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

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto glances at the hand on his knee, but doesn't jump. The warmth of his hand lingers long after he's removed it. It's not Laurent specifically, but the circumstances surrounding them. Makoto looks out at the crowd again, only this time there's a tug like he actually does want to go join them. For a moment, he pictures it. As brief a feeling as it is, it does scares him enough that he shuts his eyes and takes a few deep breaths.

Then he seems fine, pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged and resting his head in one hand lazily. He's looking over at Laurent, more thoughtfully than he has any right to while also looking that dazed. ]

Maybe you're right. But I can still do things at my own pace.
An experience is only fun if you actually enjoy it.

Right now, this is enough.
[ As he gestures at pretty much everything around them. ]

By the way, do celebrations always make you less of a connard?

[ But he's smiling like what he just said is the funniest thing in the world. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ He hums thoughtfully, feeling more heavy and spaced out now that he's seated. He doesn't doubt he could fall asleep at any moment, given the opportunity. He's not ready to give up on the festivities yet, though. It would be too disrespectful to just nap when he should be paying worship to this place.

He glances over at Makoto, letting out an amused sound as he huffs out a breath through his nose. ]

You should take it all at your pace. You have the time to. For better or worse, there's not much that's rushed in this place and people will help you out if you're still getting your feet wet, so to speak.

[ Feet wet, dick wet... same thing in this place.

He chuckles, shrugging his thin shoulders. ]

I would hope most would be less up un connard when at a party.

[edamamepon]

Mm. I will.

[ Makoto doesn't feel like forming any more words, just a soft laugh and a hum of agreement as he shifts his gaze again. His train of thought derails while watching everyone and it's nice to just exist here with everyone again. He's finally silent for a few moments, his mind peacefully quiet which is rare.

Then he blinks, turning his head almost fast enough to make him dizzy, as if he just remembered something important that he'd forgotten. His brows furrow, trying to drunkenly read Laurent. ]

... You don't have to babysit me, you know.

[ He feels like he should be probably be embarrassed at what he's suggesting, but he isn't, and fixes his eyes on Laurent's. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent's content to let the silence settle over them, focused on the revelry ahead of them. Maybe if he settles and just soaks it all in, his body will calm down. He's never successfully willed himself sober before, but it doesn't hurt to try.

He raises his eyebrows in brief confusion at Makoto's comments before he starts laughing, waving off the comment with a hand that's been raised away from his chin. ]

M'not, m'not. Just figured you'd run off when you were ready... n'maybe I'd get someone to get my ass back up the stairs to... ah...

[ He raises a hand and motions towards the apartments looming nearby, attached to the temple. ]

Là, er -- [ He huffs, looking ahead, brows furrowed. ]

Maybe Eustace is feelin' generous tonight.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto just watches him, dropping his head into his hand again. Even drunk, he raises an eyebrow like he doesn't believe him that he's not being babysat. If he wasn't here, he has no doubt that Laurent would've been naked a while ago. Not that he considers it in the moment but if Makoto didn't have so much artificial respect for him as a reveler and for the whole celebration as a whole, he'd probably have already left. For now, his head is still infected by enthusiasm for the celebration. The worry now is whether he is being a hindrance to this most sacred holiday.

He's quiet, considering whether he's just being a burden at this point. Maybe he should leave? Makoto's mulling that over as his gaze drops from Laurent, not really focusing on anything in particular. It's a longer walk back to where he can sleep, so his pragmatism wins out on at least staying until he's a little more sober. ]

Let me just, sober up a little more?
I should head back soon anyway.

[ Makoto says, falling quiet again. But he doesn't really seem upset, more tired all of a sudden than anything. ]

[frenchkiss]

[ Laurent waves one spindly hand around dismissively, some of his obnoxious jolliness coming back finally. Makoto isn't wrong. By now, he'd definitely have been ass out if he hadn't run into Makoto.

What Makoto doesn't realize is that his presence is far more important than enjoying himself at some party, though now the whole event feels far more weighty and necessary. ]

Take yer time, take yer time, Edamame! No rush from me.

Ahh... you said you have somewhere to go back to, correct?

[edamamepon]

I did.

[ Makoto bristles, a little more in character for himself for a moment, still drunk but the fireworks seem to be waning just slightly. He still doesn't seem to mind the naked people but he does idly glance at his shirt like he's considering putting it back on before turning back to look out again. Makoto rubs at one of his eyes, trying desperately not to yawn. ]

I told you, I can handle myself.
[ And then under his breath, though it comes out as almost an annoyed sigh. ] I'm not a kid.

[frenchkiss]

Oh good. Hopefully it doesn't stay shabby for long, but you'll just have to work hard!

[ He chuckles, looking over at him with a brief flash of fondness as he fights a yawn. How cute. He's so huffy but in the end, Makoto is totally wiped out, too. By the looks of it, he notices, he had reason to be more worn out.

So he's already getting 'introduced' to the nature of the place. Good luck, Edamame, he thinks. ]

I know you aren't. Just don't get in over your head, hm? You're as out of your element as I am.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto doesn't comment on the shabbiness. He feels like Laurent is just fishing to find out where he's staying, and he doesn't trust himself not to say too much this drunk. Last thing he needs is Laurent showing up uninvited. He'll probably find out eventually, but he might be able to buy himself some time by keeping his mouth shut now. ]

Seems like your element to me.
[ Makoto grumbles, not quite frowning but it's the closest he's come to it since the fireworks hit him. The trickery, the sex, the nudity-- all of it seemed right up Laurent's alley to him. ]

[frenchkiss]

For better 'er worse, I almost always did this -- [ He waves a hand in the air vaguely, trying to insinuate the conditions of the island in the least descriptive way imaginable. ] for fun and not food, so not quite. Almos', but not quite.

[ He checks his device and starts picking through his screen, looking for a particular name. If Makoto is winding down and, slowly, sobering up, he feels more comfortable heading home before he regrets his choices. ]

I figure you know howta use this thing by now, then? To contact people?

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto nods in response. He turns away from Laurent to hide his yawn as he grabs his shirt and starts buttoning it up. Makoto's working on his vest when he turns back to Laurent, glancing down at his own device. He better get moving while he's still awake enough at this point. ]

Yea, more or less. It's not too different from a phone.

[ Makoto stands, taking a moment to stretch before putting his hands in his pockets. ]

Well, cya Laurent.
[ Laurent even gets a small nod out of Makoto as he turns to walk away. ]