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

duo maxwell | gundam wing | ota, character is 16

[spacerat]

( teach a man to fish )

[ it's a bit odd to stand on a beach in sweltering heat but not be able to see the sun.

duo still raises a hand to cover the top of his eyes as he looks out over the celebrations taking place on the beach. he can see people fishing and cooking, a bunch of booths, a tent he's definitely giving a wide berth to, and a spot serving drinks.

of course, the booths selling food give him an idea, as he turns and looks down the beachside, looking at some of the more ramshackle lean-tos and driftwood hanging around.

give him a couple hours, and he's staked out a spot along the beach. he's fashioned himself a rod, and while it takes him a few tries to get bites with his shellfish-bait, he does eventually secure some dozen of fish.

he cleans and guts them, stuffs them with some herbs he managed to find, and then sets them roasting over a little fire he started. and of course, then he starts yelling. ]

Fresh caught fish! Get your fresh caught fish right here!

( at least it's not a drunk tank )

[ when the heat hits high enough, duo sells off (or gives away) the last of his fish and heads to the dunk tank. he's dressed in some obnoxiously bright blue shorts and yes, a white t-shirt.

he's also jeering at people who miss. ]

You call that a throw? I've seen people do better with their eyes closed!

[ please someone dunk him so he'll shut up. ]

( ooh sparkly )

[ as the evening hits, duo and his wet braid hang out along the waterline, occasionally messing around with seashells - which means he's delighted when it lights up like the night sky. he moves to the edge of the waves, crouching down to look at it. his survival training means he's not going to run into the water without verifying those glowing animals are... but that doesn't mean he might not stick his hand in, eyes wide with wonder, and get stung, pulling back his hand more out of reaction than pain. ]

Well, that's new.

( ooc: i'll match prose or text! feel free to wildcard me as well, and i'm open to doing a drink thread if anyone wants. )

GEEEEET DUNKED ON

[shangrilady]

Oh? Sounds like someone's living dangerously.

[ Elle isn't to spend her money this way but you know... shutting up a loudmouth is worth a few credits. Enjoy the eyeful of her in about as revealing as a one-piece can get without having holes in it, because she's acquiring a ball. ]

he deserves this

[spacerat]

[ all right, cute girl, duo can dig it. either way, the comment about living dangerously has him grinning widely. ]

Only if you can make that shot.

[ he points to the target. ]

Everyone's batting zero so far!

[ he even puts his hands up behind his head. show him what you got. ]

[shangrilady]

Everyone else is a punk.

[ Elle did a war. Not only did she do a war, she did in an outdated mobile suit mainly by being careful and precise. This is practically her job.

Elle tosses the ball up and down a few times, eyeing the range, arc, testing the weight of the ball. For a moment, it strikes her that it's so automatic to think through it like this.

More important than introspection, though, is success, and she winds up and hurls the ball like she's facing the last out in the world series. ]

[spacerat]

You got that right -

[ he's agreeing with her about the comment, belatedly, when she winds up and tosses the ball. duo has half a mind to duck in case she's aiming for him - thankfully, it's just the target, which she, of course, nails.

with a little yell from him, duo gets dropped into the cold water, the tail end of his braid the last thing in. he comes bursting out after a moment, soaked from head to toe - but he's laughing. ]

Damn, you got some arm. Where'd you learn to throw like that?

[shangrilady]

[ Elle's a punk too - the kinda punk who lives on the streets, and fights the power, and doesn't take shit. She could've nailed Duo instead, but that's no fun. Soaking the braid boy is way more in the spirit of things, and she smirks, arms crossed, as he clambers out. ]

From livin'.

[spacerat]

Livin', huh?

[ he smirks again, he's familiar with that tone. ]

Well, congratulations. You're definitely a hell of a shot better than the rest of these bozos.

[ he compliments her as he begins squeezing water out of his braid. he is going to pay for that for several hours. ]

What's your name?

[shangrilady]

[ Stuff like throwin' junk at people. Surviving stuff. ]

Not gonna say I've had a ton of practice with my arm, but it's apparently enough.

[ She should try sports. Some kinda sports. ]

Elle Vianno. Just Elle's fine. Been here a bit.

[spacerat]

[ junk? he loves junk. show him the junk!! ]

You'd made a killing as a pitcher. Or maybe in the circus as a knife-thrower.

[ he smiles and stops wringing out his hair, attempting to dry a hand on his shorts before he gives up and offers it to shake. ]

Duo Maxwell - but just Duo's fine. I just got here a couple days ago myself. I'm still figuring all this out.

feesh

[allumer]

[ Of course when you announce the presence of fish, the cats come out sniffing, and this one makes its way to Duo's catches of the day in record time.

He looks over the arrangement set up with the gathered wood then directs his attention back to the fish. ]

Impressive.

feeshing jamboree

[spacerat]

[ hey, duo's not going to complain about a few cats in the fishes... as long as they keep their paws to themselves.

duo turns from yelling to look over the arrival, flashing a grin. ]

Hey, thanks. It might not be the most original, but I figure if you're gonna pay someone, may as well be a fellow human, right?

[allumer]

[ Paws are being kept to himself, especially as he comes to learn this is apparently an attempt at a legitimately run business. Hah, cute. ]

You're doing this for the money, huh? Figures.

[spacerat]

Is there somethin' wrong with that?

[ duo doesn't sound defensive, just vaguely confused. listen, he's credit-poor here right now, don't judge him.

of course, then again, other people might be credit poor and noctis is looking a little thin. duo tilts his head and then nods it. ]

Course, I'd be a poor salesman if I didn't let people sample the wares, right?

[ you can have one (1), noct. ]

[allumer]

[ Because even Noctis doesn't ask for payment to be exchanged when he offers his own fresh caught fish to people. Ever heard of generosity, Duo?? But he is also currently willing to bang for spare credits so he's in a different situation. ]

Just, kinda selfish?

[ And if Duo were selling clams it would be shellfish.

Thank god he doesn't use puns. He looks over at the fish and man, they smell really good and he is pretty hungry. Hard to give up a free sample, and if the guy is new and wants to get himself started, Noctis could easily spend a few credits for his benefit. ]

But sure. If it blows me away, I'll make you a profit. Hand one over.

[spacerat]

[ duo rolls his eyes a little, but he doesn't outright disagree with noctis. to a point, yeah, he's being a little selfish, and he can admit that, even if he sees it another way entirely.

thank god he doesn't have to deal with a pun on top of that. duo looks over the fish, selecting one that looks the right amount of done - the flesh firm and opaque - and hands it over to noctis, letting him grab the stick end. ]

Have at. And hey, if it sucks, let me know so I can fix up the recipe.

[ the recipe that isn't... a recipe... ]

[allumer]

[ The recipe that is plants stuffed in a fish over an open fire, but hey, that's about as good as Noctis could ever do, except all the fish he ever cooks on the island is just grilled with no extra things added. So when he blows on the flesh of the smoking fish and takes a bite, his brows rise and he seems pretty taken aback.

Another bite, he chews, then speaks with his mouth full because he has no manners. ]

Not bad. 's actually real good.

[spacerat]

[ ain't nobody care about manners here, noctis. duo perks up a little, beaming. ]

Hey, good to know. And uh, take a second on the house. You're looking a little skinny.

[ concern wins out over profit. ]

the dunk and fuck

[heeroics]

Heero watches yet another unsuccessful contestant leave the dunk tank, to the familiar sound of Duo Maxwell's jeering taunts. He might have juuust the slightest hint of a smirk on his face as he accepts the ball from the robot attendant, without all breaking eye contact with the boy on the platform.

Obviously, he wasn't going to pass this opportunity up.

why does everyone want to get duo wet......

[spacerat]

Duo even sticks his tongue out at the back of the person who whiffed their last shot, kicking his legs a little on the platform he's sat on. It's a warm day, he's at a beach - and Heero Yuy is the next person in line.

Ah, shit.

He's still got a confident smirk on his face, but Heero can probably see that he realizes he's in very real danger of getting dunked (or hit in the head).

"Well hey, bud, come to try your luck next?"

He will face his fate with a grin.

duo has a face that just asks for it

[heeroics]

Duo's only mistake was getting into a dunk tank with Heero Yuy on the same planet. Heero sees that flashy grin, but he doesn't miss the knowing look in the other pilot's eyes: Duo's in for it now.

"I don't need luck."

Heero doesn't need to take his time when he lines up to take aim at the target, silently judging the distance and the ideal trajectory for a forceful hit. When he draws the process out, the only purpose is to extend that sweet moment where Duo knows he is absolutely doomed.

There will probably be retribution in Heero's future, that's how it works between them - but Heero still throws that ball at the target without an ounce of mercy.

ngl it's true

[spacerat]

Duo's mistake was getting into a dunk tank with Heero Yuy in the same planetary system, honestly. Regardless, he's not going to show any fear - not to others, anyway. Heero definitely knows what's up, given his expression.

"Yeah, well I'd argue you need a hell of a lot of luck to get as far as you haaaave-!"

Duo's mostly rambling at this point because Heero doesn't throw the ball exactly when he expects it - which means he's mid-sentence when the ball slams its target and dumps him into the water with a splash.

The first thing that comes out is a hand, middle finger extended, and then the rest of him follows, sputtering out water.

[heeroics]

"Heh."

That is the rare sound of satisfaction from pilot zero-one. Of course, out of all the people in the ESUN, Duo is one of the very few who is already aware that Heero has a sense of humor - and that it's exactly this twisted. He waves off whatever prize the robots might have had in mind for this game; seeing Duo take a dive is its own reward.

He waits for Duo to come up for air.

"Were you saying something?"

[spacerat]

They've spent a lot of time together both during the war and after - and Duo is well aware while Heero was supposed to be emotionless, he's anything but. Instead, it's a little more subtle, used to being held back.

Case in point: zero-two heard that satisfaction, asshole.

Duo does look a little annoyed, but it's still mostly for show when he glares Heero up and down, wading to the edge of the tank.

"I was saying you always need a little bit of luck," he grumbles, hefting himself up and out of the tank, getting feet on the ground with a wet smack. "At least accept the prize so you don't look like a total asshole."

But he's smiling, starting to squeeze water out of his hair onto the ground.

[heeroics]

Does Heero care about looking like an asshole? No, he does not.

"I don't need it. Luck or the prize."

Heero still likes to think that they are relatively self-sufficient, no matter how 'behind' he is on his magic bingo card. Besides, it's probably something wild like a sex toy, anyway.

There is one thing he's curious about, however.

"Did you get credits?"

[spacerat]

"Yeah, yeah," Duo scoffs. He hasn't actually taken a look at the prizes but he suspects the same as Heero; they're probably related to sex or aphrodisiacs in some way. Unless the other prize is Duo having to walk around in a white t-shirt, maybe.

He steps away from the tank to let the next person get in, holding up his wristband. Thankfully, he'd checked that it was waterproof before he even got in the thing. There are indeed credits listed for him to use, now.

"Indeed I did. Which means if you're tired of eating whatever's in the cans we're scrounging up, I could grab something."

Since he abandoned his fish fry a while ago.