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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 |
the dragons start singing that EXACT song just for them...
someone she absolutely recognizes?? It's true the dragons have been very helpful, but to be as helpful as to lead her to someone she -- knows??? kind of?? This is Unexpected,
and her hands reflexively fly up to her hair, but more importantly]
...F -- Felix?!
[she sounds completely bewildered... somehow, his name immediately comes to mind, prompted by the fact that he is her first true reminder of home -- and by his scowling expression that she immediately recognizes tbh,]
Did the dragons tell you where to find me?
[SHE STILL SOUNDS BEWILDERED, look the dragons are clearly responsible for their meeting, they must have planned this]
we traded muppet opera for dragon etta james... upgrade
How would they tell me anything? They—led me here.
[Dragged him here, he means—and now the fat one sitting atop his shoulder refuses to let him leave. Tomato, tomahto, really. He's crossing his arms because he can, not because he's defensive!
Not that it lasts long, anyway, because a dragonling makes another go for Marianne's hair, and Felix... well. So maybe he was a little harsh? The least he can do, he supposes, is reach over to shoo this beast away before it does any more damage.]
Leave her alone.
[Is one of these dragons beginning to hum the opening chords to that classique tune... maybe so...]
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It's not as if Marianne thought she was completely one hundred percent alone here, really (spoilers she did actually think this), but the relief she feels at seeing Felix... whew, it's a lot. It's like his presence (which would normally make her anxious in a whole different kind of way) is a gift from the Goddess herself....]
I'm glad they did. It's very nice to see a familiar face, [thank you @ god,] d-despite the circumstances.
[the circumstances of which would lead Marianne into another spiral of panic, but instead, she looks on as Felix very helpfully tries to save her hair from further disarray. one of the dragons tries latching onto Felix's hand which is clearly a cue for Marianne to try and save Felix this time... She just gently shoos it away and ends up...
clasping Felix's hand between her own instead, oh wow. but at least the dragon stopped?? instead, it starts humming accompaniment. marianne can't help but be charmed, maybe a little distracted by the singing to immediately let go of Felix's hand, sorry flex]
Do they always sing? It's nice...
[imagine if dorte also could sing.....]
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...But this music! This music. Who knew that roly-poly lil dragons humming together could sound so enchanting? Felix feels... oddly peaceful, all of a sudden. Oddly aware of the soft hands cradling his callused one, and he soon finds himself studying them, noting how delicate they appear compared to his—but, ah, wait.]
What?
[Very cool, very smooth, as he blinks back up at her, unconsciously folding his fingers over the back of her hand in the process. She's warm? He's warm.]
It's... not bad. [Wao. High praise before he clears his throat, before he sits up just a tad straighter.] It almost sounds familiar.
[Maybe he attends karaoke night weekly! Maybe he's heard all kinds of sappy songs! Don't judge him; just tenderly hold his hand.]
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[dorothea singing while the rest of them just hum awkwardly, probably
but Marianne will absolutely continue tenderly holding Felix's hand, because well... his hand feels very nice in hers... Normally whenever Marianne holds anyone's hands it's usually her own clasped in prayer or someone else's while they're writhing in pain from having their wounds healed... Having this opportunity to just sit here and hold Felix's hand is something of a novelty, maybe even a blessing. Especially in such peaceful circumstances, where no one expects her to have to fight anyone.
the thought makes her clutch tighter at Felix's hand -- though not too tight to hurt (marianne's mediocre strength stat). she's just having such a nice time, she doesn't want to ruin it with nerves!!]
Um, Felix... I'm not taking up your time, am I? I mean -- if you have something important to do, then...
[you should do it, is what she should say, except hm!! it's strange but Marianne doesn't want to say it, maybe she can pretend she didn't say anything in the first place? she looks right into his eyes, as if trying to discern if Felix, indeed, has better things to do here than romcom with her,]
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And, you know. Marianne. The person looking him dead in the eye, which is normally the sort of thing he hates—but while his stomach does twist a bit? While warmth creeps up the back of his neck? He finds that he doesn't mind looking into her eyes, which are such a nice shade of brown. Soft, he thinks. Warm. Just like her hands.
(It's all very cheesy, okay, and it's entirely the dragons' fault.)
Another thing the dragons are responsible for: the current state of her hair. Flyaways everywhere! Damn! He normally neither notices nor cares about such things, but as he soaks in the sight of her—]
I don't, [he says, somewhat stiltedly, because he is so outside of his wheelhouse.] I'm not... busy. And you're—
[A weak huff, then, before he leans a smidge closer, bringing his free hand to her face—and then hesitating? Allowing it to (awkwardly) hover by her temple for a moment, before he swallows his misgivings and gently, carefully, smooths a frazzled lock of her hair back behind her ear.]
You're alone, aren't you?