ercookies | TDM 011: I PUT A SMELL ON YOU

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TDM 011: I PUT A SMELL ON YOU

00. Arrival

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. If you don’t manage to get away from them quickly enough, they may even usher you toward the Laid Bare Spa, where new arrivals will be offered free massages, a sauna, hairstyling, and their clothing may come up permanently missing. But you will be given a complimentary towel to leave with if needed!

Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see beyond what arrivals before you have helped to rebuild. 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 place to live in the now, whether a rundown apartment in the City, a tent on the beach, a bed in the barracks, or your own space at the House of Worship. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home.

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I. SEASON OF EGGCELLENCE

As the wintery weather has shifted to warmer breezes and the snow has given way to grass and baby blooms, Islanders will find the robots in a flurry as yet another holiday takes hold. The Festival of Renewal, to welcome in the season of new life and awakenings of all those that have slept the winter months away. Spring has come and so has the time where life flourishes on the Nameless Island.

Islanders will see decorations set up all over the city signifying the change in seasons (much of which happens to be elaborately decorated eggs...lots and lots of eggs) and robots will gladly ask them of any lively changes they see sprouting up around the Island, from flowers, to baby animals, to animals in the act of making baby animals...there will be quite a bit of that going on for them to catch sight of. Islanders will be encouraged to start their own gardens if they wish, with various booths set up around the city’s center offering free seeds for different plants ready to be sewn into the soil. Each booth will have full grown versions of the flowers and plants they are offering on display. You might even recognize some of them from your own worlds.

But other booths will focus on different aspects of Life and Renewal, including booths of artwork painstakingly made in vibrant expression by the robots themselves of animals in the act of enthusiastic copulation! Oh, wait...that isn’t artwork of a deer or sheep. That might just be artwork of you engaging in enthusiastic copulation...and who is that other person in the image with you? Have you met them before? It might just be one of your fellow Islanders or someone you recognize from home. Robots are selling this artwork as first come first serve, but they might make more than one copy…

Those aren’t the only booths either, as other booths will offer free swag of flavored lubes, edible underwear, as well as genitalia-shaped gummies! And then there are the gourmet chocolates being sold at the Steaming Carafe cafe in honor of the festival! Ask nicely and they’ll give you a free sample, but be warned the chocolate does have mild aphrodisiac properties, but a couple hours waiting or an Auspicious Act won’t take care of.

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II. CHOCOLATE CURRENCY

The robots are also offering credits to anyone who might help them in managing the dozens of Rainbow Rabbits taking the city by storm, colorful animals that can be seen hopping and dashing through the city and the surrounding woods in a flash. Spots of color might catch your attention from the corner of your eye and you turn to see no rabbit there, but follow that and you might find an abandoned nest of leaves, twigs, or grass filled to the brim with colorful, shiny eggs of any design.

These eggs happen to look just like the hundreds of egg decorations you’ve seen all over the city...

Ask any robot and you’ll be informed that the decorations are made from the shells of these eggs after they’ve been collected and carefully broken open to remove the chocolate inside. That’s right. Chocolate eggs. Just where do you think they got the chocolate for those treats at the cafe? Carefully collect as many eggs as you can without breaking them, and turn them in to the café for your credits.

But what robots may forget to warn you about is that if you eat the chocolate straight from the egg, without it being processed first, it will not only taste delicious, but the potent aphrodisiac will be far more extreme and far more addictive. You might not be able to go a day without needing to eat more of it and achieve some carnal release. The more you eat, the shorter the timespan before you are overtaken by the unending craving. An endless cycle of heightened arousal and desire that can only be eased by orgasm...but that orgasm will be powerful, possibly the best one you’ve ever had in your life. Easy to see why they warn you about chocolate being so addictive…

Only completing an Auspicious Act or the healing waters in the Bathhouse will remove this effect. Until next time.

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III. SPRING IS IN THE AIR (AMONG OTHER THINGS)

Walking the booths during the festival, you might be lured in by a scent in the air. Something soft, or strong, or bitter, or sweet...a scent so familiar that you can’t help but seek out where it came from. The scent will lead you right to one of the booths where robots have bottles and bottles of perfume and cologne lined up. Perfumes they will explain are made entirely unique to each person.

That scent that caught your attention? That’s your scent. And now you have to have it. The robots will even give it to you for free. It’s a special tradition of the festival for Islanders to wear their scent and see who else might just be attracted to it. But that scent isn’t just to attract others to you, it’s to show them you’re ready to mate to whoever happens to be lured in by it. The scent will draw out your animal instincts and theirs, pushing them to stake their claim on you. They’ll want to make you theirs and theirs alone and all you will be able to think about is mating with them and being owned by them.

And if you’re attracted to their scent in turn? Well, you might feel the need to turn the tables and own them instead.

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N A V I G A T I O N

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This just gets more complicated. Percy looks at the table, glass resting against his bottom lip as he lets all of that sink in. And he starts wondering if there is a reason Fjord finds himself on the beach frequently enough to find strays like him.

"Perhaps they've been sent home."

But there is no way to know that for sure, he assumes, and therefore it is little comfort to anyone that has lost someone.

"Well, fuck the Augur." He finishes his drink and sets the glass down.

"Perhaps."

He huffs a humourless laugh at the fuck the augur comment, feeling it more wholeheartedly than he can voice. He pats his knees and stands.

"Well, I'll go grab those blankets." He pauses, then offers Percy his hand to shake. "I hope you'll stay with us a while, Percival."

vax, on the other hand, isn't focused very much on how this must feel for percy. he hasn't thought about it, because for vax, he's been here, dead, without his friends, for months now. percy arriving is just another exciting thing to happen on this island, particularly so to the half elf.

percy says his name, and vax'ildan stops, not realizing how his cheeks have begun to flush a light pink.

"what is it, percy?"

Percy doesn't answer, though, just takes in Vax'ildan's face and tries not to think about the last time he saw it. What had he meant to say? It seems frivolous now, something unnecessary. Or something too heavy. He said goodbye thinking - knowing - that he would never really see this man again. And knowing that, despite everything, it is his fault that Vax'ildan offered himself to the Raven Queen in the first place.

Faced now with his brother-in-law, Percy doesn't actually know what to say. So he swallows thickly and looks down, breaking Vax's gaze.

"Is this really you?"

Percy rises when Fjord does and accepts the hand offered to him. Rather than offering any sort of promise, though, he simple nods in gratitude before he lets go again.

"Thank you, Fjord."

He leaves the rapier on the table, but he keeps Animus with him whenever he does finally settle down somewhere. He would rather it not go missing if he does end up passing out.

vax'ildan processes the question for a moment. he's not sure how to answer it, and he doesn't know from what time period percy is from. he doesn't know what to tell him, but... it doesn't matter, does it? he could tell him whatever he wants to on this island. he's dead.

"it's me, percy." he turns from where he's headed back to the house, reaching to take both of percy's hands in his own. "the last i saw you, scanlan used his last wish to call me to your wedding with vex'ahlia. the raven queen delivered me. i told my sister i worried for her no longer. and i left. but instead of returning to the divine gate, i... arrived here."

he falls silent, then reaches a hand out to take percy's cheek, to meet his eyes.

"it's me."

"The last time I saw you," he says quietly, "the Raven Queen was taking you."

He will digest the fact that he and Vex'ahlia apparently have a public wedding at some point later. But it does confirm to him that Vax is gone, and that it takes a Wish to have him present even for that. He lifts his gaze to meet Vax's as a hand touches his face.

It is him.

Percival lets go of a deep breath and he nods. He lifts a hand to pat Vax's before guiding it back down.

"Then I am so very glad to see you, my dear friend."

vax gives percy a smile, a little sad, a little unsure. he hates that his friends are hurting like this after his death, though he can't say their death would have treated him any kinder. if anything, he'd be harder on himself than they, than percy.

something inside vax'ildan sparks alive when percy touches his hand, setting forth a flame in his hips that he can't quite explain away. he can feel the reddening in his cheeks, and it's. warm. very warm. he doesn't want to let percy's hand go, so he doesn't, instead channeling this newfound energy into continuing their walk forward with percy's hand in his.

"we're almost there."

"What happened here?"

It hasn't escaped his notice that parts of the city they pass through are in ruin while others seem to have been built up or repaired. Percy doesn't allow himself to get too distracted, or maybe--it's just very easy to focus on the hand holding his. Surely it's just relief that Vax'ildan is alive and in one piece.

vax keeps his hand in percy's, leading him into a more run-down area of the island. the only thing built up and looking better by the day is the neinhaus, and it's adjacent friend, the wizard haus, or whatever his friends were calling it these days.

"i.. mm, sorry, i'm feeling lightheaded. ah, as far as i know, the robots on this island are here to do our bidding as long as we supply them with power. with energy." he lets them into the house, taking percy past his bar and the common spaces, and leading him up to his loft bedroom. he knows this feeling, and he's not sure what's brought it on so suddenly. it can't be the sight of percy, can it? only when the door is closed does he drop his hand from percy's, unsure what to do with himself now.

"the energy they require is usually gathered from sex. we're rewarded for having it."

He tries to take in some of the details of the house as they pass through, but soon enough they're in what he assumes is Vax's bedroom. And the door closes. And Vax delivers that particular bit of information... now.

"Oh."

Give him a moment. Percy steps back a bit, not necessarily to get away from Vax'ildan, but to--he doesn't know. Give himself a bit of space to think clearly. Not that there is any reason that Vax's presence should make him have trouble with that.

"Wait, what?" He has no idea what sexual energy has to do with rebuilding a civilization, that feels like a wild leap.

"i wish i knew more," he says, and though he wants to move close and be near his best friend, he chooses to stay by the door. percy looks uncomfortable, and vax'ildan has to keep this shit bottled for now. his thoughts begin to cloud with lust, but he wants to put that aside. he can't push that on percy now, not to mention he'd likely be met with rejection. if he can't get it from percy, he'll try shaun, of course.

-- shaun!

"oh-- percy, gilmore is here. it's just the two of us and... you, now, from tal'dorei. i'm sure he'll be excited to see you."

"Gilmore is here?"

Well, at least Vax hasn't been lonely. Percy runs his fingers through his hair, pushing it out of his face. He's aware of the salt crusting in it now that it's starting to dry. After a moment, he shucks off his heavy coat, still damp from his trip through the water. The reveals Animus and a rapier holstered against his hip.

Losing the coat doesn't really help relieve the rush of heat pooling low in his body. What the hell?

vax'ildan is now uncomfortably hard in his new clothes, jeans that fit tighter than his leggings and armor back home. he has to turn his back to percy for a moment to adjust and rearrange into something less tight, and when he turns back, percy's coat has been shed and oh for fuck's sake come on.

"y-yes, he's-- his room is downstairs. i've spent a lot of time in it, as i'm sure you can imagine. i've, ah... been wondering if any of you would arrive."

is it hot in here?

It's difficult not to notice the growing color in Vax's face and, unbidden, Percy's gaze flicks down and--oh. And he is distressed to realize his own body is responding eagerly. Focus, Percival.

"Well, here I am, half-drowned and salty."

He tries a smile and resolutely keeps his eyes on Vax's face after that.

That attempt is not much of a success. Oran's trying to remain calm and composed, but he's obviously gone pink in the cheeks. He's helping, he shouldn't fuck this up. The man is obviously compromised.

"Oh, don't worry too much," he tries, "it's not like you're the only one to make a walk like this. Nobody's going to judge you. It's only about... hmm. Four more blocks?" On the other hand, the idea of walking that far is evoking a very certain kind of sympathy.

Oran rubs his chin, wondering if a simple handy would be enough to relieve the problem... with the Augur, so rarely did that work... but then again, a stranger fresh to the world? It could be as easy as a cuddle. No, no. Once Percy knows about the bathhouse's power to completely relieve a curse like this first person, he'd be far better off. Oran's sure of it. If he looks indecisive, it's because he very much is.

"There's another reason I'm taking you there, instead of, ah..." he resigns himself to talking directly about Percival's boner: "taking the easy way out? The Augur tends to use the carrot and the stick very liberally, and it gets more complicated, the longer you're around. You shouldn't be punished for a single mistake."

oh, for fuck's sake, he noticed. this conversation seems pointless now, and for a moment, vax'ildan isn't sure what to do. he can kick percy out and deal with this on his own. he can make an advance on him that's sure to be uncomfortable. or he can just ignore it and keep the conversation going.

until percy mentions he's still wet and salty, and so vax'ildan stops thinking about it, and operates solely on autopilot. his lust, his need, the damned aphrodisiac speaks for him.

like a challenge, vax crosses the room and takes the collar of percy's shirt in his hand, wrapping a finger around it. he pulls percy close, though not roughly, and he says with a tilt to his head, "then maybe we should get you out of these clothes."

Oh. This is out of his hands the moment Vax'ildan grabs his shirt. Percy cannot ignore the rush of arousal and this--this is not the time for that. But it is impossible to ignore how Vax feels this close, and how those words sound spilling from his mouth. Percy's lips part, but for a moment he can't summon any words.

"Vax'ildan..."

It isn't quite a question, and it isn't a protest. His heart is pounding and he feels his face suffuse with heat. He tries to think of anything outside of this space, outside of this room, but his entire world is rapidly narrowing to the man standing in front of him.

Percy nods a bit. Four blocks. He can survive that. He isn't exactly sure what this is going to accomplish, but Oran says it will help, so. He's quite willing to give it a try.

"Mistake," he says with a strained laugh. "Should I be suspicious of everything I eat?"

Does he have the energy for that kind of paranoia? Possibly. But it sounds exhausting all the same. Percival takes a deep breath and lets it go slowly. He reminds himself that he is married, but it is--he's having trouble picturing Vex'ahlia with Oran standing right there. Gods forgive him.

hazy with aphrodisiacs, his hard cock demanding his attention, and a damned beautiful white haired man before him, it's still not hard for vax'ildan to pause, to make sure this really is something percy wants. even with all of these factors, shaun lives just downstairs, and vax can scratch this itch elsewhere.

"i won't take your clothes off of you if you don't want me to, percy," he says, still managing to sound seductive; or at least he thinks he is. his idea of it.

"but i want to. i want to get you out of your wet clothes and into something more comfortable for you."

If Vax gets any closer, Percival's arousal is going to become very obvious. Vax's voice coils around his mind, gently unmooring his sense of control and propriety. And, suddenly, it is very easy to forget that he is married to Vax'ildan's sister.

He looks at Vax's mouth, aching to kiss him. He doesn't, but he does loosen the belt holding his holster and the rapier. He lets all of that join his coat.

"I can't fault that," he murmurs, voice heavy.

"Where the robots come in, absolutely. Being, um, compromised is the least of their quirky little curses... The Augur isn't a get creature, but she acts very much like one."

Like everyone should understand what that means... But the idea of computers and constructed intelligences never rang true to him. Honestly, if Percy is like most humans, perhaps going into detail of how Fey creatures are tricksome little shits might get them all the way there, might pass the time perfectly.

Looking quite a bit like she's just rolled out of bed, blue eyes ringed with dark hollows despite the implication of recent sleep, Lys moves like she's underwater, slowly taking down some of the other decorations—namely every piece of rather explicit artwork featuring herself and a veiled blonde woman that she can find—and adding them to the growing sheaf tucked under one arm. Distracted as she is, in no real state to notice much of anything else, Romelle's mooning over the gardening supplies still somehow draws out a sidelong glance.

"You, uh, thinking about starting a garden?"

Such a stupid observation. So tired, so trite. But she's acknowledging the world around her in order to make it, and maybe that counts for something.

he wonders for a moment if that's his go-ahead, his sign to continue, but he takes another half step closer into percy's space, and he feels a very heavy press into his thigh that tells him yes, this is fine. couple it with the belt being thrown aside, and vax has all the information he needs. he presses his lips and teeth, needy and hungry, into percy's neck, bypassing the responsibility of kissing his brother-in-law entirely.

"i shouldn't--" he manages to say between hungry kisses to his skin, "we shouldn't--"

Percy just barely manages to restrain a desperate sound as Vax's mouth presses against his neck. Unthinking, his hand flies to the back of Vax's head, fingers stroking into his dark hair.

"We shouldn't," he agrees, voice strained. Their bodies brush together and every sane thought threatens to leave him. Percy swallows thickly, eyes nearly closed. Vex, he tries to remember Vex--

Percy's fingers tighten in Vax's hair to pull his head back and he presses a bruising kiss to the other man's mouth.

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Page 6 of 10

TDM 011: I PUT A SMELL ON YOU

00. Arrival

I. SEASON OF EGGCELLENCE

II. CHOCOLATE CURRENCY

III. SPRING IS IN THE AIR (AMONG OTHER THINGS)

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