nysalogs | ❪ event ❫ a moment in eternity

Entry tags:

❪ event ❫ a moment in eternity

TO THERE AND BACK

It has been a month of chills uncharacteristic of what you might remember as summer — cold days and even colder nights. The days are short and the nights feel eternal. With the recent disruption of the network and no sign of a resolution for the world outside of Nadril, one has to wonder what the future holds for El Nysa. What of Olympia, Wyver, and their residents? The animals you cared for - are they destined to remain as frozen as wretched Ysverai forever? What will become of the sleeping ones in Thesa when there is nowhere else to go but this icy city?

Yet not all hope is lost just yet. The woman that appeared at the start of the network errors finally shows up again in another network post.

Greetings to you all. I apologize for my abrupt appearance and departure before… My name is Nurray, and I am the closest thing to a monarch that you will find here in Nadril. Magda is... indisposed, so I am here to speak to you in his place.

First and foremost, you will notice that your network devices are fully functional once more. Should you experience any further issues, please report them to me immediately so that it can be taken care of.

Secondly… Investigating the strange frequency interference we've been experiencing has brought some troubling data to light. The passage of time outside of this colony has been halted, of course, but the hold seems... unstable. Whatever it is that Darma has done to contain the calamity, I doubt that it will last for long. Time is an unpredictable force, and attempting to control it can only have adverse effects on the world. You could stay here if you so chose, outside the reach of that magic... but to do that would be to abandon the rest of this planet to an unenviable fate.

...ah, but there is no need to take my word for it. You can see the effects for yourselves, if you wish — merely look outside. "Seeing is believing"... isn’t that the phrase?

Nurray has a point: refugees have not been given a chance to see the outside. The frequent snowstorm barrier of Nadril has made it impossible to see what it's like beyond the colony. Soon after the network post, as though the snow has been "turned off," clouds will clear. With the barrier created by the snow gone, the red sun shines brightly upon the dreary city with its warmth. You can see a purple haze on the south horizon, a indication that Yservai wasn’t all just a dream. He's still there, so far away, yet so close anyway.

Near the entrance, a mound of snow melts, revealing steps leading towards the underground.

It seems to be a part of the subway station you might have found earlier during your exploration of the colony — this time, the station has been powered on. Two trains lie in wait — their destinations read: Olympia and Wyver.

— El Nysa is waiting.

FREEZE FRAME

The technology found in the subway station of Nadril is truly out of this world. The combined efforts of Natha technology and alien minds have truly created state-of-the-art transportation never before seen by the typical Nysan. It takes no longer than one hour for the intercoms to announce their arrival to the outskirts of the Dranbu Kingdom — though, even with the platform available, the train never stops; it instead continues for another half hour for it to reach the North Gate of the Olympian Empire, where it sits until it's time to return to the tundra.

All in all, it takes a mere hour and a half for this high-speed subway travel from Nadril to Olympia.

The second train does make a quick stop at the Olympian Station, but it will be another painless hour and a half until it reaches the jungle of the Wyver Kingdom. Because Wyver is its own island, connected only by a bridge, you might notice that a small part of the travel was underwater. The trip takes only a total of three hours, but there's plenty of time for sightseeing. After all, isn't that the whole point of this trip?

BE STILL MY HEART. Leaving the train, you are immediately hit with the still, warm air of the underground. It's hot, much different from the winter of the north, but perhaps a welcome change. The station is old, but it still has a fairly new smell to it, and not just because it's been unused for so long. It feels out of place compared to the rest of this world, and this is especially true when you reach the surface.

The entrance was hidden under the earth right near the North Gate. Upon leaving the station, you're immediately hit with the familiar wretched smell and atmosphere of the undead. Even if you're new, you won’tt be able to miss Ysverai, the risen Great Dragon. You see this massive creature on the horizon, mouth wide and ready to blast El Nysa into nothing. Yet he remains still — as are all the terrified residents of Olympia.

You've only seen this on the monitors of Thesa Station, and now you're able to experience first-hand how utterly quiet and still the world is now.

The native Olympians are all over — you see most of them running away from the Great Dragon. Others equipped their armors and rode their steeds straight toward the danger in hopes of protecting their Empire. And the civilians, having lost all hope, are huddled together — at least they would have been able to spend their final moments with loved ones.

Up on Thesa Station, you felt dread when you'd observed Ysverai for too long — this remains true here. That dread reaches your heart and clutches it. You feel his pain and suffering, and for those too in tune with emotions, it may be too much for you to be near him. Best to steer clear from him, or perhaps return to the underground. There is much more to be seen, after all.

PRAYING WITH FIRE. Another hour and a half south on the subway, and you'll reach the Wyver Station. It's far warmer here in the station this further south, but Ysverai's dread doesn't reach here. On the surface, you are instead immediately hit with the overwhelming humidity of the jungle. With summer in full swing, the layers you've brought with you from Nadril become a burden.

In Wyver, the mood is far different. The Great Dragon Yservai was once a being that was respected and worshipped by the Wyver people — not to mention that the one responsible is none other than Prince Raysc — thus his revival is met with somber resilience. Most of Wyver natives, instead of running away, had gathered around fires in prayer. Trained dragons that were unaffected by Ysverai's influence bow by their master's sides in acceptance of what they feel in their heart is to come with the Great Dragon's final blow.

You may even spot your own dragon, eyes beamed up toward Thesa, like it knows you were up there at the moment time stood still.

It's hard to imagine where one can go from here. You might start thinking about clean-up efforts, how to achieve proper burials for the fallen ones... but with time frozen, you will find that you cannot actually move anything or anyone. It will be dusk, as Thesa's shines across the skies, when storm cloud gather before Thesa's light.

And from the clouds is a familiar figure —

Once again, she has descended.

TIME & TIME AGAIN

Darma is glowing as bright as the naked eye can perceive. Her massive, true form floats before the world she's built from dust.

Is this world salvageable in your eyes, Refugee? We held time in hopes that we fould find a way to dissolve this Ysverai back to the ashes from which he was reanimated. Unfortunately, we continue to be unseeing, thus uncertain of the future... after all, our powers are near depleted.

Nurray was correct, Refugee, in that I cannot hold time for much longer. There is... another way, however. It is not ideal by any means, but we shall do what we must to keep Ysverai frozen.

As for us... we have expended far too much of our energy — Refugee, I am too aware of the misfortunes you've experienced in your time here. I have failed in my promise to provide better living... perhaps, with more time, I may yet see a better future. Until then, I leave Thesa, our hearts, in your hands. Farewell, Refugee.

Her brightness dims as she says her final words — at the same time, raises her arms, palms wide, then closes her hands into a fist.

In that instant, time is resumed. It's slow at first, as though time is trying to catch up with reality. It takes a several moments until the slow-motion picture before them reaches normalcy. Darma turns her attention to Yservai, whose motion is also returning, but not for long. In her true form, they are comparable in size; Darma's glow continues to dim as she draws closer to the Great Dragon, and then she coils herself around him, holding him still before assimilating into the wretched creature.

By the end of it, time has completely returned to normal, and all residents were able to witness the Natha holding time still for Ysverai —

The process turns the Great Dragon, as well as Darma, into stone.

HIT PLAY TO REPLAY

Darma has resumed time, and Ysverai is no longer a threat. However, it comes with a hefty price for the Natha. The massive, stone statue of Darma embracing Ysverai looms in the valley between the cities of Olympia and Wyver. It's no doubt an intimidating addition to the world, but there is some peace in knowing it's all over. When civilians finally come to, they can't help but look upon the statue in awe — and their respective cities. It's much to take in all at once.

Much destruction has been wrought— buildings lay in ruin, and of the citizens still alive, many look to be in poor physical condition. 1.

I. The Sanctuary has sustained much damage, and with the high demand of medical care, cannot serve as the central healing place for those in need. Instead, it is up to individual citizens to find resources and establish places of care. Those with a medical inclination or healing powers may set up medical tents, or work out of their homes. Not everything has been destroyed, and it is still possible to obtain supplies from the market or request them from The Sanctuary.

There is also, unfortunately, the tragic task of transporting corpses to graveyards and giving fallen citizens a proper burial. The Temples thank you for your service.

II. In order to have a functioning city again, buildings and facilities must be repaired and rebuilt. It's possible your own home was demolished in the battle. With so many important buildings needing to be repaired, city officials are too overwhelmed with the coordination of such tasks to double-check that buildings are restored to their original form. What's more, they seem to encourage design innovation, believing that a new, fresh look to the city will revitalize people's morale. Now is the time to put your own unique flair on the interior or exterior of Olympia's infrastructure. Even parts of the Palace need repair.

Time has resumed, yes, but the magic that Darma employs isn't flawless. As powerful of an entity as she may be, to tamper with time is difficult. Some would say it defies the laws of nature. Nature seems to agree, and in the next few weeks, El Nysa will be facing a few hiccups as it finds its equilibrium once more and citizens try to return to normalcy. Strangely enough, El Nysa natives are not disturbed by the occurrence of these events.

III. Characters may find that they occasionally (or frequently) suffer from lapses in memory. These difficulties with memory may range from light to severe, although they are thankfully not permanent. Within the span of a few minutes to a few hours, difficulties in remembering people and events are resolved. That isn't to say a similar problem won’t happen again tomorrow…

IV. Is it just you, or is your housemate looking a bit old lately? No, it isn't just stress making some citizens appear older. For a short amount of time, some characters may find themselves advancing or regressing in age, both physically and mentally. This particular kind of time hiccup is rare and may be particularly disturbing to the affected person’s friends. Thankfully, there have been no cases of this effect lasting more than an hour.

V. At times, it seems as though objects and people in El Nysa will feel a bit out of place. These are beings and things that belong to what some may call "alternate universes." Their presence is transient, and some will only appear for a few instances before returning to their rightful existence. The ones that linger a bit longer, however, may make your day more interesting. Before you stands a pet just like yours, except it talks...? Perhaps you'll meet another version of yourself, a more bloodthirsty version of yourself. Or maybe you'll run into a version of your friend that really enjoys your company. The possibilities are truly endless, and potentially mortifying.

VI. Towards the end of the month, the frequency of the aforementioned disturbances will decrease. Following this will be an increase in a different sort of disturbance: one that will either make literal seconds seem like an eternity, or force you to move and talk at a speed you never thought possible. It's as though some higher entity is pressing the fast forward or slow down button on life, and considering your mind works at the same pace as normal, the phenomenon is as frustrating as it sounds. Hope you weren't planning to be on time for anything, because it might be awhile before the universe allows you to take that next step.

But these phenomena does draw to a close — and with it, you may wonder what will happen now to those sleeping ones in Thesa now that Darma has turned to stone. After all, it will be near the time of which more refugees should wake... Repairs to Thesa Station should remain ongoing so long as parts can be salvaged from Nadril, at least. And with speed travel via subway possible, it should make travel far easier than ever before.

Even with Darma gone, you will have to move forward. There is still much to be done.

FINAL OOC NOTES

You may acquire REP for Nadril, and either Olympia or Wyver in this log. An AC-eligible thread for ONE (1) NADRIL REP POINT may be submitted HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST.

A second AC-eligible thread for 1 REP for either Olympia OR Wyver may be submitted HERE OR HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST. Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you!

QUICK NAV

premise ● 
faq ●
lore ●
map ●
npcs

taken ●
atp/emp ●
application ●
rep/acp  

calendar ●
hiatus/drops ●
modbox

[ FULL NAVIGATION ]

elnysa

nysalogs

nysaisles

nysaooc

elnyan

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He's making the attempt to flirt with you here John, but if you're going to be like that. Ianto quirks an eyebrow at the other man's response, moving to cross his arms over his chest, the flannel pulling a bit tight over his shoulders because while he can put it on, it's not a perfect fit.

"None like this," he replies, which is at least true. Dress shirts, yes, and jackets. But no flannels, and nothing really suited to a day of hard work. And if he's being honest, there's something of a thrill in wearing John's clothes. What he can of them, anyway. The way that the shirt itself reminds him of the other man, keeps him company, even if he's not there himself.

"I'll give it back, if you're worried I've taken it hostage," he reassures. "I do know where you live."

"You can keep it if you like it," John says mildly, and pushes to his feet finally -- ducks to stick his head out the tent before flagging someone down and handing over the clipboards with a quick whispered exchange. Then he's turning back in, snagging up his jacket and approaching Ianto as he shrugs it on. He fusses with the front of the flannel shirt, then gently strokes a thumb along one pale cheek.

"I know where you live too," he points out, and twitches him a playful smile.

Ianto isn't certain where John's going with that at first or what it's supposed to imply, though all the ideas of what he might have been getting at are lost at the touch of his hands on the fabric of the shirt and the brush of his thumb against his face. Which is a little ridiculous, because it's John's own shirt and he shouldn't be breathless just to watch him fussing with it, but. Perhaps it's because he enjoys wearing it in the first place.

"How convenient," he replies, offering John the twitch of a smile (and the hint of a blush) in return. "Perhaps I shall. It is very comfortable. Maybe you're onto something with this flannel business after all."

"Maybe I am."

John grabs the two tail-ends of he shirt and tugs them playfully, takes a step back and swipes up his bag before moving toward the exit again and tilting his head for Ianto to follow.

"So, am I walking you home or are you walking me? I need to know the etiquette here."

Who is escorter and who is escorted?

As if John would ever allow himself to be escorted anywhere. Ianto pushes himself up from the stool he'd perched himself on and shoulders his own bag as well.

"Don't worry. You're walking me," he reassures, with the flick of a smile. "So we'd better get a move on if we want to get back before dark." The state of the city being as it is, the street lights aren't exactly functioning as they should, and Ianto's collected a number of things over the course of their travels but a torch has yet to be one of them.

John has been escorted plenty of places. To be fair, though, that's usually an armed escorted with weapons pointed at him while he may or may not be restrained.

Still, he nods and heads out of the tent -- glancing back toward Ianto before beginning to head along the path toward their so-called starter home.

"Didn't think you were afraid of the dark. What's the occasion?"

Something has prompted this behaviour, after all. It feels a little like concerned hovering, but he could always be wrong.

Ianto has to quirk an eyebrow at the other man at the question. Come on, John, must you really ask? Yes, it is definitely concerned hovering.

"It's been a long day," he replies, innocently enough, moving up to fall into step with the other man as they make their way down the path. Slipping the other strap of his bag onto his shoulder, he sticks his hands in his pockets again. A long day, and now he's come to collect him home, he doesn't say -- but the implication is there if John considers it. Or maybe he won't. And that's okay too. Ianto doesn't particularly mind either way.

"Yeah? Worried you might faint on the way back?"

He flicks Ianto an easy smile, bumps their shoulders together a moment as they walk.

"Good thing you got me to escort you. I can put my first aid skills to use if you collapse."

That's absolutely what it is, right? Right. Probably. He adjusts his bag, scanning the road ahead idly, then leans in again and lowers his voice.

"You'll give yourself frown lines."

With all the concerned fussing. So maybe he's not fooled after all.

Perhaps he's not nearly so easily fooled after all, no. Ianto glances up at the other man from out of the corner of his eye, knowing that he's been caught in the act, a bit sheepish, but not overly so. He doesn't regret fussing over John, after all. He'd rather do so and suffer the consequences of it than suffer the consequences of not doing so.

He flicks him the hint of a smile -- see, he hasn't entirely forgotten how to do that too -- leaning in to bump his shoulder in return as they walk.

"Heaven forfend," Ianto quips in return. He does not speak up to point out whose fault that might be, however. Gathering his thoughts for a moment instead before continuing, "I think you've spent enough time doctoring other people today, without adding myself to the list. Not that I don't appreciate your concern."

"Maybe I like doctoring you."

Or maybe he at least likes it better than doctoring anyone else. He swings an arm up around Ianto's shoulders and leans into his side, his weight against Ianto a little heavy with exhaustion despite the lightness of his voice.

"Anyway, how do you know I'm not planning to send you a bill."

You know, for all the doctoring he's done. Your insurance doesn't reach out here, Ianto, he's pretty sure.

Ianto wonders how much John will allow of him, out here in public as they are. It's one thing to have put on the display they did in the ship, for the sake of the display itself, and to have set the other man off with that. Here and now, walking side by side down the street, however. This is no display, this is simply them, John and Ianto. And how he'd like to touch him in return, no matter who there is that might see them...

Tentatively, he slips am arm around John's waist, casual and supportive, for all that anyone else would care. Though he rubs his fingers against the other man's lower back in perhaps a bit a bit more intimate a manner than a friend might do otherwise.

"I don't," he replies, honestly. He turns his head to glance aside at the other man out of the corner of his eye before he continues, lightly, "Though if such is the case then I can only hope that we might be able to come to some arrangement of paying it back."

He accepts the arm around his waist, glances around as fingers rub at his back and tries to collect himself. It's only a light touch, it's fine, and it isn't far to their apartment anyway.

"An arrangement?" he prompts, and gives an exaggerated frown -- as if mulling this over. "You mean like... you getting a job?"

You know, a job with which to pay things like medical bills. John's not exactly sure if the coalition still exists, for that matter, let alone if they'd even exactly continue paying him after the last mission they sent him on. Maybe Ianto gets some leeway for not officially having been there as security.

He lets out the sudden snort of a laugh at John's suggestion. It's not like he hadn't intended to get a real job. He'd just been busy as of late, not to mention the fact that he's been trying to find something to do that isn't waiting tables or serving coffee, but at this point he might not have the luxury of such a choice as that anymore.

"I suppose," he replies, after a moment. He had of course been thinking of something a little more fun, considering these are technically nonexistent medical bills that they're discussing after all.

He glances aside at the other man after another moment of walking together, wondering whether it's actually bothered the other man that he's not really had anything in the way of real money so far. "Is that a hint?"

"Yes."

In a word.

"If you ever want a bigger place with more space, we'll need to stop living on such a tight budget."

Which, he thinks, Ianto would like. Space for more kitchen things, more storage, a place to have guests in that isn't basically their bedroom. It's not a big ambition, John is pretty sure it's doable. They just, you know, need more than his basic income.

A bigger place with more space. Ianto hadn't really considered it before now. He's so used to -- well, estate housing in Newport and the shitty flat he'd shared with Soren in London, he'd never thought... But John's right of course. With a bigger budget, they could upgrade. Have actual rooms, instead of the odd little studio sort of space they do now.

"Like. A real apartment, you mean?" he asks, sounding a bit surprised by the idea, for truth be told he is. A small part of his brain had panicked for a moment (is he getting kicked out?) but no the we had sort of made it clear otherwise. (And another small part of his brain had panicked a little again at that, truth be told. While another larger part quite enjoyed the sound of it.)

"Would you be interested in that? ...--with me?" Actually having the luxury of choosing a space together, instead of settling together wherever they'd landed.

Ianto's surprise backs up John a moment, and paints hesitation into his features. He hadn't meant it as a big deal, and now he wonders if it is a big deal. If he's somehow implied something else by suggesting this.

He frowns sideways at Ianto, trying to pick through wording carefully.

"I thought you'd want more space for your coffee machine," he says finally, "you know. A table or something."

To sit at while eating, like civilised people. Not that John himself really minds, he's used to tiny personal space and large public areas -- but Ianto seems like he'd prefer a better quality of life.

"Well," Ianto replies, equally as careful with his words in return, although perhaps not precisely for the same reasoning. "It would be a bit less ridiculous if it didn't take up most of our kitchen space." Our. Stop it, Ianto. You're making too much of a fuss about nothing. And being far too self-conscious about this, especially considering how closely they're walking together.

"I suppose I could always go back to working in a cafe." There, a nice topic to settle on instead. Considering he's going to have to secure himself an income first before any of the rest of this comes after the fact. "It's no Torchwood, but. It's something?"

"If you work at it, eventually you could own a cafe."

You know, if that's better than working in one. Maybe it isn't, maybe Ianto doesn't want to be in a cafe at all.

"Or, you could open something else once we save up. I dunno."

What would Ianto even enjoy running? He was a PA before, right? In Torchwood. Then some kind of... PA-yet-field agent? John snaps his fingers suddenly, gestures with his free hand.

"Private Investigator! I can be your hired muscle."

"Private Investigator..." Ianto repeats, going over the idea of it in his head. But it's true, this isn't Earth. He doesn't need to have gone through all the same hoops and channels to establish himself here as he might have done there. And Ianto's always been good at digging up the truth. Solving mysteries. And getting himself into trouble in the process, for that matter. But that's where John would come in. His hired muscle.

He turns to the other man, a bright smile spreading itself across his face as he does. "You know, I think I'd like that. I think I'd like that a lot, really." He pauses for a moment, a wicked gleam coming into his eye before he continues, "Would that mean that you'd work for me then?"

"I'd prefer with not for."

He wouldn't say no, though. Turning the corner John finally lets go of Ianto to begin digging out his keys, unlocks the door and gives it a solid bump with his shoulder to get it open. It unsticks and swings open, letting them in and John is setting his bag down onto his bed near the door right away with a sigh.

"You'd still need to do something else first, to afford the set up costs."

Ianto drops his arm to let the other man slip away and open the door. Shuffling inside after him and on towards his own bed to drop his bag beside it as well. Glancing around the little place and trying to picture what other sort of living quarters they might be able to afford, given a little more effort.

He flicks a smile at the other man's reminder and just barely holds back the reply of yes, dad. Much as the comment may be warranted, perhaps he'd better not.

"I'll manage something," he replies. "Do you suppose anyone's hiring in the midst of all this?" Though he supposes a lot of positions might need replacements for some of their workers, as awful a thought as that may be.

John toes the door closed once Ianto is through, shrugs off his jacket and drops to sit and unlace his boots.

"Hiring? Sure. Hiring for a permanent paid position? That's different. There's bound to be something, might be a whole lot of short, temp stints though while everyone gets things back up and running."

Setting aside his boots John forces himself back to his feet, ambles into the kitchen and opens the fridge to fish for a drink.

"War is good for business."

John kicks the fridge closed, grabs a bottle opener and turns to gesture at Ianto with it.

"Peace is also good for business."

"And how would you classify the state we're in now?" he quips. He moves to perch on the edge of his bed and slip his boots off himself. "Honestly, as long as they're paying jobs, I suppose I don't mind one way or the other. The bouncing around, I mean. It wouldn't be the first time. I can't tell you how many jobs I had in London, before Torchwood found me."

Sitting back up, he glances at John waving his bottle opener around and raises his eyebrows at him in question. "Have you eaten?" he asks, pushing himself up to stand.

How would he classify it? Unknown for now, honestly, so Jon gives a shrug. It's the aftermath of a terrorist attack, but if this turns into war or something else is in the hands of Shanrian, Simwe and perhaps Nurray. Still, to the other question --

"No," John says, and uncaps the bottle anyway. He drops the opener to one side and takes a sip of the drink, paces back over to Ianto as he stands. "You hungry?"

Since he's asking, presumably he is. Unless he's already eaten?

Ianto's asking because he's assuming the other man hasn't. Because he's assuming that John has spent the majority of his day in that tent taking care of other people rather than tending to his own basic needs.

He answers John's question with a shrug. "A little, yeah," he replies. It is theoretically the time when the rest of humanity would be thinking about feeding themselves, after all. Or perhaps a little bit past, truth be told. Ianto had waited until it was starting to get dark before coming to fetch him after all.

"I, ehm. Restocked a bit," he admits. Since despite John coming after him to get a job, he's still had a little of the other man's money squirreled away for supplies. "Nothing elaborate, but we've got the basics, at least." Pasta? Rice? Sandwiches, maybe?

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