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TDM 012: SLINGING IN THE RAIN
| TDM 012: SLINGING IN THE RAIN |
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. I. THUNDERBOLTS AND LIGHTNING Erku's new arrivals may not be the only residents left dripping wet. Although the weather on the Island is almost always dreary, clouds begin to multiply and darken over the days before that first arrival, turning ominous shades of purple and blue which may look familiar to Islanders who have been around since Erku's beginnings. Perhaps robots will advise Islanders to fortify their shelters and get ready to accept refugees, and they hope their charges take the warnings to heart! When the rain finally falls, it is a non-stop torrent. Even though the weather is warm, the rain itself chills to the bone. Shacks and beach tents won't stand up to the downpour for long, and the shabby apartments may leak and flood. New arrivals who aren't handy enough to make quick repairs may be forced to take shelter in the homes of current Island residents, or else huddle together in the 12 rooms of the barracks for the full week that rain falls on the Island. Cats, dogs, and little dragons will also be begging Islanders for a warm place to stay! Beware of lightning strikes, too, because the skies rumble with thunder throughout the storm. Buildings and residences are frequently damaged by strikes. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and that's very true on Erku - Islanders who are struck by the lightning might find themselves temporarily blessed with god-like super strength. Such power might not always be a good thing for those who aren't used to wielding it, so please be careful not to damage your friends or property! Islanders may choose to keep their new powers, but a bingo square can be used to wish them away. II. A TASTE OF ERKU In need of shelter and credits? Then the robots have a task for you! Erku's robot population has taken note of how much Islanders seem to love the humble potato, and they want to contribute! Ready as always to please, the robots have filled the hospital cafeteria with mountains of potatoes in every imaginable variety and color: russet, red, gold, purple, chartreuse, sweet, savory, spicy, and so many more! But wait, there's more: they have provided knives, cutting boards, and peelers too, and are eager to see Islanders work their magic in their open cafeteria kitchen! Robots will monitor every dish produced, as they are eager to improve their food replication repertoire. No worries if you aren't culinarily skilled, however. Islanders will be rewarded in credits for whatever they can contribute, whether it's a gourmet meal or simply a basket of peeled potatoes. Robot-provided potato preparations are also freely available to snack on while you work, though as always, they're liable to be spiked with something to encourage Islanders to get more "friendly" with one another. Of particular note is an invention the 'bots are quite proud of, sure to delight your organic tastebuds: the potato cocktail, which packs quite a punch and - strangely enough - tastes just like a hearty steak dinner? III. NOSTALGIA FOODS Seeking a bit of refuge and some comforting food to warm you up? Signs and flyers are out informing residents of the Straight From Home Special going on right now at the Flashbang diner! Come In For All The House Favorites! For the next few days anyone can walk in and receive a free meal (or two if you’re really nice) from the robot cooks behind the counter! And it just so happens that they know exactly what you want. You will be served a meal of your favorite foods from home just the way you like them. Did you tell them? No. How did they know? Don’t bother asking, they’ll just say that the Cook Always Knows. The robot waitresses will make sure your drinks are topped up and you have everything you need, just like any hometown diner or pub you may have heard of. Eating any of the foods will bring out such nostalgia. Feelings of fondness, sadness, longing, anything when you think about the memories of your past and even of recent events. You won’t be able to stop yourself from sharing those thoughts and feelings with those around you. You’ll want to talk about your life, your opinions on the weather, the sex you just had last night and in great detail. The waitresses are listening and so is everyone else nearby. When you leave the diner you might just have to keep on sharing your thoughts about anything that comes to mind. Walk by someone you think is attractive? You’ll have to tell them. Don’t like someone’s outfit? Definitely have to tell them. Suddenly remembering having sex on the beach? Maybe the person next to you on the trolley won’t mind hearing all about it! The effects of the nostalgia will last for half a day or until the completion of an auspicious act. N A V I G A T I O N |
I
Xiao Xingchen looks back through the window of the cafe, pity swelling in his heart for the miserable figure.
In the first place, he always had a loose relationship with money, living without it being a concept he'd even been aware of for the majority of his life. It's fortunate that businesses here don't really resemble how they work in his world.
Opening the door and poking his head out under the doors awning, he turns to the person.
"Come on inside! I've just made some tea."
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Naturally, he thought there was a catch.
"Thank you, my friend," Gen said, quickly coming inside. Just because there was a catch, didn't mean that Gen wouldn't play a long. He just wouldn't be so willing to pay any steep rice. "I appreciate it. It's absolutely miserable out there - not something I was expecting of an island paradise."
no subject
He pulls out some towels used to wipe down the surfaces to hand to the man, setting them out for him.
"Well, it's usually rather temperate, though the sun only comes out once every few days. Occasionally, there's weather like this. You'll need adequate shelter. But first, we need to get you warmed up."
With that, he takes another cup from the counter and pours brewed tea into it, setting it by the proffered towels. It also carries a nostalgic scent for himself, much like the tea his master brewed on their mountain. He looks over the new guest to see if he might need a change of clothes as well...
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Even longer now, that he was abducted to this place.
It was soothing, but bittersweet. Gen's smile stayed firmly on, not betraying his reaction. He took the towel and said gratefully, "Thank you again. I suppose I'll need to find somewhere to stay, in that case."
Was this person offering their own bed already? Gen supposed people moved quickly when coerced by the robots, hm? Now he had to decide if he would turn them down. (He naturally didn't consider that Xingchen only was motivated by good intentions - that his paranoia had him seeing ulterior motives everywhere.)
His robe, the yukata under it, his pants - they all looked very much soaked through.
Gen took the tea - it somehow smelled just like the one Francois would brew - and sipped it gratefully. "Ah. That really does help me feel better already. I'm afraid I don't really have any way to pay ..."
sorry, took a brief hiatus!
"I can help you find some place... I would offer you a place, but my residence is in the care of another."
As much as the Unclean Realm - despite its name - would make a suitable residence, it would feel a bit gauche to offer without clearing matters of the estate with Shen Qingqiu. There's still a number of places to stay temporarily.
"But before that, we ought to get you into some drier clothes. We only carry uniforms like these, mind you..."
Still, he must insist!
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But, ah, there was the catch. Gen chuckled like he didn't mind at all, and told him, "Intending to have me work for my tea and lodgings? Well, I don't mind. I'll be guessing all of the uniforms here are designed to be enticing, like yours?"
He gave him a wink. "I think I can pull off that look."
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"I would not charge you anything! It's only that these are the only kinds of clothes I have on hand. But... you're certainly much more bold than I am! Or at least was; I'd like to hope that I've adjusted to this place to some degree."
If this person is a new arrival, it sounds as though he might be one who adjusts easily. Which is not any problem for Xiao Xingchen, it's just a very different experience for him.
He gives a motion with his head towards the dressing room in the back.
"Most everything about this world is intended to be enticing, you'll find."
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It seemed rather unbelievable, for example, that Xingchen wouldn't actually charge him a thing. But he smiled and ducked his head, a bit bashful. "See? Generous to a fault. I won't turn down your help, of course. Thank you, my friend."
He laughed and explained, artfully picking and choosing bits of truth to tell, "Well, you see, I'm an entertainer. A little boldness comes with the profession, wouldn't you say? I can't say I've ever worn something like that when performing, but if this island requires us to be enticing ... who am I to say no?"
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Ah, the man will surely understand soon enough!
"I must say, there are few I know who have such an upbeat attitude here. Perhaps you can be the one helping me with this matter. Come, come! If they're so natural for you, then we ought to get you in such clothes right away."
Hurrying over to the wardrobe in high spirits - frills of the petticoats bouncing along the way - he pulls out the forbidden one... their shortest and lowest dress!
"Will this one do?"
thank you for your patience with this late tag orz
He'd seen the requests the robots had put on his 'card' from the Augur. One of them was exhibitionism. It could always be worse, Gen told himself. He could be expected to work naked, or ... well. It could always be worse.
"That one looks adorable!" Gen said with glee, getting out of his seat and looking at it. "Do you think it's in my size?"