TDM 012: SLINGING IN THE RAIN

[erkumods]

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

Comments

[unimpeachable]

He...honestly hadn't been sure what he'd expected but Guangyao just walking over and doing that had him sitting there, mouth slightly open like he'd been trying to speak but had lost his train of thought. And he had to a degree. Everything that had happened so far had been...well, acceptable within certain limits.

But this? It had more or less left him completely out of his depth, especially considering earlier and until Guangyao touched his hand, he didn't even realize they'd been talking to him. The touch though has him turning his head to look at Guangyao, blinking for a moment.

"You don't have to stop if you want him." When he finds his voice, fingers tightening around Guangyao's without him realizing it. "I'm sorry. I just..." He wasn't even sure what to finish that with aside from a slightly awkward smile.

[baxiasprice]

Oh, well, then. Mingjue rumbled in agreement with A-Yao. "Lans," he huffed, following him to Xichen's side.

As A-Yao sat on one side of Xichen, Mingjue took up residence on his other side, sidling close to share warmth and reassurance. Naked reassurance, certainly, but reassurance nevertheless. "I'm the one who interrupted you two," Mingjue said, lifting a hand to ghost gentle fingers down Xichen's jaw to get him to look his way. "A-Yao has the right idea. You've no reason to be sorry."

He slanted a glance at A-Yao after he spoke to add, "We can stop. Or we can pause for you to kiss me, since I want to and haven't and you look like you need one or two from each of us."

[taintedpeony]

Guangyao just placed his head against Xichen's shoulder, cuddling in close and kicking his feet in the water.

"What I want is for all of this to be good, for all of us. This is new territory for you. For me as well. And I don't know about Mingjue...

I know that Xichen is perfect and what he wants and needs is perfect. No need for apologies. Do you want to kiss Da-ge? Or we can sit and cuddle. I love cuddling you."

[unimpeachable]

Being between them has him shivering, even with how warm the water is, his breath catching as Mingjue's fingers brushed against his skin and Xichen's eyes close as he almost leans into it, letting Mingjue turn his head.

Fingers find Guangyao's hand and squeeze as Xichen wets his lips, gaze dropping to Mingjue's mouth. "I do.." It's very quiet though, barely audible.

[baxiasprice]

When Xichen's gaze drops to Mingjue's mouth, breaking their eye contact, Mingjue throws a concerned glance at A-Yao. He opts to then lean harder into Xichen's side and to brace his near arm on the surface behind Xichen's back. It brings him closer, though he's careful not to trap Xichen with his arm and to leave room for A-Yao and any of the offered cuddles.

"Then we will," Mingjue tells Xichen before leaning forward to offer the gentlest of kisses, something that will match the volume of the words Xichen had used to agree to it. He makes it soft and lets it linger, the fingertips on Xichen's jaw stroking up to his hair before he breaks away again.

[taintedpeony]

At Mingjue's concerned look he gave a reassuring nod and a small smile. Guangyao shifted slightly, choosing to rest his head against the shoulder closest to him. His hands squeezing back gently.

Oh Goodness.

Never in his life did he think he had needed to watch these two men kiss, but now that he had, he never wanted to stop seeing it. His eyes were narrowed with focus. He bit at his lower lip. One hand moved along Xichen's back, to run circles over it gently.

"You're both so beautiful," he said, his voice a whisper.

[unimpeachable]

There's a quiet choked sound when their lips touch before Xichen's just kissing him back, or trying to, if awkwardly, his hands catching at Mingjue's arms, fingers digging into them as he holds on like Mingjue's going to vanish if he lets go. And that's honestly the final straw, tears starting to leak from his eyes.

And one hand moves comes up to tangle in Mingjue's hair as he fights to keep his breathing normal. "I'm sorry..." It's a quiet whisper, his voice shaking a little.

"..But don't stop. Please..."

[baxiasprice]

The unexpected fervor on Xichen's part catches him by surprise and he kisses back with a heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He can't move with the grip that Xichen has on him, easily tight enough to be bruising, and he suddenly feels young, young like he hasn't been in years.

The 'you're beautiful' from A-Yao is enough to keep him reminded of where he is, but he doesn't know what to do with the tears. The surge of protectiveness in his chest is enough to dizzy him, along with a desire to rend whatever made Xichen cry. A-Yao had said overwhelmed, which wasn't something he could punch in the face, but if ever anyone could throw hands with the abstract concept of an emotional overload, Mingjue is willing to at least try.

"I won't," he says roughly in reassurance as Xichen tangles his hand in Mingjue's hair. The look he darts past Xichen at A-Yao when Xichen breaks to beg him not to stop is as pleading as Xichen's words. Then he leans back in to kiss Xichen, to give him what he wants and perhaps what he needs, lets Xichen take control of his head with that grip on his hair.

[taintedpeony]

To Mingjue's look, he gives a small subtle nod, meeting his eyes, as if to say that this is probably what he needs now. His fingers continued to move in comforting circles along his back.

There was a flash of something on Guangyao's face, not jealously or anything like that but of guilt. He looked down for a moment as Xichen's tears fell, something painful coiling deep in his gut as well as hurting the scar on his chest. It was a complicated feeling he wasn't ready to really parse out right now.

He was the one responsible for why Xichen was crying right now. If he hadn't killed Mingjue maybe he would have been happy. But what of Mingjue had killed him instead when he was kicked down the stairs? What if he had landed on his neck instead of his shoulder? He knew that his father would have used the leverage to bring the Nie under control, much like he had done with Wei Wuxian when Zixuan had died.

He knew that he wasn't worth more than a tool, most of the time. Only worthy when he was being good for others. He had sharpened himself into being a blade, before. He can blunt himself into being a phallus now. The expression was masked quickly enough.

His fingers continued to circle instead. it was easier to focus on the physical.

[unimpeachable]

The words and the second kiss have Xichen moving, settling so he's straddling Mingjue as he kisses back, cheeks damp with the tears that won't stop, his hand still twined in Mingjue's hair. And when this one breaks, he's panting, leaning in again to press their lips together. Because while kissing Guangyao had been a heady experience, Mingjue's kisses had him aching, a shudder rolling through his body.

"I want..." Xichen's voice wavers, his hands sliding down Mingjue's arms, fingers finding his to lace one of their hands together. "...I shouldn't...but..if you're here and I don't..."

If he misses this chance, he may never have another one. "If I lose you again..."

[baxiasprice]

"Fuck," Mingjue swore, more on principle than because he had any coherent thoughts in his head, keeping Xichen safe and secure on his lap, one arm around his back. He kisses him each time Xichen surges forward, and he lets their fingers lace. When they do, he squeezes, hard, once, a little pulse of wordless 'I'm here, I promise I'm here.'

"We do whatever you want," he says, firm and a little hoarse. "Doesn't matter. Whatever you want."

[unimpeachable]

"I just want you." It's softer, a little broken, his head dropping forward to rest on Mingjue's shoulder, eyes closing as he shudders, tries to press closer. "..I was doing my best, helping Huaisang, looking after Wangji and handling my sect and I was fine. Until I was here and you opened that door and now..."

Now he had to think about losing him again. "Mingjue..."

[baxiasprice]

"Hey, hey, you did good," Mingjue says, soothing him with a hand down his spine and hooking his chin over Xichen's shoulder, a little bit unseeing. His focus had narrowed. "You did good. You couldn't have prepared for this. Breathe."

He nosed at Xichen's throat and placed a kiss on the slope beneath his ear.

[unimpeachable]

That has Xichen inhaling a little sharply, his eyes closing as a jolt of want races down his spine before he lifts his head, turning to catch Mingjue in another kiss, awkward and fumbling but softer, the edge of desperation slipping away. Fingers skim down, find one of Mingjue's hips and dig in hard enough to bruise.

[baxiasprice]

Matching Xichen's intensity of kiss, Mingjue meets him pressure for pressure, gentling Xichen down. He strokes his spine again, reassuring and eager, but when Xichen grasps his hip he gasps into the kiss and bucks upwards.

Reminding himself that, right, he has made himself very, very naked. "Xichen," he warns him, sliding his hand down the curve of Xichen's ass and threatening to squeeze. "Careful."

[unimpeachable]

When Mingjue bucks up, Xichen moans raggedly, his eyes locking on Mingjue's face for a moment before he just rolls his hips, rocking down against Mingjue with a soft gasp.

And when Mingjue's hands find his ass, Xichen inhales sharply, before wetting his lips, trying to ease his grip a little.

[taintedpeony]

Jin Guangyao had shifted back a little bit when Xichen had moved onto Mingjue's lap, knowing that this was a much-needed private moment between the two of them. Currently, he had opted to sit with both his knees curled up to his chest and his arms and chin resting on his knees. The rest of him was covered by his hair. For some reason sitting like this made him feel a bit more comfortable. The scar on his chest was covered from view.

He wore his usual appeasing smile as he had watched them, His face impassive as it had been in Koi tower for so many years. Not really able to help his mind from moving to the events that had happened before he had died. He had used one man to hurt the other man in front of him. But he was also was deeply hurt by both of them as well. Torn into two by both their regard and their scorn.

You are so good A-Yao.

You are an irredeemable son of a whore Meng Yao!

Who could he be in between those two things? He was a mirror reflecting what they had wanted to see. If they knew what he did, the crimes he had committed. How much blood was on his hands, they would hate him.

Who can he be now? Who can he be without having to continue lying, and remembering what lies he had told?

He wanted to protect them.

He wanted safety and worthiness that didn't tie to being good. His fingernails dug into the skin of his shins.

...He wondered if that could exist for him.

[baxiasprice]

The grope and warning nets Mingjue an intriguing little gasp out of Xichen and a flare of desire. With the easing-up of Xichen's grip on his hip, he repeats the bucking motion, hoping for another delicious hiproll.

His cock's renewed interest in the proceedings, however, blasts away his narrow focus. He certainly hasn't forgotten that half of the reason why there were tears on Xichen's face was that he all but pounced the two of them in the middle of fucking, interrupted everything, and sent it straight to hell. From over Xichen's shoulder, he can see A-Yao now, curled in on himself and smiling and entirely too far away.

Stroking Xichen's sides, he leans forward with the reminder, "Now, I did interrupt you both."

[unimpeachable]

Xichen grinds back down against him reflexively, his moan a little louder this time but the distraction is enough to clear his mind, pull him out of that moment of weakness, the grief that surged over him because of his own regrets and his head turns, gaze shifting to Guangyao.

"A-Yao..." His voice is soft, a little husky. "I'm sorry." He shifts slightly, reaches out a hand to Guangyao. "Come here, please."

[taintedpeony]

It took a few minutes for Guangyao to even register that he was being talked to. He shook it off and attempted to refocus on the matter at hand.

Okay. Take a breath. He looked up and shook his head with a small smile, almost as if he was shaking off any remainder of the terrible thoughts the were plaguing him.

"No need to be sorry Xichen, you're fine. This is a lot to process and feelings will come up as they will." He said cheerfully, falling into the persona he seemed to have been building up in this interaction now. It was easier to focus on someone else having a breakdown than to really deal with anything he, himself is going through. He uncurled his body and crawled over to where the two of them were.

"Doesn't Mingjue kiss well? I think we should keep this a secret though."

[baxiasprice]

Well, Mingjue definitely thinks A-Yao's response is entirely genuine and not at all like he's talking about himself when he speaks about feelings. But since A-Yao seems (hrmmmm) to come out of it at Xichen's beckoning, Mingjue doesn't comment, only reaches out in tandem with Xichen to try and catch hold of him. An arm or a shoulder, anything will do in the attempt to tug him close. Mingjue's lap was perhaps not quite big enough for two, but A-Yao had a slighter frame, so maybe...

Logistics aside, "A kiss for each of us, then?" he requests of A-Yao. "Xichen still needs more."

[unimpeachable]

Xichen knows better, his gaze fixed on Guangyao as he lifts his head but that's something to speak to him about later, when they're in front of Mingjue,. For now, his fingers just stroke along Guangyao's cheek before he leans to kiss him gently, the contact soft and brief.

And then he's moving back, making room between himself and Mingjue for Guangyao if he wants to slide in between them. "Join us.."

[taintedpeony]

Guangyao nodded and kissed Xichen back softly, before leaning back. He allowed himself to be pulled in by Mingjue and settled in between the two men. He was a rather slight man and didn’t really take much much space at all. He craned his head up to look at them.

“A kiss for each.” He pushed up to press his lips against Mingjue’s to give him a soft kiss as well.

[baxiasprice]

Settling A-Yao, Mingjue helps tuck him in between the two of them so that he's facing Xichen. A-Yao's weight on his lap sends a spike of want through him, his cock interested, but he isn't quite ready to forget the moment where A-Yao hadn't been quite there when they'd called him. He smooths down A-Yao's sides with his palms and leaves them there as A-Yao twists to kiss him.

He rumbles with pleasure, then breaks the kiss to hook his chin over A-Yao's shoulder to grin at Xichen.

"Better?"

[unimpeachable]

Xichen just watches them from where he's sitting before leaning forward to kiss Guangyao again when Mingjue pulls back, slow and deep, his hands settling over Mingjue's on Guangyao's sides.

"Better."