MINGLE 001

[erkumods]

MINGLE 001: FOOD, FUN, FUCKING

Guests are 'gently encouraged' by enforcer robots to gather into what appears to be a central gathering place in the middle of the settlement area. Attendance is quite mandatory. Once everyone has gathered, holographic emitters kick on and display... static. Loudspeakers tell the captive audience to prepare for an important announcement, and moments later a proper but mechanical voice chimes in: Greetings, organisms! R̷e̶j̸o̴i̴c̷e̸, for the portents foresee a time of glorious providence! We have recorded your actions a̵n̸d̵ ̴o̸u̶r̵ ̵c̶a̵p̸a̷b̷i̴l̸i̷t̵i̶e̸s̶ ̴have upgraded accordingly! The fabricator general automata grant you a boon, and shall provide much glamorous f̷i̶x̴t̶u̶r̶e̴s̷ ̴to aid in your future acts. Frolic and make merrily, all! To honor your contributions and celebrate your arrival, you will be invited to attend our first sultry salacious soiree. Join your fellow chosen and f̵u̶l̵f̴i̵l̸l̵ ̵y̸o̷u̶r̷ ̷f̸u̴n̴c̷t̷i̶o̶n̶! And with that, the display ends and characters are allowed to go as they please. Upon returning, characters now find that dormant manufacturing robots have been reactivated, and will accept requests to build certain household fixtures, i.e., bedding, couches, loveseats. Because who wants to bang on a dusty cot, right? The quality will not be high. Imagine low-end IKEA. Build quality also varies dramatically and seems to depend on how old and corrupted the machine is. (As with all things in this world, quality is improved with intimate acts.) But what is this celebration you've been invited to? That much is simple as sin. It's a mechanically sponsored party. Of particular note to hungry newcomers will be a fully stocked banquet ample spirits and naturally, a dedicated area for an all-out orgy. It's a good old-fashioned party, Roman style! ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● These are no hospital rations. This is a full-fledged feast. It's no less dangerous, though. Naturally, the robots have seen fit to add a little bit "extra." Some offerings are entirely innocuous, while others have bevy of effects that you'll soon discover. You may find yourself only able to speak the truth, or maybe after one bite you find yourself instantly smitten with the next person you see. Some foods incite obedience, others rebellion. And some... well, you can't have an orgy without some good, old-fashioned aphrodisiac. The music has been modulated to change the way you think. Of course it's electro-synth, what else would robots play? Slower music induces sleep; maybe you fall into a cuddle-puddle with some of your fellow kidnappees. Faster music encourages you to dance. And some music? That's what upstairs is for. Speaking of upstairs, what's an orgy without the orgy? You may find yourself auspiciously able to fill your decadent A5 squares. In a large room that seems unusually renovated, as if the robots had given it special attention just for this day, a floor covered in pillows awaits the beast with two backs. No one is turned away, and those attending will get a notification from their devices that they have received... additional credits? What could this mean? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[toservehuman]

Is it? I've never given them a second thought. [ But something about his demeanor has changed since being touched. He's a little smaller, a little softer. There's a look in his eyes like he's suddenly lost. ] Ah- If you wanted to touch them again-

[ truths are on the tip of his tongue, but he resists. ]

[automatized]

You don't mind? I thought it'd be rude if I lingered. It's not like you're a pet, after all.

[ still, if he's fine with it, vidar's got his fingers on his chin, tilted up. ]

i'm so sorry

[toservehuman]

[ In a casual voice that says nothing of the shame he feels speaking it out loud, because he's spoken so quickly and automatically that he can't stop himself, Shell admits that he's living his ideal role in life. ]

Lower than a pet, actually.

[ Realization hits him like an isekai-plot-device truck. ]

D- Did I say that? I meant... No, I'm... [ But the lie won't come out, no matter how he tries to deny it. ] I'm...

hm

[automatized]

[ vidar raises an eyebrow at those words and the fact that they're accompanied by such a joyous (???) expression.

if it's the case that he's affected by something here in the party, that's definitely something to concern him about and he pities him for it, but what kind of truth is that to begin with?

lightly, ]

Is that how you want to be treated?

I'll admit it's bizarre, but .... [ a shrug. ] Stranger things have happened here.

[toservehuman]

[ Stranger things have happened here? Stranger things? This was awful. This was wrong. This was abnormal.

How could someone just accept his truth for what it was?

Shell drops his head, letting his hair overshadow his eyes. He's quiet with his admission. ]

I'm my master's slave. I chose him. I said yes. [ Truth flows from him. ] He reminded me of someone else, and then he became someone important to me all on his own. But I love all humans. I-- I really love humans.

[automatized]

That's curious.

[ vidar leans back, letting go of his chin, watching him thoughtfully. ]

Tell me about your master.

[toservehuman]

He acts really ordinary. [ Shell looks up cautiously. Is the question really as innocent as it seems? ] And that's what he'd have people think, too, but he can resist vampire pheromones. For some reason, I don't have them here, or else you'd be terrified of me. You wouldn't be able to look at me, let alone touch me.

[ Fighting his embarrassment, he continues. ]

My master is so important to me that I can't put it into words. I was on my way to tell him that before I ended up here.

[automatized]

I think I understand. He's very much a predator of his own class.

[ vidar's not going to pretend, however, that he understands the rest of the things he's trying to impart in that statement, but he's not about to ruin someone's day by saying that. especially since he seems quietly fond of his master, and you just don't toy with someone's devotion like that.

in reality, he understands obsession very well. ]

But your master isn't here, I suppose, or you wouldn't be talking so freely. And given the conditions of this world to survive, are you determined to stay loyal to him? Not everyone here will fit just any replacement, I'd imagine, otherwise there wouldn't be any point to that love at all.

[toservehuman]

Yes.

[ Obsession is a good word for it, though it's true that love is better. It was a lot like one, then it became the other. ]

Any human will d-- Any human-- [ That's a lie. ] I've always liked thinking about being lower than humans. My card wants that in a lot of ways. Doing what I need to survive doesn't mean I'm accepting a new master. I'll never call someone else by that name.

[automatized]

[ a thin smile. ]

Well. Let's hope you remain in the company of good and honest men, while you're being so forthcoming.

[ he won't insult him by demanding the name while he can't control himself, at the very least. ]

[toservehuman]

[ Shell knows better than to look around like a frightened foal, but he does realize that he doesn't know enough of what's going on at this party. ]

You're right. I should be going. You've given me a lot to think about.

[ It's sick, the thrill he feels at the unspoken threat in Vidar's statement. What if he did meet someone dishonest, manipulative, ready to broadcast his secrets to the world? ]

...though I can't agree with you.

[ He'd hate himself if that happened, but he'd love it nonetheless. ]

[automatized]

[ 'can't agree', he says, right after saying 'you've given me a lot to think about'. what a masochist. ]

Is that so?

[ vidar leans his chin on his palm, arm propped on the table as he watches him. ]

Why do you say so? Explain it to me. How does it make you feel?

[toservehuman]

[ If he could, Shell would be flooding the area with pheromones to hide his fear of speaking the truth. ]

I wanted to think about how I was going to approach relations on this world, but I don't know if I want to leave this party. I wouldn't mind being in the company of dishonest men because it's exciting to put myself in danger.

[ He balls his hands into fists at his sides and refuses eye contact. ]

I can't agree with you because I don't mind thinking about someone exploiting me.

[automatized]

.... you're troublesome.

If you had been human, I wouldn't be able to accept such words. I'd ask you to hand over your life, because such lack of pride is unbecoming.

[ he tilts his head, briefly considering. ] Unfortunately for you, I'm not the type of person that you seek, but allow me to be of help to you. It might even be useful for being with your master. Will you listen?

[toservehuman]

I have pride! That's how I can still feel embarrassment about the way I am.

[ It's the wrong kind of mortifying to hear the real consequences of being outed.

One heartbeat and he can almost see his father's silhouette, almost hear his voice demanding he be disowned and exiled.

Another heartbeat and Shell is back in the present, centered and ready to listen. ]

I won't turn down anything offered in good faith.

[automatized]

[ vidar scoffs. ] That's not pride. But I'll excuse you because these aren't ordinary circumstances.

[ so he's able to control himself, somehow, he thinks as he watches him try to be there, be present, sit still. play dead. very well trained. he wonders what his master is like, and makes the decision that actually, he doesn't want to know. there's no benefit in knowing beyond wanting to control, and he's not an asshole. just a horribly enigmatic one, but that's not a reason for being cruel to anyone.

anyway. ]

If you want to preserve your master, you should be better than he is.

[ a sigh. ] There is no sense indulging desires which leave you vulnerable to people more cruel than I can be.

[toservehuman]

If you're trying to suggest my master and I are anything less than equals, you're wrong.

[ Shell becomes unusually serious.

He's a masochist. He's a submissive. He's an abnormal. He doesn't know how to say no, and his self-preservation is more of a myth than a real sense.

But he is not really lesser than One. ]

Do you have any useful advice?