ercookies | TDM 010: PARTNER UP, PARTNER

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TDM 010: PARTNER UP, PARTNER

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” barracks. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home.

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I. Laid Bare Basics

There is a new addition to the scenery at the beach, and everyone is welcome! Especially new arrivals, who will be ushered to the recently-established Laid Bare Spa, where (provided they don't slip away from the bots' helpful grasp) their uncomfortably wet, sandy clothing will be stripped away and they will be lovingly pampered by the cold metal hands of the resident robots. Long-time Islanders and newbies alike are welcome to enjoy such amenities as hot and cold baths, sauna rooms, scrub-downs, thorough whippings with birch brooms, skin treatments, massage and energy work, and more! All rooms are thoughtfully decorated with tasteful murals of naked and disrobing bodies.

Maybe you'll see someone you recognize?! (Maybe you'll see... you?)

Islanders who happen to find their clothing mysteriously missing are welcome to borrow a Laid Bare branded towel to cover up with on their way home.

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II. Tattoo to You, Too

The Augur understands that sometimes, it's difficult to find a partner to indulge you in those favorite Auspicious Acts - especially for new arrivals, but surely even long-time residents could benefit from a little assistance now and then. That is why ever-benevolent entity has gifted Her precious Islanders with tattoos which feature their most secret, urgent, and/or shameful of desires! (Even if that desire is to simply complete a Bingo.)

The tattoo may be a picture or a word, and it can appear anywhere on the body. At first it is pleasantly warm to the touch, like a soft glow of light on your skin. It soon becomes apparent - through either robot advice or a notification on your communication device - that your task is to find a match for your tattoo and complete the depicted act with that person. The longer one goes without completing the act, the more the tattoo seems to heat up, until it feels like it is burning into your skin.

Take too long, and the tattoo may become permanent. Otherwise, the tattoo will fade within hours of completing the Auspicious Act.

[ For TDMers: feel free to select any favorite kink for this prompt! If you complete a kink that doesn't appear on your card, you may switch one square for the completed kink. For current players: by participating on (tagging into) this TDM, you may switch one kink into your card (it must be the kink in the toplevel prompt you responded to). ]

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III. Creepy Crawly Caterpillar Crawl

Are you on the hunt for credits? Then have the robots got a task for you! The 'bots of the Nameless Island are recruiting Islanders to go bug collecting in the caves, crevices, and hollowed-out logs of the wilderness. The quarry? The (shudder - literally, the robots will shudder) doom-summoning harbinger bug. They describe these creepy creatures as fat, fuzzy, and rainbow-colored, with long, fluffy antennae that look like rabbit's ears.

The robots describe these critters as so dangerous that Islanders should only hunt them in pairs. Should your team return successful, you both will be rewarded very handsomely for every caterpillar caught!

The bugs are typically very docile and seem to enjoy soft pets, judging by the cooing and squeaking noises they make (especially to scritches behind their "ears"). Poke or disturb them however, and they may bite! Body parts bitten by angry caterpillars will swell up cartoonishly, and can only be treated by having someone else suck the venom out. Good thing you're traveling with a partner!

The 'bots strongly recommend against keeping these little buggies as pets, but they're not your dad.

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N A V I G A T I O N

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Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kurama does chuckle softly at the response. All very logical things to count as dangerous, but certainly not what he meant.

After all, the fox may have been doing just fine, aside from a few of the 'let's confuse you into doing what we want' moments, but not everyone here was as comfortable or taking it as well.

"What about sex, sometimes without your full consent?"

"I enjoy sex but without my full consent is troubling." Shaun frowned a little. He definitely enjoyed sex a healthy amount for a man his age but never once had he done anything without full consent.

That... he didn't like that idea at all. That wasn't sex that was... horrible.

"That's something to be on the look out for, thank you for the warning," he said with a little nod. Then he offered his hand. "Shaun Gilmore. A pleasure to meet you."

"It's a little hard to avoid sometimes, but I'll be happy to give you what information I have." He reaches out to take the offered hand. "Shuuichi Minamino.

"If you'd trust a stranger, I'd be happy to lend you some clothes and take you to the bathhouse."

Edited 2021-02-18 19:59 (UTC)

Shaun didn't have much choice in trusting strangers. He needed help and this man was kind enough to offer. "Shuuichi, thank you. I would appreciate the help a great deal."

If this turned into a problem Shaun would simply use a bit of magic to solve it even though he wasn't sure that would go well either. It had dropped him here when he didn't want it to. What might it do if he lashed out to protect himself?

A problem for another time. "Dry clothes sound marvelous." And a bath to wash the salt from his hair? Lovely.

"You're welcome. It would seem cruel not to warn people about this place." Turning, Kurama indicates Shaun to follow him. "I only have some knowledge of this place, since I've been here maybe a month, so I'm sorry if I can't tell you everything.

"The basics, however, is that this place seems to desire its 'inhabitants' to have sex or at least participate in sexual acts. If you look at that bracelet you'll see several suggusted acts listed.

"When you do one, it seems to fill the box and, though I haven't used it yet, it seems you can trade for things."

Taking a moment, Kurama looks at Shaun to make sure he's following along with all this, insane as it might sound. Allow him to ask any questions before moving on.

Shaun didn't need to know everything in the moment. A general idea of what he's looking at and the customs of this place was all he was hoping for. He folds his arms behind him as they walk giving the other man his full attention.

"Interesting," he muses and considers his bracelet again. "And if you don't have sex, do they make you?"

Certain creatures from his world fed on sexual energy. And some ritual magics used it as well. It could be quite the powerful energy source when used right.

"I imagine so." It's the best response he can give, considering he's not shy about the topic, or engaging in it. "I know from personal experiences that some foods alter your moods, and the place is not above assigning you what you think is a "spouse," while making such memories either entirely clear or vague.

"And I've heard spiking drinks is not unusual, or really anything else on this island."

Well, that cements Shaun's feelings that the force that brought them here wants the sexual energy. Mood altering food, spiked drinks, all to make someone have sex. Yes, it really does want that energy, doesn't it?

"I'm sorry you've had such a rough time here," he says with genuine concern. "I hope you find some sort of balance between your wants and what this place demands."

He couldn't imagine how miserable that must be after a long time. Even just a month must have been exhausting.

He blinks at the apology before chuckling softly, shaking his head.

"Oh, I've fared well mostly so far. I'll admit to not liking the methods, but I am hopeful I haven't hurt anyone and will take any ire they give me if I have, even under this place's influence.

"Others may not be doing so well. Some I know aren't."

Now into the city a bit, Kurama indicates any buildings he knows as he makes his way to the aparments.

"What a mystery I've landed in," he muses mostly to himself. Shaun wasn't against the idea of an island that encouraged sex but that little seedy undertone of making people have sex or lowering their inhibitions made him a tad uncomfortable.

His second most immediate thought was how could he help? That would take time to figure out.

It's a bit of a substantial city. There's more to it than he expected though not all of it is in the best condition. "Could use a little paint," he says to his companion, gesturing to a nearby building.

"Should see my place. It needs everything but a bed." Somehow, Kurama is relieved to be off the topic for a moment. Collette had made him think about a few things the other day he didn't want to, and then a lot else had happened between Valentine's day and now.

Yet he is polite, and asks the obvious. "Anything else you wish me to try and explain? Also, do you prefer your first or last name used?"

"Oh, Gilmore is fine." He waves a hand. Shaun he liked to save for more intimate friends. Having just meant Shuuichi he feels a little more time and pleasantries might be good to have before they were that familiar with each other.

He does wrinkle his nose at the idea of nothing but a bed. How did someone live like that? It has to be terribly uncomfortable.

"No, no, it seems like this is the sort of place that much be experienced to fully understand it." The basics alone were quite helpful as they were.

"Alright, Gilmore it is." He offers a small, friendly smile, heading for the apartments. Honestly, a bed only was no big deal for him, having camped out most of his former life and some of this one; almost a luxury since he had been camping out for a while here on the island too. "You're always welcome to ask anytime if you think of something."

"Actually, I do have a question." He pauses for the dramatic effect of it all. "Might you have a bath I could use? Salt water does terrible things to my hair."

Already the strands were starting to curl tighter and tighter, tangling together in a mass that would be a pain to comb out. Literally. When it was tangled those knots were very painful to comb out without a bit of oil and conditioner to help ease the way.

Dry clothes and a chance to wash himself were really all he was after at the moment.

"Nothing you'd want to use here." He responds, wondering if he should ask for an upgrade rather than always going to the bathhouse, ignoring the dramatic flare for now. "But there is a bathhouse in town. I'll take you there after we get you clothes."

"Ah, I see. The bathhouse is for those without." Shaun nods in understanding. How interesting. Although, a little bit sad too. Such a strange way to build an economy.

He would be one of those without for a bit. He needed to find some comfortable place to sleep and keep himself content until he figured out how to get his own place. Well, he knew how now but he needs to find someone he's willing to pay that price with.

He merely nods a yes. No reason to explain what is already explained wnd understood. Instead, he opens to door to where he is staying, moving to find something the other man can use, though his options are pretty slim.

Though at least they are clothes and dry.

"Here. I'll stay out here so you can change."

"Thank you, that's very kind."

They were close in height though Shuuichi was slimmer than he was. The clothes were loose enough to be comfortable while he waited for his clothes to dry. Though, yes, they were a little tight around the waist.

"There we are." He carefully folds his clothes. He hopes the bathhouse can launder them for him. "Very respectable now. Nothing to worry about."

"Probably much warmer too." He looks Shaun over, glad the clothes fit for the most part, and amused at the fact they make him look far different; more like an older college student than someone from a game, or even Makai. "I had to just let mine dry when I came.

"I should mention, the bathhouse seems to be for both genders, though it's rarely full. Comfortable, though."

"My robes are very comfortable." When they're not soaking wet, of course. They're very comfortable and loose and made of incredibly expensive fabrics. Shaun enjoys the best and he made sure to have it on his body.

"Oh, I don't care what genders are around." He waves a hand, dismissing the warning. "That just gives me more to enjoy."

He winks, trying to lighten the mood. "Shall we?"

Kurama blinks a little at that wink, the light way he dismisses things, and has to laugh softly. So far, everyone he had met had been more or less uncomfortable with sex, or outright so. This response is refreshing.

"Well, at least I won't have to explain things to you or watch you flail!"

Shaun is wonderfully shameless about most things. All this talk of sex is strange but there's nothing to be ashamed about when discussing it. It's not like someone has walked in on something private.

"Oh, I'm sure there will be other things to explain if you truly feel the need." The day is young there's plenty of strange things to encounter in this new place. Shaun hasn't seen everything there is, after all.

"What other amenities does this bathhouse offer?"

"Oh, I imagine not much by your tone." Kurama's hands slide into his pockets, smiling. "Unless, of course you're very vanilla, then maybe I will.

"And not a great deal. Just basics. But it is relaxing, so that's something."

"I'm more of a cinnamon, really." Shaun's has a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He'll discuss his preferences rather directly if asked but he asked to be asked first.

A basic bath is really all he needs. If the water is hot and there's enough oil and conditioner for his hair it'll be fine. If not... well, he'll try his magic and hopefully not accidentally turn his hair pink or something.

Though, pink might not look bad for him. It would really depend on the shade.

The response earns a raised brow, and a returned miscievous smile. One didn't always need a direct answer when actions and words can give just as much away.

And leave an opening for a very direct, and very nasty remark.

"So, the carpet doesn't match the drapes, then?"

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