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

[shiro_megane_kun]

[He reaches up to fuss with his glasses, still sorting through the upswelling of emotions he feels. He's so used to having everything neat and orderly (or so he likes to tell himself, even if that's not true) but right now his insides feel more like the interior of a washing machine.] ... We know each other? [But when he speaks the question aloud, it stops being a question.] I know you. [A little more certain, and as his hand drops away, he peers at her a little more intently. He hasn't had a chance to look up at the stars yet, so he isn't too distracted by any of her... features. At least, not more than he usually is.]

[He's remembering. He wants to remember. This is important. She's important.]

[shesgotguts]

[he's trying to put all the pieces together, trying to understand how he can know her even if he doesn't, and she wishes she could make it easier for him. she doesn't have all the answers, but if she did, she'd share them with him. all she knows for sure is that this is not where they started, but they're here together now. a blessing and a curse all in one, if he feels as strongly about going home as she does about him.

in the back of her mind, she considers ways to get them reacquainted-- without clothes, preferably-- but this is not the time or place for that, and it's silly... actually, it's more like embarrassing that she's even considering that. she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she gives herself a mental scolding, but still offers ishida a warm smile.]

It's okay. Take your time. I know it's a lot to take in. And if it's too much? You can walk away, like nothing ever happened. [an out for him, but one that would break her heart.]

[shiro_megane_kun]

[Walk away?] No. [His memories are fuzzy, hard to recall, like a dream, but it seems that how he felt about her was much more difficult to wipe away than mere memories.] I don't want to walk away, or act like nothing ever happened. I want... [He wants to know why he feels this way.]

Could we talk? Walk together, if you like, or sit down somewhere? [He wonders if there are any blankets they could lay beside each other on while staring up at the stars, but after a moment, it hits him–]

I apologize. I shouldn't have assumed – if you're here with someone you need to get back to, or if you had other plans, I didn't mean to interrupt–

[shesgotguts]

[always polite, always worried about being an imposition. the scenery has changed, but he hasn't. and it's still as charming as ever. but she's quick to take his hands in hers, an act of reassurance that she's here, and she's here with him.] Even if I was here with someone, I make time for things that are important to me. [it's said with resolute sincerity, and she gives his hands a gentle squeeze.]

Let's find somewhere quiet, figure all of this out. [there's not much to figure out on her end, but she'll help him put all the pieces into place, help him understand what they can about their situation.] That is, if you trust being alone with me.

[shiro_megane_kun]

[Uryu lets Milly take his hands, and though her hands aren't very warm out in the night air, warmth still seems to spread from the sensation of contact where bare skin meets bare skin.]

[Should he be more worried about this? After all, he and his friends have fought against those who could dominate all five senses, against those who could insert themselves into the memories of their victims – the fact that he trusts her so readily, that he has such a strong emotional reaction to meeting her should set off alarm bells.]

I trust you. [There's not a trace of doubt on Uryu's features as he takes in her words, and he squeezes her hand lightly in return.]

[shesgotguts]

[she's prepared to tease him more, to give him a little bit of hell for fun, but he nearly knocks her out with those three words. i trust you. he's a fool to do so, but she can't break that trust for anything-- she wouldn't dream of it. he's put himself in her care, and she cannot, will not let him down.

rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand, she gazes at him, her eyes trying to meet his, before pulling him away from the crowds looking skyward, looking for a spot they can share.] I don't really know where I'm going, you know. So much for trusting me, huh?

[shiro_megane_kun]

[It isn't a conscious thought, the way his fingers move from just holding her hand to lacing his fingers with hers. It isn't quite reflex, either, but more that his guard is lowered enough with her that he feels comfortable with acting on that desire, that he isn't afraid of being tangled up with her – after all, what is there to be afraid of, when he already is?]

The company is more important to me than the destination.

And my trust isn't misplaced. [There's nothing heated about the conviction with which he speaks, but a calm, steady certainty.]

[shesgotguts]

[he certainly knows what to say to make her heart flutter, and it's almost embarrassing how well his words work on her. if she looks at him for too long, she's worried she'll turn entirely red, and even if he can't see that happening in the dark, she'll know what's going on with her, which is just as bad. averting her eyes from him, she scans ahead, looking for a place to rest, then spots an unoccupied bench. perfect.

she glances back to him, soft smile on her lips, slowing down her pace for just a moment to really look at him, but says nothing before turning her face away.] I bet you say this to all the girls. [a poke at him, just because she can't actually verbalise her own feelings.] Is this spot okay? Or do I need to find something better?

[shiro_megane_kun]

I have a hard time picturing that. [Whom else would he say it to? Inoue... well, he might, but she only had eyes for Kurosaki, and more than anything, he wanted happiness for her. Kuchiki? They would lay down their lives for one another in a heartbeat, but the feeling he gets when he thinks of her is closer to the feeling he gets when he thinks of Sado, or Abarai. Really, the fact that his first impulse is to use her given name, absent any honorifics... it's a puzzle piece that tells him she's gotten closer to him than even the few precious friends he's known now for years, fought side by side with. Kurosaki's the only one he refers to without honorific, and even that's more out of irritation then anything.]

[He answers her question by wordlessly gesturing for her to take a seat first, offering her a small smile, but one that still reaches his eyes. Once she's seated, he follows suit.]

[One thing does feel a little... off, however, though he can't quite put his finger on it yet, there's an unfamiliar element to all this – but there's no way he'd be able to know he's not used to seeing her this unsure, shining through her demeanor like sunlight through clouds.] Would it be easier for you if I tried to guess, rather than asking you to start? [Even not knowing what's off, what's wrong, his instinct is to ease that anxiety.]

[shesgotguts]

[he's a gentleman, through and through, assuaging her fears, making sure she's as comfortable as possible. it's the little things that make her fall for him even harder, and he does them all so naturally. her fingers stay laced with his as she takes a seat, and once he's next to her, she scoots even closer, leaving barely any space between them. it's hard to keep herself away from him, and she wonders if he feels the same, even though he hardly knows her.

but this? this feels right. smiling, she gives his hand a little squeeze, nodding gently.]

You know, I don't think I'd even know where to start. But I want to help you. I'll tell you anything you want to know, promise!

[shiro_megane_kun]

[He decides to start with something uncomplicated, for both their sakes.] Have I been here, in this place before and lost my memories of what happened? [Occam's razor makes it feel more likely than... well, what actually transpired.]

[shesgotguts]

I don't think we've ever been here before. [which is the truth! but there's been spaces where they haven't been together, so she can't tell him for sure.] This is new to me, so I'm guessing it's the same for you.

But, we've been places like this before. [maybe that's helpful?]

[shiro_megane_kun]

So there are other places like this? At least two. Do we know how many? Is it all part of something larger, or a case of convergent evolution? [He's curious, certainly, trying to grasp the scope of the problem.]

Are there others like us, who have found themselves in similar places to this more than once?

[shesgotguts]

Um. [he's figuring things out so fast, is asking such sharp questions, and milly can't just shrug and say she doesn't know. she knows something but it won't be enough. to be quite honest, though, she feels pretty stupid.] Well, I've only been to two-- three if you count here! I haven't heard of others besides the ones we've been to, but there's a chance there's more! I just don't know about them.

Mm... a couple people I know have been though this before. Some of our friends from the station made it to Lunatia. But I haven't seen any of them here yet. [which is a little disappointing.]

[shiro_megane_kun]

[Lunatia. He sticks a pin in that name as something to ask about later. But first-] Your memory of these other places [of him] – it's much clearer than mine. Is it how long you've been here compared to how long I've been here [a part of him hoping his full memory will return in time]? Is it normal for people who've been to multiple places to remember as sharply as you do, or is my case more typical, in your experience? [Is there even a large enough sample size?]

[shesgotguts]

[she's really racking her brain for him, trying to pull answers out of somewhere for him. it's frustrating, though, because she has nothing to offer him. he wants to know what's happening to him-- and who wouldn't?-- but she can't help him understand better. her eyebrows are furrowed deep, and her eyes leave his face to stare at their hands, exhaling through her nose.]

It's... hard to say. I've just recently arrived here, so I don't think time has much to do with it. But I don't know if it doesn't! [unhelpful in the highest.] I know that I had a few friends remember the first place going into the second well, but there were others that didn't. There's no rhyme or reason to it. Some of us get to keep our memories, others don't. [that's just how the universe be sometimes.]

[shiro_megane_kun]

[He can tell she's doing her best to answer the questions he poses, and, as he listens, he gives a soft hum, taking a moment to turn her answers over in his head, while also giving her a small reprieve. When he finally speaks again, his voice is soft, careful, concerned.] If this is too difficult, or if you need us to take a break, please, don't hesitate to stop me.