TDM 016 & 4th WALL EVENT: NO WALLS BETWEEN US

[erkumods]

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

Comments

[naotorious]

[ Nao actually forces a laugh as he feels Taichi's arms around him. ] You don't have to be sorry. Like, at all. [ His hold tightens and he immediately feels like he's back home. Taichi's question brings him back to reality though. He wipes away at his tears that had been building up and flowing from time to time. It may seem out of place for Taichi to see him like this, but for Nao this has been his life for the past seven or eight months. He knows just throwing that number would prompt more questions than answers.

Before he says anything else, he pulls Taichi to a much deeper kiss. This time, he's a little more aggressive than usual, pressing hard and just enjoying this moment before reluctantly pulling away. The only thing stopping him from slipping his tongue in is having to explain just what the hell is going on. His boyfriend will soon find out why Nao just kissed him like he had been drowning. Being separated for nearly a year can do that to you. ]

We need to talk. [ Again. Nao's going to have to brace himself for this one. So much has happened since then that if this becomes a recurring thing, then each explanation will feel more difficult than the next. Nao steps back, catching the towel and secures it around his boyfriend's waist. (Super confirmed. It's definitely Taichi.) He's reminded that, sometimes, clothing disappears in this spa. It doesn't stop him from just taking Taichi by the hand and leading him back to his apartment. Their apartment. ]

Don't worry, it's not the weirdest thing to do. [ They're going to be passing by some bizarre architecture that seem all over the place and not matching at all, such as the penis fountain. ]

Hey, what was the last thing you remembered before coming here? [ Almost there. Taichi may take his time processing all of this but Nao's heart feels like it's racing against the clock.

[prepped]

( the crying is a concern, to be sure. taichi is... really confused about what's happening right now because it's all just A Lot. and he wants to ask, is going to ask, but naoto is kissing him and. well, taichi does kiss him back because of course he does. in fact, it momentarily distracts him enough that he wants to do it again, but before he can do that, naoto's saying they need to talk.

needing to talk is never anything good and something heavy drops directly into taichi's stomach. he doesn't like the sound of this. at all.

it's why he follows along without complaining. at first.

but, as they walk, taichi's expression sours with each step as he looks around. )

Hey, you know I don't have clothes on, right? ( he doesn't answer naoto's question just yet because he doesn't like the implication of it and wants to think about things first. ) Don't really want to have a serious conversation outside with just a towel on.

[naotorious]

[ There are a lot of feelings fighting inside him right now, trying to fight for control. Happiness for having Taichi back, anger at himself for thinking he has any right to feel happy, guilt because...yeah, it's a lot for Nao too. And he's about to tell Taichi just how much. ]

Pfft, yeah - but it'll take forever for them to find your clothes for you. [ "Them" being the robots, or whatever trickster who seems to enjoy doing that to the spa goers, especially if they're new residents. ]

I have some clothes back at the apartment. Our apartment. I'll explain when we get there. [ Nao squeezes Taichi's hand hard, as if to ask the other to trust him but also to not let go. He even turns around once in a while to look at him, to take in the fact that he's still here.

Once they arrive at the building, Nao leads Taichi down the halls, where he can note the empty, derelict rooms. Some of them have holes in the wall. Nao's used to be in shoddy condition before he got an upgrade.

They approach his door, where he points out the carving of his initials by the knob. ] I did this so that you'd find me one day. [ He leads Taichi through the doorway to a place that look nothing like what's on the outside. It's small, but with modern furniture clearly meant for a couple. Although only one chair at the dining table looks recently used while the other remains pushed in. ]

Ta-da~ Our place. Small and cozy, right? I'll grab you some pants. [ Granted, Nao's at least a size smaller than Taichi but the looser clothing ought to fit him just fine for now. He returns with a pair of lounge pants and an oversized t-shirt that he often uses for sleep.

He'll be watching Taichi change as the emotions in him continue to duke it out. He is happy. He wants to cry out of relief, but he also wants to cry because of guilt. He doesn't just yet. He waits for Taichi to have any other questions before he goes off saying things that he knows will sound crazy. ]

[prepped]

( "our apartment"? what does that even mean? how could naoto already have a place? and place enough to be considered theirs? what, exactly, is going on here?

it all already kind of feels like too much and the further into this place taichi goes, the more questions he can feel piling up. he has, approximately, fifty of them to ask naoto but nothing really leaves his mouth. at least, not yet.

the juxtaposition between the inside and outside is almost jarring and taichi can feel himself gawking around like an idiot. this place looks nicer than his apartment and that alone makes him feel some kind of way. but, he doesn't say anything yet, just kind of grunts in response about it being cozy and murmurs a word of thanks at the offering of clothes.

because it's naoto, taichi doesn't really care much and drops the towel with no hesitation or shame, then pulls the pants on. they're a little tight in certain places, but it's fine. the shirt is pulled on next, then he looks around; quietly suspicious. )

How do you have a place already? ( taichi supposes if there were some hours' difference between them washing up on shore, it might make some sort of sense. but having extra clothes is... just adding up to the weirdness of the whole thing.

he takes a breath and then sits down on the edge of the couch. )

Oh, and we were at the hot springs last. ( he'll answer naoto's question now. ) Don't you remember?

[naotorious]

[ Nao's turn to avoid answering the question, but he will answer it soon enough. ]

...of course, I do. [ Taichi has no idea just how many times Nao has replayed memories of them together in his head, or how often he looks through his phone for old texts, pics, and videos of them hanging out. Not to mention, the amount of fruitless attempts at contacting Taichi, his friends and family, only to result in "no service" notifications.

Nao doesn't say all this, but the look on his face says a lot. He's torn between wanting to be happy that Taichi's here and fearful of him disappearing again. It may very well happen again, but he's fighting that feeling off in favor of making the most out of things now...even if it includes telling Taichi of his experiences here. ]

This is going to sound weird... [ which Taichi will soon see just how much of an understatement that disclaimer is ]

...but I've been here for almost a year now. I mean, it's hard to tell what day it is but people come and go every month, so that's how I keep track. [ He'll tell him about how things work here, the way how sexual acts seem to improve this world, how Taichi was in fact here for one night before disappearing, how Nao does the minimum to get by...

He'll get to these, he will. As soon as Taichi is dressed again, Nao wraps his arms around Taichi as tight as he's ever held him, face hidden in his neck but even with his glasses on, there's no mistake that some tears have landed on his shirt. ]

I've missed you...

[prepped]

( something is definitely going on. naoto is acting way too weird for it not to be. just from that expression on his face, taichi knows whatever naoto's going to say next, he isn't going to like.

and, ah. yup. definitely doesn't like where this is headed. he's been here a year?! how is that even possible?? they were literally just together less than twenty-four hours ago. taichi remembers it really vividly. hell, it's been less than ten hours ago. and naoto wants him to think he's been here for a year?? and taichi didn't even notice???

is his some sort of prank? if it is, he doesn't really get it.

at all.

he's about to ask what kind of weird joke this is when naoto's wrapped around him like he's prepared to squeeze the life out of him and taichi huffs a breath before wrapping his arms around him. it's only when he feels that wetness against his shirt that his mouth snaps shut on the question on if this is a joke or not. why is naoto crying? what the hell is going on? taichi's stomach twists uncomfortably and he does his best to ignore it for the time being. his hand lifts and he gently pets naoto's head. )

Hey, calm down. I'm here now.

[naotorious]

[ If only all of this was a dream. Or a prank. Or just about anything that can take them both back home and go back to their lives. It's not that Nao regrets making the friends he has here...but he thinks back on the time that he temporarily forgot Taichi. Weird shit happens here, as Nao will soon explain. It's just that forgetting his boyfriend like that is probably the worst thing for him.

He's not sure where to start as he takes the time to calm down like Taichi just suggested, and to think about how to properly explain how this place works. And what he has done. He lets out a sigh, wishing they could just take a long nap but he's fearful that he'd wake up alone again. He can start with that, he supposes, that Taichi had been here for a day before disappearing the next. (Or a "version" of him did - god, Nao has to word it like that too.) That "discussion" was also rough for them both. ]

So...

[ we all know how this works and i don't wanna explain game mechanics so let's pretend nao does it here ]

[ Is this the island new way to torture Nao? To put him through some kind of reality warping time loop where he has to have this kind of conversation with the love of his life again and again? And this time, his bingo card has a couple of more squares checked off. It's hardly finished - and Nao has done the bare minimum to get by after their last conversation but he isn't looking to check these off any time soon. If doing so would take him back home, maybe, but that's not how it works here. ]

...I'm sorry, again.