ercookies | TDM 008: A WALK IN THE THEME PARK

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.

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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.

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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.

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III. MISTLETOE

mistletoe

sensory deprivation

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N A V I G A T I O N

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It feels a little bit like being in a fairytale, mostly because Essek is insanely pretty and Fjord feels like a monster by comparison, stupid as those thoughts are. He didn't really expect the kiss to Essek's hand to work but he's glad to see the guy is loosening up a little, or at least less standoffish. So, a small success nonetheless.

"Step two. I'm coming a little closer and I'm going to touch your face. Don't worry, nothing weird."

He slides his palm to cup a cheek, brushing a calloused thumb over the high apple there, using the touch as an anchor for when he leans in and the brush of his beard touches a cheek before his lips, burning a soft kiss into the hollow there. He exhales and the breath gusts down Essek's neck, a lasting impression as Fjord straightens up.

Thank fuck Essek can't see his blush.

"Any better?"

As difficult as he's being, he's - trying. There's a different sort of vulnerability this calls for beyond what he's already afforded enough to call people friends. A cool, collected exterior is the defense mechanism, a wall that could take an impossibly long time to thaw. Fjord already has an advantage, but under his direct, patient, gentle focus, cracks are already noticeable.

Without his sight, Essek notices every sensation that much more. There's a roughness against his skin that isn't at all unpleasant, somehow making it all the more real and not some strange dream-like experience. Callus, then beard, then a gentle hint of tusk before a warm press of lips. The soft breath is just what pushes it over the edge, and a shiver creeps down his spine. His hand tightens on Fjord's reflexively.

Essek opens his eyes.

"...I think," he pauses, licking his lips in nervous anticipation. "The next step will do it."

If it doesn't he'll just throw himself into the sea instead.

Feeling the grip on his vest tighten, he slings an arm loosely around Essek so he knows he's contained and safe, with the only thing he needs to pay attention to the forehead leaning on his own, nose-to-nose.

Fjord's voice is a low, reassuring rumble.

"I'm going to kiss you now."

And he does, slowly, chaste at first as he shifts the angle to see how soft those lips taste from each and also to teach Essek how to watch out for the poke of Fjord's tusks. It's when he decides to embolden the kiss so it definitely thwarts the blindness curse and licks across the seam of those lips that it heats up a little, lips slanting on an approving hum.

If intimacy is what this island - this Augur - is after, then Essek hopes that this is a satisfying enough first encounter, if his pulse is anything to go on. Fjord's intuition helps, the support and careful warnings knowing that Essek can't see what's coming next. For a brief moment he flashes back to that night on the boat, his face in Caleb's hands and so perilously close to coming undone...

There's a solidity to the man that holds him now that is terribly comforting. It causes a flutter in his chest that he hadn't expected. The kiss itself is sweet at first, and for a moment he thinks that's all it's going to be - but the shift to something more intense feels suddenly thrilling. Essek responds with a soft, surprised hum of his own, lips parting to allow it to deepen and to catch a quick breath.

After a moment, a tingling pricks across his skin - something that feels akin to magic but not how he's accustomed to it.

With that he gently pulls away. Not quite entirely, lingering in the embrace that holds him steady. He takes a breath, and finally, opens his eyes again, focusing upwards through lashes to Fjord's face. Violet eyes take it all in - the flush, the sheen on freshly kissed lips, the whole, ruggedly handsome package.

"Yes." It's warm, this close. His fingers are still curled in the fabric over Fjord's chest. "That appears to have been enough."

Edited 2020-12-23 02:05 (UTC)

Essek's eyes are so pretty. They look like those expensive purple gemstones that Marion wears encrusted on necklaces, clever and bright as Fjord meets his gaze. He notes that Essek only pulls back enough to let himself focus at last, making use of said eyes, so Fjord continues to hold onto him.

He can read the room pretty well, he likes to think.

"Are you sure?"

There's a carefully cultivated option in the light query, letting Essek decide what he wants to do. Fjord is still there, ready and waiting, and he offers a small smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes.

It feels as though there's a precipice here, and it's not one Essek is quite sure he's ready to find out what's beyond. Not yet. His eyes are focused intensely on Fjord's, though it's almost as though he's really looking at him for the first time. There are many changes since last they'd seen one another, and that time suddenly feels like years rather than weeks.

It's nice, being held. Fjord's embrace feels secure rather than confining. Warm, comforting.

But Essek firmly reigns in whatever other ideas may be stirring, uncurling his fingers and shifting his feet to stand better on his own.

"...Yes," he confirms gently. There's clearly no room for argument, despite the heat on his cheeks. Squaring his shoulders, he carefully extracts himself from those arms.

"Thank you, Fjord."

He can see the moment Essek withdraws in his eyes before it happens, loosening his hold to let him go with grace and taking a step back on instinct. He doesn't want to crowd him, even if it would flush out more of that unique blush.

Fjord clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yes, of course. You're welcome. Do be careful not to run into these flowers again, alright?"

The chill that curls around him once they've separated immediately invokes a small, funny pang of wistful regret. Essek ignores it, but his shoulders do relax some as he smiles back, fond.

"I shall do my best."

A sudden, awkward thought causes him to stiffen once more. His eyes drop away a moment, brows furrowing together.

"Could I ask you...please, do not mention this to Caleb. I would much rather tell him myself."

The curl of his smile turns wry and teasing.

"So that I get to wait for death to come to me instead of facing it head-on? Well, at least I'll live a few more hours, I suppose."

He steps back again, giving a polite nod as he starts to walk away.

"Tell him I'm not sleeping on the couch!"

TDM 008: A WALK IN THE THEME PARK

00. Arrival

I. SIX FLAGELLANTS

II. LIKE A FIREWORK

III. MISTLETOE

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