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Entry tags:
TDM 003
| 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.
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 |
alec mcdowell | dark angel
[ It really doesn't take a whole helluva lot to be better than Terminal City. The place was and still is a shit hole. It's their shit hole, but that doesn't actually matter. This place? Not too much better, but it's got water and that's what sets it apart. Also? No Ames fucking White and his group of jackboots. Seriously. Screw those guys. Alec will take slightly exotic beach where he doesn't know what the hell is going on over that any day of the week. The upside is the healed his bullet wound as well. Which probably wouldn't have taken that long back home given his Transgenic abilities, but this was faster. He was always in favor of faster.
He clearly doesn't look exceptionally well suited for the beach given his clothing. It's layers far more suited for the weather in Seattle. Dreary. Cold. Rainy. Not this. The longer he walks on the sand the more uncomfortable he looks. Which is difficult given his genetic DNA. Transgenics were made to be perfect though sometimes they just didn't mesh well with climates. He'd gone from the confines of a cell to a shit hole apartment in Seattle. Most of his life spent in a cell or roaming around the Manticore facilities as they trained him. Alec will admit that his body has gotten used to terrible weather conditions more than sunshine.
Adapting is the X5 specialty though. Especially when it comes to accommodations. Doesn't mean Alec won't complain about. Maybe one day he'll get a bed that doesn't suck ass. He's avoiding setting up shop or anything in one of the shacks mostly because he prefers to be mobile. He's never been the roots kind despite his set up back home. Manticore expected them to be mobile and not sentimental. It's probably why he's hanging back studying a little shack with a look of utter disgust. ]
drinks
[ Drinks he can get behind. His genetics have made it exceedingly difficult for alcohol to do literally anything to Alec in the past. It takes a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time for him to feel anything. It's probably why he's down to try just about any drink they throw at him. There's no way it'll actually do anything to him, right?
1. Colpito. First thing Alec takes note of is how sweet it is. Seattle is lacking in a lot of stuff. Usually the good shit. Everything's a luxury if you really try hard enough to find a market. This drink could have it's very own. It's not quite what Alec was expecting, but it stirs a warmth in his belly when he finds himself looking around. It's not unusual for Alec to respond to the sight of women, but this is a newer sensation. Something that digs a little deeper and has his gaze lingering. Don't be too shocked if he slides up to introduce himself with a crooked smile.
2. Vicace. Manticore pretty much drains you of any sort of glee or joy as a child. Alec didn't have a childhood. He didn't have things that normal kids got excited about. It only got worse when Max's unit cut and run like they did. Suddenly his unit was under the microscope. The last resort with the first batch out in the wind. Right now though Alec isn't sure what he's feeling, but it's a giddiness. The tart flavor of the drink still sits on his tongue as he moves around at inhuman speeds. Those X5 genetic enhancements really are a delight when you're not having to employ them to snap a guy's neck.
3. Conoscere. Chocolate. It's true that Alec's DNA is a large portion feline, but that doesn't mean that chocolate is something he just can't have. He actually doesn't mind the drink. A little bitterness never hurt anyone. He should know. He deals with Max on the daily and her crusade. He's thrilled though to have this drink, but once it's down it's a weird punch. Alec is naturally already overconfident. Oozing it from his eyeballs practically. Alec's mouth would run nonstop if given half a shot. This? This is taking it to the damn top. Invulnerable is probably the way to describe it. Happy-go-lucky sociopath has been used to describe Alec and its probably incredibly apt at times. Please excuse any and all forwardness. ]
snacks
[ Like Alec is gonna waste his time doing the work of fishing on his own when he can find another way. Alec can do the work easily. His genetics make these types of tasks simple, but why put himself through something so tedious? He'd rather not. Which is why he opts to do some of the odd jobs to gather credits. Which will no doubt maybe go a long way in existing here. He'd rather get himself set up a little better. It's not uncommon to hoard food in Seattle. Lines are stupidly long and he knows the drill. Gotta make sure you protect yourself in the long run.
He gravitates to the kissing booth. Max would probably call him a manwhore, but he prefers to see it as being charitable. He'll slink around this wet t-shirt dunk booth, but he's pretty sure he doesn't have the necessary cup size to please those involved. Still he does look alarmingly nice in a wet t-shirt with a very pleased smile on his face. ]
sparkles
[ At night he's gotta hand it to this place. It somehow manages to offer a lot less and still be better than Seattle. The state of Seattle is kind of garbage right now though. This place feels just untouched in a way. Nothing to really ruin it. By now Alec's kicked off his boots and ditched them somewhere away from the water. The longer he's here the less anxious he feels. The jellyfish are a nice little addition. He's curious and that's probably why he winds up wading out into them. This whole place is starting to feel like one giant mindfuck and truth be told he's growing fond of it. It's a different kind of chaos he's used to.
He's pretty sure one just touched him. His foot jerks out of the water, but not from pain. Just from shock. His eyes search the water and various glows like he's going to find the culprit right off the bat. Instead Alec opts to steps out of the water as he gathers himself. His heart feels like it might jump into his throat. He looks his foot over while balancing rather efficiently on the other one in the sand. His lips purse as he tries to work it all out. A feeling creeps into his gut low and warm. Similar to when he was trying to the drinks. The first person that passes by will have Alec reaching out for them. ] I think those little asshole's drugged me. [ The little asshole's would be the jellyfish. ]
wildcard
[ Feel free to hit me up on
lol it took me three tries to successfully post this | beach
she’s not the only one who doesn’t appear to be adapting that well. there’s a man about thirty feet ahead of her similarly clad in inappropriate attire; boots and jeans and leather and - wait a minute.
max’s heart leaps into her throat, pounding as she tries to quell the tiny amount of hope seeing somebody from home again inspires. hope doesn’t do her any good if this isn’t who she thinks it is. but focusing her vision, she’s able to spot the edges of his barcode, which looks, notably, like it’s reappearing after having been lasered off. that it’s been lasered off is troubling, but it’s something she’ll have to ask about later. she doesn’t quite run up to him, not wanting to draw too much attention to them, but her pace increases until she’s at his side, and once she is, she takes him by the arm and leads him somewhere that’s at least partially secluded from the crowd.
she’ll look a little different from the last time he saw her - while her hair has grown out from her time in new amsterdam, it’s still quite a bit shorter than when he’d have last seen it, now reaching a few inches past her shoulders instead of to her waist. but the most notable change is the blue matter fused into her chest, which has started glowing.
max looks down briefly, taking note of this with some frustration, and then back up at him, clearly distressed. ]
I’d say I’m glad to see you, but. [ but that means he’s here, and that she’s got a lot to explain. ] How long have you been here?
no subject
He's gonna chalk the hair up to her new surroundings. Beach attitude. Maybe. He couldn't tell you. All of that is really great and all, but the most important thing is the blue glow coming from her chest area. He'd be the first to admit that Max's rack could pull in a crowd and at times was probably damn near Heavenly to some assholes. The whole blue glowing though is a whole new situation. Which just makes him think that maybe this is connected to her magic cult writings on her person. He does lean back though erring on the side of caution in case she starts swinging and blaming him for this predicament. It wouldn't be the first time her rage was misplaced. Or rightfully placed and Alec just thought it was misplaced. ]
I'm sorry, but were you not gonna address--[ He gestures at her chest. ]--that? Max, you're glowing. Not in the way people tell pregnant chicks either. My length of time of being here doesn't really take the wheel over you glowing.
[ It's just like her to ignore an issue just to bitch at him. ]
But for your information I just got here and no I'm not responsible for this little vacation. [ He huffs. ] What? First thing you do when you pop up here is--[ He reaches out to touch the ends of her hair. ]--get a fun new beach haircut? [ He clicks his tongue. ] And you bitch at me for not taking things seriously.
no subject
I know. I’ve been here for two months. [ he reaches forward, touching the ends of her hair, and she visibly flinches, attempting to swat his hand away just a little too late - but then nothing happens. there’s no sudden insight into his past from his point of view rushing into her head, and she sighs with relief, some of the tension held in her body disappating, her shoulders relaxing the slightest bit. ]
I was somewhere else before then, for longer. Those people are the ones I have to thank for this. [ she gestures to the glowing in her chest. ] And the haircut, incidentally. [ and her wardrobe - okay, maybe not the specific items, but she is attempting to cover as much skin as possible so she doesn’t accidentally view other people’s memories.
she looks him over again - that he’s reacting with surprise to the implant answers whether or not he remembers new amsterdam, so that’s one question she doesn’t have to ask but one more thing she has to explain. she sighs again, pushing a (gloved) hand through her hair. ]
We should talk somewhere else. Where are you staying?
no subject
He really wishes that Joshua was here at least. He always put Max in a better mood. She had a soft spot for the big guy (truthfully so did Alec) and he tended to get the better reactions from her. He also could be a way more efficient and sizable buffer. Which he is almost desperate for at times. Right now he's still making his decision. He's not visibly relieved when she knows it's not his fault. That doesn't mean anything. There's still a lot that she could blame him for. Though now he's just confused as to how she's been here for two months given that he literally just saw her. World's biggest sourpuss leading a revolution. Great. ]
Are you high?
[ That's really the only thing that makes sense to be honest. She must be high. Because she's saying she was some place else for even longer before she ever even got to this sunshine shit hole. His brows knit together when she admits they're also the ones responsible for the haircut. Now that sounds very Manticore. They loved to control everything about you. Typically no one and he does mean no one makes Max do something she doesn't want to do. ]
We're standing on a beach. Alone. Where do you wanna go? Pretty sure I don't see any Space Needle's around here. Unless ones hiding in the fog.
[ Alec is just selfish enough to not give one single flying fuck about that fog. At least not enough to risk his tail entirely. Especially when there's no reason to investigate. ]
Ya know--I just couldn't decide between all these rundown shacks spread out before me. Where are you staying? You've been here longer.
no subject
he asks if she’s high and she shuts her eyes, huffing in frustration. she knows how crazy all of it sounds, especially if he remembers more recent events from home, but if the haircut and glowbox in her fucking chest aren’t enough proof that what she’s just told him is true, she really doesn’t know what else will do it for him. maybe the fact that he was there, too, but his reaction to her new appearance is a pretty clear indication that he won’t remember that.
the irritation fades into just plain distress as he goes on, shaking her head when he mentions the fog. ]
No. Definitely not. [ regarding the fog, which she’s already had her own experience with. ] I have a place in town.
no subject
There's a town? Like--what're we working with here? This isn't another Terminal City situation, is it? [ He's dealt with Manticore all his life. It was nice having a place of his own for a while. Then rooming with Joshua. Now it's like Terminal City is all they've got. He's tired of it being taken from him. ] How're these people in regards to--ya know? [ He turns around and points to his neck quickly. He swivels back around to face her. ] I'm tired of pitchforks.
no subject
[ she starts leading him away from the beach and into the city (as it were), towards the building where her apartment is located, pausing again to regard the gesture towards his barcode. a cold feeling creeps into her stomach when he mentions pitchforks. ]
I haven't been advertising anything specific, but they're not put off by the implant. And I think we're on the tamer side of weird around here. [ but that he feels the need to ask is troubling. ] Why? What's been happening?
[ and then something else he said comes back to her. ]
Why did you mention Terminal City?
no subject
You're talking from experience huh? [ In regards to the bingo card checking for nicer and fancier stuff. His grin growing as he pieces it together. ] Max, did you do crazy sex shit for nicer digs? [ The jokes he could be making right now. He tries not to because he's still well within punching range and just because she's "happy" to see him doesn't mean she won't deck him just to make a point. Or kicking him in the dick. That's another favorite of hers.
The next couple of questions make Alec cock an eyebrow. Though she did just mention that the fog caused memory loss. The aphro drinks is hardly something to really worry about, but memory loss fog is something. ]
Did you go in the fog? TC is where we're pretty much stuck now. Cat's outta the bag back home. All of us. They know. Normies think we're freaks. Mutants. They got their hands on Biggs--[ He hesitates for a moment and breaks eye contact. ]--beat him to death. Strung him up. Can you seriously not remember what happened at Jam Pony?
no subject
I didn't, whatever crazy sex shit anyone does contributes to the town getting reconstructed on its own. [ and no, nothing on her card's been checked yet, because while she's kind of accepted never being able to go home again once she realized she'd been abducted to a second alternate world, she hasn't gotten any better at being told what to do. not to mention her intimacy issues have only gotten worse since being given an ability to see into people's heads when she touches them.
she's about to continue when he mentions that terminal city is the new transgenic central, and more importantly why it's now transgenic central, and then she stops dead in her tracks. it's a few moments before she remembers to breathe and when she does it comes out as a choked sob. ]
No. [ both in answer to his question and as a quiet exclamation. the last thing she remembers from home is being on the space needle with him, after leaving joshua and turning her back on logan for good. things were bad then, and looking to get worse, but nothing like what he'd just described. ] I don't remember any of that, but I - the last thing I remember from home was being on the Needle, with you. We broke out out after the cops arrested you for -
[ she can't bring herself to finish that sentence. she claps a hand over her mouth, a tear rolling down her cheek. ]
no subject
[ He doesn't believe for one second that she hasn't done something kinky to get something to go her way. Max isn't above using her boobs to manipulate situations. He honestly wouldn't be shocked to see her use other assets to make it happen. Not that it'd be anything to frown upon. If he's understanding this place as he thinks he is then she's pretty much got no other choice. Alec knows that if he was here for as long as her that he'd no doubt jump in head first to make something happen. In the past he had no problem stealing what he needed. This was almost simpler.
She looks--defeated. Which Alec wasn't actually expecting. He didn't want to have to be the one to tell her all of this, but it was just their life now. Their new normal. He figured if anyone could adapt to things quickly it would be Max. He listens to her carefully as she explains what she remembers. He frowns almost instantly as she summons up the memory of the Space Needle and Ben's murders being put on his shoulders. He rubs at the back of his neck and looks around for a moment. Intimacy has never been his strong suit, but he tends to try when she needs him. ]
For Ben's murders. [ He nods. He reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder (if she'll let him). Trying his hand at comfort even though it's just not his forte usually. ] Hey. It's okay. I know it sounds bleak, but you're leading a revolution. So, you're kind of a big deal now, Max. Plus there's an upside. [ He smiles at her. ] We don't have to work for Normal anymore.
no subject
she feels defeated. she feels devastated. the transgenics were her responsibility and things had been getting worse, and she hasn't been there. and even when she had been there, it sounds as if she's been letting them down.
a few more tears fall before his touch registers, and she blinks in surprise when it does, looking up at him. it doesn't trigger any views of his memories and she takes a few shuddery breaths, wiping at her eyes. ]
I haven't lead anything. [ because she'd been somewhere else - against her own wishes, sure, but that doesn't make it better. ]