![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
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 |
Jonathan Sims | The Magnus Archives | OTA [4W]
Jon had absolutely no intention of being helpful. And then the robots grabbed him.
Several useless arguments later, he finds himself foisted onto a newcomer while wearing something ridiculous. The shorts are far too short. Maybe it's a small blessing that Jon isn't actually aware of the fact that they say Ceaseless Watcher's Special Boy across the back. The t-shirt, emblazoned with Guide-Mentor, feels two sizes too small. It, too, has a message on the back: Ask me anything!
The only thing that makes any of this even remotely bearable is the fact that he's going to get credits for doing this. He just has to try not to die of embarrassment before that happens.
Some poor soul will find themselves approached by a surly-looking man with odd scars along one arm and the side of his face. There are more on his legs, though fewer. He's clutching the map he's been given and advised to use. Jon adjusts his glasses and takes a deep breath.
"I'm Jon. I'm--supposed to guide you around."
His voice is possibly naturally condescending.
[Happy to match prose or brackets.]
no subject
no subject
no subject
If Jon's here and she's here, what does that mean to her given Jon's sentence back in Thorne? After what had just happened to her? Are they both dead? Just what is this place?
Still, she smiles at him. They didn't know each other well, but she'd been worried about him all the same.
"Jon, you're here too? I thought I was the only one. Do you know what's going on here? How did we get to this place?"
no subject
His clothes are also looking distinctly grubby... and also there's a gaudy Hawaiian shirt he's wearing?
He smiles as he steps forward to wrap the other man in a tight hug if Jon will allow it. "I thought I'd lost you again. I-" It finally dawns on him what Jon's wearing. "Um... How long have you been here?" The thought that this is... oh, god. He'd never wanted to be on the other side of this, coming late when Jon might have needed him.
no subject
Jon doesn't even realize he's said Martin's name out loud. He just stands there, staring, and wondering if this--if this is another hallucination. The scars creep into his awareness, all of them unfamiliar. And the shirt looks like something Tim would've worn.
He closes his mouth when he realizes it's still open, and he doesn't move as Martin sweeps him into a hug. The ridiculous map drops from numb fingers and it takes him another heartbeat before he hugs Martin back, clinging to him as tightly as he can. Even if he looks different, he still feels right.
He doesn't say anything right away, just shoves his face into Martin's chest hard enough that his glasses are pressing uncomfortably against his face. This is--this is a lot. This is something he'd wanted and something he'd hoped would never happen. Jon swallows thickly and pulls back enough to look at Martin again. He reaches up, lightly touching the scar around his eye.
Right. He should... say something.
"A year," he manages. "Martin--"
Jon feels like his brain is about to fizzle out.
no subject
"A year." The words are repeated as Martin's heart sinks into his stomach. "Jon, I-I am so sorry. I never meant to- I thought we were going to wake up. We were supposed to wake up." Another horrible thought occurs. "Deerington. You remember Deerington, right?" Please let him remember Deerington. It's going to kill him to do this a third time where their memories don't match up.
no subject
"No," he answers as he veers from the shock of Martin being here to the questions rushing to the surface with this new information. Deerington? We were supposed to wake up. That sounds so ominous and it makes his stomach churn. Jon's fingers brush down along Martin's cheek, then his hand drops to rest on the other man's chest.
"I'm sorry."
He isn't even sure what he's apologizing for, only that he's sure that answer is going to disappoint Martin.
no subject
"It's okay... It'll be okay. We can talk about it later." He presses a kiss to the top of Jon's head. "At least nothing's trying to kill us here, right? Um... the robots aren't evil or anything... right?"
no subject
But, selfishly, feeling Martin's fingers in his hair just--it's--He closes his eyes and leans into his boyfriend. The Hawaiian shirt is atrocious but this is Martin, and Jon has missed him desperately. He takes a deep, shivering breathing and tries to let it go slowly.
"They aren't so bad," he answers quietly. "There's other things..."
Oh, God. Jon opens his eyes. There are things he should tell Martin. And definitely things he should warn him about. He looks up at Martin again, eyes wet but tears unshed. It feels like trying to hold back Knowing. An ocean of things unsaid behind a door. A cracking door.
"Martin, can I--" He wouldn't really have hesitated before. He doesn't know what's happened to Martin (and it's giving him a headache resisting the urge to Look). Maybe everything has changed. Martin did kiss him, though. On his hair. Jon reaches up shyly to touch Martin's face again, more deliberate and more tender this time.
"I missed you," he murmurs.
no subject
On reflection, that sounds sort of pathetic when he's been away from Jon for barely a day since arriving here, but it's true.
And because he thinks he knows what Jon wants, Martin leans do so that he can settle his lips against his boyfriend's. His fingers curl gently against Jon's scalp, relax, and curl again a few times. Even if they're in the middle of the street, even if Jon is missing his memories from Deerington, Martin is going to savor this reunion and every moment Jon will let him kiss and hold him.
no subject
But this is Martin.
The fingers in his hair, the way Martin holds him, all of it is achingly familiar and has been absent from his life for a year. When they finally part, Jon doesn't pull too far away.
"I-I have a flat."
Please don't ask how he managed that. But it seems pertinent to mention, as he would much rather have privacy.
"And tea," he adds.
no subject
"Um... n-not that I don't- I mean it's- you look really... ah... you can wear whatever you want." He flusters, biting his lip to keep from embarrassing himself further. It hadn't been top of his mind, but Jon is very attractive in skin-tight clothing. "We won't get in trouble, right? I think the robots said something about a tour? Th-this can be part of it! The start of the tour. Yeah!"
no subject
"I didn't pick this," he insists, not sure if he's more flustered by being reminded of the clothes he's wearing or by the fact that Martin might... like them? Jon clears his throat and tries to scrape together his dignity.
"We can call it that," he agrees, though he's feeling a bit murderous. Sadly, the robots don't respond well to his efforts to compel or otherwise tear into them. For the sake of show, Jon grabs the map off the ground. Then he slides his glasses back into place. Which reminds him.
"Watch out for the bloody geese. And uhm. It's not very far."
Jon reaches for Martin's hand.
no subject
Martin pulls his own glasses back down as he grasps the proffered hand immediately. He keeps close, ready to puff up at any robots that question their actions. Or... anyone else for that matter. Who are the other people here? The ones who could drive Jon nearly to tears at the sight of him? It's suspicious.
"So, um... when you say 'bloody.' Is that, like, 'damn geese, rargh, always making a mess on the lawn!' Or more like... like blood geese?" Normal geese are enough trouble. Martin's not entirely sure how he'd fare against a goose made of blood. He might need to get... ice? Ice would slow down blood. Or some sort of coagulant that could clot them all up?
no subject
And, some months ago, may have been the final straw in a small, embarrassing break down. He's rather grateful Martin wasn't here for that. It's bad enough Oran had seen him through it.
Then Jon blinks and looks up at Martin.
"Why would--blood geese? Have you seen blood geese?"
no subject
"It's just... what's the weather like here in October? Is it, um... rainy?" Is the rain blood? Is the rain bodies?
no subject
"Weird things happen with the weather. Wandered into the fog once and couldn't remember who I was," he admits. It'd been shades of the Lonely, with the only benefit being that it eventually ended. "There's more dangerous things outside the city. And in the ocean, I'm led to believe."
Which reminds him, he really needs to see if he can pursue that lead--No. It can wait. Probably. Or maybe Martin could help him, but it doesn't have to be right now.
Jon lets go of Martin just long enough to retrieve his keys. They head up a flight of stairs on the outside of a building and Jon lets them in to his flat. It's one of the smaller residences, but far nicer than it was when he first found it.
no subject
As for the apartment, it's not the little townhouse they'd had in Deerington, but it's... nice. Really nice, especially considering what seems to be the state of a lot of the city. "Jon, this looks... great."
Martin hesitates watching Jon to see if he should take off his shoes or if there's too much danger to really deal in those sorts of niceties. Whichever way they go, he'll head over to the kitchen immediately after. "Where's your tea? I'll put the kettle on. And, um... is the water from the taps safe?" They're going to boil it, anyway, but just for future reference. "Or have you got a stockpile of supplies somewhere?"
Knowing Jon he probably doesn't. Martin will have to fix that. Just in case.
no subject
"It's better than it was," he says with a small nod, hand on the back of his neck. "Tea's in that cabinet. The water in residences seems to be safe enough. Can't say the same for hot springs."
The kettle is already on the little stove. Jon feels--he doesn't know how he feels. Overwhelmed. He's thought of Martin every day he's been here. And he's alternated between being utterly ashamed and guilty and just... missing him.
"What? Oh, no." It's never actually occurred to him to hoard supplies.
no subject
Oh, well... Martin frowns slightly to himself. Daydreaming about sex with Jon isn't exactly uncommon for him, but it doesn't usually come on this suddenly. He gives himself a mental shake.
"With the way this place looks, you really should be prepared. I'll start working on that." He starts browsing the rest of the kitchen, mentally taking stock of any food Jon has, what he should work on getting. It's an attempt at distracting himself from how warm he's starting to feel.
"So, um... what's wrong with the hot springs? Is it all polluted?" That's a shame. Martin would have enjoyed trying something like that out.
cw: allusion to sexual assault
"Not exactly? The only time I've been up there, some people were transformed into monstrous things, or some of the springs just effected... mood."
Jon picks absently picks at the sleeve of his cardigan as he thinks about the time he'd been there. It hadn't all been horrible. Awkward and somewhat out of character, but it was only the one incident that was... unfortunate. He'd probably deserved it after what he'd done. And there had been forgiveness on both sides, for which he is grateful. So he sees no need to bring it up, especially when it happened so long ago.
"I've heard they aren't as bad as they were, that no one is transforming anymore. The springs were sort of nice if you could manage to be alone. But I've a bath tub now."
no subject
"Hey... I'm sorry I wasn't here for you then. That sounds... horrible. Like, really horrible. I'm glad you haven't gone back." Mark down one moment of sense for Jon 'I'm going to throw myself into the maw of every terrible thing I can find' Sims. "We'll have to keep an eye out for anything else like that. Deerington had that sort of thing happen a few times. Is there any, um... schedule to strange things happening here? It was a... every few months things would change and we'd get a different kind of terrible.
"Except when we--when I first got there. That was pretty nice. There was an enchanted forest and I got to pet a deer. Felt like I was in a Disney prince, just a bit."
no subject
"Schedule? No, not that I've particularly noticed." And he has been watching for patterns wherever he can find them. There have been maddeningly few, and so he can't really predict when he might have to avoid a certain place or when he might have to hole up inside because the weather's gone strange.
Jon laughs, the sound startled out of him, when he imagines Martin as a Disney prince. He gives his boyfriend a fond look. It's been a long time, and he doesn't want to assume--but. But he reaches for Martin's hand to lace their fingers together and he scoots closer, until he's pressed to the other man's side.
"That sounds far nicer than my arrival here," he admits. "Even if it's probably a terrible idea to be petting wild animals."