EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

[futurologists]

Thanks to your help, repairs to the flood wall are complete. The Nalawi are still largely without their Gifts, so they are thankful -- without the aid of ALASTAIR recruits, they would have surely drowned or been eaten by sea monsters. Despite the barely averted disaster, the residents of Komo have decided to go along with their lives as planned, perhaps to bolster morale instead of giving into despair. By chance, their annual fishing contest is scheduled for today! As honored guests, recruits are invited to participate. FISHING CONTEST Dugout canoes are provided for all participants, patterns that suggest fish scales burned into the wooden sides. Curiously, no fishing rods are offered; if a recruit requests one, they will be given a strange look, but the harbormaster will acquiesce. Due to the rough seas, the passage between Komo and the other islands is still inaccessible. Contestants are reminded to stay behind the reefs or venture east toward open ocean for their quarry. It’s only when the contest begins that the quarry in question is actually announced . . . Sharks. You are fishing sharks. And, judging by the lack of equipment (or the puny fishing rod you requested), you’re expected to do this by hand. The tiny deer people don’t seem bothered by this predicament at all: the goal is to catch the biggest shark, by length and poundage. Better not embarrass yourself in front of the locals. GET PUMPED Mettaton has announced over the jewelry that he will be hosting a celebration in tandem with the fishing contest, in order to help the native Nalawi and the ALASTAIR recruits get to know each other better. This includes singing, dancing, and all sorts of different performances -- and, of course, reporting on the actual fishing. If you aren’t the fishing type or maybe you just need a break from chasing sharks around, this is a good chance to bust a move and show your teammates how you can get down -- or just sit back and watch! It’s bound to be entertaining one way or another. Plot for the stage here! Olivia will be the final performer in the showcase. Anyone who witnesses her dancing may feel themselves super-charged by the spectacle . . . with possibly unexpected results! Characters may feel even more determined to win the fishing contest, or perhaps they’ll take this surge of optimism to help rebuild some of Komo’s destroyed buildings before the day winds down into night. THE FEAST After the fishing contest, the sharks will be collected and prepared. Grilled shark, fried shark, shark caviar, and shark jerky from the results of last year’s contest. There are fruits and vegetables and breads available as well, but if you want some protein, you’d better go native. During the feast, some of the Nalawi perform dances and song. The subjects range from their goddess Nalanni to love songs. Want to show off your talents again? Now’s the time! Or, if you’d prefer to step away from the excitement, the beach is quiet and empty, and the baths are unoccupied since the whole of Komo is at the gathering. As the feast winds down, the Nalawi will pass around their very potent alcohol for a toast to Komo’s health. Someone shouts, interrupting, wondering what good that will do if Nalanni has abandoned them. Concerned murmuring fills the gathering, spoiling the mood. ALASTAIR recruits may attempt to put them at ease -- otherwise, the feast will disperse on a sour note. OOC INFO If you would like your character to win the fishing contest, please sign up below. You must thread out fishing in order to participate in the drawing. There will be only one winner, decided by RNG. The winner will be contacted on April 1st. The prize is a necklace of shark’s teeth, which has a one-use spell that will make all sharks in a one mile radius sleep for 30 seconds. <b>PLAYER:</b> Name <b>CHARACTER:</b> Name <b>USERNAME:</b> <user name=username>

Comments

QUESTIONS.

[futurologists]

[adlantisag]

Are team-ups allowed or is this a strictly individual competition?

WINNER SIGN-UPS.

[futurologists]

[perma_banned]

PLAYER: Dan
CHARACTER: Ban
USERNAME: perma_banned

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[a) IIIIIT'S SHOWTIME!]

[It's time. The stage is set, the decorations are up, and the talents are ready. It's finally the moment they've all been waiting for.

The robot is in the center of the stage, arms outstretched and microphone in hand.]

GOOOOOOOOOOD EVENING, BEAUTIES AND GENTLEBEAUTIES!! And WELCOME to the annual MTT-Sponsored NALAWI FISHING TOURNAMENT!!!

[CONFETTI!! It's made out of local flowers, their bright colors slightly more pleasant to stare at than just bits of floating paper.]

You of course already recognize me as your host, the lovely and absolutely gorgeous Mettaton, [leg lift!] and oh boy do we have a show for you! For you see, I'm not alone on this stage. That's right, folks!! We here at ALASTAIR are here for you, Nalawi!! We're here to support you in any way we can, including through the art of entertainment. All of our finest members are here to see to it that you're in good spirits and I could not be happier to introduce you to each and every one of these incredible acts we have here tonight.

Are we ready??!!

Let's get started. IIIIIIIIIIIT'S SHOWTIME!!!

[Feel free to post your acts here!]

[b) Backstage, oo, lala...!!!]

[WOW, this is significantly more effort than it was at home. But he certainly wouldn't be Mettaton if he wasn't pulling it off anyhow. Now behind the scenes, the robot gives a sigh. Of course, the show MUST go wrong, as they say in the business, and he's ready to help fix anything that could get in the way of a flawless performance.

Do you have any problems, crew?]

[c) BREAKING NEWS!!!]

Hello again, darlings!! Now, before we get to the festivities our local insider into the fishing tournament is here to give us an update. Why don't you take it away, sweetheart?

B

[beyourrock]

[Well, someone was certainly having stage fright. She isn't used to so many eyes on her. Being put on the spot like this was not something she was accustomed to. Pearl was usually the one on the side lines. She was never a 'leader' type.

Pearl watches people pass by, flittering around to help other people behind the scenes. Pinning up outfits, making last minute changes. She stood within her simple blue and white dress, one she wore from back home, and pads past a worrying seamstress. But something flashes in the corner of her eye. Something bright and glistening under the spotlights of the behind the stage lights.

Here she is, seeing Mettaton in the fles-- metal.]

Ah, Mr. Mettaton....!

[trenchdoting]

A. Something Fishy

[Gumshoe was going to regret that he didn't have his trusty fishing rod with him, but luckily the natives were able to supply him with one of a similar quality as his own.

As he prepares to set off, he tinkers with the fishing rod at the shore near his canoe, experimentally thrusting the rod back and forth.]

Pretty neat, eh, pal? [He smirks confidently, regardless of whether or not he knows the person in question.] It may not be my secret weapon, but this baby'll do the job, alright!

B. Totally Jawsome

[Later on, you can find Gumshoe in his canoe out in the thick of the competition. He's nervously lowered the line into the water and looks a bit uncertain as he waits for a bite.]

...When they said 'sharks'...

...

...They meant it metaphorically. ...Right?

[Things will likely quickly go awry.]

C. Wiped Out

[Gumshoe looks a bit worse for the wear, his trenchcoat more ragged than usual, and possibly a dead fish or some small sea life stuck in his hair, when he attends the feast. But attend it he does! And it looks like he's enjoying the alcohol. Once the protesting shout occurs, Gumshoe tries to shout back.]

Hold it, pal!! I think we have a lot to be grateful for right now, see?!

[Or you can just generally catch him when pigging out on the food and drinking up the booze.]

a.

[ex_monologuing117]

[ surprisingly, or not, matsunaga does not have a fishing rod in hand as he walks toward one of the empty canoes. he looks out toward the waters with mild interest before toward the man. ]

Pal? [ so many of these people seem to enjoy assuming a closeness with one another. is it because they are supposed to be comrades? retainers? they are all just tools and any imagined friendship is just that -- to be ended abruptly and most likely violently. but he does not press the issue. ]

You have a secret weapon when it comes to fishing, good sir?

Pearl | Closed Prompts

[beyourrock]

{{OOC: This is a place holder for some closed prompts!}}

[beyourrock]

Closed to Gilgamesh

[Pearl dances within the crowd of native deer-people, smiling to herself as she hears soft cries from the crowd around her. The natives here seemed to really love the entertainment put on by Metatton and the others. Pearl was more than happy to be apart of it, and felt the need to move out into the crowd. In a way, she was encouraging herself to dance within the crowd. To become accustomed with the idea of eyes on her.

It wasn't often in which Pearl danced for recreational purposes. Dancing meant a lot more to Pearl. It dealt with Fusion, which was a deeper subject within itself. The bond between two or more Gems, becoming one. In both mind and body. Intimate if anything. And when she did dance, it was usually behind closed doors. Most of the time, she danced by herself, with no peering eyes to watch.

Alas, here she was, dancing with gusto. The cheers from the crowd drove her to dance with much more passion. Perhaps this was how Steven felt at his talent shows when he played for others. As she dances, she belts an equally passionate song. She wears her original beach dress from days earlier, a light blue dress with white fabric that covered her shoulders. Simple, and yet, it flowed elegantly with her movements, like water.Her movements mostly comprised itself of ballet movements, mixed with a waltz tendencies.

As she continues, Pearl looks out across the crowd around her, seeing the bobbing and jumping beings of the natives, and even a few ALASTAIR teammates here or there, if she looked hard enough...]

rin tohsaka | ota! | horrible outfits copyright kabby

[defenceless]

a. Unlimited Jaws Works

[sharks, schmarks.

as soon as the fishing contest opens, rin can be found standing up, carefully keeping her balance atop one of the floating canoes while she peers into the open ocean for her prey. she does not have a fishing rod with her.

fearlessly, once a darkened swish of movement slices through the waves beneath her, rin raises her hand and whistles shrilly with her other.]

Archer—!

[a hungry, massive shark breaks the surface as countless blades and spears from overhead stab into it.]

b. ""Talent"" Show

[rin doesn't know how she got dragged into this. —well, no, that's not really true. somehow, the formerly fashionable miss rin tohsaka will be wandering around in this monstrosity (thank you, mabel pines) after her time on the alastair-sponsored stage. the dress is bunched together with palm fronds and thick makeup cakes her face. at least the flowers knitted into crowns and circled around her twintails are sort of cute, though.

at any awkward moment, or when she thinks no one is looking, rin is bound to reveal a bit of her utter displeasure with her outfit. but... until then? she smiles, and she tries her best to look ecstatically happy. that isn't a twitch in her eyebrow you just saw.]

(( quick ooc note: rin also might have done a display of her magic onstage with floating gems; feel free to bring that up or react to it in tags! ))

c. The Beach Scene

[in the midst of everything, peace and quiet is nice. being both social and competitive does have its finer points, but rin eventually finds her way to lingering along the periphery of the island, far from the celebrating. those who spotted her leave or have followed her (but why) would note that she faded out of the happy feast seamlessly, without causing the slightest disturbance.

she's completely alone, now. or so she thinks she is. in the glow of the evening moon, rin either wanders slowly up and down the shore, sinking her toes into the sand, or sits and watches the sky. she's not openly refusing company—perhaps the mood strikes to join her?]

d. The Shameless Option

[it's at some point (and probably several points throughout the afternoon and evening) that rin finds herself lounging in the public baths. they're not so bad, even familiar compared to back home. the last few days were a whirlwind of activity, and though rin's been the busybody she always is, nothing much compares to solitude free of tiny deer creatures swarming you everywhere.]

Ahh... So nice...

[softly muttering a faint sigh as she leans back in the water and rests against the ledge behind her, rin is the picture of tranquility. her long dark hair trails past her shoulders and her eyes are fully closed—it wouldn't be difficult to mistake her for someone sleeping.]

They're going to run me ragged out here...

[in truth, beauty maintenance doesn't allow for sleeping in the bath. she's soaking herself free of dirt, sand, and seawater (maybe even five tons of makeup seared to her face, if you're lucky). that's just... accomplished by lazing around, first.]

e. The ThirstyDrinking Option

[there are no teachers here to judge her, and rin is mature and smart enough to handle herself. she knows this much. when the alcohol is passed around near the end of the feast, she smoothly accepts a cup, holding it wearing a look of ultra-serious determination. surely it would be considered a social faux pas not to participate in this, too.

that or rick has finally made her curious just how good this stuff has to be.

she's got to work up her nerve. there are many opportunities open for fellow recruits to interfere:

i) perhaps you'll stop her before she puts that mug to her lips,
ii) perhaps you'll be there to catch her when she wavers on her feet after just one sip, reeling at the strength of the drink, or
iii) perhaps, if you're the most unluckiest of all, you'll catch her raising her voice during the commotion later on, shouting,]

How do you know your Nalanni has abandoned you?!

[with definitely far more emotion than is warranted. she... tries...]

C!

[beyourrock]

[Rin isn't the only one who who decides to take a break from the fishing and the social interactions. While Pearl was working on her own social skills, she needs some time to recharge her batteries. Some time to herself did just that.

The silence is soon broken as she sings softly near the shoreline. Her feet glide across the soft crashing waves, almost as if it were ice. But as she starts to dance even more passionately, her bare feet lick up water in elegant arches, complimenting her ballet-like movements. She twirls, her blue beach dress flourishing around her as she does so. She even bends down low enough to let her hand brush against the water's surface, completing another arch of water over her head.

But after that motion, and another strong note or two, she notices Rin and suddenly stops. Her hands rest in front of herself, calming her flourishing dress. A bright blue tint rises to her cheeks. Her toes curl uncomfortably into the sand.]

S-Sorry...! I thought I was the only one out here!

Sieglinde Sullivan | OTA

[grunehexe]

⚝ 01; SHUT UP & DANCE WITH ME

[There really was no better occasion for a celebration and feast, was there? To mourn the dead, to celebrate the living, to welcome new visitors.... Sieglinde was accustomed more to presiding over feasts and performances than actually appearing in them or reveling, so that's new... but she does her best, seated primly and projecting the aura of the Green Witch, the Lord she'd been raised to be...

But during the dance numbers, when natives and some of the recruits alike take to the floor to sway and move to the music, she can't help looking a little jealous, a little bit of longing creeping into her expression even as she tries to hide it by not looking except out the corner of her eye, busying herself in her food and drink as she awkwardly pulled her knees up to hide her bound feet more easily beneath her skirts.

They'd always assured her that once she was older... once the bones set... she would be able to walk, and dance, and maybe even run- That day just hadn't come yet, but it didn't stop her from wishing she could be out there with everyone else.]

⚝ 02; SHUT UP & DRINK WITH ME

[After seeing Ban consume the alcohol before, Sieglinde is totally prepared to deal with the native drink, pausing in her rapid consumption of shark meat, (not bad!), to take the tiniest of sips. Even that small amount was a bit of a kicker, and she blinked rapidly, nodding appreciatively in surprise. Really-]

It makes you wish you had a four chambered stomach, does it not?

[No, Sieglinde, that's not a normal thing to say to who is sitting next to you. Still, she finds it quite the relevant comment, even as she sets the drink down and stuffs more shark meat in her face.]

⚝ 03; WILDCARD

[Sieglinde will be on the beach watching the fishing contest, and once celebrations start she'll be at one chair almost all evening, so feel free to wildcard or ping on plurk if needed.]

02

[perma_banned]

It's just weird.

[He had a hint of a complaint in his voice. Ban looked to his stone mug, which contained a very very fruity drink, giving Sieglinde an appraising look as she drank from the bottle directly.

He liked being able to chug his drunks and the tiny little vial he got every time he asked for the drink didn't really deliver the same fun sensation.]

If I wanna have fun with their brews, I gotta mix it with something. Otherwise, it's one sip and nothin' else for a bit.

How's the food? [Of course, he hadn't announced himself as the chef--or, that he was nearby. Ban simply appeared, drink in hand, wearing nothing but an apron and a small swim-suit--though at that angle, the latter wasn't likely immediately obvious.]

open

[humerous]

fishing contest.

[While he has no intention of participating, he's interested enough to wander around and see how other people are doing. This includes if you're out in the water in a canoe, because even if he didn't set sail with you, he's still gonna turn up inexplicably and stare into the water.]

Anything biting?

[Get it.

Sharks. Whatever.]

around the time of the talent show.

[Considering he's performing on account of having told someone else he would, other participants are welcome to strike up a conversation "backstage", even if it's just to settle nerves, or ask how someone as generally unmotivated as he is is willing to do this. That being said he's in the audience at times as well, and at the very least he can appreciate a lot of people here really are talented. He might even be willing to clap for people he recognises.

During breaks in between performances, he's not shy of striking up conversation with the person next to him, either.]

Pretty talented bunch we've got around here, huh?

[That being said, he eventually does some standup himself, so feel free to approach him afterwards about it. Even if it's to tell him how (un)funny he is.]

it's an absolutely abstract real kind of out of character.

[Yeah, he, uh. Olivia was the whole reason he'd gone up in the first place, because he'd figured it would be easier for her to overcome her nerves if he said he'd perform before her, and that way if they both bombed they could bomb together.

(He said that, but he didn't think she would. He'd faith in her talent.)

But...it meant he was definitely there to watch her perform, and up close as well watching from whatever qualified as backstage here. Following her dancing, if you run into Sans, he's acting...well...really out of character for himself, which is obvious even if your only exposure to him was his bit on stage.

He's absolutely got that googly eyes thing going on too, something up until now you may have only expected from a certain other skeleton.]



WOW, THIS IS REALLY WEIRD AND LET ME TELL YOU I KNOW WEIRD OKAY I MEAN YOU MIGHT THINK TALKING SKELETONS AREN'T ALL THAT NOVEL BACK HOME CONSIDERING WE'RE AN ENTIRE SPECIES OF NON-HUMANS BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO SKELETONS SO EVEN OUT OF ALLLLLL OF MONSTER KIND I'M KINDA WEIRD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK ME AND MY BROTHER HAVE SERIOUSLY OWNED IT. Oh my god I can't handle this, is this how Papyrus feels all the time?? I SHOULD ASK HIM. PAPYRUSSSSSSSS!!! Man I wonder if he can even hear me right now?? Am I yelling loud enough??? Can we accurately work out his current distance from us based on what we know of his behaviour and guesstimate where he is, figure out the distance, adjust for volume and call him with a 100% success rate? Of course not! BUT WE'D GET PRETTY DAMN CLOSE CAUSE THAT'S WHAT SCIENCE DOES. HELL YEAH SCIENCE!!!!

[Sorry if you're, like, a complete stranger. He hates this as much as you do.]

post all this happy peppy bullshit

[He's probably drinking. A lot.

Joking aside, this is also a wildcard option.]

after that sick set

[hydesout]

[No matter how well those jokes went over with the rest of the audience, Hyde was absolutely laughing the loudest and most often. He was into it, so into it. Sans even got a standing ovation at the end - and not just from Hyde, from the people around him who he made stand up too.

His level of enthusiasm over corny jokes is made worse by seeing Olivia's dance too. The moment the show's over, he starts sniffing around to find that tiny skeleton - literally sniffing around - until he hears that shouting and follows his ears instead. They might as well be pricked up like a doberman.]

You there - skeleton boy! Good, great, you're goddamn hilarious!!

matsunaga hisahide | ota

[ex_monologuing117]

a. sharks, is it?

[ he is no fisherman. he has only ever baited men into battle and into revealing where their treasures are. however, he finds worth in seeing what the waters hold. to think that people would go out into them after those monsters burst forth.

but he finds that it would be of interest to him to see what will come up from the waters. he carries no fishing pole with him, but holds his sword at his side. no, he did not know what is in the waters before the announcement but remembers what he fought to reach dry land. he thinks that what they wish for them to catch are more crab which make the deer-people more interesting to him than at first glance.

sharks, hm? ]

What else do you think is in the waters? [ matsunaga lifts his head up to catch the sight of another "fisherman." ] Shall we skewer it together?

b. no need for such drink

[ did not tell someone else? he does not partake any alcoholic drinks unless the mood is right. this is not. there is no treasure that is present here for him to admire. no perfect scene in which he can enjoy himself fully. the drink would taste poorly to him. and he cannot help but laugh at how easily people forget what lies beneath. he cannot help but laugh at how easily people wish to ignore their troubles with festivals, songs, and dance. no matter the world -- the customs of men never change. ]

Do you wish for another drink for your hand? [ he holds out what has already been given to him. ] This one lacks flavor. I fear there will not be any drink that has anything in it. And this is a scene that I have seen too many times to be soothed by it. [ a soft laugh. ]

Truly, truly... does this not appear like a very hollow scene of happiness?

c. wild card

[ tag him with anything because anything works ]

b/c

[adoube]

[ 'Another drink for his hand'. They're still pretending the swill's potable, then. Far from Dio's long-protesting nose to supply the necessary arguments to the obvious and the contrary. Instead, the rest of his person — contorted on his haunches to sit at close height to a waiting council of natives — twists and turns to recover the offered cup and set it carefully before the waiting Nalawi.

One of the little creatures steps forward, tentative in step. Sniffs the cup. Seems, briefly, to nearly topple over it, but regains purchase of the ground at the crucial hour. Then nods along for the rest of them to come round, and the alcohol is shared to collective moaning, groaning, and the occasional squeamish sound.

Dio won't be caught dead — really now, this could kill him — drinking the local fare, but the game of the hour is — ]

...cast a bet, cast a bet...! [ A smile over his shoulder for a new accomplice. ] How many of these can they go through before they nap?

[ Observe the heart of the Nalawi diplomatic mission: getting their hosts very, very drunk. ]

Robert Jekyll/Hyde | open

[hydesout]

A
[Hyde might have liked to go shark fishing with his bare hands, except that he brushed it off as stupid until that part was announced. And by then, he'd already made the commitment to fan one Bella Charming with a giant leaf on the beach. Less the swimsuit, he sure looks the part of a cabana boy out there, you wouldn't even know he's an egotistical jerk.

But he does leave his post eventually, to wander off. Taking someone by the arm with a grunt as greeting, he asks:]

Is there anywhere to get a lady a drink around here?

B
[This guy may be recognisable as the one who was almost obnoxiously enthusiastic about Sans's stand up routine. You'd think he was being paid to make him look good or something. So much so that he straight up threatens the people sitting directly beside him to stand up and give a standing ovation with him. You one of those people? Sorry bud.]

If you don't get up and clap like your life depends on it...well your life just might depend on it.

C
[Afterwards, however, he's a little odd, even for someone who enjoys bad jokes so much. For some reason after that dance he feels strange, like he needs to get going and do something. Which decides to manifest in physical twitching, mostly in his face, especially about his nose and lips as if he's catching onto a scent. And eventually he does go off to follow that feeling, sniffing surfaces and even the floor - from there he licks someone's shoe, sniff's another's leg. He continues on this ghost trail of licking and sniffing things and people willy-nilly, a dog on a mission. Personal space is not a factor.]

D
[this is the drinking option in which Hyde is rowdy as all get out and maybe causes a bar fight
aka the wildcard option
I guess you can have Jekyll too maybe :/]

[alamob]

['C' is for ...]

Clear off, you mutt. Let me have mine. [Waving the booze she'd coerced him into fetching much, much earlier, that she's still nursing a long while later. Not carelessly; spilling one drop is another minute sober.]

What are you looking for?

[dokyuu]

A. Shark Punching

[Motochika's back to wearing practically nothing, because armor and swimming was just a poor combination. He does take advantage of one of the canoes to make it out to deeper water, resulting in the somewhat comical image of a little dug-out canoe holding a rather oversized anchor while its occupant stands peering into the depths. He and his men usually used nets for this sort of thing, but he's going to abide by the rules as much as possible.

Besides, it'd take a hell of a lot of work to convince the ogre of the western sea that he shouldn't try punching a shark into submission.]

Ahhha! That one's mine!

[There's no hesitation as he dives in in pursuit of a large shadow circling below.]

B. Liver Punching

[These little deer people sure knew how to make alcohol, a fact that is being greatly appreciated by the pirate who's made his own little camp on the outskirts of the festivities. In lieu of a fire, there's a large anchor planted in the ground, the business end of it in the air and flickering like a demented tiki-torch.

Who knows what the current topic of conversation is, but whatever's just been said, it's apparently funny, given he's laughing loud enough to be heard clear across the island]

C. Other things!

[In between the fishing and the drinking, Motochika's around, occasionally watching the festivities, and occasionally just staring out at the ocean like there's something on his mind. Regardless, he always has time to talk to other ALASTAIR recruits.]

A.

[adlantisag]

[ Unfortunately, the large shadow is deceptive, and when Motochika hits the water it only serves to make the prey Kida and Ninat are after turn tail. From what she's seen so far, the sharks of Nalawi aren't as big as the sharks of Earth, as if everything has been shrunk to accommodate the natives.

She's bare-handed, having used Ninat to corral the shark into place, though now it's slipped away. She motions, and Ninat torpedos after it, headbutting into its side to stun it before clamping down her massive jaws. A plume of blood erupts. She turns towards her competition, watching the man swim towards them, the glowing pendant at her throat highlighting the annoyance on her face.

Luckily for them both, the scent of blood in the water and the gathering of scaled boats has attracted its fair share of attention; they won't be along for long. ]

[evantuality]

A: Could use soap

[As soon as Evan realizes that the entirety of the village and most of his fellow recruits are out for the feast, he beelines for the bath. He'd sat out the shark hunt and been part of the clapping crowd for the talent show, putting in the social effort with a slightly manic determination to establish himself as Part Of The Group, but the truth is that Evan is exhausted and sticky and way overloaded.

So, during a quiet time near the beginning of the feast, during the opening celebrations even, he can be found sitting on the edge of the baths in his skivvies, looking slightly cross as he tries to scrub blood out of the collar of his uniform.]

B: Because that's a practical solution

[He joins the feast later, marginally refreshed.

He's scrubbed and fresh, hair still damp and unruly. He's made the arguably poor decision to sample the local liquor before eating much, and though it wasn't much more than a sip, it's left him bright-eyed and a little silly. When the discomfited murmuring starts, he huffs.]

Well I mean really, there's a dozen reasons why a set of volcanoes might go dormant, isn't it a bit alarmist to assume that it has anything to do with -- with deities? Really, even, if the volcanoes are that important maybe we should go down there and --

[he makes a jabbing motion with the hand holding his teeny deer-sized cup. He's not loud enough to address the crowd, and he's not talking to anyone in particular.]

-- stir them or something?

a!

[heavyhitter]

[ Some people go to the bath to get clean, and some people head there to pout. Punching sharks out sounds like kind of the coolest thing anyone can ever do on an island, but after the afternoon of the storm and all the rescuing and whatnot, Ramir has had to admit to herself that she's just... not into water. Call it a newly developed phobia, whatever, it kept her on shore and away from the shark punching and that chafes.

So she's here for some relaxing and to try to forget the irritation (at herself, mostly), and she looks at least vaguely startled when she slips in and realizes it's already occupied. ]

Oh, hey. [ A guy in his underwear. Nice. This is looking up already. She slings her bag off her shoulder near the edge of the bath. ] You're not gonna get that out just with scrubbing.

riku | ota

[curepotion]

i) good things to those who bait

--watch out!

[ despite the very obvious (healed) gash on the side of riku's head, he was intent on entering the fishing competition. of course he had--riku was competitive to an almost fault. the only thing he was actually kind of anxious about was getting water-ready--being shirtless isn't near the top of the list when he's got so many scars... but he's not about to jump into the water fully-clothed, so off it goes.

fishing was something he prided himself on back on the islands. sharks, however...

well, that was different prey. not what he was used to, and it leads to him tossing one of them through the air to the canoe he'd been using, wading in the water.

after being hurt so badly upon arrival, it's probably not a good idea--but that wouldn't stop riku. he calls to his partner (because the natives kept frowning and looking worried until he just said he was with someone--he'd let them keep the prize, he insisted) ]

You alright?

[ who cares about prizes--coming in first is all he wants, and he wades up to the canoe as he rakes his long bangs back. ]

ii) against the grain

Hold on, it's dangerous.

[ when he'd taken a small break (at the behest of his partner), he'd overheard some worried, frantic babbling from a native--part of the stage had broken. they needed someone to patch it immediately before a dancer or performer fell through, they'd said, and riku couldn't just... sit by.

so before the next act goes on, towel wrapped around his shoulders and still dressed (well, "dressed", shirtless and in swim trunks) for the water, riku raises a hand to stop those about to get onstage. ]

Sorry, you're gonna have to wait until we fix the stage. It's not safe if you go on now, so it's a little delayed.

ii)

[defenceless]

[rin is as happy as most teenage girls would be, to be stopped by a boy in her fashion show circus outfit. she looks like a gigantic tree. a gigantic tree made of palm fronds.

this is to say, she isn't happy at all.]

No, trust me, it's all right. Maybe the stage can just stay broken forever...

[she has some healing magic, to mend sprained ankles.]

[strictdiscipline]

I - BACKSTAGE

[Riza Hawkeye is a master of many things:

- hitting her target in a single shot
- keeping her wayward supervisor in line
- taking every conversations down a depressing path

.....and getting coerced by adorable small children into wearing a hideous outfit recreated in yarn and grass, kitty whisker makeup, and an extravagant clamshell hairpiece, all in the great name of entertainment. Unlike some of her fellow models, Riza has no issue with letting her discontent display on her face (once Mabel's out of sight, of course) as she picks at stray blades of grass sproinging out of her skirt.

Please don't let her be allergic to this stuff.]

II - CLOSED TO JASON

[Fashion show or not, she still has a job to perform as a member of Mettaton's security team. There proves to be little trouble from the natives, most of them eager enough to live it up at the fishing festival. The same can't be said for some of the taller residents, one of whom's been purportedly snooping around homes while everyone else has been at the fishing competition. (She's less inclined to believe this report once she catches the strong scent of alcohol from the deer's mouth, but procedures must be followed.)

The heart of the village is mostly empty, making it easy to track down the supposed culprit.]

Not much of a party person?

[Whatever weight her tone might've lent her words is negated twice over by the latest creation from Mabel Pines Studios still hugging her body in a very unflattering manner. (At least she's still got her guns at her hips.)]

III - FOOD & DRINK (& DANCE)

A - [Some time afterwards Riza manages to wriggle out of her catwalk costume and into something more beach-appropriate: a black bikini and impromptu sarong, the latter crafted out of several floral window panels a kindly deer couple had been willing to donate to the cause. The combination of a reasonable outfit and the lingering effects of Olivia's performance have her feeling languid and at ease - and surprisingly ready to agree when the deerfolk invite her to join in their dances. There is the small problem of finding a dance partner, but thankfully there's no lack of people in the immediate vicinity.]

You're not going to sit there forever, are you?

[C'mon, one dance won't hurt.]

B - [That said, soon as the effects wear off she's back to staring studiously at her plate, the pink flush on her cheeks caused by more than just exposure to tropical sunlight. A bite of the shark has her wrinkling her nose in distaste and placing the remainder of her serving on the ground, which Hayate sniffs at cautiously—before turning up his nose in protest and ignoring the offering completely.]

IV - WILDCARD

[Mangle the above prompts as you see fit or let's go on a completely different roller coaster ride! She won't be participating in the contest itself but anything else is fair game.]

III - B

[anteil]

That's a waste of perfectly good shark.

| As a side effect of the military, the job as a mercenary traveling, and the fair share of different countries she lived in, Helga has had her fair share of unusual foods, often in combination with little choice, and it's left her a very un-picky eater.

And she feels the need to share her opinion on the matter mostly because Olivia's dancing is still in the process of wearing off. So while she has stopped attempting to party harder than anyone has ever partied before (a feat that included dancing with every willing victim), the uncharacteristic need to chat up strangers sticks around for a bonus round. |

closed

[aspearation]

[ on the beach ]

[ While Undyne couldn't really be described as a social butterfly, she's not a recluse; yet here she is in the midst of the fishing competition, in the quietest part of the beach she could find, away from most of the action. There's a little pile of magic spears next to her, casting a soft blue glow on the sand beneath, and one in her hand, that she polishes with an old rag she managed to salvage from the wreckage.

The spears don't really need polishing, given that they're magic of water magic, but it's something to busy her hands with. Better than using them to punch that no-good, insufferable hunk of metal into the ocean. She could be punching sharks, too, but that just seemed kind of weird. Uncanny, almost.

She wouldn't have been so mad if there wasn't a grain of truth in what he'd implied, though. And it wasn't the first time anyone had made the implication, either. It brought up a lot of complicated thoughts that just made her frustrated whenever she tried to dig into them a little more. Where was Asgore when you needed him? What would he even say if she talked to him about this? Would he have just supported her choices or told her off for them too?

The spear in her hand cracks; she didn't realize she was gripping it to hard. She tosses it aside, and it dissipates as another one materializes in her hand. It wasn't the first one, and she was going to have to see if ALASTAIR had any magical spear repair kits when she got back to Oska. ]

[ for Papyrus ]

[ As the feast wears on, Undyne joins the party, but only briefly. She's looking for someone, and he's not very hard to spot. There are only two skeletons on their team, and only one of them is at eye level. She finds Papyrus easily, jogging up and tapping on his shoulder to get his attention. She gives a crude approximation of her normal cocky grin, but her heart's not really into it. This is hard; she wishes she could just write a letter instead. ]

Hey! Papryus! Uh. [ What does she even say? ] Maybe we should... talk?

[ She doesn't sound sure about that; they do need to talk, but she's not sure that she's ready for it. It's now or never though. She doesn't even know if he saw what Mettaton said, but chances are pretty high that he did. ]

Closed prompt for papyrus- no I'm kidding beach

[humerous]

[Well, whether or not Papyrus saw it, he sure did; in fact, he saw the whole thing, and the fact Undyne's hardly around during the festival means she's either at the bottom of the ocean punching sharks, or being evasive. He decides it's best to at least keep an eye out for her, just in case it's the latter

And wouldn't you know it, he spots her by herself with a pile of magic spears.

In the spirit of consideration, he actually neglects to just show up unexpectedly and walks over to her normally, giving her enough of a warning to see his approach.]

Sup.

olivia | ota

[winces]

A — HELLO NURSE

[ for obvious reasons, olivia chose not to partake in the fishing contest, despite her desire to encourage the natives' enthusiasm and attempts to keep a positive attitude about their situation. still, she had remained close to the shores, keeping a watchful eye on the, erm. "festivities." every now and then she will jump up from her seat (startling the lion cub who sits dutifully beside her) and either cheer on a friend in the water or cry out in worry when things appear to have gotten too dangerous.

at the end of the contest, olivia will linger about, worriedly wringing her hands as everyone trudges back out of the water. should you appear to be struggling, she will hurriedly push past people to get to you, not hesitating to say: ]

You're not hurt, are you? Do you need to lay down? Drink some water? I can heal you...!

[ maybe she could use a drink of water, too. ]

B — HOLD ME CLOSE YOUNG TONY DANZA

[ finally, finally, she gets to do the one thing she's kind of sort of maybe not really probably good at. (at least, that's her opinion. in reality, she is actually quite talented, but trying to tell her as much will just get a nervous laugh out of her because gosh you're too kind!)

but yes. she finally dances. right when the sun begins to set, and the skies turn that lovely pink-orange-purple color, and the only great source of light at the torches littered about, casting them all in a warm, golden glow. she steps out into the center stage and pours her heart and soul into her routine. though, to be honest, "routine" doesn't really do it justice — with little to no time to really put something together and practice, olivia falls back on instinct and simply lets the music move her. the natives of komo had been kind enough to offer her a song of their people to dance to, and it's obvious that by the end of her performance, she is probably more touched by it than anyone else who cared to witness the moment. those who know olivia might be confused, for the graceful, confident woman on the stage doesn't bear much resemblance to the meek, awkward olivia they often see. face flushed, eyes glassy with overwhelming emotion, olivia glances out into the crowd looking, for the first time in a long, long time, like she felt like she belonged there.

after, she can be found backstage, crouched down in front of her lion cub. her bright red face clutched between her cheeks, eyes wide in wonder and adrenaline. ]

Did you see me, Saffron? Can you believe it?! I actually did it...!

C — FIT FOR KINGS

[ later, she has joined the celebration to watch the natives showcase their own culture and talent. feel free to join her in the festivities! wearing an outfit the natives had helped her put together, she can be found doing any of the following:

1. chinhandsing at the dancing and singing and/or clapping along to the songs
2. tentatively trying sharkmeat and, after realize how good it is, p much gorging herself on the food bc LOL manners what manners she's a peasant
3. getting peer-pressured (or rather, deer-pressured) into participating in a drinking game that resembles beer pong (and sorely losing pls halp)
4. wandering back towards the waters to enjoy a moonlit stroll or build a sandcastle for her lion cub to be king of ]

W — FOR WILDCARD

[ insert shameless options here because i'm too shy to do it myself?! ]

wildcard!

[curepotion]

[ the competition hasn't even ended that long ago--but riku's a little too worried that his prior patch job during a break wasn't good enough. so he trudges backstage once more, trying to dry off as well as he can so he doesn't leave water dripping everywhere as he checks his work, frowning when he realizes it's really not as good as a more intricate job would do.

ah, well. ]

Guess I should've expected that.

[ it is just a patch job.

he hears someone swish behind him and turns, the words out of his mouth before he recognizes the person he's speaking to. ]

Hey, you know where the toolbox--

[ ?! ]

Olivia?

khisanth | open

[onblackwings]

[ round one: point awarded to ocean for being shitty ]

[ It had been nearly impossible for her not to take interest, once she'd learned that there was a competition here. A competition for catching and killing, specifically, which is her specialty. Of course she'll be able to beat all these mammals at it — who else here hunts and kills for every meal? Who else was born to efficiently kill? And in the water, at that! Khisanth's love of swimming is second only to her love of flight, there's no way she isn't vastly superior to everyone participating.

These were the thoughts that got her to the water, anyway, and then once at the water's edge she'd recalled how much she hates salt water. That's why there's currently a 35-foot dragon hunched on the beach a bit away from the main activity like a watchful cat, eyes on the water and tip of her tail thrashing in clear annoyance. Obviously Khisanth has to pick another form, she can't stand the itch of salt water between her scales as a dragon, but she can't settle on what shape she should use. What else even comes close in efficiency to her real body?

Oceans suck. ]

[ round two: (closed to achilles) ]

[ In the end, Khisanth had settled on a compromise. She'd used a variety of forms, starting with a sea bird to hang above the waves and stare down into the unfortunately salty depths, searching for the right sized shadow. Then a barracuda, dropping into the water to confirm and draw nearer to her prey. Then, finally, she'd used her own shape (briefly, very briefly, the water is still awful) to make the kill.

From above the water line it might have looked like a bird had suddenly taken a dive into the water, stayed under for several moments, and then the entire area erupted into turbulence as the occasional black, leathery wingtip or finned tail broke the surface. Then, stillness and blood. The body of the shark bobs to the surface, savagely torn open and still bleeding out, and a human woman pops up next to it (naked, of course; she hasn't gotten the hang of what to do with clothes immediately after a change).

She's going to need someone else to drag it to shore, she's realized, and humans don't really take that well to a talking crocodile making demands. So she, Onyx now, casts a glance around, searching for one of the canoes she knows is out here, and waves a hand over her head when she spots one. ]

Hello! Can you help me?

[ round three: game set and match, win goes to alcohol ]

[ She'd initially just wanted a sampling of the food and drink the Nalawi had set out; a human's palette is so much sharper than many of the forms she has at her disposal. So she'd changed, dressed herself, and ducked into the festivities, intending to duck right back out again — but as it turns out, shark is really good. And so is the drink that goes with it.

Onyx is doing a lot more smiling than she ever has before, and even tolerates the presence and conversation of the locals, although just an hour ago she'd been contemptuous of them as the little prey-people. She'll lean into anyone that sticks around long enough, a drink in hand and eyes too bright, to confide in a (loud) whisper: ] Nalanni can't be much of a goddess if these little things are her people, can she? Maybe she left out of embarrassment.

[heelies]

[Such a spectacle is hard to miss. Achilles' boat tosses to and fro in the beating heart of Khisanth's wide wake, but he holds steady the oar and his spear, and the shark he has already claimed which lies in the hull. When it is not a bird that breaches the rough surface of the sea, but a bloodied husk of a shark and a woman beside it, he is confounded - yet even so he is quick to heed her call.]

Hold fast but a moment, lovely-haired stranger! My boat shall soon reach you, and then I shall pull you from the brine!

[So speaking, swift Achilles guts the waves with his oar and makes his way across the water to where she treads. Such is his strength that is does not take long to pull up beside her, at which point he sets down the oar and stretches a hand out to her.]

Are you able to reach?

koltira deathweaver | open

[respired]

i. paint the ocean red;

[ Koltira strides directly over the sea, creating a shimmering, frozen path beneath his boots with every step. He carries Byfrost in one hand, expression searching, fierce. Winning the contest is not necessarily his aim--though who doesn't like to prove their prowess? But more precisely, he relishes the chance to attack something, anything, with abandon. Clearing away the crabs had helped, somewhat, but they were hardly vocal opponents. A shark could not beg him for its life, either, nor withstand any kind of prolonged suffering, but Koltira will take any drop in the bucket.

He's been out here for a few hours now, and his clothes already bear the stains of a few successful hunts; a slurry of gore smears his ripped shirt, a few wounds ooze from his arm. Those encounters were nothing, though. Those fish were too small, their teeth unimpressive. He presses on.

His eyes are bright and keen, fixed on the water below him, scanning for any great shadows or protruding fins. He spots something ahead--something tremendous.

Koltira glances 'round, checking also for other competitors, whether in boats or swimming alone. He has a lurid, bloodthirsty (and bloodied) grin on his face. ]

Come. I see a true prize.

ii. voulez-vous danser avec moi;

[ Koltira's returned with the biggest carcass he could find. If it's enough, he'll be glad. If it's not--well, he stabbed something, and that's the true spirit of competition, isn't it? He's washed his face, changed coats, and finds himself in relatively good spirits even before Olivia starts dancing.

But then, as her movements pick up, as her limbs become liquid grace and power, he finds himself stricken. Paralyzed, almost. The sluggish blood in his veins crackles, and a feeling runs through like a spell--it is a spell, he thinks dimly--irresistible and overwhelming. The memory of Quel'thalas, whole and tranquil, pours vividly into his mind. His heart, such as it is, fills.

Koltira turns to the person nearest to him and offers his (gloved, at least) hand.

He smiles, and it's not run through with madness or spite or battle-rage: it's warm and genuine, and it lights up his face, suggesting something of the person he once was. The person who lived like this every day, carefree and dancing. ]

My friend! Dance with me.

[ Are you his friend? Baby, right now he doesn't even care. ]

iii. get turnt;

a. feast;

[ He doesn't know what's in this deer-person drink, but it is potent, and he's already knocked back like a whole quart of the stuff. Typically, it takes hours and more booze than he has blood for him to feel any effects from alcohol, but the Nalawi drink is something else. Combined with the lingering effects of Olivia's happy dance, Koltira's feelling almost--almost--no pain at all. And he's god damn happy about it.

He raises a sloshing glass as the natives mutter about their goddess. ]

Fear not, little ones. If your patron sleeps, we will wake her. If she is hidden, we will find her! If she is slain, we will avenge her!

[ YEAH!! ]

b. beach;

[ Oh, wow, well. That was a lot of excitement. He's not tired: he's never tired, can't be tired, his body is unyielding, as always. But the intensity of the alcohol and the dancing and the shark-slaughtering has started to fade a little, leaving him less excited and more comfortably contemplative. Approaching, for this night and these moments, contentment.

He sits on the beach, jacket spread out beneath him, stained shirt neatly folded (so: topless, again), a final cup of the Nalawi special in one hand. Byfrost glows darkly nearby, stuck in the stand. He stares out over the ocean, nursing the drink, his smile as calm and gentle as it can possibly be.

He shuts his eyes. ]

This is ... happiness, I think.

iv. wildcard;

[ This excitable dog will be all over the place, at least for tonight. Let me know if you'd like something else! ]

three bee.

[selfimage]

[ yeah so.

while Koltira basks the contentedness of the moment, Loki has gotten his scheming little dark nailed fingers on a rather nasty looking mass of seaweed. leave it to him to ruin just about everything. in a master feat, he slips beside him, dangling the limp, slimy seastuff just above his forehead before—

ploop.

right on his face. ]

True happiness.

lancer, mostly ota

[riastraid]

a. tiny deer, giant jerks.

[ As with many old people with too much time on their hands, Lancer unironically appreciates fishing in its purest, unadulterated, most uninteresting form. Just man versus the sea, no fancy powers involved. So despite the task of shark-wrestling at hand, he's opted for the most bare-bones fishing rod available.

Which would be enough if some of the Nalawi natives weren't in the canoe too, laughing at his efforts and generally being a pain in the ass. He snaps at them occasionally when the canoe rocks, but there's space for another not tiny deer person, and all-in-all it seems like an opportunity to drink, fish, and/or point and laugh too. ]

b. i can't bring myself to make fish pun titles.

[ Finally, there's a bite on the line, and Lancer's on that like a smoke to fire. With a yank, the fish(?) gets pulled out of the sea in one forceful sweep.

...Unfortunately, the rod's line snaps with a tragic twang at the very height of its arch. His expression flickers like a slideshow: from victorious, to surprised, to crestfallen. ] Ah—!? Wait, hang on...!

[ He says to the fish/shark/octopus/mysterious sea creature on the line, because that will surely make it listen. Alas, it does not. Rather, the (massive) catch of the day goes sailing through the air behind him, very alive and very much heading some innocent bystander's way. ]

c. end of the line.

[ But patience and perseverance and old-fashioned elbow grease pays off eventually, and he reels in an impressively large swordfish, gleaming in a majestic flash of silver in the waxing sun.....!! And by the will of the gods, the line doesn't break. It's picturesque.

———Until a shark jumps out of the water and snaps it straight out of the air, because everything is terrible.

Lancer shouts, obscenity muffled by a massive tail-splash by the offending shark. And there's only so much one man can take. A second later, he's leapt out of the canoe and straight into the water, armed with only righteous anger and a fishing rod. Which he is absolutely going to stab this putrid little shark-shit in the eye with.

'Little' is a misnomer, though. It's a tiger shark, probably more of a two (or more)-person snout-punching job. ]

d. beach ep.

[ Fishing's more or less a bust, but the rest of the ALASTAIR beach ep is nice: a good show, dancing and food and pleasant company abound. Lancer's the type who knows that the other shoe is always waiting to drop, but that doesn't seem to dampen his spirits any.

Anyone hanging around the fringes or looking less than amazingly enthused might get a drink suddenly passed away. Or a surprise seaweed crown. But most definitely, some guy (minus all the usual blue, plus some more island-appropriate garb) right up beside them. ]

Not a party person?

closed to north.

[ When North regaled him with the Nalawi story of Fishmas, Lancer wasn't exactly convinced that water bears were a Thing that they'd have any luck finding. But then again, Santa Claus and Cu Chulainn going on a fishing trip sponsored by Bambi isn't exactly believable either.

Thus, bear hunting it is.

To this end, Lancer's mysteriously/murderously procured some bait, which just so happens to be a bunch of smaller fish he's caught throughout the day, now turned into chum. The water's fraught with it now, so that should catch any bear's attention. And nothing else's. (Definitely not sharks.) Lancer squints into the water as he tips another bucket over. ] I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up...

closed to aqua.

[ He 'lucked' out mostly, a natural resistance to magic easing the siren song (and dance) effect enough that he isn't zooming off with a newfound love of fixing the wrongs (and broken levees) of the world.

Instead, he materializes in front of Aqua after the last of the performances, before she gets the chance to change out of her choice outfit. The usual ripple of light is accompanied with a completely tasteless wolf whistle. ]

Looking good, Master!

*wildcard.

[ Feel free to adjust what I have, or make up something completely different!! I love surprises 8)b ]

[keeper]

[ More like TOUGH LUCK LANCER!!!! Aqua is considerably more susceptible to Olivia's charms, and at present she's practically drunk with enthusiasm.

Thus, his compliment is absorbed at face value and with excessive, candid cheer. (This is probably the first and last she'll be genuinely delighted to be in the Servant's company...) ]

Oh, thank you Lancer!

[ Here she does a little twirl for him, her ridiculous pants inflating slightly with the movement, smile lit to a million-or-so watts. ]

Mabel did work very hard on it... Didn't she do a splendid job?

Mabel Pines | OTA

[ackingcraycray]

A: ¿¿¿Vogue???

Whoa, I don't know about you guys, but I'm really feeling the island heat right now with these fine ladies on stage! And Steven. AMIRITE? [She pauses for thunderous applause.

The audience turns to each other, and collectively decides they don't want to make a child cry. Slowly they obey. Mabel soaks it up like it's a standing ovation. At a loss for proper cheers, one man yells out.]

YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT KNITTING.

[Mabel snaps her fingers in his general direction.] Thank you, citizen! And thank you all for coming! Please enjoy the rest of the show, and remember! No flash photography. Unless you're taking pictures of this widdle guy! [She holds her lion cub aloft like she's Rafiki atop Pride Rock. Of all the models on stage perhaps only he is dressed in flattering attire. Only a simple flower chain adorns his neck. Kida, Rin, Riza, Aqua, and Steven were not so lucky: garnished in clothes made from food, flora, and expertly knitted yarn and smiling as if there were guns to their heads.

She exits the stage, thanks all her wonderful models with hugs and handshakes, and skips outside. So high on her success is she that the first person she meets is nearly knocked over by the swing of her arms. Her lion trots after. And may or may not try to bat at your feet. It's your own fault they look so delicious.]

Oh hi there! Did you catch the show? [Her grin grows eerily wide.] Sooooooooo, what did you think?

B: EVERYTHING IS AWESOME.

[One thing is for certain. That Olivia is one heck of a dancer!

Mabel had sat on the edge of her seat the whole performance, jaw dropped in awe. The minute it was done she had jumped out of her seat and clapped clappy clappa-clapped CLAPPED for a really long time until her hands hurt and she distinctly remembers screaming something about Olivia being marriage material and an inspiration to them all.

She bolted out of the audience after that. Trembling. Grinning until her teeth might break.]

I feel like I can paint the sun!

[WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE A SUN THAT CHANGED COLOR ALL THE TIME LIKE THEY WERE AT A DANCE PARTY?

Yeah it would.

Whoa she really can't stop shaking right now, it's like she's a jackhammer. Mabel welds her arms to her sides and uses the unshakeable shakes to be just that. A jackhammer.]

Tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a-tck-a— YOU THERE!! [She stops and thrusts an accusing finger out to the nearest passerby.] WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

C: I thought deer ate leaves and stuff

[After all that business (How does this keep happening to her? First Smile Dip, now the magic of Olivia's booty shake...) Mabel finds herself with a serious case of the munchies.

However, she's not sure it's serious enough to dive into this buffet.

Mabel pokes at her plate. The shark meat pokes back slips a millimeter. She leans into her dinner partner's shoulder and whispers.]

Isn't it going against the natural order to eat something higher than you on the food chain?

D: WILDCARD

idk

b AS PER YOUR REQUEST

[humerous]

I THINK I'M LOSING MY MIND!!!!!

[But hey, dying from happiness is way better than a knife to the gut...or lack thereof.

He actually sees who's addressing him, though, and points back.]

WAIT A SECOND! You're the kid from before!!!

[jamminshield]

[A. Here He is, Mr. Universe]

[Steven performs in two different portions of the talent show, and he can be found backstage afterwards in each part.]

part 1: fashion!

[Today, Steven Quartz Universe is wearing a number from the Mabel Pines collection! It looks like he's added some glitter as well. Steven strolls down the stage with nothing but confidence, and he gives a coy look towards the audience when he reaches the front of whatever passes for the runway.]

part 2: song!

[At some point, Steven - still wearing Mabel's number - takes the stage again, this time with his ukulele in hand. And he chooses to play a song that fits the environment: one that he came up with back at home.

He sings proudly, and bows as the song end.]

Why don't you just let yourself just be... whoever you are...!

[B. Party Time!]

[Steven's back in his normal clothes when it's time for the feast. He'll be tentatively trying out some of the food, but for the most part, he'll be taking part in the party! So you'll find him pulling out a wide variety of dance moves and inviting anyone nearby to join him!]

Everybody dance now!

[C. Wildcard]

[Do whatever! He'll also be helping out with makeup and other odds and ends during the talent show!]

B

[perma_banned]

[Ban had two gulps of the local Nalawi brew of hard liquor--laughing obnoxiously in joy as Steven danced. Ban was sloppily poured over a seat, giving the young man a rapid series of claps.]

BRAAAAT! You were killin' it up there!

( closed to Archer...the less shiny one )

[heelies]

[The son of Peleus had requested no fishing rod, being that he hails from an era where such equipment has yet to be imagined much less invented. Men gather fish with woven nets or, if the prey they seek is larger, with spears not unlike those with which they slay one another. This is a contest in which merit is judged on the size of the catch, and therefore Achilles has brought along with him the bronze spear granted by Gilgamesh. He does not intend to waste time with small prey, for the spirit of competition has filled his heart.

Such preparations prove to be a great boon when the competitors' target is revealed.

With the contest underway, swift Achilles has already one shark lying dead on the hull of his boat, its slick side pierced by his pitiless bronze. He keeps his eyes as sharp as the spear as he navigates the fish-filled sea. What next catches his attention is not a shark, but another of the competitors, one who marks a sight both familiar and astonishing. As their boats draw near to one another, he greets him with proper reverence.]

O distant deadly Archer-- Such a visit, I did not expect. To what end have you taken up disguise as a mortal, as the gods will sometimes see fit to do?

[The son of silver-haired Leto has caused much grief to befall the Achaeans, and to Achilles personally when he impeded Patroclus in single combat against murderous Hector, but you don't fuck around with the gods.]

less shiny, more rugged and manly

[anti_altruisms]

[ Archer, for his own part, doesn't request a fishing rod, either. He may not have lived in ancient times, per se, but his aim is second-to-none. He knows how to handle a spear, and even if his memories of his multiple forays into the past are hazy at best, other types of knowledge remain relatively clear.

A spear in hand (which is ironic, maybe, since he introduced himself as Archer), he stands poised at the bow of the dugout canoe. He's forsaken his usual red coat (after much prodding from Rin, of course) and perhaps, more surprisingly, his armored top. (She wasn't quite persuasive enough to make him forgo the pants for a bathing suit, though.)

Archer sees Achilles before then man hails him, and when he does, he blinks maybe once in surprise before answering. ]

Swift-footed Achilles... [ A familiar epithet, no? ] You have rightly divined that I am no mortal man, but neither am I god.

Archer is the title I bear, but not out of any relation to the god Phoebus. I apologize for leading you to believe otherwise.

Closed

[keeper]

to RIZA
[ The sun's going down along with many of the props on stage, the recruits and natives working together to pack up the afternoon show and move onto evening entertainment.

After doing her fair share of work, and having a conversation with a particular recruit... Well, that's when everything falls apart, quite literally. (With each flower that wilts off her knit top, so too do Olivia's spell and related side effects begin to wear...)

Replaced by a mild, rising panic when Aqua realizes she's still wearing Mabel's creation. (NO OFFENSE MABEL.) She paces about hurriedly in search of some form of rescue.

—Lo and behold, one (1) co-star appears, in the same state of unfortunate dress, and she beelines for the lieutenant. ]

Riza! Shall we get changed...

[ Read: "Where is the costume room again..." ]

to DIPPER
[ She hasn't seen him since the world nearly ended, though she's heard enough about him from his twin sister. Particularly, there was news of a birthday celebration she'd missed out on earlier... (And hopefully it isn't too late to make it up to him now.)

Besides, there's a party going on and all; hopefully it sets the mood for some belated gift-giving.

And so, after taking in the festivities (and quite a bit of food), Aqua makes sure to find Dipper off to the side, doing whatever it is that Dippers do in their alone time. (idk, make up secret codes, plot their next big campaign in Dungeons, Dungeons & More Dungeons...) ]

Dipper?

[ She taps him lightly on the shoulder to grab his attention... (Meanwhile there's some great internal debate on how her impromptu present will be received, but in the end only he can decide that...) ]

to ARCHER
[ She isn't much of a drinker, and if anything the heavy, bitter ale that had been served at Chantes had put her off the taste of alcohol altogether.

—No such luck here. It seems remiss to decline such an important toast, and though she'd requested that only a finger-width's worth of brew be poured into her cup...

It's still more potent than she could've possibly imagined, and lights a trail of fire down her throat and straight to her gut. Her vision begins to swim in record time, head turning the sights and sounds around her into an incomprehensible mush.

Somehow, by blind determination, she's able to excuse herself from the banquet table and stumble into the open for some fresh air. —Unfortunately she manages to run right into a tree. (No wait, that's definitely a person...)

She yelps as the impact sends her reeling backwards, her feet tangling and giving underneath her. ]

[anti_altruisms]

[ There's a reason Archer has been avoiding the stuff, regardless of social niceties.

Archer has been keeping his distance from the festivities, but apparently, they have chosen to come to him. He hears Aqua coming, and though he doesn't expect her to run into him, he's only surprised for all of two seconds before he reacts.

Catching her before she hits the ground, Archer lifts her back up on her feet and holds her steady. ]

Careful.

[ She has apparently had a little too much fun tonight. ]

[blacksilk]

[Arrival]
[The difference between Oska and Nalawi had been beyond the scope of withered and overused hyperbole. Chrollo felt the well-moderated temperature immediately swap in return for humidity and heat. The sun bore down on him. In his all-black uniform it would develop to be slow torture though that much was discarded for the moment. He didn't waste time doing nothing but sitting around as the voice in his head from the jewel gave him the details of the situation. He stole what little bits he could. A pad to write with and a few pens were found. As he turned the corner to the kitchen, where he hoped he might find a handy knife; it turned out the explanation was over. Chrollo felt himself leave that space before landing square in the sand. That was his time spent--hopefully, fruitfully enough.

The jewel he was given came in the form of a plain, jeweled ring--looped on his index finger, beneath his gloves. Since he was stranded already and knew none of the faces of his allies, he imagined it would be for the best to dwell on what he remembered the voice broadcast had informed him.

He found a fairly large and vibrant village. It looked as if its residents were in celebration, though once he grew closer he could tell it was contrary to the harsh reality that came with the end of a disaster. The sands were warped in that place. Trees looked bent at odd, unnatural angles. Their stone buildings were imperfect and many were broken. He paused before coming closer, focusing in order to see the residents from afar. Some humans mingled among the villagers, who were definitely anything but. When he approached and they saw his uniform, it looked as if their responses were friendly enough.

Chrollo raised his voice to the first few recruits he found, smiling in preemptive gratitude.]

Good morning. Do you have awhile to spend answering some questions of mine?

[Fishing]
[Just around to watch, Chrollo settled himself on one of the piers, glancing from person to person as they readied their longboats and tools. The natives had what looked like a standardized system, barring the occasionally gifted resident who didn't so much as bother with the traditional methods. They all looked confident and pleased with themselves; they were more excited to be doing something other than worrying about the traumatic experiences they dealt with before.

Chrollo looked aside to anyone near and offered a smile, gesturing to the waters.]

Have you ever seen shark-hunting? This is my first time.

[Adding to that quickly--] It must be exciting!

[Feast]
[Having only really lingered around the talent show to have a look at his fellow recruits and hope for a display of powers he could write about later, Chrollo enjoyed the festivities with politeness and consideration. He had ducked from the festivities a number of times to escort inebriated locals back to their homes with some care and consideration--and, naturally, the inclination to steal a few of their small tools and knives. He would have to invest in a knapsack of sorts whenever he got a chance to make one.

Having stolen enough small trinkets and information to last him a week, Chrollo settled down for drinks and food with everyone else. He seemed to be in and out of things, exchanging smiles and greetings--always deflecting thanks from the locals, who assumed he had saved them all with the rest. Every word he let leave his mouth was meant to be modest.

He could be something else, later.

Chrollo sat by himself by one of the fires with a few pieces of fruit rested on a palm leaf and a stone cup of juice. He looked it over, curious as to how it was made. He recalled some mention of gifts--that there were those who could manipulate stone with their minds in ways that chisels could not. He focused his aura with Gyo, seeing something in the stone cup that held the residue of magic in it. A smile touched his lips as modest as the rest though it was nothing as pleasant as the rest.

It was definitely a step in the right direction. Rather than treading uselessly in circles, he had a goal to work up to.]

Small trinkets aren't limited to minor significance. [He mused aloud, taking a drink from it. Somehow, it tasted even sweeter.]

Beautiful. [There was a specific desire laced in his voice at that time. It was desire for something that others coveted and maintained an immense air of protectiveness for. Chrollo looked as if he were enjoying a glass of wine rather than a fruit cocktail. It was admiration for something divine; the strength of a goddess poured into the body of a mortal, used to shape something simple yet important to everyday life. Divinity took physical form.

It was definitely beautiful.]

[I - Find Chrollo helping a native to their home!
II - Find Chrollo gathering food for himself!
III - Find Chrollo lusting after some stone cup!
IV - Wildcard! PM if you'd like~.]

feast

[heavyhitter]

[ This alcohol has been an unending delight to Ramir, and she's working her way through it pretty admirably. Toward the end of the evening she doesn't care who she plops herself down next to, which is how she finds her way to a seat next to Chrollo. She's all bright smile and flushed cheeks, clearly enjoying herself. Time to spread the good cheer. ]

You look too sober! [ That's a good greeting, right? She nods toward his stone cup. ] What're you drinking, water?

( closed to Gilgamesh )

[anti_altruisms]

[ The feast is in full force, there is a grand regalia of entertainment, and despite the terrible storm of days before, most of the people appear to be enjoying themselves.

Archer is not one of them.

As with most things that actually involve socializing with larger groups of people, Archer withdraws more as the festivities proceed. He tries some of the food more out of a sense of politeness to their hosts than anything else, but he's never really been the type to party and drink. Mingling doesn't suit him, and eventually, he tires of it.

It's why he excuses himself, withdrawing to find a little quiet and solitude, at least for a short while. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh has spent enough time with Archer by now that he knows, by instinct, how to approach. Never from behind, but always from the side and in clear view. It is a quiet respect between Servants, unspoken reassurances that despite their rivalries another world away, he means no harm in joining his company now.

Of course, Archer favors tall places, so he isn't surprised that he's found himself a nest of towering rocks to hide away in. Gilgamesh perches beside him and says nothing for a while; this he has also understood helps endear himself to the man, however slightly, as a show of good will.

Eventually he will break that silence and offer Archer a silver cup, taken from the table. The alcohol within is quite potent, even more so than his wine.]

For you.

[Meanwhile, Gilgamesh sips at his own, and simply watches the distant sea.]