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TDM 016 & 4th WALL EVENT: NO WALLS BETWEEN US
| TDM 016 & 4th WALL EVENT: NO WALLS BETWEEN US |
00. An Arrival and a Broken Wall?! You should be coming 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 should be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card already loaded up, and if you don’t manage to get away from them quickly enough, they should 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 should be given a complimentary towel to leave with if needed! Should. That’s how things are for newbies - and maybe today, some newbies will arrive the usual way. Others might be surprised to hear that there is another "you"... already here! If and when you finally meet this other "you," there's simply no way to agree on who the so-called real version is. Your histories may be the same or they may be wildly divergent, but those little differences don't change the fact that you are who you say you are. Some islanders might even find themselves running into a much older or younger version of themselves. Duplicates and doppelgangers, you say? People who look and sound familiar but are just a little bit off? What strange anomalies have washed up from the ocean! On the other hand, maybe you’re not new here at all, or so you think. You’ve definitely been on this Island for months already. You can't exactly remember what you were doing here before, but you have the modest home and personal effects to prove that you existed. You’ve always been someone who greets new arrivals at the shore. You know very well how things work on the island, and how many of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair. You know that 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. You know all of this. You’ve already claimed 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. You’re a veteran at this by now. Aren’t you? I. A WHOLE NEW YOU The fog has thickened off the shores of the Island and in the areas that have still been obscured. So thick that it looks not unlike the heavy clouds of the recent storm. But late into the night and early into the morning, the fog seems to encroach on the Nameless City even more, blinding and catching Islanders traveling through in areas normally free of its effects. Anyone who gets caught in the especially heavy mist might find themselves suffering from more than just the usual amnesia. The fog no longer only takes memories, but can also alter your memories... and you. You may forget your time on the Island. You may forget your life before. But you’ll remember something else. You’ll remember a life entirely different as if you lived it yourself: you are a merperson who has always lived here, in the waters around the Island. Those grand underwater cities look like ancient ruins to others, but to you? You still see them as beautiful and palatial as the day they were built. You are a Native whose memories are fuzzy, but you certainly remember living your entire life here in great happiness and luxury. And once you step out of the mist, you might even find yourself physically changed to match what you recall, with fins or tentacles and gills to allow you breathe beneath the waves. You might be completely transformed, or just enough to make life underwater as easy as it's ever been. Someone else attempting to free you of these delusions will find that the more they try to force you to remember your true life, the more real and convincing your undersea life begins to feel. You must embrace this new (old?) life, embrace this new you in all ways and live it to its fullest. Completing Auspicious Acts will help bring out glimpses, hints, flashes of memory and recognition that perhaps this is not who you once were, and allow you to return to your former self. But the longer you take to embrace this, the harder it might be to let go. Some of these changes could become permanent. II. LET XXX BE YOUR GUIDE Things have been strange, not just for the people of the Island, but the robots as well. The typically welcoming robots that offer their assistance in guiding new arrivals or encouraging Islanders to visit the various locations seem to be scarce. There are fewer of them running around the entertainment district and other establishments. To ensure that new arrivals continue to have a pleasant Island experience, robots will be recruiting Islanders as mentors and guides: mentor guides, if you will! Volunteers will lead other Islanders around the Island as a means of helping them become better acquainted with the locations available here for your fun and entertainment, and they will be rewarded with credits for their hard work. Guides and sightseers alike could be someone fresh and new to the Island, someone who insists they’ve been here for years, or even someone that a robot randomly dragged off the street. Mentor guides will all receive a very form-fitting and revealing uniform - no two are the same! - and, of course, a glossy paper map of all of the available sights on the Island. The pictures are big and detailed, and cute sex toy icons point out various key sights such as the recreation center, the bath house, and the library. There are even suggestions for which Auspicious Acts are the best for each location! Strangely, none of the maps list the same suggestions, so each map encourages its own unique experience. Mentees will also find that their mentor’s voice is very appealing. So appealing that just listening to them speak is enough to get you feeling some kind of way. The more they talk, the more of a reaction you have. Your body begins to burn or itch and it’s very hard to pay attention to their words when thoughts about all the things you could be doing to them instead keep coming to your mind. The only way to relieve these thoughts might be to make your mentor stop talking altogether, or follow through with some of those helpful map suggestions. Maybe you need them to mentor you in more ways than one? III. SITCHES GET GLITCHES You’re walking down the road, or in your own home, or visiting a friend and suddenly something happens out of the corner of your eye. There’s a soft pfzzzzzzt and the feel of static on the skin. You turn and realize that the wall is suddenly gone. Or, maybe the glass in a store window disappeared. Perhaps someone’s clothes just vanished off of them in the middle of the street, or the chair you were sitting in at the cafe suddenly poofs right from under you. It’s as if the world around them is malfunctioning - little glitches that can last for seconds, hours, or even days before returning to normal on their own. Nothing that could seriously harm someone, but enough to be quite inconvenient. At least completing an Auspicious Act in the affected area or with the affected person seems to put it to rights immediately. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop these glitches from happening again. You may be concerned, and the robots understand, but if asked they will insist it’s just the world adjusting as the Augur welcomes so many new people! Nothing to be worried about, obviously. It will take time for fluctuating energy levels to adjust, that’s all. Some robots might even say it’s the perfect time to enjoy having so few barriers between you. Embrace the open nature of the Island and share yourself and your home with others. Walls are only meant for keeping out what you could be letting in! OOC Notes:Enjoy a mini Fourth Wall event, Islanders! As such, this test drive meme is open for anyone to create top levels, not just prospective players. Current player characters, characters you want to play in the setting but can't app full-time, drive-by castmates, duplicates, canon AUs, characters that normally would not be allowed such as fandom AUs and genderswaps (not including characters under 15), formerly dropped characters, etc. are all encouraged to come in and play! As all other test drive memes, this one will be game canon. Characters who fourth wall but do not app will disappear after a few days to a week, along with their home (if applicable) and all of their possessions. Please label your top levels as to whether you are test driving [TDM] or fourth walling [4W]. (Of course, you are allowed to change your mind! But our rules regarding appable characters will still apply.) Since auspicious acts are an integral part of this event, potential and current players can swap one Auspicious Act on their card for one of their choosing, if needed for any of the prompts. As usual, prospective players can use an Act and swap it onto their card if they choose to app into the game. If you have any questions, please ask them below. N A V I G A T I O N |
relena darlian-peacecraft [abraxas au][4W]
iii. Sitches Get Glitches
iii. Gundam Cabin
cabin
[ Duo... certainly hadn't expected to have company when he came back in for the day. Especially not of the Relena variety.
He pushes the door open with his foot, laughing as Merry yips, tossing a little stick around even as she comes into the house. For his part, Duo is a bit sweaty, carrying a basket of what looks to be vegetables, and definitely a bit red in the face from heat and sun. He's also gained a good bit of gravity weight and some freckles -
... Though the jovial laughter does abruptly stop as he realizes she's there, expression changing to something abruptly and purposefully blank as he sets the basket of produce down from his, Wufei's, and Mika's garden. (Sorry, Relena, you're probably definitely getting harassed by a young pup of a dog who is very proud of the stick she's carrying.) ]
Oh. You're back.
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But she hears him address her and finally turns to look at him. She's not sure what his tone is about, but she's too drained to really let it bother her. She puts on the best smile she can muster as she notices the dog, reaching down to let it sniff her hand. ]
Oh, Duo. Hello. I... guess so? I don't remember this place, but I've been told I was here before.
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He hums as Relena says she doesn't remember it, though it doesn't change his current intentions. It's either make room or be made to make room, and he's already harshly aware of that much as he sets out produce like he normally does, sighing softly. ]
Well, Quatre will at least be happy. [ To see her, that is. Duo makes himself busy washing his hands next, murmuring to himself : ] Might as well cut myself loose and move my stuff to Wufei's room while I'm in here, then.
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[ Relena doesn't mind the dog's attention. It's been a while since she's been around any animals that... weren't giant cave worms. She'll happily take a fuzzy, little dog's affection right now. ]
Oh, Quatre, too. That's right. I'll be happy to see him.
[ She sits upright when she catches his words, quiet as they are, and turns a bit to look at him, eyebrows raised. Move his stuff? Not for her sake, is he? She shakes her head, lifting a hand to wave it dismissively as she holds her towel in place with the other. ]
No, no, you don't have to. I'm fine sleeping right here, honestly. Anything's better than those cots I was sleeping in. Really, it's okay.
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[ Duo turns a sardonic look Relena's way as she attempts to stop him. Of course, if it was just her he'd say fuck it and not move a damn thing. But he and Heero have fought this same fight too many damn times since he's shown up and Heero's mono-focus has zero'ed on in Relena for him to not just dodge the whole problem altogether.
... And if he moves pre-emptively and Heero ends up in their huge bed alone for a while that's also not completely out of Duo's scope of fuck yous, either. His eyes roll before he even turns to the towel to dry his hands. ]
Please. Heero'll have his head so far up your ass for the foreseeable future he won't even notice I'm gone. [ That's a lie, and Duo partially knows it. ]
I'm just doing myself a favor before it's all blanked out over Her Highness being back.
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Her voice sounds exhausted but intent. ]
Duo, why are you so angry? Please, I didn't come here to cause a problem. I don't think I'll even be here long. There's no way Ambrose would let me slip away with how serious he was about... everything... so I'm sure he'll yank me back soon enough.
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I'm not in the mood to watch this simpering puppy crap all over again. At the risk of sounding like I spend too much time around Wufei these days, it's pretty gross. [ Evasive, of course, but it's not worth bringing up a fight she doesn't even remember, is it? There's been enough chaos on account of them and Relena, and it's easier to duck out while he's ahead and before his feelings have too long to be involved when it comes to Heero.
Which is why, without missing a beat, he's throwing a door open and beginning by gathering up Merry's things. ]
He forgets everyone else exists when you're around. You'd have to be stupid not to know that.
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Duo, if you're that worried he'll be so focused on me, just tell him how you feel. I don't know what's going on between you two and I know Heero and I are attached, but I've had enough upheavals lately and I'm not about to cause one for you.
[ She lets herself flop over onto the couch with a huge sigh, wondering what she's fallen into here. How can they be so tumultuous when they're in a calm place like this. She thought they'd be taking advantage of a place like this, living simply and doing what they want to with their time. ]
I don't know what happened between us, either, but I don't want to fight with you, Duo. I really don't. I'm sorry me being here's upset you so much.
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[ Telling Heero how he feels? Duo gives a scoff of a laugh at that, shaking his head. He might as well beat his head against a wall until his skull splits before he'd see any results from that. How many times does he have to hear they don't replace one another, or something else stupid like that, before it's all in for Relena Peacecraft? ]
That ain't gonna do shit. I might as well bash my head into Deathscythe's armor until I crush my own fucking skull before anything will get through his. Though, that does sound pretty appetizing right about now. [ Dramatic, sure, but he would rather split his skull open than watch all the fawning over that will undoubtedly happen. He could disappear without it being noticed, that he knows of. For someone so sensitive about being left behind... he would rather issue the offending kick first.
Pacing back into the room, Duo comes back out with a blanket and pillow, of course, black in covering, to throw in to Wufei's space next, taking a look with a little huff, though the tone is more fond as he mutters to himself than before. ]
Wufei's basically got my whole closet these days, so I won't bother with that.
Merry - [ Of course Duo's whole demeanor changes when it's to the dog, one of those lopsided smirks crossing his face before he can stop it, gesturing her away. ] - Bring the stick in to 'Fei's room, uh? He'll hate it, it'll be great.
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There's no humor in her, but no anger, just a full blown look of fatigue with a touch of guilt. She doesn't care that her towel's fallen open. She doesn't care that her hair is starting to tangle from her rolling around. She just wants to figure out what's wanted of her here. ]
Listen. I've been sitting in a dungeon for two months. I just. Want a damn bed or a couch for a few days while I can. I can find it elsewhere, if this is such a big deal. Just - please, don't cause such a fuss over me. It's not worth it, Duo. It's really not.
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Fun. They try to suffocate you while you’re in there as well? [ or was that just him and Wufei on the moon? Either way, he seems to toss off the dungeon part with that typical Duo Maxwell ‘who cares’ and a smirk.
A smirk that grows dangerous as she says it’s not worth it, nodding to agree. ]
I know you aren’t. But other people haven’t figured that out yet. And probably never will, unfortunately. So here we are.
[ here we are, kicking and screaming and pitching a fit in that classic Maxwell format. If only anyone knew a hint of Duo’s damages to soothe that child who is so ready to be returned that he will just return himself before someone has the chance. ]
So enjoy my grave, I guess.
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[ What's the point in this? The others are rotting in some dungeon and here she is, arguing with him. And why? What's the point. She doesn't want to deal with it and she doesn't want to be a part of this. People are going to die. She cares about Heero, but she's not going to squabble over it. She wraps the towel around herself and gets herself onto her feet with the help of the couch, then starts to hobble towards the door. ]
Listen, I don't know much about you. I'm not going to presume anything here and I don't have the energy to deal with any more problems than I have. Just stay here. Put your things down. I'll go. I have to find a way back anyway or to see if anyone else is here and this isn't worth my time. I just -- wah!
[ Her legs give out and she flops over onto the floor with a curse and a huff before pushing herself back up. It's like watching a fresh born deer try to navigate around its mother. She's on the move again as quickly as she can. ]
I do not have time for this place right now when people are waiting for me. I'm sorry. I'll go somewhere else. See you, Duo.
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beach #1
And in the moment that he comes across her stumbling from the shoreline, soaked with seawater and dotted with clinging sand, that promise feels true. How long has it been since she left this world? Months. Months he's been coming here to the cove, anticipating this very moment.
He notices immediately that she doesn't look like the other arrivals, who are fairly hale and hearty despite having just been coughed up by the sea. She is shaking and pale, struggling to drag her feet through wet sand. Heero is running to her side immediately. ]
Relena!
[ It isn't like him to call out, to give away his position immediately like that without carefully assessing the situation from all angles. He does it anyway, unthinkingly, the moment getting the better of him. ]
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There's a relief that washes over her when she sees him and she fights to keep the well of emotions in check when he hurries towards her. ]
Heero...
[ She feels like she's a child walking in heels, unsteady as she ambles towards him, throwing her arms around his shoulders when they meet. She's unable to fight the urge to grab for that comfort she's been needing for more than two months now. ]
I'm so glad to see you.
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[ His voice is softer now, a note of surprise in it as his arms go around her in turn, holding her steady. Heero is aware of the kind of immense pressure it takes to break Relena down, to make her sound so tired and vulnerable. His eyes dart along the shoreline from over her shoulder, checking for any sign of the thing that might have done this to her, though he already knows in his gut that he won't find anything.
But he is glad she is here, even in a state like this. Relena is safe, now. He can make sure of that. ]
What happened?
[ What do you need me to do, the more authentic question, remains unspoken. ]
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She shakes her head. ]
There's a lot to explain. Weeks and weeks worth of things. I'm not even sure how I can be here, wherever 'here' is.
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More immediately, however... ]
You don't remember?
[ His brows furrow slightly. Did she lose her memories of this place, like Duo? But Duo hadn't re-arrived in such a state. ]
This is the Nameless Island. You've come back.
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She shakes her head again, frowning at him. ]
No, Heero, I don't remember at all. At first, I thought this was somewhere in the Horizon, but ... Nameless Island? I don't remember anything like that. I'm sorry. The last thing I remember was passing out on the floor by that well, after that man... after he...
[ Her eyes get distant and cast their gaze downward, trying to process what exactly had happened in that moment. She almost feels sick, but she keeps herself steady with the help of Heero's shoulders. ]
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Isn't that why he fought so hard? So the people whose lives were worth something wouldn't have to suffer through so much violence and death? ]
I'll take you home.
[ He doesn't mean to cut her off. His body is tense, but in his voice is a gentle suggestion that she doesn't have to tell him all the details at once. Even if she did, he wouldn't know how to respond except to listen, and he can do that just as well carrying her back to the cabin. ]
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Home?
[ She's not sure she'd ever heard Heero say the word. She's not sure if he's ever had a place he could call that word. She highly doubts it. Has he been here long enough to be comfortable with that word? There's already such a disconnect between what she knows and what he knows, it's very possible. ]
Sure... sure, I'll come with you. Is there-- may I have some tea when I get there? It's been so long.
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Especially if she is unsafe wherever she was taken away to.
He nods, with barely a pause before he is literally sweeping her off her feet and into a carry. Heero won't give her the opportunity to deny that she needs the break. ]
Tea. Understood.
[ He thinks they still have plenty, but he is already making a note in the back of his mind to go out for something more fresh while she is resting. ]
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She wraps her arms around Heero's neck and rests her cheek on his shoulder. She didn't feel unsafe with Himeka and Estinien with her, but this is the safest she's felt since she left home. ]
There's no giant worms here, are there?
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No. There are creatures in the forests, but not in the city.
[ More concerningly, she is as light as a feather. It must only be a difference of a few pounds since she left them, but Heero notices in an instant. Has she been eating? ]
Are you hungry?
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Not in the city. Good. I suppose I haven't been in Thorne's city to know if there are any there.
[ She is hoping not. The worm hadn't been too bad... the cave in, on the other hand...
She hears his question and and looks at him for a moment with wide eyes. ]
Hungry...
[ She hasn't even thought about food. The food was so bland and bare in portions in the dungeon, she really never looked forward to it beyond having to eat it. She didn't even realize how hungry she was until he asked. That spell probably had not helped. ]
Yes. Starving.