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TDM 015: IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PARADISE
| 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 |
no subject
Help restore life to the world, huh? Well, from what little Felix has seen of it so far, it does seem to need such a restoration, but he certainly didn't volunteer to do it. And wouldn't have, given the choice. He's about to say so when Ashe goes on.
It takes Felix a few seconds to fully parse it. Once he does, his face heats up and he takes half a step back out of pure instinct. "Excuse me? What--I don't have any kind of card, what are you talking about?"
Maybe he misinterpreted what Ashe meant. That has to be it. Right?
no subject
“You didn’t get… ah, well, let me just show you mine…”
He reaches for his bracelet, then, and pulls up the A5 app, which he then displays to Felix - his cheeks still bright with embarrassment, given that is shows the things he’s done and has yet to do.
no subject
He has yet to stop blushing like an idiot, either, and once he's read each square, he shakes his head. "Disgusting. You don't intend to actually do any of these...things, do you? Why does anyone go along with this absolute farce of a kidnapping?"
Never mind that Felix is here teaching people to slice watermelons with a sword like a fool for exactly the same reasons. Still...there are degrees.
no subject
And Ashe will do whatever he has to to see himself fed - he knows that about himself pretty securely. But there are more options now, and he’s sure the other people on the island would band together to make sure those who really didn’t want to… participate would not starve.
But more than that…
“And it’s not all bad. Some of these things are actually fun!”
Well. Fun if you like having sex. Still, he chuckles!
“Assuming you find someone you’d like to do them with, if course.”
no subject
Then his jaw snaps shut with a click and he stares at Ashe as though he's just grown several bonus heads. Color just continues to seep into his face like he doesn't have a stoic reputation to uphold or anything.
"I won't. So don't get your hopes up."
He internally winces. That was way too harsh, none of this is Ashe's fault. He's trying to help. But...Felix doesn't take it back.
no subject
It’s a disconcerting situation. He understands the reticence on Felix’s part. He had some reservations of his own at the start, too.
“I won’t. I make do just fine on my own.”
He shrugs easily, then nods at the fruit.
“Raising an army won’t do us any good, if we can’t get back on our own. But it looks like they’ve already got you busy anyway, with… this.”
Teaching people to cut fruit… wouldn’t a knife be easier?
no subject
"Mm. You always do." This isn't harsh; Felix has always been legitimately impressed with Ashe's self-reliance and resourcefulness. It's a compliment.
"What, whoever's in charge can't send us back? How did we even get here in the first place?"
He looks down at the sword and the watermelon.
"They wanted me to teach people something before they would give me anything to eat. I don't know how to teach anything but combat."
It does sound a little silly, explaining it to Ashe, but...this is what he's got.
no subject
But before he can answer any questions, he’s distracted by the last thing Felix said.
“You haven’t had anything to eat yet?” He frowns. “Do you want me to cook you something? We can talk more later.”
He could trade credits for food, but Ashe doesn’t trust anything the robots give out.
no subject
(No, Felix, probably not right here.)
A 'no' is on the tip of his tongue; he's unaccustomed to accepting help--or worse, charity--and as annoying as telling people how to swing a sword at a watermelon is, it's not the end of the world. There are many worse things.
On the other hand, Ashe is a friend, and Felix knows he isn't offering out of pity. He cooks for the army all the time; he enjoys it. So Felix nods. "That...would be nice. Thank you."
no subject
“You’re welcome! Do you want to stay here and keep cutting fruit while I go cook? Or would you like to come with me?”
He can do this however Felix prefers.
no subject
Preferably as quickly as possible.
no subject
“Alright then, let’s go!”
He’ll lead Felix back toward his apartment. It’s small, but nice enough.