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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
Questions he'll never get answered, now. So he prefers not to bother asking them.
Rose's talk of being cursed sounds familiar, not just for himself, Seer or not, but for Luna and Ardyn, too. For Luna, it was her sight, just like Rose; for Ardyn, it was a doomed healing gift and an invasion of his very soul; for Noctis, it's the power of kings, meant to save people but capable of doing little that isn't destructive.
He sneers at himself when Rose talks about 'saving everyone.' He might agree if he had ever managed to save anyone. No one would let him. They were all so determined to throw themselves on the bonfire built to the sky that he's meant to climb into the heavens. It was hardly even about power, he wasn't given a choice.
Which is why, ultimately, Rose's conclusion doesn't surprise him in the least. Contradictory, maybe, to his acceptance of the blame, but he can't help how he feels. It's no different from the conflicting feelings he always has when it comes to this stuff. He resents never being allowed to choose, but he still yearns to be everything everyone wants - needs - him to be. He still wants to do well, to help them, to make them proud to call him their king. Not so different from Luna, maybe. He doesn't know whether she ever saw her lot as a curse, but by the time he met her, at least, she was 110% devoted to the cause and never looked back. The difference was, she was actually up to the task.
He's quiet once Rose finishes her assessment, turning it all over in his mind. Eventually, he says, "...yeah, kinda figured that's what you'd say. Doesn't stop me from feeling responsible, though. If I just attributed everything in my life to fate and didn't take responsibility for any of it, what kind of king would I be? What kind of friend?"
no subject
She smiles a bit, bittersweet. "What a shame that your only choices are 'taking responsibility for everything' and 'taking responsibility for nothing.' " She pauses a bit to let her soft criticism sink in before continuing more softly, "I know what it's like to have a destiny to live up to, and I've seen what it does to people. It's never fair, or kind. But in my opinion, the most important thing is that when destiny called, you answered. Win or lose, weak or strong, right or wrong, the only thing we can truly claim as ours is whether we get back up and take one more step forward."
A pause. "Sorry. I'm not very good at 'warm and fuzzy' aftercare."
no subject
He bites his tongue rather than tell her he didn't have a choice but to answer. Speaking of excuses, he gives that one a lot, but technically he could have chosen to give up. Sure, everyone would hate him and curse his name and he would be the literal worst king to ever live, but he could have. In fact, he almost did. After Altissia, he was very close to giving up. He might never have drummed up the courage to wield the Ring if it hadn't been his only means of survival. There but for the grace of his friends goes Noctis, or something.
He shakes his head. "Nah, don't apologize. I think...it was a good thing, for me to tell someone. And to be honest, your perspective is a lot more valuable to me than platitudes would have been. So thanks."
He pauses, taking a long sip of water to stall just a little. "Hey, um...you sure you're okay?" He knows the potion did its work well - he doesn't mean physically. "Just, if you need anything, or you...I dunno, decide you need to talk more about it after all, or punch me back or something, you know where to find me. Unless..." He sighs. "I don't know how long it'll take before the Scourge decides to rear its head again. Not sure if I should stick around here some more or go home. Or somewhere else."
no subject
She purses her lips, giving Noctis' concerned question its due consideration. She holds her hand at eye level and watches it for a few moments, but there's no tremor to be seen. "I seem to be. Talking helps. I'll take your generous offer and reverse it: if you're ever in the market for another uncomfortably intense sexual adventure followed by cathartic conversation--or just the conversation, if you prefer--I'm equally findable. I could punch you too, if it makes you feel better." She clenches her unshaking hand into an unshaking fist and raises her eyebrows, as if that last offer ought to be considered especially generous and enticing.
But as she moves on from that... well, it's meant to be funny, but it's not really a joke... she considers Noctis' future. It's second nature for her to view things through the lens of fortunate outcomes, and it's pretty obvious to her that Noctis wants to avoid getting out of control again. But she doesn't know all the means available to him; here she has to rely on available information filtered through her own experiences.
"If you're able to switch bodies back, that would probably be safest. But if for whatever reason you can't do that yet... you should probably stay busy. Maybe try to wear yourself out at the training grounds."
Rose slips off the table to stand on the floor, suppressing a wince at the movement. She bends over to grab her purse and begins putting her things back where they belong. She considers the violin case, suspecting that the instrument within is probably broken after its rough treatment. Ah well, if she really wants to practice the violin, she can spend stamps.
As much as she really did enjoy herself, she's also done what she came to do, and she's had enough excitement for one day. She won't be volunteering to babysit Noctis.