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TDM #1

TEST DRIVE MEME

This Mess We're In The city sun sets over me...

You awaken slightly disoriented on a beautiful, smooth stone floor. A look around will tell you that this place is a hilltop temple with a good view of the beautiful city below. On opposite sides of the temple are genderless depictions of deities. One is clearly powerful, made of onyx, held up in an imposing stance with one hand holding a gilded flogger and the other outstretched with an open palm as if to enforce a command. The other, made of polished white marble, has taken a knee to the dominant statue across from them. One of their hands is a vase for fresh flowers and you can see that new ones have been placed there today.

The music of an unseen harp begins to play and a golden light permeates the temple. Suddenly, you know what is happening here. The duality that is worshipped here, the figures in the temple, they have a name. The onyx one is Ceannasach and the marble one is Cuiristeach and together with their combined power they are the ones who have brought you to Parthas.

What is Parthas? Parthas is paradise! You have either been brought here because Ceannasach believes you contribute to your world in some glorious way and deserve to be honored and served or because Cuiristeach believes that you would be excellent in a service role, perhaps they even feel sorry for the state of your life back home and want to show you something better.

The deities here also brought you because they need lik which is the energy that allows them to exist. Lik is created in small amounts when you interact with other people, in greater amounts when you grow fond of certain people, and in greater still amounts when you begin to use physical affection. However, when you orgasm, that creates the purest form of lik there is.

Ceannasach and Cuiristeach reward you in a special way. When you have sex with your soulmate or your hjarta, your vördr, or spirit, leaves your body in a time-frozen moment to commune with the deities and ask for something big or small that you might like. Sex carries on as usual and only you will know that you asked for something. If you ask to be sent home, the deities will send you into a hyperaroused state when you least expect it. Hey, you offended them.

The deities also believe you should know of something they have placed in Parthas for your benefit. There is a river in a valley in the middle of housing that will give and take anything you like from your body if you should so wish. This can mean a illness, sadness, a memory or anything else, but be careful because this river runs on fickle magic.

As the harp music continues, you become aware of a new power of yours. You can hear any thought that any other person sends your way, even the ones sent accidentally, and you can see images and moving pictures, as well. Don’t limit yourself to one person! Send that thought to everyone!

The harp music comes to an eventual end and you are left with the knowledge the deities gave you. Your intuition leads you down a southbound path towards a city where a celebration seems to be taking place, if the colorful banners are any indicator. Welcome to Parthas!

Dancing Barefoot She, intoxicated by Thee; She has the slow sensation that He is levitating with She

There is indeed a celebration going on in South City as this is the month of Feabhra. Where it was daylight when you left the Main Temple, now that you have reached the city the only lights are colorful paper lanterns strung up across smooth stone roads. The warmth of the daytime has cooled, so it might be smart to snuggle up with someone in one of the city’s various gazebos – each of them has a swing made for two (or three if you snuggle close enough.)

Harps, flutes, guitars and drums play lively music for everyone to dance to in the city square where garlands of brightly colored and white flowers hang for people to do with as they will. A stately woman dressed in black and wearing a brooch with the face of Ceannasach stands off to the side, her dark hair pulled back in a chignon. Whispers circulate, getting to you and informing you that this woman is E’ara Fraoch, owner of the most successful brothel in South City, and she is paying 50 gold pieces to the best dancers and 100 more if they will come work for her at Where The Wild Roses Grow, her establishment.

I Feel You I feel you, your precious soul, and I am whole

Food and drink is plentiful at this celebration and some of it is even free! The vendors believe that this is a good promotion for their stores during the rest of the year. They wheel their carts about, humming jaunty tunes and offering delicious things to you, the new arrivals, and everyone else in the city.
There is a man named Sam wheeling his cart of beverages and chocolate dipped waffles through town. If you catch him, he’ll probably suggest you order the alcoholic drink The Spirit of Feabhra. This drink does not come without side effects. It tastes like a fancy gin cocktail, sparkling and sweet with the flavor of berries and mint hitting your tongue, but the moment you get close to someone you actually have feelings for, you start to feel it… Them. Their thoughts, their emotions, their dreams… It’s as if they have melted into you.

Is This Desire? Is this desire; Enough, enough; To lift us higher; To lift above?

You have been told repeatedly throughout the night by smiling (creepy) faces not to wander out of the city limits into the wilderness, but now that you are here you just don’t get it. Lichens and fungi light up the night with a soft glow from the tree trunks, seemingly drawing you in.

In the forest, the music fades and the chittering of small animals creates a different tune. You don’t seem to be in danger. You might come across the healthiest, most beautiful apple tree you’ve ever seen. It is completely free of pests and only the dew clings to the apples’ shiny surface.

Should you pick one for yourself, you will feel a strange compulsion to bite it. Go on. Do it. If and when you have, you will find yourself incredibly aroused, but you won’t be able to bring yourself to orgasm – another must do it. If you didn’t bite the apple, maybe you gave it to someone else. In that case they will be unstoppably attracted to you with arousal to match. If you chose to plant it near your home, a tree like the one it came from will grow there and you will ICly receive a special reward.

Dead of Night When delirious fun; Has seriously begun; You'll be down on your knees; You'll be begging us please

Now you’ve done it. You’ve wandered into the woods without a spiritual guide from the temple. Now the vættir have been awoken and they are ready to fuck shit up… Sort of. Right now, these spirits kind of only want to ruin this party, but who knows what they’ll do later?

A low-lying cloud of black smoke crawls down the hills from the forest to the city until it covers the smooth stone roads and reaches up into everyone who is either of weak constitution or just simply tired and possesses them. It doesn’t take total control, but rather influences them, and causes them to destroy decorations, vendor carts, and do wild things they wouldn’t ordinarily do. Basically, these spirits want to cut through the façade and see you party like a rock star.

The only way to exorcise one of the vættir from a friend or loved one is to call on the deity of light – Cuiristeach. They accept demonstrations of service as the highest form of prayer, so get on your knees for your friend and get this done!

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(This Mess We’re In)

Looking around in awe as thoughts and images flood her mind, Karen is overwhelmed by an inexplicable paradox. Now that they’ve entered her very mind and seemingly spoken to her very soul, she doesn’t know what to make of her kneejerk response of wanting to go home. If this truly is paradise then she is safe from all that is evil here, but something tells her there is more to this place than she is hoping. She puts a hand to her forehead as the harp music stops.

Looking around at all of the other new arrivals and then to the position of the sun in the sky, she calls out to her fellow castaways.

“Who wants to walk South with me?”

(Dancing Barefoot)

The sun has set and Karen is riding a purely spiritual high, dancing closely with the natives of South City. She’s good on her feet, graceful, and doesn’t mind putting on a show for anyone who might be watching her especially now that she’s heard there’s money in the game. Karen came to this place with only the clothes on her back, so she’s willing to make a little money having fun.

That is, until she bumps into you. She whips around to look at the person, wide-eyed, and laughs. “I am so sorry. I don’t usually have two left feet.”

(I Feel You)

Karen stands feet apart from someone in front of the food stand holding the drink up to her nose and giving a chuckle. “I always liked fizzy drinks because they tickle your nose.” She takes a long, thirsty drink and lets out an mmmmm of approval. “This beats every fancy cocktail Josie ever tried to make for me, do not repeat that to anyone.” She smirks.

Something strange happens. She gets a shimmery sort of feeling in her mind like she’s about to hear something. Her eyebrows wrinkle and she waits.

This whole place has Frank feeling off-balance. He understands the point, he got the same explanation as everyone else, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. He roams the party with a scowl etched into his face, only easing somewhat when he hears the familiar voice nearby. It doesn't help anything, the last place she needs to be is a place like this with whatever their real motives are, but there isn't much he can do about it now. He eyes his own glass when she speaks, but it's the strange look on her face that have him stalling his own sip. What's wrong? Has he missed something? Is there some kind of danger around? He glances around, scanning for danger, a wary look on his own face, thoughts circling around his priority - safety, more hers than his own, but safety all the same.

"Yeah, I won't, don't worry. What's up?"

“Frank, you’re—” Karen wrinkles her eyebrows. Frank Castle being worried about Karen Page was nothing new on Earth or here, apparently, but Karen was still kind of surprised that he was so cagey at a party. It made her nervous because he was usually right. When Frank said danger was around the corner, it usually was, so she looks at him with pure concern in her eyes.

I’d thought this was finally a place we could feel safe. God, how am I supposed to make Frank Castle feel safe? He deserves at least that much.

“I just think this drink is doing funny things to my head.” She shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Maybe it’s too strong.”

Placing a hand on Frank’s shoulder, Karen smiles softly at him.

“You certainly seem tightly wound.”

Frank frowns at the explanation, because it's not all that reassuring. Could just be alcohol, could be drugged, and there's no real way to tell, so he huffs a breath and abandons his glass on the nearest ledge after dumping its contents.

Honestly, Frank hasn't felt safe in years, or at least not since he woke up from the coma. Before the wariness was situational, he could turn it on and off, but after...it's like something's broken. Constantly weighing risk, every new face a potential threat, and some familiar ones too. Sure, he can pretend otherwise, but that doesn't make it true.

"So stop drinking it if you feel weird," he answers gruffly, but tries to tone it down some in light of the contact, and the smile. The worry plain on her face, that looks like it has less to do with the drink and more to do with how he's acting, apparently. So he forces a lopsided grin, and makes a concerted effort to stop scanning the place so openly.

Act normal, asshole. Get your shit together, you're freaking her out.

The contact is nice though, settles some of the restlessness.

"I'm fine. It's a party, right? This is me at a party."

A smile blooms on Karen’s face at Frank’s gruff answer and she pretends to slam dunk her cup in a trash receptacle. Skipping more than walking, she catches up with Frank. She’s smiling, at least, until she hears his thought pop into her mind. Her eyebrows wrinkle and she looks up at him with what is meant to be a comforting smile.

“Yeah. This is us at a party, actually. Something we never really get to experience back home, even if this one is weird as shit…” She chuckles and looks around them at all of the cheerful people dancing through the streets.

Does this mean… Frank, if you can hear my thought right now, just… Nod your head.

The disposal of her glass helps ease his concern some, since the culprit for whatever she was talking about is gone. What exactly is going on he doesn't know, but that particular threat is removed.

'Us,' she says. It sets a small flutter in his chest he clears his throat against, because that side of things has always been complicated. Maybe things are different here, but old habits are hard to break.

"Pretty sure you've been to a party or two," he counters teasingly, nudging her lightly with a shoulder.

He never took a sip of the drink, so he doesn't catch her message, just looks around at their surroundings as well.

Karen gives him a nudge right back and smiles at their shared playfulness even if she can feel his anxiety. Without a second thought, and perhaps because she’s a little drunk, she rests her head on his shoulder and sighs.

“Frank, I don’t think I’ve ever told you because I’m always giving you shit, but it’s kinda nice knowing you’re looking out for me.” She wets her lips with her tongue, thinking her honesty over. “I just don’t want to add to that enormous burden you carry, you know?”

Tilting her head up, Karen’s nose just barely grazes Frank’s jaw and she chuckles at the contact, smiling up at him. If she has to be here with anyone, she’s incredibly glad that it’s him.

"Yeah, well. Somebody's gotta, right?"

Especially here, with so many unknowns and motives he doesn't trust. She's close, close enough it's probably dangerous in a lot of ways, but he can't find it in him to push her away. He sucks in a breath and leans into the contact, grateful for the proximity for as long as it lasts, even if it makes things more complicated because of the things he wants but won't let himself have. Attachments are a problem on the path he walks; no matter the depth of his feelings for her he knows it's a bad idea to let himself get too wrapped up in it, because it will only put her at risk.

"Anyway, it's not like you weigh that much," he comments dryly, the tease only evident in the slight quirk of his lips.

“And who would do a better job?” She grins. Oh, yeah, definitely drunk. Karen laughs quietly, staying close to Frank and breathing in his scent. The only time gunpowder is ever comforting is when it comes with Frank Castle. She buries her nose in his apparel.

Karen can suddenly feel Frank’s emotions and her eyebrows wrinkle as they hit her like a brick wall. He has so many complicated feelings bouncing around in his heart at any given time, but what she feels most intensely is what he’s feeling now. Some thing occurs to her and she twists her face up in thought even further.

“You know that I love you, don’t you, Frank?” It has never hit her that she might be feeling things that aren’t so secret. Sure, Frank has known that she’s wanted to be with him for a while now, but has he known hhow deep it goes? Has he known all this time?

"...what?"

The words hit him like a brick wall, mostly because it seems....well. He makes a point not to think about that kind of thing, because he can't. He can't afford it, and more importantly doesn't want to risk her like that. It's why he's always made a point to try to keep her at arm's length, even when he slips up.

The first question he really wants to ask is why, but he knows it's a stupid question. There isn't ever an answer for that, not really, it's just a fact. Compounded reasons that make up something bigger than itself. His stance stiffens as he tenses reflexively, readying the latest attempt to talk her out of it for her own good, but he drops the idea. This place isn't New York, the gangs and mobs aren't here. Probably.

And it's not like he doesn't feel the same, even if he stuffs it down so deep he can keep it safe.

"You know what a bad idea that is, right?"

Karen finds herself sobering slightly and blinks hard. “Why is it a bad idea, Frank? Because there are people everywhere on Earth who have a grudge against you? As far as I can tell, we’re not on Earth!” She shrugs. This place is supposed to be paradise. If it isn’t actually Heaven then it must at least be a different plane or planet.

“And if it’s because of scars, you know I have them too. We’ve both been hurt by life. Doesn’t it actually sound like a good idea to have someone around who wants to work through that shit with you?”

She steps away from him and looks at him with blue eyes that still sparkle under paper lantern light. It’s a tough question. Can two people who carry so much trauma with them actually muster the strength to support one another? Karen knows the answer. She would jump into traffic before purposely allowing Frank to come to harm of any kind.

“I just don’t want you to be alone here,” she adds in a softer, defeated-sounding voice, looking at her feet.

Edited 2023-02-01 03:14 (UTC)

Running into Reinhardt is sort of like running into a brick wall. He doesn't budge though he does sort of look down awkwardly. He feels he should be the one to apologize. After all, he feels like he was in the way. It's hard to be as large as he is without filling a lot of the space he's in.

"No. No. Please. It's me. I'm certain you are very graceful. I just take up a lot of room." His laugh is merry. "But if you do step on me more, we might make the rest of them jealous so I will be more careful as to where I stand."

Karen laughs cheerfully and nods at Reinhardt’s comment. He’s surprisingly nice and seemingly gentle for someone so large. She could compare him to a slightly smaller giant in her life. Smiling up at him, she tilts her head and lets her eyes roam the celebration. Everyone is having such a good time, she doubts they’d have the mindspace to be jealous.

Looking back to him she smirks. “They’re having fun, so I say we should have all the fun we want!” She laughs and bumps Reinhardt’s hip… or someplace close to it with her own hip. “Dance with me! It gives me plenty of chances to step on you.” She grins.

He feels the nudge of her bump against part of his thigh. He can't help but grin even more at her. She seems like great fun. It might be nice not to feel so alone.

"How could I say no to such an offer!" He doesn't mean getting stepped on, as he's sure there's another meaning for that in this place. Not that he's sure some would really enjoy such a pretty lady doing just that. But he's not going to just say that. Instead, he offers up one hand. "I would be honored. Lead on, miss. I'll do my best to keep up with you."

Karen takes his hand to lift up his arm and twirl under it. She dances all of the lively Earth dances of the 60's she's seen in movies simply because they're fun and if she's not here for fun then what is even the point?

Tossing her head of blonde hair around, Karen grins up at Reinhardt and nods. "Are you having fun yet or do I have to bust out my really crazy moves?"

Reinhardt has only barely seen those dances, but he's going to try his very best to keep up with the young lady. She's such an energetic dancer and he refuses to make her look bad by being slow.

Her grin has him beaming at her. "I am! But with those moves, I want to toss you in the air." Because he doesn't want to hurt her or surprise her by doing such a thing. "May I?"

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TDM #1

Karen Page | MCU TV

I feel you

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Dancing Barefoot

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