❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM. -- the overflow.

[natha]

ORIGINAL POST

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

jj

[middy]

[[ from here. ]]

[ Bless your soul JJ. Maybe he can make this stranger's day better! He seems like a decent guy and Hush post-canon is actually pretty chill and docile. He swings over so his feet can feel the water, and for him, it's quite nice? Even if it's not that luxurious for some, he looks happy to help? In some way? It's soothing to watch the ripples of water, but he does give JJ his attention, and honest response. ]

...Ice skate?

[ Apologies all around. But he assumes it has to do with a body of water. And ice. He tries. ]

It's too warm for ice.

[underwhelms]

[ Well, that's a fair statement. ]

I guess that's true.

[ He doesn't really know what else to say to that at first, but it only takes him a second to gather up his energy again. ]

But it's still important! You've never heard of ice skating? That's a tragedy! It's the most beautiful sport: a perfect mix of athleticism and artistry. I'm one of the best around too, so I suppose once it gets a little cooler I can invite you to a show.

[ . . . He's rambling, and there's really nothing they can do about ice skating right now, so he leaves the topic be for now, and moves onto something more relevant. ]

Swimming is probably more important right now though, isn't it? C'mon, you can hold onto me. The water feels really good.

[ And with that, he turns around, expression bright and friendly, and visible only in the water as his back is facing Hush now, offered with the clear intention that he hold onto JJ's shoulders like some kind of swimming piggy back. ]

[middy]

[ Sadly, he is a very straightforward guy. So JJ's flourishes about ice skating are a little lost on him, but... ]

Sure, it sounds important to you... I'll look forward to it.

[ For a guy who has worked pretty much all his life (and enjoyed it in his own way, upon reflection), this is pretty foreign to him, but it's not a bad thing. Back to relevancy! He's gotten good at following instructions by now thanks to a demanding, formerly disabled teacher. He hops off the edge into the water, firmly grabbing JJ's shoulders. ]

Should I kick my feet...?

[ Hush puts his weight on those shoulders, just to test if he can lift his legs. Thank you for being an athletic ice skater dude where this feels okay. ]

[underwhelms]

[ Hush might be slightly subdued and quiet, but his honest response gets JJ to light up all the same. He hadn't actually planned to help Hush learn to swim by offering to keep him afloat, but he's not going to be opposed if Hush wants to give it a try. ]

If you want. I can do most of the work though.

[ Physical activity had always been something that JJ enjoyed, no matter how tiring or exhausting. He thrived off the rush of adrenaline and ache in the muscles. He doesn't waste any time in treading further into the lagoon, arms out and moving to keep them afloat, though his feet bump into Hush's every now and then as he kicks along the water. ]

Can you float at least? I can get you horizontal on the water.

[middy]

[ Hush might bit too eager here. He saw others swim! JJ is also a good swimmer himself as far as he can tell. If the more jovial members of Tekkadan were around, they'd probably find this typical Hush though.

Back to the task at hand! The occasional bumps of their feet doesn't bother him, he just assumes it's a little clumsy thanks to him. ]

Oh! That would help. I just... hold still then?

[ At least the salinity helps here with trying to float, but he finds it a bit awkward. The effect of the lagoon making one a bit... clingy? He's fighting that off at least. If there's someone who is within distance of saving him from drowning, he'll be fine! ]

[underwhelms]

Yeah, that'll work. But wait— let me turn around.

[ If there are affects to this lagoon, JJ doesn't notice them immediately. He's always been comfortable with physical contact, and it's obvious that there would be quite a bit between him and Hush, given that he's helping keep Hush from drowning. He keeps his hands around Hush's shoulders as he turns in the water, making sure that his grip doesn't waver lest the other man end up sinking, and it takes a bit of manoeuvring, but he manages to turn in the water so that they're face to face.

It is easier now, an eager expression on his face and hands fixed on Hush's elbows. ]

Okay, so you're just going to float like...

[ He presses a hand into Hush's back carefully, pushing his abdomen up with one and, and getting the other around his thighs ones once they're high enough.

It's not perfectly horizontal, but it's something close to floating. ]

Are you okay?

[middy]

[ This is... a little awkward how much has to be done (or what feels needed to be done) in order to float. But he can't complain, there definitely feels like a sense of genuine care in it. This person must really like helping people. It's not that Tekkadan isn't helpful to its own way that odd teenage boys help eachother, but this is so straightforward... It's certainly not bad. ]

Yeah, I'm fine, I just need to...

[ Kick his feet so they don't sink? Or at least so they don't feel like they're sinking. He's trying it a little, nothing big. A puppy paddle than a full doggy paddle. Otherwise he might swim away, then drown? Nah. ]

Do you like teaching?

[underwhelms]

[ JJ just grins at Hush's attempts, finding his determination endearing if nothing else. He has nothing but his fingers loosely pressed against Hush's back, the water doing the rest of the work to keep him afloat. It's fairly peaceful, and JJ loves the sound of the water against the stones and their skin. He's not the type to lounge around for extended periods of time, but even he can find calm at the beach. ]

Yeah, I love it. I have a bunch of younger siblings, and I coach them and some other kids on figure skating when I have time.

[ Experimentally, he takes his hand from Hush entirely, just to see if he can float entirely on his own. ]

You don't need to kick your feet since you're not moving. Just keep straight.

[middy]

[ That explains it. But that's honestly sweet? Hush is an orphan but he grew up caring about other orphans just like family. ]

I see. I grew up with brothers, too. This is good though, you're good at it.

[ The surprising thing Hush learned as a struggling pilot? How to calm down, so that he could focus and not panic. Mikazuki kind of taught him that! He also generally learned that a chiller disposition helped him work better and be more agreeable.

Does that work, to be more agreeable with the forces of water and buoyancy? He believes in JJ despite slight doubts when he moves away his hands! But yes, actually. He's holding very still and trying to keep straight. ]

How long... should I do this?

[underwhelms]

However long you want! It's pretty relaxing, isn't it? Just floating... with no worries. You can probably sleep like that if you want.

[ JJ sinks further into the water now that he can, closing his own eyes and enjoying the rhythmic feel of the water and the warmth of the sun. Even his usual level of energy has come to a calm.

He wouldn't say no to a short doze either. ]

You should learn how to swim too, but maybe not splashing around a peaceful pond like this. I can help you learn, since I'm such a good teacher.

[ He eats up the compliment, smile a little cheeky as he lifts one hand out of the water to gently flick water at Middy. ]

Feels good, huh?