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

[occulti]

_{[ Oh no. Ooooh no. He's not sober, but he can tell by the way Tanjiro blushes, he's got a lot to get used to here. ]}

And—

_{[ And. ]}

If you're into guys, you got to use a lot of lubricant. A lot of it. Asses don't lubricate, okaaaay?

_{[ Nobody has leaky Prismatica butts here, Tanjiro. ]}

i love this thread oh my god.

[zutsuki]

[His left hand doesn't really work as well for the gesture, but he puts his hands over his face and wheezes softly, dragging his hands down his face a moment later and giving Klaus a withering look.]

Do you greet everyone with this much sexual education energy? [A moment later, significantly quieter:] Was it that obvious that I've slept with other guys?

good 1/2

[occulti]

Um. Absol-fucking-lutely I do.
And if they're older, demonstrations are involved. With consent.

Consent. That's important.

_{[ Klaus does catch that last bit, but he hadn't assumed Tanjiro was into guys. He was just saying that just in case.. to be inclusive. He responds, though, cause he has a funny answer. He leans in once more, and in all seriousness: ]}

I can smell the semen on you.

[occulti]

Haha, I'm just kidding.

1/3

[zutsuki]

[Things he did not need to know about Klaus: that. All of that. Though he appreciates that he makes sure to specify that consent is important, at least...]

[zutsuki]

[There is honest to God no entirely appropriately mortified expression in icon form to be used here. The fact that he opted to joke specifically for smell--]

I-- what?! Oh, my gosh.

[He sucks in a sharp, startled breath and leans away, nearly standing, picking up his haori and each of the layers beneath to smell himself very carefully.]

[zutsuki]

[Hope you're enjoying striking the Fear of God into a teenager, Klaus.]

I don't smell anything?? Except ocean, lots of ocean, and sand-- do I really smell like-- like that??

[occulti]

_{[ Oh God. He's laughing. ]}

Noooooo. Noooo. No. I was kidding, oh my God. I was kidding. Really. All I can really smell is... yeah.. myself. Wow, you really outed yourself just now, though.

It's okay. I'm pretty gay myself.

[zutsuki]

[He's just going to be permanently the color of an overripe strawberry, now, don't mind him.]

Either... is fine to me... [An up and coming bisexual disaster, aren't you proud, Klaus? He is so embarrassed.]

[occulti]

Mmm. Yeah. I've had my share of a good time with women, too.
But there's just something soooo charming about men.

_{[ Klaus smiles, looking soft, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Yeah, he's thinking of a certain someone. ]}

I always support you, okay? I don't know where you came from and how that thing is looked at, but I support you in case nobody else has before.

[zutsuki]

[...aww, Klaus. Tanjiro smells that longing, and he's not the smartest of kids but he can put together the puzzle pieces relatively well. He thinks he's German, he supports him in case nobody else has before... He really hates to see people who don't come from great family lives, even if he does understand they happen. But it would be rude to assume, even if his nose usually puts him pretty well on track, so he just smiles, nodding.]

Thank you, Klaus. I'll support you, too, if that's allowed.

[occulti]

Awwwww. That's so sweeeeeet. Nobody eveeeeer bothers to support me with anything. Not even my father. Thank you. Thank. You.

_{[ it's sad and true and he's drunk ]}

[zutsuki]

[Tanjiro has a brief thought that maybe he isn't supported because he's a drunk, but keeps it to himself and decides firmly that, drunk or not, he will support Klaus. If only because even if he's a drunk, no one should smell that sad normally, only to have it overwhelmed so much by gratitude.]

You're welcome. Do you need help getting somewhere, though? You're... kinda super drunk.

[occulti]

_{[ Klaus makes the biggest, deepest, more tired sigh. Though, his lips still are curved upward in a soft smile. ]}

No.
I'm waiting for my family. There's lots of them, so I'm hoping at least one of them show up.

I will be kinda super drunk when I see them and it will be wonderful. Besides, I don't even know if they're even alive.

[zutsuki]

[Oh. Where he'd started to shift like he might be getting up, Tanjiro flops back into the sand pretty immediately, smiling.]

Big family? Mine, too.

[He shuffles just close enough to lean across the space between them and bump shoulders with Klaus.] Mind some company while you wait, then?