TDM 003

[erkumods]

TDM 003: #BEACHBUMS

I. BEACH Welcome arrivals, new and old! The skies on Erku may be perpetually gray, but the weather has taken a sudden turn to summertime heat. Fortunately, soaring temperatures have chased away more of the strange fog that conceals so much of the island, unveiling a charming, sandy cove dotted here and there with rustic love shacks. These shabby little lean-tos are dusty and sparse, but they provide everything one (or two, wink wink) might need for a little relief from the sun. Just don’t wander too far... that fog has memory-loss properties. II. DRINKS The 'bots are very apologetic about the whole fog incident, and they are trying to get on the new arrivals' good sides by giving out fancy drinks. Of course, they still haven't mastered the art of making things properly, so each drink has a little something... extra. Geloso: Has a slightly bitter, yet refreshing herbal taste... and it will make you feel inexplicably envious of virtually anything, to a petty degree! Be it someone else’s shoes or their incredibly muscular physique, you’re jealous enough to tell them about it! Colpito: Fruity and sweet like candy. If you drink this, you will feel hopelessly infatuated with the very next person who catches your eye! Vivace: Delightfully tart, with a flavor somewhere between citrus and raspberry. This summery drink will fill you with bubbly energy. Whether you’re feeling flirty or just mischievous and playful, you’ve never felt more alive! Verace: Creamy, earthy, and a little nutty - the flavor is hard to describe, but delicious. After drinking this, you’ll feel strangely compelled to spill something you’ve been keeping a secret, no matter how incriminating or embarrassing. Conoscere: The robots are especially excited about this flavor! They’ve heard organic beings enjoy chocolate, and hope you like their first attempt (it’s a little bitter, but it is chocolatey). Those who drink this will feel incredibly confident and sensual. Better yet, if you share it with a partner - which the 'bots encourage you to do - you’ll find that every touch is enhanced, and every sensation is shared between the two of you. A lucky few may even be able to sense one another’s thoughts! III. SNACKS Lo! As you ask, the Augur shall provide. Thanks to the efforts of your organic predecessors in restoring the planet’s Eros energy, edible fishes and seaweeds have returned to the ponds and the shores of Erku. If you fancy yourself savvy to basic survival skills, why not fashion up a fishing rod and catch yourself dinner? Just be careful if you happen to hook one of the octopus creatures from the deeper waters - they can be quite forward with their tentacles! Or, if primitive angling isn’t in your repertoire, you can always trade some credits for a tasty catch from one of the food stalls along the coast. Most stalls are manned by 'bots, but there’s nothing stopping an enterprising arrival from setting up shop. No credits? No problem! The robots have also provided a bit of entertainment, and any volunteers to man the kissing booth, get dunked in the wet t-shirt dunk tank, or grill up some fish - among other opportunities - will find credits automatically loaded onto the payment app of their bracelet devices. The 'bots are recruiting especially hard for participants to work in the gloryhole tent! IV. SPARKLES As dusk descends, the white sands of the beach suddenly come alive with glittering lights. It’s as if the darkened waters have carried a thousand shining stars from the depths of the sea to the shores of the cove. In actuality, each little twinkle is a bioluminescent plankton or jellyfish! Feel free to wade among them and admire their shine; even the sting of the jellies won’t hurt you... though they do pack a different punch. The tentacles of the jellyfish elicit a powerful aphrodisiac response, which gets the heart racing and the blood pumping for an intimate touch. The effects come on within a matter of minutes, and last for a few hours. Only time will relieve the symptoms, but a partner will help to make it more bearable. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[glowup]

[Anders makes a face, which could just as easily be for Fenris In General as for the sharp reminder that he is, hmm, even more a fugitive now than ever before, and that Hawke had not spared his life out of affection, and that no one had given him a second glance when he left Kirkwall at long last—

But it's probably just because Fenris is Fenris. All things considered, if he must pick a familiar face to deal with, the one that can't stand him is at least a dynamic he's familiar with after everything.]

Ser Purrcival. [say the fucking name, buddy!!] What on earth are you trying to feed him?

[Which is to say, Anders takes the drink and scrutinizes it for cat safety. This isn't milk either, bud, why would a cat drink this!!]

[doggish]

[He will not!]

I have no idea. It seemed the safest option. Surely it's based in water.

[A moment's thought, as he sips at his own concoction (and it's going to fill him with energy in a few moments, but that's for later).]

They eat mice and cockroaches. How bad can a bit of sugar be to their system?

[glowup]

You don't even know what's in this. You could have asked for a dish of milk.

["Thanks Fenris for putting in the effort to provide for this beautiful creature." But not really, because what is this. He is now... giving it a suspicious sniff. Hmm...]

What's yours?

[doggish]

I did not take the time to memorize the names.

[It tastes like raspberries. He doesn't hate it. Fenris sips again, then offers it up: not to share (gross) but so Anders can at least look, if he wants.]

And I suspect what's in it matters very little to a being who will drink puddle water. It isn't poisoned, stop fussing.

[glowup]

[Anders tips the rest of Fenris' drink right onto his gremlin lap. No, he does not, but he sure does think about it and it feels so good. He gives him one last good, solid Frown instead before he, ah—

well he's pouring some of this other drink straight into the palm of his hand, but let's not pretend this is the weirdest thing Anders has ever done. He holds this little sample out for the cat, who sniffs at it and deigns to take, like, two whole cat sips before leaving Anders to shake his hand dry. Hmm.]

It's so charming listening to a man who lives like you do pretend to have insight into keeping other things alive.

["cats drink from puddles" "OH YEAH, CORPSE ROOMMATE???" don't @ him! he's reaching and he knows it, leave him alone!]

If you've just killed my cat... [The cat is fine. In fact, the cat is moseying over to Fenris, to try and stretch far enough to butt its head against his leg and purr.]

[doggish]

[Is he smug that the cat is now clearly into him? He super is. It's half because he lives for little moments of spite and half because it's pleasing when a cat has deigned you worthy of their affections.]

Clearly not.

[Hail him, the conquering hero, bringing of semi-suitable fluids to cats and all-around great guy. He lowers one leg graciously-- and then, an unfamiliar thrumming in his veins, climbs down entirely so he can kneel in the sand. It's a bigger deal than it seems when you wear armor, so this is a lot.

He offers Ser Purrcival his hand, and is rewarded with more, wait for it, purring. He is disgustingly smug about this.]

Any other objections?

[glowup]

[This is among the top ten betrayals Anders has ever faced, for the record. Not that he does anything about it; his brow furrows as he watches Purrcival focus all his kitty attention on this rude elf, but mmph... whatever! Whatever.]

Oh, yes. Would you like a numbered list? I've been adding to one for years.

[Like a manifesto, but pettier and only in his head. He is about two-thirds serious about this List, for the record.]

But if you mean am I going to go into an unstoppable rage because Ser Purrcival has more patience with you than I do... no. Not today.

[doggish]

I suspect I know it already. You're not exactly known for keeping your tongue sheathed.

[He has his own list, which is far less ordered and mostly consists of all the things he spits at Anders on the regular. He tugs off one wicked-looking gauntlet and wiggles his fingers, teasing the cat gently. Is this how you play with them? He really isn't sure, and Ser Purrcival is absolutely going to bite his fingers the instant he gets his teeth too near, but it's fine.]

I suppose I can see the appeal of a pet.

[He will not steal this cat but he sure is loving him, holy shit. It's a little odd, honestly, but it's not overly bizarre, so he'll take it. Besides: he needs some outlet for the surge of energy he has right now, and playing with a cat (both hands, now) is as good as any.]

[glowup]

[Purrcy, destroy him... ugh. Anders simply rolls his eyes, not content to sit here in silence while Fenris steals his cat's affection, but preferring it to actually speaking to him further. It's irritating— after everything that's happened, after years of pointedly disagreeing with Fenris about every single thing, he still can't help but think that a familiar face here is better than nothing. This particular familiar face... sucks, but! Still!

He's feeling sour enough at himself about this to sigh shortly and pick up the drink again; might as well knock the rest of this back while he waits for Fenris to get bored and leave, and so he does, and oh— oh, that wasn't a good idea. It takes a moment to sink in, and it's only when he frowns sidelong at Fenris again and thinks, actually, perhaps he isn't so egregiously terrible that Anders realizes his critical error.

(Credit to the sheer scope of his petty dislike: it helps solve the puzzle of fond new feelings in record time.)

In true Anders fashion, he sits there in furious silence a moment longer before he comes up with, strained:]

I think it's time for you to go.

[Please, Maker. Get out of here.]

[doggish]

You're outvoted. Resign yourself to it.

[Because Fenris isn't leaving, and clearly the cat wants him to stay, so . . . it's two to one. He doesn't bother looking up, because really, there's danger and danger, and right now Anders' tone only registers as terse irritation, not outright fear or anger.]

Aurum wouldn't be such a bad name for a cat.

[Is he renaming him? No, but also, just saying: his name is cuter and brings more dignity.]