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ph_memes2024-01-10 06:19 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Blitz [FIRST EDITION]
[Find our plain text version here!]
Pumpkin Hollow Gazette
1/10/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ"
Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: Heavy snow
BREAKING! REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
A photo taken of the damage.
ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.
In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.
ANNUAL AURORA IN NORTHERN SKY
By Yorick Aberdeen
An artist's rendition of last year's view.
ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Midwinter is upon us! That means it’s the time of year when our skies light up with the technicolor gleam of the arctic north! Those looking northward between the hours of 10pm and 2am should be able to see beautiful curtains of bright green, blue, purple, and pink lighting up the sky above the island. If you plan to go outside to view the lights rather than looking from your window, please make sure you travel in a group and carry a lantern. May it be ever lit!
HOROSCOPES
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
What do the stars say about you today?
Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.
Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.
Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.
Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.
Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.
Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.
Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?
Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.
Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.
Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.
Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.
Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.
SUNFIRE'S HEARTH
By Yorick Aberdeen
A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.
ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.
An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)
LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION
By Yorick Aberdeen
Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>
LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.
“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]
It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.
FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY
By Yorick Aberdeen
MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.
The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.
“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”
Page 1
Aurora
The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.
Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.
Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.
It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.
At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.
And then, the stars begin to fall.
Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.
That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.
Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.
There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.
It simply lunges with intent to kill.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:
Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water. The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy.
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.) Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful. Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.) Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now! Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
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They also get up, and show Pomni the sketch; the details are remarkable. She's so close now (no, no touching).
"Even, haha, even now I bring it up because I was considering a more provocative pose for the next piece."
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To say it invigorated some self-confidence was just the start of it.
"Well... I'm not getting my old body back anytime soon, I don't figure," She mutters, looking back over the art. There's a resignation to the notion, not so much an admit to defeat as it is, albeit still somewhat reluctant, acceptance.
After a moment of thought, though, she cracks a small, playful grin Jean's way. The gears are turning.
"And, I mean--- if I've got your vote of confidence, maybe I should try to figure out how to own it?"
(The thought is something that comes easier to stomach now, having just polished off a warm, cozy helping of love potion, and will probably have to be stewed on long and hard in her post-potion thoughts. But it's a start!)
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Pomni's courage is not helping the urge to touch her. Maybe just a little chin tilt...
"You were very brave to come here," Jean murmurs, making Eye Contact. "I know you're shy, and I like that! But you're brave too, Sailor. To take up a new skill, to volunteer as a runner...you're very smartly pushing your limits. But I was thinking about trying to capture the shyness."
"What would you think of lounging on the couch, covering up with one hand?"
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She glances over to the couch, contemplates for a moment, and then gives Jean a small, playful grin.
"Yeah, I think I can manage that!"
With little further time to waste, she steps over to the couch, and with a moment to settle in, leans back against the arm of it. The furthest leg is hiked up and leaned against the back of the couch, the other is angled outwards and open, and she moves one of her hands to light over as much of her crotch as she can, and left the other arm almost-lazed over her chest. She's tried her best to make the angle face a bit outwards - not too much that it'd be uncomfortable, but just so much so that she's very much on display.
"Is this kind of what you were thinking?"
By tradition I declare: damn OCs and their one-liners
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She can't help a laugh, having to move her hand off her chest to cover her mouth, looking thoroughly amused.
"So that's a yes?"
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They down the rest of their coffee to steady their nerves. Key mistake.
The pencil starts moving, but there's a notable quickening of Jean's breathing. Their gaze keeps roaming Pomni's body, lingering at times on her eyes, on the press of her fingers against her skin, on her feet...
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She can't help but think that she could get used to this.
Only taking a break after a few minutes to finish the last bit of her coffee (also a key mistake!), she gives a curious tilt of her head. The flush on her face has spread, and she can't help the flustered, excited grin that's lingering on her lips.
"How's it going over there?"
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- Let's just end that thought right here shall we? Good plan Jean. They get up and bring Pomni the drawing, the entire notebook in fact, hands shaking with excitement. "I. I'll. Get a refill for us both, I'll be right back Sailor, it'll be just a minute -"
Cups: grabbed
Kitchen: dashed into
Jean will be...a few minutes. They're trying to distract themself from the rising tide inside of them by drinking more coffee; usually eating or drinking gets Jean out of moods, you see.
More fool them.
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Before she can get a compliment out about the drawing, there they go.
Her heart's pounding at this point. Oh, that is an exciting reaction.
The love potion is in full swing, and Pomni can't think of the last time she's been this absolutely thrilled. Jean is clearly vibrating, and for once, something wells in her chest that she never expected.
Confidence. A nervous confidence, but a shred of it nonetheless.
Maybe it's time for her to put something into motion?
Carefully, before Jean can get back, she sits the notebook over on their chair, and, back on the couch, she carefully folds her legs, and turns her back partially towards where they'll return, folding her arm over her hip neatly. It's definitely more promiscuous than the last pose, but maybe this shred of confidence deserved a little bit of a leap?
As soon as she catches sight of them, she cracks a sheepish grin their way.
"Thought I'd get a new pose set up. How's it look?"
CW smut from here forward | Is it truly a TDM without someone banging
Carefully. Very carefully. They set the cups down, and walk softly closer to Pomni. Jean is prone to overthinking at most times but right now almost no thoughts are going through their head and the ones that are making it past the pounding of their heart are all about Pomni. Amazingly, not all of them are lust. Is she...?
They brush Pomni's thigh with their fingertips, gliding down her skin, contact so very faint. "You're comfortable?" Jean asks, voice thick with...need.
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That was, of course, until she got a good look at their face. Oh, that's... promising.
As they draw closer, she doesn't know what to do with herself, but she holds her pose, even if she can't help but turn her head a bit further to watch Jean's hand glide down her skin, ever-so-lightly. Even with how little touch is there, it feels electric. She didn't know how long she'd been aching for touch like this, but it felt like longer than she'd ever care to admit.
"Mhm," She answers, quiet, but so very certain of it. "But I wouldn't mind changing poses again, if you had anything better in mind...?"
An open invitation, as best as she could manage without saying so. Their touch left her desperate for more, but she's fighting for her life to keep her head on straight, and not just throw herself at them. Keeping it together is easier said than done, but it'll be worth it, she knows it.
Today In Bold Implications
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If Pomni hadn't been sold already (note: she 100% is), she sure is now. Any holding herself together is crumbling in nervous excitement.
"If you can show me to the bed, I--- I think we could make that happen!"
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Jean scoops up the Entire Pomni; they're so much stronger than they look, arms all muscle under that concealing suit, and they hold the sailor close to their body so that they can kiss her deeply, greedily, tongue flicking out to taste her lips...
Fun fact about Jean: they don't need to see to navigate their home. They can, and will, walk to the bed without ceasing to make out.
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Needless to say, when she's kissed, there's not even a beat of hesitation before she kisses back.
Oh, god, she needed this.
There's a leap of faith, in letting her eyes fall closed so she can enjoy the kiss to its fullest, parting her lips in a decidedly open invitation, while Jean totes her along. She can't deny the thrill to it, though - she feels like her heart could beat out of her chest, at this point. Go ahead and let it! She's not keen to be stopping any time soon.
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...Well, not more gentle, but they have nothing to prove, so they lay Pomni down on the bed they share with Zelda. This is happening. It's happening and Jean's thrilled. They could vibrate out of their skin, they really could, but that might make this not be Happening and this. Is. Happening. Everything feels like it's going a mile a minute, like the rush of battle...
They kiss the hollow where Pomni's neck meets her shoulder, hard, very much intending on leaving a mark. Their voice, thick before, is rich with lust and excitement and the restraint they barely have on both: "How can I make my model comfortable, Sailor?"
(Some distant part of Jean is attempting to assert that the 'model' thing is roleplaying at best here and is deeply unprofessional and, therefore, cringe. The rest of Jean is killing that part with hammers.)
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Her mind is absolutely still on that mark on the bend of her neck, of course, but that was for later Pomni. A treat for future her!
"Comfortable? Well, there's--- you could, um..." Despite her stumbling, half nerves and half purely not keeping composure anymore, she trails off only briefly, letting her hands drop from their shoulders at last. She fingertips move downward, first, trailing lightly, before moving back up to their shoulders, ducking beneath their jacket to nudge it off their shoulders. "Take your coat off? And, I dunno, maybe... anything else that feels right to go with it?"
As she goes, she's trying to play coy, she's trying, but over-imagination combined with glances at a particularly stunning work outfit that won't be named has her very keen to know what they look like beneath clothes.
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Poke! Right between the eyes, with a playful smile not often seen on Jean. "The coat I can do," they murmur. "But I don't usually get touched...or nude. It's, hahaha, something I figured out about myself very early. Remind me to tell you the story sometime, there's a karaoke club, a great deal of alcohol, a back alley, a high-speed chase, and shockingly no one died."
Some people lose their virginity in quiet, intimate moments.
Jean is not those people. But they are the person carefully shedding their coat and -
Sacred Mothers they're folding it. Meticulously.
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Pomni isn't one to mind getting to business clothed--- in fact, there's something that makes her gears turn a little faster about it--- but she's fine with only the coat making it's disappearance. For a moment, she just sits on the edge of the bed, and watches.
And watches.
And watches.
Oh for fuck's sake they're still folding it.
For a moment, she stares, and tries to decide what to do. She could probably just say something, but they could very easily insist that folding it this many times (still going) (it's immaculate, why does it need folded more) is, indeed, completely necessary. She could try to shift into a particularly sultry position, but they haven't looked up since they started folding it.
Maybe she'll take a physical angle to it.
With a moment of calculation, she scoots back on the bed, and, with a careful motion, presses her foot into the crotch of their pants, applying just enough pressure to hopefully be attention-grabbing. No words that she could trip all over necessary!
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Their hips grind, barely. A needy motion not entirely in Jean's control. They drop the coat.
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Trying to hold onto that confidence, she curls her toes, pressing gently further into them, a soft increase in pressure. Her grin is still nervous, she's trying not to sweat bullets, but she shifts a bit closer to the end of the bed.
"Sorry to interrupt, but--- if you did want to let me take care of you for a little bit, since you've been so good to me already...?"
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