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

[ Bariyan sees it coming and tenses, wanting to resist, enough that his feet slide in the sand and hit Koltira's and nearly trips up the both of them -- but then he relents and goes with it. Koltira dips him low enough, fast enough that Bariyan's hat falls off. God fucking damn it.

When their eyes meet, with most of Bariyan's weight resting against Koltira's arm, his expression is bright with irritation. ]

Don't presume. It's unattractive.

[ He squeezes Koltira's hand, a signal to please bring him back up. ]

[ Is it, though? Koltira quickly snatches the hat before he rights them both. With a flourish, he returns the errant hat to Bariyan's head, smile never wavering. ]

And yet, you're still here.

[ He starts up the steps. ]

[ Wow. Flashy bastard. Bariyan's eyes burn from underneath the brim of his cap as the dance continues.

His steps falter, a little. Sand is hard to waltz upon. And Bariyan's bewildered. He hasn't known Koltira for very long -- he doesn't know Koltira at all, rather -- but this seems out-of-character.

He mutters his response. ]

Undeath is equally unattractive. Yet we're both still here.

What's this about, Koltira?

[ koltira's experience here says differently, bariyan

He does at least slow down to reply, though he doesn't stop; they're still swaying in time to the music, even if they aren't ranging across the sand anymore. ]

A good time.

[ Smile. ]

For one night.

[ ohhhh look at us aren't weeeee the special pretty zombie man ]

Huh. [ Bariyan is unconvinced. Something must be wrong. Koltira did not seem the type of person to casually have 'a good time'.

He digs his heels in, forcing the dance to a stop, and draws his hand back. Loosens his fingers, signaling for Koltira to let him go. ]

Did you eat anything? Drink anything?

[ yes

Koltira's not about to let Bariyan pull away, not yet. He holds the other man fast, gripping his hands tightly. He leans in, grinning. ]

Perhaps a bit to drink.

[ Uh. Uncomfortable. Bariyan tries to keep himeslf from baring his teeth. He leans back, fingers still open, still clearly signaling that he wishes to be let go. ]

What's 'a bit'? What did you drink?

[ God. FINE. Koltira releases his hold, though he doesn't look pleased about it. Why you tryina kill the mood, brother? ]

A fantastic drink of the natives' making. Sweetest spirit I've tasted in years.

Seems to have made you sweeter, for sure. [ Bariyan mutters this under his breath as he wrings his hand, as if Koltira had crushed it. He hadn't. His grip had been fine. Bariyan's just recovering from the mere occurrence of prolonged physical contact.

He straightens up and takes a step back. ]

Well. This was nice. I hope you enjoy your drink, and the rest of your night.

[ His tone is flat and emotionless. It could be sarcastic, or merely polite. He's not entirely sure himself.

In any case, he shoves his hands back into his pockets and slinks off. No more of that. ]

EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

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