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TDM 010: PARTNER UP, PARTNER
| 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. 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. 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). ] 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. N A V I G A T I O N |
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[Which... almost feels a little silly to say now. But it is the truth!]
I take it you're alright, too? Other than a little disoriented, I'm sure.
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[Though Dedue is not particularly excited to be in the spa, but he would rather let Ashe do as he pleases.]
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[Just, maybe not standing here awkwardly. Hm.]
Did you want to go in, then? They have baths inside... I rather wanted to try one. The technology in this place is really something!
[This is only scratching the surface - Ashe has been delighted to learn all about it.]
But if you'd rather not, I'm sure we could find somewhere else to talk...
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I will not interfere with your schedule. Allow me to join you.
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He smiles up at Dedue when he agrees, then turns back to the spa.]
Great! I'll get us in, then... you probably don't have any credits yet, but don't worry about that.
[Ashe was also helped by their friends when he first arrived, he's just paying it forward.]
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[Not that he aims to ever take advantage of Ashe's kindness, but he's self-aware enough to know that Ashe would never think of such a thing either. So, he bows his head once in appreciation.]
I will find a way to make it up to you. In any case, please lead the way.
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[It's weird being on the receiving end of this, after he fretted so much over Dimitri buying him the tablet when he first arrived. But he doesn't make a fuss, and leads Dedue into the spa. The robots are more than happy to direct them toward one of the warm baths.]
These murals... [Ashe looks around at them as they walk, and sighs.] They have... interesting taste on this island.
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[And yet, Dedue still completely plans to pay Ashe back. Not necessarily because he feels indebted, but he would dislike to not be on even level with someone he considers a friend.
The murals do give Dedue pause, but he mostly looks at them in mild curiosity.]
Quite bold for a Fodlan eye, I suspect.
[Dedue doesn't sound particularly bothered with them, but he does observe the pieces as they go.]
Has it been difficult to adjust to this island? [He assumes yes, but it's also his way of asking if Ashe is doing okay overall.]
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Hm, a little. I think it helps that so many people I know are here. If I were alone, it would undoubtedly be worse.
[Which is his way of saying yes, he's doing alright, overall.]
It's very different from home, that's for sure... but everyone I've met is nice, and they don't pressure each other into anything they wouldn't want to do.
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[Though he does think briefly on Allura, when her features made him nostalgic and regretful briefly.
For right now, he's more concerned about his conversation with Ashe.]
I suppose as far situations go, it could be considerably worse.
[That's as optimistic as he can manage.]
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[Enough people in Fodlan have been rude to Dedue for a lifetime, in his opinion. He's glad everyone here has been kind so far.]
Yes... I've just been thinking of it as... something of vacation from the war. If that makes sense.
[The door to the baths is ahead, and some robots gesture them toward the door, prepared to take their clothes, most likely.]
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[He understands that this is the point of a spa, but it still seems strange to give his clothes away to these robots. In any case, with a sigh, Dedue starts to undress, not too particularly concerned with the nudity aspect.]
Might I ask what you remember of it? It appears many people have a different experience to what has happened in the war.
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Once he's naked, he gets in the water, sighing at warm it is, before he answers the question.]
We were on our way to Fort Merceus, last I remember... ah, I stayed allied with the Kingdom, of course. [He says it like there's no question, even though he's since learned that there is, actually.] The Professor did as well... honestly, I think it's thanks to Professor that we're doing so well in the war at all.
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The water is hot and pleasant. He settles in, closing his eyes for a moment.]
I recall beyond that. But otherwise, I think we are from the same place, more or less.
It's selfish of me to say, but I am glad that you are as I recall you.
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No, it's alright. I feel the same.
[Some people here remember him doing things differently - allying with the Alliance, of all things, or even the Empire, but he's relieved that in Dedue's memory of events, he stayed in his homeland.]
I know we have the truce on with those from the other armies, but it still feels... odd, sometimes. Less so with those from the Alliance, though. [Since they ended up their allies anyway.]
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Ah. The truce.]
I find it easier depending on who is in question. Harder, with others.
[Edelgard is who comes to mind. It took everything in him to keep the peace, truthfully.]
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But the war is a good way to bring him back to the present, and he's already sure he knows which "who" Dedue is thinking of.]
Yes... I understand. With the Empire, it's... well, especially with the Empress being here...
[He swishes some of the bathwater around idly.]
I met her, recently. I'm surprised she even remembered who I was! [He chuckles.] I think she really means it, though, that she doesn't intend to break the truce.
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