❪ event ❫ THE DESCENT: PART ONE -- the overflow.

[natha]

THE PROLOGUE     Your sleep on the night of the 15th is not a restful one, unfortunately. It’s unclear whether you are in a state of half-wakefulness, or dreaming. The voices you hear certainly sound very real. What is it, Sael? —Is everyone asleep?! Every one, yes. Sael, it appears you do not have good news to deliver...? N-No! I don’t know how it slipped past us, but there’s something powerful coming this way. Something hostile. I can barely keep the core systems online! ... I don't know what to do... I see... and we cannot protect Thesa and Alria in addition to transferring the Refugees to Olympia. This force, they waited for this moment. They knew I have been Intervening, and that I have become weak from such Interventions— ... We've been had. It cannot be helped. To save the Refugees on the Stations, we must eject the awoken unto El Nysa. My remaining energy shall go into shielding Thesa— left defenseless, every being we have saved on this station will perish... Sael, where is the ideal location for the landing? Hmm. There aren’t any people within a ten mile radius of The Outlook, and there shouldn’t be any for a few more days. I think that’s the best location right now. Very well. Instruct Zasere and Roman to begin preparations for an emergency eject. This is the only way we can save everyone. I am counting on you to ward off the enemy on the space front. The rest... is up to our Refugees. The alarms are blaring. It shouts against your eardrums, calling you to wake again. This time, you are in new pod, strapped down completely and cushioned tightly against the walls. In truth, you had no idea when you’d gone to sleep, but it is reminiscent of when you had been saved from the force of the Storm. A voice greets you when you come to, while the conversation between Darma and Sael is still fresh on your mind. Despite their voices playing like an old tune in your memory, you still know it is something that happened. Something has gone terribly wrong. You hear Darma speak, her voice loud in your head. Fellow Refugee, I wake you with regrettable news. A force equal to our own is attempting to engage Thesa, no doubt to steal the souls contained here. My energy is near depleted with this last Intervention, so I cannot send you to the grounds safely as originally intended. However, there is hope yet.This power shall instead shield Thesa and Alria — and believe in me when I swear no one shall be hurt. Your loved ones are safe with us. —Unfortunately, that is at your expense. Your descent will not be an easy one. This pod that contains you shall pierce through El Nysa's atmosphere and land you on an island west of Olympia, simply called The Outlook. Travel east. Find the West Outpost, then continue east until you find the Olympian North Gate. There is a method to this madness. You shall be sent in waves. The inhumanly strong shall be first. The parachute will soften the landing, but I am aware of all your capabilities. The first wave will survive the drop, and will work tirelessly to secure the others. Find your bearings, and ensure the safety of the second wave. They are the healers and medics. Catch their pods, ease their landings, make certain that they shall not be harmed, because you will need them for your wounds. The third wave are your strongmen. They shall help clear the debris and take people to safety, making way for the fourth wave, those can conjure magic to help. Bring everyone to a safe distance. A supply drop will follow soon after; it shall contain tents and tools that will be useful for the long night. The fifth and sixth waves are largely vulnerable humans. With your combined efforts, you shall survive this great misfortune. Forgive us, Refugee. Leave the Moons to us, my promise to you is still in tact— focus on what you can do for others like you. Helping at least two (2) Refugees will earn you one (1) Natha REP. Threads must be AC length to qualify, and can be submitted HERE by JULY 31st. THE DESCENT     FIRST WAVE. The instructions are clear. Those who are a part of the First Wave should be equipped with physical strength and fortitude to survive the drop or the power to regenerate and heal their own wounds. While the pods are already designed to cushion some of the impact, as this is the first group, it will likely to be the most jarring. In all of the waves, some of the pods will malfunction and offer no cushion at all. They will be expected to quickly find their bearings. Their mission isn’t simply just landing, after all. The first wave will be expected to help the next wave, and the wave after that. Whether through their abilities or brute strength, they will be expected to help soften the landing for those who are falling. They will also be expected to pry open hatches, carry people to safety, and to just... survive. It’s not always easy being first. SECOND WAVE. Within the next hour, it’s time for the Second Wave to make their descent. You were selected based upon your aptitude for healing and/or being able to administer first aid. Perhaps you can help the tired and weary. Maybe those who have landed have have strength, but no stamina. Either way, it may be unwise to exhaust all their abilities at once. The night is long, and you may want to conserve their energy for the next waves to come. At least you’ll have help in getting settled. THIRD WAVE. Akin to the First Wave, the Third Wave will possess some durability, and some manner of strength, making you a reliable ally. Especially in a time of crisis... Or so we hope. While the landing is tough, and some of you may need first aid. As soon as you’re all healed up, you’ll have no time to dawdle. Your help is required. “Please help those still trapped in pods. Carry those unconscious to safety. Lift debris, and rescue all you can.” May be a vague message still stuck in the back of your head. Something whispered to you while you were just waking. Well, might as well roll with it. It’s the best shot you have, after all. FOURTH WAVE. Those in the Fourth Wave, as Darma projects, were selected due to the versatility of their abilities. No one expects one man to do the same as the next. Rather, that’s precisely the point: to be different. To be able to accomplish something unique. While one individual may be blessed with powers that assist in putting out fires, another may have the ability to shield those from oncoming debris. Maybe one even has the ability to channel all of these. Regardless, it’s up to you and your quick wits to see what tasks are open. It’ll take some coordination, especially as there are more people mixing into the fray, but, you can do it, can’t you? FIFTH WAVE. If you are in the Fifth Wave it is likely that you have a specific power or ability. One that isn’t easily channeled or called upon. Or, perhaps, you were merely placed here for insurance. Whatever the case if, your expertise will presently be put to the test. Maybe you’re quite proficient in survival skills, and you’re already eyeing the supplies that were dropped between the Fourth Wave and now. Goods all ready to be salvaged. Okay, maybe some can’t, but as they say, “it’s the thought that counts.” Besides, the injured from earlier certainly need a space to rest, and camp isn’t going to make itself. Regardless, maybe you feel more comfortable joining in the efforts to assist those who still require it. Whatever it is, you are sure to find your place and use. Darma obviously held the same faith. FINAL WAVE. The Final Wave is fortunate in a variety of ways. With Thesa Station a bit more stabilized, Darma utilizes the last bit of her powers in insuring that these last remaining pods are met with the softest landing, right beside the fifth, that is. The fragility of life is nothing she is unfamiliar with, after all. Still, that isn’t to say nothing is expected of you. Most of the individuals that have dropped earlier will likely be exhausted. An hour stretched between each one, makes several hours for the first couple of waves. They'll need a place to relax. You will act as the final group of helpers. Settle into whatever role feels best for you. Are you an excellent cook? Great at rationing supplies? Perhaps, you have a secret skill in ______ that might come in handy here? Or, maybe, despite the gentler landing you still managed to get hurt. The sky's the limit, and you got this! Meanwhile, in the distant kingdom of Olympia, the Empress and her loyal subject discuss matters late into the night... I’ll have the results of that dragon toxin study ready for you soon, Your Highness. I just need a few helpers to— oh wow, is that a meteor shower? Oh yes, it appears so. How beautiful.. hehe. Let us thank Thesa for this blessing. GATHER YOUR BEARINGS     All in all, the descent lasts for nearly seven hours. After the deployment of the last wave of refugees, it’s only natural that you may be feeling pretty worn out. A. Within the remains of the pods, Refugees will find basic camping supplies such as small tents, sleeping bags, and compasses. Not all of the supplies remain intact, thanks to the impact of the crash. But, sharing resources will ensure there is enough for everyone to rest for the night. Can you really in good conscience leave that stranger next to you without shelter? B. Although you may be tired after such a life-threatening ordeal, there is still work to be done to ensure your survival. Fortunately, it works out because now there are plenty of empty hands. There are stray debris and metal parts that should be collected and disposed of. There's firewood that needs to be collected, and campfires to upkeep. The nights in the Outlook are particularly chilly, and so it will be imperative to keep warm! C. Your clothes are tattered or too bloodied to sleep on with comfortably. Fortunately, Darma thought ahead. There will be various types of clothing provided, mostly robes that resemble her own in earthy tones, all to help them camouflage you for your next big adventure. FINAL OOC NOTE     This INTRO event will be broken up into three parts! Please keep this in mind when plotting your threads/tag load. PART 3 Will be up on JULY 22ND, at 6 PM EST. We will not provide an additional CAPTCHA for this overflow. Players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals in the event this overflow gets close to CAPTCHA. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. The NETWORK is currently down, as Sael must concentrate all of his efforts on warding off the invading force. Characters may still message each other's personal IC inboxes. Submit two (2) AC-eligible threads from this log for one (1) Natha Orbiter REP point here by JULY 31ST. Recommended Listening: Alex & TOKYO Rose PART ONE | PART ONE (overflow) | PART TWO | PART THREE QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

shu.

[obstinance]

My job? [ who taught you manners, shu. for all of his blatant rudeness, clary doesn't sound offended by his presumptuousness. if anything, she leans more toward incredulous, maybe even a little indignant, that he's roped her into being his personal body heater without any shame. ] Since when am I getting paid for this?

[ or rewarded for it in anything more than shu's rude and entitled, for that matter. it's more of a rhetorical question, regardless, given the thick sarcasm dripping from that quip.

any other attempts at firing back her retorts are stifled by the bent knee brushing against her own, making a sound in the back of her throat at the contact. the proximity isn't what's the more discomforting factor; like she's already complained, he's frigid to the touch, and there's hardly any way she's going to manage to relax while he's leeching off of her heat like this. ]

Are you even going to warm up if I agree to this? [ her head shifts once his own does, staring back. she can make out most of his expression from the kindling fire casting shadows along the tent if she narrows her eyes, though it's not so useful when he doesn't look familiar to her in the least. ] Or am I going to have to keep shivering because you're a literal glacier?

[ it's an important question, because she might concede to her arm being taken captive if she's not going to be shivering for hours. it's easier than arguing with him about his clinging, honestly. ]

[tub]

Paid? [ mockingly, he repeats after her like the most disobedient parrot on the face of the planet. minus the squabbling. ] You must be pretty shameless for offering services like this and expecting pay. [ sort of.

it's difficult to define how serious shu is, but something in his relaxed stance suggests that they're merely words. they always are for the most part. nevertheless, the fact that he's, as she's surmised, "rude and entitled" hasn't altered in the slightest. if it were possible to solidify this any further, he does. ]

... that's for you to see, isn't it?

[ shu appears to be finding some semblance of humor in their exchange. while normally, he found any brand of disagreement troublesome and reason for him to at least mimic sleep's motions— he discovers this trade-off interesting enough to keep himself awake and moderately active (realistically, he's ... not any more spry than a sloth, but listen). still, after about a solid minute, he brings her hand upwards. right in front of his mouth, and is here, he breathes lightly against it;

his breath surprisingly warm. it's likely... from the bit of blood he consumed hours prior. regardless, if it worked for this situation...


he'd take it. ] So? What do you think? [ was that his way of displaying evidence?? yes, unfortunately. ]

[obstinance]

[ did he just... compare her to a prostitute... rude???

the laugh she gives is nothing short of incredulous, even if there's a shred of humor to be found in it. not the amused kind of humor, to be more apt, but the i can't believe this is happening to me right now, what even are you kind of laughter of a woman who's questioning how she got herself into this situation.

she's not unkind; clary fray is nothing if not idealistic and generous, compassionate and even stubbornly trusting when the circumstances call for it. these set of circumstances are not the same circumstances, however; for as begrudgingly accepting as she had been of someone as frigid as an icicle creeping into her blanket to keep warm, her short temper isn't to be forgotten.

sorry not sorry, shu...

her brows furrow the moment he lifts her hand towards his mouth, and it's only after breathing on her fingers that she says, completely befuddled and unimpressed, ] Was that supposed to prove something?

[ or are you just a creep... because that's absolutely her fist reeling back and smacking him right in the teeth, enhanced strength reserved only because she doesn't mean to do much damage aside from a slight sting that should be enough of a back off.]

[tub]

[ for all the incredulity and everything else— aggravation, chagrin, straight up displeasure— she displays, shu seems keen on simply ignoring it; brushing it off ignorantly. if anything, it was infinitely more convenient that way. it's why, he doesn't project much in terms of a rebuttal for his behavior. nor an explanation. if anything, he just seems to proceed on casually. or, at least the diabolik version of casual.

either way, it's also due in part to this (purposeful) blindness, that he doesn't see the trajectory for the next set of events that play out. ... doesn't envision for her to actually bite back. ... and when she does, he's legitimately taken off-guard. his eyes widen slightly as he sees her hand draw towards him. while he had vampire reflexes, it didn't mean that he always utilized them.

hence, he gets hit straight on. he closes a single eye, drawing his hand up, if just brush the back end of it against where her fist grazed his mouth. there's a bit of blood where his lip met the front of his teeth, but well. it's already healing. ] ... who knew women could be so scary.

[ ... ] Is this what you're into? [ i wanted cute cr, and yet. here i am. ]

[obstinance]

[ it's okay, we know what kind of characters you play, bijou...

once his fingertips move to assess the (what looks to be minimal when she casts him a sidelong glance) damage, her arm is ultimately, thankfully left free from his strange interest in holding it captive. that liberation had been the goal, after all; words hadn't worked in convincing him to forfeit his stranglehold on her, but apparently actions had been persuasive enough.

... or maybe not, given that lackadaisical reaction from her tent intruder. it's baffling — and a little alarming, truthfully — that he takes the blow in stride, with no other comment but one that acknowledges her choice to be... well, adamant in the point she had been trying to make.

( sadly, the message of "don't be a creep" obviously didn't reach him, but that much is an easier attitude to tolerate when she doesn't feel like she's being 1) held hostage and 2) enduring his weird allusions to prostitution. ) ]

You know what they say. "The female is the more dangerous of the species".

[ like lions and insects and spiders, but two out of three aren't so flattering to compare herself to — and she isn't completely serious about that similarity, either, even if she had been making it known that yes, she does in fact bite back. ]

Is that what you're into? [ don't answer that. ] You deserved it. Don't try to turn this around on me.

[tub]

[ there is truth and validity to her statements. women were dangerous. scary in their adaptability. perhaps, the same could be spoken of the women who have come and gone within the sakamaki household. they held far more ambition than even their father, perhaps. or rather, maybe they were merely far more progressive and could see further than the limits of a vampire lord. whatever the case, he doesn't disagree with her.

it's why he gives a bit of a dark chuckle. this likely did not make him any less of a creep. nor did it solidify his actual comprehension of what she desired (of him to relinquish his sexual harassing ways). instead, as she likely presumed she'd prompt, he opens his mouth, ready to recite his practiced speech. ] Maybe.

I normally am the one to who likes inciting fear, but... [ well, the reverse was also interesting. not that he actually feels fear, and the violence was minimal, but listen. ] Deserved it? [ he gives a brief hint of a smile. ] And what else do I deserve? [ but, it's here, he eventually closes his eyes. ]

.... it's cold. [ does he still have the gall to complain to her? yes. absolutely. ]

[obstinance]

[ that foreboding, questionable statement — i normally am the one who likes inciting fear — when coupled with that chuckle don't grant him any favors. his reputation in clary's eyes is certainly suffering for it, but the unimpressed arch of her eyebrow reveals she isn't particularly intimidated or taken aback. he's strange and way too familiar with her, sure, but he seems relatively harmless.

maybe his talk of inciting fear is just that: all talk, no walk. whatever the case, she's confident she can handle herself around him, given the punch to the teeth she's already issued in retaliation. stranger danger becomes less imposing when the stranger in question acts more like a petulant teenager than a threat. ]

You tell me. I know what you don't deserve. [ the right to wrap around her like some kind of spider monkey, for one. at least she isn't pulling the blanket away; for all of her muted frustration, she isn't cruel, and he isn't such a nuisance that she could ever throw him out in the cold and expect him to find shelter elsewhere. maybe that's both a blessing and a curse, considering the roll of the eyes she gives and the exasperated huff, but she still shifts to retrieve her stele from her pocket.

the rune she quickly draws into the fabric of the blanket, glowing gold in the dark, should be a relatively easy solution to his whining. it's within a matter of moments the threads heat, a comfortable temperature that should stave off some off his complaints. ] Better? [ it better be, you big baby. ]

1/2

[tub]

[ it's true. most of the time he was harmless, if just on principle of being too lazy to actually do anything of worth. too indolent to actually put any of his words to action. still, maybe it's fortunate that he makes himself no less than threatening than a corpse. no less cold and lifeless, either.

regardless, her words only get an equivalent of a shrug as he turns over slightly. probably no less than a few degrees in angle. in some ways it probably could have looked curiously like pouting, as he seems to shift his feet uncomfortably with a low groan. this probably would have continued for another few seconds, if it weren't for her stele, and from there— her.... magic? ] ... it's not bad. Whatever this is.

[ it's interesting, he thinks. the concept that him and his kind aren't the only one with powers or abilities. that people he may have considered prey any other day were equipped with abilities beyond his own comprehension. his brows seem to knit curiously at that, before they just relax once more. ] Though, it makes me wonder why you haven't used it before. [ which leaves one conclusion in his mind. ]

[tub]

Did you like being close to me?

[obstinance]

[ whatever this is is easy to dismiss without offering him clarification. magic would be a simple explanation, but less than truthful; admitting that she isn't ordinary is merely stating the obvious. logic tells her not many would be convinced of something so far-fetched as angel blood surging through her, no matter how unabashedly honest that would be.

better to leave it as is: untouched, inexplicable. the touch of his cold feet had made it readily apparent he's far from normal, but at least she's more familiar with it than most are with her kind. and even if she had wanted to speak of it? the conclusion that he jumps to has her distracted, breaking out in a laugh before she can stop herself. ]

You were the one trying to leech off of my warmth like some kind of cat. [ or a creep... at least 'cat' is a nicer way of wording it. ] Pretty sure you're the one that wanted to be close to me and now you're embarrassed about it.

[ actually, she's fairly certain he had been sulking, but... if he's going to troll and be a nuisance, she's going to follow his example. ]