uhmani | TDM #10

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.

TIME FOR TEA

As Spring begins to bloom across the simulation, so do more variety of flora. Thanks to the influence of inhabitants present and past, more and more life is being breathed into this little simulated world. It makes for things to be a little more homey... And a lot of these new plants also make for excellent tea! Fancy ceramic sets can be found scattered throughout the simulation. They'll always be full and piping hot no matter how much a character drinks.

Each tea will have its own special effects. They'll be properly labeled with a cute tag that on the front reads "Drink me!" and on the backside says exactly what it does. Of course, depending on where the tea set was placed it's very possible the tag may be missed or simply overlooked.

Either way, they all taste great!

Mushroom Tea

trippy

hallucinations

two of you

Woah

Pu-erh Tea

become paralyzed

peaceful touch.

Assam Tea

fancy

show off

Roobios Tea

everything

your

While a sampling of what's available, don't think those are the only options around. In fact, if a character would like to make a tea of their own... just let us know down below what it is and what side effects it'll have!

ALL THAT GLITCHES IS GOLD

Characters that wander away from the main hub might find themselves walking through fields of clovers before long. It will spur on a sense of free-spirited fun that lends itself to one wanting to frolic and play. A good game of chase seems like a great idea right about now...

Why not? Considering everything that being in Amani means, your schedule is likely pretty free. Any inhabitants gifted a hat from the fae will want to be the ones to runaway. Anyone else will feel driven to catch them.

But how? Easy, with some golden rope! This enchanted thread will wrap around any runaway rabbits with ease. The only way to get out will be to tell the truth. If they lie instead, they'll only become even more tangled up.

For those that are especially tricky though and escape the rope, it will then morph into golden chains. These are heavier, sturdier, and... sexier? That's right, this time to get loose one must speak a sexual truth. Whether it be a fantasy or long-kept secret is up to them, but there's no escaping this time unless the fess up.

Though hopefully, you aren't late for a very important date since some of these patches of greenery are glitched. Time ends up a bit... Jeremy Bearimy in them, so to speak, and what feels like minutes might actually be days. Oops!

Just follow the golden brick road- Er, sorry, wrong theme. Follow the golden rope or chain and speak the truth to each other to get loose. Eventually, you'll step back out into the simulation proper and the glitch will correct itself.

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>

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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

★ 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.

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

★ As mentioned before, this TDM will span March and April! While the events are canonical, they can be happening anytime in that timeframe.

★ And while there will be an event in April, anyone is welcome to hop into (haha, see what I did there) our current event if they'd rather!

★ We are currently at 31/40 slots taken! Anyone wishing to claim a character must have an invite and follow the proper rules in place to be accepted into the community!

NAVIGATION

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

🖤 I. welcome (back)

[Heels? Not unusual. Vieran feet are pretty much made to slot right in, no problem.

The rest of it? Well, suffice it to say, he doesn't have high praise for the outfits at the Gold Saucer, so this isn't getting his seal of approval either. Obsidian huffs, folding his arms, which doesn't do hell of a lot other than nearly cause his pectorals to pop out of the top.]

Right, so... we're doing this again.

[Nope. Just going to go with it.]

How long's it been...? Or was it just my memories catching up?

[Ugh. One of the others could probably theorize this way better than him. He's never had much of a knack for theories when bizarre things happen.]

🖤 II. oh no... YOU CAUGHT ME...

[It was eventual: Obsidian wanders the hells away from the hub, not thinking much about what other goofy thing is going to be on the horizon. And so it is, he's the one in the costume, so you know. The chase is going to happen, and he's naturally a bit competitive.

Obsidian puts his hands on his hips and turns to you, giving a crooked grin.]

Bet you can't manage to catch me.

[And without another word, he takes off, running alarmingly well in heels.

GETTEM.]

🖤 III. network; un: blackestnight

so
are we still doing random acts of sexual intercourse for fake coupons?

🖤 IV. wildcard

[idk man i'm not the boss of you make your own prompt if you want]

Edited 2023-03-30 06:20 (UTC)

[Emet-Selch finds this whole thing ridiculous, he's thus far been able to avoid the aggravating fae that has taken it upon themselves to burden everyone with their terrible fashion choices, but this is Amani and he knows his luck will run out eventually. What's even more ridiculous, however, is that he spots a familiar soul with an unfamiliar appearance. Again! It's weird this has happened twice now, particularly with the telling density of that soul! Maybe he could write this off as an earlier incarnation if not for that, the soul has a way of getting around, after all, but unless this bearer of Azem's fractured soul is from the far off future...

As he approaches, it is absolutely that soul he is ogling, and not the bountiful bosom threatening to escape that outfit and its pitiful attempt to contain it. Besides, the height difference means he has to look down. Don't get any funny ideas about how intensely he's furrowing his brow, though the mask he's wearing hides it, yet it also replicates it rather well all the same...]

I can only assume by your commentary you have been here before, and by the looks of your soul I can likewise assume you know who I am. By the nature of this poorly constructed and similarly managed simulation, I am ill-equipped in such knowledge regarding you, however...

[He sighs.]

What is your name this time?

[Last time he'd been here, Emet-Selch certainly hadn't been. Not that Obsidian would have known him at the time, to be honest. Things are different now, much like his memories, and there's a bittersweet feeling in seeing the giant Ascian once again. The last time they'd parted, it'd been with Emet-Selch's suggestions of exploration for his role as Azem.

Anyroad, he doesn't really understand the whole... time displacement thing, even though he knows that is possible. Not how it works, just that it is. Does it hurt that he isn't quite recognized? Oh, sure, but that too is something he knows is possible. And not something he can hold against anyone.]

Named myself Obsidian when I left my village. There we go, introductions done.

So, we've confirmed it's a simulation, is it? When I was here last, I didn't figure it as the afterlife or whatever they were claiming. Seems that's still what they're saying, whoever "they" are.

[To Emet-Selch, Azem's shard is Azem's shard, even if the little details might shift or change. This soul has proven himself worthy to bear his late friend's crystal, and whether he is a hyur, a mi'qote, or a viera, matters rather little to him. After all, the filler details he will likely learn during their time here, but the deeds that matter? Those he severely doubts have changed.

He'd be a fool to not pick up on the other's feelings, however, the minute shift in expression, or even merely just his tiny little gaze. Behind his mask his brow softens its furrow, and his mouth assumes a more neutral line than the frown it was moments ago.]

Obsidian, eh? Very well.

[Easy enough, and fitting besides.]

They still claim a great many things, but I am not so much of a fool to believe them at their word. This is hardly what I would name an afterlife, after all, I would know.

[Considering he was taken from it!]

Further adding to their incrimination, a moon prior or so we were given physical bodies for a short time, and with it some details certainly came to light. While our souls might be trapped here, I would not name this any more real than my recreation of Amaurot.

[It...doesn't feel great to say that, but it's true. It is simply true. Once more, he sighs and shakes his head.]

I know not when you were last here, but if it makes any difference to you, I have been here for the better part of five moons.

There were definitely some signs it wasn't what they say it is.

[Comparing it to Emet-Selch's creation of Amaurot checks out, and it also makes him think faintly of Omega's ability to reconstruct and simulate people and places. Perhaps it's a combination of aetherical manipulation and technology? Not that Obsidian would know the intricacies of it.

Probably better to let someone like Emet-Selch figure it out anyway.

...Wait a second.]

Five moons...? Hells, I knew I'd gone, but I didn't know how long. Maybe that lines up? Passage of time being different when you're in other worlds or... something.

[Sure. Why not. He's gonna go with that!]

So we're still at someone's mercy but we don't know who's responsible yet, but things are unraveling somewhat. Am I getting that part right?

Indeed, time does seem skewed here, Hythlodaeus, Venat, and Hermes are all from earlier points on the timeline than myself and Elidibus. And, well...

[He folds his arms over his chest, looking a bit annoyed.]

For the most part, yes, we are at the mercy of our captors. Some of our gaolers have seemingly made themselves available to contact, I suppose. But there is a villain of sorts who is rather...dramatic.

[Kind of like looking in a mirror in some ways, really.]

He seems rather set on causing chaos wherever he goes. Unleashing little dark minions and the like.

[He looks to the side, away from Obsidian. He thinks the man is a bit more like Fandaniel than him, haphazard and sloppy as he's been proving himself to be.]

[All names he now knows, and each one with different weights to them. When he he hears them, his long ears twitch and his brows raise as he considers with internal thoughts. Wishing he could have reached Elidibus, changed Hermes' mind, helped Hythlodaeus, and the ache of Venat's sacrifice.

Aye, he has sins aplenty, but he shan't despair. Though he will ever desire that things could have been different for them all, there is no clean answer and the past cannot be simply fixed. So all he can do is take hold of the present as it is.

Obsidian tilts his head curiously. As a scholar, he absolutely fails, but he's able to pick up enough with sheer empathy: this is a subject of some manner of sensitivity, even if he's certain Emet-Selch isn't going to admit that readily.]

Well, I'd say point me in the direction of the foe, but I imagine it's more complicated than that, else you'd have resolved it yourself.

Would you tell me about him?

[Each name holds a veritable weight for Emet-Selch as well. Though for differing reasons. Hermes he certainly does wish he could have changed his mind, that they might have been able to reason with him, but if he were to be honest, it was clear to him that Hermes mind was made up long before that report was given. Before the man had even realized it. His feelings for the man is both empathy and anger.

For Elidibus his heart aches, for his initial and continued sacrifice, having had to watch him lose bits of himself over time, piece by piece did he fall apart, did he because more duty than man. Like watching a loved one fade away before your eyes, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. Helpless in futility.

Venat, well. Need anything be said about what Venat's name means for him? The suffering and pain and burden she saddled him with? While he will not argue that her plan bore fruit, that it was but one way towards staving off annihilation, he hardly agrees with the method, nor the sacrifice. The betrayal to their people she enacted...

Then there's Hythlodaeus, whom he cherishes above all for his noble sacrifice and selfless act. Whom he respected and loved before such a terrible act was needed, yet that snuffed out any possible remaining doubt (there wasn't any) for his feelings towards the other man. He mourned him as he did their world and people, but to have him back in any capacity, it is a salve his soul needs but he isn't entirely sure he's earned.

He has no regrets for what he was made to do, guilt however? It weighs as it should.]

I'm afraid there isn't much to tell. The coward primarily speaks from afar, through the network primarily, thus we have not been granted the privilege of seeing his face. Nor do we know his name, really. However, he had temporarily warped the simulation and everyone within it, and so while he is rather...grating in some respects, he has made it apparent that he is no idle threat.

[A brief pause, then he looks to Obsidian again.]

...the current foolishness that is being foisted upon everyone is not his doing. There was something far more sinister ere this idiocy.

He seems to want this little operation to fail. None too dissimilar to Fandaniel's nihilistic designs, though I cannot attest if he shares the same suicidal fascination.

[As if he has room to talk about that...]

A currently unreachable enemy playing behind his doors. Not the first, won't be the last.

[And no matter what kind of horrible deeds have happened or are going to occur, Obsidian won't stop until he sees their gaoler stopped. Even if it means playing by the rules for a little while.

That much he can do.]

What, so these clothes aren't his fault then?

[Aw well. Plenty reason enough to dislike this nameless fellow.]

Speaking of Fandaniel... rather, Hermes. Does he remember? Being Amon and everything else?

Indeed.

[He breathes the word out with annoyance, shaking his head. He does not like feeling trapped like this, nor being poked randomly with a metaphorical stick, helpless to prevent it, but there's little to be done about it. At least at the moment.]

Nay, they are not. Far too civil for his tastes. As for Hermes...he cannot remember that which he did not experience. However, I did inform him about matters.

[A beat.]

I could have been gentler in my delivery of such sensitive topics, I suppose.

We'll get him. In due time.

[And in habit, Obsidian places his fist into his palm, as if to emphasize his determination. But he'll leave it as that for now, as he figures it's not typical that something is out of Emet-Selch's complete control. Nobody likes feeling helpless and forced to wait, but that is truly all they can do for now.

As for Hermes:]

I doubt anyone would blame you for if you were a bit... terse, as it were. Even if he doesn't remember what has happened.

[Hermes is definitely a complicated thing. It'd be easy to completely villainize him, but Obsidian still couldn't help himself in their last moments of speaking. He still offered to help find him the answers he sought in the next life, whenever that may be. Even if there is little forgiving all who suffered because of Fandaniel's self-destruction, Obsidian himself isn't exactly a stranger to grief and seeking meaning either.]

How are Elidibus and Hythlodaeus managing in all of this?

[He'd ask about Venat, but that's probably not a topic Emet-Selch wants to discuss right at the moment.]

[He nods, they will get him, this he is certain. He has played the long game before, and he can do it again, even if he doesn't want to. He certainly didn't want to the first time.

As for Hermes, well, he's trying to stay civil on that front. Even if he's a bit harsh at times, hard not to be. When he lost as much as he did because of him. He will not try to tell Obsidian how he should approach Hermes, they all must approach him and the damage he and his shard has wrought their own way. They are all owed that much.]

Well enough. Hythlodaeus, I...recently informed of the future, his memories of home ended upon our arrival to Elpis. Thus it fell to me to fill him in.

[His mouth pulls into a tight frown, his gaze once more drifting elsewhere as he thinks on the talk they had. How he had to admit to all he had wrought, to the sacrifice Hythlodaeus made, to the promise they couldn't keep to each other...]

Elidibus is likewise well, his memories have returned to him, and he is far more the man I knew than the heart he had to become.

While I cannot say I am glad to be in this gaol as we are, it is not without its blessings. Though I would much rather be in the Underworld, if I had my say about it.

[It certainly is wise to not ask him about Venat.]

Edited 2023-03-31 03:14 (UTC)

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[ Well there's a familiar face he hasn't seen in a good while. Byleth trots over, a hand held up in greeting, though he stops, falters, just briefly at that outfit. Wow that is distracting... anyways...]

Obsidian! Obsidian you have returned- welcome back. I- ah. You look cold.

[ And your boobies are falling out. He shrugs off his overcoat and drapes it around the much taller man's shoulders. There we go. Patpat. ]

Oi, Byleth. Glad to have a familiar face.

[And he means that. In comparison to the last time he'd been here, Obsidian actually seems less uptight despite his present Breasting Boobily circumstances.

The coat is nice, even if it makes him grunt an amused noise.]

Hardly cold, but thanks all the same. [HE MAY BE STUPID.] Don't suppose you know where they'd have put my clothes, would you?

Well, at least I can save you some dignity seeing as they seem to have- well yes. Your clothes. I'm afraid I haven't the slightest, but come. I will take you back with me, I'm sure we have some spare that we can fit you into, until our hosts deem worthy to return your garments and armaments.

[ He gestures for the other man to follow. This is very routine for Byleth to cart off recent arrivals to be fed and tended to. Practically a part time job. ]

Wouldn't be a bother if I even had my clothesmaking equipment, but I am once again lacking a single bit of anything.

[He sighs and nods.] Aye, I'm following.

[It's annoying, but he knows Byleth is good for helping another person. Even if it means he's going to start thinking of ways to give in return.]

Maybe I could use some of my stamps to create a new set for you. Or-

[ He smiles a tiny little smile but there is mischief behind it. ]

We could ask my dear Emet-Selch. Ask sweetly enough and I am sure he would help. But you'd have to suffer at least twenty minutes of complaining.

Never mind that, we will figure something out. For now, you must be famished and exhausted. Let me offer you some respite before we endeavor anything else.

[There aren't many things that can possibly shock him anymore, or so he has told himself. On more than one occasion, even! Yet, of all things, he doesn't expect the words my dear Emet-Selch to come out of Byleth's mouth.

Notably, Obsidian stumbles and he outright chokes on air.]

I'm sorry you-- your who?!

[ SUPER CLUELESS. ]

My dear Emet-Selch. My boyfriend. [ Can you feel Emet cringe at that word from miles away? Can you? ]

Oh- are you familiar with him? Well then, all the better.

Tall as a tree, surly, white hair, looks like someone took a piss in his tea? That Emet-Selch?

Ahh! The very same!

Aye, I know him.

[HE HAS. SO MANY QUESTIONS. Where does he even begin? How did this happen? Does it have more to say about Byleth as a person who can worm his way into Emet-Selch's heart, or does it have more to say about Emet-Selch who may have calmed the fuck down even by an ilm after all this time?

What does Hythlodaeus think about all this? WOW WOW WOW.]

That's... quite the partner you've got. [gods no he swears he has nice things to say about Emet-Selch despite the entirety of Shadowbringers(tm), but--] What about Hythlodaeus?

I would be terribly curious as to how you two met. You do not seem to be related to the Ancients, after all. Later, though.

[ He seems really chuffed about this. At least as chuffed as Byleth can seem, which is more than he used to these days! Notably! But still subdued by most standards. ]

He certainly is. Hythlodaeus is here indeed as well. They live together, along with Elidibus. Due to the nature of this place many of us have seen fit to carry on multiple relationships. I do not think I could hold a candle to what those two share, no- they are quite clearly soulmates. As am I with Dimitri, but well... I suppose we see fit to allow the exploration here. We all carry on with other partners.

Though I must say, those two intrigue me quite a bit. Albeit I believe Hythlodaeus may be a bit cross with me at the moment, as I bungled some sexual exploits with the Hall of Rhetoric. Ahh, I must sort out how to make that up to him.

[ JUST SAYS ALL OF THAT. Like its totally a normal thing. To say. Those words in that order. ]

That is neither here nor there though. What shall I make you for a meal?

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

🖤 Obsidian Blackheart (WoL) | FFXIV

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