epidemiology | EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

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EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

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.

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[Gumshoe, please.

Where she'd normally be exasperated by such an action, it instead makes her smile now, a laugh ringing out above the hubbub as she motions his chair away. True, all the chairs are occupied, but she's spent too much of her life up until now sitting down behind a desk.]

No, I'm more interested in you than your chair. [Don't take it the wrong way tho. But since her earlier words had apparently been confusing, she spells it out more clearly this time.] Would you like to dance?

[Sorry, Hawkeye. The alcohol has him a little more confused and flushed then usual - he looks surprised, but then he excitedly nods at the offer.]

M-me? For real? Um... [Then, he manages to settle on a goofy grin.] Sure thing, pal! I'll do my best!

[Drunk and overly happy is the best combination for this sort of event. His agreement widens her smile, and she's quick to lace her fingers with his and pull him into the throng of dancers.]

Have you done this before?

[The best combination indeed, and clearly the kind that won't come with regrets later. He smiles as she pulls him along, just with an occasional half-stumble as they drift towards the others.]

Yeah, I've practiced this kind of thing loads of times! [Then his free hand scratches at his head as he nervously goes on.] ...Well, never with an actual person before...

[It's a tangle of limbs and bodies to be sure, the natives performing their folk dances perfectly while the poor ALASTAIR recruits do their best to mimic and replicate the moves. Riza's sure she'll be part of the latter group, so it's comforting to hear she won't be entirely alone in that.]

I haven't danced in years, so you have nothing to worry about. [They'll both look like fools together.] Surely if we copy what everyone else is doing, we'll both be fine.

[Right....?]

[It's an odd sight to see tiny deers getting down in such a manner. But the stranger's words do help to ease her nerves. Even she's rusty at dancing?! Gumshoe feels like he has a better shot now! ...A better shot at not looking like a total fool, that is.

So his smirk grows more confident.]

Hey... that's not a bad idea at all. I can do that. I bet we'll have this one in the bag in no time at all, pal! [He then looks over to observe the other dancers, but it's hard to tell where to begin.] To start, um... huh...

[That's the spirit.

Riza follows suit, letting her body still for the moment in order to observe the furry creatures around them, some bobbing up and down and some swaying from side to side. The latter group sparks inspiration in her and she reaches out once again, her other hand grabbing hold of his so that they've got both hands clasped together.]

Why don't we start with something simple?

[And slowly she leans from one side and then the next, footsteps following suit.]

Simple? Sure thing, pal! You know what they say! Um... easy does it!

[He clasps both hand carefully and gives a nervous smile as they begin. He looks down at their feet and tries to follow her lead in his movements. Leaning back and forth... he ends up chuckling.]

Hey, this is pretty fun!

[It is fun, more fun than she's had in a long while. She laughs, body still following the beat of the music back and forth. Tomorrow she'll look back on this and flush in embarrassment, but for today she's happy and enjoying every minute.]

And you're not doing so bad for someone with little experience. [Speaking of 'you':] Can I get the name of my dance partner, while we're at it?

[Seems like the polite thing to do, after all.]

[It's like a dream come true for old Gumshoe! But at least he'll be able to wake up eventually. For now, he chuckles back at her, while he starts to fall more comfortably into the steps. Now maybe he can actually look at his dance partner instead of his feet.]

Gee, thanks! You know, you don't seem so rusty to me, pal!

[Then, in answer to her question?]

Oh, me? Dick! [There's a brief beat, before he recalls how sometimes he gets odd reactions when he shouts out just his first name.] Dick Gumshoe. I'm a detective, pal!

[The entire name's strange to her, honestly, but it fits right in place with all the other strange names she's heard thus far. And maybe it is something of a funny name, but he seems to accept it at face-value so she does the same. Besides, she's far more interested in his professed profession.]

A detective? We could use more of those here.

[Fighters and brawn they have aplenty, but brains seem to be in short supply around these parts.]

Do you specialize in anything in particular?

[...Don't get your hopes up, Riza...]

Yeah! I'm part of the homicide department, pal, so I handle a lot of the murders! If you need someone arrested? I'm your pal! Plus I'm a whiz at keeping Mr. dgeworth's office clean! Guess you could call me a jack of all trades...!

...Hey, but I don't think I got your name!

[No....let her dream....... Luckily, Gumshoe's explanation keeps Riza's opinion of him pretty high up for the time being, as both murders and arrests are tasks pretty serious in her book.]

We could have used you awhile back.

[When people were being kidnapped right and left in Chantes. Ah, but where are her manners? She bows a little, as much as she can while still holding his hands.]

Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. It's a pleasure to meet you, Detective.

[She'll dream a dream of times gone by...]

Re-really? [Little does she know that at the time she had the person who solves most of his cases for him. As it is Gumshoe just smiles bashfully.] Well, I'll do my best to make up for lost time, pal!!

[Gumshoe gives a light bow in return and somehow manages to not bump into her head in the process.]

Whoa! What are you a lieutenant of? Sounds like cool stuff... It's good to meet you too, Lieutenant!

[If there's anything the military's instilled in her it's quick reflexes, and she's careful to dodge backwards out of his way lest they collide and both end up in a heap of arms and legs on the warm sand. (The movement's made difficult by the sheer number of bodies around them.)]

The State Military of Amestris. [The 'cool' bit has her smile turning wry.] It's mostly a lot of paperwork. Not as exciting as it sounds.

[The pipes and flutes in the background change beat then, speeding up in pace and frequency. It's a stark enough contrast that Riza loses her footing and slips forward.]

Whoa—!

['State Military of Amestris' only sounds even cooler, and Gumshoe takes it in with a goofy smile.]

Hey, pal, even paperwork can be pretty exciting pal! This one time - whoa!

[Suddenly everything's speeding up! Gumshoe is even more puzzled by these movements, but he manages to stand his ground. It probably helps that he's a big guy. But as Riza slips forward, he leans back a little while moving his hands over to her shoulders to try to catch and steady her.]

Y-you alright?

[Gumshoe to the rescue!

The save is most definitely appreciated, Riza looking up at Gumshoe with an appreciative smile (once she's back steady on her feet, of course.]

Perfectly fine. I wasn't prepared for the tempo change, that's all.

[She's still not, if her still body against the accelerated beat is any indication. At least the dancing deer have given them a bit of a berth - she's got time to try and catch up.]

Thanks for the rescue.

[He looks all too proud of the rescue as he helps her steady herself and his face goes redder as he gives a nervous chuckle.]

I- I was just in the right place at the right time! You don't have to call me a hero, pal...! [That's not what she said, Gumshoe...]

The dance is getting a lot faster. It's like one of those dancey video game things! But... um... we can do this, Lieutenant! I'm sure of it!

[Close enough....she lets it slide regardless, the upbeat tempo enough to maintain her upbeat mood.]

With that much faith, we can't possibly fail. [She'll do her best just for you, Gumshoe!] But I'm afraid I'm not familiar with 'dancey video games'. You'll have to show me what that's like.

[Oh, she's too cute. If he had to be honest, he always fails those video games. But he's determined to mimic those deer's movements. He takes a moment to catch his breath before he answers.]

Alright, pal. Lieutenant. I'll do my best!

[Gumshoe tries to lightly hold his hands and does his best in trying to go through the high-pitched movements and guide Riza through them! His own moves are a little clumsy - the actual luckiest event of the evening is that he manages to not stomp on her foot at any point, even if he occasionally nearly accidentally gets it -, but he seems to be imitating the gist of the dance, at least.]

[It's a miracle indeed that neither of them topple over or end up accidentally stomping on a stray toe for the duration of the dance (a thankfully short three minutes). By the end Riza's breathless, though of a good sort, the smile on her face genuinely happy and relaxed.

Speaking of relaxed—]

I think I need a few minutes to recover though, if you don't mind.

[Gumshoe's never had a lucky streak like this in his life! He's definitely worked up a sweat and looks a little short of breath himself, so he nods in agreement.]

I hear you! That was some dance. [He glances back towards the table where he was sitting before.] Guess now that seat'll come in handy, right?

It certainly will.

[Assuming it's still even free by this point. (But the crowd dancing seems to have swelled in recent minutes, so surely there'll be some seats left open for them?)

First though, she glances over at the table serving refreshments.]

I need some water first. [Or whatever it is they're serving at the moment.] Would you like some?

[He does look towards the refreshment table and nods.]

Water? Water sounds great right now, pal! [Especially now that he's already had his fair share of alcohol, after all.] You go sit down, I'll take cake of the drinks!

[He says as he tries to bumbles his way over towards that refreshment table!]

[Whoa, what a gentleman! She's not used to having someone else fetch drinks and other things and she blinks owlishly once in surprise before accepting graciously.]

That's very kind of you.

[Off she goes then, to scout out two chairs when he wanders off to get drinks. It takes some finagling but she eventually finds two a bit further away from the crowds.]

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trenchdoting - 2016-04-07 23:21 (UTC) - Expand

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