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]

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."

[halforc]

Wow.

"Very funny. There has to be someone involved but you don't need to know who's on my card or what we did." What will put her off? Hmm. "There were a thousand dicks involved, okay? Are you put off now?"

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau accidentally lets out a snort before laughing at Fjord's question.

"Nah, man. As long as yours was involved, it doesn't really count, does it?"

[halforc]

"You're going to regret being this invested in where Little Fjord has been vacationing."

No tales here, just a wall of secrets and silence on the matter (which Molly will probably break down later for Beau).

[flurry_of_beaus]

"Little Fjord? That's all you got?" Beau tsks and shakes her head.

"I was thinking like green goblin or something. But that would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?"

They have to think of Veth, even here, don't they?

[halforc]

His expression has never been so disgusted, yikes.

"That is not a goblin and nor do I ever want to think of it as such. You'll kill it off permanently saying that."

[flurry_of_beaus]

Yikes, that's a look. Beau holds up her hands.

"Hey, not even I would wish that."