TDM 009: I'M IN LIKE WITH YOU

[erkumods]

TDM 009: I'M IN LIKE WITH YOU

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. STARGAZER On the first night that new arrivals wash ashore, the moon rises. It's full and beautiful and surrounded by stars. The robots quickly bring old, dusty telescopes out of storage and line them up on the beach to help people get a truly spectacular view. "Look to the heavens! Behold, the chicken, the cat, the owl, the donkey!" It's... the cock, the pussy, the hooters, and the ass. For the rest of the night, characters will become fixated on the specific asset associated with the constellation they've gotten an eyeful of. Whether this leads to some body worship or just casual appreciation is up to you. You can learn about the stars and constellations later this month in some of the rare, non-pornographic books in the library. (More info will go up soon, so please be patient!) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. STIMULATING CONVERSATION An ancient courting ritual has been announced! It involves the give-and-take of candy hearts with slogans printed on them. Of course, since these hearts are being manufactured by robots, their sense of taste is a little... off? Or perhaps off-putting? "You'll do." "5/10." "Acceptable." "Sloppy Seconds." Receiving a negative heart makes one feel insecure, jealous, and submissive. "Be mine." "Nicest ass." "Swell bulge." "They're good lays, Bront." Receiving a positive heart will make one feel confident, boastful, and dominant. Your friendly neighborhood 'bots will give them out to anyone who asks - and maybe even those who don't. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Eat Or Dare The robots have set up a stall by the beach with a banner that reads: Eat Or Dare. They have procured bigger candy hearts than ever before -- fist-sized and larger -- with actions written on them instead of derogatory slogans. "Take a dive." "Lick me." "Get handsy." The name of the game is to follow the instructions or forfeit the challenge by making the evidence disappear into your mouth. Delicious! Those who eat the candy hearts will feel themselves getting giddy and unreasonably invested in the love affairs of others. They will feel compelled to play matchmaker to spread the cheer. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[jokey]

[Hamtarou... That's a name that sounds vaguely familiar, but surely Inosuke isn't referring to a talking cartoon hamster. Surely. If he keeps company with Tanjiro, his crew/loyal band of minions can't be that bizarre, can it?

Hmm. At any rate, maybe he can offer Inosuke some solace.]

Last I checked, your minion is doing just fine. You aren't stuck here alone. That has to count for something.

[Having friends here certainly makes this place a lot less lonely, among other things.]

Feel free to stay the night here. No offense, but you look like you need a bath and a long nap.

[boarishness]

<sub>[ Tell him about it. He was alone most of his life until he met Tanjiro and company. The coffee returns to his rosy lips— it's truly unfair how delicate his mouth looked, especially for being so loud. Inosuke nods, pleased that Tanjiro is okay and, honestly, that he is here with Inosuke in this realm.

At mention of a bath, he scoffs. Contrary to what it may seem, Inosuke actually did enjoy baths, but he doesn't like being told he needs one. ]</sub>

Don't boss me around, loser. I'm stronger than you. You don't have the right.

_{[ He finishse off the coffee and slides out of the chair to investigate the area.. and look for something to bathe in. ]}

[jokey]

[Them's kissing lips, truly. Shame about all the screaming and yelling, but there's a silver lining– Inosuke's voice does hold plenty of appeal when he isn't bellowing.

Picking Inosuke's emptied plates up off the table, Akira steps into the kitchen and begins washing them.]

Right. My bad. [Hehe.] The bathroom's down the hall. You can borrow my clothes while I'm washing yours, but...

[Although, ah. Aside from the turtle neck and jeans he's currently wearing, all Akira has to offer Inosuke is his school uniform, and... well. That's not going to fit someone so muscular, is it? No, probably not. On second thought, he pulls something frilly and offensively pink from depths of the pantry and tosses it to Inosuke.]

Here. This was a gift from the robots. All yours.

[Please, just take it off his hands. It's not even his color...]

[boarishness]

<sub>[ It's unfortunate that, although Inosuke is mostly uncivilized, his time in Prismatica did assist in him distinguishing some things in regards to gender expression. Also, Nezuko wore this shade of pink.

He glowers, lips peeling back to reveal his teeth. Akira has really done it now. His voice is deep and growling when he finally speaks, bright green eyes flickering from the item in his hands and to Akira. Granted, he didn't know what kind of article of clothing this was, but: ]</sub>

...It's because of my girly face, huh?

_{[ He makes a shrill sound and throws the apron to the ground, stomping it with his foot. ]}

I'LL SHOW YOU.

_{[ His feet kick up behind him, preparing to charge into the other teen, much like.. well.. a wild boar. ]}

[jokey]

[Ah. He'll take all the glowering and fussing and stomping as a sign that maybe Inosuke didn't like his offering after all. That's a bit unfortunate.

Akira has a mere fraction of a second to toss himself outside of Inosuke's immediate trajectory and, uh, try to resolve this peacefully?! Ducking behind the couch, Akira pops up slowly with his arms raised. It wasn't him, officer. It was the guy who looks suspiciously like him, he swears.]

You have a nice face! [Why is the shouting infectious?!] I don't want you sitting around naked, that's all. Please calm down.

[boarishness]

_{[ That's fine. He'll parkour off of the nearest vertical surface in the kitchen and slam into the couch, toppling and shifting it slightly but merely bristling and growling at Akira when he sticks his hands up. His hands grip into the back of the sofa, but this surface does serve as a deterrent from him actually getting to the brunette. ]}

I will sit around naked if I want to, idiot!! You can't make me calm down!!

_{[ Or... or can he? ]}

[jokey]

[...it's been a while since Akira really had to question the caliber of people he lets into his life. This man? This wild animal man? He trusted he wouldn't go bounding off the walls and trying to cave his face in because he's friends with someone like Tanjiro, but he was wrong. Clearly he was wrong!!

Akira remains where he is for the time being, but he realizes he's been backed into a corner. You're the arbiter of your own destiny here, Inosuke... Don't try anything funny.]

But you'll catch a cold. [Besides, this is too early in the friendship to wave your dick around in his house? Please.] Look. Go– [Oh right, no orders. AHEM.] ...help yourself to the bath. I'll go into town and get you some clothes. Sound good?

[boarishness]

_{[ Inosuke's breathing his heavy at first, but it slows to a more normal-human pace before he drags his nails across the back of the sofa and lets it go, curling them into fists. ]}

Do what you want! I'm too strong to catch something dumb like a cold! I live in cold weather, it don't bother me, stupid!

_{[ He steps back and away from Akira with one last huff. ]}

Stupid.

_{[ He's off to find this bath that Akira is talking about and heads down the hall, but disrobes his attire in the process, leaving a trail of shoes, pants and animal pelt. Akira is also fortunate that he knows how baths work thanks to being in Lunatia, but it was certainly something for him to first try and understand. He'll start to draw himself a bath, wearing all that is left is his fundoshi. At least he doesn't leave that in the hallway. ]}

[jokey]

[Well like, okay? Sure?? That logic doesn't check out at all, but what does Akira know about wild mountain-dwelling boar men? Not a whole lot beyond how voracious their appetite is and how biased they are against frilly pink aprons. Man, something tells him that footprint Inosuke stamped onto it isn't going to iron out without a fight.

P.S., thanks for not leaving your undies in the hallway, Inosuke. That's ever so slightly unsanitary, but Akira does what he'd promised to and gathers up Inosuke's discarded clothing and sets about washing it. The pelt, though... Ah. He might need to wash that by hand? He isn't sure??]

Inosuke. [Actually, those undies need to be cleaned too. They're arguably more important than the rest of his... ensemble.] I need your underwear.

[boarishness]

Then come and get it, chyuh..

<sub>[ He's left the bathroom door open cause he's not body shy at all and by now the bath is halfway full and the fundoshi is discarded. He's sitting his naked ass right there on the floor with is back facing the door, waiting for the water to continue to fill up.

The steam rising from the bath feels so pleasant— he can feel it before it actually hits his skin and it makes him shiver and coo in delight, but once the water has reached as high as he thinks it needs to go, he climbs in with absolutely no elegance, splashing and sloshing water out of the tub carelessly. If Akira bothers to listen, there is some soft laughter. ]</sub>

Fufufufu... ♡

[jokey]

[...but does Akira really want to enter his bathroom when Inosuke's cooing like that? Pardon him, but he feels like he's interrupting something here. That splash, though. That splash. Inosuke got water all over the floor, didn't he?

Akira can confirm that easily when he slides in to pick a waterlogged fundoshi up off the bathroom floor. There are no words, man. None.]

I'll be back in a bit. There are towels under the sink.

[Don't eat them or do anything weird, Inosuke. Akira gets Inosuke's clothing scrubbed and tossed into the washer before making his way to town for a spare change of clothes. You're lucky he's willing to spend credits on you, boar boy.]

[boarishness]

<sub>[ There are no words from Inosuke, either. Just happy splashing. He slaps his hands on the water's surface, delighted, then he throws some water onto his face. He shakes his hair out and continues, even after Akira is gone. He's learned to wash himself with shampoo and soap, but probably doesn't do the best job with it, and climbs out of the bath, leaving the dirty water for the next person who might want to use it. He's soaking wet by the time he makes himself at home, finding the sofa from before and curling up on it, covering himself loosely with the towel that he barely used as a blanket.

You could say.. he's a pig in a blanket.

His whole adventure before coming here was a bit much, so he does feel himself beginning to doze off. ]</sub>

[jokey]

[Suffice it to say that water's going right down the drain as soon as Akira returns and sees the state his bathroom's in. He'll just... mop real quick. No problem. It's fine.

Only after Akira's tended to the laundry, shuffling it into the dryer, does he find the tabled pig in a blanket of yore. Oh, goodness. Someone's looking very content, isn't he?

Akira would feel bad waking him, so for the time being, he drapes a blanket over Inosuke's resting form and tends to chores around the house. Who knew adopting a pig would be such work? When Inosuke wakes, he'll find his clothing cleaned and folded neatly on the coffee table in front of him. Akira's somewhere in the depths of his bedroom scribbling in his planner, but if Inosuke needs him, he won't be hard to find.]

[boarishness]

<sub>[ A good nap was had, so next on his list is second meal. He's learned the big, giant, cold box contains food and keeps it fresh, so once he's dressed, he'll raid it. He does take the mental appreciation (only that) that Akira is giving him food and taking care of him. It makes him feel rather fuzzy considering he had nobody to do any of these things for him his entire life. He's learning that this is something he really likes and he's been missing out on.. well, basic human decency his whole life. His human mother abandoned him; his boar mother died when he was a toddler, and the old man who taught him how to talk was never around anymore

Anyway, the fridge is getting raided. If a food item doesn't look appealing, it's going on the floor. Smash. Clash. Clatter.

Finally, he finds tempura. Not much left, but he'll devour the remainder of it, standing in front of the wide open fridge door like a gremlin. ]</sub>

[jokey]

[So like, naturally, breaking shit's going to draw Akira out of his room like a bat out of hell. He flies into the kitchen just in time to see the carnage unfolding right before his very eyes. INOSUKE, YOU CAD.........

What does he do to punish Inosuke for making a mess and raiding his fridge? Why, he grabs a wooden spoon and cracks it over his ass– literally?! Your wrought-iron pig ass fucking decimated his spoon, Inosuke. The fuck?]

Hey. [HEY YOU. ASSHOLE.] Bad dog. That's not how you behave in someone else's house.

[boarishness]

<sub>[ The spanking doesn't hurt (that ass is solid) but his heightened sense of feel does make a shiver run down his spine and he looks directly at Akira with his mouth full of tempura.

And..
swallow. ]</sub>

Are you challenging me, loser?

[jokey]

Challenging you?

[Akira is patient, Inosuke. Very, very patient, but even a saint has a point at which they'll lose their goddamned shit. Akira's slowly but surely approaching that point.]

I'm telling you to behave. If you refuse, I'll have to punish you.

[boarishness]

Don't tell me what to do. We talked about this already.

_{[ He smacks his lips and licks his fingers clean, his nose curling slightly. He dusts his hands off from any lingering tempura crumbs and faces Akira fully, arms crossing over his chest. ]}

H'oh. Tell me what sort of punishment. There ain't nothin' you can do to me.

[jokey]

You sound confident.

[Confident that there will be no repercussions for treating another guy's fridge like an all you can eat buffet, of all things. Someone who acts like an animal should know better than to steal another's precious food. That's cause enough for punishment, but Inosuke's asking him what kind of punishment he has in mind. To that, Akira can only chuckle, sliding his hands in his pockets.]

A proper one, of course. I'll give you a taste of your own medicine. [There's that chuckle again. What can he say? Inosuke's baseless confidence is infectious.] Any last words?

[boarishness]

FIGHT ME!

_{[ His eyes are wild and full of delight at what is perceived to be a threat, not at all nervous about whatever challenge that Akira is about to throw at him. He's not scared at all. ]}

I could snap you in two easily, Stick Boy!!

[jokey]

Alright. [Alright?!] You asked for it.

[Don't say you didn't when you're entirely unsure what hit you, man. It isn't often that Akira proves a point with force, but it seems unlikely he'll be able to get through to Inosuke without fucking his shit up a bit. To that end, Akira calls out his Persona and uses it to punch Inosuke square in the face. That... will probably hurt. That will probably hurt considerably, but Akira is only giving Inosuke what he asked for. Never ask him for anything ever again!!]