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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[ To Yuji, at least, nothing feels that different. He always wants to be around Megumi, wants to make sure he’s safe and protected, so this draw to him feels familiar. It’s a relief to know his friend is here in the first place, to recognise that they’re going to be able to take care of each other in this strange place just as much as they had been doing in the Game before.

They probably have a lot to talk about on that front too.

For now, he just smiles, letting Megumi touch him and nodding his head, tilting into the touch absently. ]

Your senses? What do you mean?

[ Which… Makes Yuji focus a little, because he realises that he does feel a little different. Frowning, he clenches his fists and lifts it to try and summon that familiar flow of cursed energy and… There’s nothing. ]

Fushiguro… Do you have your cursed energy?

[ While it's true that Megumi always wants to be within Yuuji's general vicinity, feeling at ease within his presence and anxious when he cannot find him, he's always been uncomfortable with touch. It was the same when Tsumiki would try to rest against him, or when his friend would lean in far too close in his usual excited fashion. He likes his space and feels awkward when that imaginary line is crossed. That's why the air around them feels odd, that the desire is there without the associated nerves.

Maybe it's nothing? Maybe he's just extremely relieved he knows where Yuuji is. Still, he can't get those lips off his mind, or how easily the other boy had leaned into his touch - the trust he had.

Don't think about it. Push it down. Megumi looks away, keeping his eyes on the path. ]

I tried to summon the dog before, but I couldn't. All of it's gone. How are you fairing?

[ Megumi can't summon the dog and Yuji feels weird - off. Like something is missing. It could just be the fact that Sukuna doesn't seem to be settled in his mind any more, which would explain why he doesn't have his powers at all, but if Megumi can't use his cursed energy either... Then isn't that a big problem? It makes them far more vulnerable than they would be otherwise, and he frowns as he glances over at his friend.

At least they're together, he thinks to himself, wanting to reach out and grab Megumi's hand, just to anchor himself. It feels right, to want to shift closer and lean on him, to feel his warmth and his weight. It doesn't cross his mind as something unusual, or something he shouldn't be doing, or even something weird.

Lifting his hands and curling them into fists again, he tilts his head. ]

Hey, Fushiguro...

[ His eyes dart up, and he grins. ]

Can I punch you?

[It's definitely concerning to him that his cursed energy would be blocked off, but Megumi's not the type to sit around fretting about a situation. There's nothing they really can do but work with what they have and stay on the alert for any signs of danger. At least they reunited fairly early on, so Megumi can continue to keep an eye on him.

There are several things going through his mind right now. What lies at the end of this path? Will they find anyone else, and any sort of civilisation? How will they protect themselves with no cursed energy? What's with that strange air around them, urging him to want to hold his friend?

Yuuji's question cuts right through his thoughts, because it's very unexpected. ]

.... What. [ Pause. It makes sense to test out Yuuji's new limits (if they have changed), and punching the flora might lead to disastrous effects. There's also a part of Megumi that holds some pride, that wants to confirm his own strength (especially against this boy). ]

I guess? [ IT'S GOING TO HURT THOUGH! ]

[ Yuji knows he should definitely be more worried about the loss of cursed energy, but there’s a part of him that’s too relieved that Sukuna is gone for him to put too much emotional energy into that. He’s exhausted and the curse’s last words are running through his mind: a reminder that to save Megumi’s sister he’s going to have to give up his own life. There’s no other option.

At least this is a distraction enough, and despite the way that Megumi looks at him incredulously Yuji is sure that it’s a good idea. If he knows how strong he is then he can take care of them both, with or without his cursed energy. Megumi has protected him so often, it’s about time he paid it back.

Nodding, he turns to face Megumi properly. ]

Okay. I hope it doesn’t hurt too bad.

[ Then, without any more hesitation, he swings his fist around and punches Megumi square in the stomach with almost his entire strength behind it.

He’s really not thinking about this beyond ‘testing’. ]

[ .... IMMEDIATE REGRET. Really, what did Megumi did would happen? Did he really think, for even a second, that he would survive a punch by Itadori Yuuji? It was an especially stupid move given that he doesn't have cursed energy anymore to reinforce his body. ]

It'll be -- [ Fine., he says, but it's not fine. Not fine at all! He's winded immediately, the force of the punch forcing all the air out of him like a balloon that's deflating. The punch is so quick it doesn't hurt at first. No, the pain comes after, the ache in his muscles and bones screaming at him as he's blown several feet back and hits a tree.

He can only manage a hoarse whisper as he lies there on his back, not quite ready to move yet. ]

Serious... ly? [ At least they know Yuuji's still quite strong. ]

[ That… Makes the situation about his strength pretty clear. No cursed energy, but he’s still strong!

The moment of relief is short lived as Yuji practically leaps over to scramble down to Megumi’s side, suddenly panicked. He’s never really fought an untrained human with his full strength before, despite the rumours of his strange athletic ability, and he’s too accustomed to people using cursed energy to protect themselves. The guilt gnaws at him instantly. ]

Fushiguro!

[ Reaching out, he places a gentle hand on his friend’s chest, not wanting to hurt him more than he already has been. The sad, pained guilt is written all over his face and Yuji leans a little closer. The urge to stick close to Megumi is still there, and the touch eases some of that. He feels a little bit better, trying to do… Something to ease the pain.

Damnit. ]

I’m sorry, I should’ve held back a little! Are you okay?

[ The punch hurts like hell, his insides aching as his breathing stays laboured. Megumi's got a fairly high tolerance to pain given all that he's gone through, however. Or, it would be more right to say he doesn't dwell upon it, simply accepting things for what they were and moving on. More difficult to deal with than the pain was the guilty look on the other boy's face. Really, he's the one who might have broken a rib. Why does he feel like he's just kicked a puppy?

He isn't quite ready to get up yet, so he allows that hand on his chest, feeling oddly comforted by it. ]

Barely hurts ... [ Megumi can be bad at lying at times. ] Anyway, I let you do it ...

[ So, 'don't worry', is what he's trying to say. Megumi opts to rest there for a few more minutes, waiting for some of the pain to subside. He acknowledges Yuuji's touch and concern by resting a hand on his. ]

Still! I should’ve been more careful!

[ It’s not as if Yuji didn’t know how strong he was before he became Sukuna’s vessel, so he definitely should have kept that in mind. It’s the sort of thing that someone back home - Gojo-sensei, or Nanamin more likely - might have scolded him for. He didn’t take stock of the situation properly and now Megumi is paying the price, and that hurts.

Almost as much as thinking about Nanamin hurts.

His hand doesn’t move as he settles down, sitting cross-legged beside Megumi. His fingers stroke absently, trying to soothe his friend and help get rid of some of the pain if nothing else. Yuji hopes he didn’t break any bones…

He’d feel even worse. ]

We can just sit here for a minute until you feel better, okay? Then you can hit me!

I just need a bit of time. [ No complaints, no lamenting his own state of suffering ... That was the sort of person that Megumi was. It goes doubly so when his friend is looking so distraught by what he had done, and Megumi is somehow feeling worse for Yuuji than he is for himself.

Time is also a nice thing too. Being close, and feeling the warmth of the other boy's fingers within his own. It feels like someone cares about him, and well -- he already knows that Yuuji cares about him, but it's still nice to be on the receiving end.

The touch is just soothing, and he doesn't know how much of this feeling is owed to some outside influence. No one's watching them, so it's fine to just ... enjoy it. Megumi lets out a sigh, relaxing himself and shifting closer toward the other boy's side.

He glances up at him again, and frowns. ] Stop giving me that look. Don't worry, I'll knock you out cold later.

[ No he won't. But when in doubt, threaten. ]

Right, okay. I'm still sorry, though, Fushiguro... [ Yuji wishes he could take it back almost immediately, and there's a brief flash of sadness before he leans back and makes himself comfortable, settled down beside Megumi. He's not going to go anywhere else when his friend is still sore, and it's not like he wants to go anywhere anyway.

Megumi is here, so where else would he want to be? Need to be?

Megumi shifts and leans a little closer, so Yuji deliberately shifts his body a little bit closer so that there's something for him to rest against properly, if he wants it. It feels nice, to have this closeness, and his expression softens, just a little.

Until Megumi speaks, and Yuji gets overwhelmed by sheepishness. ]

I look forward to it.

Don't look forward to something like that ... [ The point of punishment is that it sucks!! Megumi isn't the kind to dwell on his ailments, though. On a normal day, he would be up and about by now, whether or not he's in pain. Right now, however, he feels oddly comforted by the presence of the other boy. Yuuji beside him, hand rested on his chest, is soothing, and he keeps his hand over that of the other boy's, feeling himself relax into the moment, almost like he's having a rest in the grass. ]

But it's good that you still have your strength. [ Very relieving, actually, even if it's frustrating that Megumi has been reduced to a regular human now. ] We don't know what we'll be coming up against here.

[ Megumi himself feels vulnerable without any cursed energy, but he doesn't voice that. ]

But... [ But it would mean Megumi was feeling better and forgave him, which is what Yuji wants, really. Forgiveness is still something he is struggling with as an abstract concept, given everything that's happened to them thus far, so making sure that Megumi doesn't stay angry at him for too long is something he is desperate for. If he loses him, too...

A part of him wonders what the point would be.

Turning his hand, absently, Yuji shifts so he's holding Megumi's, linking their fingers gently and stroking his thumb over the other boy's knuckle. ]

I can still fight, so that's a good thing. If anything happens I'll make sure you have time to run away if you need to. [ Not that he expects that Megumi will run away and leave him, but the point needs to be made all the same.

They're vulnerable and weak without cursed energy, but at least Yuji is still... Whatever it is that he is. ]

Do you feel better?

[ So. They are holding hands. That realisation dawns on Megumi soon after the act, and he's in no way oblivious to the associated connotations. Megumi is usually a person who rejects touch. Their entwined fingers bring about a sense of awkwardness, and some shyness, but he also doesn't find himself hating it. Rather, it's quite nice, leaving him with a light and pleasant sense of warmth. ]

Don't just stay behind in that situation, you idiot ... [ As if he would run and leave Yuuji behind! Megumi can barely separate from him in a fight without feeling worried. Cursed energy or not, he is more likely to run toward the danger than away from it.

As for whether he feels better ... ] I ... [ He does! There's still an ache there, but most of it's subsided. Rightfully, he should be ready to stand up now. Yet...

Yet, Megumi turns his head away from the other boy's gaze, a bit more awkward. ] Just a bit longer.

[ He lies. ]

[ Yuji isn't really conscious of the fact that they're doing something so gently intimate; he's just happy that Megumi sounds as though he's getting better and recovering from the punch. He still feels guilty about it... Maybe he can go and do something like find a book for Megumi to read as an apology? That would probably work.

Shaking his head, he grins. ] It'll be okay, right? If I can still punch hard I'll be okay in a fight. [ He doesn't really expect Megumi to run away and leave him behind if the fight was that bad, but... He'd like to hope that there's some possibility for the two of them to come out of a fight alive.

Or one of them, at least. Yuji knows he's on borrowed time anyway.

Nodding his head, he settles back, looking around with wide eyes. ]

I'll keep an eye out around us, then. Just in case.

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TDM #1

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