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

Caduceus Clay | Critical Role | OTA

[eyesofthegrave]

00. Arrival

Picture this if you will. A beautiful mermaid, thrusting themself up upon a protruding rock from the sea. The waves crashing around them in pretty pearlescent splashes of colour, fish and dolphin jumping up to cross over their head while a rainbow arched behind them, sparkling and vibrant. Naked apart from a seashell bra and a pearl necklace, with flowing locks of pastel pink hair.

Sounds like quite the sight, doesn't it? Well, that's nothing like what's actually happening.

Sure, they were thrust upon a rock, only the waves kind of threw them there abruptly. Oh and they're not a mermaid, no, they're a very slim, very tall, very wet Firbolg. They weren't exactly naked either but the thin silk shirt they wore was transparent from the water, so they might as well have been. Oh and, those aren't seashells covering his chest, no, they're an urchin and starfish currently tangled in the fur of his chest. That pearl necklace happens to be a length of seaweed and yup, it's choking him a little.

Spitting up seawater and sand, trying to tug the seaweed from around his neck as he was washed off the rock and onto the beach with a startling splash. "Oh no. Not this." Trying to rid himself of his seaweed scarf, holding handfuls of it near his nose for a long moment. "This smells strange. I think I'll keep it."

I. STARGAZER

Caduceus loved the stars, they were beautiful. Being able to look at them close up like this was just wonderful. Spending a few hours just staring into the night sky until he was distracted by other people on the beach. Tossing a kind hello here and there as they passed, he hadn't even realized he was staring and where he was staring exactly. Oops~

[ooc; You can pick where he's looking!]

II. STIMULATING CONVERSATION

"Oh wow, isn't this neat? What a lovely thing to do. Sucha nice idea, who wouldn't want to give or receive candy." Please be forgiving! The Cleric has a very basic understanding of reading, he knows what he knows and that's about it, everything else is new and exciting. His heart is in the right place as he hands out candy with an innocent kind of smile on his lips. "Here, please, be my guest, take one." Giving away the hearts the robots had given him.

[ooc; You can pick what he gives you!]

III. Eat Or Dare

Games were always fun, what a cool place this is. Thinking to himself as he stood close to the stall, watching people with their oversized candy. He didn't really understand the point of the game but as he was pushed closer to the stall by someone leaving in a giggling hurry, Caduceus found himself picking up one of the hearts, mostly out of curiosity.

"Oh? I'm sorry, I think I got a broken one? It doesn't say anything. Huh... " Holding the heart upside down and backwards. Blinking a little confused.

[ooc; again, you can pick what it says!]

00. arrival - i cackled

[flurry_of_beaus]

There's only one creature that Beauregard knows that looks like that. He's one in a million, and the odds of another firbolg showing up with that particular shade of pink hair are slim to none. (She hasn't met your family yet, Caduceus. Forgive her.)

The monk starts walking down the beach from the treeline, wary at first that this is some kind of mistake. But then Cad sniffs at the seaweed and throws it around his neck again and it's like a sign.

"DEUCES!" Beau cries out as she sprints down the beach to him. "You're here!"

She slows to a stop beside him, suddenly looking distressed. "Shit, you're here."

My work here is done

[eyesofthegrave]

"Ah, hey there little friend- oh okay, sure that's fine, you just hang out there then." Caduceus was busy talking to a small crab that had scampered its way from inside the mess of seaweed, currently now dangling by a pincer from a long, floppy, grey ear, when the Monk caught his attention.

Coming to a stand and slowly dusting the sand from his body, he welcomed his friend with a wide, caring smile. "Beau, You're here, I'm here, um... We're where? Sorry, there was a crab, I wasn't paying attention." His calm, carefree demeanour carrying through that deep, soothing tone of his. A look of pure delighted confusion upon his face.

[flurry_of_beaus]

Beau takes a second, considering the cleric. She's happy that he's here, of course, but this also means that he's trapped on sex island with them. Which isn't great. Selfishly, she wants him here. Unselfishly, she knows he'd be safer and happier back home.

But he's here now and there's nothing that Beau or anybody else can do about it.

So she flings herself at him, wrapping her arms around his damp and sandy waist.

"It's good to see you."

[eyesofthegrave]

Caduceus was just happy to see a familiar and friendly face. The monk looked good, like she's been living well which is all he asks for. Oblivious as to where he was or why he was there, just happy to be.

As Beau wrapped her arms around him a wonderful hug, Caduceus reciprocated. Long damp arms enclosing around her, dipping his head down and bending his back so that he was able to rest his chin atop her head.

"It's good to see you too. I don't really care much for the sea but y'know, it wasn't all that bad this time."

The Firbold took a slow look around, his brow pulling into a confused frown. "Huh, where's everyone else?"

[flurry_of_beaus]

"You'll have to tell me about that," Beau murmurs, because the fact that they're from two different times, just as she's separated from Fjord and Caleb (and technically Molly) by months, is a bridge they're going to have to cross.

She lets go of him, now picking at her damp clothes, and makes a bit of a face, a slight wince.

"Yea, about that. We... didn't all come together. I don't know where you were before, but we're in a different dimension now. Like the Happy Fun Time Ball, but with different rules."

stargazer

[winscenario]

Jim's not necessarily unused to friendly strangers, not here and not back home either. He doesn't shy away from a hello when it's aimed towards him, actually he's always more than glad to make new acquaintances and strike up new friendships. But he does find it a little odd where the stranger's eyes linger, leveled right at his groin. Uh, okay then.

Not about to assume anything (he could be blind, for instance, or it could be a characteristic of his species), Jim approaches with a friendly smile, waving at him. "Hello to you, too. Are you a new arrival?"

[eyesofthegrave]

He's not? That's a shame, Caduceus is always friendly, even when he shouldn't be. Still, he's not going to take offence if people don't reciprocate the greeting. So when the gentleman he'd been staring at actually offered a kind wave and hello in return, the Cleric smiled brightly.

Being as perceptive as Caduceus was, he noticed everything that was going on in the stranger's groin region. Blinking a few times, even balling his fists up and rubbing at his eyes to snap himself out of it. He didn't mean to be rude. It might have looked far too obvious, however, what with him being over 7 foot tall and all.

"Oh, hey, hello. Yea, I eh, I think I just arrived. Not really sure what's going on but that's okay."

[winscenario]

Well, at least his groin region was currently covered up, so there was that much. Once his current companion managed to tear his eyes away, Jim brushed off the occurrence, having little reason to think too much of it.

"No? Well, if there's anything I can help with, let me know. I've been here a while, so I can answer most questions you might have," he offered, a hand reaching out for a greeting. "James Kirk. You can call me Jim."

[eyesofthegrave]

It would have been embarrassing if Caduceus realised how inappropriate it was, covered up or not. Still, from time to time he felt himself almost zoning out and his eyes tracing downwards. A quite few blinks and he was focused once more.

"You have? That must be nice, it seems like a pretty neat place to live... Um, wherever this is, that is." He laughed a little at himself, blinking as a hand and name were offered. "Mister Jim, it's real great to meet you. Caduceus Clay, it's a pleasure." Taking the hand in his own, Jim might notice how the fine fur that covered his hands felt as soft and smooth as velvet.

"Were you looking at the stars too? I feel like I should be doing something else, something more productive. Does that vibe kinda float around her often?"

[winscenario]

"That's the real question now, isn't it?" He chuckled too, allowing himself a moment to admire the hand offered to him. He didn't stare too long or hold it too firmly, but there was a definite lingering, thumb tracing briefly over the fur as he shook the hand, then he let go.

"Ah. Yes, there's definitely a vibe that floats around here," he said, amused by the choice of word. Very... archaic, almost, in his time. "I think to those of us who're used to an exciting life, things can be pretty quiet around here. But there's some excitement popping up every so often, even if it's almost invariably related to sex."

III. Eat Or Dare

[ragingnature]

Persephone happens to be nearby when Caduceus is trying to figure out how the large candy heart works. So she moves over to stand before him so she can get a better look at it.

"Oh, um, that's because it's on this side." From her vantage point, she can see the words with ease, though they are a tad difficult to read upside down.

She tilts her head to one side to try and make out the words better. "Take... Take it off? I think?" Take what off? What is it?

[eyesofthegrave]

"Hm? Oh, it is?" Laughing a little at himself as he watcher the stranger tip her head to get a look. She was a wonderful shade of pink, Caduceus found himself smiling at her for a moment.

"Take it off, huh?" Nodding before flipping it over and looking at it. He went to hand it over, holding it in her direction. "Would you like to take it off? I don't know how it comes apart, it's my first time here."

[ragingnature]

"That's what it says." Though she looks utterly confused when he goes to hand the candy heart to her.

"Um... I don't think it's referring to this, though I'm not sure what it is." She still takes the heart and looks it over. It's definitely just a bigger piece of candy.

[eyesofthegrave]

Looking around, the Cleric noticed other people picking them, reading them and then either trying to eat them or do some of the most random things, sometimes to each other! He frowned, held it up to his flat pink nose and gave it a sniff.

"I mean, it smells perfectly delightful." Smiling at his new pink friend and making a comical shrug of his shoulders before going to set the candy back on the counter of the stall. "Here you go friend, someone else might like to enjoy it." Only, as he went to return the heart, they were promptly laughed at by a few in the small crowd around them, who took it upon themselves to explain that he had to do the dare or forfeit" and eat it.

"Uh well, there seems to have been a mistake, I didn't realise I was playing a game." Tossing the pink lady a little confused look before turning the heart back over and reading it again. "Take it off?" Looking around, trying to judge what exactly it was he was supposed to be doing. Then it dawned on him. "Oh! Here I've got it! I'm supposed to remove something from my person." Laughing a little at how oblivious he'd been.

I. Stargazer

[thelyss]

Nighttime is of course most agreeable to Essek, especially for wandering the beach. The sun and sand exacerbate the brightness of the sun during the day, quickly turning even brief visits unpleasant. But he's come to find the sound of the waves and the feeling of the wind to be soothing, an ideal place to come and think without the presence of so many people under one roof. As much as he appreciates the opportunity to be closer to Caleb and the others, living with people after so many years alone is...an adjustment.

So to the beach he comes, the great expanse of unobstructed horizon feeling endless and full of possibility. After a few strolls on his own, he's even gotten used to walking on the sand, bare feet and all.

Tonight, he spies a familiar figure. Essek approaches unhurriedly, the firbolg's attention rapt skyward, until he comes to stand nearby, about an arm's length away.

He glances up, picking out a few particular points he's come to identify over the past few weeks.

"It's quite different to the stars of Exandria, isn't it?"

[eyesofthegrave]

Nature was wonderful, wasn't it? Caduceus could appreciate it, day or night. Though, he understood why the Shadowhand wasn't too fond of it during the day. If truth be told, the Cleric enjoyed being alone too, as much as he had missed his family, he also missed just being by himself, in the Graveyard with nothing but the dead and the plants to keep him company.

At the sound of the Wizard's voice, Caduceus turned his head, the smile that was already there, only growing wider and brighter at the sight of a friend before turning his face skyward once more.

"It sure is. I'm into though."

Tilting his head, trying as he might, to better view a rather strange constellation. "Not even sure where we are. Might even be a dream, who can say?"

[thelyss]

It is by far the friendliest greeting Essek has received from any of the Nein since his arrival. Which isn't to say that the others were unfriendly or haven't been, but there is a clear distance between them, separated by not unwarranted caution and suspicion. Yet Caduceus had already expressed his forgiveness even before their last departure all those weeks ago, and his calm steadiness is...refreshing.

A faintly amused smile touches his lips again as he stares upwards once more, picking out a few of the constellations he's come to know over the past few weeks, and some brighter things that may yet be planets.

"On another plane of existence entirely, perhaps. Thus far, no one seems to know." And even if they did, there's no real way to know how to get back, precisely.

[eyesofthegrave]

It is? Well isn't that nice? Caduceus likes to think he's one of the friendlier members of the Nein, even if he is the least social. As for his feelings for Essek, Caduceus believed there was always more than meets the eye with the Drow, he was sure that they were good in heart and intentions and that was all he asked of in a friend. There was no bad blood here.

Side glancing, Caduceus was sure he spotted Essek smile and that in itself caused the Firbolg's own smile to grow a little wider.

"Is that so? Well hey, isn't this a privilege? The first adventurers in an entirely new planet? Wow... Just, wow." Turning to face his friend with a kind expression on his face. "I'm sure it will all work out the way it's s'posed to. Destiny is a strange thing, isn't it? It's not always clear, not always what we want but in the end, we'll be exactly where we're meant to be when we're meant to be."

ii.

[blumenthal]

The first few days with Caduceus have presented a bit of a logistical quandary, what with finding him a spot in the house that isn't already occupied and also trying to impress on him the often duplicitious nature of much of the island. But even so, Caleb can't deny that he's happy to see him. It's a mixed bag, of course, as Caduceus is quite possibly the last person he would wish this place on, but at least he has all of them here. They'll make sure he's taken care of and won't have to participate in anything he isn't interested in.

When Caduceus slides a candy heart to him over the Neinhaus' kitchen table one afternoon, Caleb smiles, but slides it right back. "Thank you, Mr. Clay. But I think someone else may enjoy this more. I am not so much one for candy," he declines gently. The words printed on it are at least fitting for a return gift. You're sweet! it reads, which is a surprisingly thoughtful sentiment when one doesn't consider that anything manufactured by the robots is likely intended to be taken more literally.

[eyesofthegrave]

Yeah, Caduceus is really sorry that him being here has made it difficult in any way for the others, or well, he would think that if he knew of the awkward position it presented for them. The Firbolg was just happy to be amongst friends. Sure, this world was strange and alien to them all but it wasn't the worst place they could all be, not in a long shot. So, in his gullible and gentle way, Caduceus seemed to be enjoying himself.

Seeing as his friends had been so kind as to look after him, the Cleric felt it only right that he did what he could for them. If that meant cooking them a nice meal, brewing some special tea or even trying to heal any aches and pains, no matter how small, that they might have, anything to be useful in return. Cue the candy heart.

As Caleb passed the treat back in a very polite manner, Caduceus simply picked it back up with a fond expression forming across his face. "Yea, maybe if Jester were here, she would appreciate it more." Giving the heart a small sniff, his falt pink nose twitching a little at the smell.

[blumenthal]

Caleb flashes another smile, thin and a little tight around the edges. "Ja, I think she would have taken all of those off your hands by now," he agrees.

Perhaps Caduceus can mention Jester so casually because he's just seen her, but for Caleb it has been months now, and he misses her. Misses Yasha too, and Veth most of all. Their absence grows even more blatant with each new member of the Nein collected here. But at the very least, he no longer has to miss Caduceus. That's something.

"How are you settling in?" He asks, gentle and with real concern. "I know the circumstances are...not ideal." Not for any of them, really, but especially not Caduceus. "If you would like, I could take a walk with you sometime, show you some of the landmarks. I have a pretty good mental map of the city by now." And by pretty good he means essentially flawless, between his memory and his sense of direction. With Caleb as a guide, there's no danger of getting lost or turned around.

[eyesofthegrave]

Caduceus could see the sorrow in Caleb's smile. Back home, in the Blooming Grove, Caduceus would spend hours just listening or even sitting with people who missed loved ones, this moment with Caleb felt like one of those moments too and even though it was hard to smile through it, he was glad Caleb had smiled at all. No matter how small or tight it was.

Turning the candy over a few more times in his hand before setting it down. He listened to Caleb's offer, to his words about how difficult this place might be. "I get it. It's a lot. But I'm okay, I'm with friends and that's all that matters. " The thought of what this world wanted from them was honestly, a little terrifying for the Cleric, he was way out of his comfort zone, but then again, he had been out of his comfort zone the day a small group of strangers showed up at his door unannounced. He's never looked back since and he doesn't plan to now.

"That would be neat, thank you, Mr Caleb. I would love to get a feel for the Island. See what grows where and where nothing grows at all."

i.

[halforc]

When the others informed him of Caduceus's arrival he was torn between oh, shit in his concern, having already discussed how to handle the situation so their friend wouldn't be pushed to commit any acts he was disinterested in, and utter fucking rapture at the notion of Caduceus's cooking following three months of his own.

When he jogs down to the beach it doesn't take long to find him with dark-vision and Fjord hoots as excitement buoys his spirits, no matter the circumstance.

"Deuces!"

One half-orc coming in for a hug! Gods, he's so relieved to see him.

[eyesofthegrave]

Oh, Caduceus would be more than happy to cook for his and all of Fjord's friends, it would honestly be his pleasure, so there was definitely that to look forward too. As for the more intimate things? The Cleric would be forever grateful to learn the others had already found a way to help him out. It means a lot you guys.

To the sound of his name, Caduceus turned, the telescope still held to his face, to see a very familiar green face rushing towards him. Fjord looked blurry and huge through the scope and for a second, it didn't click with Caduceus that what he was seeing was actually true.

That is until strong arms were being thrown around him, falling easily into them with a pleasing little chuckle. " Oof-! It's good to see you too, Fjord."