buttrinthum | TDM #1

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!tdm

TDM #1

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?

There is a parchment, handwritten, and it simply gives you a welcoming:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: poinsettias and mistletoe. You’ll soon find out that being around the poinsettias give you an odd sense of joy no matter how confusing the situation may seem and the mistletoe, which is left over from the holiday season, gives you the desire to kiss or hold hands with the nearest person to you. It looks like there are plenty of others who are just now waking up from their dream-state as well.. why not go ahead and say hello?

Somnius / Snow Angels

With the influx of new life, the humble town a barkeep tells you is called Somnius seems to come alive as well, with new faces to join that of the resident fairies, goblins and other townfolk. There’s bustling energy to the land that the townfolk will tell you wasn’t quite there before, and some suspect that the presence of the new arrivals might be powering the world around them in some way - but that’s a question to be answered on another day. The quaint town of Somnius needs a little bit of care, that rustic feel to the mushroom houses, old shops and weathered castles too evident at first glance, but it’s not a bad place to live, as the locals will tell you. It almost seems like everything will be okay…

But of course, things are never so simple.

Whether you have been wandering around to get your bearings, talking to the locals or exploring your new humble (very humble) abode, you can expect to find mysterious ice sculptures - fashioned in the shape of snow angels, with blades in their hands - appearing in random places around the town. There are some that manifest in the middle of the street, some that sit quietly at the edge of an inn, and even some that appear right beside your bed, staring at you as you wake up. It’s unclear how these sculptures even got here, but close proximity to them will conjure up feelings of unrest, like you should not step any closer.

It’s smart to trust your gut in these situations. Step too close to a snow angel and it will come to life, moving with the grace of flowing water. They make a vague request and will spare only those able to heed it.

“Cold … so cold … Even the days of Visium are so cold. Have you any warmth to spare us?”

Some angels will accept an article of clothing as warmth. Others are greedy and keep demanding more, wanting to take everything that you have on your body. Heed their requests and they will spare you. Resist even just a little, and that’s when they draw their swords.

It’s not too easy to defeat an angel with brute force given that they reform themselves immediately. Running away or blasting them with fire could do the trick. Be careful not to get cut by their blades, however…

Characters who get cut by their blades will experience an inconsolable sense of chill and emptiness, right down to their bones. They will find themselves desiring ‘warmth’ from others in different ways - whether through physical contact, or affectionate words and gestures. There might be the few who go feverish in their desire for warmth. For those characters – the open fireplace is looking like a very tantalizing place to sit in right now (Yes, sit in, not by). They might even feel compelled to pull a friend in with them. That can’t be good for anyone…

The effects will only subside if the condition of receiving ‘warmth’ is met. This can be in the literal sense (physical warmth and intimacy) or figurative (feelings of love, acceptance and happiness).

Bonfire

When night falls, the temperatures only drop further, which does no favours for the poor souls who had to give up their clothing. The locals want to welcome the new arrivals and give everyone an opportunity to unwind from a busy and chaotic day of being hunted by snow sculptures. That’s why they’ve set up a gathering in the middle of town square. Food and alcohol is being generously supplied by The Cask & Anvil, and marketplace vendors have set up pop up stands to try and cajole the new arrivals into purchasing some fancy new clothes or a pretty gemstone they claim will ward off danger (claims not verified).

At the center of it all is a large bonfire that’s warming up the square. Everyone is encouraged to warm themselves by it after a long day, eat, and make merry. In fact, there’s a certain sense of enchantment to the crackling fire that seems to draw even the shiest wallflower in, pushing them to sit with others and make conversation. As the night goes on, the newly arrived dreamers will find themselves settling easily into the warm and bustling mood, any stresses and anxieties melting away. With time, they’ll start to find themselves without a filter, more than happy to talk about themselves and the life they had led prior to coming to Visium. In fact, they will feel compelled to share a story from their past - one that might be joyous, comedic, thrilling, or tragic. Whatever sorts of feelings come attached to their story, it will be one of emotional significance.

In the back of their minds, they might get the sense someone else is listening.

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! Characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.

With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze. Please comment here to request an outcome for your character's labyrinth exploration and a moderator will get to you shortly. (The longest a character can stay in the Labyrinth is 3 days.)

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

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[ That someone ... will not be telling him. At least, not immediately, because he first needs to figure out what's going on and whether sharing that information would be a good idea or not. Megumi will be thinking about this, and it probably will come out at some point. Just not right now, because ... there's something else grabbing hold of both their attention.

He's used to being peered at by this man but that doesn't mean he likes it. It's especially annoying when he has this silly appendage stuck to his head. There's a very obvious bristling when he hears that comment about them being cute, and Gojo can probably hear the unsaid complaints going through his head. What part about this is cute? ]

You're making it sound like I was trying to become part-cat on purpose ...

[ That said, though, he doesn't find it too bad, given his love for animals. He just would have preferred something more canine, like a wolf. Anyway, he can already read his teacher's train of thought. He's curious about the potions. ]

Yellow. It's an animal transformation potion.

( good plan, good plan; gojo can't say he's ever been in a situation like this before, but if he happened to be the one with information about a future that someone else doesn't know about, and it's not a great one … well, he's pretty good already at lying by omission, isn't he? it might actually be a piece of cake for him to keep his mouth shut for once.

( thank goodness this isn't the case, though, because it really is anyone's guess whether or not he would actually be able to keep from spilling the beans. the exact opposite of leaving out key information when it would be really helpful if he didn't. )

it would be kind of a miracle if something were actually able to take his attention away from these new appendage's of his student's. always quick on the uptake, megumi gets where his line of thinking is going without much poking or prodding at all, and when he gets the answer he'd been expecting he reaches to pull out the potion he's yet to make a decision about, golden liquid swirling around in the vial as he presents it. )

Maybe not on purpose, I'd think if you had any choice in the matter you would have opted for a wolf or something. ( does he know ya boy? he knows ya boy. he shakes the vial a little. ) I wonder what I'll end up with …

[ Gojo really does know him too well. In fact, he was pretty much reading his mind there. There's a sense of annoyance at being so easily read, but at the same time it seems to confirm the bond they share, and he doesn't hate it. Even with how conflicted he feels about the older man being here, it's also comforting ... to be around someone he loves and trusts. ]

It could be something useful or annoying. There's no real way to tell. [ Gojo could turn into a mouse or something. Which would be somewhat adorable, but also make him vulnerable. ] But I was able to shift back with concentration. I just can't get the ears to go away.

[ But he doesn't mind them too much if no one comments on them. ]

Are you going to drink it?

( sir he has known you since you were seven and taken care of you for just as long. if he can't practically read your mind by now he's genuinely doing something wrong.

he might enjoy effectively ruffling the other's feathers a bit too much sometimes, but that comes with the sort of bond they have, he likes to think; megumi bullies him about his preferences with regard to food ( sugar is not sustainable nutrition and you know it ) and he needles him in turn about everything under the sun every chance he gets. it's part of their rapport, this back and forth, and even if it means megumi is stuck here too … he would honestly be pretty lonely if he wasn't.

he swirls the vial again. ) Could be a unicorn. ( gojo, no. ) Ever thought of what it might be like to stab someone with your head? ( what the hell are you on —

but he doesn't answer his question directly, instead opting to open the vial and down the potion in one long swallow; it doesn't taste terrible, more like nothing much at all, and he places the empty vial back in his back to deal with later. because do you see any trash receptacles around here? littering is for losers.

at first, nothing happens. but then there's a bit of tingling at the back of his head that seeps downward like a trickle of cold water over the back of his neck, his shoulders, his chest and on down until his entire body feels like an appendage that's fallen asleep. and then.

you might want to look down, megumi.

because there is about to be a white clouded leopard curling around your calves in a couple of seconds. )

[ A unicorn ... While plausible, he really doesn't know why that's the first thing that came to the older man's mind. It's just not the usual option? Already, he's imagining how ludicrous that would look, given his mentor's already dazzling appearance and the propensity for unicorns to be somewhat sparkly (as per popular fiction). ]

You already use your head for enough nonsense ...

[ What he says is an insult, but it's also knowing, even if sullen. Megumi looks with interest as Gojo downs the liquid, hopeful that the result will be something useful and strong. What he gets ... isn't disappointing in the slightest. ]

A snow leopard. [ A very fair one, with sparkling blue eyes characteristic of the man who raised him. He can't help but find the creature Gojo has transformed into quite majestic and so, so cute. Megumi reaches down to stroke the side of Gojo's face, running down his neck. ]

Can you still understand me?

( unicorns also don't exist in the real world, so it wouldn't even be plausible, but he has a tendency to show an even sillier side of himself when he's in the presence of his favorite student. he is literally the only person that would think of such a thing right off the top off his head, probably, unless yuuji ends up popping up somewhere along the way and both encouraging and joining in on his ridiculous shenanigans.

but moving right along.

have another pout for your trouble, mister. ) You think it's nonsense … someone else might think I'm brilliant. ( would you please just. stop before you hurt yourself. go ahead and drink that potion so you'll stop talking for a handful of seconds.

which, ah. back to that!

he bumps up against megumi's calves and seeks to curl his long, lean body around them, leaning perhaps a bit too heavily into that pet to his neck, but it's just a further extension of the man's propensity for tactility, which apparently extends to forms beyond his human one.

at the question, his head tips to the side and he mrrs. emphatically. yes, he can understand you! )

[ Oh, oh no. Oh no. Gojo Satoru in cat flavour is just too cute. Megumi's always been an animal lover. Even if he skews more towards dog person than cat person, he can't look at a large, fluffy, affectionate feline and not feel something in return. It doesn't help that he already has a bond with the person inside that furry body. The chirp in acknowledgement especially gets him. ]

This form isn't bad, I guess ... [ Which is the understatement of the century, if you take into account what he's actually feeling right now. Megumi takes a few moments to build up the confidence before he lowers himself into a squat, gingerly wrapping his arms around the feline's neck and resting the side of his face in Gojo's fur. There's a quick glance around to make sure no one is looking, of course.

He never wants this moment to be spoken of when Gojo returns to human form. ]

( something could be said of just why he'd opted to take the potion so easily; it's really because he trusts what megumi says about it, it's ultimately harmless and he had been curious to see what he would end up with … but knowing just how much his student loves animals, if he had ended up with something he was more partial to —

it's kind of a win-win situation, isn't it? this is going to be interesting.

he chirps again when megumi stoops down in front of him, pushing into his space even as he's closing the distance between them; he noses into the space between his neck and shoulder, nuzzling just to see if he can get away with it and if after a handful of seconds of that comfortable, familiar, intimate contact there starts a rumbling in the center of his chest that seemingly comes out of nowhere … surprise.

you're gettin' the purrs. please enjoy. )

[ Gojo's nuzzles and leopard strength are enough to tip Megumi back, and he falls easily into seated position, tucking his legs so they are crossed on the ground. There's no resistance at all when that large, furry snout draws close, and he keeps his arms wrapped around Gojo's neck, scratching him where he knows cats generally like to be scratched. The rumbling purrs are soothing, triggering Megumi to fall into a deeper state of relaxation. He closes his eyes, encouraging the older man to draw near and settle over his lap. He wouldn't do this if he was in his human form, of course. That would have other sorts of connotations to it and be quite awkward.

His face is still pressed up against that soft fur, and a soft rumble of a purr vibrates out of his chest as well, which is a first so far. It feels like he could easily drift off into sleep. This might be the most relaxed he's felt in a while, and it's long overdue given the stress he's been under the last few weeks. ]

( at least he has a little bit of strength like this, damn. he'll honestly take what he can get, even though there's no real reason to be thinking about something like the strength he does or doesn't have when he's nuzzling his student in a form other than his human one.

( though it stands to reason that he's always going to have thoughts like protecting him on his mind, which is difficult when literally everything has been stripped away from you that could potentially be of any help at all. )

he does end up settling over his lap, essentially draped over his entire bottom half as he settles, makes himself as comfortable as megumi will allow him and there is some distant part of him that realizes this is far less likely to happen if they were both human. as much as he'd tried to get the other to snuggle with him when he was younger, it's another instance of he'll take what he can get.

they're both more relaxed than they have been in a good while, and gojo never feels as though he could find himself fall asleep so easily, but here he is, leaning the whole of his weight into that usually-smaller body and letting the rumbling of his purrs spread through him.

it's all nice and comfy now, but just. wait for it … )

[ Megumi's been averse to touch since he was a child, even toward the sister he grew up with. He doesn't quite know why he is that way, but it probably has something to do ... a lack, in his early childhood. He would push off his guardian's hands when he was 7, and he never eased up on that, continuing to shrug off any sort of touch. Something like what they were doing would be inconceivable to him if the man were human ...

But he's not human. There's no immediate embarrassment he feels associated with it. Only comfort and affection in its purest form. Megumi allows the large cat to settle in his lap, resting his hands on Gojo's fur and stroking him idly behind the ears. ]

It's so loud ... [ The purring. It's resounding through his guardian's feline body, rumbling deeply and softly. The vibrations were soothing beyond belief. With how much he knows about cat behaviour from his reading, he knows that cats do this when they feel happy, relaxed and trust the person they are with. That ... doesn't come as too much of a surprise, but he still feels that sense of warmth when the thought crosses his mind. He trusts him. They have a bond. Well, of course they do, with how many years it has been. ]

Are you about to fall asleep?

( he's been trying to get him more used to touch as the years have gone by, with little success but that's neither here nor there; it hasn't stopped him trying, and it won't stop him going forward, but this … this is something neither of them would have ever expected in a million years, but it's more than he's ever gotten out of him, and have we mentioned he's going to take what he can get and run with it?

baby steps, right? or something like that? this is the closest he's been to his student in a good long while, and what does it really matter if one of them isn't in their human form? maybe … this can become a regular thing, or maybe this can pave the way for more close moments. baby steps.

are you about to fall asleep?

( are you waiting for it? )

he stretches — full-bodied, absolutely zero thoughts in his head as far as returning to his natural shape but between one breath and the next he goes from leopard back to pale, naked man and he does not realize his clothes are about an arm's length away from him when he rolls over in megumi's lap with a yawn. )

M'not falling asleep. ( never mind that he also doesn't realize he's spoken out loud and he couldn't before, because there were always thoughts happening in response to anything megumi said to him.

did you want a naked sensei in your lap? no? too bad. )

[ In his relaxed state, Megumi only picks up on the changes when it's too late. One minute he's stroking the fur of a large cat, and the next, he's -- got his hand pressed against bare skin?

Pale bare skin, to be precise. The naked chest of this man he's known for so long, as Gojo - now more human than cat - sprawls out over his lap. ]

Wha -- [ There are probably so many suitors who would pay money for a sight such as this, given Gojo's convectional beauty. Megumi's mind doesn't quite work that way. Instead, he's mortified, his face reddening quickly as he snaps into action. ]

Don't just change back! [ While he wouldn't normally hit his teacher (beyond the efforts to push him away, and the futile batting of his little fists as a child), it's Megumi's first instinct to smack away the object of his offense. His hands move to shove Gojo off his lap, nails likely to leave a scratch mark on him if the older man does not manage to dodge. ]

( we are truly, truly sorry you're about to be traumatized, megumi. we did not mean for this to happen! and by 'we', we mean … yes, we did mean for this to happen, but it's all for the fun of it. nothing more than that!

of course, gojo doesn't realize that he's switched back to mostly-human — he still has a tail he's going to have to contend with until he can figure out how to make that go away, but that's neither here nor there — and while it does take him a moment or two to comprehend that he's actually spoken aloud and isn't just thinking to himself, it's going to take him a moment more to realize that his clothes are not on his person.

they are, in fact, precisely where he'd left them, which is at least a good arm's length away, and that is a long arm's length if we're going by his. which, we are. blast it all. ) I'm—

( yikes, that's a pretty powerful shove there, kiddo; his reaction times is generally much better than it is now, but having just been roused from a nice little nap and having shifted into a form of the feline persuasion has left him a little slow on the uptake, and as such finds him sprawling less-than-elegantly within reach of his clothes with a thin nail-scratch across one cheek and over the curve of one pale shoulder.

is he pouting? he's pouting. ) I didn't do it on purpose! ( behind him, his tail twitches in puffed-up agitation, and at least then he finally notices he still has it.

and he huffs, but at least he's reaching to pull his clothing back into place where it belongs. ) So mean … ( sulk, sulk, sulky sensei. )

[ It only dawns on him after that he's actually managed to hurt his teacher for what might be the very first time. Usually, the strongest man alive is virtually untouchable. That's worrisome in a way, that Gojo - one of the most important people in his life, and the key to solving all their problems back home - could be injured by something as miniscule as a cat's claws here.

Though they are both men, and it isn't too strange to be around nudity where they come from (in communal baths, that is), it's the circumstances around it that have Megumi flustered. They were lulled into such a peaceful calm before disaster struck, and he suddenly had a naked man on his lap. ]

You should've controlled yourself better. [ There's a snap, his gaze turned away as he waits for his mentor to dress themselves again. That pouting? He does see it, but he ignores it completely! ]

Wear your clothes ...

( it does startle him, at least for a moment, when he realizes he's been scratched in the first place; he's been well aware of the fact that he's essentially defenseless here aside from inherent things like wit and smarts and his training in things like martial arts, but he's been so heavily dependent on his infinity technique to nullify even having to think of much else, because the barrier itself is so complete —

it's. unsettling, to say the very least of it, but he's not going to have much choice in anything, is he? other than finding ways to deal with an effective handicap. he's adaptable, he will survive.

especially if it's only kitten scratches.

he pulls his clothes back into place at a meandering pace, perhaps more because megumi seems so flustered than anything else? nudity isn't so uncommon back home, no, but there is something to be said about suddenly having your naked mentor and benefactor in your lap without warning. surely. he's just going to think it's funny for a little while, if you don't mind. )

I was comfortable. ( he offers idly, like it hadn't been blatantly obvious with the excessive purring. ) And you can't expect me to have complete control over something new instantly, you know. ( what, you mean the strongest man in the world doesn't immediately have control over his new animal form??? scandalous.

he finally finishes dressing, complete with glasses in place of the blindfold. )

Happy now?

[ He knows that none of this is actually Gojo's fault, but he doesn't feel inclined to apologise for the violence he had inflicted. It's not that Megumi thinks he's in the right, or is the sort to disrespect his elders. They just have a familiarity that allows for such a thing - for occasional bratty or childish behaviour he wouldn't often show to anyone else. It comes with spending excessive time with someone for 9 years.

He feels just a pinch of guilt - not a whole lot, but it's there. There's a glance at that scratch he's caused, the bright red mark across the man's cheek and peeking out of the fabric over his shoulder. Megumi isn't used to seeing Gojo hurt at all, and that itself is worrying. ]

Let's find something to disinfect it with. [ Who knows what weird germs you can find in fantasy land? He doubts there will be much in the way of modern first aid but they can probably dab some rubbing alcohol over the scratch to be sure. ]

( megumi has always been more candid with him than he is with anyone else, and he knows that comes, in part, from being around him so much during his formative years — and being bossed around by him for any number of reasons, but that's neither here nor there — and, truthfully? he's glad that he gets to see that side of him, because it means he's comfortable with him and that he trusts him, and if it means he gets more of his bratty side than he would think to give anyone else. he'll take it.

even if it means, in this particular scenario, that he ends up physically injured in longer than he cares to remember. 'tis but a scratch, as we've probably mentioned before. he'll get through this.

he brushes the pad of his thumb over the cut at his cheek, checking to make sure it isn't bleeding or anything annoying like that, and gives a dismissive shrug. )

It'll be fine, Megumi. No need to worry over it. ( he closes some of the distance between them again, reaching out with one hand to ruffle the other's dark hair as he has so many times over the years. )

Unless you just want a reason to fuss over me …

[ After coming down from the absurdity of the situation before, and settling into a more usual dynamic, that's when Megumi starts to feel the gravity of the loss - how long it's felt like it's been since he's been able to have a silly conversation with this man, even if it's only been a month or so since the sealing. They've known each other for 9 years, and there was never a time he's been left alone or cast away by his mentor and benefactor during that time. Come to think of it, he took all that for granted, didn't he? And now they've on borrowed time in a way, because there's no guarantee when the whims of the land will decide to send this man back and doom him to his fate. ]

Quiet ... We don't know what germs are out here. [ He does want a reason to fuss over him. Reaching out, he tugs at the taller man's sleeve in a manner that's almost child-like, not unlike the rare occasions he would hold on to Gojo's clothing when he was slightly unsettled and needed reassurance. ]

We'll ask the shops if anyone has a basic first aid kit. [ Still tugging the older man, he walks them toward the town. ]

( he still doesn't know about the whole sealing thing, and the way you and yuji are going about it he never will, but maybe it's for the best in the long run, because he wouldn't like the thought of leaving his students to fend for themselves, much less megumi because he's looked after him for so long, been the one to keep him safe, and for what —

but. ah. that's just a bit of introspection for the sake of it, and there's no need to go thinking too hard about it, because he doesn't know.

if he's perfectly honest with himself, he's going to enjoy this time with him, because it doesn't seem there are any curses or anything else that needs worrying about outright, and he's not about to look that effective gift horse in the mouth.

megumi tugs at his sleeve, and his heart remembers those earlier times that he would do so without really thinking about it, seeking his attention just because he knew it would always be there, and gojo hates thinking about a time in which it might not.

he goes along with the pull, letting the younger drag him along as though he's put out by it, but really? it reminds him of when he was much, much younger … and policing the sort of things he tried to buy while grocery shopping. )

Okay, okay … if you insist. ( pause, just for the emphasis on something he's said so many times before: ) Bossy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #1

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i love using this icon on meg LMAO

kissy face

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