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TDM #1
Welcome! Everything is fine.
Uploading. . . Complete!
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 died and so did 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 in 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.
WHAT
The first Amani TDM!
WHEN
January 21st, 2022
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Phone Sex
★ Sex in public / semi-public places
★ Submission
★ Mutual Masturbation
★ Restraints
★ Sex in public / semi-public places
★ Submission
★ Mutual Masturbation
★ Restraints
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Throughout the main hub where everyone congregates, a light chiming to the tune of Happy Birthday can be heard. "Hello, everyone," comes the synthetic voice from when you first arrived. "This is so exciting! It's my birthday. I'm today years old!" There's the sound of a single party blower that echoes through the halls and sad, small spattering of confetti fall from holes in the ceiling.
"Based on the database I was given, birthdays usually involve cake!"
At the bar on the first floor, a colorful birthday motif materializes. There are balloons, party hats, an unfortunately deflated bouncy house, and - of course - plates of cake!
There are four different flavors to choose from!
If you're feeling especially 'peaceful' after a piece of cake or two and worried about privacy, don't be! The bar's lounge has several secluded spots to hide away in. There are also rooms with beds among the first floor. So long as you don't mind the natural elements taking up some space along the sheets, they're free to use however you'd like. Though you might want to make sure to lock the door since it's doubtful you're the only one looking to get away for a little bit.
If the party and its cake 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 order a (terrible) drink at the bar, find an (off-key) 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.
"Based on the database I was given, birthdays usually involve cake!"
At the bar on the first floor, a colorful birthday motif materializes. There are balloons, party hats, an unfortunately deflated bouncy house, and - of course - plates of cake!
There are four different flavors to choose from!
- ★ Spice Cake » After eating a piece of this cake, you might feel a bit spicier than usual! Your character will be more inclined to take risks and care less about what others around them might think of public displays of affection. Why not make-out with that attractive person at the bar? You can't seem to think of many reasons to stop you anymore!
★ Lemon Cake » Despite the situation being perhaps a bit grim, eating a piece of lemon cake will cheer you right up. You'll feel as bright as sunshine and nothing can seem to get you down! Characters will also experience an increase in luck thanks to their good mood. Perhaps now's the time to try and shoot your shot with someone you've had your eye on for a while. Even if it doesn't work out, at least you won't be feeling dejected! ...Well, for now. That'll probably still happen later once the effects wear off.
★ Chocolate Cake » Dark and rich, this cake will have your thoughts taking a similar turn. Consuming this cake comes with an inclination to indulge in darker fantasies. Perhaps you've always wondered what your partner looks like tied up or with a knife against their skin. The red raspberries decorating the top of the cake's frosting suddenly call forth images of blood and you may have a sudden desire to taste that on your tongue instead.
★ Vanilla Cake » Eating this vanilla cake won't have you feeling plain. Instead, you'll feel softer around the edges than usual. Even if it's normally not your thing, cuddles and tender kisses sound amazing right now. All you want is affection and to be affectionate in return. Nuzzle that person's neck, take in their scent, and just enjoy the warmth of them being close. Do you know them? Who cares! You will before all this is over and, hey, now you know they're a great hugger (or not).
If you're feeling especially 'peaceful' after a piece of cake or two and worried about privacy, don't be! The bar's lounge has several secluded spots to hide away in. There are also rooms with beds among the first floor. So long as you don't mind the natural elements taking up some space along the sheets, they're free to use however you'd like. Though you might want to make sure to lock the door since it's doubtful you're the only one looking to get away for a little bit.
WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?
If the party and its cake 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 order a (terrible) drink at the bar, find an (off-key) 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.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Once the celebration has concluded, characters are encouraged to head out of the main hub to either explore the city or take a ride on the railway. It's time to truly begin your new reality! Whatever they choose, The Peacekeeper will explain to them that they are free to take up any housing they so wish. Most dwellings are at least habitable but it's likely that characters will want for more before long.
That's why 'peaceful interactions' are so 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.
That's why 'peaceful interactions' are so 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.
ALL FLUFFED UP
Whether in the city or out in the wilds, the first night will see an abundance of living dandelions. While they appear to be nothing but regular dandelion tufts, get too close and a pair of bright yellow eyes opens to stare at you.
The creature will let out the tiniest of shrieks, break apart into smaller pieces, and scatter. It sets off a chain reaction of other living dandelions startling awake. It's a symphony of tiny screams. Before long, there's nothing but miniscule white puffs skittering all about wherever you look.
"Oops," sounds The Peacekeeper throughout the simulation. "My calculations for the population of living dandelions was... a little off. Not to worry, everyone! I'll have it fixed by tomorrow."
What The Peacekeeper fails to mention is that living dandelions give off a soothing pheromone as a defense mechanism once they break apart. No matter how wound up your character might be after the day's events, being surrounded by living dandelion tufts will relax them before long.
Why not enjoy the sunset, look at the stars, and have a good night's sleep? Tomorrow is another day.
The creature will let out the tiniest of shrieks, break apart into smaller pieces, and scatter. It sets off a chain reaction of other living dandelions startling awake. It's a symphony of tiny screams. Before long, there's nothing but miniscule white puffs skittering all about wherever you look.
"Oops," sounds The Peacekeeper throughout the simulation. "My calculations for the population of living dandelions was... a little off. Not to worry, everyone! I'll have it fixed by tomorrow."
What The Peacekeeper fails to mention is that living dandelions give off a soothing pheromone as a defense mechanism once they break apart. No matter how wound up your character might be after the day's events, being surrounded by living dandelion tufts will relax them before long.
Why not enjoy the sunset, look at the stars, and have a good night's sleep? Tomorrow is another day.
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!
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!
NAVIGATION
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Hm. Sentient. And presumably amicable? ]
Hello.
[ He hopes he remains as friendly as he seems. ]
They're all right. They're just excitable.
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... Oh! Hi there. I hope I didn't scare you!
[ Corrin we both know who the scared one was.
He sits down in the grass, a few more clusters of dandelions screaming and ascending, as he turns to look at the man laying beside him, unable to resist taking the occasional passing glance at the strange and noisy little flower creatures among them. Inevitably, Corrin was about to take in a huge dose of those calming endorphins, and good lord there were a lot of them thanks to the number of living dandelions that he frightened. ]
Excitable is right. Kind of cute, too. I've never seen anything like them.
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I'm sorry to startle you- and if this is rude but... what... exactly are you?
[ It's definitely rude, Byleth. ]
1/2
[ The dragon starts to glow while surrounding by a soft blue light, his figure changing and minimising from something large and draconic to something smaller and humanlike - which he now very much was. ]
2/2
To sum it up, I'm half dragon. [ He smiles warmly. ] My name is Corrin. It's nice to have company... I figured these fields were barren, but I suppose I was wrong! Not that I'm disappointed.
What's your name?
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Ah... well that's a succinct way to explain that.
Hi, Corrin. My name is Byleth. And yes, it is nice to have company. I can't promise I'm very interesting when it comes to conversation, but if you'd like, you're welcome to join me.
[ The dandelions do help, though Byleth isn't sure if he would have reacted any differently even if they were not there. ]
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[ Corrin lays himself down in the grass and a dandelion puff hands on his nose, which makes him sneeze. He places both of arms behind his head, letting out a content sigh. Good grief, he was pumped full of bright sunshiney endorphins thanks to those frightened flowers. ]
It's so beautiful here ... I was feeling rather anxious before exploring this area. I'm very glad I did. It's like all my worries have just ... faded away. And it's nice to have some company, even if we have only just met.
[ He can't help but grin at his promise to not talk and then... kind of accidentally talk. Sorry Byleth. Corrin could win an Olympic gold medal in conversation. ]
Sorry. I'm a bit of a chatter box. I'll try and hush, I promise.
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I may be rather taciturn, but I quite like to listen to people.
[ It's a comfort for him, and after the silence of the island, he's starved for company. To be able to listen to whatever anyone has to say. ]
My friend Hapi used to call me "chatterbox" for quite the opposite reason.
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Haha! Aw, that's cute. Are they here too? Are any of your friends here with you?
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I hope the same for you... though if you'd like you may count me as a friend.
[ I have just met you but now we are friends. ]
1/2 ◇ 😭
As far as friends arriving here goes, I can't say I'm in the same boat as you... for better or worse, through. At the very least I know my loved ones are hopefully safe without me, but I've only seen one other person I recognise here. Haven't caught up with him properly, yet...
2/2
[ He wrinkles his nose while fighting the urge to cry. Talking about this is difficult, but it feels therapeutic somehow. ]
I think it's hurt me a lot more than I realise, especially as he's the only familiar face I've seen. Maybe ... fate just branches out differently. People we may know in one timeline go through different experiences, and you meet a version of them that has been shaped by that.
[ A sigh. ]
I can only hope things will work out okay, no matter who arrives here, or when. All I want is peace. I'll... do anything I can to prove to people that compassion and kindness is limitless. Even if they aren't fans of me, I'll never give up on them. I'll never stop loving people who might hate me with every fibre of their being, because I've known them when they've felt the opposite. Those memories will stay fresh in my heart... no matter what.
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I understand. Not in the same situation, but trust me. It resonates. I know what it's like to meet someone who you thought you knew, and have them be completely different because they have different experiences or memories.
[ OOF. Yeah. ]
You are right for believing in people though. That takes a strong heart, and an even stronger mind. I'm sorry it's been hard here though. You seem like you're a very kind person.
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[ A fond smile. Those kind words certainly perk him up - even more so than normal. ]
... Thank you. Heh. I certainly try to be. I'm really looking forward to getting to know you better, Byleth. I'm so lucky I ran into you today.
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[ Awh. he really is a sweet one isn't he? Byleth thinks about comparing that pale hair to candy fluff. ]
I'm lucky too. I'm always happy to make a new friend, and you seem like you'll be a good one.
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I know we have a similar thing we're going through right now with uh ... meeting people we care about from alternate timelines, so if you want to talk about it at all, I'm happy to hear anything you have to say. I may be a stranger but if I can offer any comfort or support as someone who knows how it feels, I'm here for you.... but if it's too sore to mention or you don't want to talk about it, I completely understand.
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He strangles that thought down for the moment though, prying his eyes away. ]
It's a complicated situation I'm in. The place where I was had someone I had fallen in love with, he had many of the same memories, but he had found himself in a devoted relationship with the woman who had tried to kill us.
While I am glad they reconciled, I was a bit left behind. He stopped talking to me after a while. Then, I found myself here, with a version of him that is different. He shares our memories but he seems more like I remember him.
[ He pinches the bridge of his nose. Telling this to nearly a stranger... ]
Sorry. It's a lot. It's a strange place to be in. I don't know what is real here. I'm afraid to get close to him again... or anyone really.
no subject
He can't resist reaching out to pat the man laying next to him on the shoulder comfortingly. ]
Don't apologise ... but for what it's worth, I don't think it's strange that you're afraid to get close to anyone. I can't even imagine how it feels to go through what you did.
In the same way that my friend came from another timeline, maybe the man you loved did too, both before and after you came here ... and if he's not in love with anyone right now, there's probably a chance for you to connect with him.
[ He offers Byleth a comforting smile. ]
I'm no expect on love, but life just throws us into things we don't understand sometimes. The path of fate is ... a strange and uncertain thing. But if you have the chance here to get close to him and start things over, you should go for it. I know you're scared, but ... it could lead to something new and wonderful.
no subject
The smile he's afforded is also very nice, and he almost wants to return it. Smiling was already hard for him on a normal day, but after everything he'd gone through, even more so now. It's lovely to see at least, a hopeful outlook and a smiling face. ]
Maybe so.
[ It's all he says, because he's short on words, and really doesn't have the energy to even consider debating any of it. Not when it came from such a genuine place, too. ]
Thank you. That's tremendously kind of you. I do hope that you are right. I hope things start looking up for you too.
I suppose it is lucky that I met you though. Now I have a friend for it. And so do you.
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[ The half-dragon is visibly elated to hear Byleth's optimistic outlook from his words, he seemed to be a man of so few words but... that didn't matter to him. He felt so lucky that he came tumbling down this meadow. ]
Meeting you has already made me feel so much better about what I went through.
[ Corrin lets out a noise of discontent, and rolls over onto his tummy to bury his face in his arms. His voice is quiet and slightly muffled. ]
But I don't want to think about that right now.
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[ He won't pry when Corrin says he doesn't want to think about it, but he does pat Corrin's back a little, offering some comfort. ]
You don't have to say of course, but if you'd like to talk about it I'll listen.
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[ His original statement was true, he didn't want to think about it, but... Maybe telling someone else would feel good. Help him move on from it. Find some closure. If it meant feeling uncomfortable for a little while, it would be worth the sacrifice.
Corrin pulls himself up off the grass into a seating position, facing Byleth with his knees pulled to his chest, tucking his head down a little as he speaks. ]
... It might do me some good if I do. [ Where to start, though? How much information did he want to share? It was not the most pleasant experience to look back on, yet alone say out loud. Hesitantly, he begins. ]
Sorry in advance if talking about this makes you uncomfortable... I'll leave the graphic details out.
[ His face reddens slightly. ] I-- well. I was... a virgin... when I first came here. I had never even kissed someone before... there was this party and... I ate something which made me act really... weird. Like... I was filled with desire for... that. You know?
[ A breath. ]
... I mentioned that I saw someone from home who was acting unkind to me, which wasn't like the version of him I knew from my own timeline. We talked and it's like he knew that the food I had eaten was making me require a certain amount of... intimacy. I was none the wiser, though. Then we uh ... we went to a room.
[ Corrin hugs his knees to his chest a little tighter. ]
We got to the room and he... well. At first it was... normal things like that, right? I was under the impression that he was okay with me now... it felt really good, I trusted him. But then he-- ... in the middle of-- [ his eyes well up with tears ] h-he... stopped suddenly... and went straight back to being unkind, insulting me relentlessly for not picking a side in the war. I-I was lured into a trap... I...
[ sniff ] and he physically hurt me by biting my--
[ Corrin buries his head between his arms and muffles out a pained sob. ]
no subject
No. He hates that.
He doesn't hesitate, gathering Corrin up into a hug. Aphro was bad enough on it's own. All the implications of it. His own experiences with it had been rough enough even without something like that. But that's just... disgusting. Horrible. ]
I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that at all. It's okay to cry.
It's okay. That was horrible of him to do.
[ Definitely crossed a boundary. ]
Who was it that did that to you?
[ Just you know. Asking for a friend. ]
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It felt good to be held. It felt good to cry. He didn't know until now how badly he needed it. Some form of affection or care. He had been so lonely. So, so lonely. And frightened.
It takes a good few minutes for Corrin to slightly collect himself, wiping his eyes with his sleeves, sniffling a few times before trying to catch his breath. His voice shakes as he speaks. ]
N-No, I ... [ another sniff ] I know it sounds like I'm protecting him but -- I-I know that he'll be at the wrath of my brother if he shows up here, too. [ he hiccups out a small sob. ] H-He serves one of my brothers, with a lot of pride, so ... I don't need to worry. I don't want any more trouble. It's just... I-It's just heartbreaking. [ He covers his hands with both eyes as he cries again. ]
I f-feel so alone.
no subject
I respect if you do not want anything to come of it, but I would strongly prefer to ensure that he doesn't decide to do that to anyone else, too.
For now though, let's focus on you.
[ Better to comfort Corrin than take revenge anyways. ]
I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have happened to you like that. You have me at least now, though I know we have only just met.
Just let it out for now, it's all right to cry.
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