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

1.

[whiteplume]

[Dripping with sweat and twice as miserable as he ought to be, Jingyi offers the newcomer a curt nod. While the elf does his best to retain his regal bearings, it's quite difficult under such uncomfortable circumstances. It never gets this warm in his homeland. The sleepy forests of Plume are usually moderate at best. Unable to cope with this heat, Jingyi finds himself sweating worse than a stuffed boar. It's embarrassing, to say the least, but at least he hasn't succumbed to heatstroke. Yet, that is.]

You are excused.

[He states with a faint curl of his lips. Even though he looks miserable as hell, he's trying his best to remain amicable. It's a difficult task but Jingyi tries.]

Is it always this hot?

[He mutters as he keeps fanning himself.]

[burnishingmad]

[It takes a minute for his eyes to readjust to the shade. He stands in the doorway for a moment before looking at Jingyi, then for somewhere to sit so he's out of the way.]

I'm not sure. I've only been here today.

[whiteplume]

Likewise.

[He answers with a distraught sigh. Still uncertain what to think about this whole development, Jingyi settles on not fret about it. Surely there must be some way to return to his homeland. He just hasn't found the right incantation yet.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, the elf asks the following.]

Where are you from?

[There's a hint of curiosity in his tone.]

[burnishingmad]

[Silence for a few moments. Taking in having someone else close by in his space. Not that Lio's unused to crowds; packed trucks and the settlement with too many Burnish and not enough space means everyone gets comfortable. But he knew them. He knew all the people he was leading.

Here, he's alone.]

Earth. The desert.

[whiteplume]

[He gives the youth a curious glance once he mentions the desert. There's not many who would brave the deserts willingly, not even in his realm of Pang Gu. While the Flowing Sands is always described as a magical and mystical place, Jingyi never saw the desert in person. All that he knows stems from books.]

The dry heat is probably more comfortable than this.

[burnishingmad]

[He nods quietly.]

It was. I don't feel it though.

[The worst thing here is the sun, and that's more just for how it's starting to give him some sunburn on his cheeks. Something he doesn't remember experiencing back home, but then he usually had a helmet on in some form.]

... What about yourself?

[whiteplume]

I'm from Pang Gu.

[Even though the bracelets can translate their conversation efficiently enough, the bracelet can't seem to translate that word.]

It's a world that's divided between the three realms.

[He explains while wiping the sweat off his brow.]

Between Heaven and Hell lies Jian, the Mortal Realm. The temperature is always moderate on Jian but sometimes the winters can be harsh.