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Entry tags:
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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But it seems to be fine as he feels Byleth's arms lay over his shoulders and his head come to rest against the fur lining of his cloak. He thinks he could stay like this for a while, really, but... ]
Forgive me, [ he starts and moves to set Byleth back down on solid ground. ] That wasn't very becoming of a king, was it? Though I do have a suspicion that titles might not matter much here all things considered.
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The question makes him pause as he's set down, looking the man up and down for a second... ]
Ki- ... Dimitri, what's the last thing you remember?
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It's been a year since the end of the war and united Fódlan came to be under rule of The Kingdom. You took the title of acting archbishop and crowned me king.
It's a bit strange to think it's been an entire year since the official coronation.
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A year. Exactly a year? [ Is this... ] I remember the same but...
It's a long story, and it's going to sound insane, but I was somewhere else before this. I remember the same. A year. I was archbishop. You were king. And then I went to-
I think. I think I was in hell? I might still be, but. You're here and... are you sure you don't remember Edelgard? I mean- being-
Being with Edelgard? Or the sex island or... any of that?
[ Does he sound like a lunatic? Yes. Does he look like he's kind of unraveling at the edges? Definitely. The circles under his eyes are still dark, and he's much, much thinner. Less fat and less muscle now. ]
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all of that. It sounds right in its beginnings but that Byleth believed himself to be in Hell? That Dimitri was there and, apparently, involved with Edelgard? He couldn't rightly say what his feelings might have been for her had she lived but she didn't. At least, he likes to believe he would remember if she didn't and if they were on a 'sex' island-
Ah. His head hurts. And as he listens to Byleth speak, he's finally taking in the subtleties there he hadn't noticed before. He looks awful. Exhausted. And, really, hearing all this it's almost no wonder. ]
I... cannot say that I recall any such thing. Certainly not being on an island or Edelgard being alive still. [ Before this, he might have been more deeply concerned about Byleth's mental state. But considering the circumstances that brought them here, is it so impossible that Byleth was swept up in another strange reality before this? Hm. ]
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Hm. That's. Yes, all right.
[ He's just going to. Sit down. And then lay down. Give him a minute to process things here. ]
Okay.
Well. I'll look after you then. If you want anyways. I don't know. Do you? Are you okay? [ Man he is just. Out of it. ]
I guess we should find. People. If they're here. The others I mean. Felix will be happy to see you if he made it. Said that maybe there was really a different version of you- I mean of the. Hm. Anyways yes. Finding the others if they are here.
Maybe a place to stay. You don't have to stay with me of course, if you don't want to.
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I feel as though I should be the one asking if you're okay. [ Although he thinks the answer is already 'no.' ]
It was encouraged that we stay with people. I'd rather it be someone familiar than... otherwise, of course, but I don't want to impose. [ Which he feels like, uh, might happen? Is happening? ] I do hope we find others though. It'd ease my worries a little about what might have happened otherwise.
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[ It's probably weird to see him so pumped full of pessimism, but it's almost defensive in a way. ]
No, you're fine. Wouldn't be imposing. I mean... do I look like I have a lot going on right now? Anything? [ Dimitri makes a very good point. ] All right. I'm just going to lay here for maybe. Maybe five more minutes and then we'll go look for everyone.
My friend Rosie made it, so that's good. She was someone I met on the island. Very nice. Kind of a mess sometimes but who am I to talk.
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Arguably, many of us don't have much going on for us anymore if The Peacekeeper is correct. [ Dimitri doesn't lay back but he also doesn't argue the time requested until they look. When was the last time he was just able to sit for a while with Byleth? Too long, it seems. ]
I wouldn't call you a mess, [ he defends. Is that what Byleth thinks of himself? Hm. ] But I am glad that she made it here with us since she is a friend to you. Is she the only one familiar from... that place so far?
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Back on the island, there was Felix, Sylvain, Constance, Ashe, Seteth, Edelgard and... you.
Before that I was a year in my tenure as Archbishop as you were as King.
[ It feels surreal. Not even the situation, this is almost normal at this point, but sitting and talking to Dimitri like nothing happened. ]
Okay. Up we get. Let's get to looking. [ He groans at getting up, patting the grass off his clothes and offering Dimitri a hand. He wants to just stay here. Just the two of them. That would be good, he thinks. Just them, the grass and the sky. Duty calls though. ]
You don't happen to remember the way back do you?
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[Dimitri's mental record not only scratches, the vinyl is launched off the record player and destroys the vitrine and all the porcelain dinnerware sitting in it] ]
I'm sorry, you- I was there? [ Also, didn't Byleth call it a sex island? He was there? Seteth was there?
He missed the other question, sorry. ]
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[ He talks about this very casually, because he's used to it by now, but he does understand how jarring it can be at first. ]
You were. [ That makes his voice sound tight, there's more to say but he's not intent on giving Dimitri a heart attack. ] There's-
Ah. There's a lot of things I think I need to be honest with you about. Not all of them good, but no matter what, I care about you, and you deserve to know.
[ Firstly, about the whole time nonsense. Then... everything else. ]
Not all at once, but... a bit at a time.
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I appreciate it, professor. I would like to know about this... self of mine, even if it isn't all good. [ Just.. Not right now. He's still a little frazzled by two Felixes. Seteth on sex island... About being here. Does that mean-? Did he and Byleth ever-? Everything. ]
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[ He picks a very steady pace in the direction he thought perhaps he had come from. ]
Seemed like he was busy a lot. He had been there much longer than me. Seemed well-established and all that. Was in a very committed relationship with Edelgard. Married, I think. Or something close.
[ It's weird talking about it like it was... someone else. It wasn't the fact that he was taken really. It was the fact that she brought up so many ugly feelings in him. ]
Guess they worked it out. Never really got the chance to tell him a lot of things unfortunately. Seems like he was from a different point in our history. Before the war ended.
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Also, he already regrets saying that he'd be happy to hear anything because haha wow is that not true almost immediately. ] I- Married? [ Hold on, that's. That's taking some processing power. ] That's... I suppose 'interesting' doesn't quite seem right, really, but I'm not sure how else to feel about a version of myself wed to Edelgard.
[ Especially not considering... everything. And that Dimitri being from even before the war ended, before El remembered who he was to her all those years ago- Huh. ]
It seems like a strange place, this island.
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[ A slow breath as he measures himself. ]
I couldn't stand being around her. She was peaceful. Polite even, but it was hard to watch you- him. Together with someone who hurt us all so badly.
And now it's you. Again. I don't know. The island was strange. At least Felix and Sylvain finally got together? So there's that.
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He supposes he'll never know unless by some twist of fate she arrives here. Of course, he isn't wishing for it. Especially not... knowing what he does now about this other self of his. ]
Although Felix and Sylvain coming together is not. If nothing else, I'm glad they managed to sort out their feelings for one another there.
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It was strange. I don't really know what's real anymore, if I'm being honest. Are you really here? Am I? I'm pretty sure I was dead before.
I'd ask you to slap me or pinch me but I don't actually think that would help.
Oh...
[ He pinches the bridge of his nose, stopping for a moment to just. Flames he's dizzy. Maybe it's the poor sleep habits or not being well fed, or just the stress that he's putting on himself but he sways where he stands. ]
Well that's new. Hm.
[ It's the last thing he says before he's tumbling backwards into the grass. Maybe he was overdue for this, running on empty for so long. It's only a few seconds that his vision is black, but when he blinks against the light artificial sky above him everything seems wobbly. ]
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He's easily walking alongside Byleth when the man stops. He wobbles a bit and Dimitri is already extending his arms towards the man just in case. It's a good thing he did, honestly, since he falls back not seconds later. The king gives an undignified noise of surprise and concern before lunging forward to keep the impact minimal.
It's worse than he thought. Dimitri kneels on the grass, holding Byleth carefully. ]
When did you last eat? [ he asks, already beginning to piece things together gradually. ]
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I don't remember. [ What a fool he's been. Now he's causing problems for Dimitri already. For fuck's sake no wonder the one back on the island didn't want anything to do with him. He tries to stand, but he's still dizzy. Still so tired. Dimitri promises that he's real, and he's here... helping because he wants to. He cares. He cares.
The island was the outlier, he reminds himself. What happened there was just. Fucked up. ] I'll be okay we'll just... get back to the train where I can rest.
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Although I don't think you're in much condition to go back to the city either... [ Dimitri stands up, still holding - and carrying Byleth - as though he weighed almost nothing. ] We should find shelter, perhaps, and hopefully some food. [ Even if he has to hunt for it himself, honestly. It might be a nice bit of normalcy in the midst of all this new information overload. ]
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Mmm. I wonder if there's anywhere to fish here. Back on the island you couldn't trust much of the food you didn't catch yourself.
Maybe I can make a fishing rod or something.
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But he couldn't trust food...? What a bizarre island, Dimitri thinks. Granted, from what Byleth has already conveyed, it didn't seem like the ideal place to be stuck. ]
I did see a river or two. Perhaps they converge to a lake? We should follow one and see if we can't find a place to settle there. You could fish to your heart's content.
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He has to admit, the furs on his cloak are a nice pillow, and it doesn't really feel like it's much of a struggle for him, like carrying nothing. ] That sounds lovely. We will perhaps find a place where everyone can stay...
I have longed to be surrounded by my friends again.
[ To allow himself to be submerged in their laughter and merriment, all the sounds of them just... living. ]
We will follow the river then.
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The dwellings all appear to be in states of disrepair, but between all of us... I can't imagine it'd take long to make things habitable. [ That next part though- Ah. ]
I admit to desiring the same. While I did have most of my friends with me in Fhirdiad, well... Things had always felt not quite complete in your absence.
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