erkumods: (Default)
erku mods ([personal profile] erkumods) wrote in [community profile] ercookies2021-04-18 03:28 pm
Entry tags:

TDM 012: SLINGING IN THE RAIN

TDM 012: SLINGING IN THE RAIN



00. Arrival






You come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore.

Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. If you don’t manage to get away from them quickly enough, they may even usher you toward the Laid Bare Spa, where new arrivals will be offered free massages, a sauna, hairstyling, and their clothing may come up permanently missing. But you will be given a complimentary towel to leave with if needed!

Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see beyond what arrivals before you have helped to rebuild. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased.

With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a place to live in the now, whether a rundown apartment in the City, a tent on the beach, a bed in the barracks, or your own space at the House of Worship. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home.



I. THUNDERBOLTS AND LIGHTNING






Erku's new arrivals may not be the only residents left dripping wet. Although the weather on the Island is almost always dreary, clouds begin to multiply and darken over the days before that first arrival, turning ominous shades of purple and blue which may look familiar to Islanders who have been around since Erku's beginnings. Perhaps robots will advise Islanders to fortify their shelters and get ready to accept refugees, and they hope their charges take the warnings to heart! When the rain finally falls, it is a non-stop torrent. Even though the weather is warm, the rain itself chills to the bone.

Shacks and beach tents won't stand up to the downpour for long, and the shabby apartments may leak and flood. New arrivals who aren't handy enough to make quick repairs may be forced to take shelter in the homes of current Island residents, or else huddle together in the 12 rooms of the barracks for the full week that rain falls on the Island. Cats, dogs, and little dragons will also be begging Islanders for a warm place to stay!

Beware of lightning strikes, too, because the skies rumble with thunder throughout the storm. Buildings and residences are frequently damaged by strikes. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and that's very true on Erku - Islanders who are struck by the lightning might find themselves temporarily blessed with god-like super strength.

Such power might not always be a good thing for those who aren't used to wielding it, so please be careful not to damage your friends or property! Islanders may choose to keep their new powers, but a bingo square can be used to wish them away.



II. A TASTE OF ERKU






In need of shelter and credits? Then the robots have a task for you! Erku's robot population has taken note of how much Islanders seem to love the humble potato, and they want to contribute! Ready as always to please, the robots have filled the hospital cafeteria with mountains of potatoes in every imaginable variety and color: russet, red, gold, purple, chartreuse, sweet, savory, spicy, and so many more! But wait, there's more: they have provided knives, cutting boards, and peelers too, and are eager to see Islanders work their magic in their open cafeteria kitchen! Robots will monitor every dish produced, as they are eager to improve their food replication repertoire.

No worries if you aren't culinarily skilled, however. Islanders will be rewarded in credits for whatever they can contribute, whether it's a gourmet meal or simply a basket of peeled potatoes. Robot-provided potato preparations are also freely available to snack on while you work, though as always, they're liable to be spiked with something to encourage Islanders to get more "friendly" with one another. Of particular note is an invention the 'bots are quite proud of, sure to delight your organic tastebuds: the potato cocktail, which packs quite a punch and - strangely enough - tastes just like a hearty steak dinner?



III. NOSTALGIA FOODS





Seeking a bit of refuge and some comforting food to warm you up? Signs and flyers are out informing residents of the Straight From Home Special going on right now at the Flashbang diner! Come In For All The House Favorites! For the next few days anyone can walk in and receive a free meal (or two if you’re really nice) from the robot cooks behind the counter!

And it just so happens that they know exactly what you want. You will be served a meal of your favorite foods from home just the way you like them. Did you tell them? No. How did they know? Don’t bother asking, they’ll just say that the Cook Always Knows. The robot waitresses will make sure your drinks are topped up and you have everything you need, just like any hometown diner or pub you may have heard of.

Eating any of the foods will bring out such nostalgia. Feelings of fondness, sadness, longing, anything when you think about the memories of your past and even of recent events. You won’t be able to stop yourself from sharing those thoughts and feelings with those around you. You’ll want to talk about your life, your opinions on the weather, the sex you just had last night and in great detail. The waitresses are listening and so is everyone else nearby.

When you leave the diner you might just have to keep on sharing your thoughts about anything that comes to mind. Walk by someone you think is attractive? You’ll have to tell them. Don’t like someone’s outfit? Definitely have to tell them. Suddenly remembering having sex on the beach? Maybe the person next to you on the trolley won’t mind hearing all about it!

The effects of the nostalgia will last for half a day or until the completion of an auspicious act.



N A V I G A T I O N

spacedisaster: (Ey babe hello)

sorry for the delay, I missed the notifs for this tag

[personal profile] spacedisaster 2021-06-09 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
"We have doctors and even a hospital in the city, but is run by robots mostly. They're good at their job, but their bedside manners need work."

Once the bad weather was over, Trowa would have an easier time spotting more of the dragons living all over the city. Because of the rain most had left to find shelter, they would come out soon enough, and they were too noteworthy to miss.

"Thanks, man. Shout if you need anything."

As Peter moved around the kitchen, he did indeed hear Trowa talking to the dragons, and laughed in amusement under his breath. He came back holding a tray with two mugs of hot cocoa with marshmallows on them and grins at the view that greeted him.

"Little devils, aren't they? They're lucky they're so cute."
lionwhisperer: (thinking)

it's no problem, darn missing notifs

[personal profile] lionwhisperer 2021-06-10 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
There was a faint chuckle from Trowa at the comment about the robots' bedside manners needing work. That was at least mildly amusing in his own strange sense of humor. "It will remember that if I ever need to go there."

Trowa didn't really need anything while he was gone at least, familiar enough with dealing things quite a bit larger than these chubby little dragons to be concerned about them trying to get more treats than he was willing to give. Still... they were getting a good snack. He was not stingy but he was fair.

"They are. Are there many of them in this city?"

Gosh, that hot chocolate did smell good.
spacedisaster: (Tired dad face)

Thanks! it was very rude of them >:[

[personal profile] spacedisaster 2021-06-12 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you ever need to go there...don't. There are magic users in the city, some can heal and I know at least one who has opened a potions shop and sell healing vials. I have one around". When Oran opened his shop, Peter wanted to help his business by being a customer and now he kept the healing potion around just in case he needed it one day.

Peter left the tray on the nearest surface and handled one of the mugs to Trowa, making sure it was out of reach of the dragons. Then again, they could fly, so getting them out of the way of things was something tricky.

"Yes, they're not uncommon. They appeared in the city out of the blue one day, like the geese and other animals did. Maybe it was the Augur or perhaps someone wanted to use one of their rewards to ask for dragons. Anything is possible with them."
lionwhisperer: (what are you saying now)

Very

[personal profile] lionwhisperer 2021-06-13 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
“I see. I will remember to avoid the hospital and seek other options.” This was why you interviewed the “locals” because they would know whether you should or shouldn’t do something.

He nodded his head in thanks and picked up the cup of hot chocolate, keeping it up away from the closest dragon after he took a sip of it. Then he asked, “What happens if you do go?”

He regarded the dragons as he told more about them. He’d have more questions about them, but the hospital question seemed more of a priority right now.
spacedisaster: (I hear trouble)

Yep

[personal profile] spacedisaster 2021-06-14 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe you won't' need medical attention at all, so don't worry too much about it." Peter had a deep hatred for hospitals because of his mother's cancer, so chances were that the place wasn't as bad as he made it sound. But it is true that if he gets injured, Trowa would get his health back faster if he went to the magic users.

Peter sat on a nearby chair and soon enough JJ was rubbing against his pant leg, trying to get his attention so he puts her in his lap. He did so with a soft smile on his face, murmuring a soft 'someone's feeling less grumpy,uh?' before turning his attention to Trowa.

"Nothing too bad, I imagine, but robots are very blunt and impersonal. And chances are that once you start feeling better they might try to get you to hook up with someone. That is what they do, since this planet thrives on sexual anergy or something like that. I don't fully understand it myself."
lionwhisperer: (I'm curious)

[personal profile] lionwhisperer 2021-06-15 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, that does make sense on all accounts. Robots are rarely as sympathetic as humans are. And they would likely try to get people together."

He smiled faintly, seeing that the cat was doing better now.

Well, since that question had been answered...

"All of the dragons look similar to these ones?" And he'd give the dragon closest to him a pet.
spacedisaster: (Qt)

We can start wrapping this one up if you want

[personal profile] spacedisaster 2021-06-15 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Exactly. They're not mean per se, just cold. I've met more advanced Ais while traveling the galaxy, the robots here are very basic." The cat is feeling much better now that she's in a dry place, it shows in the way JJ curled on Peter's lap and started purring the moment he petted her.

"They do. Small and chubby, they just come in different colors. Once the weather improves, you'll see them around. Sometimes new animals will appear, or new locations...it's all created by the Augur, sometimes at people's request, sometimes not."

Peter took a sip of his drink, humming at the taste and already feeling much warmer than before. The rain shows no signs of stopping, but they're safe now, and it's only a matter of time until more of his friends join them.
lionwhisperer: (coffee)

Sure we can do that

[personal profile] lionwhisperer 2021-06-25 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
“I wouldn’t expect a robot to be very sympathetic. Seems like it would be difficult to teach them to understand human emotions and sensations that they are not able to feel themselves.”

Good, at least the cat was happy now.

“I see. I will be sure to look for them.” Since it was curious about these tiny dragons.

And for the moment, he was content to drink his hot chocolate with his new friends.