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

[silky_bearing]

[Lorenz gives him a sharp look. The only part he was upset about was the bit where he accused him of being.... too free with his affections. Of course, after the ball he had to wonder at himself a little as well which only made his reaction worse. Fawning all over Ferdinand and Dimitri like that, never mind Peter.]

Well, no one is asking you to put such efforts into your appearance. Of course should you ever be interested in such a thing I'm certain Hilda or I would be more than happy to assist your endeavors.

[At least the Golden Deer have a sense of style, goodness.]

And I assure you I am keeping up with my training perfectly well enough to account for a slight change in footwear.

[idratherbeasleep]

[Of course, to Linhardt he hasn't made such an accusation. For something to be an accusation, it has to be something that he would consider scandalizing. If he claims you're stupid, or you have no curiosity, or you're a hypocritical detriment to your beliefs, those are accusations. How many bed partners someone has is an entirely neutral characteristic. It would be like accusing Lorenz of having purple hair. So he is completely bewildered by Lorenz's reaction.

People are exhausting.]

That may be necessary, depending on how many of these squares I need to do to obtain a satisfactory amount of research materials and bedding.

[Which are, of course, of equal importance. Linhardt doesn't seem to be struggling with the requirements either, he's seemed to accept the Augur as easily as he does most things.

Lorenz's last sentence makes Linhardt actually laugh a bit.]

Of course. I apologize. I've been spending too much time around Caspar. He's always wanting to jump into things without preparation and then he's surprised when he ends up with muscle cramps.

[Linhardt sighs and rubs his forehead thinking about it.]

[silky_bearing]

[If Lorenz looks a bit pleased it isn't as though he's... looking forward to an opportunity to help dress someone else up for once. And maybe do something fancy with Linhardt's hair. It's lovely, it's a shame he doesn't do more with it.]

A single square should be enough to improve your housing satisfactorily. Perhaps a second given that we are all rather accustomed to much finer accommodations than are available here.

[He'd only used two because he had to convert his apartment and the one beneath it into something of a carriage house so he could keep Darby nearby. He... didn't like her being so far away.]

You know... I suspect Caspar would rather enjoy the extra height.

[He can't help laughing as well at that, though. Poor Caspar is so short compared to his fellows the idea of him wearing heels to compensate is somehow adorable. Hush.]

[idratherbeasleep]

So if a single square will improve my entire quarters, do you suppose I could use one for a better bed? I don't particularly mind the state of things, but I have this lovely down comforter from Sreng, and I miss my silk sheets from Dagda. Sleep isn't the same without them.

[Linhardt is, as far as Fodlan's nobles go, one of the ones least inclined towards ostentatious displays of luxury, but there are two areas that are exceptions: His bedding and his library. He can handle rickety tables and dirty floors. But that mattress is a crime against humanity.]

You're right.

[The man's purple-blue eyes twinkle with a mischievousness that seems more like it belongs on Claude's face than Linhardt's.]

I told him about the height advantage that exists in combat. He took it so personally. It's clearly not the only thing that matters or else we would all ride wyverns or pegasi into battle, but you really should see him wracking his brains to figure out the solution. It's amazing. Truly.

[And fair turnabout for all the times Linhardt has had to extricate his friend from trouble.]

[silky_bearing]

I'm certain if you asked the Augur for a bed in exchange for a square it would absolutely be the most absurdly comfortable thing you've ever felt. You know they have all sorts of materials here that are far superior to what we have in Fodlan. That said we do have a rather infuriating goose population so it would hardly be difficult to get down.

[But seeing Linhardt so pleased with himself over pulling one over on Caspar is adorable and he can't help smiling in return. It's... nice to see. It helps ease the weight of their deaths from his shoulders a little more. But because of that weight he doesn't dare encourage too much discussion of those that are not here.]

[idratherbeasleep]

Oh? That sounds quite promising.

[And in that sentence everyone is reminded Linhardt is in fact a spoiled noble. He smiles back, enjoying the fact that the tension is easing. He's also enjoying the memory of Caspar. He misses him, but still, it doesn't do to dwell on it.]

Well, thank you for indulging me and sharing some very important information with me at the very least. I'm going to go find a tree to nap under.

[silky_bearing]

[Lorenz huffs a little breath of exasperation and cocks a brow in the other man's direction.]

Honestly, you're not even going to zip me back up? [But he just rolls his eyes, leaning down to gather his boots in hand instead of fussing with them here. He'll find somewhere out of the way to sit down and fix them.]

Go on. Just be aware that napping in public is a good way to ah... invite the Augur's particular brand of interference.

[idratherbeasleep]

I was, but now I'm standing up.

[And he's not leaning back down without sufficient curiosity to spur him into work or being uncomfortable. Linhardt's answer to Lorenz's exasperation is to just yawn. He really could use a nap. Still, the warning is appreciated.]

Really? That's good to know. Well, I'm certainly not changing my habits for the Augur's sake, so I'll make sure to nap without other people around.

Goodbye, Lorenz.

[And, in true Linhardt fashion, the scholar walks off without looking back, his mind having already moved on to its next topic: Finding a suitable napping spot. Is he still considering Lorenz's behind and those shoes? Possibly. But there's no need for the conversation to continue.]