Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Beachside Hut and Andvara Falls Episode 4 Part 2

Narration picks up by talking about the things written about Kitezh’s history in its Origin Chronicles. Long long ago, the ruler of the heavens Perun and the ruler of the realm of the dead Veles exchanged a certain vow. Should that vow be broken by one of the pledgers, one associated with the pledgers, or anyone beneath them... This vow shone like gold. And as such, any traitor of this vow shall have his body split in twain like gold does.

Volos then takes over narration if he wasn’t the one talking about things already. He talks about coming from Kitezh, where he had a friend, an inseparable other half. That friend’s name was Veles. Veles ruled over death and songs, and he was sometimes called a devil. But to Volos the most important thing about him is that he had a beautiful voice. He loved hearing it more than anything, and he tried to imitate it while he was in the fields.

Volos talks about how one person’s death is another person’s sustenance. As a consequence death is tied closely to abundance. However, Veles is no longer a part of Kitezh. He was cut off from Volos, the abundance, and his body was all that remained. He broke the vow, and this is what happened to him.

On that day, Volos’s eyes were reflected in Veles’s eyes. He doesn’t remember what he felt at that point since it’s been so long now. The faith his body was supposed to gather now that Volos has been splintered, even more so.

Ever since that day ‘death’ disappeared from Kitezh. Kitezh’s System spread relentlessly and it does so even now. It melts into the things from other worlds, supplements the missing faith until it can establish its existence, and survives even now.

Volos says to Veles that ever since they separated he’s been a little afraid of meeting other people. Even so he’s had plenty of experiences since then, where he’s come to a new world and made new friends. He still plows fields though, the same as he did back when Veles was there. He still remembers him every time he tries to sing poorly to his own produce. One day, he hopes he can eat those same crops again.

Back to the present things have calmed back down to the normal level of activity for Volos’s watermelon game. Harlot sighs about how this has never happened before, and Arc asks if she’s okay and is glad she’s unhurt before yelling for Azathoth.

Azathoth tries to make a break for it, but Surtr grabs him in a headlock and apologizes to Volos saying he’ll be sure to discipline him. Volos tries to laugh it off and says he doesn’t mind since it didn’t turn into a big commotion. He then starts going around passing out watermelons as an apology for the trouble. You can then compliment either Arc, Harlot, or Azathoth for their swimsuits.

In A, Arc says Harlot picked it out for her for heatstroke prevention, and it’s actually quite comfy. In B, Harlot thanks you but says you shouldn’t look at the exposed skin for too long. In any case Harlot says the watermelon is beautiful and says the red is dripping while the seeds look like a peek into the abyss. Volos is unsure if this is a compliment or not but is happy that people would admire its appearance.

Volos starts talking about how the red in watermelons comes from lycopene which is also found in tomatoes. It’s good as an antioxidant as well as good for fixing ultraviolet radiation damage and skin beautification. Harlot takes great interest in this and asks Volos for more details. You either remark in surprise about her enthusiasm and how close she’s getting to Volos, or ask her if she’s fine with him given that Volos is a guy.

In A and B Volos is happy that she wants to know more. In C Volos is confused and says he does think of himself as male but doesn’t understand why it’s coming up. Harlot says Volos doesn’t look violent or seem like the type to selfishly push his love onto others. He also doesn’t seem like the type to be associated with money or authority. Harlot says she’s not so indiscriminate as to be hostile to men like that. Volos wonders if this is supposed to be a compliment.

In any case Volos starts talking about how lycopene is a type of nutrient pigment and similar to beta carotene. Arc then starts talking to you about how it’s always lively around you and how she’s glad she got to meet you at the right time.

When Arc heard you were working here she came to see you. It also gave a reason for the whole family to come since Harlot doesn’t really go out when there’s sunlight out much. If she never met you she’d probably never have had a chance to go somewhere like this. You can ask if she’s having fun, say she can make a lot of memories starting now, or offer her some more watermelon.

Going A, she says she is and that one day might not be enough time to fully enjoy it all. She mentions having a barbecue that night, but she’s a little worried about Harlot being so high spirited.

In any case Arc smiles calmly as she looks at the ocean. The camera then looks back to Volos as he has a lecture about beta carotene also being called provitamin A and its effects. You eventually either tell him to stop or say he seems more fired up than usual.

Volos apologizes and says the watermelon is a little different than usual so he’s a bit attached to it. He’s embarrassed for gabbing on again and thanks you for stopping him. To the side Goemon says the watermelon is ready and tells Cu Sith to spin.

Cu Sith spins, and Jambavan throws out some directions. Fenrir eats another piece of watermelon and talks about how spitting out the seeds can be fun too. Leib ignores that for the moment and comments on how much he can eat. Leib then notices Cu Sith walking over to him and thinking he’s the watermelon, so he quickly redirects him away.

Volos is talking to Harlot some more about the water content in watermelons when he looks over and pales upon seeing what Cu Sith is doing. Leib throws out some more directions, and Volos tries to stop the game saying that they can’t hit that particular watermelon they’re using. He’s too late as the thing explodes upon impact.

Surtr runs over asking what the noise is and whether everyone is safe. Arc says she and Harlot are fine but asks what happened. You look over to where Cu Sith was, and the sound of the explosion knocked out the people close by while splashing the area with watermelon juice and rinds. You either ask in shock whether the melon blew up, say you can’t figure out what happened, or ask if everyone is okay.

Volos says that watermelon is an experimental watermelon and that he accidentally brought it with him before it was ready for anything. When he was making the clean cut splitting watermelon he made this variant, which has a hard skin and is pretty packed inside. However this resulted in an increase of pressure on the fruit’s flesh, so there’s a risk of it exploding if struck with any force. You either express disbelief, ask if this is really a type of vegetable, or ask how he manages to do that.

Volos admits he doesn’t remember how he got it to do that and says it’s a mutation. He asks why something like this turned up when he was growing them while singing as he remembered his friend, but then snaps back to the present for more pressing matters.

Goemon asks what just happened and says his ears are still ringing. Leib asks Cu Sith if he’s alright and says the seeds flew out like bullets. Arc says everyone seems okay, then tries talking to Volos. Volos however is muttering to himself holding his head, then gets alarmed at what it means if the exploding watermelon is there. He then says there’s still a whole box of them and says they could explode all at once.

Volos runs off, and everyone else follows in alarm. When Volos gets to the employee parking lot, he sees the back door of his truck open. Volos notes there’s juice inside the car, so an explosion must have knocked the door open and caused the other melons to fall out. You either ask if the watermelons have escaped, compare this to a horror movie plot, or say you guys have to get them back quickly.

Jambavan points everyone’s attentions to the beach, and everyone is horrified to see the watermelons growing. Volos starts talking about how watermelons are originally from the desert and how he got something close to that one time during his research. Once it finds the right environment it’ll start growing since it’s a hardy plant. Once mature it’ll probably explode on its own, and Volos suggests that it could possibly evolve the ability to walk. Maybe.

Azathoth laughs his head off and what kind of mod he needs to make watermelons do this. Leib says this is turning into a debacle and asks Volos what should be done. Volos says if the watermelons are broken before their roots find water it should stop them. Volos then asks you to evacuate everyone. You however ask what he plans to do.

Volos says he’ll gather the watermelons by himself. Goemon objects since he feels Volos will die from the explosions, but Volos feels personally responsible. He also doesn’t want his work to sully everyone else’s memories of their time here, which he says is because he’s been thinking of something ever since Halloween.

That thing he thought about was how he wanted to grow something that he and everyone would remember together. He picks up a stick from his truck and looks over to the watermelon with some resolve, then says he has to stop then since he doesn’t want them to destroy those memories. You tell him to stop and grab his hand.

Volos asks in surprise about your expression, so you either say you want to do this with him or ask why he has to do it alone. Volos looks into your eyes and has a sense of confused remembrance. He calms down though as he wonders why he feels like he’s seen your eyes, the eyes of someone who left him alone.

He remembers something from Halloween and says he was about to repeat the same thing again. He tried to handle everything back then himself, didn’t he? Volos then says after a bit that he’s okay and not afraid. He asks if you’ll help him. You say you will, enthusiastically, calmly, or with a shrug of resignation.

Arc speaks up and asks to help too, which astounds Volos. She sympathizes with him and says she can’t leave a friend in trouble alone. Harlot understands and says if she wants to protect her memories then it’s okay. Surtr offers to help too.

Leib sighs saying they’ll have to help anyway and turns to Jambavan. Jambavan is distressed at getting involved after all and says he just got his new swimsuit. Fenrir encourages him as he calls him the Treasure Holding Work-Swamped Bear of Heaven, saying he’ll crush everything with his fangs for him. You can either say to Volos you guys are friends, tell Goemon you guys should work hard, or ask Oniwaka if he’ll help.

In A Volos asks if you’re sure, then thanks you and says he’ll do his best. In C, Oniwaka says if you’re asking then he’ll protect you. Whichever way, Volos then leads everyone into the episode battle, and the story continues afterwards.

After the battle, the story picks back up with Goemon smashing watermelons in his way as a performance. Alp also dances and sings his way around smashing watermelons too. Narration says both are utilizing the explosions to their advantage, and Leib notes that the sand is absorbing most of the impact. There’s still the issue with the seed bullets though.

Jambavan apologizes since his power won’t affect him as he sees the seeds as small and weak. Azathoth then says there is the idea that you should attack at long range if there are enemies that fire back, then teleports the watermelons into the air.

Cu Sith tries to blow up the watermelons all at once using his sonic howl. Unfortunately this still causes the seeds to rain down on everyone as Azathoth points out. Cu Sith tries to curl up to defend himself, but nothing hits him. When he opens his eyes and looks up, he sees Oniwaka body blocking for him. Oniwaka scoffs and says it’s nothing to be scared of, even as he’s covered in countless hits.

Leib calls Oniwaka a try hard but says he needs to repay him for helping his guildmate. Leib then uses a special salve on Oniwaka. Harlot commands Therion to devour all the watermelons. The juice of it all bursts out, and Harlot urges Therion to continue.

Fenrir says he feels like he can connect with Harlot, the Woman Who Controls the Beast of Revelation, in some way as he loosens his bindings a bit so he can rampage over the watermelons. Harlot laughs madly and dances around as the juices spray around from Therion and Fenrir and splash her. She then commands the lycopene, citrulline, and beta carotene in it to fix her skin. Fenrir considers taking back his comment and wonders if he overthought it.

Harlot turns to Volos and mentions that they’re having a barbecue that night and asks him to tell her more about veggies that have beautifying effects, offering to buy them all. Surtr says he’s the one grilling and asks her to keep it in moderation.

Volos is touched and thanks everyone. Arc waves it off as she’s happy this has become a fun memory for her. She probably won’t blink an eye if she runs into exploding watermelons again. Goemon agrees and says this has become an unforgettable memory too. There’s still time for business to happen so he suggests to Volos that they sell off what’s left.

Volos agrees. Since they’re still some of the clean splitting watermelons left Volos says the games can continue. But before that happens he suggests everyone go take a shower since everyone is covered in watermelon juice. Oniwaka smiles as things calm down and tries to leave. You either try to call to him, say his swimsuit is turning transparent, or call to Cu Sith to tell him Oniwaka is leaving.

In A Oniwaka says he gets restless when he’s somewhere peaceful. He tries to excuse himself but you grab onto him. In B it takes him a sec to check, and he says you’re right because of the juice. But then you pull on his swimsuit. In C Oniwaka panics at you doing this before Cu Sith quickly runs over to stop Oniwaka himself.

As the people laugh, the sun starts sinking and the waves sparkle in the light. And in the corner of one of the sand dunes where no one is lies a single small watermelon buried in the sand. And so the episode ends.

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