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

klavier gavin • ace attorney

[improvise]

A. DRINKS

[ find klavier standing by the beachside stall, leaning his shoulder against a nearby palm three and pushing his straw through the ice in his drink. ]

NO DRINK YET
[ if you look closely enough, you'll see that his attention isn't on the drink at all—rather, at the watch wrapped around his wrist. he's pointedly frowning. when he sees you, his lips spread into a calm smile and he leans away from the tree onto his feet. ]

You're a part of this farce as well, I take it.

CONOSCERE
[ his eyes still on his watch, klavier lets go of his straw and absently lowers his head to drink. after he swallows, he looks up and finds you.

he stares without remorse for a moment too long, and you see his eyes soften as he smiles warmly at you. mistake or not, he swirls his drink in his hand and approaches you.

he's already confident enough, but you seem to bring out a whole other side of it. when he stops beside you, his eyes flicker down as he raises his drink between the two of you. ]

Our captors here, [ he nods towards a nearby robot, ] tell me that there may be some reward when sharing this drink with someone.

[ his eyes dart back towards you. he raises the drink again slightly, tipping its straw towards you. ]

I unfortunately can't test this idea by my lonesome. From what I've heard, we might both reap those benefits, if that entices you at all.

B. KISSING BOOTH.....

[ following a conversation with one of the robots regarding his new getaway's credit system, klavier decides to gracefully accept his disconnection from his wealth. whatever con had brought him to the island, he would play by its rules for the time being.

he's been provided a wooden booth of his own to man, with 'KISSING BOOTH' printed on a large plank fixed over his head. he's shed his purple coat, which is folded carefully and rests on one side of the booth's counter. his black, collared shirt is rolled up to his elbows.

you might not be coming to the booth itself, but klavier is willing to fish for credits. as he leans on both arms over the counter, prepped for his next customer, he will give you a wink if you meet his eye. ]

I could use your help, if you have a moment.

C. JELLYFISH

[ anyone who catches a glimpse of klavier rolling up his pant legs and wading a few short steps into the sparkling water might think he's done this before, despite the danger. his shoes are hanging by his side, fingers hooked into the heels and black socks rolled and nestled into the toes. his other hand is tucked into his pocket.

this should be a good sight for whichever cameras might be watching him at the moment.

he's admiring the swirl and glow around his feet before he catches you nearby—looking or just loitering—and offers you a debonair smile. ]

Almost otherworldly, aren't they? Are you afraid?

D. WILDCARD

( ooc: anything goes! feel free to hit me up with a dm or nat#1824 on discord. i'm also willing to write out other drink options. klavier is 24; 18+ partners only, please. m/f or m/m! )

jellyfish

[defaulthawke]

I wouldn't say afraid.

[Hawke was loving the oddly familiar sight of bioluminescent shores, right up until he saw the jellyfish. Then he immediately skipped back in the water, until it was barely lapping at his toes, watching the other man cautiously.]

More like wary.

[Unknown fauna on a sex planet? N o p e. Fool him once, shame on him...]

The water's lovely, but mind the actual animals. Maker knows what they might do to you.

[improvise]

Quite the little show, seeing you stumble back to the water's edge. Very cute.

[ teasing, definitely, though he's speaking from an honest place to a handsome stranger. he looks back to the glowing floor under the waves, watching where it lights up under his feet. there are definitely jellyfish floating, which he's been lax about avoiding. anyone else's he's seen walk into the tide hasn't seemed to mind them. ]

From what I understand, bio-luminescence is likely made of plankton or algae. It's a little late to avoid the animals, unless you're talking about the jellyfish.

[ he looks back to hawke, who's pretty much got the build of a lumberjack. ]

I would guess someone like you would have much more to be scared of than a jellyfish sting. Am I wrong?

kissing booth;

[poopio]

[ Honestly, he hadn't intended on buying anything here as he has no money (not that he needs any of it anyway), but if someone asks for his help, who is he to turn them down? He had mostly been touring the beach area, trying to retrace how he managed to come into this world from the Auguste Isles, and thus far, he had encountered no satisfactory answers. Just a lot of robots strangely infatuated with him and too many overzealous (and possibly inebriated) beach-goers.

His finger points to his own chest after a moment to confirm that yes, he's indeed the one being addressed, so he takes it upon himself to sidle closer and offer the stranger a smile. ]

Do you require me to look after your booth while you relieve yourself? Please say no more. I have completed this service for a few others this evening.

[ Granted, it hadn't been for a kissing booth, but what's the harm in manning one? He thankfully doesn't incite the same crowd excitement here as he does in his own world, making it to likely be something of a peaceful affair. Probably.

He hopes. ]

[improvise]

[ an attractive-looking man with an interesting-looking getup (are those wings? is this "cosplay?") seems lucky enough, even if what comes out of his mouth is less than charming. not sakurai offering to hold his booth while he pees.

klavier can't help furrowing his brows, taking in what he hears with a wary smile, and then he shakes it off. can't lose a potential customer. ]

Not quite, although I'll be certain to call you should the need arise. [ lol ] And what should I call you?

[ he gestures to lucio's wings. ]

I suppose 'Angel' is overdone. What sort of costume are you wearing?

[poopio]

...Costume?

[ Oh. He half-turns to glance at the wings in question, recalling that such things aren't as common place in this world as they are in the Grandcypher's crew where the wings are a-plenty and in varying colors. Yes, they would seem strange to an outsider. ]

I am afraid I must disappoint you. They are rather firmly attached.

[ He chuckles good-naturedly as he allows them to flap to demonstrate before finally getting around to a proper introduction. ]

Please call me Lucio, a mere traveling stage actor. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[ There's a slight bow of his head and upper body for lack of any knowledge what the common greeting gestures are. This will simply have to do. ]

Are you certain you have no need for repose? What did you request my help for then?

[improvise]

[ klavier's brows raise, watching the little wings flapping behind him. ]

...I see. Impressive. [ there has to be some kind of contraption or button he presses. this day has been weird, but he hasn't seen any proof yet that angels or monsters or anything like that really exist. this person being a stage actor makes sense more than anything else. if he's not going to explain his wings, klavier will respect the act lucio's playing up.

and he's so polite! klavier keeps his eyes on him, but he stands up tall, puts his hand on his chest, and responds in kind out of politeness. ]

Another enthusiast of the arts? I really am getting lucky.

[ he slips his hands into his pockets, leaning forward and grinning. ]

And you're an independent freelancer, no less. I dig it. Then maybe you can understand the position I'm in. Before I get into my request, Herr Lucio, let me ask... Are you also new to this place?

[poopio]

[ Such peculiar mannerisms. Lucio can't help but stare at him, wondering if this is simply how mortals communicate in this world and if he should attempt to adapt a little more. Perhaps, he'll practice during his spare time, trying to focus instead on the conversation at hand. ]

You are correct. I have only just arrived earlier.

[ Was he hoping to elicit him as a customer? His expression falls a little, as he would have gladly donated to the cause if he could. ]

I am afraid I am lacking in the local currency, but perhaps, I can encourage others I come across to visit your booth by spreading your accolades about.

[ It would have to be either that or bartering, but he doesn't really have much of value on him. His katana are necessary for any potential battles that might arise, and he also would not wish to attract too much attention by sacrificing all his clothes and walking about in the nude. ]

[improvise]

[ in defense of bartering, klavier would probably be doing lucio's admirers and bingo card a favor when it comes to making him walk around naked.

but he won't be doing that, and he has no reason to want any weapons. he closes his eyes, brows furrowed in disappointment even as he smiles, and he shrugs his shoulders. ]

It was worth a shot, ja? [ he drops his shoulders and smiles again at lucio. he speaks very formally; he must be classically trained, or something. ]

It is a small comfort to meet someone else in my position, unfortunate as it is. I would appreciate your advertising, though I don't have much to offer you in terms of payment. What do you say we strike a deal?

[webdesigned]

( Klavier, my dude, you are dressed way too fancy for the beach.

it's making Peter feel especially underdressed. though granted he's always dressed terribly, so maybe that's why. he's actually abandoned most of his usual 6 layers to only a t-shirt out of necessity, it's pretty hot on the beach. it's always weird to show his arms, as nothing about Peter Parker suggests he'd be a gymrat. even after years of spider superpowers, he still hasn't thought up a good excuse for having abs.

his dark eyes skeptically scan the booth's designation — kissing booth, huh? of course that's a thing here — before he pays attention to Klavier proper. )

Yeah? You need a break or something? ( Peter is not going to offer to take over his post, but he can just... stand here and keep an eye on it if Klavier needs a drink or to stretch his legs. granted, there does not seem to be anything that needs to be watched, but hey. Peter is a nice guy. he's willing to hear Klavier out. )

[improvise]

[ it's not his fault!! he may as well enjoy dressing this well as long as he can, even if he doesn't know how much he'll be inconvenienced just yet. right now, he's just enjoying the beachside welcome and staying far away from that weird-looking fog within the city.

at least his clothes might make him a little more enticing to potential customers. (in his mind, his clothes are only half of the spectacle. because he's a rock star and therefore is like that.) ]

Ah, another good Samaritan? My fellow hostages here are so helpful. You're not the first person to offer me such a thing.

[ he stands tall behind the booth, slipping his thumb through a belt loop. ]

The answer is no, but thank you. I would have nothing to give another person in exchange for watching my stall regardless. I'm a new recruit to this fiasco, you see.

[webdesigned]

( Peter could probably stand to get some style tips from Klavier, his sense of style is limited to band tees and honestly more layers than a human being has ever needed to wear. his aunt isn't around to make sure he has remotely respectable pieces of clothing at his disposal. that said, Erku is enormously lacking in any kind of fashion, so... those lessons might be pretty difficult to give....... and Peter would be mostly unresponsive so you know what, nevermind.... . .. .

he tilts his head like a confused puppy when Klavier corrects him. if he doesn't want a break then what could he possibly need? )

Oh. Okay. ( he's not sure he would call himself a good Samaritan for offering to just stand around for five minutes, but it's nice to know he's not the only one in the desolate city that is willing to lend a hand to a stranger. ) To the city, you mean? Yeah, it's a trip. I guess it's not too bad once you get used to it. ( weird how a place that was desperate to have everyone in the city fool around could feel so lonely, though... Peter is probably just too good at feeling lonely. )

...So what did you need, exactly? ( this german rockstar did call him over here for a reason, right? if he doesn't need a break, then what is it? )

[improvise]

[ listen. if they ever find a broken down j.crew or neiman marcus or saks fifth avenue here in this sex apocalypse hell, peter could get the glow up of his life if he sticks around klavier after this. (we'll see if that ever happens.)

for now, this person seems unassuming enough—and possibly a good source for some information. he raises his brows at peter's initial answer, but he's still smiling. he's glad to meet another person who seems to have experience here. ]

Achtung! So you're a resident. Lucky me. Perhaps you'll permit me a few questions about your experiences here, for my own understanding. But before then...

[ he tips his own head a little, looking almost apologetic as he nods to the sign above his head. ]

I won't lie to you. If you have the credits to spare, I would appreciate it.

[webdesigned]

( it would be an easy extreme makeover, all Klavier would have to do do is give him one (1) nice shirt and it'd already be an outstanding change. his truly tragic style grieves me every day.

Peter has been present for a few months now. it's actually astonishing to think about that way. he has never been far out of New York and now he's been here, in a decrepit sex-starved city, for months. it's weird, not entirely bad, just a little homesick. maybe a lot homesick. he just hopes Aunt May isn't desperately searching for him during his space kidnapping. )

Yeah, sure. I'll try. ( plenty of things around here did not have easy answers. Peter would still give it a shot, though — he remembers how disorienting it'd been to suddenly show up here. exactly how useful he is going to be is going to be entirely questionable when Klavier gently reminds him what kind of booth he's in.

how did he not see this one coming, truthfully. ) Oh. Oh. You mean... ( he turns a little red, though maybe it's just a spontaneous sunburn? they are on a beach. ) Right. Um. Me? Really?

( that's not exactly a refusal, but it has a very strong her? energy. )

[improvise]

[ if they ever find a good clothing shop it's over... i promise he'll end your suffering

for now, klavier's brows go up when he sees the red blooming on peter's face. oh man. no, he's been around the block enough to know a blush from a sunburn. it's cute, in a way. he lets his chin drop and he smiles towards the floor, shaking his head. thank you, michael bluth. ]

I believe there was only one person I was talking to, ja? [ he raises his head to peter again, amused. ]

But I'm not one to coerce a disinterested person into something like this. No need to worry about it.

[ disinterested or reluctant or just too embarrassed. peter's obviously had little experience with all of this, at least to him. it's like seeing a minnow in a sea of sharks. you monster ]

I have no credits to give you and precious little else to offer as payment, but if you could spare your answers to my questions, I would be grateful.

A. No Drink

[justiceobjects]

[When the robots in the city started advertising that the beach was open, Apollo decided it was worth checking out, at least for the food. He couldn't say he was a big fan of the ocean, but with the fog at a safe distance everything on the beach seemed... fine, really. The atmosphere seemed almost cheerful, in fact, though the lack of a clear sky tarnished it a bit.

Apollo's just making his way to the drink table when he hears a familiar voice in the crowd. No. No way. He turns slowly, reluctant to confirm his suspicions, but there's no ignoring it now - that's Klavier Gavin, in the flesh. Apollo hadn't once entertained the thought that anyone he knew personally might show up in Sex Apocalypse City, and being confronted with it now leaves him half-certain he's having a heart attack.]

Prosecutor Gavin?

[Apollo's either dressed down or messy, depending on how you look at it. He isn't wearing his waistcoat thanks to the heat, and he hasn't seen a drop of hair gel in weeks. He's also now staring at Klavier like he's just sprouted an extra, drill-adorned head.]

[improvise]

[ imagine klavier's rude awakening when he realizes he won't have hair gel either... that'll have to be a conversation for later. his eyes had connected with someone at random (if vaguely familiar) in the smatterings of beachgoers and robots perusing their derelict, beachside welcome party—and the voice that comes out of their mouth isn't one he's expecting at all. his eyes go wide. ]

...!

[ of course. why wouldn't this person be here as well, after all that's happened? the last time he had seen apollo and his little assistant, it was following the trial, when he broke the news of the gavinner's breakup and gave the two of them the spotlight. why wouldn't the casting director overlooking this whole getup milk the drama for all it's worth?

his smile grows bigger, his free hand on his hip as he leans forward, meeting apollo at eye-level (jerk). ]

My, my. You certainly look the part, don't you, Herr Forehead? Although my nickname might no longer be appropriate. The new look suits you. You finally grew tired of the comments about your horns?

[justiceobjects]

[Being subjected to the sort of insults he's come to expect help to snap Apollo out of his shock faster than he might have otherwise. That was one way to prove that he wasn't a hallucination or a mirage. He gives Klavier an exasperated look, having to reach up to push the limply-drooping spikes out of his eyes. Apollo's hair was still trying to stand up on its own, but in this case gravity was a stronger force than stubbornness.]

Look the part of what?- Never mind, don't answer that. I wouldn't be walking around with my hair like this if I had a choice.

[There were a lot of little amenities that the residents here were still missing, not that Apollo could blame anyone for focusing on survival first. He could go without hair gel if it meant not having to eat alien spam every day of the week.]

I'd ask what you're doing here, but I already have a good idea. So the robots got you too, huh? Don't you have personal bodyguards to prevent this kind of thing?

[improvise]

[ klavier knows that face all too well, and although he wouldn't say it aloud, seeing something so familiar is a strange comfort. klavier just looks amused as ever at the answer, watching the poor spikes flop back against his head like drooping plant leaves.

at apollo's question, he closes his eyes and drops his smile, seemingly exasperated. ]

You would think, ja? It isn't as though I allow myself to be babysat, but I at least thought myself safe from kidnappings. To steal away so many people and force them into this kind of bawdy spectacle, however enjoyable it may be...

[ he shakes his head and frowns at apollo. ]

Tell me. There are cameras somewhere here, aren't there? Legal or not.

[justiceobjects]

... Wait. You think this is some sort of lewd reality TV show?

[If only the truth was something that close to normal. Apollo's sympathetic; he wasn't willing to believe what had happened to him at first, either, but he's already been here long enough to see some strange things. And experience a couple of them, too.]

The robots might have cameras in them, sure, but I don't think there's enough of them to record all of us. See that city out there? We're the only ones in it. Whoever else used to live here is long gone. Not only that, there's these weird flowers that'll shoot darts at you, and these big yellow ostriches, and scarier-looking things outside the city besides. And you don't want to go near the fog. Trust me on that one.

[Apollo stops to take a breath after his little rant, his expression completely serious despite the outrageous things he's just said.] I know what it sounds like, but doing what the robots want us to do is pretty much the only reason we have electricity and enough food to eat.

jellyfish

[allumer]

[ He's been walking along the shoreline for a while now, probably the most exercise he's had in a long while, but when it comes to the ocean Noctis will do just about anything to enjoy himself, and it's hard to step away from the sight of the glow of the water. Not surprising to see other people getting their toes wet, but he didn't think someone would come around and try to freak anyone out like this.

Imagine trying to intimidate a big ol' loser that's an avid fan of everything in the ocean with that kind of line. Noctis raises an eyebrow. ]

Why? It doesn't hurt or anything. It's just bioluminescence. Some things that live in the ocean have that.

[improvise]

[ klavier would know better if he'd ever met big loser fisherman extra-ordinaire noctis lucis caelum. at least he's about to! and in his defense, he's probably not the first person he's seen that night wading little more than ankle-deep into the water. (the lesson behind this mistake would find him soon enough, with clouded jellyfish bodies already wavering a few short inches from his feet as the tide comes in.) ]

We have an expert, I see.

[ a hyperbole, of course. klavier really has no idea who he's talking to. he sets a hand on his hip, turning to face noctis fully. ]

You know this already, my gothic-looking friend, and yet you're not coming into the water yourself. It's quite refreshing.

[allumer]

[ ...did he call him gothic? Is that a compliment? ]

Uh... not really? I'm into fishing, so I know a lot about fish.

[ But as big of a loser fisherman as he is, it's true that Noctis hasn't even dove into the water at all that day. ]

Kinda why I'm sticking to land. Dig the fact we got access to the ocean now but kinda don't have any swim trunks on me. And no way I'm skinny dipping.

[improvise]

[ just an observation!! black hair, black shirt, black jacket, black pants, black boots... nomura design at its finest. he's eyeing that glove a little, which, in the dim light, is either a motorcycle glovelet or a cast for an aching wrist. ]

Why go so far? I don't have anything of the sort myself. [ he lifts his jacket up in his arm in gesture. ]

It may be worth it to give yourself a break from those heavy-looking boots, Herr Fischer. Still, that isn't my business. You sound as though you've been here a short while. Am I wrong?

[ and after he says this, his eyes dart down into the water where something soft had brushed over his foot, drawing a line around his ankle. he frowns, almost expecting some sort of sting or burning sensation, but nothing comes—just a slowly creeping heat over his chest and up his neck, stifling his breath a little. he clears his throat and tries ignoring it, looking back to noctis and smiling, though with less confidence than before. ]

[allumer]

[ Because he is a bit of a scrawny prude and even though he'll get down and dirty with another person he's not even the type to just strip off his shirt in public. His black clothes offer him protection. A little bit like a turtle. This is his shell, without it, he will die. ]

Herr Fischer...? I'd take 'em off but there are jellyfish in the water, and I'm not sure if they're dangerous or not. You haven't been stung or anything have you?

[ Oh boy this is going to turn out great. ]