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

[Just a Pearl.

Such an understatement, at least in Riza's mind. Pearl's praise, while acknowledged with a smile and a faint blush, goes largely disregarded. (Her shoulders are an inch too broad for conventional good looks, that much she knows.) Instead, she reaches forward to grasp Pearl's hand, her other free hand sweeping out in a gesture reminiscent of Pearl's own of seconds prior.]

But pearls are precious where I come from, and in many other places I'm sure. You've fought in a war and survived, helped the people of Chantes rebuild, raised and took care of Steven.

You're not just anything.

[A soft blue tint rises to her cheeks, feeling her hand and hearing her words. Her pale blue eyes flicker up to her strong brown ones. Yes, it was something she's always noticed on Earth, and even here as well. Pearls were rare. Anyone was lucky enough to find one. They'd cherish it.

There were hundreds of Pearls on Homeworld. While they were only assigned to the much more regal Gems, they were common. Never accepted as their owm Gem. Things. Possessions. Pretty toys.

Pearl tries to offer Riza a small smile and gives a small meek shrug.]

You were an essential part of Chantes! You, Kida, Archer... You came face to face with the King and everything!

And you too. [Her own achievements are nothing to be downplayed, to be sure, but neither are Pearl's own.] Without you, neither Kida or nor I would have managed to see the king in the first place.

[She'll never know how things would've turned out without, but quite frankly she's satisfied with what they managed to accomplish as a ragtag group on their own (even if ALASTAIR wasn't). There's never anything to be accomplished by trying to revisit or rewrite the past. There's only the future to look forward to. Hadn't she been told that, over and over again?]

I'm sure all your friends would be proud of you and what you've accomplished here so far if they could see you.

[Pearl gives Riza's hand a small squeeze. It was true. They all worked together, despite being from different worlds and even universes. It was amazing what they had accomplished thus far. The Gem smiles a little brighter as she looks up at Riza.]

We make a pretty good team.

[And then her shoulders shrug.]

I think they'd be proud of a few things, yes.

[Not so much Anwick. Or her killing organics. Or her contract with Gilgamesh. 90 percent of what she's done was adequate. Pearl shakes her head as he hands soon rest on Riza's shoulders.]

But you! You need to be ready! Do you know what to do on the catwalk?

[She was born ready, Pearl.

Except actually not at all, because formal fashion shows in the style Mabel's trying to orchestrate right now are a mystery to her, and she's never done anything more than twirl around in a dress once before turning around to ask Rebecca for her opinion.

She blinks once, puzzled.]

Don't you just—walk?

[Is there supposed to be more than that?]

Ah well. Kind of!

[She walks a few feet before she stops at the imaginary end of the catwalk, her hand on her hips. Shifting her weight from one leg, to the other, and turns back around again.]

They want to see all angles of the clothing, and how well it fits you! Plus, you need to be mindful of the other models as well. Wouldn't want to cause a domino effect. But I'm sure you'll do great! It's really simple.

[Riza's careful to keep her eyes opened and trained on Pearl's figure as Pearl demonstrates. It's clear the Gem has a perfectly good idea of how this is all supposed to proceed, so it'd be well worth it to pay attention.

That said....Riza picks at her dress again.]

I really don't know that this dress fits me all that well.

[What if she just didn't...catwalk.....]

[Pearl taps her chin.]

Well! I don't think you have to pose too much! Maybe just walk! With confidence! I think they'll admire that. [Pearl looks her up and down once more before she rests her hands on her hips.]

I think the idea isn't how the dress looks. It's about who is wearing it! That's the main part of the show. How confident the model wears the piece of clothing! You sell it!

[Walk with confidence, understood. She's careful to do as Pearl suggests, tilting her chin up and striding forward, letting the grass rustle behind her as she goes. Her confidence in Mabel's outfit isn't 100% but she's nothing if not good at pretending and keeping a serious face.

Walk, pause, turn, walk back—and then she's right back where she started in front of Pearl.]

Like that?

[Pearl taps her chin once more, looking Riza up and down at she walked, but she focuses more on her face. How she held herself. The look in her deep brown eyes.

She places her hands on her hips and puffs out her chest.]

Depends! How did you feel?

[Honestly? She quirks up her lips, fingers curling into the grassy strands of her skirt.]

I feel quite silly.

[Confidence is nothing new to her but parading about and flaunting her all to the world is a different matter entirely, and something she's never had the need to groom in her line of work. (Indeed, she'd probably be dead by now if she had leaned towards loud and proud at any crucial time in the military.)

But Mabel's counting on her and Pearl holds her chin high up in belief, so when the stage hand cuts in saying Riza's up next, she sets her doubts aside and strengthens her smile.]

But I appreciate the help. I'll do my best to make you proud.

[Pearl laughs softly but clasps her hands together as she gets called to be on deck. The Gem beams as she watches Riza, giving her a small enthusiastic wave.]

You'll do great! I know you will. Just, remember to have fun with it!

Knock 'em dead, Riza!

[Pearl calls after her, a small jest to her tone. She'll do great.]

EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

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