TDM #5

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

Lucy MacLean | Fallout Prime | Dryad

[okiedokies]

EMBER VEIL
Lucy was rather excited about the mysterious springs in the new city. She was also intrigued about the new city and she had done a fair bit of exploring before she found herself where she was. The water was mesmerizing with its hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, all swirling around her as she stepped down into the water.

She wasn't naked, of course. She had stripped down to a pair of panties and one of her white tank tops, not considering that she should have thought about the fact that the white fabric would be nearly sheer but not quite thanks to the thicker fabric. No, she was just happy with how warm the water was as she waded further before finding a place to relax. Settling with a happy smile, she tipped her head back against the edge while letting her eyes drift closed.

Yes, this was very nice indeed.

ALL IS WELL (?)
Lucy had heard this dance and song before but she was ashamed to realize that she had always fallen for it. Not that she was now but it still stirred strange memories of all those times in the Vault when she had blindly followed her Dad and whatever spiel he liked to spew to pull the wool over their eyes.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she frowned to herself as she watched the two leaders finish their speech and praise. She wanted to feel better but she just couldn't. It felt like slapping a bandage over a very wide wound.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she glanced over, keeping her voice soft as she wondered if she was alone in her suspicions. "Do you buy what they're saying?"

WILDCARD
Find her enjoying the sun, the moon or on a quest. Just let me know! ]

All is Well

[thecodexabides]

Judging by his scowl, it was obvious that not only did Gadriel not buy what they were saying, he wanted a refund.

"I am more curious to know if they lie to us out of their lust for power, or their own fear." Two very different motives. But it was all, clearly, a lie. "Asking us to focus on the future means they want us to forget something in the past."

The Emperor didn't make his Angels paranoid, but anyone who survived in battle learned to be, and quickly.

[okiedokies]

"Maybe both? Either way, there is definitely something they're hiding," Lucy continued to keep her voice soft as her eyes remained trained on the two women. Then he said something that made her blink in surprise as she hadn't considered that.

Finally looking over at him, she blinked as she found herself staring at his elbow until she tilted her head back to look up at him. She had a little jolt because the sight of him reminded her of the armor Maximus had been wearing and what her Dad had borrowed to escape. It was enough to make her heart jump into her throat until she realized it wasn't either of them.

"That's a good point, the idea about them hiding something from the past." She said when she found her voice again.

[thecodexabides]

"They have no right to praise a compliance they have not honestly earned." It is especially galling because Gadriel has had years of psychoindoctrination that tell him to respect authority, obey authority, follow orders with complete compliance. When he questioned Titus's methods, his challenges were always met with an authority that shut him down. He had learned to resent it, even then. And while he and the Lieutenant had mended the connection of brotherhood, something still stuck in him, like a barb, when a leader exercised evasion or deceit.

"I have not been here long enough to know what it is, but Aella has...has treated me in a way that I do not feel is worthy of my loyalty."

[okiedokies]

She felt the same pang he did because she had been raised much the same without realizing it now but she'd had her rude awakening. It helped to have some distance from it now but there was a chill as she turned away from the speech as it started to wind down. She hadn't questioned authority before, not seriously and not until she found out the horrible truth. Sometimes it was easy to slip into that willful blindness to focus on her happiness but how long could that last?

"I'm not sure any of them have," she shrugged as she started to ease away from the crowd. "And now there's a new one?"

[thecodexabides]

"Ignacia?" Is that who she meant? "Too many leaders, and no leadership. This place will shatter at the first outside threat." Just his semi professional opinion.

None of this would fly in the Imperium.

[okiedokies]

"Sometimes the biggest threat is what's within. Or who." Lucy remarked with a frown because she would have thought the Vaults were the safest place to be but now she knew the truth about who was behind them. Not the whole truth, of course. But the Ghoul had told her a lot after what she had seen and heard, so that was enough.

"Either way, I really hate not knowing."

[thecodexabides]

"In some places, yes. It is why my Chapter focuses so hard on rooting out the causes of corruption." Mostly be being told not to think. Because thinking is dangerous. Thinking leads to doubt, doubt leads to heresy....

"We need to be comfortable with that uncertainty. Even admitting they are suspect is a step so we can be on guard."

[okiedokies]

"Your chapter?" She looked at him curiously. She wouldn't like being told not to think, quite the opposite really considering she had been pretty much told that before. Maybe not in so many words but definitely in the teaching.

"I think we've done that? Admitting they are suspect?" She offered a slight grin.

[thecodexabides]

"Ultramarines. There are many chapters throughout the Imperium. We fight the enemies of the Imperium." So, you know, heavily armed religious lunatics.

"We can have a momentary suspicion--I believe most do--but few are trying to study it." He is, but he doesn't have the resources to make the right connections. He sighed. "People here assume that because their world is safe, and leaders are honest, that this is true here as well." They always think he's wrong, and they're right.

[okiedokies]

She fidgeted a bit as some of it sounded familiar but also different, yet it was enough to make her nervous as she thought of the Brotherhood. "What's your world like?"

Lucy would have to admit that she didn't study it as much as she should. She'd had some suspicions but she had also settled in her life with Ghoul, making a home and building a farm. It was honestly a nice life and different from what she was familiar with, at least most aspects of it. "What of the people who come from worlds where it isn't safe and their leaders aren't honest?"

[thecodexabides]

That is hard to answer without drowning her in words. "We are at war, constantly, beset on all sides from xenos and Chaos. We fight so that humanity can survive at all. My kind were chosen to be the vanguard of the Emperor."

"Those of us from dangerous worlds have a duty to warn others to look below the surface and their own comforts. Comfort makes you vulnerable, vulnerabilities make you weak."

All is Well?

[cotyledon]

"Mm...nooooo, not really." The girl beside her looks like she might be slightly younger than Lucy, but not by much. She has a soft look, rounded and plump, with wide blue eyes like a china doll.

"I think they're scared," she adds after a moment's thought. "That much praise, that's misdirection. They want us to keep being compassionate and not question things too deeply, but I don't see how things get fixed if we don't figure out what's actually going wrong first."

Re: All is Well?

[okiedokies]

"I agree." Lucy thought of her own Dad and how often he had used those same tactics to keep people from seeing the truth.

She glanced at the girl beside her, taking in the dark hair and the wide blue eyes. Then she turned her gaze back to where the two leaders were, wondering if they could sense that not everyone was buying what was happening. "I wonder if they really knew this new place was going to pop up."

[cotyledon]

"On the whole, being kind to each other is probably good advice," she admits, and gives Lucy a little smile. "But being nice without doing anything else about a problem is just letting things get worse while making yourself look good."

"I'm new here, so I don't actually know anything about them, any of them. Maybe they knew something was going to happen, but not what, exactly?"

"There's a lot of magic here, and I don't know much about magic. You?"

[assjerky]

"This is where you got off to?" Grumbling a bit, spurs clinking on the stone, the Ghoul circled the pool and came over to the spot where she was luxuriating, frowning down at her. "Gonna have to put a bell on you at this point, Vaultie, the way you slip off like a damn eel."

[okiedokies]

Lucy's eyes went wide as she twisted in the water to look up at the Ghoul who had found her but then she was smiling at him because she wasn't worried. "I knew you would find me rather quickly. That's kind of what you do, isn't it?"

[assjerky]

"Found you tryna boil yourself alive, like a lobster," he quipped with an amused snort, shaking his head. He'd had to shed his usual duster and vest because while he was used to the heat of the desert, this was a different kind of heat entirely. "You want company, Vaultie?"

[okiedokies]

"It isn't that bad," she looked amused, shaking her head because this heat was lovely. Not at all like the wasteland and how brutally hot it could get during the day. But then he asked if she wanted company and she brightened, her smile growing. "If you mean you, then always."

She had been saying things like that a little more lately. Just letting the sentiment slip out before she could catch it.

[assjerky]

"You sure? Your tits look pretty red." He flashed her a quick grin, then grunted and began to toe off his boots and unbutton his shirt. "Well I sure weren't offering to hunt you up another bath mate, darlin', but yeah, I meant me. I can handle the heat." Amongst many other things, being irradiated screwed with your perception of temperature.

[okiedokies]

Lucy giggled softly as she looked down at herself, noting the fact that her skin was flushed from the heat, a bit of redness spreading across the tops of her breasts. She dipped down just a bit further but it wouldn't hide much as she lifted her gaze to him again, a smirk popping up. "I doubt you would make such an offer. You're more likely to shoot someone than let them get in this pool right now."

She let her gaze drift down slowly as he continued to strip.

[assjerky]

"Probably," the Ghoul replied, rolling his shoulder in a shrug that both punctuated the statement and slid his shirt off and down his arms. His belt jangled as he undid the buckle and his pants, shucking them off and kicking them into the rest of the messy pile. He wasn't much of a stripteaser, but who cared, naked was the point. Unabashedly nude, he slid into the steaming pool, settling down across from her with a groan and a sigh. "Mmm...gotta admit, that's pretty fuckin' nice."

[okiedokies]

He didn't need to be much of a stripteaser for her to enjoy the show. Smirking to herself, she watched as he peeled off the rest of his clothes until he was naked and joining her in the steaming pool. She was tempted to swarm close and climb into his lap but she merely nodded, tipping her head back with a content sigh. "It's amazing. I wish we had something like this at the farm where we could pop outside whenever we wanted."

[assjerky]

"That's called a hot tub, Vaultie," the Ghoul drawled, opening an eye to peer at her with a smirk. "Had one, back in the day. And you're really gonna want one once we get some animals in the barn. S'hard work, keepin' a farm. Achin' muscles are gonna come with the territory."

[okiedokies]

"I would ask why when I have you to give me massages but I can see a hot tub being very nice to have." She teased him before closing her eyes, sinking down a bit further with a happy sigh. "Maybe I should see if we can get one soon. I'll have to get the gardens going again."