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

[ He doesn't mind. In fact ... he loops an arm around her waist, securing her against his side. ]

I'm happy to be of service.

[ That's a little unexpected. Ramir isn't used to any kind of reciprocation from the people she intentionally goes out of her way to terrorize and harass, and Koltira in particular didn't seem the type. But it's good, appreciated. It strikes a lonely chord in her that she usually doesn't want to admit is there at all, and she wraps her arm around his waist to match. ]

Thanks. [ That's almost a mumble, and she's not even sure what she's thanking him for. Being there, apparently. ]

[ He sets his chin on her head. It's out of control. ]

Are you all right, Ramir?

Yeah, I'm fine.

[ Which is a questionable answer judging by the way her voice wavers in the middle of it. But she barely knows this guy, it's not like she's gonna unload stuff on him she hasn't even let herself go over yet. It doesn't mean she won't pull her arm tighter around him, though.

Maybe slightly more honestly: ] Super fine, I just wanna sit here for a while.

[ It is a tremendously questionable answer, but Koltira's not the type to pry, not about anything. He minds his business, and he is loathe to force others into sharing theirs.

Nevertheless, he presses his cool cheek against the soft wave of Ramir's hair. ]

As you like, Ramir.

Thanks. [ She lets her eyes close, focusing on the cool he provides, trying (and largely failing) to keep it as her only thought. ]

Man, you should be drunk all the time, this is nice. I bet you'd never cuddle with me sober.

[ He sure as fuck would not! ]

It is not normally so easy for me to get drunk.

[ Something about this particular brew ... and the other magic floating around, of course. ]

Yeah, same. Or I can get drunk, I guess, then my body just fixes it? Or something, I dunno the rules. It's the only downside to how great and awesome I am.

[ It's a little less assured and confident than usual, more tired. It's also followed by a sniffle several seconds later. This is usually where she'd change the subject to something not anywhere near sad, or just bail out and throw herself back into activities anywhere else, but she discovers that she's not actually moving. So instead: ]

If I cry on you you gotta totally ignore it, okay?

[ Her wavering voice tells him all he needs to know. It's not anywhere near his instinct to press her for information; he only volunteers so much information about himself because it is so constantly demanded--and because it is dangerous for others not to know. So he just nods. ]

I'm hardly aware of this conversation.

Attaboy. [ It should sound friendly, but all she can manage is miserable. ] You're a good guy, Koltira.

[ And she sinks a little more heavily onto him, turning her face into his shoulder. It's fine. She trusts Koltira with this, there's no one else around... it's fine. She squeezes her eyes shut and shudders with a silent sob for reasons she still doesn't want to think on too deeply, even now. ]

Not so.

[ He touches her hair gently. No, he is not a good guy. But he can be kind to her, right here, right now. He can try to be the friend she needs. ]

But I do occasionally make the effort.

[ That touch at her hair is more welcome than she could have imagined it would be. It's familiar, something she hadn't noticed how much she'd missed. Her shoulders keep up their shaking, and eventually her tears aren't so silent. She's never too loud, but she does allow herself at least ten minutes of it. It feels ridiculous; she's sat on these things for this long so far, it's stupid to cry about them now. But then here she is anyway, bawling. The alcohol, as it turns out, is great for holding back the fierce denial, and even takes an edge off the embarrassment.

Eventually, as she begins to quiet again, she turns and throws both arms around Koltira with a final sniffle. ]

EVENT ★ GONE FISHIN'

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