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TDM #13
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 might be 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.
WHAT
The thirteenth Amani TDM!
WHEN
September 20th, 2023 (and until the next TDM!)
KINKS OF THE MONTH
★ Tantric Sex
★ Body Worship
★ Cuddle Fucking
★ Electrostimulation
★ Quirofilia
★ Body Worship
★ Cuddle Fucking
★ Electrostimulation
★ Quirofilia
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 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.
BASKETS OF PEACE
"Hello, inhabitants," speaks The Peaceekeper, "have you had a check-up recently? While we don't have to worry about disease here in Amani, your sexual health is still important in so many other ways!" It was recently suggested that perhaps they haven't been the most mindful in terms of encouraging inhabitants to have healthier sexual habits. No time like the present to work on correcting that oversight though.
How? With a gift basket, of course!
Each inhabitant - either new or established - will receive a gift basket full of fun things to try. Each one includes (but is not limited to):
How? With a gift basket, of course!
Each inhabitant - either new or established - will receive a gift basket full of fun things to try. Each one includes (but is not limited to):
- ★ Male and female condoms (flavored and unflavored)
★ Edible lubricant
★ Erotic dice + erotic card game
★ Bottle of wine
★ Heart-shaped bath bombs (aphrodisiac-laced)
★ Bondage lace eye mask + wrist/ankle bindings
TRIPPING OVER TROPES
Due to the influence of Dirk Strider and Rose Lalonde both, The Peacekeeper has learned about an interesting phenomenon known as 'fanfiction.' It has studied the topic intensely for the last couple of days to try and learn more about its literary significance amongst the multiverse. It is an interesting insight in some of the inhabitants' cultures and what 'tropes' appear to be more common depending on the circumstances.
Unfortunately, such an influx of information sees the AI running Amani a bit more distracted than usual. The simulation - at least for a few days - is a bit more prone to glitches as a result. Only these aren't the usual ones like a hole in reality someone falls through and ends up somewhere unexpected.
No, these ones are as if the NPCs and inhabitants both residing in the simulation are having their pathways forcibly rewritten. It isn't very obvious, at first. Perhaps you're feeling a bit clumsier than usual and need to chase after a rogue piece of paper carrying on the wind that leads you running right into your current crush. Or maybe something gets unexpectedly spilled on you and the person you like is suddenly offering the shirt off their back (and leaving them shirtless, of course) even if it's out of character.
Finally, inhabitants might really start to catch on when whatever dwelling they enter there is only one bed. Have roommates? Too bad, looks like you might have to share for a bit! Oh, no, how unfortunate... However do you think this scenario will end? The Peacekeeper knows since, well, it's the one unwittingly writing inhabitants into these romance trope scenarios.
Thankfully, it will snap back to 'reality' within a few day's time having learned that, as with most good things, fanfiction should be taken in with moderation in mind.
Unfortunately, such an influx of information sees the AI running Amani a bit more distracted than usual. The simulation - at least for a few days - is a bit more prone to glitches as a result. Only these aren't the usual ones like a hole in reality someone falls through and ends up somewhere unexpected.
No, these ones are as if the NPCs and inhabitants both residing in the simulation are having their pathways forcibly rewritten. It isn't very obvious, at first. Perhaps you're feeling a bit clumsier than usual and need to chase after a rogue piece of paper carrying on the wind that leads you running right into your current crush. Or maybe something gets unexpectedly spilled on you and the person you like is suddenly offering the shirt off their back (and leaving them shirtless, of course) even if it's out of character.
Finally, inhabitants might really start to catch on when whatever dwelling they enter there is only one bed. Have roommates? Too bad, looks like you might have to share for a bit! Oh, no, how unfortunate... However do you think this scenario will end? The Peacekeeper knows since, well, it's the one unwittingly writing inhabitants into these romance trope scenarios.
Thankfully, it will snap back to 'reality' within a few day's time having learned that, as with most good things, fanfiction should be taken in with moderation in mind.
FRUITS OF FALL
Last year, there was an emphasis on apples but there are plenty of other common fruits to be found growing throughout Amani. Due to The Peacekeeper learning about tropes though, some of them will have a temporary effect in that vein on any inhabitant who eats them.
And what are those effects, exactly? Well...
And what are those effects, exactly? Well...
- ★ Pomegrante » Usually a fruit associated with femininity, eating this will actually see your concept of gender be a little more malleable. Characters will suddenly see new sliding scales in their DTF's menu that allows them to decide how feminine, masculine, or in-between they'd like their physical forms to be!*
★ Blackberries » Eating a handful of these berries will see someone's personality flip on its head. Those usually happy-go-lucky and bubbly will now be morose or upset about every little thing. Thankfully, it doesn't last long... even if the damage to your relationships from your unexpected shift in mood might. Oops.
★ Peaches » Often used in modern text language as a sensual symbol, this fruit will see someone swap kinks with another individual in the simulation. Get ready for some really confused boners, everybody!
★ Grapes » These fruits are meant to be a shared experience since just one person can't be expected to eat a whole bunch of them; however, eating a grape at the same time as someone else will see you sharing more than just a meal. Now, you're sharing experiences in one the most intimate ways of all - by swapping bodies and all that means.
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!
★ *While this effect of the gender sliding scale will be opt-in entirely and only temporary, it is a feature that inhabitants can purchase in the future with stamps if they'd like!
★ We are currently at 30/40 slots taken! Anyone wishing to claim a character must have an invite from someone currently in the game and follow the proper rules in place to be accepted into the community!
NAVIGATION
no subject
"Well, you're not wrong there. I don't think about it a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not taking this seriously. Sorry it isn't serious enough for you, oh all-knowing gatekeeper of the gender binary." This conversation didn't catalyze anything, actually, and she'll probably go back to by and large not considering her gender much. But that doesn't mean she isn't going to sass him back, a little.
"I do like dick. I especially like it in me, but I also enjoy having my own so far too." She actually wasn't sure she would when she'd embarked on this whole experimental gender sliding thing but, y'know, it's interesting. "I also like vagina, either between my legs or when I'm between someone else's." She does have no shame, another thing he was correct about.
"All that said though: Why the fuck does it bother you so much what gender I am? How does it effect your life one way or another?"
CW slut shaming, transphobia-adjacent trauma trigger
The vagina talk is a bit much, though. He's not squeamish about the existence of them, or even the sight. But the specific invocation of having it between one's own legs makes him feel a bit ill. The corner of his mouth pulls down while he tries not to look sick about it; somewhat inevitably, this just makes him look like a miserable statue.
"You wouldn't understand. But I'll try. I have a burr to get out of my brain and you're not malicious. Not in any way that I care about, anyway. I like you, most of the time. You just have no idea how downright violating this shit is. You think that because it's your gender, then it begins and ends with you. Never mind people who aren't so 'lucky' as to share your specific combo of lackadasically ignorant and self-assuredly self-obsessed. You aren't picky about who you pursue, as long as they want you. All suitors welcomed with open legs, who cares what's where, you're just happy to be there, and you'll do whatever they want to make them happy to be there, too. And what they see you as isn't a problem as long as they don't see something they don't like. Where does that end, then? Putting on what they want, what they're into, just to get a little more? Just to get what you want?"
no subject
All she wants is to make others happy and if her body is a way to do that, then why not? She caused enough suffering in her lifetime that she maybe overcorrects a bit in helping people instead with finding their pleasure. None of that is anything she's ashamed of or particularly hurts to be told. The last part though is where it does prick a little painfully for her though. Putting on what they want, he says, and she considers that along with not letting others see what she doesn't want them to.
"It's not about what I want," she corrects, "but maybe it should be, sometimes." But maybe she's also scared that if she did try to go for what she wanted more, it would be too much. He always told her that she asked for too much. And then what? She keeps trying to meet them in the middle, compromises even if eventually it just ends up with her folding like a house of cards saying it's 'fine' and that what she wanted didn't matter anyway. Maybe who she actually is isn't someone who can actually be loved.
"I try more these days to do what I want even if I don't always succeed. Like this, actually. I wasn't doing it for anyone but me." Which included anyone else's pleasure or their pain. But that's what she usually gets when she does what she wants, isn't it? Her own pain or another person's. While she could dig in her heels, try and stand firm in what she wants... It's easier instead to just do what they want. In a raise of her wrist and poke of her jade bracelet, she's back to the distinctly feminine shape most recognize.
It's fine. Once again, what she wanted didn't matter anyway.
no subject
Except that it wasn't what I was trying to teach you, at all.
Instead, you made it about you. So now you've done the right thing, but it came at a cost. The cost to me is that I continue to be the antagonistic force in the lives of people around me, and the cost to you is that you don't learn anything from it.
You think you're the only one suffering from that? That you're alone in that? Who you are isn't someone who can actually be loved? You're not. It's not unique, it's not special. You can capitulate and compromise all you want, and either you'll be proven wrong or you'll be proven right, and right now you have to decide which one of those you can fuckin' live with. But that's not the scary choice, it's the easy one. What you really need to worry about is what you're going to do when the answer to which one you can live with is 'neither.' Me, I can't make any changes to who I am. Not in any way that matters. All I can be is me, and I know everything there is to know about that. And what that's going to cost me.
Now that you're no longer doing offense to anyone with any kind of personal integrity, maybe you could try having some. You really want "love" from someone who doesn't understand you? You loves whatever version of you that you gave them, because it was the you that they wanted? If you're that desperate, then everything I just said shouldn't bother you. But it did. So pick a side. Who are you? Are you you, or are you not?"
cw: mentions of sex work, sexual trauma.
"But turns out I'm the one getting fucked here in the end anyway, isn't it? I tried to compromise to do something nice, at my own expense, but you got on your soap box about how I didn't learn anything and I don't know who I am. If I'd stayed male and continued to 'violate' your comfort, I'd be the asshole instead. Either way, I'd feel horrible. So, yeah, sure- I'm the one making you the antagonistic force here, clearly."
It's not unique, it's not special.
'You think you're the only one suffering, songbird?'
That's the part that pisses her off the most, in the end. Of course, she knows. Everyone's suffering in their own ways. She's not unique there. But where does this guy get off telling her what she needs to decide and why? "Whatever, dude," she says, but doesn't even try to pretend it's flippant through the tears that burn her waterline.
"Sit up here being miserable and talking about how static you are like that excuses being a colossal douche to someone who came up here to see what was up and tried to understand how her gender changing was so upsetting to you personally. I don't need - or want, for that matter - your approval, let alone 'love.'" At that, she gives a huff and stands up to turn away and towards the ledge of the roof. "Who I am, or not, has nothing to do with you." And then she jumps off, gone in a blink.