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TDM 013: BARING IT ALL
| TDM 013: BARING IT ALL |
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. THROW IN A TOWEL? Erku's new arrivals may be encouraged to seek out the Laid Bare Massage & Spa for some specialized attention and relaxation, but they and long-time inhabitants will also be offered a chance to earn credits. Anyone interested in earning robot wages will be tasked with being the resident towel person! You’ll stand inside of the room while the patrons are receiving their massages, hot scrubs, or relaxing in one of the saunas holding towels for them should any be requested. Or you may be asked to help with the regular cleaning of the Spa, wiping down all of the tasteful nude statues to free them of the grime and filth (or… other things) that builds up over time. You might even be asked to help lovingly clean the murals of nude patrons (that is to say, fellow Islanders) all over the Spa. But this is a job that requires a very specific uniform. Robots will provide you with your very own chiton or toga. The chitons happen to be very short, not covering nearly as much as they reveal, but the togas might be entirely too long. They brush or drag along the floor and what with being barely held together with the thinnest and most fanciful of ropes, who knows how often they might be untucked? Take care, please, or else the robots might pull you into being the next model for their latest mural portrait instead. II. GRIN AND BARE IT Erku’s resident mental health professional, Dr. D. Love of Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Therapy Center, has taken a keen interest in ensuring that the relationships of you Islanders are progressing in a productive, healthy, and open-minded fashion. And to ensure this, he’s tasked his robot staff to pay close attention to anyone who looks like they are having trouble with relationships with other people on the Island. And after months of so few (none) clients, these robots are very motivated to seek out people in need of their therapeutic assistance! Arguing with a friend? Telling someone to stay out of your life? Being a hermit who refuses to come out of your apartment? Accidentally bump into each other on the street? Make a joke at your friend’s expense? Playfully punch someone in the shoulder? Walk by someone you don’t know and not tell them hello? Well clearly all of you need help in repairing whatever may be damaging your relationships! Before you know it, you’ve been bundled off by the robots right to Dr. D. Love’s office and sat down to talk it all out. The fact that you may not even know the other person the robots think you need to work your troubles out with doesn’t matter. Dr. D. Love is here to make sure everyone goes home happy and satisfied. You may have to play along with this confusing farcical situation, even making up wrongs and slights you claim you have done to one another before finally coming together in reconciliation. The more you deny there is anything wrong, the more the good Doctor will insist you need even more help than they first thought. They might even have to send you into one of their Privacy Rooms and work out your frustrations with each other with their wide array of therapeutic sexual devices and supplies. III. BARE NAKED AMUSEMENT TOUR The trolley is making its rounds as usual with announcements echoing from the loudspeakers that it’s Bare It All Week at Six Flagellants Amusement Park and to kick it off there will be a grand concert at the Loudinus Outdoor Amphitheater that lasts all week long! Not sure what that means? Well, come to the concert and enjoy hours and hours of music played by robots who seem to have taken their songs right from the pop rock crazes of old. Whose old? Who knows. The music may not be completely to your taste, but something about it may make you feel energized and overly dressed. You might even feel the need to strip down until you’re not wearing anything at all! But don’t worry, the robots performing on stage will give you new clothes to wear by throwing skimpy, sexy underwear and lingerie right at you! How did they know your size? Don’t ask questions, just give into the urge to put it on while you rock out until it’s time for the trolley to take everyone right to the gates of the amusement park! Anyone dressed in less for this week will receive free entry, rides, and food and might even receive special prizes at various booths of sex toys, candies that act as an aphrodisiac (meant for sharing of course), stuffed animals, or even a free sex doll! Those are super hard to win from the ring toss, so you should really take advantage and enjoy all the perks of baring yourself for everyone’s viewing pleasure. N A V I G A T I O N |
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"I see. Well if you are keeping my brother safe, I am grateful to you. Thank you." He gave a small bow to the demon possessing him.
Why was he so kind to him? He couldn't understand it really. But he won't look a gift...wolf(?) in the mouth.
He sat down and began setting the food down on a low table. Smiling as the dogs began to quaint themselves to him.
"The large one is Potato. The little one is Noodle. They were caught in the rains a few weeks ago and I brought them back with me. They live here and have the run of the place. I've never had a pet before. Just A-Ling's Fairy.
Both of them are sweet and friendly though the little one gets anxious."
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Having his brother speak to Kujaku startles both of them, enough that the okami takes control to bow his head - the mask slipping up to cover Zixuan's face for a moment. Only for Zixuan to pull it off with a breath a moment later and return it with a shake of his head back to his side.
"A-Yao...he can tell if one speaks the truth, and if they lie. He is not fond of lies and is more likely to act. With his help, I can see the memories of others." A warning, really. He lifts his gaze to his brother's face though. "But you are my brother. I will not let him harm you. Family is important, to both of us."
As for the dogs! Zixuan ruffles Potato's ears. "Then they are fortunate, as are we."
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"I...can't shake the feeling that you know, are you telling me this?
You do, don't you?
I don't want to lie anymore Zixuan-ge. I'm so tired of hiding. I keep making stupid decisions." His facade was on the verge of crumbling, he tried to shake it a bit by setting out the food. Noodle nudging him to take him onto his lap.
"Family is important to me." tears beginning to brim.
"We are."
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"You told me everything. You don't have to lie anymore, or hide. You can come to me. You are my brother and nothing will change that."
Zixuan allows a hint of Kujaku's fierceness to color his voice, and reaches out to rest a hand on his brother's shoulder - feeling only a little awkward.
"Everyone makes mistakes," he huffs out a breath. "You can come to me if you want help."
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At the shoulder touch, he melted into him in a hug. The words jostled out of him in a cascade of emotions.
"I'm so scared all the time. I did so many bad things but I want their love. I'm a bad person Zixuan-ge, I'm bad and selfish and greedy. This place is like a dream sometimes and a nightmare other times.
Da-ge and Er-ge are both here, both from different times.
I fucked them both.
Neither of them knows the whole truth. I want to tell them and I told them little bits. When they wanted a relationship with me I gave them the option to rescind everything when I do tell them it's my one condition and I don't want to trap them. But Er-ge is so fragile and Dage is so young, three months into the sunshot campaign. But when they touch me they were so kind. I feel like a terrible person.
The only other person who is from my time is Nie Huaisang and he's the one who orchestrated my death for revenge for Da-ge. We had a truce.
The Augur puts us in situations that are questionable. I was in a dream and we were different people. I was a whore in a brothel and Nie Huaisang was a john, we did things and then he bought my freedom. When we woke up I tried to talk to him and we got in a really really bad fight. We were so mean to each other. But I think we're both hurting.
Now everything is a mess and I'm scared he's going to kill me again and that Da-ge and Er-ge are going to hate me and kill me too.
I'm so scared."
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His brother is in a relationship...with two men. He'd suspected at least one, really. But two? No. It still doesn't matter. It won't change how he treats his brother.
Nie Huaisang might be a bit of a problem, but he'll have to speak with him first. It's the last terrified admission that has him tighten his embrace and run a hand over his brother's hair in a soothing motion - as if he's soothing his son rather than his brother.
"You know them better than I do." He decides, first of all. "I trust your judgement with how much to tell them and when. Breaking them with the whole truth at once...will do no one good."
He hates that the fear of death is a valid one. "You did horrible things, A-Yao, but you know this and are now trying to be better. Keep showing that honesty, even when it's hard."
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The dogs came in for the cuddle pile, working their way in. Potato was in the process to try and lap up the delicious tears running down his face.
It took a bit before he was able to speak again, the words feeling more like peanut butter in his mouth, when he finally did he was a bit more lucid. He looked up at him, seriously.
"I did. I did so many awful things. I paid the price for them. A-Su and Mo Xuanyu paid the price as well.
It's all my fault.
...In my last life, I was stabbed by Er-ge and then killed by Da-ge's fierce corpse. I chose that death. I didn't want Er-ge to carry the weight of taking my life. I loved him so much. This wasn't even that long ago. It has only been two months since I've shown up here.
I've been trying. Master Shen, a cultivator who is nearly an immortal, saw all of my memories in a dream. He decided to unofficially take me on as a disciple to help me find a righteous path again. He thinks that he can help me. He's my Shifu. I've never had one before. He's helping me cultivate and calm my mind. He can even help with Da-ge's qi deviations. He's really amazing.
I want to be honest to not lie. I've made a new vow with Da-ge. I made him promise to actually talk to me and take time to cool down before he made rash decisions, that we'll talk about things. I promised I wouldn't make my emotions around him and work towards his best interests in mind.
...I need to tell him. Because of this vow. I'm mad and frustrated at Huaisang, but I know where he's coming from. I would have done the same if our positions were reversed. I loved him too, so much and still do, despite how angry I am.
But I'm here crying to you. You're my big brother and I am able to do it right now. Huaisang can't do that. He's holding my secrets for me. It's not fair. Da-ge raised him, he's as much a father as a brother to him. The longer I fear telling Da-ge the truth, the longer Huaisang will have to suffer.
I don't want to owe anyone anything. He's suffered enough because of me. I want us to move on and maybe have a chance at living a happy second life.
I need to tell da-ge soon. Will you help me Ge-ge?" despite being in a snare most of his life, he was a person who loved and loved deeply.
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Love. So fierce and relentless. That is what his brother feels for Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen. For that, he can accept it. For his brother's happiness, he could accept a great deal.
He's glad his brother finally has a teacher, though the fact it's taken coming here for that to happen upsets him - he hadn't even thought of it before. He should have, and his lips turn down in unhappy displeasure. But he still holds his tongue, there is still more.
How to help mend all of this though? Nie Huaisang has reason to be furious. Just as his brother has reason to be angry in return. Zixuan tugs his brother close for another tight hug as he thinks - though the question has him huff out a breath. The answer hardly needs thought about.
"Of course I will help you, A-Yao."
The how is another matter. Kujaku nestles in at his back, chin feeling like it's draped over his shoulder in offered comfort and support. He knows if he says anything wrong, he'll get a nip. But he needs that guidance, even if he huffs at it.
"Promising to be more open with them is good. Getting Nie Mingjue to agree to talk things out first is a good step too. I am glad you have a master who can teach and help you, I hope to meet him soon to thank him myself." Because he accepts - welcomes! his role as Jin Guangyao's older brother.
"The sooner you tell them...yes. I think it would be better. It will ease your fear, one way or the other. And it may be seen as proof of your attempts to become your best self.
"I will be there with you when you do." To step in the way if he must. To protect his little brother. "And I will speak with Nie Huaisang."
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He had a lot of love to give for much of his life. He had to fight for even a meager scrap of it to be returned. He had to fight tooth and nail for it. His mother was the only uncomplicated love that he had felt he had ever received. Perhaps for Jin Ling as well.
"Ge-ge. Is it okay that I call you this?
Thank you. Thank you so much." The whole thing was a whole mess of complicated emotions. There was barely any time between Qin Su's death and his own very violent one. And then everything here after that.
His own very complicated relationship with sex and love. Things he felt he deserved, things he felt that he didn't were all a tangle of guqin strings.
"I will introduce you to him.
I think so too. I want to rip the bandage off because I don't know how much longer I can carry on like this. I-If they want me to die after or d-decide to cast me away I'll accept it." He was trembling. It was obvious the fear of rejection and repulsion rand deep in him. He didn't know if he had any value or even if he deserved value.
"Because it is the right thing to do. And if they only love the surface I am presenting then they don't love me."
He took in a deep breath and melted further into Zixuan.
He let it out.
"Ge-ge, I should prepare you for all the terrible things that can happen here. Are you going to be okay?"