ercookies | 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.

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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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... I ... think that's for the best.

[ Please free her from this hell of a conversation. She needs a reroute for it stat. ]

Hearing that, I think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages here.

[ She sighs and looks up at him finally. ]

So how have you been living here so far, without that past over your head? I wonder, is it more comfortable for you?

[ She can't help but be curious. She knows so many soldiers - it could be said that the majority of her social circle are soldiers and/or politicians - so she has more reasons than him to be wondering about it. ]

Perhaps. And yet, many have endured worse, so it's with that attitude that I'm attempting to move forward with.

[ Many, and not him, because he wasn't attempting to talk about his own problems. ]

[ And yet, she naturally brought her curiosity toward him all the same. He wasn't aware, for as little as he's spoken with her, that he had the same sort of tell - a twitch around his eyes - when he shifted to something more polite. Relena was looking into a warped mirror. ]

[ Zechs could easily lie to her, and yet. He offered a sliver of honesty. Because he needed to know if he would be asked to keep his distance. ]

I'm too aware of the sort of person I am. Yet you're right, it's far more comfortable for others to be ignorant of it. Those few who know what I am have been ... generous, about their understanding of it.

I wouldn't ask anyone who knows the truth to be tolerant of it.

That's probably a fair attitude to have.

[ Relena doesn't know much about her brother beyond what Noin has shared and what she'd learned in her time on Libra, but the shift in his posture and face stick out just enough for her to notice. She wants a more honest him, but she can't even give him a more honest her.

It will take a long time, she thinks, before either of them is willing to drop their side of the thick wall between them. ]

Given the circumstances, I'm not too surprised. I'm... I'm glad, though. For all that's happened, I don't think it'd be fair for you to be isolated in this completely just... unimaginable situation.

If I don't have any reason, I don't plan to share any of it with anyone. I can promise that. It's not my place.

[ That's not what he'd meant, though, not at all. He was isolating himself, and he'd continue to do it, too, to protect others. 01 and 02 knew about him. Jim Kirk, through chance, knew about him. He'd be damned if anyone else did. So his interactions with anyone else would be with all masks raised. ]

[ What he meant, was he was trying to give her an out. Zechs bowed his head a little. ]

I wouldn't blame you if you did, Relena. My choices were ... deliberately an antithesis to what you believed were right. You have every right to judge, and you have every right to ... want to limit your association with me, here.

[ She frowns at him. All of the soldiers she knows are burdened with mistakes and guilt, covered in sins they can't free themselves from any time soon. Even if his actions hurt her or made her feel betrayed, it's still painful to see him like this. It always will be. ]

As it stands, I don't see any reason to do that, either. We have a lot of things we need to discuss in the future. If I push you away, we won't ever have that. If I can't give a Peacecraft the chance to amend himself, then who can I give that to? We're on equal ground here. Let's support each other, at least, the best we can until we find a way back.

[ There was no chance to amend what he did. There wasn’t forgiving what happened, or the sort of man he’d become. And it’s tempting to tell her that. ]

[ Except - supporting her - is exactly what he wanted to do. ]

[ He couldn’t entirely rid himself of his gentleness after all, even if it’d be for her own good. Even if she’d be better off not knowing him. Zechs nodded solemnly. ]

You have my support, unconditionally. After ... it is the least I can give you.

[ Relena wants to believe in that kindness. She can't remember much from when she was small, but she knows she remembers loving him as any little sister would love their kind and gentle elder brother. She remembers he was surely as kind as one would expect the son of their father would be.

She can't hope to have that back after all of this, but... ]

And I'll support you the best that I can, too. I don't... want the rift between us to grow bigger.

[ That boy was dead, though - Zechs didn't believe he was gentle or the dutiful son of their father. Just as true, the knight and loyal soldier of Trieze was also dead, executed by the Alliance soldiers who hated him, so that kind and noble man was gone. ]

[ And then the monster he'd made himself to be, had also died. ]

[ Who was he now? ]

[ Zechs swallowed at the offer. ]

I assure you, Relena - I'll never expect you to support anything you wouldn't stand for. Even if that's me.

But all the same, that's also what I want. I can't claim I'm a good brother, but if this rift can close, I'll welcome that.

I would hope you wouldn't. But I'd also hope you'd give me reasons to stand for you, now. I'd hope you can make choices I can support after everything... I believe that you can, Milliardo. I do.

I'd welcome it, too. Truly.

[ A small flinch that he attempted to hide - but it was still there, minutely. He didn't deserve it, but. ]

... Thank you for that trust.

[ He looked a little uncomfortable. ]

Can we begin with ... may I ask you to use 'Zechs', rather than 'Milliardo?'

[ She nods, looking at him seriously. She doesn't want to renounce him again like she had to in talks with Romefeller. She can't forget Libra and what occurred there. She can recognize that remorse in him. She can't just forgive him completely, it's impossible, but still. She knows what kind of person he was and what kind of person he could be. ]

Yes... if that's what you want, I can do that.

[ She would rather not, if she's being honest. She associates that name with a man she would like to stay dead but she can't just tell him no. ]

Thank you. [ Said with a breath of relief, this time. ]

[ Enough of a relief, that Zechs admitted - quite a bit, considering their last conversation: ]

After how I had last used that name ... I do not deserve to use it any longer.

The Milliardo Peacecraft who was on Libra must remain dead.

Someday... someday, brother, you will have to embrace all the you's you have been and killed by your own hands, you know. I want you to become someone you can be proud of and I can be proud of, but...

[ She sighs. ]

I'm speaking where I shouldn't, here. Still, I will keep it in mind and refer to you accordingly.

I can understand if you find ... that you have no pride in your heart for either name. You have every right to speak and judge. My actions affected your life and not for the better.

[ No matter how much he attempted to protect her, many times. Zechs had if nothing else been proven impotent in that area. ]

[ Little wonder she didn’t want his help here. ]

[ He nodded politely. ]

Thank you for respecting my wishes.

TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE

00. Arrival

I. The Dragon's Matchmaking

II. Ruins

III. Ritual

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