TDM 010: PARTNER UP, PARTNER

[erkumods]

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

Comments

Quatre Raberba Winner | Gundam Wing | OTA

[pacifismaggressive]

0. Arrival
[He's floating and being carried until he sinks beneath the waves for a moment. He takes in a breath and it's salt water and Quatre's eyes fly open. Had he been in a crash? Thrown from his mobile suit? No--Sandrock is gone. And he's in the ocean. He orients himself and kicks, pushing himself up until he breaks the surface. His lungs burn until he takes in a clear breath and blinks. To shore is very close and he swims the rest of the way, tired and confused.

He has the urge to collapse on the wet sand but doesn't. Instead he is on his knees, coughing a bit of salt water out and brushing his hands through his wet hair.

Not that he has much time to process anything before the robots are there, trying to bundle up and take him off somewhere.]

I'd thank you, but I'm not sure you're trying to help me or abduct me...

[Again?]


I.A. Laid Bare Spa
[Everything moves quickly after that, but he knows never to turn down the chance to get sand out of all the plances most people would never think it could get. So he goes to this "spa" and finds himself manhandled by robots seeking to take his clothes. He does cut in and firmly refuse to allow them to "help" him as they keep insisting on doing.]

I can handle that on my own, thank you. If you'd leave the towels behind.

[The robot seems a bit offended, but eventually does leave the towels and Quatre takes the time to look around this room and see who else might be here. He's used to being in a large group of men, so it's not as if he's bashful about taking off his clothes around other people, but that doesn't mean he's not aware of other people's potential discomfort.]

Please excuse the ruckus. I hope it didn't bother you much.

[Had he maybe been getting a little loud in his firm rejections of the robot's handling? Yes, maybe he had. But he wasn't going to be be embarrassed by it. It's been a strange day and he's allowed to have a temper.]


I.B. Baring It All
[And now he finds they had no intention of returning his clothing to him whatsoever. Quatre is left either hiding within the spa's rooms or decided to make whatever trek he had to out of the building in only a towel. Neither of these options were particularly endearing to him...

There was the option of breaking into one of the lockers in the locker room and stealing someone else's clothes, if there happened to be any. He could always leave a note apologizing and offering to repay them somehow...

And that is when he turns a corner back toward the other locker rooms and sees a new wall filled with the artistic depictions of naked patrons. Some of those patrons do seem...rather familiar. It's enough to make Quatre stop and focus on the art when before he had chosen to pertinently ignore it.]

Really...?

[Someone walking through the hall by the barely clothed young man might even notice themselves on the wall, skin bare, arms raised, eyes turned out to look at whoever may be passing by. And they might notice the portrait close to theirs of a blond young man with his back turned, not a stitch of clothing on him as cloth is held off in one hand, dangling to the ground. Quatre for his part is darkly muttering.]

Well, at least the bothered to leave something for myself.


II. Tattoo to You
[The tattoo was a bit...worrisome, to say the least. The fact that he only found it because the heat emanating from it was enough to make him use his bracelet to get a good shot of whatever was affecting his face says he shouldn't trust it by means. The fact that it happens to be fingerprints and scratch marks on both sides of his jaw and down his neck--like someone was grabbing his face roughly--is actually the worst part. It looks as if he got into a fight and lost.

He doesn't have much in the way of clothing, but he's doing his best to keep the area obscured by a makeshift scarf. The weather suitable for scarves so hopefully no one bothers to ask him about it. But then he starts noticing he's not the only one with tattoos in questionable areas. His own almost seems to heat up even more in response.]

Excuse me, could I as you a quick question. If you don't mind.


III. Cutie Pillars!
[He's still learning how just important "credits" are or aren't around here, but when the opportunity arises, Quatre isn't going to reject it. The robots certainly do seem unsettled by this little insects and he wants to see what they are all about. He's taking precautions, but that means he needs a partner. If he sees you and doesn't feel anything off about you--then he'll be more than happy to walk up to you and offer to work together.]

They say working in pairs is the most effective. I'm Quatre. Would you mind joining forces for the sake of the mission?

[He says it in a rather teasing way, hoping to charm them.]


IV. WILDCARD
[I am also open anything else someone might have in mind. You can write up a starter and I'll roll with it, or poke me and I'll write up something more specific for you! Quatre is newish 17, bi and leans more toward men, and has a weird kind of empathy he calls Space Heart that he doesn't understand completely but he Feels Shit. Plurk is chocolateisbrainfood.]

IB & II

[zerofive]

[Wufei was not, in general principles, a completely prudish person. But he knew, as well as anyone possibly could, exactly what it meant when one of the ubiquitous robot attendants started pulling at one's clothing. More to the point, he knew he wasn't putting up with it, today; it wasn't that he wasn't cooperative, after all. It wasn't as if any of them had any choice one way or the other, so he could at least insist on the time and manner of his choosing.

So the spa got to deal with at least one angry teenager stalking down its hallways, a little too fast. All the better to evade their hosts. All the better to plow into a naked Quatre at full speed.]

Quatre?! [What are you doing here, why are you— ah, you're naked. Of course you are.] Ah.

[And then, like the gentleman he is apparantly compelled to be, he shrugs off the white tunic and offers it to Quatre without further commentary. Underneath, he's dressed as he was during the war, sleeveless blue and— oh, a tattoo? Inked-on bruises on his now-bare arms, in the shape of hands and fingers, as if someone had struggled against his grip enough to leave marks as they failed. Just take it, Winner.]

Have a little dignity.

Re: IB & II

[pacifismaggressive]

Wufei? [He says the name in surprise, but also relief. He would rather no one be here, but there's the selfish part of himself that makes him glad to not be alone.]

And here I thought dignity was pride in one's self. [Still, he reaches out to take the tunic with a grateful smile. He puts it on and holds it closed. Long enough to cover down to his thighs.] Thank you.

[zerofive]

Return it when you can.

[Said in shades of shut up. Quatre's usual politesse was not making it easier to cope with his unusual nudity. He would not under torture bring up the marks of his own accord, and he cannot smile to answer him. He's happy enough to see you, Quatre, but would be happier if he knew you were not here, given the circumstances.]

How much of this place has been explained to you?

[pacifismaggressive]

[Quatre's relief only relies with the continued familiarity of Wufei's demeanor. At least something is a constant. So he doesn't push him and accepts the help for what it is. Wufei has always felt more sensitive to Quatre than he ever liked to admit and Quatre respects that.]

Some, but not a great deal. The robots were more focused on ensuring I gave this spa patronage. They were very persuasive.

[In that they would not leave him alone and he did want to clean off the sand so he had gone along with it. Stealing his clothes has not seemed part of the arrangement at the time.]

[zerofive]

Your things will most likely be delivered to wherever you take up residence.

[...In about 12 hours, give or take. But Wufei's stubborn scowl remains in place regardless— 12 hours is a long while to stay here and continue to attempt to resist the pushy machines, presuming Quatre doesn't wish to cooperate with their more audacious demands.]

For some reason. [Yes he knows there's a stated reason, and he doesn't think he could possibly explain it.] We've been kidnapped. And while on this island it is the demand of our hosts that everyone... [Goddammit, how did Maxwell put this?] ...have sex.

[Duo would have said fuck like bunnies, but let's not quibble details. Hopefully Yuy had him well in hand by now.]

There are a few other things you should see.

[pacifismaggressive]

[Considering the markings on Wufei's arms, it's obvious something else is going on here, but Quatre knows that commenting on them may lead to a more tense discussion than they already have. So he does not hide that he's noted them, but does not speak to them directly.]

Sex for the sake of robots. What use could they possibly have for this?

I.A.

[zechs_isonfire]

Zechs was far from a new arrival, but he had been searching the beach, checking for anyone who'd washed up recently. If the pattern held, this would be the time of the month when that'd be most likely to occur. If nothing else, he could attempt to lend a hand and give a few warnings.

Before the robots decided to scoop him up for a good scrub-down as well. Really? He kept himself well groomed and cleaned, thank you very much. And while he'd lost much of his modesty over his time on this island - that didn't mean he'd willingly be stripped, all the scars from Libra's explosion on display, by these goddamn machines. So, he might not have noticed Quatre's ruckus due to the objections he'd also been raising at the time.

Yet it wasn't the apology that caught him by surprise - it was the voice. He turned, and said quite unnecessarily, "Quatre Winner."

Were all of those brave pilots to be abducted to this place?

[pacifismaggressive]

Zechs Merquise was certainly not a person Quatre expected to find in this place, considering how he stays out of the spotlight as much as possible. He's not quite sure if that was meant to be a greeting or not, but he smiles and takes it as such.

"Zechs," he says in return. "It's good to see you, despite the circumstances." And he means it. He is friends with enough people who care about Zechs--Milliardo, whatever name he's chosen to go by right now--that he can't help but also want good for him.

"Did you just arrive, too?"

[zechs_isonfire]

Now, Zechs could mentally plot the pilot reactions to his general existence here on a spectrum - Quatre was certainly on the most polite and accepting end, so far. He sighed a little, his appearance apologetic.

"I would say the same," Zechs agreed, sincere as well. He respected and admired all of the pilots, certainly - and Quatre seemed to easily the best among them at working within a group, and trying to view things tactically, long-term. He'd be an asset to the pilots' survival here. "Though I would prefer it if none of you were abducted at all."

He shook his head. "I'd been abducted several months ago. Likely, that will sound odd to you - I'll guess there have been no reports of my disappearance - because time works strangely here. Yet, it is the truth. I was actually looking for recent abductees before the robots had taken me here."

[pacifismaggressive]

"Months?"

His mind wants to tell him that is impossible, just as Zechs said. Quatre knows Zechs had been active near the beginning of the year. It wasn't so long ago that they had stopped the second Eve War.

But the world is not his own. Whatever this world may be, it is not the Earth, or even a colony, known to him. He brings a hand up to his chest briefly, thoughtful.

"You're right. It does sound odd...but I have no reason to doubt you. This world is very different from ours. As someone who has been here so long, hopefully I can ask you to provide information to make adjusting quicker."

He doesn't need easier. Just quicker. Things are rarely easy when people like them are involved.

[zechs_isonfire]

"Nearly half a year by now," Zechs admitted, though doing so ... it's a bit disturbing, realizing that. Five months. "And I'm no closer to finding a way home for those who wish to return, or removing the Augur's influence to make it safer for any who want to remain."

It was frustrating, thinking about that. Little he could do, either way, even with the realization. He'd continue to help others - he'd continue to see what more technically-minded people had found out about this artificial intelligence that controlled things - he'd continue to keep his skills sharp and do research.

What other choice did he had? Zechs wouldn't simply give up.

He recognized that Quatre did not ask for it to be made simple or easy. "Any and all information I have, I will give to you. It's dangerous here, no matter how benign certain things may seem. I'm not certain how much you've already been told."

[pacifismaggressive]

"I appreciate the help," he says easily. "I haven't had a chance to meet anyone besides the robots. They found me on the beach and directed me here."

Seeing as the clothes Quatre is wearing are soaked and covered in sand from him making his way to the shore, it should be rather obvious why he agreed to go along with it for now. His clothes are so heavy from the water and sand that it makes moving his legs stiff. Itchy. Uncomfortable. Not the worst thing, but Quatre really isn't enjoying it.

"They gave me this," he shows the bracelet he had refused to put on while wearing sand as a second skin. "I haven't had a chance to look it over yet."

0

[braidedwonder]

[ Every once in a while they take turns patrolling the beach for new people. It's something that Duo has taken to a bit more, lately, as even though he isn't necessarily a fan of Earth as a whole, he is a fan of the ocean. Of all things Duo had experienced on Earth, hanging out by the Mediterranean, or even on it most of the time on Howard's ships, had been some of the high lights. In a way, it reminds him of downtime, of spending time with the crew in between battles and trying to figure out the next move if it wasn't already directed.

What doesn't remind him of raucous times with Howard and the crew?

Quatre Winner. ]

Quatre! [ Duo exclaims it immediately when he spots the blond, his stroll becoming a jog to catch up with the other pilot and the robots attempting to haul him off at the moment, grinning his head off. ]

Good to see ya, Quat.

[pacifismaggressive]

[Quatre is still arguing with these robots when he turns his head at the sound of his voice.]

Duo! I was worried I had somehow ended up here by myself. Where is this? Where's Trowa?

[The three of them had just been together after all.]

[braidedwonder]

Fuck off - I got 'im. [ Duo dismisses their robotic baby sitters with a stern look and a less than friendly welcome. Of course.. he's none too pleased about being kidnapped to this place in the first place, but the pushy treatment sets the former Deathscythe pilot off faster than anything else can hope to.

He knows what he'll have to say in answer will probably disappoint the blond, but he's also not going to lie. ]

Trowa.. is the only one not here now, actually... [ There's a grimace on his face for a moment, but it doesn't last long. ]

What's the last thing you remember before you got the ocean dunk?

[pacifismaggressive]

[The robots do seem to get the message this time, finally leaving Quatre be with a brief reminder to go to this Spa they keep speaking about. A Spa to wash off and hopefully do something about his wet sandy clothes does not sound terrible, but he's rather not be pushed into it.]

Everyone is here? Even Heero and Wufei? We hadn't seen Heero in some time. We destroyed our Gundams and I was planning to return to space.

[braidedwonder]

Yeah. Sally, Dorothy, Zechs, Relena ... and Trieze. I have yet to see Trieze, though. [ that little detail is the most improbable as Treize Kushrenada is dead in their world, which he’s sure Quatre will remind him of soon enough. He’d thought the same when he’d been told the first time. ]

Yeah... I was out spacin’ and helping Hilde with the scrap yard and then ... I’m here. And Heero ‘n them are tellin me I was here before and then I was gone ... [ Duo stops; sighs, and shrugs his shoulders. It’s a lot. And a lot of things have happened since of a particular nature that he’s sure Quatre will probably pick up on soon enough. ]

Heero, Relena and I are posting up in a place not too far from here. I can take you to clean up and stuff if you want.

We can talk more about everything on the way or there or whatever ..

[pacifismaggressive]

[That...is a lot of people. Far more people than he would have expected considering it had been the three of them at the time.]

If you were here before...has there been other people who were here and left and don't remember?

[Has Quatre been here before?]

II

[sivispacemparabellum]

[Dorothy's found herself with marks tattooed on her - most pronounced are the marks that look as if one of her wrists was seized roughly, and ones reminiscent of bruises along her abdomen that look as if someone struck her there in a fight. She's not thrilled with them, but it's easy enough to conceal if she wears a long sleeved shirt.

She's browsing in one of the shops when she hears a familiar voice she hasn't heard in over a year.]

...Quatre Raberba Winner. I can't say I was expecting to see you here, but I suppose I shouldn't be entirely surprised, either.

[Against all statistical odds, when plucking people from a particular world, the Augur seemed to consistently find people who knew each other on some level. One day, she'd really like to find out how they do it all - take people from their worlds, and how they even select people. But now is not the time.

Quatre's presence makes the tattoos especially difficult to ignore, and she's having trouble telling if the tattoos on her seeming to heat up is some latent manifestation of guilt and shame, or if this is more of the Augur's nonsense.]

[pacifismaggressive]

[At this point Quatre is wondering who else is going to show up in this place. He hasn't seen Dorothy since the end of the first Eve War. There should be some relief...as she looks to be doing fine. But he knows what this place is for now and so the feelings are rather mixed.]

Hello, Dorothy. It has been a while since we last spoke.

[sivispacemparabellum]

[It's not surprising that Quatre is being so polite even in their present circumstances. He'd shown her kindness even after she hurt him.]

Care to join me for tea? This place is...odd, and no doubt you have some questions to ask about it.

[She can't undo what she did, but what she can do is be a hospitable and informative hostess. Maybe the heat of the tea will make the heat from the tattoos less noticeable. Either way, she's resolved to ignore them to the best of her ability unless they become unbearable.]

I've been here for close to three months now.

[pacifismaggressive]

I have run into a few others, and the robots have been very "helpful" in providing information about what the expectations of this place is, but I would appreciate more perspectives from other people who are here.

[He knows his friends will be honest with him, but Dorothy's bluntness has always been different. Sometimes grating and sometimes very useful.]

Lead the way.

[sivispacemparabellum]

If you haven't already been warned about it, you should be aware that some of the food is laced with aphrodisiacs. Generally the food that is not looks like it belongs at a bachelor or bachelorette party.

[It's not a foolproof distinction, as the robots serving the food remain true to their programming, but she hasn't experienced any worse than perhaps a few spicier than normal thoughts. Nothing so potent that she's ever been overwhelmed by it.

She leads him out of town, heading in the direction of the mansion that's on the outskirts.]

There's a newly formed Island Improvement Council. Our aim is to achieve as much independence from the Augur as possible. We had our first meeting just a couple of weeks ago.

[pacifismaggressive]

[Of course, Dorothy would have a mansion already. There's a soft huff of amusement at that, because it feels very her.]

I have been warned to not trust the robots, so it is not surprising they can't be trusted with food either. Does this Council have control over food production yet?