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

V | Devil May Cry 5

[humanbody]

Drinks
[Despite actually arriving in sandals and a sleeveless shirt, V sticks out on the sunny beach, pale and wearing all black. His cane sinks into the sand as he walks, which is nearly as miserable as the heat.

The robot zooming up and insisting he please accept a drink was the tipping point.]

I'm not interested. [His gaze lingers on the sweating, cool looking drinks.] You wouldn't happen to have ice water available, would you?

But, sir, these drinks are specially made for visitors! Please, accept one! [His dark gaze shifts into a glare.] I just want some water.


Sparkles
[The relative coolness of the night is a relief and has V in a much better mood. The glow from the water draws him closer as it does many others and he carefully kneels closer to watch the bioluminescent creatures make their way through the gently rolling waves.]

Pitying, I dropped a tear: But I saw a glow-worm near, Who replied, 'What wailing wight Calls the watchman of the night? I am set to light the ground, While the beetle goes his round: Follow now the beetle's hum; Little wanderer, hie thee home.

[He recites the poem quietly as if speaking to the glowing plankton. Stupidly, he dips his fingers into the water briefly. He pulls his hand back quickly as he spots a jellyfish float by but lets out a sigh of relief as he feels no tell-tale sting.

No sting but he does feel... different.]


Wildcard
[Have something else in mind? Go for it or PM me with details :)]

sparkly time

[videnije]

You would best do to mind your hands, little poet.

[ a bit ironic, considering they're of a height. the woman standing near v is looking out onto the ocean, and him, her arms folded over the front of her swimsuit and the white shirt she's wearing over that.

it seems the heat of the night is still affecting her, considering the flush on her skin. she nods to the water again. ]

They are beautiful, but their kiss means problems.

[humanbody]

[Turning his hand, he inspects it for a moment, still half expecting red marks to appear to indicate he'd been stung. He even goes so far as to run the pad of his thumb along his fingers but, aside from feeling pleasant and tingly, he feels nothing out of the ordinary.

With both hands on his cane, he pushes himself to his feet, taking a moment to brush the sand off his knees.]

Problems? [He echoes, already feeling flush, skin prickling.] Many kisses do. What kind of problems do their's lead to?

[videnije]

[ valentina gives a little chuckle, walking along the sand to come alongside v. as casual as she is making it, there's also the air of a predator in her stance.

being so forward, she reaches out to tap a manicured finger on the hand he'd had in the water. ]

A little warmth, a little buzz. It seems minor at first, but it will build and build until you cannot stand it anymore and need someone, anyone to touch you, to ease the ache.

[ having a history in drugs handed out at parties is the only reason she's not freaking out about the stings, and why she recognizes what it is as well. ]

[humanbody]

It sounds like you're speaking from experience...

[Warmth. A buzz, skin tingling. He knows he's feeling both those things. He wets his lips without realizing what he's doing as she describes what the growing ache will become.]

And, does it help? The touch of another person? [It seems almost too easy. But, maybe, he's just too used to terrible magic and demons.]

[videnije]

I have partaken a time or two of such things.

[ an easy enough explanation, and she's not hiding the reason for it. he licks his lips and her eyes catch to it, sharp, but she doesn't comment on it. instead she rests her hand over part of his arm, fingers tracing the tattoos. ]

I find that it does. Why don't you tell me?

[ because she is definitely teasing him by this point, the way she drags the tips of her fingers against his skin. ]

[humanbody]

[A pleasant, tingling warmth blossoms up his arm at the touch and he's leaning closer before he even really realizes it. Taking a soft but faintly audible breath. The reaction is likely more than enough to answer her question.]

Is your aim to diminish or amplify the effects? [Maybe the urge to seek out contact with someone else would be worse, maddening even, without her touch but although it might be letting him think straight, it was still fueling a growing desire.

A small wave rolls the water closer to where the two are standing, lapping just shy of V's feet. It's his turn to reach out, putting his hand on her other arm.] We shouldn't stay here. [It's not quite a request to go somewhere more private but it might as well be.]

[videnije]

It always gets worse before it gets better.

[ she offers him a teasing smirk in response to his question, especially as he leans in. for her part, just the contact of her fingers against him sends little sparks up her arm. there's a desire there to simply push him down and - well, rub herself over him might not be entirely accurate, but close.

instead, he reaches out, putting a hand on her arm, and her eyes flutter closed for a moment, taking a soft breath before she nods. ]

Sleduyte za mnoy. Quickly, I know of a place.

[ after a moment, she opts to take his hand in hers, gently tugging him back towards one of the cabins. ]

[humanbody]

'Always'?

[He'd meant for it to sound teasing but the word came out in a low, rumbling growl, making it sound like he hoped what she was saying was a promise and not merely a warning. His fingers trail up her arm, he feels an undeniable pull, wanting to thread his fingers through her hair, draw her closer.

She says something, not in English. Right, he'd said something about not wanting to stay on the beach. With the toxins from the animals in the water potentially causing this reaction, it was probably for the best if they didn't stay here while the tide came in.

He nods, following after her.]

[videnije]

Always.

[ the growl is definitely making her hair stand on end, but in the best kind of way. her answer is definitely a promise - it will get worse before it gets better, the way she can already feel her desire spreading throughout her body, making her hotter than she was before.

or maybe that's him - it's hard to tell now, desires and heat all mixed up in one. regardless, they're on the move now, her fingers tight around his as she leads him to one of the nearby cabins. she's careful not to pull him too fast, at least considerate of his apparent need for a cane.

but once they are inside, she's far less gentle - moving to push him up against a wall and kiss him. ]

[humanbody]

[It's difficult to think of anything except her, her touch, the way her hair sways as she moves and gets caught by the breeze. Even as his legs and lungs start to complain from the short walk, everything is still overwhelmingly her.

They practically tumble into one of the cabins and V barely has enough forethought to think of pulling the door closed behind them. The door may have been nearly forgotten but his cane is set carefully against the wall half a second before his back is pressed against the wall.

A soft, panted breath escapes as he pulls her closer, lips parting as he tilts his head to meet her lips with a hungry kiss, groaning softly. His body feels like it's on fire.]

[videnije]

[ she's careful not to knock the cane out of the way even as she leans into him. he might be admittedly skinnier than her normal type, but there's something intriguing about him, even before the sting of the jellyfish.

the tone of his voice, the tattoos - that she traces her fingers over, patterns that seem both birdlike and feral all at once. he meets her kiss with the same ferocity, and she nips gently at his bottom lip before she sweeps her tongue against his own.

her other hand falls to the jacket he's wearing, tugging on the strings holding it together. she starts to murmur something in russian, then seems to shake herself back into english. ]

Should I worry about your hips?

[ an odd question but - she has intentions of riding, as it were, and if she needs to be careful, she will be. ]

drinks, flavor up to you :>

[devilbreak]

[He knows that cane anywhere.

Nero swoops in, excited for a familiar face, not knowing exactly what's going on but he takes up one of the drinks the robot has to get it to stop insisting.]

Scram, and don't come back until you have some ice water.

[He forcefully nudges the thing away and takes a taste of the drink, curious. It's a little alcoholic, very fruity, nothing too out of the ordinary. Yet.]

Look who it is. Never thought I'd see you again after, well, everything.

[humanbody]

[He's not entirely sure why he'd suspected that he was here alone. Part of him had thought this place might be a bizarre dream. Nero's sudden and unexpected appearance surprises him. Hopefully, Nero is too preoccupied with the robot and drinks to notice his shock. By the time Nero is addressing him, V's schooled his expression.]

Nero. [He looks slightly puzzled, unsure what Nero might be referring to.] 'Everything'? What do you mean?

[devilbreak]

[It might very well still be a bizarre dream. Nero isn't even sure he's not in some kind of demon's spell or some kind of physical nightmare part of hell, but if so, he's having a grand old time. The drinks were great! He isn't a fan of sweets so much but the bitter chocolate flavor kind of speaks to him.]

Ah, okay. So.. you go back to him. To Vergil.

[He frowns a little, but forces a smile. It's still hard to reconcile that this man, his friend, is part of his father. Even now he's not really able to wrap his head around it.] You left me your book and Vergil went with Dante to seal off the under world from the inside.

[It's kind of heavy considering the atmosphere, but the robot comes back without any water and instead offers V the very same drink he'd politely declined just moments before.]

[humanbody]

[V takes a moment, a long moment, to digest the information Nero offers him, managing to keep a neutral expression. He swallows thickly, feeling the heat more acutely now. He glances in the direction the robot had disappeared in, seeing it approaching... only to set another one of the drinks in front of him and whisking away. It draws an annoyed sigh from V, but otherwise, he seems to accept that he's not going to be getting any water.]

By 'go back to him', I assume you mean that I cease to exist. Urizen and I.

[He's quiet again.] Unfortunately, I have to admit I suspected that would be my fate. But I had hoped...

[No. Vergil had been responsible for creating Urizen, which meant V also felt partially responsible. The demon had to be stopped. if it meant his death to do so, well, that was the price that had to be paid.

Without really thinking about it, he slides the drink closer and takes a sip, just needing a relief from the heat and the thirst. It's an odd flavor, bitter and chocolatey but off somehow.]

[devilbreak]

[He likes to pretend it's all behind them and that he's totally over it now, but he's not. Thankfully he doesn't wear that on his face or V would pick up on it instantly. He knows it. So, Nero has to act cool, like everything is fine. They're just a couple of old pals that ran into each other and not two friends who barely got to learn anything about the other before one was taken away forever.

It's fine. This is fine. Everything is cool. Something is making him feel really uncomfortable, though. Like he wants to reach out and touch V to make sure he's really there. Before he can stop himself he does just that, putting his hand on top of the one V's using to hold his cane. Yeah, very much real. His face flushes and he glances at their hands and then back up again.]

It's alright. All of that is over now. Don't know how long we have like this, but...just wanted to say I missed you.

[humanbody]

[His gaze moves to his hand. Or, more accurately, Nero's hand over his own. The heat has been bothering him but somehow Nero's hand still feels warm. He knows he shouldn't read too much into this. He'd died. And Nero had, perhaps, witnessed his death. And his lies.

Honestly, he's shocked Nero isn't angrier at him. He'd blatantly manipulated him.

He feels a wave of guilt, knowing he doesn't deserve this gesture from Nero. And he certainly doesn't deserve being missed.]

Nero... [He doesn't deserve any of this.] I'm sorry...

[He could say more. He could give Nero the same excuse he'd given himself to justify it all - that he'd just been doing what he'd had to. Instead, he offers Nero a soft, pained smile.] At least we have whatever this place is. For now.

Drinks

[whiteplume]

[Out fo nowhere, a hand reaches for the offered glass. Jingyi takes the glass and gulps it down in one go before settling back upon the tray with a faint smirk. He's most likely going to regret drinking that concoction later.

The elf already had two of these cocktails earlier.]

There.

[He snaps open his ornate fan and glares. It's already hot and miserable as it is. The last thing Jingyi needs is to listen to them argue. There's more than enough angry drunks hanging around the bar as it is.]

Problem solved, no?

[humanbody]

Not quite. I'd still like some water- [His eyes narrow at the retreating robot. It seems highly doubtful that it would be returning with his request.

With a sigh, V settles on one of the bar stools, leaning his cane against the side of the bar.]

I don't suppose you have any of those you could spare. [His gaze moves pointedly to the fan.]

[whiteplume]

[Who would've thought such a simple request would give rise to such contention? While Jingyi appreciates the free booze, he knows not everyone is a bordering alcoholic like him. So he gives the scrawny man a sympathetic glance.]

Perhaps you should ask for ice.

[He suggests as he lazily fans himself. It's much cooler by the bar than it is outside but not by much. The humidity alone is stifling enough to suffocate a man. While the Vale was known to get somewhat warm during summer, it's nothing quite like this.]

Unfortunately, no.

[Jingyi grins as he starts to fan him. The poor guy looks like he could use some help.]

Though, I can be convinced to make another one.

[humanbody]

Not a bad suggestion. [He glances in the direction the robot had wandered off in, not seeing any robots in sight now that a drink had been taken.] If it ever comes back, I shall.

[It is thankfully much cooler in the shaded bar than out on the beach and every so often a breeze even makes it to them as well. The heat is still stifling however and V isn't exactly keen to check out the water.]

Make one? [He raises an eyebrow dubiously.] I don't doubt your ability, but do you have the supplies here to do so?

[whiteplume]

[Where did that little droid go? Jingyi he can't help but frown. Maybe they should flag down another one? They can't be but so rigid in their programing not to provide ice. That would be just silly considering the heat.]

Supplies will be difficult to come by.

[He admits with a bit of a frown. While the bar here is fully stocked and most of the electricity was restored in the city, this island is still bare and empty.]

Common toiletries are scarce enough, so imagine trying to find anything relating to arts and crafts.

[He places his arm upon the bar counter and rests his chin within his palm.]

Making the dye from scratch is easy enough but the wooden frame? It would take so much time to just make that alone. Then there's the fabric--

[He lets out a sigh.]

This place is far too primitive.

[humanbody]

It's strange... the things that appear to be in high supply -[He motions to the fancy drink.]- and the things that seem nigh unattainable. I suppose it makes sense in a way, that the toilet paper would be used up and gone long before people have made a dent in the margarita mix.

If this heat doesn't let up, a fan may be worth quite a lot.

[V leans against the bar as well, tilting his head to look at the artwork on Jingyi's fan. Despite whining about the heat, V doesn't appear to be sweaty or disheveled in the least bit.]

Is that fan one of your creations?

[whiteplume]

It's not as strange as you think if you've survived times of war and famine.

[The elf injects with a faint chuckle.]

Alcohol holds very little value in a world that lacks decadence. Survival is all that matters and yet here we are at this quaint little bar expected to behave as normal.

[While he doesn't quite approve of some of the Augur's tactics here, he's not inclined to voice them. It makes no sense to denounce the Augur so boldly without any reason. From what he can tell, these droids are indeed doing exactly what the hologram stated. They're trying to restore their world by any means necessary.

It's a noble goal in his opinion but somewhat nefarious considering the nature of how things are restored. Nevertheless, Jingyi reserves his opinion to himself.]

It is. [He answers with a somewhat proud smirk.] Outside of my practice, I'm quite the crafter.