❪ event ❫ a moment in eternity

[natha]

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

Comments

[impavid]

Long, tiring, and probably a little emotionally taxing. John lifts a hand to rest on the back of Ianto's neck, holding him close into his body.

"Well, an extra pair of hands is pretty useful you know. Can't have too many cooks in the kitchen, gotta have a dishwasher too or it all goes wrong."

Even the most mundane things still need to be done, and people who are willing to do the dirtiest hard work are the most valuable after a crisis in John's opinion.

[torchwoodteaboy]

A dishwasher too. Ianto can't help but let out the breath of a laugh at the thought, when putting it like that. But he's right, of course. Not everyone can be the hero. You need to have people willing to get dirty too. To do the thankless jobs that not everyone else is willing to volunteer for, if they're looking to set the city back to rights. And Ianto had volunteered for some of that. As much as he could, without stretching himself too far. He had a limit himself, which he needed to be mindful of as well. He'd lived through a similar disaster before, after all. And the ghosts of those memories haunted him to this day.

"You do," he agrees. "It's certainly not for everyone, though." He nuzzles his face against the other man's neck. Relishing his touch, though he had thought he was supposed to be nursing John here, not the other way around.

"What about you?" he asks, turning his head to rest on John's shoulder and glance up at him in turn. "Long day?" Even before the dramatics, that is. He can assume so, given what he knows of work in that tent. But hearing it from John directly would be nice.

[impavid]

"Long day," John agrees, "lots of people still with injuries. Not all of them visible."

His free hand smooths up and down Ianto's side while the other stays cupping the back of his neck, keeping him close and warm. Then John eases back a little, turns in and brushes his lips teasingly along Ianto's cheek.

"I think we can turn it around, though."

With a little effort, John is pretty sure the long day can become a more pleasurable long night.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto tips his head to the side slightly, allowing for further room for John's attentions. Feeling his face begin to heat in response to the other man's attentions, his skin tingling slightly as well.

He slides his arms further around John's waist and up the other man's back in turn as John strokes at him. "I think so," he agrees softly. Lingering in the other man's touch before he forces himself to pull back enough to be able to look him in the eye.

"Nothing too stressful though. The goal for tonight is for you to relax, remember?" He tilts his head to the side, offering him a smile as he rocks him side to side. "Nurse's orders."

[impavid]

"Oh yeah? Well, what does my nurse suggest?"

Since Ianto is the nurse, and John of course wouldn't dare to break the rules.

Of course.

"Should I be eating more fries?" he prompts, with faux-innocence, and releases Ianto enough to reach over and grab a couple more. Got to keep his strength up, after all, which means he should be eating... thought perhaps something healthier than fries. Who's counting? Fries are still food, it's still good. He's making at least a small effort here.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto huffs out a laugh at the other man before releasing just enough hold to reach out and grab another chicken tender himself.

"Your nurse suggests," Ianto muses in response, "that you should finish up your meal so that you can lie down and rest, yes." Because it's obviously rest that he's got in mind for the other man. Obviously.

Two can play this game of faux-innocence, John. You're not the only one who knows how.

[impavid]

"Well I thought it was bad to rush your food."

He lofts an eyebrow playfully, picks up a piece of chicken and chews on it slowly.

"Not that I'd question my nurse," he adds, "but I want to be sure I'm following the instructions correctly."

They should be very exact instructions, Ianto, for someone as prone to finding loopholes as John Sheppard.

[torchwoodteaboy]

"Of course you wouldn't," Ianto counters, raising an eyebrow at the other man as if to suggest he knows exactly how John enjoys misbehaving. He finishes his own chicken tender before moving to wrap his arm back around the other man, tipping his head to quirk a smile at him in turn.

"Well, I never said anything about rushing," he continues, rocking the other man from side to side a little as they stand together. "But if we don't finish this soon then it might get cold and we can't have that either, now can we?"

He circles his fingers against the small of the other man's back at the question for good measure.

[impavid]

John isn't sure if it's the gentle way Ianto is rocking him, the teasing quirk of his smile or the touch of his hand but all of a sudden he feels himself react. He feels aware of the closeness in a way he can no longer shut out, aware of the warmth coming from Ianto's body. His hands reach out and grab the belt loops of Ianto's jeans, holding him close so their bodies press together.

"What if I want to eat something else?" he prompts.

It's a bad line. He's instantly aware it's a bad line, but hell -- he's just going to own it.

[torchwoodteaboy]

It is a pretty obviously terrible line, but Ianto doesn't mind. In fact, at this point he's almost sort of charmed by John's terrible come-on's. He's not quite certain what that says about him, but he's not going to let himself think about it too closely either.

His lips curl further, hands slipping back around the other man's waist to hold himself steady against John as he grabs him tight. He supposes it's not a huge loss if the food is forgotten at this point. They've both eaten a fair portion of it at this rate, and a handful of cold fries is no great loss in the long run.

"Perhaps if it will help you sleep..." Ianto muses, continuing to rock him gently from side to side as he does. "I think we may be able to come to some arrangement. For your health and wellbeing, of course."

[impavid]

"An arrangement?" John echoes, and he touches their foreheads together -- releases Ianto's belt loops so he can run hands slowly under his shirt and up his back. "And what kind of arrangement might that be?"

One, he hopes, that involves Ianto taking his clothes off while they 'rest'. He teases him into a kiss, hands still rubbing up and down his back, and imagines Ianto spread out for him on his back. Maybe braced on his hands and knees. They're both pleasurable images, either way he gets to touch the other man.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto opens his mouth to the other man's kiss as John's fingers find their way under his shirt to rub up and down the skin of his back. What kind of an arrangement might that be. It takes him a moment to collect himself before he can pull back from the kiss and respond. Pressing his forehead back against John's in turn, his desire for the other man warring against an honest concern not to overtax him tonight, after everything else.

"Well," he replies, at length. "One that involves you coming to bed with me." He pulls back far enough to be able to look the other man in the eyes, smiling at him as he does. "For a start."

[impavid]

For a start.

"Well I do need my beauty sleep," John teases, and he begins to gently encourage Ianto to move backwards with him across the room. "But," he adds, "do you know what would help me sleep best?"

He suspects Ianto has an idea of what his answer might be, but John isn't interested in making it a guessing game. He lowers his voice as if revealing a secret, lips hovering near the curve of the other man's ear.

"If you took off your clothes," he whispers, "and wrapped your legs around me."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Allowing himself to move with the other man, he tilts his head towards the other man's lips as he leans in, shuddering slightly once the words are out. Ianto had had something of an idea about what John had been about to say, though it isn't until he says it that he can appreciate the thought of it.

"Well," Ianto replies, a little huskily because he's not going to even pretend like the idea of it doesn't appeal to him in more ways than one. Reaching for the hem of John's tshirt and tugging him along in turn. "I like the sound of this so far," he says, face flushed even as a slow smile spreads across it in turn. "Though I hope you're intending on taking off your clothes as well. I think you'll find the experience much more enjoyable that way."

[impavid]

"Well, nurse Jones, whatever you suggest."

John tugs his t-shirt forward over his head, twitches Ianto a wry smile as he gathers him back into his arms and guides him toward the bed. Fingers search their way under fabric, rub up and down the skin of Ianto's back encouraging and press into it.

"Though I would hope you intend to set a good example."

By stripping first, maybe? John is just impatient to start touching him.

[torchwoodteaboy]

A good example.

"Very well then," Ianto replies, his lips curving into a smile before he releases the other man and steps back just far enough to be able to get at the buttons of his shirt. Fingers deftly working their way along the line of what he'd managed to do up and reversing his progress before he moves to shrug out of the fabric, draping it over the foot of the bed and flicking his eyes up to John with another heated smile.

"Is this what you had in mind?" he murmurs, as he reaches for the fastenings of his jeans.

[impavid]

Is it?

John isn't really absolutely sure what he had in mind, but this is definitely nice. He moves in as Ianto unfastens his jeans, drops his hands down to assist and slowly runs them around his waist before shoving the fabric down.

"Ianto," he murmurs, and his tone is a little more heated now because he's getting ideas -- lots of ideas, lots of which are pleasant. "I want you."

Which he's pretty sure is obvious by now. Sliding his hands up he draws Ianto into another kiss, something slow but not at all light.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto returns the kiss, slipping his arms around the other man's waist and drawing him in. His own desire for the other man fairly evident at this point, now that John has divested him of the rest of his clothing. Hooking his fingers into John's waistband, he teases at the skin just beneath, rocking into the kiss in response to the other man's intensity until at last he has to pull free to breathe.

Ducking his head, he mouths at the skin of the other man's neck. "You can have me," he murmurs, slipping his hands in between them to fumble at the buttons of his trousers in earnest now. "Christ, John. I'm yours, just get these bloody things off."