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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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[ She is... doing her best! She doesn't feel like sulking in front of people. Relena has maybe grown to have a more serious face on that she used to two years ago, but at least talking to familiar people she can will herself to smile. At least she isn't alone. Thank God. ]
Managing is better than not. I think 'okay' is the most I could hope for from anyone right now. This place looks like it's been abandoned for quite some time...
[ She sighs and pats her temporary dragon companion on the head. ]
Oh? Really? I guess a part of me didn't think he had a preference. I don' blame him, though... if it were a little less gloomy...
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[ a beat. ]
I'm not feeding you those, promise. We've got some fresh stuff.
[ he looks a little sheepish. imagine feeding an ambassador mre's! as for that last statement, she's more accurate than she thinks -- ]
I don't think he really had them, before. But he's been able to... develop some, I guess? Since he doesn't have to be fight, here.
... They brought our Gundams with us, though. [ his tone drops a little, not like it's a secret but because they were supposed to be gone. ]
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[ She appreciates his consideration. She hasn't lived roughly like either of them. She can't act like she's not been raised among politicians and nobles. ]
I'm glad to hear that. If nothing else, at least the both of you can avoid fighting here, for a little while.
[ THAT surprises her. Her eyebrows raise and concern comes on quickly. ]
Wh-- how? Were they reconstructed by them ...? But how would they...?
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[ easy acknowledgement that yes, he's aware of how she's been raised, and he's glad now that there's plenty of options for food for her so she doesn't have to pull a heero and go catch fish with her bare hands.
at that statement, he gives a short nod. he'd like to avoid fighting, and outside of one incident, they've mostly managed to. her concern, though, is mirrored in his own expression. ]
I don't know. I watched Deathscythe self-destruct, same with Wing Zero. But both of them are in the hangar here. ... They're not the only mobile suits or Gundams, but they're the only two from our system.
[ yeah, he knows how that sounds. 'our system'. ]
no subject
Thank you. I appreciate it.
[ She doesn't want special privileges here - it's not like she's any kind of political leader or noble in whatever place this is - but she knows he's being nice here.
The smile doesn't last long as her brow furrows and she turns rather serious. ]
So it's not just yours... but there's suits you don't recognize? And I'm guessing the pilots of those suits, too. Why would they be needed in a place like this? Mm, it's a lot to process, but I don't think I need to tell you that there's definitely more going on here than we know.
no subject
I have spoken to a couple of them. And there are some things about where they are from that are... pretty similar, if I'm gonna be honest. Like someone changed around the order of events and the names.
[ at her statement, he nods again. ]
As for why they're needed... well. Heero and I did have to get into the Gundams, once.
[ he sounds a little guilty, but. ]
We weren't fighting people, though. These creatures came out from the ocean, monsters made of driftwood, heading inland. And bigger ones on the shore, with tentacles. Heero and I were keeping those back from the city as well.
no subject
So... something like an alternative history? So is that what you mean by 'not our system'?
[ That concern is not going anywhere. She looks down at the little squirmy, round dragon in her arms. ]
So not other suits, but some kind of monster. It's not like little guys like this exist at home... I guess it would have been naive to think there wasn't a possibility that other creatures would be aggressive. It's still sinking in that this is a foreign world.
[ She sighs. ]
If I didn't know better, I'd think I must have hit my head.
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But, there are people here who've never heard of Gundams. People who can use magic, which believe me, I did my best to try to not believe that. And the other people who do know Gundams don't know Wing or Deathscythe.
[ and when she mentions the monsters, his expression softens a little. he reaches out, poking the dragon in her arms, giving her a small smile. ]
This guy seems pretty friendly, though. We've only seen those things once. Other than that, it's been some aggressive wildlife that we've kept out in the wilds, or people hunting. And we don't need the Gundams to do that.
no subject
I see. I'll be honest, none of this really makes sense. Do we know how any of this happened? Could it really be those machines that met me on the beach?
[ She makes a solid attempt at keeping a smile in place when he smiles at her. She appreciates his patience. ]
I'm hoping you both won't get much use out of them here. It feels like being lost in a forest or a jungle. I met someone on the beach, so I at least know there are some resources here and shelter, at least.
no subject
[ that's a more teasing smile, now. ]
According to the machines, we were brought here by the planet or the Augur, depending on which you ask. I'm beginning to suspect they might be two sides of the same coin.
[ when she mentions resources and shelter, though? ]
Okay, I'm pretty sure Heero would fight anyone, including me, if I didn't offer to let you stay with us.
no subject
[ Her expression eases. It's much more of a relief to have a person she knows around. She's a reckless person, fear hasn't much been her companion for quite a while now, but she knows it wouldn't be so easy to muscle through this kind of situation all on her own. ]
So that's the case... it doesn't make more sense to me, but it's at least an answer. It sounds like something out of a book.
[ She sighs. This is a lot to process. She can be a dreamy girl but not this dreamy. ]
... Are you sure? You think he really will want that?
[ They're both very bad at this. Sometimes she can assert herself, sometimes she's more unsure about just what Heero really wants. She knows she'd rather stay with the both of them in the end. ]
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[ and he means it; he knows she's brave but he's glad to help her. and she's not wrong that it sounds like some weird book; a story that is meant to get your jollies off and nothing else. but they're living it. at least tell the ambassador about sex city has gone better.
at her question, though, duo snorts. ]
If you don't come with us, he's going to find wherever you're staying and watch from outside like a stalker. [ blunt, but the truth. ] At least this way you can actually talk to him instead of having to pretend he's not there.
no subject
[ It won't be any good if she gets herself into a situation here. She would rather find ways to be helpful than a cause of stress.
She almost laughs, but she does know he wants to keep her safe at this point. She's appreciative all the same. ]
It will be less of a pain to keep an eye on me if I'm staying with you, that's true. Thank you... I'll take you up on that offer, then.
no subject
[ he grins, though, when she agrees. ]
Well, let me show you to the house, then. We're still gettin' it all set up, so apologies if it's messy.
no subject
[ She spends a lot of time alone now, running around, constantly busy. She forgets, just a little, that these things are normal. How long has it been since she saw her friends from school? She hasn't thought about them in a while. ]
It's alright. In a situation like this, shelter is shelter. I'll follow you. I have a feeling this little one isn't going to leave me any time soon, so please excuse us.