thespherelogs | August Mingle Log

Entry tags:

August Mingle Log

Who: Everyone
What: The open August log.
When: The month of August.
Where: All over.
Notes: Fireflies.

August Open Log

innnnnnnn summer

So, someone seems to have gotten the idea that summer has kicked into high gear. Or at least it would if there were seasons here other than the artificial ones. So the party this month definitely has a large summer bent to it! Instead of the main party being held in the merchant dome, which has another purpose right now, the party is being held in the Rec dome. More than that, it’s being held around the swimming area. The swimming area consists of three pools and smaller communal bathing areas. The large pool is Olympic sized, and is a sparkling blue. It’s fresh water, and probably clean enough to drink. I still wouldn’t drink it. The second pool is slightly smaller and more kidney shaped with a gradual sand mound at one end of it. This pool is salt water and looks a bit more like a beach than a pool.For those who are missing the actual sea, the pool is a wave one, the highest wave cresting at about four feet. The third pool is a kiddie pool, complete with a splash pad, that’s running. Buckets drop, it’s got one of those mushroom things, and sprinkler jets.

Set up between the pools is a brightly colored tent, and there’s massive grills going behind it. These are definitely the sort of grills that one uses to feed the sort of crowds that would be at old timey Church socials. Every sort of meat is being grilled or smoked on them that you can imagine, right down to an entire suckling pig on one end. Veggies and corn and potatoes in foil are at various stations, and locals are pleased to hand you some of whatever you want before directing you to the cold salads stations or to the long picnic tables covered in red and white checked tablecloths.

On a different long table is beverages of every sort: wine, beer, sangria, sweet tea, lemonade from ice-cold carafes. They’re being served in red solo cups, going along with the theme of this being a picnic. Strangely enough, there doesn’t seem to be any desserts anywhere. You’re gonna need to go elsewhere for that!

For those who didn’t bring a bathing suit or a towel (or a cover up if you’re feeling modest) they will be provided in the changing rooms along with flip-flops. The changing rooms also have volleyballs for the volleyball net, and an assortment of sand toys and beach balls for people to play with. There’s also various local bands playing music, and a temporary dance floor for people to jam on.

Additionally, the baths are still present! There’s a large bamboo building near it, and inside are various sets of hot and cool pools, sauna and steam pools, a masseuse and other spa treatments and the like. There are three options for these times. 1.Strictly bathing suits, 2, strictly mixed nudity/ bathing suits and 3. Strictly separated nudity. No one below the age of eighteen is getting naked in the baths, sorry kids.

ten million fireflies, i'm weird cause i hate goodbyes.

Someone, somewhere during the movie night said that they missed nature, so the Sphere has provided. As the “sun” in the rec dome starts to “set” people will notice something odd. Small, fluorescent bugs appear seemingly out of nowhere. It’s just one or two at first, but then they almost seem to fill the sky, creating an internal galaxy. The bugs are entirely harmless, and will land eagerly almost in cupped hands, and form crowns in people’s hair. They’re listless and practically tame, but will only be here for the night, so enjoy them before they disappear in the morning.

oh so the cake is not in fact a lie

Several weeks ago now, Carol and Alex got started talking about desserts and baking. Alex, being candian mentioned that the one thing other than coffee that she can cook is Nanaimo bars which are a no bake dessert. Carol ran with the idea and the two of them went to Max with the idea of having a no bake no sale. So, they opened it up and main street too is set with those red and white table cloths and picnic tables, and are strewn with lights and there are many many no bake desserts set out. Basically anything you can imagine is there, from Alex’s Nanaimo bars and Carol’s Chocolate drop cookies, to any varieties of cheesecake, mousse, tiramisu, pudding, rice krispy squares and so on. There’s also more beverages of every variety here in those red solo cups.

For those more health-conscious there’s also a variety of fruits and cheeses around. There’s also more music and a variety of card games. Of course betting is surely optional but no one’s really looking all that hard are they?

exploration: teeth and bones. (yes again)

After what had happened, there really is no putting back the seals on the doors to the places that were opened up, even though the council has tried with some of them. There are some doors that are deemed too dangerous to let anyone go inside of (lava and ghosts are not good things to let loose inside the Sphere, no matter how fun it would be at the time) but the door in the infirmary (in the morgue) needs to be open for practical purposes. Which may not be great for people who work in the infirmary, but there it is.

Once people drop through a hatched hole in the floor of the morgue, there’s tunnels extended out for several hundred yards, into the dark. If you have a flashlight, it’s clear to see that here and there the walls are etched with Latin, carved into the stone of the tunnels themselves in what looks more than a little bit like scratches rather than anything that resembles tool marks. The words are repeated at first, over and over: ”cave veniunt!" And "ossa et dentibus illius ruminandum!" Along with the repeated: “cave.”

The skeletons inside are supposed to have been all taken care of, but you can’t help the uneasy feeling that moves down your neck in the darkness, or the way that you can swear you can hear more than a little bit of a hiss of bone. There are things discarded here on the floor of the hallway, gathering more value with the deeper that you go, but is it worth being down here in the dark with the dead for that?

photo inspiration

main navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Uh... mind-reader? And awkward.

“I have too. But you were concerned when I was carrying you, so it seemed fair to offer a suggestion,” Tommy counters. And tries not to sound awkward. Which is easy. Because he is too cool to be awkward. He isn’t Billy after all. Still it takes a moment to process what she’s getting at, and then he chuckles before his hands are moving easily over her back to smooth the lotion into her neck, shoulders and back.

“And touching you has the added benefit of no burns. Hate how itchy it can make your skin.”

Enis wasn't a mind reader. It was just the most obvious conclusion to make and she was confident enough to give it a voice.

"I know." Her tone softened as she continued to explain. "I've learned since then." She would claim that she had performed a serious of tests but that wasn't true. She'd met people and found discovered how freeing her limits truly were. "But thanks. For worrying." It was an awkward thank you but she was trying her best.

"Does it really get that itchy?"

"I mean, after the soreness, yeah."

There's definitely some interesting things going on here and he loves it. His hands start working over the spread of her lower back.

"Don't worry, Enis. I've got your back. No burns while I'm here. I'll make sure your skin is perfect, and flawless."

Enis had the kind of laugh that was rusty due to a lack of use but it was no less sweet and soft. It was a stark contrast to her usually tense or grumpy demeanor.

"You are literally working on my back. Yes. Should I get my arms and legs while you do that?"

“Are you trying to deprive a guy of a chance like this? Cruel. But yeah, get to that if you eat.”

Don’t mind him, or the way his hands are now sliding around her bare waist to get at her stomach. Is this the most efficient way to do this? Nope. He’s having his fun. Though maybe his hands are a bit slow and inefficient. So he lets himself slip into slightly better speed mentally so his brain can bask in what he is doing even as his hands more at a more efficient pace to cover her stomach.

The flat of Enis's stomach was toned and smooth and without too much muscle or a complete absence. Her entire body was a balance between lean muscle and her naturally delicate feminine frame. And he had the chance to touch as much of her as he wanted.

"I can let you do it but I don't think my arms and feet are very exciting."

“If you think that, then you haven’t been around entertaining people in the past,” Tommy laughs. People really don’t play their A game much, do they?

Once he is done with her stomach he works over her arms, fingers deliberate and massaging as he works. See? He isn’t making a joke. It works. It’s nice. And when he finishes with that as the bare part of her throat and collar area he moves around her to start on her legs.

“Just give me another moment and we’ll make sure you don’t turn cherry red to go with the lime green.”

Enis leaned back so that her upper back was resting against Tommy's shoulder. "You're going to have to be extra entertaining." She hasn't been around a lot of people... at all.

"Thanks."

She did take some extra lotion to cover her breasts since Tommy had picked out a suit with a fair amount of under boob. Enis didn't want to think about that particular part of her getting burnt. "Now that we're slick. Where did you want to start." It had been a long list of to-do's.

Maybe Tommy takes a bit of extra time with her legs, but soon enough he is done and offers Enis a hand to pull her up. It’s a good question and most of the list has faded from his mind. Except for one thing. A thing he saw as he finishes with the other leg.

And maybe his expression is harder now. He’s lost some of the thoughts of the day to it.

“What do you hit up with?”

Enis's expression became uncertain as she looked down at her inner thigh. It was a light mark but after covering every inch of her, it was impossible for him to miss the discoloration of her skin. Her hand quickly leaves his and curls around her torso.

She didn't like the accusation in his voice.

"Nothing. It isn't what you think."

"Yeah, I hope not. Because what I'm thinking is drugs. Which I don't much like. I had a friend who nearly killed himself like that. I don't have patience for it," Tommy answers, arms crossing over his chest. Hell, he hadn't even been there in time to help Eli. Hadn't shown up until later.

"It's not because I want too." Enis snapped back at him before lowering her voice. She wasn't ashamed but this wasn't the kind of thing that she shard. "It's medication." Her voice was tense and she didn't meet Tommy's gaze.

"To keep me human after what my father did."

Keep her human? Huh. That's... a weird thing to say. He moves forward, a hand settling at her shoulder.

"Whatever you're doing? It's not going to kill you, right?"

She continued to look down at her feet, inspecting a very interesting crack in the concrete.

"No. If I stop... Then I might die."

Oh. Geez. At least... At least this place lets her get what she needs. His expression softens.

"That's bad," Tommy agrees, sighing. "Sorry, I... take that shit seriously."

"I can tell."

She didn't know what else to say. She'd never had someone react to her like that. "I can show you what it is. Just not here." At what was supposed to be a party...

Well maybe, just a little bit, possibly, perhaps, Tommy might care.

The offer is enough to have him smiling once more. Wide and excited.

"Nah, that's not needed. If you're willing, then we're cool. Now come on, you deserve get into the water."

Discomfort was replaced by a sudden jolt of panic. "But I can't swim." Enis wanted to enjoy the party but she didn't really feel like she should.

She didn't belong here.

And what was the point anyway? She didn't have a future or a life to look forward to... What would Tommy say if she told him that she wanted to die?

Maybe this was a mistake.

Tommy would say no. Would say 'come have dinner'. Would say 'here's beach volleyball'. Would say 'come on we're going to learn how to manage a farm.' He would do everything to keep her going. His twin fell down that hole before, depression and futility. Tommy won't allow it.

"We're not going deep enough to need it. And if you get scared, I'll carry you back. Come on, we have to start in the water, or the beach volley ball won't be a good way to dry off."

"The best way to dry off would be to already be dry." The words were lightly grumbled as she stepped to the edge of the pool.

Enis stopped then, she didn't hesitate but she really didn't know what she was supposed to do. Eventually she sat and slipped into the water. It was colder than she had expected.

Tommy, meanwhile, runs for the far side of the pool and dives into the deep end. Swims over to her side with serious speed before bobbing up to the surface. But hey, here's the shallows, and he holds his hands out to her, ready to help hold her up.

"See, it's okay. I've got you."

Enis was uncertain but it wasn't the water that scared her. It was the simple fact that she didn't know if there was something inside of her that would react to the water. The cool liquid swirl around her slender frame as her fingers brushed across Tommy's palm, taking his hand. The water rose to the center of her torso.

She didn't really need to hold his hand but it felt nice.

"Right." She paused and looked around now that she was in the water. "Now what?"

She was fucking clueless about this stuff.

"Well now I would normally suggest some splashing around, but..."

Well, that probably wouldn't happen because she wasn't comfortable. But Tommy does have a grip on her hands and he pulls her just a bit deeper in with him.

"Now you see about experiencing the water."

Enis took another step forward, her fingers clinging gently to Tommy's hands as the water a few inches higher.

"Splashing around?" She looked around and noticed a lot of splashing but Enis still didn't understand the allure. It was fun getting wet? Or maybe there was something more to it? "I think I'm missing something."

She met Tommy's gaze with a brief frown. "What is fun about this? The water is cool and more comfortable but-" That was it.

"It's about the energy, the joy of it. It's about the way it feels to catch someone off guard when you splash them. It's about the laughter and so much more."

Then he's smiling and backing up a few more steps.

"Come on. Try it. Splash me."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject