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TDM #10
Welcome! Everything is fine.
Uploading. . . Complete!
The Lobby.
- When you open your eyes, there is quite a lot of beige to take in. The unassuming walls of the room you've found yourself in are barren save for a single motivational poster directly in your line of sight. An illuminated sign above an open door on the far wall reads 'lobby exit.'
"Welcome," chimes a polite, synthesized voice. "I'm happy you're here." A moment later comes the clarity of the situation: you have died and so has the world you came from. "This is Amani, your new reality," continues The Peacekeeper. "Everything will be fine."
At least you aren't the only one here, you'll soon find out, as others who are just as confused and concerned as you are mingling on the main hub's first floor. Hopefully, you find a familiar face among the crowd. If not, that's all right. You'll get to know quite a few people very well soon enough.
- If you're one of the unlucky few whose death required a bit more intensive re-coding to maintain stability in the simulation, you'll instead awaken on a bed in the infirmary. Everything is strikingly white save for the occasional string of vines with lavender growing in bursts to help keep people calm. Whether or not it works seems to be on a case-by-case basis.
While there is active medical staff, the voice of The Peacekeeper is also there to explain the situation in a more delicate manner to these individuals. It's already stressful enough having to have gone through such a violent death, after all!
If characters want more questions answered, they'll need to speak to The Peacekeeper directly. But first, it will encourage socialization in the main hub and hopefully, you'll find someone you recognize to make taking things in a little easier.
- "Happy spring, inhabitants! This has always been my favorite season. Granted, I've only seen it once before." The point still stands. "Everything is waking up again, including the fae... Do mind their tricks! This year, they seem to have a flair for fashion and especially strange top hats."
Almost as soon as it's said, a fairy might pop one onto your head. It comes with an entire ensemble, too, in the form of a playboy bunny suit. The tall ears that sprout from the might seem like just decoration... until you try to take it off. Pulling off the hat will reveal that the ears are actually a more permanent fixture for the time being to your scalp.
Oh, and it comes with a fluffy tail too! Adorable.
WHAT
The tenth Amani TDM!
WHEN
March 22nd, 2023
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Oviposition
★ Predator/Prey
★ Bloodplay
★ Monsterfucking
★ Predicament Bondage
★ Predator/Prey
★ Bloodplay
★ Monsterfucking
★ Predicament Bondage
WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?
If the main hub and its features don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.
Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can 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!
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 » Things are about to get trippy. Inhabitants will experience hallucinations that turn the world topsy turvy. Are you seeing double? No, there's actually two of you and you're just seeing through both their eyes. Woah.
★ Pu-erh Tea » This tea will stop you right in your tracks. No, literally- Anyone that drinks this will become paralyzed from the neck down. The only thing that seems to bring back sensation is a peaceful touch.
★ Assam Tea » This tea makes you feel fancy. In fact, you just want to show off to any and everyone around. Even usually meek or shy characters will suddenly burst out of their shells and have newfound confidence after sipping this tea.
★ Roobios Tea » Is it just you or do your clothes suddenly feel... itchy? It's not your clothes, actually, it's just everything. This tea causes an itch that can't be scratched. At least, not by your hands. Someone else's though... That's another story! And if it feels a little too good? Don't worry about it.
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.
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.
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!NOTES
Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it!
★ 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
no subject
[Fortunately, he's too mad about this scenario to cry.]
Sorry dude. Didn't see anyone there and thought it was self-serve.
[He eyes his glass with a faint look of misery, gives a very slight bow of his head, and goes back to the customer side of the bar to continue to address him. And takes another too-big sip of whiskey like it's water, and plops his head down on the bartop.]
Just let me wallow in my misery and woe for a few minutes. Complaining time now, answers and action and hangover later.
[He knows he's being dramatic. He knows it won't help. Let him be selfish for a little while, at least.]
If you spend your whole fucking life running from danger, thinking maybe you'll be safe this time, maybe this time you'll find happiness for real and ever, only to get mowed down like a blade of grass?? It really sucks, you know?? I'd cry if I wasn't so pissed off.
[He absolutely looks like he wants to cry. He doesn't, though, and just continues to sulk with his head on the table.]
no subject
[It's not usually a problem, to be honest. How often do they get newcomers to the bar who don't know Rosie in some capacity? Still, Ren's clearly in a foul mood, to put it lightly--and a few words are enough to tell why. He certainly won't try to dismiss the man's misery, not when he'd been in such a state when he'd first arrived himself so many months ago.
It's hard not to sympathize, hearing it framed like that--how many centuries had he played that miserable game himself, futilely searching for a place and a life that he and Flayn could just be safe and happy together? And perhaps right when he'd thought he'd found it, ending up here, of all places, with such an explanation greeting him when he woke up..... Seteth can only sigh, shaking his head.]
You just woke up, didn't you? I'm sorry to hear it. It is a bitter bill to swallow, I know--but this isn't the end. Not for you, or me, or any of us. Not even close.
no subject
Yeah...
[He definitely sounds like he still wants to cry, but he doesn't.]
...That doesn't sound very nice. What does "not the end" even mean? Does it mean I stay dead in this place, whatever it is? Like a fucking acid trip. Or do I get to go back home, somehow alive, and get hunted and killed again by my dad if he finds me?
[Nah, no, he's totally not bitter. And he's totally not just crying on the bar just now. Nope. Nope, this is not happening right now.
[Time to grab the drink again and try not to cry in it while he sits up and sips more, cheeks already a mess of tears as he scowls and does his damnedest to keep his breathing steady. He stubbornly only looks into the whiskey glass.]
no subject
Seteth fishes a handkerchief out of his pocket, sliding it across the bar. Go on, try to salvage a little dignity if you can, Ren. In the meantime, trying to reframe this misery for you is the least he can do.]
It means you've found the safest place there is anymore, perhaps even the only safe place left. Somewhere you can make a difference--and eventually, earn a second chance. Amani is our sanctuary, and our stronghold. This is where we prepare to fight for our happily ever after, so to speak.
no subject
[He wipes at his eyes, in any case, huffing out a rough breath, and grumbling as his makeup smears. It takes him a moment after Seteth finishes speaking for him to reply, having wiped off the majority of it so that the deep red eyeliner doesn't look like vampire tears or something.]
Okay, now I know I'm either dreaming, or you're buttering me up. Stronghold? Sounds like something out of a fantasy novel.
[He glances up at him with a tired smile, and if Seteth's hands are close enough, he reaches out to pat the back of one. Just like much of him, Ren's hands are also small. Despite his distress, his hand is also warm. His smile is watery as he sniffles, but absolutely does his best to be reassuring. He does look away while he also keeps his nose from running as not-grossly as possible.]
An' I'll clean this up well as soon as I can and return it to you clean. An'... hopefully not stained.
[He pouts a little, briefly making eye contact, and then looking away once more. When he speaks again, he sounds just marginally more composed.]
I'll be okay. I'll finish crying it out an' be mortified at my loose tongue later. I really don't mean to worry ya, handsome.
no subject
[Hah. What had Shane said again? That he talked like some kind of elf wizard? Perhaps the two of them are from similar worlds, if that's the first association they both jumped to. Have an encouraging squeeze, Ren, perhaps surprisingly gentle for how calloused his hand is; he's not the one who needs to be reassured, after all. Perhaps if he wasn't so concerned, Ren's efforts might not be entirely in vain.]
Take all the time you need. It's all a lot to take in, especially if your world is so vastly different.
no subject
[Speaking of green, huh. Handsome bartender's hair and eyes are green! But that revelation goes on pause when he feels the squeeze back. His bottom lip quivers a little, and he turns his hand around to return the gesture, too - but he doesn't let go. His eyes water again, but he does his best to keep further tears at bay.]
...Thanks.
[Managing a weak smile, he squeezes again. His hands aren't the softest, nails blunt and showing his few years of rough, active work by the calluses there. It's probably nowhere near to rivaling Seteth's own. But he notices, and looks briefly at their joined hands.]
I'm Ren. Thanks for talking with me. I promise I'm not usually this much of a mess. It's really hard to flirt effectively with really handsome, pretty guys like you when I'm all mushy, you know?
no subject
He's not sure which catches him more off-guard, the way Ren joins their hands more purposefully, or the frankly unwarranted compliment. Either way, Seteth turns a faint pink in spite of himself; how is he expected to not be flustered, getting flirting sprung on him like this?]
O-of course. I..... was in a similar state when I first arrived here myself, in truth.
[He can't just be rude when Ren is introducing himself, though. It would be awkward to bow properly, standing behind the bar like this; Seteth ducks his head instead, a little sheepish.]
My name is Seteth. A pleasure to meet you.
no subject
Seteth? A fine name.
[He can't, however, resist the urge to very lightly tug Seteth's hand closer to himself, and press a delicate kiss to the back of it, his lips so much softer than his hand. His green gaze gleams with a gentle warmth, in spite of the lingering traces of tears, as well as the deeply-worn fatigue from being hunted so. Now that some of his makeup has rubbed off, there are hints of the dark circles under his eyes as well.]
I'm grateful for the pleasure of this introduction as well.
I mean it. Especially after all... this.
[Not wanting to crowd him, Ren pulls back a little and softens his hold on Seteth's hand, wanting to continue to hold onto him, but not wanting to force him to tolerate it if he doesn't want to.]
I promise, I'm better than this... mess.
[He has to prove his own worth, after all. There's no other way to exist. He can't let anyone think that a crying drunkard is all he is (not that he's drunk yet.)]
no subject
Flustered he may be, but it would be a disservice to simply let Ren say things like that, wouldn't it? He has enough to suffer through right now; barbs of his own making shouldn't have to be a part of it.]
You aren't better or worse for it. A man's character isn't measured by how gracefully he bears his sorrow--but rather, what he chooses to do with it.
no subject
[Ultimately, he gives a teary-eyed pout.]
Damn it, where were nice people like you when I was growing up?
[Don't mind him while he gently pushes his cheek into the touch. For however long or briefly it'll last. It's fine. Everything's fine. He's feeling warmer now, too. A little more relaxed. On that note, he very carefully nudges his drink away - at its almost half-empty point - a bit closer to Seteth's side of the bar. He was an idiot to pour that much into a glass and think he wanted to drink it.]
It's... not new shit, really. Sorrow, frustration, fear. I came to realize my dad didn't like me since I was little, when I refused to sit in the mold he wanted for me and be a replica of my mom and marry me off. I've had a long time to think about a lot of it....
It isn't that I think I'm lesser for crying about this. Just... first impressions are important. I worry. Being vulnerable with the wrong people is... not good. I don't think you're the wrong person for that, though. Your smile is too kind.
[Closing his eyes again, he sighs and focuses on Seteth's touch.]
no subject
What he can do is listen, and let Ren drink in that touch as long as he needs it--and help him drink decidedly more responsibly, while he's at it. He still has one free hand, at least; it's easy enough for Seteth to claim that glass full of whiskey, and slide over a glass of water to replace it. You'll thank him tomorrow, just you wait.]
I'm sorry. A man like that is no father at all.
I'm flattered you think so. Being vulnerable with the wrong people can be a fate worse than death, it's true..... But I daresay I'm happier now than I have been in a long time, since I've found good people to reach out to. Even if a few of our first impressions have been less than ideal.
[As for who those chaotic first impressions were with..... better those remain ambiguous, hmmm?]
no subject
Yeah. He sucked. He treated his peers better than mom and I. Not that mom was any saint. But she was stuck just like I was, in her own way.
[The less he says about his dad, the better, he thinks. He does his best not to discourage the lingering touch while he sips water.]
...You're really too cute, augh.... I'm glad you've found happiness. It's so important.
[Looking Seteth over carefully, he nods a little to himself. Reaching for his hand, Ren gently guides it to his hair and giggles. It's a bit freer of a sound than before.]
You have like... massive dilf energy. Super cute. I could smoosh you. Or smooch you.
[Guess what's kicking in on that tiny frame of his.]
no subject
If nothing else, the cloud passes soon enough. Seteth splutters a little in embarrassment, looking away; you'd think he'd be harder to fluster like this after being in a relationship with Rosie for so long, wouldn't you? It's hard not to be, when Ren is so bold. Even if it's probably the whiskey talking.....
Still, it can't hurt to stroke his hair, since Ren seems so keen on it, can it?
No, he isn't digging himself deeper, what are you talking about? He's Serious and Dignified and Helpful, definitely not cute whatsoever.]I-I..... well, you're not wrong. I do have a daughter. But that hardly seems relevant.
no subject
Oh! Um...
[It's Ren's turn to fluster, and he opts to poke his fingertips together a bit as he giggles again. And oh, does the hair petting feel good. It's so good.]
How to put it... some people just have dad energy in a good way even without kids. I had, uh, no way of knowing you do have a daughter. You just have... dad energy.
[His face is definitely trying to rival the color of his hair, even as he shows the inclination to trust that Seteth won't hurt him with such proximity between them.]
Still cute.
no subject
[It's still a little confusing and awkward, this whole "DILF" concept, but he's pleased nonetheless. After all, a dad--a real dad, at least--is a protector and provider, a guide and guardian, loving and supporting his children unconditionally. Anyone should feel honored to evoke such sentiments, shouldn't they?
Still, that doesn't stop him from arching his eyebrows in mock offense--part a genuine protest, part to help keep Ren's mind from drifting back to the misery he'd come into the bar holding onto.]
But just what does being a father have to do with being cute, if I may ask?
no subject
[As Ren flounders for words, a bit of a sentimental look crosses his face - soft and shy in a more subdued way. He gestures a little nervously, grasping for the right words.]
...I think it's kinda like how reading books about good people feels. I'm not quite sure how to explain it...
It's like both a physical and... not-physical feeling for me?
Your features also have that sort of look. The way you're looking at me right now...
It's not necessarily because you're a father, though you are, and... yeah.
[Uncertain how to make his point, he frowns and takes another few sips of water.]
It's like a feeling? I'm sorry. I know it probably makes no sense at all...