❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM.

[natha]

OVERFLOW

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

Comments

[cutefaced]

[Huh. So he's mindful of his modesty on top of everything else. Somehow, Yona's a little surprised by that...?

But, that works for her, because if he's partially clothed that means it's fine for her to only shed the outer layers of her clothing and stay in her underrobe when they get into the water. If they both do it, it won't be weird.

(She starts untying her sash as she speaks.)]

I'm going to have to do the same thing, so it's fine.

[Just. Stripping down. Sorry about your heart, Jae-Ha.]

[razzledazzles]

[Jae-Ha immediately turns around. Oh god, oh god, she's undressing to her bottom layers, she's going to be wet and almost nude but not quite nude and the thrill itself is going to kill him. Either that, or Hak will certainly sense his feelings and rise from the water like a shark to devour him whole.

Hm.

Nervously, and completely hiding that as best as he can, he undoes his robes first, sets them aside, and then his undershirt... his boots come next after a check over his shoulder to make sure she's still busy (and his heart skipping at the sight) before he quickly dips into the water. Perfect. Smooth.]

It's perfectly warm.

[cutefaced]

[Hm. Jae-Ha seems to have more experience taking his clothes off, since he beats her into the water. Luckily (?) for him, Yona doesn't dwell on that, though she does smile faintly as the sound something dipping into the water reaches her ears as she's shedding her outer layers.]

Really? That's good, I'm not really a fan of cold baths.

[Okay, she's good to go! Time to turn around and slide into the water herself.

The sound she makes as the water comes up to about her shoulders and her hair fans out around her is one of utter relief. Yeah, this hits the spot.]

Mmm... the water's great.

[razzledazzles]

It is, isn't it?

[Ah, help, he's going to hell. Right this instant, watching Yona descend into the water. She doesn't remember a thing about him, he doesn't even know if she can feel their connection, but he's still drawn to her. How can he blame his dragon's blood like this?

It's definitely that, though. She's a child. Even more so now...

He hesitates a moment and then removes the ribbon from his own hair, setting it aside at the edge of the lagoon.]

How are you feeling after all of this?

[cutefaced]

[That's something of a loaded question.

Yona's expression flickers, and she glances off to one side, hoping that he won't get a clear view of the look on her face. Even she doesn't know exactly what it looks like, but she doesn't feel good, just contemplating this whole situation, and she doesn't want him to worry just because she's not good at masking her feelings.]

I don't know. [It's an honest answer, at least.] It... doesn't sound like something that could possibly be true. [There's a moment where she pauses, struggling to find the words for what she wants to say next.] But it's happening, so I can't say that it's not.

[Another pause, and then-]

...but I'm glad you and Hak are here. I feel safe when I'm with the two of you.

[...]

I wonder why that is? We barely know each other...

[Well, if there were any doubts about whether or not she could still feel the connection between them...]

[razzledazzles]

[Be still his heart. He's thinking now about how different this is from their actual first meeting. He has the chance to not be immediately rude, and it's so different, but it's still the same Yona. There was really no escaping how he cared about her, was there?

He smiles fondly at that last comment, even as his heart dances. He's used to hiding that away, even if he'll have to go somewhere after this and breathe into a paperbag or who knows what.]

That's obvious, isn't it? Anyone who Hak would allow near his dear Princess must be someone that he trusts. You must trust me by association.

[cutefaced]

...that's true, but... it feels like it's more than that.

[Yona taps a finger on her chin as she attempts to puzzle it out. Sure, she fights with him, but she does trust Hak. And she knows that he has good judgment when it comes to who he will and won't allow around her.

More to the point, she knows he wouldn't let her father down by leaving her with someone dangerous.

And there's something of that when it comes to Jae-Ha and how Hak trusts him with her, but it seems like there's something else, too. Something between the two of them, that Hak isn't involved with.

But how can that be? Jae-Ha is Hak's friend. By virtue of that, he'd have to be involved with everything between them, wouldn't he?]

...well, that's just a feeling I have, anyway. [She smiles a little sheepishly.] You must think I'm pretty weird, saying something like that all of a sudden.

[razzledazzles]

Not at all. I've felt a connection with you from the start, too.

[Shit shit shit he shouldn't be saying these smooth things like pick up lines, this is Yona, this is the "red dragon," this is... the girl who's not meant for him at all? Many things like that.

He's just going to hide from his smooth line by immediately dunking himself under the water, coming back up a few seconds later to smooth his hair back. Haha, normal!!]

Now, let's enjoy this peace and quiet while it lasts.

[cutefaced]

[Her smile smooths out at that - if she's not the only one who feels some sort of a connection between them, then that means she's not weird after all. She opens her mouth, about to thank him -

And then he dunks himself right under the water.

When he comes up again, he'll find that she's scooted herself a little closer. In her defense, she doesn't seem to realize that she's doing it. Being close to him feels as natural as breathing, though, and she smiles again as he smooths down his hair.]

Mmhm. That's a good idea.

[razzledazzles]

[Oh, there she is, right there. Close. Pretty eyes and gorgeous red hair, but there's even more of it now, and he can't help but want to reach out and pull her closer. It should be fine, right? If it's just that... if Hak isn't here, and he just wants to make sure that she stays warm.

He extends his hand to her in invitation.

Have you ever bathed with a man before— ah, why did he almost ask that...]

Is the wind chilly?

[cutefaced]

[She takes his hand, because of course she does.

It's hard to tell if it's the waters muddying her good sense, or if she just trusts him that much. She has the very strong sense that he won't hurt her - so, of course, that means any ulterior motives are out of the question.

And that means seeking out his warmth is just fine.]

It is a little chilly. [Her fingers curl around his.] ...your hand is so warm, though.

[razzledazzles]

Is it? You can lean back here, with me.

[Gently, he takes that soft grip of their hands and tugs her closer. His other hand moves to spin her so both of their backs are against the rocks, and they can enjoy each others closeness without having to stare each other in the face. For Jae-Ha, this is better in multiple ways.

Maybe a little too forward, but he wouldn't mind if he gets slapped, either. He leans forward a little and smiles.]

How's that?

[cutefaced]

...oh!

[The motion catches her almost by surprise, though he's gentle enough that she calms near-instantly. Yona finds it very hard to be worried - or even to think of anything other than how nice soaking here with someone she trusts feels - when they're close together like this.

A sigh escapes from her lips as she settles back against the rocks, her shoulder brushing against his. She makes no move whatsoever to let go of his hand.]

Much better. [She chuckles.] We're lucky we ran into each other here. It might have been too cold for either of us to do this alone.

[razzledazzles]

You're right! It must be fate that brought us here together.

[Their shoulders bump, and he's not satisfied with just that, shifting so that he's behind her a little more. He'll still hold her hand, but his other arm is around her in a half hug, meant to keep her warm. And close.

Ah... but of course, he realizes what he's doing, and after a pause, he tries to make up for it. Sort of?]

I wonder, what if you and Hak could come to this space? You should tell him about it.

[cutefaced]

Something like that.

[Yona's not exactly sure. Fate might have brought them to the same place, but it was their decision to actually get into the water instead of leave things be. Ah, well.

She settles against him, her head tilting slightly to rest on his shoulder. It's more comfortable than the rocks, so he'll just have to deal with it.

Jae-Ha will likely be able to hear the pout in her voice when she speaks up.]

I can't bring Hak here. He'd probably just make fun of me and tell me I'd better be careful not to drown.

[razzledazzles]

That's only how he shows his worry, Yona dear.

[Ah, that's right, as "Hak's friend" he can say this since he knows him well, right? That's not a lie at all, so it's not a bad thing.] He wouldn't want to let you go.

[He can relate........]

[cutefaced]

Mmmm...

[Yona makes a small, noncommittal noise and sinks further down into the water, until it's about up to her nose. She can't stay like that forever - even though it keeps her from having to answer - and finally raises her head enough to breathe and speak.]

I'm still not silly enough to drown in a bathing pool. It's like he thinks I'm stupid.

[razzledazzles]

On the contrary, he's so concerned over your well-being that logic doesn't always reach him.

[He slips his hand out of hers, but only to brush some of her hair out of her face, behind her ear. He can't help it, he's antsy, he's trying to forget about it.]

[cutefaced]

He gets a little too caught up in his job, sometimes.

[Without really thinking about it, Yona leans into Jae-Ha's touch, chasing that brush of his fingertips against his skin. It's hard to think of why they should keep their distance - all she knows is that it feels nice, being here with a friend.

And if nothing that happens is going to be terrible, why not let it?]

You think so, too, don't you?

[razzledazzles]

[This is strange, isn't it? She's seeming to follow his touch, and he could take it anywhere. No, no, no, he has to have self control. His fingers stop at her neck and rest on her shoulder as he lets out a shaky breath. What was the question again.

Oh, right.]

Sometimes. For someone like Hak, his job is his life.

[cutefaced]

Mm.

[She's almost tempted to sink back under the water again, but his fingers on her neck - and then on her shoulder, once he comes to a stop - keep her grounded, and instead, she just pouts.]

...that's what I'm worried about. Nobody is going to hurt me here, you know? [Unless she joins a fight club, anyway.] Nobody here knows me. I'm not a princess to any of them.

[So if she's not going to be hurt, if there's no one who would think to try and hurt her because of her status...

What point is there in having a bodyguard at all?

Sooner or later, she's sure, Hak will realize that. What then?]

[razzledazzles]

Do you think that someone could only harm you if they knew you were a princess?

[There's something lightly scolding in his words, but his approach is nowhere near Hak's. He's too patient with her lack of understanding, too able to distance himself from something that feels too close to deal with. Even as he leans in a little, lips barely ghosting some of her hair as his fingers slip a little lower down her shoulder, his presence isn't intimidating. If anything, it's pleading.]

To think, "this beautiful girl here, while no one is here to stop me, I could make her mine?"

[He's trying to teach a lesson, to sound like a villain, but he's not reaching it at all. There's no way he could. He breathes out a laugh, pulling his head back enough so that his lips aren't touching her hair and stilling his hand.] It's unfortunate, but in this world, you have to think "anyone can hurt me at any time" or you'll definitely be hurt.

[cutefaced]

...Jae-Ha...?

[Oh.

He isn't intimidating at all. Not even the tiniest bit, though Yona is left a little ill-at-ease at the way her heart skips a beat and she feels warmth pool in her cheeks when he leans in close, left confused at the way her breath catches as his fingers trail their way along her shoulder, further down her arm.

She's in love with Soo-won, isn't she...? So, why...]

But, I don't... [She shakes her head slowly, trying to clear her mind. It's just the heat of the water, surely. Confusion brought on by the strange situation they've found themselves in. A yearning for the familiar.

(The last time someone touched her hair, it was Soo-won, when he gave her her hairpin. Jae-Ha's lips brushing against it now must have reminded her of that. Yes, that's it.)]

The people here seem... kind. If they don't know who I am, they won't have any reason to... [Her voice trails off.] ...and even if they aren't, I know that as long as you're here, you'll never let me get hurt.

[But that's just another feeling she has.]

[razzledazzles]

[It took until now for the pain of Yona not remembering him to really set in. He's spent all that time locked up, worrying about her, only to have her not know a thing? All that's connecting them is this stupid string of fate brought from the dragon's blood, nothing more. And he can't bring himself to hate it, because she can realize something like that.

He shifts to bring his arms around her more solidly, a real hug that he's not going to explain.]

You're right. [Because he's her legs... Even if she can't remember that.] If you ever need my help, then I'll be over in an instant, so don't forget that.

[cutefaced]

I won't forget.

[She says, having forgotten everything she's known of him already. ...although that's not quite accurate, but how else is it to be described?

Yona doesn't know what spurs him into hugging her, but she does know that her own arms come up around him to return the embrace. It just feels right, though she can't put her finger on why. Is it the dragon's blood, the water, or something else?]

...I don't want to just be... rescued all the time, though. [She can't afford to do that, with Kouka gone.] But I don't want to make you and Hak feel like I don't need you, because I always will.