uhmani | TDM #13

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):

Have some kinky fun! Enjoy yourselves! Don't be afraid to ask your fellow inhabitants either about the contents of the basket if you aren't sure. This is what being peaceful should be all about.

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.

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...

Pomegrante

malleable

new sliding scales

Blackberries

personality flip on its head

Peaches

swap kinks

Grapes

shared experience

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.

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

★ *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

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Doll matches Rosie's beaming with some of her own, clearly basking in the praise. She giggles at the admiration of her kindness and grace, but is a little embarrassed by a specific compliment: "Do I really seem sophisticated? I knew very little of my own world, and know little more now." She looks over the party. "I dreamed of attending parties, though never did I expect to attend one. And I think this is nicer than the parties in my dreams, because it is not so crowded."

The Doll settles smoothly into a kneeling position so Rosie can make up her face with ease. She rests her hands on her lap, folded. "Oh," she says, processing Rosie's assessment on the Doll's look. "It is like clothing. Each must dress to suit their form and taste. I am excited to see what you will make of me."

As Rosie works, the Doll muses on her earlier thoughts: "There are many wild things like you here, I think. I smell the blood their hands have spilled, the lovers their bodies have known. They are beasts with soft flesh and pretty perfumes, familiar with violence yet choosing kindness." Nobody's died or drank blood at this party at all, after all.

"I love them very much."

Dreamed of attending parties, she says, and Rosie is stung by a hint of familiarity. There was once a time when she was a lot more like The Doll, maybe, longing for things that seemed so mundane. Living among humans always seemed like such an unfathomable thing... Yet now after only a few decades among them, she acts more human than anything and struggles with her demonity. "You do," she says, giving a nod of approval. "Glad you're enjoying this one, too."

Rosie remains standing - or crouched, as necessary - since The Doll is very tall and she is so very not. "Well, I hope that what I make of you is something that you enjoy too!" She's all about making a statement of her own, after all, and being unique. Herself. Sometimes Rosie admits she's not sure who she really is, but- No matter who she does end up being it will have been her choice. That's what matters.

As she works a brush of bronze-tinted eyeshadow across one of the doll's eyes experimentally, she listens to her talk. "Love, huh? That's a pretty strong thing, but... I guess I'd probably agree. At least, I love when people choose kindness over violence these days. I often try to myself. It doesn't always work out, of course, but it does more than it doesn't lately."

The Doll smiles softly, accepting Rosie's praise. If she says the Doll seems sophisticated, then the Doll has no reason not to trust her.

"I shall surely enjoy your work," the Doll notes--she doesn't have to move her lips to speak, making makeup much easier. "However I look, I shall know it is how you wished to see me. On my face shall be the evidence of our friendship."

The Doll's gaze slides over to take in Rosie as she shares her thoughts on people. "I do love everyone. It is as I was made. Sometimes it is overwhelming." She thinks for a moment. "People are quite kind in Amani. I was built to care for Hunters, but the long night and the thirst for blood made them restless and wary. Many knew no kindness but what I could share with them. I do not feel as needed here in Amani, for the inhabitants all have each other. But I am happy to share my love in whatever way I can.

"Do you feel the same, Rosie? I am only a pretend woman, but I feel we are the same somehow, and you are the kind of woman I should like to be."

That is one thing that Rosie is here in Amani at least: sincere. Sometimes, to a fault. She spent too long saying what she didn't mean for men whose approval she needed but didn't desire that she can't help but now make sure her compliments do come from a truthful place.

When she hears The Doll's voice but her lips don't move, Rosie pauses only briefly. Oh. That is convenient, huh. It will definitely come in handy when painting her lips. While her instinct is to go for a strong, bold red... Maybe with the bronze a nude color might be better? The blond considers make-up logistics and aesthetics as much as anything, really, though she tries to be attentive to what The Doll is saying as well.

"They are," she agrees, thinking. While Rosie wasn't made specifically for a purpose like The Doll, she was certainly molded to fill certain spots for predatory men. "I also agree that I... don't feel as needed, sometimes, and that's difficult. But I do like to give what I can still." Perhaps she still likes to give too much.

But what good is she otherwise? It's all she knows, to give and give and give in the hopes that it will be enough. That she will be enough.

"I don't know if I'm the kind of person you should strive to be, honestly, but that's sweet of you. Kind of used to being a bad example instead of a good one."

The Doll takes Rosie's advice into consideration, waiting with endless patience as Rosie applies powders and paints.

"I see. What kind of person should I strive to be, then?"

If she admires Rosie, it only makes sense to trust Rosie's assessment of the Doll.

'A good one' feels far too vague to be helpful. Don't they all strive to be good people, anyway? Well... Maybe not all of them but, of course, good and evil were subjective anyway. It's all such interesting shades of grey.

"Kind, I'd say," she starts, thinking of the right words to use. "Not that you aren't. Just, hm- It's easy for others to say be yourself but, well, when you don't always know what that means then it gets tricky. So, in my case, I just think it's good to be kind where you can." As she speaks, she paints the woman's lips a beige-y color and leans back a little to see how she feels about it. Maybe pink, after all? Something to stand out just a bit more.

"I also think you should strive to be the person that you want to be, whatever that means. Creative, maybe, with your sewing. Or helpful, like you already seem to be. But do you want to be those things or do they just come naturally?" A pause. "Sorry, maybe this is more confusing than anything. I guess, it really comes down to... What you want, in the end, and doing the things that convey that."

The Doll considers Rosie's meandering advice. It's interesting to hear Rosie herself describe it as confusing, as the Doll generally assumed any confusion must simply be a failing on her own part. After all, being a good doll meant learning about and understanding people.

"I want to be loved," the Doll says after a bit of thought, "as you are loved. I want everyone else to feel my love for them."

The Doll places articulated fingers over where her heart would be if she had one. "It is overwhelming, this love-ache. I would be anyone, for everyone. But I am not good enough at pretending to be real. Not yet. That is why I would learn from you."

As she is loved, huh? Her initial instinct is to discredit such a thing. This isn't home though where she was desired for what it meant to be with her instead of who she was; truly, everyone here that claimed to did love her rather than what she represented. Or, at least, she hoped they did. Trusted that they meant it when they said so.

"I get that," she says, to The Doll's mention of being 'anyone for everyone.' Even outside of her job of fitting the mold, she'd twisted herself every which way to make those she cared for happy. Sometimes, to her detriment. She gets it, yes, but the thought that The Doll wants to emulate that causes a strange ache in her chest.

"I'd be happy to teach you what I can," she settles on. "But I admit, learning to be myself has also meant realizing that... some people might not like those things about me." And what an unfathomable concept, once upon a time. To not be wanted when she knew she could be, she could if it meant they'd give her that validation- Some people might prefer The Doll to be just a doll instead of trying to be real. Would she be okay with that?

"Which is okay! Like I said, I get it. Wanting to please everyone and I do my best, too, but sometimes you just might not be for them." And that's okay, she doesn't say, because she's not so sure yet it is. But she's trying to believe so.

The Doll thinks for a long few moments. "I do not understand," she says finally, "as I am already myself. Perhaps that is a thing people need learn that dolls need not."

But the Doll's tone isn't frustrated, and she wears a smile as she looks at Rosie. "Thank you for teaching me what you can. I like to hear you speak. I like how the makeup brush feels against my face. I like you, Rosie, even if not everyone else does."

Well, that's... not surprising, actually! Although she tried, Rosie realizes she probably wasn't expressing herself well enough. The Doll may be herself but is that who she wants to be? For now, Rosie thinks she can let the answer be: yes.

"How I speak?" she questions, mildly amused. "Usually, people enjoy how I squeak more than anything it seems." She does appreciate it though. People who like her for her qualities outside of sex are ones she's always fond of; however, she doesn't have the awareness yet why that is. Eventually, she'll get it. Someday. Hopefully.

"I like you too, Doll," she says though. "And thanks for letting me talk and put on make-up. It's... nice, sometimes. The little things like that."

The Doll just blinks at Rosie's reference to squeaking. She's perhaps in the minority in Amani for not getting this reference, but that is fine. Perhaps she'll hear Rosie squeak one day?

If the Doll could blush at the compliment, she would... though it might not even be visible under the makeup Rosie's put on her. "I can be your canvas whenever you like," she says, reminded of when her friend Elidibus said something similar to her.

"Am I nearly done, then? I am excited to see what you have made me."

Maybe she will. At this point, Rosie's not about to rule out anything - or anyone - in Amani. Well, okay- Mostly anyone. There are a handful of exceptions but not for any bad reasons. Even if that's still difficult to wrap her head around some days, she's getting more used to the idea that some relationships don't need to be sexual. What a concept!

"Oh, that's a lot of power to give me," she teases. "We'll see! I've had a lot more fun with this than I thought." Usually, the only person being made up was her so... Having the chance to doll (pun intended) others up? Kind of fun.

"You are, yeah! Let me just find a mirror around here-" This said as she starts to rummage around for either a hand mirror or make-up kit that has one built-in. Eventually, she unearths one and pops it open to show The Doll how she looks.

The Doll giggles at Rosie's teasing. She's glad her friend has had fun making her up, and she has no concerns whatsoever in giving Rosie whatever power she likes. The Doll waits patiently yet expectantly for the mirror, and looks attentively at her reflection.

What she sees in the mirror is no doll, but a woman. There's the blush of life there, a texture like flesh that one might imagine red blood pumping just beneath. The woman in the mirror is frozen in a moment, her emotions uncertain, but in just a moment she will laugh in pleasure, or cry in pain, or simply take a deep breath and think about her cares, about the weight of a world to which she must soon return. There's a noble cast to her features, and a sadness. And as predicted, tears slip through her pale eyelashes, running streaks along the flesh of her cheeks.

"Oh no," says the Doll, her tone the same as it ever is. She places her fingers at the edges of her eyes, to protect the makeup her friend had so much fun designing. "Forgive me, Rosie. It is very nice."

Naturally, there is the moment where Rosie think it's her fault for the tears. It is, but not in the way she actually is imagining. Had she done badly? Did The Doll hate the look after all? Although Rosie had tried to be mindful, there was sometimes no real accounting for personal tastes so it's possible- "Oh," she says, a pause to her thoughts as she processes what the other woman just said. 'It is very nice,' so that means that she didn't do her make-up well.

Perhaps, she recognizes, it was too good of a job. Rosie does think of The Doll as just another woman after all; that was reflected in the care and style she chose to paint on her face. She's glad that was conveyed but unprepared for what it might mean to The Doll exactly.

"Hey, no, don't worry about it. A lot of mascara is waterproof, at least. Plenty of make-up is too." She doesn't know about this kind specifically or the quality of it though imagines sleepover cosmetics aren't generally known for being top tier. "I'm glad you like it so much," she offers next, coming to rest in front of The Doll on her knees and smiling up at her gently. "Sorry though if it was... too much, maybe. I get it, really, sometimes even I get real emotional about the most unexpected stuff."

The Doll nods at Rosie's assurance, trusting her about the mascara. "I am glad you get it, as I do not," she says, but at least she's no longer worried about ruining the makeup. She turns her head left then right, admiring Rosie's handiwork. "It is lovely. I am lovely." She giggles, then looks to Rosie, eyes still glistening.

"Thank you very much for playing with me, Rosie. I hope we can do this again."

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TDM #13

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Missed this one for... six months, whoops.

happens to the best of us...!

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