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

[swordsense]

[Adora, to be fair, is also kind of an easy mark. She's only twenty, not the most experienced at this kind of thing, and definitely not used to being flirted with. She's getting more confident in herself though.]

...A...one on one performance from the what now? I'm sorry, I don't know exactly what you're talking about.

[The robot booker boops and beeps a little.]

[fairysong]

[Ah.

People don't know her. Sheryl gives Adora a flat look, her flirtatiousness vanishing for a moment.] The Galactic Fairy.

Sheryl Nome? Number one pop star in all of known space? Surely that's ringing some bells.

[swordsense]

I'm...really sorry. But, no?

[Adora's smile turns down, a little glum.]

I'm sure you're really good, and you're super pretty, but Etheria has been sealed off from most of the universe for a thousand years. Till just a few weeks ago.

[fairysong]

You're kidding me. [Sheryl says, her tone straightforward.] How the hell does a planet get "sealed off from the universe"?

So what, you guys didn't know anything existed?

[Because she assumes Adora, of course, is a local.]

[swordsense]

No. We knew, we just didn't have a way to leave.

[Adora gives her a flat, annoyed look.]

It's a long story, but before I woke up here, I had only been on two other planets before Etheria.

I'm sorry I don't know who you are but then again I'm willing to bet that you have no idea who I am and I saved the whole universe.

[fairysong]

Well, that's more than most people. Most people I knew just grew up on one of the colony fleets.

[That look tells Sheryl that she's in danger of losing this hooked fish, so she decides to lay on the charm. Again, she leans forward, emphasizing her chest, pursing her lips.] I do like a woman with confidence, though~ [Even if she is assuming that "saved the universe" is completely not literal.]

Anyway, if you don't know who I am, I'm willing to show you. Trust me, a private performance from the Galactic Fairy is something that a lot of people would die for. Or kill for.

[swordsense]

[Adora's eyes are definitely drawn down, but only for a moment. She can't help it, she's only human.]

...What kind of private performance are you talking about?

[She...is from a world where pop stars aren't a thing. She's imagining something completely different, and honestly is a little puzzled why Sheryl's into this idea enough to offer it over a simple bet.]

[fairysong]

[Sheryl tilts her head to the side.]

A song, of course.

Why, what did you think I meant?

[She knows exactly what Adora thought she meant. She's not gonna do it, but she knew.]

[swordsense]

A song?

[Adora looks puzzled. Just a little.

Not disappointed, just a little confused.]

...Is that what a pop star does? I thought you were going to dance or something, dressed like that. You look like a dancer.

[Believe it or not, Sheryl, she wasn't thinking you of what you were thinking of.]

[fairysong]

[Sheryl just looks at Adora. The look in the icon.]

--I mean, yes, I also dance, but--

Sorry, how do you not know what a pop star is?

[swordsense]

Because I don't? Didn't I just explain the deal with Etheria being stuck in another dimension.

[Does she really have to explain this again?]

Do you want some of this popcorn, then? I'll split some with you if you sing for me after. If you're the number one in the galaxy, then I'd be getting exposed to the best, and that'd be nice.

[fairysong]

How was I supposed to know that your dimension doesn't have music? [It's incomprehensible to her, given how central music is to her life. The idea is inconceivable.

She shrugs.] --but sure. You really don't have any money to wager instead?

I'll warn you, everything else from here is going to be a step down.

[She's certainly confident.]

[swordsense]

We have music. Just...maybe it has a different name?

[What the heck.]

And I guess I can give you enough for a wager too. I have plenty of money.

[She's been fairly fortunate in that.]

So, which bird do you want to bet on? Figure that out and I'll get us some popcorn.

[fairysong]

[Sheryl seems a little more mollified when Adora mentions having money for a wager. Well okay then. At least this isn't going to be a waste of her time, because that was clearly the big concern here.

She glances down at the racetrack, and up at the betting board.] ...I'm not sure.

How do you tell which bird is the best one?

[swordsense]

[Adora's only gone a moment or two, returning with a container of the stuff, holding it out as she inspects the board.

And, you know, completely missing the fact that it's laden with aphrodisiacs. Sorry Sheryl.]

I guess the one that looks fastest. One that's more sleek, with long legs. Rather than something really heavy.

I've never seen these birds before today though.

[fairysong]

The one that looks... honey, they all look like overgrown chickens. I might as well just pick with eeny-meeny-miney-moe.

[She casts a sidelong glance at Adora as she returns with the popcorn.] You know, it's probably a bad idea to ask for gambling advice from the person I'm going to be competing against, isn't it...

[swordsense]

...I'm not competing?

[Adora raises an eyebrow and holds up the popcorn, taking a piece for herself.]

I'm just giving you money so you can. And here.

[Adora points towards one of them, one labeled as Speedy McWarkins.]

Bet on that one. He's a little smaller than the rest, but his legs are longer. That means he's carrying less weight up top but isn't sacrificing stride.

[...Adora may be a horse girl.]