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]

[ To be honest, Makoto isn't that used to being this close to someone like this either. This was different than public transportation. And with the exception of his experiences on another bench on the island, which he tries not think about, it's unfamiliar. He only tenses a moment out of surprise but then he relaxes again, stretching his arms out behind them on the back of the bench and letting Akira decide how close to get. If it makes the other man more comfortable, Makoto can put up with his own nerves on it. ]

[curriculumachine]

[With Makoto's arm out of the way, Akira closes what little distance was left, leaning most of his weight against Makoto's side. He's drawn to the warmth, even though he's too hot now. He wants to discard his jacket, the leather starting to stick to his skin. But he has to move away to do that, so he doesn't.]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto leans towards him just a fraction, letting him press into his side. He moves one arm slowly, in case he's crossing a line here, down from the back of the bench to rest gently on Akira's shoulders. Makoto's still slightly worried about spooking him, but it just feels like the natural thing to do. ]

[curriculumachine]

[He tenses briefly, an instinctual response, though it wasn't entirely unexpected. Makoto's arm isn't oppressive or confining. It's welcomed. And familiar, though it shouldn't be. Akira doesn't move any further, content with things the way they are for the moment.]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto sighs, letting the full weight of his arm rest on Akira when he doesn't feel the other man pulling away. This is more than a little weird for him. He's never put his arm on someone's shoulders like this and certainly not another guy's. But he's been through weirder since coming here, and Akira feels like someone he should be okay doing this with, so it's not like he's complaining. ]

[curriculumachine]

[The heat eventually gets to Akira, and a few minutes later, he slides away from Makoto's hold to peel his jacket off. It really shouldn't be this hot, and it's radiating from him and not an external source. Maybe he did make himself sick eating too much strange meat... Or it's something else.]

Are you hot?

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto lifts his arm so Akira can move, setting it on the back of the bench for now. He's just calmly watching, some concern in his expression. ]

A little warm. Do you feel okay?

[curriculumachine]

No.

[Taking his jacket off didn't help and he can feel sweat forming pretty much everywhere. He's ignoring Makoto for the most part, taking off his shoes next. He may have stolen them as he had none when he arrived. They're a little big and easy to slip off, but when he does, it also doesn't help. The air should be cooler against his skin, but it's not. He doesn't feel... sick, exactly. There's nothing else accompanying the heat and this is not normal.]

[edamamepon]

[ That concern on Makoto's face has bloomed into full worry, though he isn't panicking yet. He's not really sure what to do at first, so he freezes, staring at Akira. And then he's remembering what happened on the bench earlier and his expression turns serious. ]

How much did the robots explain to you?

[curriculumachine]

[The robots. Akira had been very out of it on the beach when he got here, and admittedly had stopped listening to the robots after their A5 spiel. Did he miss important details?]

Energy from...

[He doesn't need to say it.]

They talked about those cards and the bracelet functions...

[He hasn't looked at anything on the bracelet, card included. He'd only put the thing on at all for the translator. The bracelet is what he takes off next, in case it's some kind of conduit, but nothing changes.]

[edamamepon]

The energy part... [ Makoto pauses, a little uncomfortable and shifting in his seat. ] just trust me, it's true. It could be, part of that.

[ And then he looks away for a moment, his hand running down his face before he turns back to Akira. Makoto's nervous though he's trying not to show it, offering Akira a reassuring smile. ]

It may wear off on it's own.
I don't mind, staying with you if you don't want to, or...

[ He fumbles, unsure what he's even offering. ]

[curriculumachine]

May or will?

[The only way he's doing anything about this is if the alternative is his brain boiling inside his skull. Makoto's awkward offer is completely ignored.]

[edamamepon]

I don't actually know, I'm sorry.

But I do know that... [ And he gestures vaguely, looking embarrassed. ] works.

[curriculumachine]

[There's a flicker of enmity in Akira's eyes, but it's not directed at Makoto; it's for the robots and their methods of getting what they want. It's replaced quickly with resignation, and then a questioning look at Makoto.]

You just got here and you already...

[Did things.]

[edamamepon]

It's not that I wanted to.
I had to help someone that went blind.

[ Makoto sighs. ]

Yea, this part can suck. [ A wince, poor choice of words. But then he's back to looking reassuring. ]

[curriculumachine]

[The nice parts of this place are again being overshadowed. How often is shit like this going to happen?]

What did you do, to help them?

[How involved does this have to be?]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto clears his throat, flushing just a little. He can't look Akira in the eyes as he says it. ]

Well, they, uh. It was because of mistletoe so we started kissing and then they wanted to, um, [ He gestures down at his lap, and sort of sounds like he can't breathe. ] use their mouth.

[curriculumachine]

[He glances down at Makoto's lap unconsciously, driven by the gesture, and immediately averts his eyes.]

That... I...

[Shit. Akira closes his eyes for a moment. He can't leave this place, it's not completely horrible, and this is what he has to do to survive here. For now. His expression is blank as he gets off the bench to kneel front of Makoto. This is what he's inferred needs to happen. It will be over with quicker if they don't bother with the kissing.]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto puts his hands out instinctively, aiming for Akira's shoulders. He's talking fast, palms hot. ]

You don't, have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.
And ... Have you ever done this before?

[curriculumachine]

[Akira doesn't look up, but stops short of reaching for Makoto's zipper at the hands on his shoulders.]

I don't... care. I don't care what we do.

[Whatever it is, he'll have the same reaction, and he's already down here. He doesn't answer the question.]

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto frowns. Somehow, this doesn't feel right. This wasn't like earlier. She had been so insistent. Makoto doesn't think Akira looks like he wants to do this at all. His hands slide slowly from Akira's shoulders, heading to try and settle on either side of his face. ]

Hey, look at me?

[curriculumachine]

[There's a hitch in his breath as Makoto's hands reach his face, but he does as asked. His eyes are a little glassy and unfocused.]

Did you... want something else?

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto's looking down at him with a thoughtful look, like he's figuring out what to say. He doesn't know how to answer that question. Then, his lost look is replaced by one of determination. ]

Forget about the island and everything else for a second.
Pretend it's just you and me.

Is there anything you'd actually want to do with me?
Or want me to do?

Just, try to think about it?

[ And then another small smile, keeping his attention on Akira's expression. Although he thinks he did a pretty good job sounding confident, he has no idea what he's doing. He's never even touched a guy the way he is touching Akira right now. ]

[curriculumachine]

[Akira doesn't need to think on that very long, and continues to stare vacantly.]

No.

[There's nothing he wants in either direction. He doesn't really know what he likes or what he doesn't, what to even attempt in a situation where he can make decisions. He doesn't feel anything, he doesn't desire anything.]

So it doesn't matter.

[edamamepon]

Okay.

[ Makoto frowns again at that, but at least he'd tried. He is hesitant, but also can't let Akira suffer either. After a moment of gathering himself, he takes a deep breath. Makoto leans forward slightly while trying to use the hands on Akira's face to pull him up towards him.

At the very least, he plans to start with what he knows how to do. It can't be that different kissing a guy, right? Just the familiar, firm press of lips together. ]