ercookies | TDM 001

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!tdm

TDM 001

TDM 001: TFLU

( 1 ) After leaving the teleportation chamber, you are gently coaxed out of the hospital and encouraged to find a place to stay. Maybe you've had time to check out your A5 app. Maybe you're just settling in. It's cloudy, overcast, cold -- you'll want to seek out someplace warm.

Also, your device is beeping. A lot. The tech on the island works, it just doesn't work right. You can't seem to send a message to the correct person.

It's time for...

Texts From Last Universe

( 2 ) What's this? Your bingo card has just been beamed to a stranger's inbox...?!
( sample A5 cards -- NSFW, may contain triggering content, please feel free to use/ignore as you see fit)

( 3 ) And now you're receiving messages from other users that they don't remember sending:

Nice shirt. It would look better on my floor.

10/10 would ride it into the sunset.

This user thinks you're attractive.

u up?

🍆

( 4 ) Once you figure out that the robots have been hacking your devices, it's no easy feat to track one down and demand they stop. "So The Augur wills!" they wail in a monotone. "So it is done!"

Any attempt to actually contact The Augur and get back into the hospital will be met with beefy robot bodyguards, who suggest taking a gentler approach to fix your devices.

If you know what they mean.

Wink.

(This is your overt kink prompt. Please label any threads accordingly.)

Note: All prompts are optional. The theme for this TDM is "malfunctioning devices." They can be fixed by indulging in the squares on your cards. For the sake of the TDM, you can use one of the pre-generated examples or a wildcard from the kink list. This can be used as a free bingo square completion once you have been accepted into the game. Players are welcome to wildcard their own TDM prompts; we only ask that you try to stick to the theme.

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N A V I G A T I O N

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

His gaze follows Xingchen's, settles on Xue Yang for a moment, eyes narrowing, although when Xingchen moves, it's enough to have him drawing his own sword again, stepping in between them. Because he's not letting Xue Yang any closer to Xingchen.

"...This place is strange." It's at least an attempt to answer, but he's not looking behind himself either.

When Xiao Xingchen steps closer, Xue Yang hunches a bit, his posture slightly more defensive than it was a moment ago. His gaze doesn't leave that cut, at least not until Song Lan steps in front of it... and then it's as if Xue Yang suddenly remembers that he's there again, and he quickly recovers himself and goes for another strike.

This time, Xiao Xingchen is more prepared for a sudden attack, and he moves back in front of Song Lan with Shuanghua at the ready, blocking the blow.

He'd felt a brief warmth in his chest at Song Lan stepping in the way. But he buries that feeling back down. Maybe it's because Song Lan wants to fight Xue Yang himself, anyway. But the thought of Song Lan being hurt because of him again...

Right now, Xiao Xingchen wants more precise answers than what he's given.

"Daozhang Song Zichen, let me handle this!"

With his serious tone, the more formal, distant address is not a mistake. It hurts more than the cut across his chest, but he owes the man his safety more than anything else.

The words have him stopping, gaze on Xingchen's back, hand still on his sword because he's not giving up that easily, even if it's Xingchen's request. His fingers tighten, almost white knuckle their grip.

"Why are you so set on talking to him? You know what he's done."

"Move!" Xue Yang snaps it this time, but recovers a moment later, and his voice becomes cloyingly sweet. "Daozhang Xiao Xingchen, you really like to put yourself in harm's way for others. If you'd only let it be, you wouldn't have gotten hurt at all. Look, he's already blaming you for trying to save him."

Xiao Xingchen doesn't know whether to feel upset with Song Lan, when it appeared that both of them were enjoying each other's company a moment ago. Xue Yang's goading salts the wound, especially when he so clearly knows about the events after his attack on Baixue Temple and what had happened between the two in the aftermath. For even a moment, he might even understand what Xue Yang is trying to get at.

But his feelings and whatever he's blamed for is secondary to Song Lan's safety. All he knows he must keep himself from acting too impulsively now that the two are here together.

He can't help the sadness in his eyes and voice when he speaks again.

"I just... want some answers. Since you pursued me, why don't you both say what you wanted to?"

"I'm not blaming him for anything!" Song Lan snaps at Xue Yang before his attention shifts back to Xingchen, his expression twisting for a moment.

"As for what I want to say to you, it can wait until we don't have an audience." Because he's not going to get into the things they need to discuss in front of Xue Yang.

"You're blaming him for wanting answers but you won't give them. Daozhang Song Lan, do you think he's already forgotten what you said to him before?

"Fine, if you won't say anything, I will.

"Have you tried doing such a thing, Daozhang Xiao Xingchen? Perhaps you haven't. It can feel really good. It feels so good, you don't care who you're doing it with. Daozhang Song Lan and I were just indulging with each other. You really have been away from the cultivation world for a long time. I wonder what the man who drove you away has been doing without you around...?"

The more that Xue Yang talks, the more that Xiao Xingchen feels he shouldn't listen. The man is so skilled with his words that it can throw others off-guard. It hadn't worked before, the first time Xiao Xingchen captured him, trying to make him doubt himself. So much has happened since then, and he's gotten so many new weak spots...

Instinctively, he wants to deny such an implication. But he doesn't know anything of what Song Lan has been doing since then. It isn't his business, anyway. Perhaps he's just being nosy again. Somehow, this answer is important to him.

His sword lowers just slightly, a complicated expression on his face.

"I-I haven't done anything like that. Zichen, have you really--"

"Stop talking!" It's a snarl, his eyes blazing before his gaze shifts to Xingchen, pain flashing over his face, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

"...Xingchen, " There's strain in his voice, even if the admission that Xingchen hasn't kissed anyone is something of a relief. Not that he wants to think about why, not right now.

Song Lan taking a step toward him. "...I was wrong to say those things I did to you." Because if they're doing this, he needs to start with that.

"I was so....angry and you didn't deserve that. I've spent years trying to find you...before I found myself here and what happened with him?" His gaze shifts to Xue Yang for a moment before returning to Xingchen.

"I didn't want that. Not with him."

"You say you didn't want it, but not only didn't you stop, you went along with it enthusiastically. Saying one thing but doing another, isn't that what your type means by righteousness? You apologize for what you said, but how long until you turn your anger on him again?"

Xue Yang's tone is still even, but his expression is noticeably angrier now.

Xiao Xingchen's eyes go wide.

Those words that he didn't dare hope to hear, if because he feared for asking too much, even in his own heart.

His shoulders tremble, and his eyes become glassy with tears.

He doesn't have time to really absorb it all, quickly reminded of Xue Yang's presence-- and also taken aback by the strange ire in his expression. Right now, he still can't turn his back to Xue Yang, even if he so dearly wishes to see his friend's face and be assured that those words weren't just in his own mind.

Quickly, he blinks until he can focus again, and he holds Shuanghua with a renewed resolve.

"It doesn't matter what might happen, or whatever he's said to me before. I would not impose my own wishes on him or decide for him what he should want. But if he wishes for me to be by his side again..."

Yet at the same time, he has to wonder why he's explaining to Xue Yang. Of all people. But he remembers-- it must've been all part of Xue Yang's plan. All he's wanted to do is torment them, and making sure they never trust each other once more must be part of it. Keeping them apart would be so convenient for him here. Why else would be trying to pick at this wound so intently? Well, even if it's a reflexive move against Xue Yang, he can put away all his fears of what could be for now.

Especially when he never believed he would even have this much.

"Leave! I am sure that our paths will cross once more soon enough, but Zichen and I must talk."

At least Xingchen is listening to him and Song Lan moves then, comes up to stand beside Xingchen, gaze focusing on Xue Yang, his own sword ready as well. He'll have time to explain things to Xingchen once they're alone.

And that's more than he could ever have asked for.

"I do." Because Xingchen needs to know that much. Needs to know that he wants to work on repairing what he'd broken.

When Song Lan steps up beside Xiao Xingchen, Xue Yang's attention focuses in on him, sharp like the edge of a blade.

Right now, he's stuck. He's not getting the foothold he needs to drive the two of them apart, and he's already tried and failed to fight both of them together before. Yet if he leaves them be, whatever talking they do only works to his disadvantage.

He's also now considering what it would be like to have either of them under him, gasping and making those sounds of exertion and pain as he touches, bites--

Xue Yang makes his decision. His gaze shifts back to Xiao Xingchen and his glare softens.

"Alright, Daozhang Xiao Xingchen. And if our paths cross once more, I'll teach you about more things you've never considered that can feel good. Either of you." He glances to Song Lan, eyes narrowing for a moment. Physical pain isn't the only way to tear someone down.

Then he jumps back to put space between them and starts to quickly leave.

Xiao Xingchen blinks again, lowering his sword as he watches Xue Yang go.

"Something has made him even more strange than how I remembered him."

Yet stranger still is his intrigue at Xue Yang's proposition, as he thinks back to what he'd just seen a moment ago. His face grows a little warmer and his sight loses a little focus--

With a shake of his head to clear it, Xiao Xingchen sheathes Shuanghua and gathers his shredded robes together with both of his hands. What is wrong with his head? Not only should he not consider it, but he has far more important matters to consider right now.

Still, even knowing that, he doesn't know where to start. He'd heard Song Lan say all of those things, and it'd lightened the weight in his heart. It doesn't mean he knows what else to say yet.

As soon as Xue Yang is gone, he sheathes his sword, turns to look at Xingchen and actually remembers what happened, his mouth going dry as he watches Xingchen gather his robes, staring for a moment before he shakes himself.

And then it's only the matter of a moment for Song Lan to undo his belt, removing his outer robe before he hands it to Xingchen, belting his under robe back in place a moment later.

"I didn't ...want to do that with him." Not that he knows why he did, but it had been like something had taken control of him, and it was unsettling. "I don't understand this place at all."

Edited 2020-06-02 00:45 (UTC)

Xiao Xingchen sees the outer robe out of the corner of his vision, but even as it's offered to him, he reaches out for it slowly, hesitating. As if he's unsure whether he really deserves it.

But as the robe is given, he takes it, placing it over his shoulders. His gaze turned back downwards, he sees the edges of it brushing slightly across the floor, so he tries to pull the dark robe up a little higher as he wraps it around himself. Hopefully he doesn't dirty it...

"I understand. Since I arrived here, I... I've been feeling strange, as well. Unlike myself."

At least talking about this matter is a little easier than the subject looming over them.

"It's surely the influence of something else here, so we aren't in our right minds about this."

"I have felt the same." His eyes linger on the sight of Xingchen in his robe, his mouth going dry again before he moves, comes to stand in front of Xingchen.

"I..." He swallows hard, tries to wet his lips. "We should find somewhere to talk that isn't the middle of the street."

"Yes, let's find somewhere more private. Though I haven't found any lodgings of my own yet."

Xiao Xingchen starts to look up at Song Lan, and yet he pauses.

Because just below Song Lan's belt is where Xue Yang pressing his knee, rubbing against him. Looking there now, he faintly wonders what it had felt like, and if it had made Song Lan feel so good that he'd forgotten who he was with...

This is an inconvenient time to be sighted again.

Quickly, he turns away, his face feeling warm all the way up to his ears. He can't look at Song Lan like this yet!

"S-So if you don't mind bringing me to your place..."

He'd already seen where his gaze dropped and that had him freezing, taking a step forward, hand finding Xingchen's before he thinks about it, his fingers curling around the other man's hand.

Tugging him back around. "Xingchen?" His voice is soft, questioning, standing so close they're almost touching. And then he moves without even really realizing it, his head dipping so his mouth brushes against Xingchen's, a brief, tentative contact.

At the touch of fingers to his own, Xiao Xingchen's starts to race again, like when he'd first seen the two entangled together, faster when he had run away or when he'd drawn his sword. When he's pulled closer, he looks up and sees Song Lan's face.

His breath hitches. Never did he believe he would see again, much less his old dear friend, and the details of his lashes so close like this... the thought that those were once his eyes there only briefly pass through his mind.

Only moments before had Xiao Xingchen believed they'd never speak again, and now--

It quickly clicks. Song Lan had said why himself.

This place makes them want to do things with people they don't actually want to do, so that explains everything. The spark of warmth from their lips meeting also makes his heart ache. Yet even with the saddened look in his eyes, he doesn't pull away, his fingers curling around Song Lan's.

Edited 2020-06-03 05:29 (UTC)

When Xingchen doesn't pull away immediately, Song Lan does for a moment, studying his face. "Xingchen, I..." He swallows hard, his free hand rising to find his friend's cheek.

"I should have asked before doing that to you." Given him a chance to say no before forcing it on him like Xue Yang had forced those kisses on Song Lan. Not that he hadn't responded eagerly, but that had been.

That had been physical, something pushing him to do that. This was different.

"...Do you want me to ...again?"

"No need to worry, Zichen. Anything you want... I want it too."

Even if neither of them are in their right mind, as he's sure to remind himself.

At the gentle touch to his cheek, Xiao Xingchen's vision distorts, tears beginning to well up once more. This all still feels like a strange dream, and he should chastise himself for even daring to imagine everything that's happened here so far. Such wild fantasies when he knows what's possible and what isn't.

"But we should bring this inside. I'll surely be no good at it-- it'll be so embarrassing."

"...Do you honestly believe I'd be any better?" There's a note of disbelief in his voice, the hand around Xingchen's tightening for a moment before he takes a breath.

"I..haven't done anything like this before today." Before Xue Yang had forced that kiss him on and his own body had betrayed him.

"But if I'm going to, I would rather it be with you." Even if his skin is a little read, Song Lan lifting a hand to brush those tears away.

"There should be somewhere nearby we can use for shelter."

More anger flares up in Xiao Xingchen's heart at Xue Yang for what he has done-- such a twisted man is surely one who might actually enjoy this situation and the chance to torment others over these strange feelings. But they could address the matter of him being around later.

Taking a deep, shaky breath and trying to will away any more tears that threaten to spill over, he nods.

"All right. Let's... let's find somewhere. I believe I've seen a place not too far where we could stay."

Focusing on that much makes it easier to move, rather than to let himself be caught up in the whirlwind of emotions he's feeling right now at the thought that the two of them might stay together somewhere. He turns away, looking a little off-balance as he starts in the direction of the place he remembered before this.

Texts From Last Universe

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