epidemiology | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Maybe shut the hell up, Jason.

Lancer gets over his disappointment quickly, because hope apparently isn't lost. Even if Jason is no help at all, dodging around like a dingus instead of getting in there and wrestling the thing. Meanwhile, the shark thrashes on its side like the oversized fish out of water that it is, sharp-finned tail sweeping the sand like an axe.

He hops out from his boat, landing on the shore with a frown. He could probably get in there and stab it if he had to, but it's a little like shooting fish in a barrel at this rate (no, it's still pretty dangerous, actually—)... So he gets an idea, not quite charging in. ]

Nah—you're right on time! Gimme a hand, get its tail. I'll deal with the business end. [ He smiles, not raucous or broad but absolutely reaching his eyes. ] Let's turn it in alive.

[ For bonus points!!! Meanwhile, the shark flops menacingly Jason's way. ]

[Who do you think he is, Aquaman? Wrestling sharks is stupid, Lancer. You're stupid. This is why they make Bat-Shark-Repellent in some branches of the continuity.

Bereft of this Adam West ace in the hole, he rolls out of the way of a fin so he can spring back to his feet. This doesn't make Lancer's request make any more sense, (bonus points???? It's already enormous. It would probably be a contender if they weren't going to inevitably fuck this up and thus crush Lancer's chances) so he mostly ignores it. Haven't you been paying attention, bringing in a target alive isn't really what he does anymore.]

Why? Think Jaws is gonna rat out his bigger buddies for us?

[It's a shark, just kill it. In the absence of another car to blow up, he draws a kris from his belt—a dagger with a waved blade, a parting gift from Talia, among other things—and aims a swipe for Jaws's side when the tail tries to come back for him. Which deflects the immediate lashing, but because Jaws is enormous and angry, it really just serves to piss it off more. Luckily, Lancer's the one who's facing the business end! Good luck, buddy.]

[ No you're stupid, stop pop culturing at ancient people. Now is not the time for him to try and figure things out from context clues, there is an angry shark to contend with.

But he does manage, a vicious grin splitting across his face. ]

Y'think he might?

[ They should set this shark off, let it come back with a full posse of sharks. Lancer seems to consider this, but is swiftly dragged back to reality. Because the dangerous end of a knife is a point. The dangerous side of a shark is a mouth full of knives, serrated rows of teeth and a ton of crushing force. Granted, the entire fish happens to be covered in sandpaper skin and fins, so it's just a bad time overall.

But his earlier dejection fizzles with a bubble of laughter, dodging a bite that threatens to rip out his entire right side. He hops onto the shark's head, snapping its mouth shut.

Which sends its tail thrashing upwards in retaliation with a crazy flurry of sand. It's a little like when a doctor's testing for reflexes, tapping a knee and sending the entire leg kicking. Thankfully, Lancer isn't in the way. Can't be said for everybody, though. ]

[Come on, how hard is it to context clue "big honking shark" from "Jaws"???? That one was practically free, stop whining.

This time he has to break out the acrobatics. Except sand is a legitimately shitty surface to be doing backsprings on, so he gets clipped by the tail and knocked backward with a spray of sand and a spattering of shark blood. He recovers and lands about a centimeter short of plunging down into the drink instead of balancing at the edge of the bluff. Which is actually a pretty good vantage point for watching Lancer ride the bucking seabronco for a minute or two. Good job bud, you're doing great.

Helpfully—]

You could always try asking nicely while you're up there.

[Do you speak shark, Lancer? Because he sure doesn't. Far be it from him to assume the least of colorful weirdos in full bodysuits, though.]

EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

Jason Todd standing around angstily in stupid places again*

there's no batfam here to hassle what else is he supposed to do with his time, really

find a hobby!! take up fishing!!!!

nah