TDM 008: A WALK IN THE THEME PARK

[erkumods]

TDM 008: A WALK IN THE THEME PARK

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. SIX FLAGELLANTS Welcome, one and all, to a thrilling new location! Robots have worked tirelessly to build, from the ground up, what can only be recognizable as an amusement park. You are just in time for the grand opening of Six Flagellants: Great Advagtures! The Ferris Wheel routinely stops when lovebirds reach the top, waiting for a kiss - or something more daring! - before it starts up again. Robots warn of the scary Haunted House: a dark building with wall-to-wall creeps, and hot and cold running chills. Flickering ghosts roam the halls, and you may find an eerily realistic Headless Horseman -- who bids you, "Come closer. Give me head," while pointing to yours. Hey, get your mind out of the... Nevermind. The Carousel is a two-story affair. Nude figures with familiar faces lounge about, waiting to be ridden, and closer inspection proves that they have the faces of your fellow islanders. Hop on your favorite person and take them for a spin! There are even Bumper Cars, which have the interesting effect of making one feel more aroused with every bump and impact. (It's randomized each time, so don't try to guess based on car color!) What should be a similar ride, the Teacups, has the robots' madness written all over it instead. They have misunderstood the gentle spin-cycles for dangerous, dizzying loop-the-loops across a wide track. Some would swear that the ride has a supernatural invocation for fear. Others are simply man enough to admit they're afraid. Lastly, the Tunnel of Love is not what you expect. Although flavored lube and guides to cunnilingus are on each fleshy-log-shaped boat, the motion of the ocean is quite soothing, and there's a pleasant floral scent in the air that causes a light intoxication. Don't forget to try the food! Similar to the Street Kiosks, there's a ton of faire food: cotton candy, corn dogs, and the like. Mascot outfits are available and those who wear them will be rewarded generously with credits. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. LIKE A FIREWORK The next morning, you receive a message on your device: You are cordially invited to a celebration of skinship at the House of Worship. Please do not dress for the occasion. If asked about it, the robots will confirm that is not a specific holiday, but a simple joyous event. If you pry, they may even say that the Old Ones often made merry and partook in the pleasures of the flesh - and so too should you. For an hour, there will be food and drink - alcoholic and aphrodisiac. Then, at the designated time, once the sun has gone down, clothes will be shed and a revelry begun. As fireworks explode overhead, the different colors send the naked senses reeling: Red: You are amorous towards the people around you. Yours is a joyous celebration. The Auspicious Acts you offer are happy and lighthearted, full of kisses and sweet nothings. Orange: You feel bold and adventurous, eager to try something - or someone - new. Your preferred Acts may be dangerous or exciting, perhaps with more than one person. Yellow: You feel reverence when you watch the fireworks, reverence when you look at your fellow people. You feel blessed to be part of the celebration at the House of Worship, and you make the Acts you complete into Acts of worship. You are all about the spirit of generosity. Green: You are not here to celebrate. Jealousy is your lot. Uncover a new side of yourself, full of bitterness and resentment, and try an Act that treads the fine line between light and dark. Indigo: You are proud to celebrate! Those around you are lucky to bask in your presence. You have a newly-minted domineering attitude that makes itself known, and your Acts are likely to be something where you'll come out on top. Violet: These fireworks make you feel unusual - the opposite of yourself. You are different in all that you want to do, preferring Auspicious Acts that you may not have thought twice about before. A group shower will be provided after the festivities wind down. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. MISTLETOE Many cherub dragons can be found gathering together in the Greenhouse, working together to finish the cultivation of a new plant. They spend an exhaustive night decorating the island with the new greenery, which can soon be identified as mistletoe. You may think it's sweet of them, but don't get caught underneath one of these sprigs! Standing under the dragon's mistletoe will cause sensory deprivation - and of course, the only way to regain what was lost is to indulge in an Auspicious Act. (You may choose whichever sense you like, or even choose to be figurative, such as "the sense of reason" or "a sense of purpose.") ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

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[allumer]

[ We know what kind of encouragement Prompto needs, and it's the sort from his absolute favorite feathered friend, a Chocobo! Not a real one unfortunately, but the costumed mascot is just about as cute as the real thing. The moment it gets its sights set on Prompto it's hobbling over quickly (hey, it's hard to run in that costume) and reaching for his hand in order to shake it in a very friendly manner.

Oh, but then it turns around and starts pointing to something, one of the attractions? Yes! The haunted house! ]

[impostersyndrome]

[Prompto is delighted to see the chocobo mascot, even if it doesn’t occur to him to be surprised about it (what cruel world wouldn’t have chocobos?). Especially since the mascot seems to be giving him personal attention!

But... ah. Haunted house, huh?]

You... want me to go in there?

[Not that he’s scared, or anything!]

[allumer]

[ Nodding your head is kind of difficult in this huge suit, so the chocobo just claps its hands and stomps its feet excitedly. A big wing pats Prompto on the back, as if saying, "You can do it, I believe in you!" before the mascot maneuvers around him and then starts pushing Prompto toward the haunted house. Lets go buddy! ]

[impostersyndrome]

[Whoa, okay! This is a very persistent mascot!!]

Okay, okay! I’m going!

[He starts walking on his own, headed for the haunted house. He can do this! The chocobo has encouraged him!]

[allumer]

[ The wings pat at Prompto's shoulders like he's trying to help size him up. It's just a theme park attraction, not like the house will actually be haunted, right? Ghosts don't exist that can possess paintings that you have to take pictures for during side quests in Altissia.

Once they get to the entrance to the haunted house the chocobo gives Prompto one more pat on the back as it waits for him to step in. You first, he'll follow. Show this haunted house who's boss. ]

[impostersyndrome]

Oh sure, make me go first.

[But he does go first, stepping inside and walking ahead. Already, there are ghosts wailing and mysterious, spooky thumps. He follows the hall further in.]

You staying with me, chocobo?

[allumer]

[ Hey, it's strategy. Easier to follow someone in a dark space while he's in this mascot suit than to lead and probably get them lost. The noises don't particularly spook him much, but it's a convincing scary atmosphere. Guess this haunted house isn't as shitty as he assumed it'd be.

When Prompto questions, a wing pats at his head as he remains right behind him. He's got you covered, fellow chocobo. There's some extra creepy scratching noises on the walls, lights blinking, and some fog starts to flood onto the floor. Both wings grab at Prompto's shoulders and give a push to urge him to keep walking. ]

[impostersyndrome]

[He needs the push, because he’d stopped for a moment.]

I’m goin’! Just... aah!

[He jumps as a shadowy figure passes by ahead.]

W-wow, they must even have actors in here. They went all out.

[allumer]

[ One of the benefits to wearing this dumb costume is obviously the anonymity, but also, he doesn't have to show the dumb startled face he makes at whatever the ghostly shape was that just passed them. It's okay, it's fine, it must be a person in a costume just like him!

This chocobo will continue to be a very brave chocobo, huddled close at Prompto's back, continuing to urge him forward even as he swears he can hear some kind of sinister cackling up ahead and the place feels a little colder than it was a moment before. ]

[impostersyndrome]

[Pushed ahead by the brave chocobo, Prompto keeps going, jumping at another fake ghost that pops up. But it’s not too bad... until the shadowy figure appears again, and Prompto backs into the chocobo.]

That guy doesn’t have a head, dude.

[Maybe they should run?]

[allumer]

[ Okay so this is no longer cheeky fun and games, this is kind of fucked up. Even if he could very well fight the Headless spirit there's the whole matter regarding it being a damn ghost and he is not fighting a ghost. He can see right through it for Gods' sake!

(Also how is it talking if it doesn't have a head??)

The chocobo grabs a hold of Prompto's arm as best it can considering you can't really get a grip of things with these wing hands, turns around and immediately starts yanking him back down the other way to try to find the entrance to get the hell out of there. ]

[impostersyndrome]

[The chocobo doesn’t have to quark at him twice - he’s following it, looking for any sort of exit.]

I really don’t think blond would be a good look for you! [Over his shoulder to the pursuing ghost.] Maybe find a nice pumpkin, or something!

[allumer]

Don't talk to it, stupid!

[ The chocobo finally warks— er, speaks, not in chocobo language but actual human words. Swear to the Gods Prompto if you want to throw taunts at that thing and piss it off Noct will warp out of this haunted house without you. ]

Focus on where we're going, I can't see well with this costume on!

[impostersyndrome]

[The chocobo speaks! Not that Prompto is surprised since it's just a guy in a costume, but... wait he knows that voice-]

Noct!?

[He has... so many questions right now, but Noctis is right, they should get out of here first.

He slips past the costumed man, grabbing hold of a wing.]

Follow me!

[allumer]

[ And there goes his cover. Shit. He was planning to keep this charade going a little while longer but he didn't think his efforts at secrecy would be ruined by headless ghosts. The moment Prompto starts to take the lead Noctis nearly stumbles as he tries to keep up the pace. ]

H-hey, be careful! Don't make me trip on these stupid chocobo feet!

[impostersyndrome]

[Why is he even wearing those stupid feet? But there's no time to argue about that right now.

He slows down just enough that Noctis doesn't fall on his adorable chocobo beak, pointing ahead.]

There's the exit!

[The blessed glow of the exit sign is just ahead!]

[allumer]

[ He didn't want to break Prompto's immersion okay? But none too soon, once Prompto mentions the exit Noctis is pushing at the head of the costume to try and remove it. Unfortunately these feather hands give him no grip. ]

Go, just go!

[ After one last push the head comes tumbling off his shoulders, and Noctis turns around to check behind them. That headless horseman is still trailing after them and so after summoning his engine blade from the armiger Noctis disappears in a flash of light as he warp strikes to drive the blade into their pursuer's body. Yet all it does is laugh, then disappear in a flutter of smoke. ]

[impostersyndrome]

[Prompto bursts out into the... well, not sunlight, as the island is clouded over most of the time, but more natural light than was in the haunted house. Then he turns on his heel, watching for Noctis to follow and wishing he had his gun.

Only, it seems he doesn't need it, when Noctis goes warping toward the thing (still in that mascot outfit!) and it just... disappears.

His eyes are wide.]

Okay... Definitely not a guy in a costume.

[allumer]

[ Oh... well, that takes care of that problem at least. Noctis' weapon disappears back into the armiger as he turns around, not wanting to wait around to see if this ghost or spirit or whatever wants to come back to torment them. He picks the chocobo head up on the way out and grab's Prompto's arm as soon as he passes him to tug him along out of the miserable haunted house. ]

Who, him or me?

[ Because he makes for such a convincing chocobo now. ]

Don't tell me who's more terrifying.

[impostersyndrome]

[He laughs, a little too giddily, with the adrenaline still leaving his body.]

I dunno, man. A headless chocobo? Pretty terrifying.

[Or even worse, a chocobo with a human head!

Also just... give him a minute, his brain is still catching up to the fact that Noctis is here; he's still very confused by the mascot costume thing.]

[allumer]

Dude, I dressed up for you and everything, and this is the thanks I get?

[ Rude, Prompto! Noctis drops the mascot head onto the ground then toes off the Chocobo feet so he can more easily get out of the rest of the costume. ]

Chocobo time's over, now you just get some loser prince instead.

[impostersyndrome]

[Whatever he might have to say next is about to be cut off by Prompto suddenly hugging him, chocobo suit and all.]

Aww, Noct. Of all the loser princes in the world, you're my first choice.

[Quips aside... boy did he miss him.]

[allumer]

[ Startled for just a moment, all Noctis can do is mumble sheepishly. ]

Yeah, I'd better be.

[ It's sort of stupid for him to be standing here in half of a mascot suit getting hugged, but what's even stupider is the fact that his ears go warm and he's actually... flustered. In a place where he's had sex before. And yet getting hugged by his best friend is still embarrassing. What's up with that?

A wing pats at Prompto's back though, because he can't really hug him back and he's not sure what else to do.

Even if he doesn't know what's been going on with Prompto (or the fact that he left, just like Noctis did), nothing will ever change the fact that he's important to him in more ways than he could ever imagine. And thus, nothing will get his nerves all messed up more than moments like these. ]

[impostersyndrome]

[He'll let go of him quickly enough, definitely not scrubbing at his face because he definitely didn't get a little teary right then. Really!]

You are! Promise.

[He lowers his hands and grins, but he still looks a bit confused.]

But man, what is even going on? With this island, and... [He just. gestures at the suit Noctis is wearing.]

[allumer]

[ Oh yeah, absolutely no crying happened, he doesn't see any hint of that on Prompto's face at all. Noctis doesn't make as much of a deal about it as he could, having disappeared and all, but it's when Prompto finally gets them back on track that he comes to realize there's definitely more happening here than a one-sided reunion. ]

Wait, you don't know anything about the island, or being here?

[ He slows a little in trying to squeeze himself free of the costume, already scanning over his friend for injuries, anything out of the ordinary. Nope, he looks like the same old Prompto. ]

You... did you just walk out of the ocean? Like, recently.

[ Did he... leave? ]