uhmani | TDM #6

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 visit the training grounds, music lounge, library, and onsen. Also, feel free to leave an offering for the resident deity of sleep (Hypnos) at his shrine! 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.

SHAKING THINGS UP

"Hello, inhabitants," greets The Peacekeeper. "I apologize for all the tremors lately in the simulation," it starts, just as one rattles through the setting. "I promise I'll be done working soon." They've been occurring for days now but have been nothing more than a subtle rumbling.

Until now.

"Making final geographical adjustments... Please, hold on to something." There is less than a moment's pause before the warning needs to be heeded. A large earthquake suddenly jostles the entire simulation harshly along with a deafening noise to the east; however, the cause will be apparent. Where before there was nothing but plains stretching out infinitely past the simulation's 'barrier,' there is now a large mountain range. It has snow-tipped peaks, plenty of pine trees, and- "After the trial that was Hiromitsu, The Creators decided to allow me the resources to upgrade and add to the simulation! This is only the beginning, actually, but the rest will take a little bit more time. Until then, I hope you don't mind exploring the mines and helping me test some new features."

There is a brief pause where it seems like that might be all. "And I hope that... it makes up a little for me not being there for you during Hiromitsu." The usual chipper, simulated voice sounds just a touch melancholy. Instead of the regular chimes to signify a broadcast ending, there is instead a small click and nothing but silence.

THIS PLACE ROCKS

For those that do decide to investigate the new addition to the simulation, they'll find a sign above a large cave entrance that reads "Dymuniad Mines." Entering the cave will lead people to a series of underground tunnels akin to a labyrinth with as many metaphorical twists and turns as there are literal. Don't mind the mild tremors that continue as some of the pathways shift and change while The Peacekeeper works. They are now, thankfully, localized to just the mines.

So grab a torch, go for a joy ride in a mine cart, or set out on foot through the deep dark. Either way, here's what inhabitants can expect to find...

Hemimorphite

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: Mild

This strange, soft-looking rock formation draws people in with a sweet scent similar to cotton candy. The closer someone draws to it, the happier they will become. Should one lick it, they will find that it tastes rather sweet; however, it will leave one with more than a candy aftertaste. It is a psychedelic that will cause hallucinations - both visual and auditory - as well as intense feelings of euphoria.

Honey Calcite

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: Mild

If feeling one's way along the dark tunnels, don't be surprised if there comes a spot where you suddenly stick. Trying to pull away will only find one even more stuck than before. The only way to pull free is by using heat but too hot and it'll become a sticky, syrupy mess and be a nightmare to get off. The body heat of two people seems to be just right the temperature to free anyone stuck but... make of that what you will!

Iris Agate

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: None

If you get a little lost in the mines, don't fret! This stone will guide your way when shone under the light correctly. Oh, it won't show you the way out. Rather, it will guide you toward someone you need to talk to. Whatever that may mean! You'll be directed towards them whether you want to actually speak or not.

CREEPY CRAWLIES

In addition to the new geology, there is some new fauna to be found. The Peacekeeper is still adding to the mines as far as flora (beyond basic moss, mushrooms, and other fungi). For now, these creatures hopefully help it feel a little more alive.

Miniature Cave Golems

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: None

Don't be too alarmed if that mossy bundle of rocks starts to move about. Held together and animated by a magic of an unknown origin, these tiny golems 'awaken' when anyone gets close. While golems are usually used for manual labor too large for the average person, it's hard to say what these miniature ones were made for or by who. They are, however, extremely cute and will happily follow or ride along with you through the tunnels.

Rock Slimes

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: None

If you happen to come across small bites taken out of the Hemimorphite, the source likely isn't far behind. These slimes are immune to the psychedelic effects of the formation but still get the euphoria from it. This results in them making tiny chirps and happy noises that may sound suspiciously like 'woo hoo' or 'yay.' They are friendly and docile but can only survive in the dark, dank conditions of the mines. Trying to remove them is ill-advised.

Zubats

Population: Common
Biome: Dymuniad Mines
Danger: Mild

These creatures make their home in gloomy caves. Atrophied eyes have left this Pokémon blind, so they scan their surroundings via sound waves that they emit from their mouths as they fly. Their skin is so thin that they'll be burned if sunlight hits them. When it gets cold out, they gather together to warm one another's bodies. While they will not attack inhabitants, they may use high-pitched sound waves to confuse and disorient if they feel threatened so they can escape.

WHO IS THAT I SEE, STARING BACK AT ME?

Lucky (or unlucky, if you're lost) inhabitants may find their way to the crystal lake. This large, underground pool of crystalline water is lined with large chunks of cubic fluorite and larimar covering the bottom. It holds an ethereal glow although there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary that would cause the shine.

If one goes to the edge of the water, their reflection might not be what they expect. Instead of what it should be, it's instead what the person looking into the water most desires. This could be interpreted in many different ways. Do you look like you'd always dreamed of, is someone next to you, or is it someone else entirely staring back into your eyes? Whatever the case may be, it isn't always easy to be faced with our most secret desires unexpectedly.

look away

accept

tiny crystal flask

Trying to take the water by any other means will see it evaporate. Drinking it will have no effect. Bathing or swimming in it will also do nothing special... though it is quite cool and refreshing!

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.

Sexy Stamp Card

Issued by: The Peacekeeper

1 2 3 4 ♡

6 7 8 9 ♡

❤

<div style="width:100%;padding:10px 10px 0;font-family:garamond, georgia, serif;font-size:20px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:2px;text-align:left;">Sexy Stamp Card</div>
<div style="width:100%;padding:0 10px 10px;">Issued by: The Peacekeeper</div>

<div style="width:100%;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:10px;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;color:#13336b">

</div>

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<div style="max-width:300px;width:100%;margin:-10px auto 0;text-align:right;font-size:10px;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#eee;">❤</a></div>

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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

★ Due to the shifting tunnels, characters will only find themselves eventually back at the start of the mines rather than anywhere new. ...For now, anyway!

★ 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 (as well as the locations) as soon as possible to reflect these changes and recent ones! 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!

★ Why not check out the ATP/EMP Meme now up? See who others want to try out, enable your friends! Fun all around!

★ Make sure to dunk your questions/feedback in the thread below!

NAVIGATION

F.A.Q. ★ RULES ★ CHARACTER CLAIM ★ LOCATIONS ★ MAIN NAVIGATION

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"Honestly....I'm not sure anymore." It wasn't anything on her, oh no far from it. She was pretty enough for sure and he never was really picky on looks for any gender. It was his shyness getting the better of him. He hadn't kissed anyone in almost a year and for his first kiss in awhile to be a stranger well it was hard for him.

Oh. If Lioriley didn't already suffer from exceptionally low self esteem, she might have been wounded that he so quickly changed his mind. As it was, she just...wasn't surprised? Maybe he had considered his options and figured she was not the best fit for what he wanted. That was fine. Her leylines stilled dimmed regardless, because she still felt...bad. about the whole situation now. "Oh. Um - all right."

Edited 2022-08-28 16:23 (UTC)

He looked over at her and felt a bit bad, fumbling with the belts on his waist. "Its..not you. I...shouldn't have asked." He couldn't look at her, his face was growing a bit pink and he really was just embarrassed of this whole thing and wanted to disappear.

Lioriley tried not to think about how miserable it felt to have someone essentially say 'nevermind' after asking to kiss her. Like, given the time to think about it, he realized he didn't want to.

"No, no. I understand." She offered as cheerfully as she could manage, smiling over at him even if he wasn't looking. "I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I truly did wish to help."

Edited 2022-08-28 16:34 (UTC)

'Fuck...I messed up.' While he wasn't a social person really he was able to pick up on social cues really easily, all thanks to having to after living with Cloud for so long. He could tell he insulted her in some way and now he was trying to figure out how to fix this mess he created. "Look I...I haven't really been with anyone in like a year....maybe longer I stopped counting..." He sighed, that wasn't really helping was it? "You're well.." Oh this was going awful. He should really just shut up. "You're attractive and I didn't think you'd actually say yes to kissing a stranger okay? I..well.." 'Why are words hard?' "Okay...we can kiss." Is his face red? Oh it's RED.

Edited 2022-08-28 16:49 (UTC)

This was going to be a never ending loop of apologies and misunderstandings at this point. Lioriley shifted awkwardly on her feet, an arm crossing her body to gently grip her other forearm. "I said yes because I wished to help." She replied, the blush on her own cheeks having not faded in the slightest. "I normally prefer to get to know someone a bit more, but you seem quite nice and I-" wait. Huh? "Oh. Are you certain?"

'I...seem nice? Is she okay?' He's pretty sure right now he is the the last person who should be called nice but he doesn't want to make her feel any worse than he already has so he's just going to keep speaking to a minimum like he should have from the start. He was at least happy he had his crop jacket on because now he could hide half his face in the fur. It was the main reason he walked around with a fur collared jacket in the middle of summer, that and heat didn't bother him most of the time. "....yeah...I'm certain." His voice betrayed how uncertain he was. "Let's ugh...yeah let's do this." He kept part of his face hidden and mumbled a bit when he spoke as he looked down at her, trying to figure how to actually do this now with how small she was.

He hadn't done anything to suggest he was unkind, so yes- he did seem nice. A bit awkward and standoffish, but nice nonetheless. Save perhaps the 'ugh' that nearly made her wince. Gods, was she really so bad an option for this?

Given the go ahead and the obvious knowledge that he probably wanted this done as quickly as possible, Lioriley bridged the gap between them and reached up to cup his cheeks, gently encouraging him to look down at her as she leaned up on her toes, head tilted and eyes shut as she aimed to press their lips together.

Edited 2022-08-28 18:00 (UTC)

He's too busy trying to figure out how to do this and leaning down a little only to have his face grabbed and her lips against his. It's not awful, not at all but still a little weird. His eyes didn't close right away in the kiss, first out of shock and then cause he just really didn't expect this situation but eventually his eyes closed and he leaned into the kiss. He even went so far as to put a gloved hand in her pretty white hair.

He was the one to pull away from the kiss but he kept his hand in her hair. "That...was really nice actually." He wouldn't be opposed to doing it again but he also didn't want to abuse her kindness.

The glowing line running vertically down her lower lip tingled with magic as their mouths connected, crackling harmlessly against his skin. Her hands rested on his shoulders, not wanting to press too hard lest she scare him away, and when he pulled back she slipped back down to rest flat on her feet, palms pressed to his chest. She smiled, cheeks (literally) glowing.

"I am glad to hear it." She murmured, momentarily relishing in the feeling of his hand in her hair. "Would you like to continue, then? To be sure that you get all you need."

That was well, he never had someone actually glow after a kiss with him. Squall didn't know how to feel from that but he was really flattered. He didn't think his own skills deserved such praise but the glowing cheeks were honestly really cute and his hands moved to cup her cheek, his thumb touching those glowing marks.

"You...want more?" He doesn't mean it as he doesn't, he just didn't thinks he'd want anything else from him. "I...mean...we can...maybe somewhere not out in the open..."

The leyline he touched sparkled, pulsing quick with her heartbeat. They had not done much but anxiousness and excitement both made themselves apparent in her bodily response.

"I would not be opposed." She was giving him plenty of outs if he wished to take them, her intentions fully on aiding him and his quest for stamps. She nodded in agreement to his comment about being out in the open. "Mm. Well, we are still in the hub, we can easily away to a room in the tavern nearby."

He couldn't feel much from his leather gloves but he really did like those marks on her. It was really unique and he wondered what else was unique about her, of course his intentions weren't anything lust driven but rather just pure curiosity.

"Oh um, okay let's go to the tavern then. I didn't know there was a tavern here." That was right, they were supposed to be looking at the places to stay not making out. He almost forgot. He let go of her so she could take them there. "Lead the way."

"It was just recently added by one of our other healers, Anders, and his lover." Oh the wonders of stamps in this strange world. Lioriley eased away and motioned for him to follow, back the way they came and down toward the tavern attached to the main hub. A bit worse for wear but she, personally, had seen far worse. She also knew there were vacant rooms, and after procuring a key to borrow for the time being, she took him to it.

Did she consider how it must look, bringing a man through just to get a room? Absolutely. But he needed stamps and, well, at least they could lock the door. "Here we are." She said as she opened the door to the plain room, adorned with a bed, a side table, and fuck all else seen in the dim light.

"Oh I see.." He followed relatively silently behind her, sort of just going with the situation until he saw the actual tavern. He was assuming it would be a normal building but this looked right out of a medieval fantasy and not at all the modern motel he was thinking it was. "Um....are we sure this is a real place?" He felt like he had stepped back into the past when he followed her inside. Sure there were some dated buildings in Traverse Town and Radiant Garden but this went further than that.

He stayed very silent as they went up to the rooms, waiting for her to open a door. Once it was just the two of them inside was when realization hit him and what it looked like they were doing dawned on him as well. His back got a bit straighter as he started to feel a bit uncomfortable once more and so he went to sit on the bed so at least he wouldn't be towering over her again. "..Thanks....I probably should owe you for this. Is it...just for a few hours...or can I stay here?" He didn't really want to stay in a centuries old tavern but if this was better then the houses he wouldn't complain. The room was simple enough and he didn't mind it.

What an odd question. "Why would it not be?" She asked, quirking a quizzical brow in his direction as she led him along.

Once inside she locked the door, set the key on the side table, and stood a few feet away from Squall as he settled on the bed. She shook her head slowly. "You do not owe me anything, I am just trying to help." Genuinely, she just wanted to make sure he had everything he needed to be comfortable. "When we are um...finished here, you can speak to Anders or Hawke and they will allow you to stay. It is meant for newcomers while they find their footing."

Edited 2022-08-28 22:41 (UTC)

Lioriley really was nice, he was going to have to repay her kindness somehow. Maybe he could make her something if he was able to find a stove or an oven. He did always feel better repaying kindness with food or snacks. Besides if the downstairs was any indication of the type of food that was served in this world he was sure some of his recipes would be unique enough as a gift.

"We...don't have to do anything you don't want to. It's nice enough that you brought me here as is..." He still felt really bad about that awkward kiss and the entire conversation that led up to it. "I mean...is there anything you want..." He paused, rubbing at the scar on his forehead, it always tended to ache when he was getting a headache and boy was this place giving him one. "Is there anything you want...from me?"

"I really do not mind." It had been awkward and sudden, and if she had her way there would have been a lot more build up and friendship had before they started kissing. But she truly didn't mind helping him - he seemed like he needed it.

She tilted her head curiously. "Now?" Sex-wise? Honestly no, she was set insofar as sexual desires went thanks to Astarion. But was it rude to say as much? "For whatever it is worth, in aiding your quest for stamps, I obtain some myself. Does it...make you feel better?" Maybe?? A little??

"Oh..." Well now he didn't know what to do. If she didn't need or want anything intimate then he wasn't going to bother her with it just for his own gain. He wasn't that needy that he was desperate for touch.

Okay he hadn't had anything sexual in awhile...but he was okay and fine without it. "I rather you actually want something then just doing it for me..." He kicked off his boots and pulled his legs up onto the bed, holding them to his chest. "I feel like I'm forcing it if you don't want anything...."

She frowned, her leylines dimming faintly. After a brief moment of consideration, she slipped her own boots off and stepped toward him, tentatively sitting beside him on the bed with a few inches of space between them. "I would not have accepted nor offered if I was not interested. I can assure you of that." Granted, much of her desire came from her need to help others where she could, but he did seem nice, and that kiss had, truthfully, not been terrible at all. "You are not forcing me to add anything. I could leave whenever I wish - but I am not. Should that not suggest my interest?"

She had a point but he still didn't feel right about it. In his past relationship with his girlfriend there had been tons of things she wanted him to do with her, he just assumed most women had a list of sexual wants to go to. He was offering himself for whatever hers were but if there was nothing she didn't really want, he didn't know what to do. "Yeah...okay...I guess that makes sense..." He was trying not to sound distressed by it but he wasn't sure how good a job he was doing at that. "So....what do we do then?"

Lioriley watched him for a moment, sighed, and gently patted his hand. Save for the brief moment after their kiss where Squall seemed pleased, his distress had been pretty obvious. At this point, she was getting the feeling that he didn't really want more than what he had already been given. "I think you should take some time and rest. And should you wish to speak with me about this particular scenario, or anything else, I am always close by."

He looked at her hand, taking in her words and feeling awful for being a disappointment. He had liked the kiss, it was pleasant and he thought he could do more but it wasn't in him. He wasn't that type of person. "I'm sorry..." was all he managed to say as she moved and he stayed on the bed. He took off his gloves and ran a bare hand over his hair. "...I'd like to see you again sometime...maybe just to talk for now."

Lioriley paused, leaned down again, and gently kissed his cheek, smiling as she pulled back and went to fetch her boots.

"I would like that. Do not hesitate to contact me, or come find me in the infirmary. Please do rest now, though. I am sure it will do you well."

He felt like a child with the way she was being so gentle to him, but he guessed that made sense. He was acting like a child who didn't know what they wanted and he truly didn't. It was like he was paralyzed by his own insecurities and just shut down before.

"Thanks...and yeah I think I'll just sleep for now....thank you again for your help Lioriley..."He did however at least get up to walk her to the door, taking her hand in his bare one and giving it a squeeze. "Safe travels."

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invigorates - 2022-08-29 17:36 (UTC) - Expand

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