uhmani | TDM #14

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 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 new inhabitants 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 nearly 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.

THE SEXY COMPENDIUM

Upon arrival to Amani, new inhabitants will be notified almost immediately of the sexy compendium that's uploaded to their DTF! This compendium lists all of the flora, fauna, unique geography, and miscellaneous items in Amani that might be worth looking at.

This database will update with seasonal highlights or places and items that might follow a theme! For example, the current theme is love for Valentine's Day and dragons for The Year of The Dragon!

While established inhabitants already know about all these things, it can't hurt to be reminded of what this simulated afterlife has to offer!

The Dragon Onsen

outdoor pool

dragon statue

blue tint

They suddenly look a lot more draconic than they did before.

Heart Jellies

jellyfish shaped like hearts

Wyverns

Taasunni Beach, and can range far into the Aditus Grasslands

Love Blossoms

gorgeous, pink flowers

pheromones

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>

<div style="width:100%;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:10px;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;color:#13336b">

</div>

</div>

</div></div>

<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>

</div>
</lj-raw>

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

★ Feel free to check out the sexy compendium and also use whatever is listed there as you like! What's mentioned on the TDM are just suggestions and not only what's available! We want interested players to be able to make their own fun with what Amani has to offer and not feel limited to just the prompts provided here.

★ We are currently at 24/40 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

Ah.

And now, for a brief painful moment, Ignis regrets every getting into any kind of relationship with anyone at all.

Despite that, and despite what Gladio may have said about responsibility, he doesn't plan on letting the other man take on all of that himself at all. "When it first started... I thought you would find it unpleasant," he admits. "Thinking of me involved in romance, or sexual matters at all." There is a slip in there that admits that he and Gladio have gotten intimately involved. Ignis does not particularly expect it to stand out to Noct, especially since he keeps talking.

"In truth, for myself, it was still a rather new relationship. Only recently have I come to realize how indepth it truly is... and have to contend with how I could tell you such a thing as well.

"From what Gladio has told me of the future, his solution was to simply have us act as a couple in a natural way, and that you - and Prompto as well - would pick up on it naturally in turn. It seemed as though that didn't happen. In hindsight-" Foresight? "-perhaps this was the only outcome that would have happened. You and Prompto never seemed to realize on the signals you were sending one another, so perhaps this plan was a faulty one from the start. That is on me."

You know, a version of him that definitely agreed and went on a roadtrip - wait.

Ignis sighs. "I don't know what happens on this roadtrip that has been alluded to... But it's clear that it was impactful, and more important than anything. Even as time passed with no easy way to tell you of this... From what I understand, it slowly became the least important thing on our minds.

"All I can do... is apologize. I should have told you from the first date. That was my own mistake."

Noctis doesn't manage to refute that bit about finding Ignis in a romantic or sexual context 'unpleasant' before he continues, but his face clearly says it all.

He does almost interrupt when he he hears Gladio's 'solution.' He wants to say, Gladio probably never intended that to work to begin with and just used it as justification to appease Ignis. He wants to say a lot of things, but as he has been trying to teach himself to do, he bites his tongue to make himself think first. Especially once Ignis brings up the trip, and Noctis realizes how self-absorbed his initial reaction was. What would Gladio say? Get a grip. Stop drowning yourself in your own emotions and consider someone's viewpoint other than your own.

Right. Relationships are tricky things, the Noct of today knows that very well. This wasn't one of those things everyone was keeping from Noctis 'for his own good,' which he can't stand; this was a personal thing between Ignis and Gladio that they were discovering for themselves, and honestly, Noctis isn't sure he'd tell his own teenage self anything either. That guy was a moody little shit.

But on top of that, they all had important work to do every day, and Gladio probably didn't think it was a big enough deal to put on Noct's plate alongside everything else. And by the time it would have become clear during the trip that Noctis and Prompto weren't picking it up, that was true ten times over. Not like he and Prom told the other two anything about their own, uh, escapades, either. It paled in relevance compared to the reality of their situation and day-to-day concerns. And...well, there's more, but really this much is enough.

Noctis stands there looking pensive for a moment as these thoughts work themselves out in his mind, and then he shakes his head and squeezes Ignis' hand back in return. "Nah, don't be sorry. I get it. And I'm glad you and Gladio could find something that makes you both happy. I mean that." He gives Ignis a small smile of a kind Ignis has likely never seen on his face before - something genuinely satisfied, content, with just the barest hint of distance.

"As for the roadtrip..." The smile disappears and the pensiveness comes back. "That's something we are gonna need to talk about sooner or later. I can give you the bare-bones basics if you want, but beyond that, it's...a lot. Like, a lot a lot. So you can tell us when you're ready to hear the rest."

Ah. There's something almost... regal, about the way that Noctis looks at him, in that moment. It's a smile, yes, and it's so calm and understanding that it makes his heart ache, and yet, at the same time, it's separated from him in a way that he doesn't care for.

Ignis stores those reactions inside of his chest, to be tucked away for now until he can pull them out again at a later date, hold them to the light for better inspection. He has to deal with practical concerns, right now, and so only shakes his head in regards to this mystery roadtrip. "I have been advised to perhaps take some time to focus on one matter at a time," he says, smile briefly wry before it's gone again in the blink of an eye. "So... We can save that for another day."

They were talking about something else, after all, and... It is a personal matter which may indeed need to take priority. "But that is what I wished to tell you, so that you knew before making any choice or confession. So."

His hand, tightening there again, and this time not quite easing up.

"Knowing that now... Would you still make that confession, Noct?" Because if so, if he's truly accepted Ignis and Gladio's relationship having existed beforehand and still existing now...

Ignis knows he's going to have to make a choice of his own, very and immediately soon.

"Heh...it's a little late for one matter at a time, but yeah, let's not add to it."

Noctis refocuses on this, on them, just the two of them and the words Ignis is saying. He grips Noct's hand just a little tighter as if to emphasize his question, which makes Noctis' brows lift.

"Yeah, of course," he says, once again with no hesitation - indeed, he's not even sure why it's a question at all. "Nothing's going to make it any less true, and like I said...I told you because I thought you should know, and nothing's going to change my mind on that, either."

Even if Ignis doesn't love him this way. Noctis isn't sure what other reason his advisor might have for asking all these questions and circling some center that Noct can't see. But he meant it when he said he didn't want to make Ignis give him any answer in return, so hard as it may be to handle uncertainty or rejection, Noctis is beginning to loosen his grip on the fear that bringing this up to Ignis could ruin their relationship - personal or professional.

If there's any difference between the two at all with Ignis. Noctis isn't sure there is or ever was.

There is a part of him - the part that underwent so much training, so many lessons, knowledge pressed down again and again on what it means to be Noctis's retainer, his companion, his guard and secretary and everything else - that imagines he should perhaps draw a line here. That he should consider how things should be to make Noctis's life easier in the long run, and how his retainer being romantically entangled does the opposite.

But that isn't the rest of him. The him who grew up alongside Noct. The him who held him close from the first day he ever met him as a child, and decided his whole was already his. Who hugged him whenever he got upset he couldn't see his father, and bit through his own lip when he heard Noct was in an accident, and celebrated every single birthday of his together no matter anything else.

The him who looked at Noct as they grew into young men together, and had already settled into adoring quiet love that would give him the world, if he ever asked of it. Who'd been so relieved that Prompto came into Noct's life, because it looked as though finally someone could make him happy and it clearly hadn't been Ignis for quite some years.

Ignis closes his eyes for a moment. Gladio was right. If it's even remotely in his power to give...

Even as Noct starts to loosen his own grip, retreat in uncertainty, Ignis doesn't quite allow him. If anything, his own grip tightens to make up for the slack, pulling it right back again. Back and up, twisting Noct's hand until his wrist is bared to the sky.

Bared to Ignis's lips, brushing against and pressing down at the thin skin there.

"Thank you," he murmurs.

Once again, Ignis takes him by surprise with his reaction, only this time it's swung wildly in the opposite direction. He stares. A little shiver runs down his spine at the touch of those soft lips against the sensitive skin, the warm breath when Ignis speaks.

This moment seems to fly in the face of what Noctis thought Ignis was leading up to. It...feels like reciprocation. But if Noctis jumps the gun again, makes assumptions when he's not absolutely certain, it could make Ignis feel like an expectation, and he doesn't want that.

"Uh...what, exactly, are you thanking me for?"

Really, now. But then, Ignis supposes he has no room to judge. Only a half hour ago, and he would have denied that Noct would view him anything more than someone precious but purely platonic. He can't judge Noct for not seeing the signs he's giving.

"For the greatest gift you could have bestowed upon me," he murmurs, lips dragging gently along the arch of Noct's wrist, pressing down against his palm. "One I thought far out of my reach for a very long time." His hand adjusts, fingers weaving inbetween Noctis's to spread them out, arch them back. Expose them to the soft kisses he bestows upon each one.

"I could thank you a million times, Noct.. and it would not nearly be enough, for how precious those words are to me."

For all that Noctis has started to find and accept the romantic in himself, this - especially coming from Ignis - is far beyond what he was prepared for. His eyes flutter half-closed as those lips continue their deliberate work, but blink fully open again a moment later.

"...far out of your reach? Why would you think that?"

Noctis isn't sure exactly how to feel about Ignis' words. On the one hand, he's never liked feeling like people were putting him on some pedestal or acting like his attention was something inherently desirable to such a degree. On the other...

...on the other, this is Ignis, who never does anything by half-measures or for appearances alone. Who never panders or acts out of shallow motivations. When Ignis says this, he truly means it, and that's...well, it's a warm, fulfilling feeling, but it's also scary, in a way. Noctis wants them to be equals in this, he doesn't want to unwittingly take advantage of Iggy's unwavering dedication and high opinion of him. Then again, he knows Ignis does enjoy it and doesn't shy away from saying so if he thinks Noctis can do better at something, so maybe it will be okay. Maybe Noctis can learn to enjoy this, too.

So he tries to focus on the sensations instead, the way their fingers interlace, the joy bubbling up in his heart at the thought that Ignis really does feel the same way. Tries to put his worries out of his mind for once and just exist in the moment.

And when he does, he finds himself mesmerized by what Ignis is doing. Soft, slow, careful attention of a kind Noctis has never experienced before. The feeling of it is making his heart beat faster.

His free hand comes up to cup Ignis' cheek as he holds his gaze steady. "Then I've got to thank you, too. You don't know how...how much this means to me."

"I imagine not." Letting his fingers simply sink around Noct's, Ignis closes his eyes to absorb that soft warmth along his cheek. This is more than his wildest dreams could have ever foreseen. "Yet I will gladly welcome such a surprise."

Yet there's no point in just luxuriating in this moment forever. Opening his eyes, Ignis makes a faint huff of amusement. "As for what I meant... I see that you still have a little more work to do when it comes to paying attention to other people's words, Noct. Do you recall when I mentioned my concern of having drawn a line...?"

"Hey, I paid attention!" Noctis protests...even if he can't quite remember exactly what it is Ignis is referring to immediately. "You just...said a lot of stuff."

But he thinks back for a second past the pleasant semi-haze of the last two minutes or so. Right, yes.

"...yeah, I remember. Kinda funny, because I always thought there was no way you'd ever feel like that about the guy who acted like a total brat every time you tried to help him." It's mostly wry rather than sheepish or truly self-deprecating. (Mostly.)

Edited 2024-02-26 22:53 (UTC)

Mostly.

But even that isn't acceptable to Ignis, and he reaches up with his other hand to rest along Noct's, stepping even closer. "I've never once thought of you that way," he says quietly, almost an admonishment. "Even when I was frustrated by you." Another light huff. "That did not make it any easier to weather through, of course, but I would weather anything for you."

And he means that.

Noctis' eyes soften as he smiles gratefully. "Guess that makes two of us on all counts," he says, heartbeat speeding up just a little more as Ignis comes closer.

"Hey, Specs," he says quietly after a moment. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea what is going through your head, Noct," is the reply, said in that very frank and polite manner that Noctis is all too familiar with. The only thing that gives the game away is the slight smile that pulls at his lips.

"So it would seem that you will simply have to show me."

Now this is familiar ground. "No idea, huh? Guess I could do pretty much anything, then. Choices, choices..."

As if they don't both already know exactly where this is going.

"Ehhh, a nap is pretty impractical right now, so I suppose we'll have to settle for this." Noctis doesn't quite have the straight face Ignis does, but he's got 'insincerely disaffected' down pat - other than the faint smirk on his face, of course.

But when he draws Ignis down to finally, finally kiss him, it's so much gentler and more indulgent than their banter might suggest it would be. He's not the most patient guy in the world, but for Ignis? For both of them together, for something they've both wanted for so long?

He can take his time. He can savor this. He can try to show Ignis just how much this means to him, something he couldn't figure out how to explain with words. Noctis does better with actions, generally speaking, anyway.

Settle for this. As though Ignis doesn't kiss him with that same patient and adoring reverence as he'd pressed to Noctis's wrist, his palm, every single fingertip. Noctis may do better with actions rather than words, so Ignis does his best to speak the same language with his kiss.

Because for him... This feels as though it is an answer to the quiet longing in his heart that had once settled only for the grace of Noct's light settling into him, and nothing else.

When they finally break apart, it feels far too soon. Still, for even that much, Ignis's sigh is content. "I kept you waiting. My apologies."

It may have taken Noctis a little while to get the message through words, but Ignis' attempt at translation works like a charm. There's no way Noctis could doubt it once their lips meet.

It feels too soon for Noctis, too, but getting to look into Ignis' beautiful eyes again is also good. Better than good. He chuckles lightly. "We kept each other waiting, I gotta own up to my part in that, too. But we're not waiting anymore, so..."

So what's next? With Gladio, it was easy. They both knew exactly what they wanted, something that had been building already for a long time. This is a little different, Noctis thinks. For one thing, Ignis is so big on propriety that Noct isn't sure how keen he is on jumping straight to...well, peaceful interactions. For another, this Ignis is younger, and Noctis has no idea whether those feelings include that kind of attraction for an Ignis this far back, who had teenage Noct to deal with. Not that Noctis as a teenager wasn't pretty - he knows he was, people certainly told him often enough - but whether Ignis actually wanted him like that is another question.

"...uh, so what now?"

Hm. That is a good question. One that Ignis has to admit that he was still pondering over, ever since him and Gladio had their discussion in Noct's kitchen with one another. Back then, it had simply been a nagging feeling on how he would adjust to personal and duty intercrossing in a way that they'd never had before. How, as he had asked Gladio, he could share his boyfriend with his prince.

Gladio had said that it probably wouldn't change all that much and, considering Ignis has just finished kissing his prince, he's starting to suspect he was very right.

That still, granted, doesn't answer the question of what now.

Hm.

"We should get additional groceries, I think," Ignis finally answers, after his gaze has flicked back to focus on Noctis. "I just had an idea on a few other dishes I would like to add to tonight's dinner."

Wait. What?

Groceries?

Noctis blinks at him for a moment. If it were anyone else, Noctis would probably assume they were joking. But Ignis...there's every possibility that he's 100% serious. And if he is--well, that's fine. It's not like Noctis will love him any less if he doesn't want anything more physical with him. And even if he does, it's not like they have to do anything right this minute.

He just kinda thought maybe a moment that profound might warrant...something? Some acknowledgment of some kind that something has changed? Some confirmation of what exactly this means for them? It's not that Noctis necessarily needs any particular definition to their relationship or anything, but he didn't expect Ignis to just...move on to unrelated practical matters immediately.

But if that's what Ignis wants, Noctis can roll with it. He tries to sound totally casual and entirely normal when he says, "Oh, uh...yeah, sure. Groceries. Whatever you need, Iggy."

Really, now. Ignis is pleased to see that no matter how many years have passed, Noctis still retains some rather cute characteristics. A soft and rather entertained sound, before Ignis pulls away, using the hand still entangled with Noct's to pull him along.

"And yet it seems as though perhaps there is something else you might have preferred."

So maybe Noctis deserves to be the object of entertainment here, but he's trying to do right by Ignis! Give him a break!

He groans quietly and drops his face into his free hand even as he follows and lets himself be pulled. "Okay, in my defense, you are way too good at that. ...Iiiii'm never gonna live this down, am I."

Still, it's hard to mind too much when he's walking hand in hand with Ignis back into the loft, fairly buzzing with anticipation and swiftly settling back into the comfort of knowing that Ignis is actually here with him for real, not just in a dream he has to wake up from, and feeling happier than he has in a long time.

Bold of Noctis to think they're going to the loft. Because, nope -

"The secret to a good expression is to have a trace of sincerity," he says over his shoulder. "And since you have so generously accepted my suggestion, we shall get a few more things indeed."

...Although Ignis will still keep holding Noctis's hand as they go.

"I need to make a few more dishes for Gladio, after all, and I would like to see if I can make something inbetween all the downtime for Carbuncle." Hey, Ignis, what fucking downtime with everything you're making already-

"Wait, so I was right? These are some real mixed messages I'm getting here, Specs."

But he doesn't let go or resist the direction they're walking. Just moves to walk beside Ignis rather than behind him.

"Uh, I'm pretty sure you've never had 'downtime' in your life. What've you got on the menu so far?"

"This may surprise you, but I do indeed do things when not with you."

And that's called Gladio -

Ahem.

Still, having Noct walk alongside him instead of having to be pulled seems to put Ignis in a quietly content mood. Just this much is enough for him, really. "As for the menu, I was going to primarily focus on a variety of wraps that could be made on their own, to allow for easier customization to everyone's tastes, and a large salad on the side, alongside a few side dishes." With those side dishes having veggies snuck in, because he knows in his heart that Noctis hasn't been eating a balanced diet without Ignis around...

"However, now that I've had time to reflect and consider things, I would have liked to pick up a steak as well. Whether on its own or added into the wraps."

"Yeah, like shop for ingredients and take meticulous notes." He's just saying, you work a lot, dude.

"Huh, make your own wraps, nice." He'll be steadfastly ignoring the salad, obviously. "And you know I like a good steak."

They reach the market again in short enough order, and Noctis isn't planning to let go of Ignis' hand until Iggy wants him to. He glances around, wondering if Ignis has noticed the, uh...creative designs of a lot of the food here. Like those extremely dick-shaped loaves of bread. Or the way the peaches are packaged in little wrappings shaped like panties. Noctis is used to it by now, but Iggy just got here.

"Hey, check it out, some kind of berries." He pauses to draw Ignis' attention to the display of what are indeed berries, which apparently naturally grow into the perfect boob shape and consistency, complete with 'nipple.' And he watches to see what reaction he'll get. He figures it's about as likely that Iggy will deliberately barely react at all as it is that he'll have some dry, snarky thing to say about it, so he's just rolling the dice.

It's fine. Ignis had surrendered to the knowledge that Noctis still hates vegetables, because that's an ever constant. He'll just have to do what he always does, which is make sauces filled with veggies so that Noctis doesn't realize what he's drizzling over his meat wraps.

Even at this young age, he's played this game before. He knows the cheat codes.

"Just remember that a good portion of it is going to be made with Gladio in mind," Ignis says, gaze already glancing over the marketplace. Where did he see that meat vendor... "So practice some moderation." As though he isn't going to just make a ridiculous amount of food that he's going right into the second they return home.

Preoccupied with his own goals, Ignis is mentally skipping over all the visual innuendo - right up until Noctis speaks up, drawing his attention immediately in that special privilege only Noct has.

Which he uses for things like this.

As Noct expected, Ignis's response is a barely recognizable raise of one eyebrow before he looks back to the rest of the marketplace. He's not giving any satisfaction in this area just yet. "Indeed. Now, this way. I believe that is where I saw a butcher of some sort."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

noct takes the option to let a bro choose, Iggy gets some bonus XP

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject