TDM 002

[erkumods]

TDM 002: IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO

( 1 ) Around mid-morning, a message from the Augur appears on bracelets all across the city. "New organisms discovered. Domestication in progress." The wark of a chocobo rises up from the outskirts of the city. Several more join in, forming a charming chorus. And, strangely, this is when new arrivals begin to show up. Beamed in one at a time, scanned en masse, they are processed just as the first wave was. There's one major difference: whereas the old guard was given their bracelets and ushered into the City, the new folks are also given... collars. Buckled, snapped, or otherwise fastened around their necks, a variety of colorful collars with some rather unusual novelty pet tags. (These are just a few suggestions. The typical “If found, please return to ____” is also very much acceptable.) "You are new organisms. Domestication in progress. Compatible Eros energy will complete domestication." No matter how hard they try, characters cannot take the collars off by themselves. They need a partner's help - but not just anyone will do. It very well might be the first person they find, or it might take several tries. The robots grow bolder as the day grows on, targeting characters who aren't new, as well. "Y̶o̶u̴ ̸a̷r̸e̷ ̵o̵r̵g̶a̴n̷i̷s̶m̸s̶.̶ ̶D̷o̶m̴e̴s̶t̶i̶c̵a̸t̶i̸o̴n̸ ̷i̵n̸ ̴p̸r̶o̵g̷r̵e̷s̵s̷." Their antics die down by nightfall, but for the next day or two, the occasional malfunctioning 'bot may accost someone in the street, so stay on your toes! ( 2 ) An abandoned racetrack lights up the night. That's right: place your bets, folks, because these birds are about to run around a track while robots sell synthetic, overpriced aphro-popcorn. ...Did you say priced? That’s right! If you participated in the orgy earlier this month, you'll find you have a stash of credits accessible in your app. You've fucked money back into the world, so why not waste it? (Opportunities to earn credits will come up periodically and won't always be sexual in nature, so don't worry if your character wouldn't have any yet.) And if you don't have credits to bet with, why not get creative? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[waswrongtoo]

The pleasure's mine, Glimmer.

[Her eyes traveled over the girl's outfit, mostly because she was surprised how clean it was, especially given the colors. Most of those would show dirt all too well (much like her own cloak, which she was fighting hard every day to keep white instead of... grime-colored). Given the state of things here, the only real reason for that Summer could think of was-]

Did you just arrive, by chance?

[glitterqueen]

[ Since they weren't in Etheria anymore, at least she knew she didn't have to introduce herself with any royal titles. It wasn't important or anything, though she wouldn't be bothered if it was a thing that came up at some point. ]

Oh! Yeah, I did. It's probably like... super obvious or something, isn't it?

[ Mostly since her clothes were all clean and that she was wandering around with a lot less purpose or knowing why things were so... broken down and dilapidated. Something she didn't wanna think about when it came to why it was like this. ]

[waswrongtoo]

A little bit. Perhaps I can repay you for your timely arrival by answering a few questions.

[Of course, she'd have done that regardless. No one should need to wander around this place without knowing what they're getting into.

Even if there's not really any way out of it.]

[glitterqueen]

Really? That would be great! It totally beats trying to get stuff like that out of those busted robots.

[ As far as she's concerned? She's had enough of robots to last her a lifetime so people were definitely much more preferable in comparison to that. It didn't hurt that she'd unintentionally came across someone who'd be able to help her so soon after arriving here. ]

Though I really don't know where to start cause there's kinda... a lot to go over when it comes to this place.

[waswrongtoo]

That's fine. We can walk back along and see if we can find a roof you can put over your head while we talk, you should have plenty of time to ask me whatever you need to.

[And guard each others' backs from malfunctioning robots, to boot!]

I doubt whatever we find will be what you're used to, but at least it'll be a place to stay.

[glitterqueen]

Sounds like a plan to me! It's better than standing around, anyway.

[ Even back home, Glimmer knew her poker face wasn't great, so it shouldn't be surprising that she was aware of the look of worry that was likely on her face right now. She was separated from her friends in an unfamiliar setting that looked like it'd seen much better days before now. ]

I don't suppose you know why things are in such a bad state here, do you?

[waswrongtoo]

[Honestly, Summer would have been surprised if she wasn't worried, so she barely even registered the expression except as a confirmation of what she was already expecting.]

That... Augur entity, whatever it really is, doesn't seem inclined to tell us exactly how things ended up like this. All it will say is that we apparently can bring life back to the place by... performing the acts on those cards we were given.

[Fundamentally ridiculous, but then, so was being dragged here in the first place.]

[glitterqueen]

Huh. Talk about suspicious.

[ Glimmer pursed her lips in thought at that, soon shaking her head and frowning a bit. ]

I was wondering about that. I haven't really looked at it since I got here, though.

[ Which means she hasn't even seen any of the obscene things on it yet. ]

[waswrongtoo]

[Ohhhhh dear. Yeah, she probably had some other priorities she was thinking of, but that's still not good for Glimmer.]

It... might be a bit of a shock, when you do. This place seems to revolve around one particular thing, and it's something that most of us consider rather... private.

[glitterqueen]

[ Initially she proceeded to give Summer a bit of a flat look, at least until it was followed up with something clicking in her mind. Something that had her scrambling to bring out that particular card, eyes scanning it before her cheeks turned a nice shade of pink that almost matched her hair. ]

Y-You've GOT to be kidding me with this! I don't even know what half of these words even mean!

[ Glimmer hurriedly put the card away, her face still feeling incredibly warm. ]

THOSE things are what they want us to do here?

[waswrongtoo]

[And that was pretty much the exact reaction she was expecting. All Summer could really do in response to Glimmer's indignation and question was shrug and give an honest answer.]

It is. And, what's almost worse... it really does seem as though following up with them improves things in this world. For example, there wasn't plantlife around when we arrived.

[Granted, the plants aren't exactly an unmixed blessing, but at least they're a food source if nothing else.]

Which implies, in that part of things at least, the Augur seems to know what it's talking about.

But that does not make it any easier.

[glitterqueen]

[ After listening to all of that, Glimmer dragged her hands down her face and groaned, hanging her head afterward before straightening up a moment after. ]

Of course it doesn't!! I mean, sure, it's good that there's some kind of weird point to it but...

[ Her voice trailed off and she looked around them briefly. It wasn't like she didn't know the concept behind sexual things but this was... well. Her being out of her literal element. ]

I really don't think i'm gonna be much use here since I... [ Glimmer vaguely gestured with her hands a bit, at a lack of words briefly. ] don't quite have the experience or knowledge to DEAL with any of this.

[waswrongtoo]

[And what can she really say to that which will actually help? Summer reaches out to lay a hand on Glimmer's shoulder in silent support, but the fact of the matter is, she's right on all counts.

The fact that she's all too likely to get experience or knowledge before the month is out certainly doesn't sound helpful.]

I told you about all of that because our "hosts" are going to insist on trying to get you to follow through on it. But that doesn't mean you have to focus on it. Just aware that it does exist and... that it tends to permeate this world. You can avoid it, though, if you're careful.

[For a while, at least.]

[glitterqueen]

[ For what it was worth, the combination of words and Summer's hand on her shoulder? It did help, though she was trying her best not to just outright freak out or anything. Staying calm was definitely key here. ]

Right. I have absolutely zero problems with being cautious here and will hold out as long as I can on this.

[ Inhale. Exhale.

Glimmer then fully straightened up and turned her gaze up to Summer while offering a smile. One step at a time. She was going to handle this and keep going forwards. ]

Thank you for being honest with me, though. I kinda like knowing what to expect in advance instead of being blindsided later by it.

[waswrongtoo]

[Not panicking was definitely priority number one, and frankly, it was a bit of a difficult priority to follow up on. Who's not going to be on edge after being swiped from their own world and dragged into a broken down sex land run by clearly malfunctioning robots?

Which just made Glimmer all the more impressive for being able to hold out this well.]

I know exactly what you mean. In a situation like this, I figure the less surprises, the better. Even if it means you have to confront the more unpleasant aspects of the place sooner than you would otherwise.

[At least this way by the time they started pushing her, she'd be able to see when the push was coming.]

Regardless, for now it's better to focus on other things. Make friends, if you can. Find ways to feed yourself, I'm working on a list of the safe fruits. Though you'll have to be careful about the plants. And, of course, find a place to stay.

[She stopped at a building that, while not in terrific shape, at least looked like it was in no danger of falling down anytime soon, and turned to Glimmer with a shrug.]

Shall we take a look?