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TDM #5
Welcome! Everything is fine.
Uploading. . . Complete!
The Lobby.
- When you open your eyes, there is quite a lot of beige to take in. The unassuming walls of the room you've found yourself in are barren save for a single motivational poster directly in your line of sight. An illuminated sign above an open door on the far wall reads 'lobby exit.'
"Welcome," chimes a polite, synthesized voice. "I'm happy you're here." A moment later comes the clarity of the situation: you have died and so has the world you came from. "This is Amani, your new reality," continues The Peacekeeper. "Everything will be fine."
At least you aren't the only one here, you'll soon find out, as others who are just as confused and concerned as you are mingling on the main hub's first floor. Hopefully, you find a familiar face among the crowd. If not, that's all right. You'll get to know quite a few people very well soon enough.
- If you're one of the unlucky few whose death required a bit more intensive re-coding to maintain stability in the simulation, you'll instead awaken on a bed in the infirmary. Everything is strikingly white save for the occasional string of vines with lavender growing in bursts to help keep people calm. Whether or not it works seems to be on a case-by-case basis.
While there is active medical staff, the voice of The Peacekeeper is also there to explain the situation in a more delicate manner to these individuals. It's already stressful enough having to have gone through such a violent death, after all!
If characters want more questions answered, they'll need to speak to The Peacekeeper directly. But first, it will encourage socialization in the main hub and hopefully, you'll find someone you recognize to make taking things in a little easier.
WHAT
The fifth Amani TDM!
WHEN
June 24th, 2022
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Double Penetration
★ Orgasm Denial/Control
★ Somnophilia
★ Corruption
★ Squirting/Cumshots
★ Orgasm Denial/Control
★ Somnophilia
★ Corruption
★ Squirting/Cumshots
WELCOME
Throughout the main hub where everyone congregates, a light chiming echoes through the first floor. "Hello, everyone," comes the synthetic voice from when you first arrived. "Please, watch your step since there's quite a few anomalies present. If you'd like, there is cake and some refreshments."
A small pause. "Oh, and! Don't forget to visit the new training grounds, music lounge, library, and onsen. Also, feel free to leave an offering for our resident deity of sleep at his shrine!"
Was that utility pole always there in the middle of the main hub? How did your shoe - just the one - get out on the lawn? You could have sworn you saw them together last. Actually, they are together now if you check. Just what is going on? Trying to draw close to these out-of-place or extra objects will cause them to giggle, wiggle, and disappear in a puff of smoke. Instead of a pole, it's now a wayward chair or cart that wasn't there just a moment before. If one continues to follow this tricky trail, they'll be rewarded by discovering the culprit: a tanuki.
While they appear to be harmless, some of their tricks may get taken just a little bit too far. You may grab for your vibrator only for it to go up in smoke and cause frustration in more ways than one. Or, they'll lead some individuals right into danger's path and giggle all the while. If someone attempts to catch them, they'll be left with only a leaf to show for it and the tracks of these mythical creatures leading directly to the beach.
If the main hub and its features don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities. Even if you do complain, The Peacekeeper will encourage others to set off and find their own place to live out in the simulation.
Granted, the housing market in the afterlife isn't exactly robust. It doesn't help that every place you find has a leaky roof or broken window. No, unfortunately that will need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
★ One of the aforementioned features will toggle automatically. All one needs to do is set foot on the sands of Taasunni and they'll be changed into the appropriate dress for a beach outing. Well, appropriate might be a bit of a stretch... This feature is, as mentioned, new and will be subject to some modifications. For now, inhabitants will have to deal with being put into something scandalous, ridiculous, or both!
The Peacekeeper promises to listen to feedback accordingly and modify everyone's outfits to something a bit less outlandish... eventually. In the meantime, why not flaunt what you've got and make the most of the simulated sun's rays on your skin?
★ If you'd rather preserve what little dignity you may have left, there are changing tents available to grab a towel that somehow covers up more than your swimwear probably did. Although some might be wary of tents after the picnic, these ones do not have aphrodisiac candles in them! But they do have a catch. These tents are translucent from the inside looking out like a one-way pane of glass.
Not to worry though! From the outside, no one can see in even if you can see them. In fact, there might be a subtle urge to see just how far you can take things within the walls of these tents while those outside are unawares; it might just scratch that itch for some exhibitionism without anyone actually watching.
A small pause. "Oh, and! Don't forget to visit the new training grounds, music lounge, library, and onsen. Also, feel free to leave an offering for our resident deity of sleep at his shrine!"
TRICKY TRICKSTERS
About those aforementioned anomalies...Was that utility pole always there in the middle of the main hub? How did your shoe - just the one - get out on the lawn? You could have sworn you saw them together last. Actually, they are together now if you check. Just what is going on? Trying to draw close to these out-of-place or extra objects will cause them to giggle, wiggle, and disappear in a puff of smoke. Instead of a pole, it's now a wayward chair or cart that wasn't there just a moment before. If one continues to follow this tricky trail, they'll be rewarded by discovering the culprit: a tanuki.
While they appear to be harmless, some of their tricks may get taken just a little bit too far. You may grab for your vibrator only for it to go up in smoke and cause frustration in more ways than one. Or, they'll lead some individuals right into danger's path and giggle all the while. If someone attempts to catch them, they'll be left with only a leaf to show for it and the tracks of these mythical creatures leading directly to the beach.
WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?
If the main hub and its features don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.
You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities. Even if you do complain, The Peacekeeper will encourage others to set off and find their own place to live out in the simulation.
Granted, the housing market in the afterlife isn't exactly robust. It doesn't help that every place you find has a leaky roof or broken window. No, unfortunately that will need to be fixed the peaceful way. If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important!
It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.
Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.
SUN'S OUT, GUNS OUT
"Hello, inhabitants," greets The Peacekeeper. "No doubt you've noticed the temperature gradually rising as my nature parameters adjust to summer weather." It has gotten a bit warmer these days, hasn't it? Although some may have not noticed, there is no doubt that others have been sensitive to the climbing heat.
"To remedy any discomfort, I suggest you hit the beach! There are plenty of fun new features that I've been requested to implement by The Creators to help keep everyone content! We hope that you enjoy them!"★ One of the aforementioned features will toggle automatically. All one needs to do is set foot on the sands of Taasunni and they'll be changed into the appropriate dress for a beach outing. Well, appropriate might be a bit of a stretch... This feature is, as mentioned, new and will be subject to some modifications. For now, inhabitants will have to deal with being put into something scandalous, ridiculous, or both!
The Peacekeeper promises to listen to feedback accordingly and modify everyone's outfits to something a bit less outlandish... eventually. In the meantime, why not flaunt what you've got and make the most of the simulated sun's rays on your skin?
★ If you'd rather preserve what little dignity you may have left, there are changing tents available to grab a towel that somehow covers up more than your swimwear probably did. Although some might be wary of tents after the picnic, these ones do not have aphrodisiac candles in them! But they do have a catch. These tents are translucent from the inside looking out like a one-way pane of glass.
Not to worry though! From the outside, no one can see in even if you can see them. In fact, there might be a subtle urge to see just how far you can take things within the walls of these tents while those outside are unawares; it might just scratch that itch for some exhibitionism without anyone actually watching.
HARMONIOUS HEARTS
DTFs will helpfully tell their owners that it is mating season for the heart jellies just off the shores of Taasunni. During the next couple of months, there will be an abundance of them floating idly in the cool waters of the sea. While their sting doesn't usually hurt, exactly, during this time there is a bit more risk to being zapped than just an enjoyable tingling sensation. It will burn but because their sting leaves a heart branded into one's skin temporarily.
Nothing will seem to relieve the dull pain on your own; however, the brand will draw others to you and serve as a target for their, ahem, affections. Bodily fluids from the most intimate of areas are about the only thing that will provide some relief and cause these heart-shaped brands to fade. Hopefully, you didn't get stung anywhere too embarrassing or difficult to come on!
Unfortunately, the other side effect of these stings is that the person with the brand won't be able to find relief - literal or sexual - until it's gone. Nothing will seem to bring them over that brink before their partner has "helped" get rid of the marking. Whether or not they do that quickly will be entirely up to them. The lack of control might be a bit unnerving but hopefully the eventual orgasm will be absolutely worth it.
Nothing will seem to relieve the dull pain on your own; however, the brand will draw others to you and serve as a target for their, ahem, affections. Bodily fluids from the most intimate of areas are about the only thing that will provide some relief and cause these heart-shaped brands to fade. Hopefully, you didn't get stung anywhere too embarrassing or difficult to come on!
Unfortunately, the other side effect of these stings is that the person with the brand won't be able to find relief - literal or sexual - until it's gone. Nothing will seem to bring them over that brink before their partner has "helped" get rid of the marking. Whether or not they do that quickly will be entirely up to them. The lack of control might be a bit unnerving but hopefully the eventual orgasm will be absolutely worth it.
CALLING TO ME
★ Throughout the simulation, as the sun dips low in the sky and stars begin to make their nightly debut, the sound of furin carrying on the breeze can be heard. It draws people to the beach and appears to sound from somewhere beyond sight passed ocean waves. It will make inhabitants feel a keen sense of longing that they can't quite explain. Whatever the case, they will want for more suddenly. Whether this is from their partner, their life, or just in general, the feeling won't be shaken so easily. Thankfully, the sound and feelings it evokes are only temporary. Just don't be surprised if that feeling of longing leads you to bite off more than you can chew in some way or another.
★ Observant inhabitants may notice that the island that spawned when the simulation expanded is now much closer to shore than before. It's also... moving? Although subtle and slow, it does appear to be inching ever closer to show throughout the day. It will make land during nightfall and reveal a giant turtle with palm trees and other tropical foliage growing off of its back.
"Sorry about the-" It's words are broken up by a loud yawn that will make anyone close suddenly very drowsy. "-tanuki. They decided to hitch a ride without me knowing." The turtle yawns again, causing another wave of grogginess to hit those talking to it. "I'll take them back when I give you all a ride to one of The Dead Ends. But until then... It was a long swim here. I'm going to just - aaawwwhhhh - take a short nap." That short nap will last two weeks. Inhabitants are free to climb aboard the turtle's back but it won't be stirring again anytime soon, unfortunately.
And perhaps neither will you! That sleepiness is downright contagious and will lead to inhabitants that had spoken to the turtle for any length of time falling into a deep slumber the next time they decide to lay down. Almost nothing will be able to wake them until the effect subsides. Although, if they seem more receptive to a bit of intimacy than anything... That's just a coincidence, surely!
★ Observant inhabitants may notice that the island that spawned when the simulation expanded is now much closer to shore than before. It's also... moving? Although subtle and slow, it does appear to be inching ever closer to show throughout the day. It will make land during nightfall and reveal a giant turtle with palm trees and other tropical foliage growing off of its back.
"Sorry about the-" It's words are broken up by a loud yawn that will make anyone close suddenly very drowsy. "-tanuki. They decided to hitch a ride without me knowing." The turtle yawns again, causing another wave of grogginess to hit those talking to it. "I'll take them back when I give you all a ride to one of The Dead Ends. But until then... It was a long swim here. I'm going to just - aaawwwhhhh - take a short nap." That short nap will last two weeks. Inhabitants are free to climb aboard the turtle's back but it won't be stirring again anytime soon, unfortunately.
And perhaps neither will you! That sleepiness is downright contagious and will lead to inhabitants that had spoken to the turtle for any length of time falling into a deep slumber the next time they decide to lay down. Almost nothing will be able to wake them until the effect subsides. Although, if they seem more receptive to a bit of intimacy than anything... That's just a coincidence, surely!
SEXY STAMP CARD
If you're wondering about these 'peaceful interactions' that keep being mentioned or what the kinks of the month are for... Here's your answer! Upon arrival, all characters will receive a digital copy of their very own sexy stamp card.
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!NOTES
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!
★ Trying a new thing by centering the TDM prompts around the kinks of the month for new and old people to get those stamps before the mingle! Hopefully, you enjoy it!
★ The effects of all the influences can, as always, be as heavy or light as you'd like! It can be chalked up to differences in resistance, non-humanity or not, etc. etc.
★ The flora and fauna page will be updated. It's also still open for player suggestions! All you need to do now is link your check-in (or player claim) comment to make a submission!
★ Make sure to dunk your questions/feedback in the thread below!
★ LAST BUT NOT LEAST! The player cap has BEEN INCREASED TO 45 PLAYERS. We're at 41/45 right now.
NAVIGATION
lobby.
"Ah," is all he can manage to say, at first, rather ineloquently. What can he say, honestly? The poor boy already appears to be in quite a foul mood and, doubtless, this will make it any better. "I know this must be disorienting enough as it is, but I... Please, let's find somewhere to sit and discuss matters." Civility, he supposes, is probably his best bet here.
Re: lobby (they both doing the surprised pikachu)
Before him was almost an exact copy of him, and yet different. The man before him was missing and eye and looked a bit older but everything else was almost an exact copy. "Am I now to be haunted by myself?" He scuffed at his other self, arms crossing over his chest. He was dead no, he supposed this other version was to join the rest of the dead now though he looked too real and his words were much crisper than the ghoulish voices he was used to. "You're not real....are you?"
no subject
The similarities are unmistakable. This Dimitri isn't much taller but has certainly filled out those broad shoulders a bit better and, of course, his missing eye sets them apart easily enough. "No," he answers, to being haunted. "Not quite. I'm real as any of us can be here in this 'simulation,' but- You are, too. You..."
He trails off a little there, a bit wistful despite himself. Is this yet another version of him that could have been? The one that turned into The Tempest King rather than the Savior? He hopes not. From what he's been told, that timeline was cruel in its own rights. "My apologies. I know this isn't easy. Perhaps Byleth might better be able to explain it all than I could."
When in doubt, rely on the professor!
no subject
"Enough of your prattle. You're not making sense." He moved closer, uncrossing his arms and grabbed the chin of his other self. His grip was firm, almost too heavy handed. Even through his gauntlets he could feel the weight of the other, it was just like a real person. His brows furrowed as he moved the other's face, examining him for any sign that this was fake, an apparition or even a spell but none of that was the case. With questions still unanswered he released him and turned away to the side. "I don't know who this Byleth you speak of is or why you think they can explain better, but if they are similar to the voice I heard when I arrived than it will be of no help."
no subject
While he isn't sure what to expect, it isn't the aggression he's met with. At least, not immediately. It makes sense, in a way, since he does remember harboring quite a bit of anger and resentment even back then but it was never quite this sharp. It wasn't always just right beneath the surface and ready to strike with in a blink.
He's about to make some sort of comment about hoping he's satisfied with Dimitri being real, but then he says... that. "You don't-?" he starts. Stops. No, but that's... That's not right. In every timeline they've discussed here, Byleth was present. It was just a matter of who he - or she, he's discovered - taught that determined how some things transpired.
"Tell me, who taught your class at The Academy?" Let's start there.
no subject
"I don't see why this matters or why you're so fixated on it. Professor Jeritza was mine as he would have been yours."
Something was definitely off. He couldn't for the life of him remember any named Byleth from his times at the academy nor from the war. The name had sounded strange when he spoke it earlier, like he should know it but couldn't recall. This was just another thing that he couldn't explain.
"Tell me what you know. Who is Byleth and why are they important?"
cw: three hopes spoilers ahoy
He thinks he feels a headache coming on. "No, that's not... My professor was Byleth." There's that name again that seems to vex the other him so. Did he truly not know-? He can't even begin to fathom a life without Byleth in some form. He knows that realities where he led a different class exist, of course, but to not know him as a professor at all... Just what had happened?
"Tall, lean, light green eyes and hair. He was the one who, in my memory, led the Blue Lions for the year before the start of the war. After Edelgard launched her attack on the monastery and started the conflict, he disappeared but returned to us five years later. He guided us to victory over The Empire and took the position of archbishop while I was coronated as king." He's everything, Dimitri doesn't speak plainly but is conveyed in his tone.
Re: cw: three hopes spoiler time
He didn't want to recall any of this information, not in private and definitely not to some strange version of himself. He turned away, fist clenched as he heard the tale. Besides the atrocious thought of the war with the empire lasting five years, the only other absurdity that stuck in his mind was the description of Byleth. 'Tall, lean, light green eyes and hair.' He knew that description, he'd seen only one man look like that but he'd never had a chance to say more than a few words of praise and strike a deal with his father in the middle of war. The Ashen Demon, he was indeed tall, although shorter than himself but was lean with a handsome face. When he had first laid eyes on him he had thought him beautiful yes, but he had also been an enemy and such thoughts couldn't exist on the battlefield. Dimitri had made sure nothing and no one would get in his way of taking down the Empire and he had succeeded.
"The ashen demon was just a mercenary I hired near the end of the war with the Empire. I never finished my time at Garreg Mach and the war didn't last five years, barely three. I've been King the entire time and it was thanks to my strategies and leadership that we won, not the Ashen Demon. He left as soon as his contract was complete." Everything was stated as if it was the universal truth that this was the true timeline of events. There was a brief pause before he mumbled more to himself than for the other to hear. "...I never had a chance to learn his name."
no subject
"We... I met the Ashen Demon - who I now know as just Byleth - years ago with Claude and Edelgard while running away from bandits." It feels a bit surreal, thinking back to where it all began. Could something so simple truly have changed the course of time's flow that drastically? A single chance meeting that didn't occur and he became this instead? It's a hard thing to swallow, admittedly. While he knew that he turned out differently without Byleth's influence as leader of their class, this is...
He doesn't want to know a reality where they'd never even met except for briefly. He doesn't want to, but it seems this Dimitri has lived it and he has no reason to doubt the conviction in his words. "Alois persuaded Jeralt and him to return to the monastery with us. He was appointed as a professor due to his skill despite his young age. He chose to lead our class and I..." I was so intrigued and intrigue turned to sincere friendliness that eventually blossomed somewhere along the way into a bond so strong he doesn't think he could live without the other man anymore.
"I suppose none of that was the case for you from what you've said."
no subject
"That was the night we met Shez. He didn't become a professor but instead enrolled as a student. He joined my house for the brief time we all attended. He became a general in my army in order to get to the Ashen Demon. They didn't get along at first but..." He paused, realizing how much he had been saying and so easily too. He didn't want to give up all of his story, he shared nothing with this copy of himself except for their appearance.
"Did you have a Shez? Lean, purple haired man? He is...was an odd one." That's right, he had to speak of everyone in the past, they were dead just like he was.
no subject
"Shez..." He echoes, the name unfamiliar on his tongue. "No, I can't say that I know anyone by that name." He also likes to think he would have remembered a mercenary with purple hair. "Strange. It seems that's the point of divergence then; you met Shez that evening while I met Byleth. I'll have to see what he thinks about it all. The female Byleth, too, though she goes by a different name now to differentiate them."
no subject
"Two versions of the ashen demon..." He had barely dealt with one, he wasn't sure how two would be or what a feminine version of the man would even look like. He tried to picture it but couldn't, he'd just wait to meet her one day if possible or not, it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things here. It was a rather curious fact that such a simple divergence created such a difference between his own world and the other before him. While it did pique his curiosity it was too late to change and looking into it wouldn't change him. "If you can't seem to make up your mind on a matter without their input then I see no reason to continue our conversation." Even if this was purgatory for his crimes he wasn't going to spend it with company he didn't want.
no subject
"It's not that," he's quick to interject. "Byleth and I - the male one, anyway - are... partners. And even if you didn't know him well, I'm certain that he'd want to get to know you." More selfishly, Dimitri also wants to keep this version of himself close. He wants to find out as much as he can while the opportunity presents itself.
no subject
"...." He hardly knew what to say. The thought of the Ashen Demon, the man he had once fought and allied with caring for him...loving him. He had thought of it once or twice on his own but never thought there was a chance, no one would have ever excepted an enemy turned ally mercenary as the kings choice. "He had his chance to stay and he left once the contract was up." His fists clenched at his side. "I want to hear no more of this."
no subject
It didn't hurt that Byleth ended up taking the role of the archbishop; regardless, he hadn't married yet even a year after the war with people waiting on him to because he had yet to realize his truest feelings. He had here, of course, and now understands when he returns home what he wants to make true.
"My apologies," he offers but isn't about to leave it there. The older Dimitri reaches out to stop the other from leaving by grabbing his arm. "I will speak no more of it but I do ask that you come with me either way. You do not need to face this new world alone, I assure you. I know that you might believe you do, seeing as how I am you, but- There are people here to help you, including me."
sorta spoiler?
He takes a step back, glaring at the other. "From how you reacted to my own story, there is no one here from when I come from. I don't need your sympathy or false compassion. Perhaps 'helping me' will make you feel better but it will do me no good. I've already fought myself once and won. I will do so again without hesitation this time."
no subject
"But that doesn't mean there won't be. Nor does it mean you need to stay by yourself for now. I won't force the matter, but... My compassion is true." Kind of. It's complicated, alright? It also sounds like this Dimitri has been through some complicated matters, too, if the mention of 'fighting himself' is more literal than it is figurative. Hm.
"Should you change your mind, we will have a spot at the lakehouse for you."