Updating environmental system to version 2.69...
When you blink your eyes open, it is to the glare of blinding overhead lights and the sight of a pair of glassy mechanical eyes boring into your own. The face above yours moves like liquid mercury, forming an approximation of a figure that you recognize and trust implicitly: a friend, a loved one, a caretaker. Perhaps even a god or a goddess. From its lips fall the patterns of a language that is strange and robotic, and yet familiar to you:
Everything is fine.
Welcome to the ̶͓̃N̵̼̈ă̷͙m̴̝͋e̵͕͐l̴͔̋e̷̦͘š̴͙s̵̬̚ ̵̝͌I̴͙͐s̵͖̄l̷̞̓à̴͖n̷̺̏d̵̮͠.̶̼̊<
Darkness overtakes you once again. In the blackness of your dreamless sleep, you are sure you hear a strange chime. You are conscious of a choice:
Yes
Y̶o̶u̶ ̸h̵a̸v̸e̵ ̸c̷h̸o̶s̵e̵n̷ ̶w̶i̶s̵e̴l̷y̸.̷
The Augur thanks you for your loyalty.
I. Orientation
With your support, the Nameless Island will thrive and prosper -- but it may require a little more energy than usual to sustain. Step outside and you will soon see why: the skies are calm, the seas are clear and blue, and the pink sands of the beach have never looked more inviting.
Rome wasn't built in a day, but a facsimile of it certainly was. Enjoy new facades for all of the structures in the Nameless City - everything has been retooled, renewed, and restored to be sleek, shiny, and the absolute height of high tech, eco-friendly luxury, with lush greenery and futuristic architecture blending together seamlessly. You have been transported from the hospital directly to your new residence in either the Apartments or in the House of Worship, sparsely furnished with all the basics and some of your belongings. A friend, partner, or stranger may be there with you. This may be your roommate, but this place isn't hurting for space. No robot will stop them from selecting their own room if they wish.
The Augur calls everyone to the Loudinus Amphitheater, an outdoor stage nestled among the tropical foliage where 'bots put on a play about the purpose of the island, the Auspicious Acts, and the history of the past year, including the all-too-recent attack on the Augur. The robot sex scenes are numerous and explicit, and you may find yourself watching a horribly butchered version of any of your old encounters.
Pick up a free Playbook, a comprehensive list of the dramatis personae with detailed character profiles, and learn a thing or two about your fellow Islanders. No detail is too trivial!
(This play will be streamed to all devices to be viewed remotely, and a digital download of the Playbook is also available.)
II. With Great Power
As a boon for taking on guardianship of the land, characters will find themselves sublimating into the purest form of themselves, embodying a particular trait, quality, or concept to the point where they might as well be revered as its new lawful ruler. That's right: you've become as gods, right down to the development of unique magic powers OR changes to your form which reflect the very core of your being. Enjoy being able to create water, fly with your brand new wings, or even summon geese... among other things.
Of course, with semi-phenomenal, nearly-cosmic power comes semi-phenomenal, nearly-cosmic responsibility! After each expenditure of your new powers, you find yourself becoming weaker, hungrier -- but what you're craving isn't food or rest, it's eros energy. The more outrageous your power or transformation, the more your body will crave the completion of an Auspicious Act. Those who do not gather Eros Energy will be driven mad by this lust, until they begin to lose touch with their sense of self - perhaps even some of their most defining memories.
If the burden proves too great, these powers or changes may be wished away with a request to the Augur and the exchange of one Act.
No
You have chosen to exist away from the Augur's wisdom and b̷e̴n̸e̵v̵o̵l̶e̴n̵c̴e̸.
Please accept your gracious punishment. Have a p̴l̷e̷a̵s̴a̸n̷t̵ day!
III. Dis-Orientation
You awake outside of city limits, out of sight and out of mind, but with the looming sight of the bright and shiny Nameless City always on the horizon. What surrounds you is not luxury, but instead drab, run-down buildings and despair. Your orientation, an extravagant and sexually explicit play which describes the purpose and recent history of the Island, is remotely streamed to your device. Watch it if you wish. Meanwhile, there are a few 'bots to be seen among the rubble and rundown buildings that surround you -- but are they friend or foe? Ask them questions about what has happened to you, and they will be vague and evasive. You're inside a simulation, they say, and this is all very temporary while the Augur's systems update.
They do have one answer for you: if you want into the Nameless City before that time comes, it will cost you an Auspicious Act... and a visit to the Augur. The 'bots will escort you there, if you wish.
These robots are a far cry from the well-oiled machines of the Nameless City, though they're no less helpful. In a rundown shack, a robot bartender dispenses rations and bootleg moonshine. (You can even check out the bathtub it's brewed in!) The liquor is definitely real, and it can definitely strip the rust right off the robots. Whether it's fit for human consumption remains to be seen. Regardless, it's going to give you the night of your life - drinking the stuff may cause a variety of effects, from normal intoxication, to erections lasting more than four hours, to wild hallucinations.
IV. It's Morphin' Time
Later, the rogue robots bring some scavenged technology: small, pink globes with "PROJECT DAEMON" etched on the side. These globes bond to specific individuals and morph into different creatures based on the emotions that those individuals exhibit: someone feeling brave might find themselves with a bright, roaring lion, while someone scared may find themselves pocketing a small mouse. A singer may find themselves warbling alongside a siren.
They shift often and at will, and they are here to help you survive in this landscape. Need someone to help you catch fish, gather firewood, or find you a partner to complete that Auspicious Act? This little critter has your back!
These creatures can communicate with everyone in simple language, but you'll soon realize they're not just voicing their own thoughts, but the thoughts of the person they've bonded with.
These are temporary creatures who will run out of power by the end of the month, though they can be resurrected with rewards at a later date.
Continue
V. The Doctor's Back In
All of this must be a lot for Islanders to take in and process. A lot of new information, new feelings, and new surroundings to become acquainted with. But they should know they are not alone here. Dr D. Love is still as present as ever to help anyone who may need to work through accepting their new situation. He and his helpers might even be rather insistent on you having a session!
Whether you're in the city or out of it, you may suddenly awaken to find yourself sitting in a comfortable chair in the doctor’s newly remodeled office that is tastefully decorated with finely detailed, “hand” painted posters of beings in positions of pleasure. So many positions. Or you may find yourself in the Immersion Room, an equally tastefully decorated room filled with a large, comfortable bed (perfect for group therapy sessions!) and shelves full of toys and other supplies. For the duration of your session, enjoy access to anything one might need to help relieve the stress of their body and mind on their own - or with a partner, who might have been brought here just as unwittingly as you were.
The Doctor is there to help you work through your feelings and discomfort if needed, please have no fear. He knows some of you may be resistant to his help, but he’s as cheerful and devoted as ever, to the point of not letting you leave the building until you’ve admitted to whatever feelings you are holding back - not just to him, but also to your therapy buddy. What's the diagnosis? The fact is, you must not be receiving enough pleasure. You are too tense, you need to relax and allow yourself to embrace the carnal nature of this world and what it can provide you.
The more you resist, the more the Doctor shall insist. He may even choose to activate your Neural Implant, which all Islanders have been gifted with upon arrival. Said neural implant may cause immediate arousal, sexual attraction to those near you, and even turn various parts of your body into extreme erogenous zones! Once activated, the Implant's effects may kick in at the most random of times.
The Doctor knew all you needed was the right motivation.
OOC Notes:
Welcome to the updated Erku! As this is a setting shift and a re-launch of sorts, this TDM is open to top-levels from both current and prospective players. Feel free to tag around with reckless abandon, and have fun!
Whether you are new or old, it is entirely up to you as to whether your character wakes up in the Nameless City or in the ruinous world of the Simulation. Even characters who acted to attack in the Augur in Event 16 may wake up in the City and vice-versa, according to player preference. This simulation is a temporary run and will last for about two weeks (in other words, the duration of the TDM), at which point all characters will wake in their new Nameless City apartments. Even if you choose "No", you may future-date prompts for the City for this time period.
For now, previously requested safe havens and residences are not currently accessible. They will be made available again in following Simulations, but 'bots are inclined to leave characters in mystery and suspense about this!
Feel free to ask questions below.
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N A V I G A T I O N
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[Noé says the name like he's testing it out. Maybe it would bring out some sort of recollection of familiarity, but it doesn't do either. He doesn't sit up just yet, almost tempted to believe he's still in a dream. It wouldn't be the first or last he'd have involving being half naked in bed with another man. Noé isn't experienced in that sort of thing, but it doesn't ever stop his brain or his body from responding to whatever his subconscious cooks up every so often.]
Is this real? [He turns onto his side, mind still sluggish from sleep, but he keeps his hand on Akira's chest, his fingers curiously circling over the piercings. He's never seen anything like that before.
Although he can be a little bit air-headed at times, it's slowly dawning on him that this human's skin is far too warm to be imagined.]
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[It ends in breathy squeak as Noé's fingers brush over sensitive areas. It certainly feels real, and that's all that matters. Akira's been in this world long enough that he doesn't bother trying to logic out what's an illusion until it turns out to be. Words are hard for him, especially with new acquaintances, and it takes a while for more of a verbal response, though he's not shy about sliding his hand over Noé's while he formulates a sentence, running his calloused fingers along the man's arm, perhaps a little too roughly.]
It happens... This kind of thing... Did you just get here?
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I don't even know where here is. This doesn't seem like Paris. [Noé almost dismisses Akira's comment that this sort of thing isn't so unusual, but it does take him a while to circle back to that topic once he's forced his attention from the hand he hasn't quite removed from his arm just yet.] This happens often? Did someone tamper with the world formula? [It's sort of hard to focus on the important things when he's a little aroused, thirsty, and very aware of the scent of this human's blood all of a sudden.]
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He's starting to squirm a little, more awake; the idle touching isn't enough and each pass of Noé's fingertips over his nipple sends a spark of arousal straight to his cock, blood rushing and pooling, pulsing under the surface. His blood is a little abnormal, genetically modified to degrees Akira doesn't know the extent of; scent and taste potentially more, or less, enticing than a typical human's.]
World formula?
[It's repeated without much interest, but it's a phrase he hasn't heard before.]
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You know. The fabric of reality. [Ah, perhaps they have different words for it here. Everything seems different and new. Like the change in how Akira's heart is pumping blood to other parts of him whenever Noé plays with his body jewelry. It's part of the reason he can't stop himself from continuing to tease Akira's nipples, moving on to the other when one stiffens up. The idea of having a taste becomes more intoxicating the longer he doesn't stop himself.]
You smell nice.. [Too distracted for serious questions, Noé leans over Akira to press his face into the space between the other man's neck and shoulder. It would be so easy to just do it, but he remembers the last time he'd drank from someone without permission. He saw the saddest moments of their past and felt their pain like it was his own, and he doesn't know if he can do that to a stranger.]
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[It's both an acknowledgement that he understands the phrase now, and that it's exactly what's happened. Though 'reality' is subjective at this point. He has nothing else to say in response to it, lost to sensations rather easily. Akira digs his fingers into Noé's forearm, an almost unconscious action as the focus shifts to his other nipple. He whines quietly and slides his free hand down under the sheets to stroke himself, nails scraping along his shaft. His breathing quickens as Noé leans in so close to... sniff him, or whatever this is. Akira lets go of Noé's arm, bringing his hand up and tangling his fingers in Noé's hair, pulling harshly and directing him towards his mouth instead of his neck, intent on initiating a rough kiss.]
no subject
His eyes fall shut as he moves to better situate himself over Akira. At first straddling his body, and then pulling at his thighs so Noé could settle between them. The warm feeling spreading through him was new, yet similar to the times he'd been bitten, but this human doesn't have the aphrodisiac affects of a vampire's bite, so it has to be something else. He'll think about all of that later.
He presses closer as the kiss deepens, his hand following Akira's to feel over that erection, keenly aware of how quickly it's being engorged with blood. Noé grunts against Akira's lips, resisting the urge to bite at them in favor of slipping his tongue past them for a different kind of taste.]
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Depending on where the other man's tongue ends up, he has two relatively sharp fangs in his mouth that Akira might notice, but Noé can't bring himself to stop and explain what he is. He doesn't mind the nails biting into his skin or the tight pull of hair at his scalp. If anything it makes him feel more desperate for more. His hand grips tighter at Akira's cock between strokes, his own fully hard and pressing against him with not so subtle rocking of Noé's hips.]
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Fuck me.
[It's more of a pleading than a demand.]
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Those same fingers enter his mouth, not wasting time as he wets them and rubs over Akira's entrance. Noé pushes one in cautiously, and then the other. He's not sure what he's doing, but assumes he'll be told if he's doing anything wrong. The fact that he's never done this before seems too unimportant to mention, and Noé is too fascinated by the sounds and expressions Akira makes in response to even speak. It all seems very self-explanatory in the moment.]
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It's unclear at the moment whether or not his cock could even fit inside Akira. Having never done anything like this before it slowly rises to the top of his list of pressing questions until he can't wait anymore. He's going to find out by trying.]
Tell me if it hurts you.
[Noé withdraws his fingers, stroking his own cock with them. His tip is already wet with precum that he spreads over himself before trying to push into Akira. There's resistance, but the contact feels so nice that he keeps forcing his way forward until he's fully sheathed inside him. Noé nearly finishes far too early, but he stops himself. If he has the stamina to endure hours of fighting, he can surely manage to keep going now.]
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Go... hard.
[The last part is said with a tiny bit more emphasis and an audible exhale.]
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On Noé's end it feels good. He's blissfully unaware of whether or not Akira is feeling any pain which makes it all the easier to plow into him. The vampire pushes the other male's thighs back for better access as he buries himself inside him. Each time he draws back, he slams right back in hard, as requested. His fangs show as his lips part to moan, and his eyes watch Akira touching himself like it's the first time he's ever seen it before. Blush creeps across his face again as he builds up a faster, desperate rhythm, fully willing to give Akira as much as he can take.]
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At that moan, Akira takes his focus off his cock to glance up at Noé's face; the expression and emotion in the man's eyes are unreadable to him, but the flush blooming on his skin makes an impression. Something Akira doesn't see often from someone in the middle of fucking him, and his gaze lingers a bit before he looks away, heat pooling in his abdomen and across his own face for staring too long.]