❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM. -- the overflow.

[natha]

ORIGINAL POST

You have spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Perhaps you’ve made some friends (or maybe an enemy or two). Either way, you aren’t expected to spend all of your time on the Station. El Nysa needs you, after all, and you promised you’d help the planet thrive. Are you ready? Submit any AC eligible thread of participating in this log's prompts for Two (2) Olympia REP points HERE. TRAVEL LIGHT     You're really lucky, new refugee. Because of the efforts of those that came before you, your own descent into El Nysa will be quick and relatively painless. You get to reap the benefits of others' experience. Those that came before you are all well-versed in the art of teleportation now, and descending into El Nysa is simply a concentrated thought away. A teleporter has been placed in the common areas to help the new refugees descend, but for this first time, you're going to need a little guidance. You're going to need to take the hand of someone who has been on El Nysa for a while now and learn the ropes. Hold on tight, Refugee, and don't be afraid when the blinding light hits you. The actual journey will feel like a sudden whiplash— painless, but sudden, and maybe a little nauseating. Keeping your balance may be difficult, and it’s possible you might end up toppling onto your poor partner. Hopefully you’re at least thankful. You have landed in a back alley in the Residential District of Olympia. HOME SWEET HOME     Immediately, you notice that everything you've been told about El Nysa is true. There are people of all races here, and although no one bats an eye at your appearance as you enter the district, a member of the Royal Guard asks for your passport. They have a keen eye, and can tell that although you may be a new refugee to their city, they've never seen you before. Certain rumors of an outside force making preparations to do some major damage has them particularly on edge. It's a good thing the Orbiters made sure you have an Olympian passport ready to go. You present it, and with a small nod, the Guard says nothing more and slaps a patch on your chest; to your surprise, it reads: Hello! My name is ________________! I am in House #___! Are you my housemate? ... No matter how much you try, there's no removing this sticker. "It'll come off tomorrow," says the guardkeep. "Lots of refugees here, limited housing. It's an easy way to get to know the people you're living with. Though, if you ask me, why are we accepting so many foreigners when so many want to watch this city burn? Well, I don’t give the orders." If someone greets you, the message on the patch will magically change: Secretly, I _____, _____, and _____! What are yours? There's no telling how they'd known these things, but it likely has to do with Zasere. AGAIN. It may be a good idea to get situated in your new home and set down some ground rules with your roommates. There is also, of course, much of Olympia to explore. FLONA COVE     Word around the city is that one very cute and enthusiastic Olympian, You Watanabe, has been asking around earnestly for the nearest place to find some coastal fun. It didn't take long before a few locals pointed her in the direction of Flona Cove. Maybe it’s a good idea to check out the area. There are only a few more days left of summer, after all. Even if you're not the beach type, exploring a new area certainly can't hurt your understanding of El Nysa. Flona Cove is just a quick train ride away. BEACH PARTY: Chances are, you've heard about the beach party being organized by You Watanabe, whether it be from her directly or someone who knows her. A lot of careful planning has gone into it, and it looks like a great time, so why not check it out? Full speed ahead towards a great time! There's plenty of food for everyone, and plenty of watermelons that need splitting! 1. Various food vendors from around Flona Cove have agreed to offer free food for the new refugees, and they line the shoreline near the harbor, enthusiastically offering goodies such as seafood kabobs, ice cream, fresh fruit (including whole watermelons!), and hot dogs. You Watanabe herself has a grill where she’s cheerfully serving up her trademark "Niceoodles" yakisoba as well as other Japanese food like takoyaki and rice. What makes her noodles so nice? It’s obviously the cheerful smiley-face sun drawn on the omelette. In exchange, the chefs and vendors only ask that you spread the word, though most of them have buckets for donations if you want to help chip back in. After the party is all done, however, there seem to be plenty of dishes that need doing, all in a big pile. You herself is working on getting through the mountain of dishes, but maybe you could lend a hand? 2. It's just not a beach party without the traditional watermelon splitting! For those of you who don't come from modern Japan on Earth, it might be perplexing at first seeing the literal mountain of watermelons grown with the help of Keyleth, another recent Olympian. If the bat-like sticks and blindfolds next to them don’t explain the purpose, though, you might just sit back and watch as a brave competitor sets a watermelon on the sand, ties a blindfold around their eyes, and has people start yelling at them which way to go. They consider the shouts of the crowd, take a swing... and strike nothing but sand. Perhaps you can do better? There are beach activities galore. Now's the time to build the sandcastle of your dreams or play a game of beach volleyball. Maybe you're brave enough to surf the waves, or you’d just like to enjoy a swim. Mom friends who just want to lounge in the sun and read a book while working on their tan are welcome too, of course. BENEATH THE SURFACE: 1. Diving beneath the waters in Flona Cove yield a whole new world on its own. Rent a scuba suit and take a trip to explore the corals, and you may even be lucky enough to run into a playful school of dolphins. Be careful-- they tend to get carried away and will happily drag swimmers for a wild ride. 2. You might want a boat for this scuba adventure, unless you're a strong swimmer. Venture deeper into the ocean, farther away from the coast, and adventurers will find some interesting stuff. Two miles southwest of the harbor, deep, deep into the watery abyss, lies a shipwreck. Exploring through the various rooms of the ship yields a few knick-knacks here and there-- rusted spare parts, cracked tea sets... a surprisingly well-preserved pin-up painting of Koralle? The real treasure awaits for those who have the courage to swim beneath the ship's hull. Here, covered in algae and debris, lies the skeletal corpse of a winged, fanged, clawed beast. This is only a distant memory of its former glory, as nothing but bones are left, but something— something brilliant, catches your eye. Those hundreds of teeth are not bone, but a material so lustrous and pure, it nearly blinds. It will take some work, but with persistence and strength, it is possible to extract a tooth. Those that work in Simwe Institute or The Sanctuary may find it beneficial to take an extra for their boss— this is definitely something that is of interest to study. 3. Olympians love their luxury. There's nothing more luxurious than a secluded lagoon, the water at just the perfect temperature and pristine. This is one of the most sought-after spots for the natives, but when you come across it, it is completely peaceful and empty. For the tourists? Well, this place simply gets overlooked due to its distance from the main beaches. It's also relatively hidden. Soon you start feeling oddly friendly? Cupid’s Pool is also described by the people of Olympia as the touchy-feely pool. It has an inherent property that makes those who soak in it crave physical affection. Chances are you probably wanted to know this before you decided to take a dip, huh? (Please warn for threads appropriately) EARN SOME SILVER     1. While many of the locals came together to offer their hands to provide a bit of entertainment for the surge in tourism, that isn’t to state that they’re fully staffed. Have a few hours to spare? They're willing to pay for your help. Maybe you’re just the cooking champ they needed? The lifeguard who showed up just in time? Or the star salesman at their humble accessory shop so desired? 2. The man who approaches you is even offering more than most of the vendors down the street. Sure, the guy and his entourage look kind of shady, but money is money, isn't it? If you accept, he’ll shove a strange swimsuit or two your way and lead you to the dressing room. What kind of job is this? Modeling, he says. Hopefully you aren’t camera shy! Hey there, hot stuff. I like your look. Or maybe it's your... aura? Either way, I like what you're working with. How about you flaunt what you've got for some fat silver stacks? He also wants to be able to test your charm, and is willing to pay a whopping 400 silver in exchange. He may even ask you to go "talk" (did you hear him say "hit on"?) to a couple of people, and “sell” yourself. Whatever that means... Incidentally, he says he’ll give you a signal once you get a pass. Feels like forever, doesn’t it? 3. Once night begins to fall and the people gradually begin to clear out, you’ll notice something... odd. There are some shady looking people around, and maybe you’ve been hearing whispers all day about a certain "fight club." Initially, no one will tell you a time or location, but if you are persistent, your efforts will pay off. Perhaps in light of helping a vendor clear out their stall or assisting that one Olympian native in distress, they’re willing to tell you a few things about this exclusive club. They explain to you that it’s been a long-standing tradition of Olympia. Secret fight clubs. A place for people to stretch their wings and their fists. Moreover, the pay off seems to be pretty good! Though, they warn you that there are some aggressive competitors out there this time around. Things have been tough politically for a while now, and there is much unrest among the people. What better way to blow off some steam than to beat someone up and make a bit of bank! Fights are not to the death, simply until a knock out, but accidents (and "accidents") do happen. Finding the crowd of people will take some searching, even with directions. They meet along the northern coast of Flona, by following a path leading underground, well away from any civilization. Once you’re there, why not participate? You may find yourself facing off against a fellow refugee. OOC     An AC-eligible thread for 2 OLYMPIAN REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE by OCTOBER 15 11:59 PM EST. In the event of CAPTCHA, we will be providing an overflow. In the event of a second CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. 1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

Ana Amari

[panzersoldat]

[ moved from here ]

Reinhardt had been considering the 'fight club'. Only considering it. He knows it's money, but as a knight, he also knows his competing in such cage matches might be greatly skewed in his favor. He's that overconfident. But even if he didn't fight, he might still go to watch the others. To learn just how outclasses he was as a warrior. But it's not a decision he makes yet, because this is his first night watching the strange sun set in a strange world.

It's not as magical as he always imaged it to be.

He hears steps coming near to him, but he thinks nothing of it. Perhaps another person, wanting to see that sunset. He doesn't turn at first. Not until he hears it. It's a sound he's heard so many times in the past on the coms, in his dreams, in his nightmares, one of the many many sounds of those he had lost.

Still, he remains with his back to her until she speaks. He had known it was her, but he didn't know if he could face her yet. He's a coward for that. He should have gone after her the moment he had found out from Morrison...no...76....that she was still alive as well. But he had left it alone then. It's not for him to decide when she sees him.

He swallows down the bitterness and grief he felt in knowing the truth and he turns. His hands quietly balling into tight fists at his sides to keep them still. To help him keep his emotions in check. But like with Jack...76...he'll never get used to that, seeing her is like he had just been punched hard in the gut.

Reinhardt takes a long breath, hands tightening. Tightening. He tries to keep the hurt and betrayal from his good eye and he finally manages. "Hello, Ana." Then all that tension falls away because he knows this is unfair for the both of them and he smiles a very weak, pained smile. "Its...been a while. You look...good."

[nanamari]

Ana pulls her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Reinhardt has never been a difficult man to read, and that much hasn't changed over the years. She feels every tense movement and carefully spoken word like a shard of glass under her skin.

She did this to him.

She wouldn't blame him if he decided to have nothing to do with her ever again, but that isn't Reinhardt's way. He's forever giving her more than she deserves, and somehow that's even harder to take than a rejection.

"You don't look so bad yourself." She clears her throat, swallowing against the threat of tears. "I'm glad that you're finally awake."

She tilts her head up to look at him. "Do you want to walk with me?"

[panzersoldat]

It's taking all he can not to just fall on his knees and bawl on her shoulder. He had told himself long ago that he had already cried enough for this woman. But he had always been an emotional man and it's hard to stand there and act like Ana had just come back from the store and not from the grave.

His laugh is hollow, an empty broken sound, betraying him. But he's very good at playing pretend. "Yes...well... You know me. When have I ever been the sort to just lay around when there was work to be done." His shoulders bunch more and he has to take a moment to himself, to look away from her. He has to compose himself again before he can look at her again.

There are demands for answers on the tip of his tongue. Pleas to know why. But he just shoves them down. He pushes it aside because none of that matters. It's all just nothing in the face of the fact that she's still alive. To him, that's the important thing. Explanations, demands, crying like a baby, that's all secondary. Everything is secondary to the fact that she's here. She's alive.

"I would be honored to take a walk with you." He unconsciously offers up his elbow to her, ever the gentleman. He doesn't even care where they might be walking to. He trusts her, as foolish as he knows that is.

[nanamari]

She gives him a weak smile. She doesn't know what to say to him, truth be told. Reinhardt has never been the sort to rest until the work is done, and it makes it that much harder to explain why she had -- stopped. It had been painfully easy, with Jack. He had been a ghost for years already when she found him, and there was no need for explanation, from one tired old soul to another.

Reinhardt is different. He buried them and kept living.

"It's good to see that one of us hasn't changed." She takes his arm, giving him a gentle pull. Her hand feels overly warm against his skin, but maybe she's just unaccustomed to touch these days.

She doesn't have any particular direction in mind. She walks along the water's edge, in what semblance of privacy they can have. Ana has many regrets in her life - hurting those she cares for, killing other peoples' children - but this stands out in her mind.

"Do you want me to explain?" He deserves to know, but the question isn't about what he deserves or what's owed. It's as she told Jack so many weeks ago: they don't get to choose if anyone forgives them, or when.

[panzersoldat]

Her smile hurts the most. He remembers a time when everyone would laugh and smile together. Even in the darkest times, during the middle of the hell that was the Crisis, they'd been able to smile so warmly. But then times changed and the smiles faded. It's just one more reminder of what feels like innocence lost, when he knows this is foolish, because none of them had ever really been innocent.

And though it hurts, he accepts it as easily as he accepts her dragging him along with that gentle touch of hers. He would go with her, no matter where she led and he would think nothing of it. He shouldn't trust her, but he will go, only vaguely feeling the lapping of the tide at his ankles as they walk.

"Ja. It is. You will have to tell me the secret of your youthful good looks, Ana. I am in sore need of them." It's a joke as he tries hard to keep it light. Keep it from hurting, but she is a sniper and knows where to aim.

His smile fades a little and once more, it's there, right on the tip of his tongue. He wants to demand why. He wants to shake her and cry on her and tell her just how utterly lost and betrayed he feels by all of this. First Jack and then her... But his jaw tightens to the point of painful and he finally shakes his head.

"Only if you wish to. I know you. Or at least I thought I did. You wouldn't have done what you did without having a good reason for it. I...just want to know one thing." He stops to look at her. He knows what he's about to say is very unfair to her. He knows that and yet he can't force this down any longer. "Why didn't you ask for my help? After everything fell I took up my armor again. I couldn't sit quiet when there were still those who needed us. The world still needed Crusaders to stand guard, Petras Act or not. And had you called me, had you asked it, I would have dropped everything...Everything, to come to your side and aid you."

He takes a steadying breath. "I still would. I've never not been fully on your side, Ana. My shield has always been yours whenever you needed it." Hers, Jacks, the teams. "So why...why couldn't I help you when you needed it most?"

[nanamari]

If not for Fareeha, too many of Ana's warmest memories would be from the Crisis. She doesn't know what that says about her, or any of them, that the war had been the thing to bring them together and peace had been enough to take it all apart.

"I don't know about that." Is all she says to his compliment. He looks good, for a man his age, and only Reinhardt could say something so ridiculous with such cheerful sincerity. She's sorry to see his smile go, even if it's one that he's been fighting to keep. But this needs to be done. Wounds need to be repaired, even if they've already been allowed to fester too long.

What he says catches her completely off guard. Anger and accusations are things that she deserves, after everything. Why weren't you there for me? is something she's prepared to answer. She's not ready for Why didn't you let me be there for you? Her steps falter.

"Oh, Reinhardt." She stops where she is, her hand over her mouth. She's not going to cry. She decided that already. "It wasn't something that even your shield could protect me from."

[panzersoldat]

As soon as she falters, he stops. He knows it's a foolish thing, but a part of him fears that if he keeps going, if he takes his eye off of her, she would disappear. It's just that like with 76, Reinhardt is quietly reeling with the sorrow and joy of having someone he cared so deeply for back with him again.

So he stops and looks down at her. He doesn't look sorry for that unfair question, because that's truly all he wanted to know. She could tell him why she had played dead if she wanted but he needed to know this. He needed to know why.

His jaw tightens again and he swallows a lump in his throat. His hands go out to lightly rest against her shoulders. It's not a harsh thing, but a gentle touch. "You don't know that. Maybe I could have. And even if I couldn't...I would have tried. We were friends. We were allies. We...I... I would have given you whatever support you needed, just like you had done for me so many times. That's what friends do." They don't disappear into a fake death and make their family and friends cry.

"And I'm still your friend, Ana. I still care. So..." He takes a breath. "This time, if you need it, remember I'm here. I'm your shield. Let me have the honor of giving you the protection and support you need. So whatever it was...whatever made you think you needed to do this, you don't have to handle it alone. I'm not going anywhere."

[nanamari]

It had seemed so much more complicated in her head. She had been too hurt to move for months after the incident, but even when she had healed, it was a slow process. She couldn't stop thinking about what had become of poor Amélie, and with that as a guide, it had been impossible to keep the other ghosts from her bedside. She had looked at her life and her legacy and the crumbling of everything she had worked so hard to build and it had all seemed barren. All of that blood shed, all of the families she had been unable to comfort and funerals she had attended, for a future she had promised and could no longer deliver.

She hadn't thought of asking anyone for help. She had wanted to disappear and become a ghost herself.

By the time she had found the strength to be anything else, Overwatch had already fallen. Jack and Gabriel and more of her family were dead.

But Reinhardt is right - she should have tried. He didn't deserve to bury an empty coffin, or to carry the pain it had caused.

His hands are a comforting weight on her shoulders, and Ana takes a breath before she lifts her head. She gestures for him to duck down so she can reach him, and she still has to get on her toes so she can touch both sides of his face. She presses a light kiss to his cheek, and then reaches up to wrap her arms around his neck.

"I don't deserve you, old friend."​

[panzersoldat]

He had buried so many. They both had lost so much. That's why he doesn't blame her. Because he understands. He knows what it is to lose everything. And he has. He had been cast out and had to watch on the sidelines, just as Ana had. Both of them had been powerless to stop what had happened.

He will never ever think badly of her for disappearing. For playing dead. Just like he forgave Jack. They had all done what they thought they needed to do. Jack and Ana had been ghosts and Reinhardt had pulled his armor out of storage and returned to the life of a knight errant. Living his life and continuing the true path of Overwatch with only a young woman to support and fix him up. Picking up the fight, carrying it on for all those that had left the world too soon to do it more good.

He leans down when she gestures and is rewarded. He flushes a little at the little kiss and quickly wraps arms around her middle in a warm and welcoming hug back.

"Wrong, Ana. I'm precisely what you deserve. Your giant knightly headache is back. And now I have even more practice getting myself into trouble, so I'm going to keep you on your toes." His voice is still holding a slight tremor, as if he's afraid that as soon as they let go, this will all be an illusion. It's going to take him a while to really let it settle that she's back.

He gives her another hug and shifts his head just enough to rest against her slight shoulder so that if he does indeed cry a little, it's hidden. "Gott, I'm just so happy you're alive. We have so much catching up to do."

[nanamari]

Ana laughs despite herself. It sounds a little thick, but she doesn't mind for once. "Good. I was getting bored just chasing children around all day."

Tension bleeds out of her with Reinhardt's big arms around her. She cards her fingers into his hair and takes another slow breath. It's nice to be close to someone, after so long. She's missed her family.

"We've missed a lot of tea dates. What's all this about getting yourself into trouble?"

[panzersoldat]

It might be a thick sound, but it's something Reinhardt has dearly missed. It's a sound that he had thought he would never ever hear again. He knows he gets a little chocked up at that sound. He had promised not to cry over here, yet there are the happiest of tears at the corner of his good eye. It's just so nice to hear it.

"We did. I never have been able to make tea right. It never tastes like yours." Not that a knight errant, wondering Europe in a van, had much time for tea. He sniffles a little and shifts one hand to wipe his face, not wanting to let her go, even for a second. Not right now. He will eventually, but he's missed her. He's missed his family as much as she has.

"I'm still a knight, Ana. I have my armor here. I'm sure there are a lot of people that are going to need a champion. So I'm going to be that for them. Just like back home. I'm going to help as many people as I can." But he leaves it unsaid that Ana and Jack, Lena and anyone else he loves, they are his priority.