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

[probatum]

( it doesn't feel quite right, even once he's gotten rid of most of the wet clothes and he's drenched in the slightly oversized fabric of rude's, instead, to sit next to rufus on the sofa; a part of him thinks he should stay standing, clasp his hands at his back and listen with the kind of impassive face he usually employs around him, taking in the details without giving away any of the reaction. but it's an offer that would be rude to refuse, at the same time--he takes to making a neat pile of his wet clothes, instead, before he sinks down next to rufus, almost gingerly, on the edge of the cushion.

rubble? it's the first thing that jerks him out of his calm, that breaks the smooth mask of his features; he doesn't dare look at rufus again, afraid that he might ask questions or interrupt in a way that will stall the story being laid out for him, one that sounds so unbelievable that it has to be true. his hands, without the gloves there as a barrier, fit together, his fingers laced in so hard that his knuckles nearly crack. )

... But there's more, isn't there?

( he nods his head, faintly, as though he's answering his own obvious question--his eyes close for a moment, a faint grasp for composure, before he glances sidelong at rufus, as though it's a silent plea for him to continue, so that he can soak up as many of the details as he can. it's utterly overwhelming but he's devoted to it, now--he just has to know. )

[ambitiousblond]

There is.

[And this won't be easy for him to talk about and it won't be easy for Tseng to hear. He hadn't told Reno and Rude many details about what happened after Meteor, there was a lot of information they didn't need to know. He didn't want to deal with the pity and them being even more protective even though he wasn't ill anymore.

He is starting to feel tired but he's determined to say what needs to be said, it's frustrating how often he feels like he needs to rest as his body recovers]

I survived, Tseng. It wasn't easy, there were days I had to fight for it but I survived.

[He takes a deep breath. He's not going to get sentimental but it was a lot to handle, especially since he couldn't say anything to Reno or Rude. His voice is calm as he talks about how he survived Diamond Weapon, being kidnapped by Mutten and tortured for weeks. The cave- but even now he can't speak about how he had choked on the black substance.

No, best not to think about that. His hands are only shaking slightly as he finishes talking about Geostigma and he feels exhausted both mentally and physically by the time he stops talking.]

[probatum]

( there's a thousand other things to think about, while rufus is talking, connections and implications and details that he tucks away into the files in his mind, saving things for further contemplation or questioning at another time. it's overwhelming, but it's not only his own thoughts that worry him--it's the way his eyes fall, watch the way that rufus moves and how he talks and the slight pinch in his expression, the faint, barely-there tremor in his voice, the slight shake of his hands.

and certainly it's not his place: and certainly it's not something that anyone would be so bold to do. but he can't sit next to him and not do something; he reaches, carefully, takes one of rufus' hands into his own, closing it reassuringly between both of his palms, dragging it to rest neatly in his own lap. )

You survived. And you're here.

( and honestly, he thinks that's something rufus should be incredibly proud of. he's proud of him for it. )

Thank you. For telling me these things. I know it must have been...nearly impossible to have to recount it all. I can't do much about what's already happened to you, but here, I can... I can do my best to keep you safe.

[ambitiousblond]

I'll always survive even if I have to [Rufus leans against Tseng without thinking about it as Tseng takes his hand in his. They would often spend time like this on the bad days so Rufus doesn't hesitate and even when he realizes Tseng has no memories of this time together, he doesn't pull away.

There is more to tell but he decides that it can wait for a bit- this hadn't been easy for either one of them.]

I have no intention of going anywhere, Tseng. [If he could survive Diamond Weapon, Mütton, Geostigma- it would take more than any of those to bring him down.]

I know with you by my side I'll be safe. You've never failed me.

[probatum]

( there's something pleasant about the way that rufus leans against him, as if it helps settle something in his chest, lessens the stress and the worry and the fear; like this, rufus is perfectly safe, tucked neatly within reach of his arms and his weapons and anything at his disposal to help him. and normally he wouldn't be keen, to be touched like this--normally he might shrug someone off, shake his head and force distance between them. but with rufus, it's different--and maybe it's always been different. )

I wouldn't go that far.

( he's not sure he deserves that kind of praise. he's been at the mercy of his own mistakes and failures too many times to count. still-- )

You must be worn out, telling me all this... Perhaps it might be a good idea to get some rest, for now. We can talk more about all this later. I'll be here as long as you are.

[ambitiousblond]

[Rufus couldn't deny Tseng's observation-Tseng knew him better than anyone else. He had spent the last two years feeling his strength and life drain away bit by bit each day- now that he was no longer ill he wanted to feel normal again. He wanted his old strength back once more though he knew it was going to take time.]

I'll take a nap and we can finish.

[Only then does he force himself to pull away from Tseng, trying to stifle a yawn. Dark Nation sits up, following them in the direction of the bedroom. He would ask Tseng to stay with him as he was used to now but he said nothing as he pulled his coat off, laying it aside.]