TDM 015: IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PARADISE

[erkumods]

TDM 015: IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PARADISE

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. Beach Episode Welcome to your beautiful and sunny island paradise, Erku! ...wait, it's sunny? That's right! For about two weeks, the Island will enjoy unusually warm and clear weather, just perfect for enjoying the cool waters of the beach. Don't swim out too far, however, lest you stray into hazardous choppy waters or get lost in the fog that still lingers beyond the peaceful cove. Just stay close, and you're golden! Once again, friendly robots have erected beachside food stalls for grilling fish and crabs, and encourage any enterprising Islanders to help hawk foods for credits. If gutting and cleaning fish isn't your forte, however, never fear. The robots are recruiting for a very important task! You see, they have very thoughtfully set up swimming and snorkeling lessons for any Islanders who are doubting their skills at staying afloat, or who just want to have some fun in the waves. There is only one complication: the robots are too heavy to swim. Enter, you! Earn credits by instructing your fellow Islanders in the marvels of the ocean. Not just swimming and snorkeling, but also fishing, clam digging, and sand castle art - among other things - are valuable skills you can sell. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. Sand Sport For the more competitive sort, the robots of Erku are happy to share a bit of culture from the planet's ancient past: wet sand wrestling! Volunteers (or any innocent Islander roped off the beach by an enthusiastic 'bot) don their skimpiest swimwear and duke it out for dominance in the wet sand by trying to throw their opponent outside of a ring. Knock-outs count as an automatic lose, so be careful! Oh, and no worries if you aren't particularly strong. Before the match, competitors are offered a a special drink - simply named "The Creamy" - an ancient recipe which is said to temporarily increase your strength and vitality. One shot of this, and anyone could take on Goliath! (And not just in a fight.) By the way… those who lose the competition are mysteriously compelled to accompany the victor for the day, waiting on them hand and foot, anticipating and fulfilling their needs before they are spoken. Did the 'bots forget to mention that? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Graciously Given Gifts While swimming in the nude is completely acceptable on the Island, the robots know that many residents still (for some reason) value their modesty. That is why they are happy to encourage beachside revelry and communion by making sure scanty swimwear is readily available to Islanders who are in need of something to cover up with - while still showing off your assets, of course. Islanders may purchase for themselves, but they are especially encouraged to gift swimwear to their fellow Islanders... in fact, any swimwear to be given as a gift is free! Not only is it a lovely gesture to let a friend or lover know you appreciate their body, but also, swimwear received as a gift is said to be very good luck in wet sand wrestling competitions. Naturally, the robots are sensitive to the emotional needs of their organic charges, and thus they wouldn't want any new, recent, or less personable arrivals to the Island to feel left out for not receiving gifts. That's why some Islanders will find surprise swimsuits in pretty gift wrap sitting on their literal or metaphorical doorstep… addressed with love from a random Islander! With thoughtfully written messages included, of course, usually complimenting the recipient's figure in graphic and/or poetic terms. If you have any manners, surely you'll find these mystery admirers and thank them for the lovely gift! (If you're really a person of culture, maybe you'll even show it off for them.) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

Abigail Jones | Great Pretender

[freshcut]

I. Beach Episode

[Congratulations. You have scored one (1) attentive, hopefully experienced, probably professional instructor for your activity of choice for the day. Sporting a baseball cap that she's swiped off the head of an unassuming robot, it clashes terribly with what is expected of snorkeling gear. Or swimming attire. In fact, Abigail is still dressed in a pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt, probably "borrowed" from somewhere else.]

The faster we get to work, the sooner we can both fuck off here. Drowning works just as well.

II. Sand Sport

[Luckily (for Abigail? For onlookers? For fellow competitors?), the petite woman has changed into an actual swimsuit for this event, a tiny two piece that would look obscene on anyone else, except that Aby has very little to flaunt. She's doing an admirable job staring down would be opponents who aren't quite sure she is their assigned partner. Would she not be more at home at something harmless and more beach appropriate, like Naked Vollyball, off to the side?

The imprints left gouged into the damp sand from the latest unconscious body suggests otherwise.]

Can I go now?

[The robots have no answer for that. After all, not one opponent has left the ring while still conscious.]

Wildcard

[Please PM or comment here! I can roll with anything.]

[frenchkiss]

[ There is a conflict of emotion in him upon seeing Aby taking point on the beach, standing over a fallen resident who dared to challenge the tiny, vicious woman to what appears to be sand wrestling.

Poor, dumb bastards. But also, he's trying not to laugh.

They've always had an interesting relationship. He frustrates her, she amuses him: they somehow work well together despite completely conflicting personalities. It's that experience (and his lack of self-preservation) that makes it easy for him to approach her with his arms wide. ]

Aby! Look at you, fit and dangerous as ever. Just how many have you taken down now?

[freshcut]

Fuck off, Frenchie.

[translation: not enough to be allowed to leave already. If she's phased by the appearance of the blond here, of all places, unannounced, she doesn't show it. After all, why wouldn't be here?

She may not be one step ahead (or even in two, or in the vicinity of being in the know) of whatever Laurent is up to at any time, but she's not dim enough to know he's settled into something if he's here already.]

Took you long enough to show your face here.

[frenchkiss]

Good to see you, too, Aby.

[ No humor is lost from his voice as he stops nearby, one hand resting on his hip as he tries to translate the view of her he's seeing. It's been nearly a year and she is a sight for sore eyes, for better or worse.

God help the dicks of this unknown land. They're in for trouble of the worst kind. ]

And just how long was 'long enough'? When did you wash ashore?

[freshcut]

Long enough is long enough. [As far as Abigail is concerned, the unconscious bodies being dragged away from the ring are none of her business, simply something to pass the time and now they have outlived their usefulness.]

Knowing you, you're probably the reason I'm here. Mop head shouldn't be far behind, either.

[frenchkiss]

For once, it's completely out of my hands. I've been here about a year and this is the first I've seen of anyone since Edamame stumbled into this place.

[ Laurent lets out a short laugh and looks around, trying to see if Makoto is indeed in the vicinity having a panic. No dice right now. Maybe for the best. ]

He's somewhere. I'm sure he'll stumble upon you soon enough.

sand sport

[impostersyndrome]

Now wait, hold on, I don’t want to-

[That’s Prompto’s voice, as he gets dragged by a robot from the crowd watching and toward the ring, kicking and trying to pull away. He’s wearing a tight pair of swim trunks and he doesn’t seem at all happy about being volunteered.]

I’m really not much of a hand-to-hand guy, I’m more ranged, you know? So please don’t- guh!

[Too late; he’s here, and the robots are gesturing emphatically at Abigail. She may not look like much, but at this point Prompto knows better than to take anyone lightly. Especially since from what he can tell, she’s been cleaning house.

Great. He’s going to die. His dodging skills are great but he can only do so much.

He sort of waves awkwardly at Abigail.]

Uh… haha, hey. Guess we’re doing this, then…

[freshcut]

What are you? A chicken?

[The deadpan tone is the most enthused she could muster under the circumstances. It would be a lie to claim she hadn't broken a sweat, not that it makes a difference when sporting a skimpy swimsuit. They are at the beach, after all.]

What are those arms for? Come at me!

[Which would have had more of an impact were she not a solid 5'3]

[impostersyndrome]

[He does have a few inches on her, so that’s something.]

Carrying groceries upstairs in one load.

[But okay. Sand wrestling. He can do this!

He goes ahead and raises his arms, starting to circle her.]

Let’s go then…

[freshcut]

[There is no warning, finesse, or strategy in how she hunches forward and goes at him, headbutting him squarely in the solar plexus, fingers sinking into skin above his waistband deeply enough to gouge flesh.

There's a dull pain throbbing in her forehead that registers second to Taking the Man Down.]

II

[holeyjudgment]

Um, I'm sorry? I think I have to throw you out.

[ This slim, sweet cutie with giant blonde hair, and a white one piece - not unlike what she likes wearing back home, but with a much deeper cut down between her lacking assets, and a tighter cut around her backside. ]

Should we drink the, um, drink they gave us?

[freshcut]

[Oh, come on.

Abigail almost feels bad. Almost. Which is a lie. Empathy isn't one of her stronger points, so all she manages to do is look woefully bored. For their part, the robots perk up mechanically at the word "drink", wheeling closer with the dubiously colored liquid Abigail is pretty sure is alcohol. And spiked. She glares pitifully at the glass before sighing audibly.]

Hey. Come here for a sec, first.

[holeyjudgment]

[ This lady seems... maybe not kind, but like she doesn't want to fight Colette. She looks bored, too, but Colette figures that she might be more of a fighter too.

Trusting, she walks closer to Abigail. ]

What's up?

[freshcut]

[No warning proceeds the solid shove, an open palmed push right under Colette's collarbone that sends her flying over the border of the ring, hopefully to where the soft, crunchy sand may break her fall. A regular person may be struggling for breath, but only for a moment.

Abigail follows the sudden move with a glare fit to melt metal, boring a hole into the nearest robot.]

It's over. And she's still conscious. You can't make me fight one more person.

[The robots seem to be attempting to communicate a condition or the other to her, and Abigail wishes for nothing more than a screwdriver right now.]

[ooc: if you want another outcome for the match, please let me know and I'll delete/edit!]

I

[sharpestsword]

I'll pass on the drowning.

[ Julieta glances skeptically at the gear. This is apparently what she signed up for so she's not backing out. It's a chance to try something new and meet someone new. Both things she hasn't been doing much of lately. However this is supposed to work she's ready to watch and learn. ]

Is this some kind of fetish?

[freshcut]

Oh yeah, for sure. A new spin on Sex on the Beach. They call it Fuck with the Fishes.

[The only thing deader than the look in Abigail's eyes in her tone, uttered in all seriousness. Drowning may be off the table, but she fully intends to snorkel off at the earliest opportunity.]

Ready for some water action? [She faintly contemplates the dick shaped tube attached to the mask.]

[sharpestsword]

Ready as I'm going to be.

[ She glances around for any robot presence. It wouldn't surprise her if they were being filmed. Though if that's what was happening they weren't going to get much more than her attempts at getting the big awkward flippers to stay on her feet. ]

[freshcut]

[For her part, Abigail is certainly not dressed for the sport, not does she show any inclination to slip into a suit, strip down, or utilize the equipment.


Something does cross her mind, belatedly.]

...You do know how to swim, right?

II - sand sport

[braidedwonder]

[ The beach is still a novelty to a colony kid like Duo Mawell. This means he's come down to see the festivities, still a bit pale, but getting there in terms of an even tan that isn't just on his arms and shoulders, or mostly made up of freckles.

Of course, he's watching the sporting events.. both for the view and just ... because it doesn't hurt to look, does it?

He laughs, though, as she asks if she can go. ]

Y'keep that up and they're never gonna let you leave.

[freshcut]

You're a shitty commentator as they come.

[At this point, the pool of contestants is getting shallow, with less and less volunteers up for grab by the increasingly enthusiastic robots. Perhaps it's just a matter of waiting this out.]

[braidedwonder]

Good thing that isn't what I do for a living then, huh? [ Duo smiles anyway, not in the least bit deterred from the conversation. He wouldn't have made it as a Gundam pilot if he buzzed off the first time he was told to, whether with his fellow pilots or just life in general.

Granted, his actual job isn't exactly something so tame either. ]

Just sayin' these dudes never get tired. [ Gesturing to the robots with a bit of chagrin written on his face. ] They'll corral people for hours for you.

[freshcut]

What, speaking from experience here?

[She nudges an unconscious body with the tip of her foot once more. Perhaps if there are any more signs of consciousness (or life), she could get a proper rematch where both would leave on their own feet.]

In that case, care to share your wisdom?

sand sport/wildcard? .... totally here the whole time shh

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto isn't out to be a challenger, but nothing else really matters when he catches sight of that still familiar silhouette across the beach. Instinct and worry urge his run towards her, but once he's close enough to be sure it really is her, his steps slow and his hands find his pockets. He's not really dressed to be that close to the water, but his feet are bare and his pants have been rolled up. ]

Aby!

[ In all honesty, he never thought he'd see her again. And now he's not quite sure what to say. But he's sure she doesn't want him getting all teary eyed. Casual it is, channeling how genuinely happy he is to see her instead of how much he's missed her. ]

Hey, when'd you get here?

[freshcut]

[It is perhaps for the best that Makoto has foregone the emotional approach, considering what Laurent's divulged of his possible reaction and what Frenchie obviously felt about it. Abigail is going to be queasy about that one for a while.

For her part, she's still in the swimsuit supplied for her little competition from before, coarse sand stuck obstinately to her elbows and knees, and hair sticking up due to a combination of the weather, salt, and sweat.

If she's doesn't dignify his friendly approach with an answer, it's solely due to the straw currently occupying her mouth with something that's probably alcoholic.]

After you did.

[Duh.]

[edamamepon]

[ Luckily, the last thing Makoto wants to talk about with Aby is Laurent. That's somehow become the more complicated situation compared to back home and he is more than aware she'll probably make fun of him for it... as well as most of what he's done on the island. Let's not dwell on that.

Makoto just laughs a little since he saw that response coming, even after all this time. So, the answer is not long. Probably with the other new arrivals then, right on schedule. His attention shifts to her hair, seeing how much detective work he can do based on its length. ]

Alright, what about the last time you saw me? Where were we?
You never know where or when someone is from in this place.