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

[flurry_of_beaus]

"Molly?" There's a slight quiver in her voice because, from the sound of it...

Well, her brain skips ahead about eighteen steps and from the sound of it, Molly might be here. Is that even possible? Is that what Fjord is trying to say?

Still, she focuses on the conversation, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully as she combs through her memory.

"Didn't someone call Molly that, once? Like they knew him?"

[halforc]

"Oh, shit. This is getting crazy. Okay, it's fine, it's you so it's fine, we just need to ... fill you in on some things."

Rubbing his face, he steps forward with open hands to explain.

"Long story short: this island fucks with time because it's a weird pocket dimension or something and we're all getting yanked in from different moments."

[flurry_of_beaus]

"It's me so it's fine," Beau echoes, keeping her voice neutral because she's not sure what that's supposed to mean. Probably something complimentary but she cannot puzzle it out at the moment.

She nods once and shrugs.

"Happy Fun Ball," she says. "But... I don't remember being near any island. Are you saying the island is... like its own person?"

[halforc]

"No, there's a god-like thing called the Augur, it robbed me of my spells and ..."

Admitting the rest to her face makes his shoulder sag and his gaze drop, roaming the ground at her feet.

"Beau, this island is messed up. I'm so relieved to see you and so sorry you got dragged in here."

[flurry_of_beaus]

God-like thing is always a great way to start a sentence. Especially when it comes to Fjord. He's got great luck with that sort of thing.

Right.

"Hey, hey." Beau coaxes him gently with her words, a hand going to his shoulder.

"Buck up, Captain. We can get through this."

[halforc]

With his head bowed he feels that bracing touch and it's so homely that he sucks in a breath, having to force his eyes open. His hand covers hers on his shoulder, giving a grateful squeeze.

When he looks up he says with a small smile, "Molly's here, he's alive. Exactly as we knew him."

And a lot has changed between him and Fjord who were stranded here together, alone, at first. More than he wants to admit right now; it's enough to huff a grin of relief.

"Still a cocky asshole."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Her hand stills under his -- noticeable probably only because his hand is atop of hers -- and the expression on Beau's face sort of freezes, like she's trying very hard not to let it change. Or crumble.

"He's... alive?"

It takes her a second to blink away the shock.

"That bastard."

[halforc]

His hand tightens on hers, briefly. Understanding that pause.

"You can kick his ass all you like."

[flurry_of_beaus]

"I will." Beau's quick to shift from shock and a strange kind of sadness -- why wasn't she there for him? how long has he been here without the whole group? why does this guilt linger? -- to a moderate sort of pleasure and determination.

"Since apparently nothing can keep him down. I'm gonna smack that pretty face of his."

[halforc]

"All you like."

He nods up the beach, starting to head up past the dunes. The road to the City won't take long, they can talk on the way.

"I've been here with Molly the longest, Caleb arrived last month and now, you. We have a house for everyone to stay in, if we do all get dragged in weeks apart."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau follows, listening to what Fjord's saying even if a part of her mind is on Molly and this strange place, all the questions she wants and needs to ask.

"You think we will?" she asks. "I mean, when you say longest, how long is that?"

She hopes it hasn't been long. At least Caleb's only been here a month, but if Fjord says something insane, she's going to feel awful.

[halforc]

"Two months, I think. Molly's settled into the lifestyle here but it's ... grated on me."

There it is again, the sour note in his tone. He rolls his eyes at himself, his stupid coyness, and shrugs as he gestures to the not-so distant City ahead.

"The god-like Augur gets power from erotic energy, so you can only get your powers or possessions back by having sex."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Two months isn't so bad. Beau nods her head, still wishing she had been here -- for all of them -- first, to get the lay of the land, to figure out how to get out --

"The fuck you say now?" Beau blinks, sure she must have misheard.

"What is this, sexy Uk'atoa?"

[halforc]

Despite everything, that makes him smile through a snort.

"Pretty much."

He doesn't know what he would have done without his friends and Aphrodite, also a friend now. Kind of a crush.

"These devices tell you what the Augur wants from you, if you complete the tasks then the bastard returns something." Huffing, he adds, "Apparently I haven't done enough, so all I've earned back is my damn sword minus any spells to go with it."

How much goddamn sex does a guy need to have! Sheesh.

[flurry_of_beaus]

"You've got to be kidding me," Beau scoffs. She can't believe this. Granted, she is no prude, but there's a difference between having sex and being forced to have sex, even if it's... okay, somewhat optional?

"Is that how we leave?" she asks. "Curry enough favor with the sex god to be allowed an escape?"

[halforc]

"We need to heal this land before they have to power to send us home, yes. That's the line we've been fed."

He nods to the forest eaves.

"Don't go anywhere alone outside of the City, the wildlife is dangerous and the weather can change in an afternoon. Recently we had a full-on blizzard."

[flurry_of_beaus]

"What a load of shit," Beau says, scoffing again at the very ludicrous request. Yeah, it's basically forced, unless someone wants to enjoy their stay on an island that's not their home without their friends.

Beau's gonna go crazy in a week, max.

She does not pay much attention to Fjord's warning, because she'll do what she wants, with caution.

"But nothing bad happens if we don't fuck, right? Or are there like, punishments?"

[halforc]

"No punishments, but if shit goes down then ..."

It really is horseshit, he hates it here. Seeing Beau is a fresh reminder of how much he misses home, then of how determined he and Caleb have been to regain their abilities.

Fjord sets his jaw, eyes ahead on the road.

"During the blizzard a ... friend of mine was stranded in her tent on the beach. I went to get her but I couldn't use my Fly spell through the Star Razor, so I had to carry her to safety. It was ... It was harder than I let on."

Turning his head to look at her, he shakes it.

"I need my spells, Beau. People get hurt if I'm a blank book."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau frowns at him, reaching out once again to place her hand on his shoulder. This is why it pains her to know that they've been without her for so long. Because she knows she's needed, in her own weird, wry way. They all need each other. They all work together, in their strange ways.

"You still saved her," Beau points out firmly. "I know how you feel without your spells, but come on. Fjord, you're still a good, capable guy. You don't need whatever this fucker the Augur is to take care of people."

[halforc]

"I can't Commune with Melora, this is the only way I can get my shit back. What if one of the assholes on this island decides to attack us? What if a bunch of them do? I'm not as strong as you or Yasha, and Caleb needs his spell components."

The hand that pats him is appreciated, although it does little to change his mind. He bumps his shoulder into hers.

"Not to get mushy," he knows she hates it, heh, "but seeing you here with us is like a breath of fresh air. Compared to some of the people here who are so weirdly okay with the requests, I've felt like I'm strange for not wanting to do all the things the Augur has asked of me."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau hates not being right, so she purses her lips into a thin line of displeasure and just... doesn't agree openly with Fjord. But she knows he's right. He might have a sword, but there's only so much he can do with it. And Caleb's even a worse problem if he does not have his components. They need to be protected, and apparently there's little in the way of protection on this island.

At least they've moved on, mushy as it might be.

"I mean, don't get me wrong. If a hot chick asks me to get down with them, I'm not gonna say no," she insists plainly. "But I'm not gonna be doing it for any sex god. Just for myself."

[halforc]

"It could be a lot worse," he concedes, rubbing the back of his neck, "and I haven't been, you know, throwing myself about for the sake of it."

That's the best way he can think of to put it. His cheeks darken a little with the hint of a blush as he thinks of Molly and Aphrodite, and more recently Caleb.

Things are so weird but, also? So strangely good.

"I haven't regretted anything I've done here. I'm glad I can say that with certainty."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau is not so flustered by being thrown onto sex island and having it explained to her that she cannot pick up on when Fjord blushes. It's like a beacon to her, a sire call:

Make fun of him, Beau. Do it.

"So, uh... what have you done here?" she asks, not at all subtly. "I take it you don't need a wingman?"

[halforc]

"That's none of your business," he says cheerfully, already braced for a grilling. "Let's just say I'm handling it."

He'll (try to) never tell!

[flurry_of_beaus]

"Handling your own dick is allowed?" Beau looks genuinely surprised by this.

"Well, then, that's good to know. I won't be leaving my room for a little while, if that's what sex god wants."