [He's not exactly complaining, it's just awkward.]

[ There's instantly a surprised squeak that escapes her as he does that in order to slip the bracelet off, eyes wide with surprise. Nobody's ever been able to take it off like that so easily and then that happened in a heartbeat. ]

T-Tanjiro-san, your hand--!

[ The words escape her before she can stop herself, nodding her head and exhaling a small sigh. ]

It is, but that's just the way things work here. Though... with that said, I um... it may be a bit much, but... [ Oh her face nearly matched her hair now with how much she was blushing here. ] If you ever need help with anything in your squares...

[He has to be able to take it off or he literally can't do anything with it, his left hand the way it is... He startles when she exclaims about his hand and his shoulders hunch up toward his ears, sheepish.]

...ah, yeah. I'd call it an old wound but it's really... not that old yet, but it's okay.

[He neatly brings both his hands to his face, pinning the left there with his right so it doesn't flop stupidly forward, and his ears turn an even brighter red.] ...noted. Thank you, Kasumi-san. Um... same... to you.

I... would like to know what happened, but... you don't have to tell me yet if it's a personal matter.

[ Oh gosh she honestly couldn't look at him right now, having almost surprised herself with how bold and open with things she'd been just now. Had this place's influence gotten to her already? At least he had extended the same kindness to her in turn. ]

Y-You're welcome. I'm... just glad you didn't find it rude of me when I suggested that

[He lets his hands fall back to his lap and flexes his right, willing the left to do the same when he knows by now it won't and just considers them for a long time.]

...I lost it in a fight to save my sister, so it doesn't work now. [He turns his head a little and reaches up to tap below his right eye.] Same for the eye. I can't see out of it.

[ Surprise flashed across her face when he actually told her, expression soon softening into something somber as she reached out to him. Very nearly touching his left hand with the intent to try and offer some kind of support before stopping short, her head starting to throb a little bit.

No. She couldn't think about all of that painful stuff now. If anything, this meant there was something of a common ground here. ]

I'm sorry you had to lose them like that, but... I'm sure your sister appreciates what you did for her.

[ This was WAY better than anything painful that was trying to make her head hurt. It had to be because she was thinking of her younger sister, surely. ]

Has it been difficult adjusting to being able to only have one arm and eye?

[She keeps... flinching, just barely, and Tanjiro isn't sure what to make of it. It's subtle, enough that the first time he thought he was misreading her, but this time he squints for just a moment at her. Even without the flinch, his nose didn't lie. Something was causing her pain.]

Are you in pain, Kasumi-san? [He's just gonna completely reroute that conversation. In part because he doesn't want to address the difficulties that come with having an arm dead below the elbow even a little bit, but mostly because he's got more important things to worry about: like this girl sitting next to him suffering in some kind of way he can't quite figure out.]

[ Where she had expected a number of other answers, the fact it was turned into her was not something Kasumi anticipated in the least. It had her eyes widening in surprise, her mind going briefly blank as she tried to find the words.

Was she... in pain?

There was a lot on her mind and not even talking to the good doctor had entirely helped. It wasn't just about the loss of her friend Adora, was it? She didn't feel like herself, and it was like she was lying to herself about something but what was it?? ]

I... I'm not... I mean...

[ She choked on the words, a small tremor going through her form. Ever since back home, there had been doubts. About who she was.

At times it didn't feel like she was even in her own body but... why was that? It was frustrating and the truth was sure to be painful but it had to be better than living in this sort of limbo and not knowing what it was. ]

This might... sound odd... but I haven't felt like myself in some time. Everything feels wrong and I don't know why.

[ Tanjiro is a very perceptive boy. He can likely sense the pain in her heart; the conflict that troubled her.

Indeed she wasn't quite who she said she was, but it wasn't as if she knew it yet. ]

[The confusion emanating from her is almost acrid, so he's mostly just concerned even if he doesn't really know her. Niichan gonna nii. He watches her struggle, starts to tell her not to worry too much, and quiets again when she explains further. His eyebrows knit together and he frowns, because it... does sound odd. Very odd. It's not like he knew her, himself, so he couldn't really reassure her about it, so he just makes a thoughtful hum of a sound.]

Do you know if that's something that happens to people here? A... side effect, maybe, of something else.

No... it's something that sort of started when I was back home.

[ Kasumi exhaled a soft, breathless laugh even as she brought a hand up to fiddle with the hem of her shirt idly. Words were hard right in this moment so it'd take a second to regain her bearings. ]

Just... since I got here it's gotten more prominent. There's something nagging at the back of my mind and I don't know what it is...

[ Underneath all of her confusion and hurt, perhaps Tanjiro would be able to pick up on something almost... sad and filled with guilt. It'd be muted but definitely still present. ]

I'd like to figure it out but... part of me isn't sure I actually want to know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

00. Arrival

I. The Dragon's Matchmaking

II. Ruins

III. Ritual

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