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 an AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 OLYMPIA REP POINTS OR 2 WYVER REP POINTS, respectively, HERE or HERE. THESA STATION
All refugees on the station are called to the hangar where a large-scale teleporter has been set up; everyone will be sent to the planet together. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait. Before they depart, all new refugees will be given a starter kit!
 You may have heard about earlier technical difficulties, but don't worry. I promise everything is in perfect working order this time. I'd say I tested it myself, but since that's not exactly possible, you'll just have to trust me! (Please.)
The older refugees will also be there to guide you to ensure no one is left confused... or behind. Make sure you wait for them — I've been detecting something odd so I'll be having them meet you at the landing site. Good luck, refugees! Not that you'll be needing it or anything...
The arrays begin to hum and glow, quickly building into a brilliant wash of light. It creates a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa. With the night sky as a canvas, the beam can be seen all the way from Olympia and Wyver — a view that has the natives whispering of blessings.
As a sudden but beautiful aurora splays across the sky, the refugees down on the planet receive a message asking them to travel to the landing site — and warning them to prepare for what may come of the strange readings Zasere's gotten from the teleport itself.
Traveling through the light leaves the impression of blinding starlight, a strange sense of weightlessness, and a disorienting moment of total sensory deprivation. The radiance of your teleport hangs bright in the sky above you, a shimmering aurora that reflects off the calm waters below, visible for miles all around.
You've landed on a peninsula to the east of the South Outpost. There's little here — scattered trees on spring-barren plains, with a few overgrown, dilapidated structures poking out of the brush. All is quiet save for the keening of animals and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. This lonely desolation is hardly the bustling cities and vibrant cultures you were promised back on the station...
BY CAMPFIRE'S GLOW. But waiting for you is a group of your predecessors, and with them, a veritable tent city, with portable stoves, coolers of food and drink, comfortable bedrolls, and cheerful rings of bonfires — all that you need to make merry of the night, courtesy of Overseer Voss, who has, thanks to his interest in blessed meteorological phenomena and refugees, decided to make a holy expedition of the affair.
Settle in, meet new comrades, and enjoy yourself, for you've safely completed your journey. But don't wander too far from the fires — the dark is closing in, and there's a strange, electric feeling in the air, the scent of ozone drifting on the breeze. And what were those odd readings Zasere mentioned?
A SHEPHERD OVER THE FLOCK. The spring sun dawns on a grey morning, already burning away the fog rolling in off the sea. It quickly becomes apparent that Voss and his entourage of acolytes have been up for hours, hard at work. They've set up a brightly-draped stage and a travel pulpit, magically enchanted to amplify his voice, and as the sun breaks over the horizon, Voss is all set to do what he does best: proselytize.
 As our Goddess has sent Her blessing once before to herald the coming of those touched by Her light, so She has done once again! Here you see them, those surrounded by the light of our Goddess, each of them bearing the mark upon their skin of Her holiest of hands! Do you not see? Do none among you bear witness to the righteousness of Her message? Perhaps this is why our people have shamed themselves in front of our Goddess—
[ He continues for another 15 minutes... ]
Nevertheless. See you them before us now! See them as they are, coming to our gates with Her reminder, that these people must be treated with the utmost respect and care. Thesa's divinity is not to be treated with such flagrant disregard! Those who She chooses are not ours to use as mindless fodder, to hurt, to torture — shame upon those who allowed such deeds to shame us under Her watchful gaze!
To those of you who have just arrived here on our doorstep, be not afraid! The Temples of Thesa welcome you to our home with hearts and minds open! Should you ever find yourself in need of solace, seek out the Temples, as there are no greater allies to you than those of us within the Temple walls. You are welcome all to Olympia!
As he steps away from the enchanted podium, he can be heard saying aside to an acolyte, "How was that? Heavy on the shame, but I think it went well!" While he will not leave the area immediately, his acolytes will politely turn away attempts to speak with him and remind anyone interested that they can leave a message at the Temples.
Despite going off without hitch, the new refugees' arrival isn't entirely without incident. It seems that the "blessed" beam of light that brought the refugees down to El Nysa brought something else along with it — a sliver of the Storm. At least the beam was short enough that only a small fraction managed to squeeze through.
But it's enough to wreak a little havoc around the landing site and along the road back toward Olympia and Wyver — and even, for a few days, in the cities themselves.
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. The Storm is an undeniably destructive force, and that's proven with this small sliver's effect as it ripples across the continent. While there's no visible sign of its presence, strange phenomena soon begin to appear, corresponding with Zasere's odd readings.
They're innocuous little things at first. A sudden silence, animals going quiet, insects stilling. All technology, no matter how advanced, ceases working. You discover when you check with a friend, the clock on your phone is twelve minutes slow even though you'd swear only a minute had passed — time missing. Walking through the woods takes longer than it should when brushing past one bush leads to brushing past that same bush again — and again, and again, the area looping on itself. It keeps you trapped, going in circles for minutes, even hours, before finally releasing you in a random direction.
Or perhaps you'll feel a sense of deja vu, like you've walked down this road, taken this turn, seen that bird fly from this branch before. This is the second time that cat has crossed your path. The person you're meeting, you already know their name; you're certain you've already met.
WE GOT COWS. The Storm sliver also ushers in sudden, localized weather anomalies — heavy storms, blizzards, strong winds, and more. Affected areas range from just a few feet wide to nearly half a mile. One minute, the sky may be sunny and clear, but the next dark storm clouds roll in, unleashing torrential rain. Small tornadoes surge along the road, kicking up winds strong enough to knock people over and carry objects away. Hail hurtles down from the sky, but only in a ten foot radius. Temperatures fluctuate wildly between one extreme and the next, from heat waves to cold snaps. Soupy fog blankets the area, thick enough that you can barely see your hand in front of your face. Good luck finding your way!
FORGETTING IS SO LONG. The visions come on suddenly and with very little warning. One second, you're carrying on as normal — but the next, you blink and find yourself (and anyone near you) somewhere else completely. You may recognize this place as a moment from the past, one that you lived through. It's a memory, your memory, and it now replays around you in exceptional detail, unnervingly lifelike. Or you may not recognize it at all. It might belong to the person next to you, or to someone else entirely — a memory that the Storm has swallowed up.
Either way, the scene plays out just as it once did, and there's nothing you can do to stop it — or escape it. The memory surrounds you to no end: every door you open leads nowhere, every hallway you turn down continues on forever, every horizon you flee toward hangs just out of reach. And linger too long or turn the wrong corner, and you may find yourself abruptly stuck in a completely different memory. It's almost tempting, then, to give up, to let the past sweep you away...
But this isn't the full might of the Storm. Look closely, and you can see that in the walls of this trap, there are minute, hairline cracks, a facade of fractured glass. Imperfections in the memory where the real world is breaking through. It seems the only way to escape these memories is to find those cracks and break through them — by force, by will, or by some other method entirely.
The time is coming to make a choice — perhaps not a permanent choice, but unless you want to spend the rest of your nights out under the stars, you'll need to pick which city you will initially spend your time in. On the horizon, you will see that people have arrived to help you make that decision...
A FORK IN THE ROAD. Refugees and the hyper-religious wishing to hear Voss speak are not the only ones out and about under the light of the aurora. Citizens of both Olympia and Wyver have flocked to a point on the road midway between the cities and where the refugees have appeared, and they all have the same goal in mind: convincing the newcomers who have just descended in the blessed light of Thesa to come to their city and not the other.
They've come with bribes — that is, examples of what their cities have to offer. If you spent much time at the exhibition up on Thesa Station, you might recognize some of what's being shown off, though the offerings here are markedly more tangible, and shown off by hawkers wearing substantially fewer clothes.
A herd of pegasi accompanies the Olympians, while a line of flying serpents is stabled at a tent bearing Wyver colors. Refugees are given the chance to experience solo flights and are told that if they prove their loyalty, they may have the privilege of owning such fine beasts one day themselves. The Olympians have also brought couture clothing, jewelry, and makeup to offer a taste of Olympian splendor, while the Wyver delegation has brought along fine weapons, sense-enhancing jungle plants, and small vials of diluted dragon’s blood (drinking confers a temporary boost in strength) to demonstrate their might. The Olympians speak proudly of the glory of the Temples of Thesa; the Wyverns speak of the Volkkran Pact and inform newcomers that they can make a pilgrimage to the summit of Namarak Mountain at the next full moon.
This is as good a time as any to compare your plans with others around you and exchange contact information before going your separate ways with people who are going to the city you are not. When you’re ready to go, don’t worry about safe passage — the natives of each city will gladly escort you there in luxury.
OF WHITE AND GOLD. The people of Olympia are ecstatic that you’ve come to join them... So much so that they’ve prepared a grand tour of the city for the new arrivals. You will be introduced to the major businesses in the city, including businesses that they are proud to point out were founded by refugees.
Refugees who have been here for some time already are encouraged to pair up with newcomers to introduce them to the parts of the city they like best. To facilitate this, they’ve made arrangements with many of the business owners: new refugees who visit their shops (and older refugees who escort them) are given discounts!
Just a few examples of many: the Wyvernest offers free desserts to first time visitors with the purchase of a drink, refugees who visit the Silk Wyrms can have one custom (though not exceedingly expensive) outfit made for them for free, and visitors to Shades Darker are offered a half-hour session with one of the prostitutes at half price… or access to a private room, if they seem to have taken a shine to one of their companions on the tour.
Lastly, tour guides will point out that over the course of the next week, the train to Flona Cove will allow new refugees to board for free so that they can experience the seaside for themselves. With the weather finally starting to warm, this is as good a time as any for a visit to the beach, isn’t it?
OF RED AND BLACK. Life in Wyver is typically a sink-or-swim sort of experience — but in light of the valor recently displayed by their predecessors, the natives are now more willing to assist in getting newcomers settled. The entire journey here they have been talking up the virtues of their city… and now is the time to show everything that's on offer.
The well-known businesses in the city are prepared for the influx of newcomers. Some are giving out discounted samples of their products while others are offering a more hands-on experience: in exchange for working a few hours, they will give training in whatever task is being performed.
At the Forged, newcomers can learn the basics of crafting simple weapons (and take one of their successes home), while visitors to spas near the lagoons are trained in the art of massage. Those who wander to Falmi’s Ring can learn the art of pugilism or how to keep (and fix) books if they're more inclined to the gambling that goes on. Newcomers interested in Wyver's dragons can get hands-on experience at the Fields of the Exalted's nursery. While they walk from place to place, a guide may point out a job posting from Highwind Hires, noting that refugees can make a name for themselves outside official channels.
The last stop on the tour is the Undergrowth. The guides speak of the jungle in reverent tones and caution new refugees not to wander too far in. They warn never to explore alone, but also urge refugees to take time to familiarize themselves with it; after all, the jungle is an important part of life in Wyver, and those who are going to be living here should understand it as well as they do.
You've chosen your path, refugee, but that doesn't necessarily make it a permanent one. Watch out for the strange effects of the Storm, which linger still in the two cities and everywhere in between for the next few days before dissipating just as mysteriously as they came, but otherwise enjoy the welcome and make yourself at home — after all, this is home now.
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He doesn't turn around: he's not sure he can look Chuuya in the eye. But he stops, and he listens, and he tries to focus on Chuuya's voice as much as he can.]
I wonder.
[He used to believe the same, but reliving everything has definitely dragged him back from a lot of progress he thought he'd made. Maybe if the kidnapping hadn't messed with his head so much, it'd be easier to handle; as it is, he feels like a lot of his hard work (or, okay, running away) has been for nothing.]
I thought I had - or that I'd come a long way, if nothing else. I don't feel so sure of it anymore.
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They did it to you because you’re a weretiger, right?
[Chuuya is just guessing, but to single out one child from the rest like that, to treat him like an animal, it only makes sense. That doesn’t excuse what the sick fucks did, of course, but it does explain things beyond the headmaster simply getting off on the sadistic cruelty.
The real beasts are human beings, and all that jazz.]
I sure fucking hope you don’t think you deserved any of it, because that’s bullshit.
[Chuuya has no time for people who constantly wallow in self-pity with their annoying, attention seeking whining, but he’s not a complete asshole. Clearly Atsushi is actually struggling here, and not just playing it up for pity.
Words have never been as effective with Atsushi as actions, though, and much as Chuuya never really allows others to get too touchy feely with him outside the bedroom, he supposes he won’t die if he reaches out to gently ruffle Atsushi’s hair. Kind of like petting him, but shh.]
It’s fine.
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And maybe Atsushi doesn't want to associate his ability with his past of abuse too much. Maybe he prefers to think of his ability as a good thing - something that gave him a new life with the Armed Detective Agency.
He'd really rather not think about any of it too much, or at all. So he'll just take the head pets, closing his eyes briefly, and try to calm down.]
I know. I know that I didn't deserve it.
[But it still happened, and even if he knows in his head that the headmaster's abuse was wrong, it's hard for his heart to dismiss a lifetime of being told that the world would be better off without him. He doesn't believe that's true, but he hasn't been able to prove it to himself yet.]
... I'm sorry. There was no need for you to see that.
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[Chuuya doesn’t really feel like arguing over that fact, so it’s good that Atsushi realizes it’s true. Nobody deserves to think they shouldn’t exist in this world; Chuuya knows that fact all too well. He’s an abomination himself, after all, though his own ability has always been recognized for how useful, if not terrifying, it is. Atsushi’s ability only seemed to gain value after the bounty was placed on his head, but that’s only because anyone who knew about the weretiger were too stupidly blinded by fear to realize its potential. Perhaps they’re the same in that regard, that their very existence is a threat, but Chuuya will be damned if he ever gives up living to appease others.
But now isn’t really the time for deep introspection.]
Well, I did. Sorry if you didn’t wanna share, but I guess I can understand where you’re coming from better now.
[It’s not like Chuuya hasn’t seen the worst humanity has to offer already, after all.
Hm. A hug would be the next logical step, wouldn’t it? God, back home he never would’ve pictured himself playing the role he does here, but shit changes. Sure, all the pent up fight in him is going to come bursting forth one day if he doesn’t find some kind of outlet, but for right now maybe he can give this whole trying to be supportive thing a shot, if only to repay Atsushi’s kindness for letting him stay here.
So here you go, Atsushi, you get an awkward, Chuuya-brand hug from behind. This is what makes Atsushi feel better right? Otherwise he wouldn’t have crawled into Chuuya’s bed seeking out some kind of closeness when he was in such emotional turmoil.]
I said it’s fine, so stop apologizing.
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His face heats up at that hug, and he forces himself to exhale slowly, relaxing back against Chuuya. It's funny how much less intimidating the man is, when you're not looking at him. Maybe he's short, but Atsushi has never felt that way - not unless confronted with the hard facts this way.]
Sorry. I mean -... [Now he's apologizing for apologizing. He breathes a soft laugh. How hopeless he is - but for once, he doesn't mind.] I'll try to keep that in mind.
no subject
Good.
[At least Atsushi isn’t too terribly tall, having only a few inches on him; Chuuya can deal with that as long as Atsushi doesn’t bring it up.]
You can sleep in my room tonight if you want.
[Not that he needs the company! He’s just being nice!
Eventually Chuuya lets go and comes around to face Atsushi with a grin.]
You can bring Daifuku if you want.
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Clearly if Daifuku is coming, he doesn't have to worry about that, though(?!).]
... I'd like that.
With Daifuku there, it almost feels like a sleepover, doesn't it?
[Which is childish, probably, but he's never actually been to one of those before! So he kind of likes the idea.]
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Okay, now that reaction is just adorable, though Chuuya won’t say as much.]
I guess. Never had one.
[Chuuya’s childhood isn’t even a thing he clearly remembers, soooooo...
This...could actually be a perfect chance to learn more about each other without the magic truth serum that is alcohol being involved, considering the emotional impact of those memories and all.]
Well, first we need to find him.
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[Then again, knowing what he does of the mafia, and what even a girl like Kyouka was made to do... it's probably not so strange.
Still... it's a strange thing to have in common.]
I'll find him! [His pet, his responsibility, after all.] Please go ahead and make yourself comfortable.
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[If only one-night stands counted as sleepovers...
Make himself comfortable in his own room? Well, he supposes he hasn’t lived here all that long to think of Olympia as his home yet, but he’s getting there. But can this place ever truly be home? From the Sheep to the Mafia, Chuuya has rarely ever truly belonged anywhere, but who knows, maybe he’ll grow to like Olympia itself and not just live there because Atsushi does.
Maybe. He’s still not sure where he stands on all that bullshit, but whatever. He’s living comfortably enough...until shit inevitably hits the fan again.]
Right.
[Making himself comfortable means stripping down to his underwear and crawling in bed. His only pair of pajamas are being used as a nest for Apollo at the moment and could use a good wash. At least he’s sort of covered when he pulls the blanket up to his waist.]
no subject
[Is it supposed to be a joke? Is he partly serious?? Who knows...
Atsushi finds Daifuku quickly enough - he doesn't want to keep Chuuya waiting! - and carries the cub upstairs
because it's spoiled as fuck. After a quick knock, he enters Chuuya's bedroom without waiting for a reply: he knows he's expected, after all.]Here is the prince of the house~
[Lifting Daifuku up like a weak imitation of The Lion King, Atsushi puts the cub in bed with Chuuya before removing his outer layer of clothing. It's warm enough that just underwear will be enough, and he's not particularly embarrassed to be seen that way by Chuuya. After everything they did together, that just seems silly... Then again, his scars may take on a different meaning now that Chuuya knows where they're from.
Then Atsushi gets into bed, himself, moving over to lie close to Chuuya, then belatedly turning on his side towards him.]
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Chuuya snorts at Atsushi’s grand presentation of Daifuku. If ever there was a spoiled egg baby...]
Hey.
[Chuuya will gladly give Daifuku scratches and pets, because he’s going to be his second dad yet.
Chuuya’s eyes fall upon the scars left on Atsushi’s body, and it truly does drive home just how fucking awful his childhood was. Not that Chuuya has any fucking idea what a normal childhood looks like, but it certainly isn’t what Atsushi went through.
There’s something about Atsushi turning to face him that makes Chuuya feel a little surge of affection for him, but instead of gushing and throwing his around the guy, he scoots closer and reaches up to slide his fingers through Atsushi’s hair again.]
Surprised you haven’t asked me anything. Since I saw your past and all.
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... I wouldn't know where to start.
[Which is the entire problem. He's definitely interested in Chuuya's past, but where does he even begin? Besides, he doesn't want to ask questions that might upset Chuuya... or get answers that might upset himself.
He really does want to know, though. No matter what he'll learn. So he'll lean into Chuuya's touch a little, then relax and let out a long breath.]
Would you tell me more about yourself, Chuuya-san?
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Honestly Chuuya has no idea where to start, either. There are definitely things he’d rather keep to himself for now, even if it isn’t fair to Atsushi. It’s odd, but Chuuya actually gives a shit what Atsushi thinks, so he’ll just...leave out the more violent parts of his past. For now, anyway. The fact that he gets a thrill from a good challenge is probably no mystery, but the full extent of his kill record? Corruption? He’ll just keep those to himself for now.
Unless Dazai told the ADA about that, too. Chuuya really has no idea. ]
I joined the Port Mafia when I was fifteen.
[A choice he hadn’t made all on his own, but that he doesn’t regret in the slightest. The alternative was rather ugly, after all.]
Dazai and I were partners.
[Which is a story in and of itself. Soukoku is a legend, after all. Chuuya’s expression immediately shifts to one of annoyance. Dazai tends to do that to people, after all. He could rant and rave all goddamn day about the guy, but then he’d just get pissy, and he’d rather not do that for once.
He pauses for a moment, thinking of something else he could share that wouldn’t be too heavy.]
...I also had a motorcycle.
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Honestly, it's a pretty heavy topic, even if Chuuya skips all the death: Atsushi's brain is happy to supply such details, and it's not pretty. With that mood, the sudden mention of a motorcycle makes Atsushi chuckle, and he curls in on himself as if trying to hide it.]
Sorry... You must really miss that motorcycle, to bring it up now.
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Oh well, he’s here now, and the past is the past, much as Chuuya likes to forget that sometimes.
Chuuya lets out an indignant huff. Rude, Atsushi! Don’t laugh!! He’s just clinging to his wild youth! Not that his adult life is any less wild, but shh!]
Yeah. You should’ve seen me ride up buildings. That was fun as hell.
[But alas, as far as Chuuya knows, the bike is lost to the stars.]
I’ve heard you’re fast with those tiger limbs.
[If only Akutagawa would’ve shared how he rode the tiger.]
Anyway. There’s more to the story, but I don’t plan on going anywhere, so you don’t have to ask it all now.
no subject
[There really is a lot you can do by controlling gravity, isn't there? Atsushi has seen a little bit of it, of course, watching Chuuya fight, but he still doesn't know the half of it. It's definitely an impressive ability.]
I am pretty fast.
[Fast enough to evade motion detectors, so he doesn't feel like he's bragging to say as much. Clearly they should race sometime, if Chuuya ever gets a bike again. Atsushi sighs.]
All right.
[They can save more talking for another day. It's been an unnerving day.]
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[Chuuya can do much more than simply fight with it, which he might show Atsushi sometime, if he wants.]
You’ll have to show me sometime.
[Chuuya doesn’t doubt him, of course, he just kind of wants to see Atsushi dart around like an actual cat.
Right. They should probably sleep. It’s been a long, emotionally taxing day for Atsushi, so Chuuya will simply settle in next to him without crowding him too much. He won’t protest cuddling, but it’s best to let Atsushi decide that’s what he wants. Of course a cuddle pile with Daifuku wouldn’t be bad at all in Chuuya’s book, but he won’t say it out loud.]
Sleep if you want.