❪ 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

Sorey | Tales of Zestiria

[ofseraphim]

[ original toplevel here! still open to new threads~! /o/ ]

Mikazuki

[ofseraphim]

[ ooc: continued from beep ]

[ That’s a safe assumption. In truth, Sorey’s quite the jack of all trades with weaponry, barring a few things he never mastered. But swords especially are an area of expertise.

So then, it’s no wonder that by the time they come to take the wooden bat and pull the blindfold, he’s able to see quite a radius of juicy, colorful chaos, flecks of pink-red spattered about the innermost throng of onlookers -- Mikazuki included.

Well, this is awkward. Sorey doesn’t know whether to be proud, or apologetic. His expression is a bit of both. ]

Thanks! ...I think. Do they have towels around here?

[ But why would he bother with wiping off the sugary sweetness when he can clean it in other ways?

...he means the ocean, you perv. ]

[sparsity]

[ I'M SURE HE DOES ]

No. Everyone's using that.

[ "That" being the ocean, as Mikazuki's very helpful nod towards it demonstrates. Even as he says it, a few of the participants have gone trotting down the beach to go take a dip and rinse the stickiness away.

Mikazuki himself does not look convinced. ]

[ofseraphim]

Oh! Right. I guess that beats a towel, huh?

[ But as he glances to Mikazuki... maybe not?? ]

What’s wrong, Mikazuki?

[sparsity]

[ Definitely not. ]

Nothing. [ Nothing exactly, anyway, and being an honest creature makes him relent almost right away. ] Running in there means having to swim, right?

[ofseraphim]

Only if you go in too deep to stand up on your own.

[ See? Swimming skills not necessarily required, just... seriously, strongly recommended?? ]

Do you not know how to swim? [ Sorey shakes his head slightly. ] There’s nothing wrong with that -- my best friend doesn’t, either.

[ And that’s just downright embarrassing. He’s a seraph of water, for heck’s sake! ]

[sparsity]

[ That sounds so fake. ]

Well, no. [ His tone of voice, though still flat, colors with the barest hint of reluctance. ] There weren't any seas back home.

[ No bodies of water anywhere, actually. ]

Alisaie

[ofseraphim]

[ continued from boop ]

[ Sometime later, when the excitement of discovery abates some, he’ll be amazed all over again by just how incredible she is, as a whole. Hearing him underwater, through a mask? It shouldn’t even be possible, but-- here they are...

Anyway, it’s convenient, lending itself to this little venture they’re about to undertake. If Sorey can pull free a sacred blade that a whole town tried and failed for years to pry loose, then he’d say he’s got a fighting chance here, too; however literal that expression may be in this context. Since she’s taking the bottom, he’ll take the top, wiggling each tooth one by one. ]

[adelphoi]

[ and so they set to it, systematically working their way across rows and rows of time-dulled teeth, still beautiful in their shine. it seems almost an insurmountable task, so many have been fused quite soundly to the jaw, but at last she finds one that gives just a little when she pushes on it. ]

This one seems promising!

[ she's not sure how well he can hear her through his mask, so she's sure to wave as well, trying to catch his attention. ]

[ofseraphim]

[ One by one they go, checking each individually. Sheesh, Sorey has seen castle walls with more give! Until, at last--

Her voice is clear, but faint, so he's already looking for her to check when he sees her wave, and half-swim-half-floats over. ]

Think this one will work?

[ He may or may not be discernible, so he's pointing at the tooth, too. ]

[adelphoi]

I suppose it's worth a try.

[ she gives it a demonstrative wiggle so he can see that it gives a little under pressure before she's moving over to give him some room, already closing both hands around the end of the tooth. ]

I'll take the bottom.

[ofseraphim]

[ It’s not much of a wiggle, in truth; he has to look pretty hard to see just what she’s getting at. But, well, even a minute amount of movement is still vastly more than the other teeth allowed, so... ]

Gotcha!

[ He sets to work on it, but it’s slow going when they’re both working in little wiggles. Of course, Sorey doesn’t want to damage the remains of this great beast (any more than they already are, that is) -- that’d be disrespectful.

Still, maybe some... additional intervention of some sort?? would speed this along. ]

[adelphoi]

[ they're looting its shiny teeth, there's no real point worrying about being respectful, sorey.. at least alisaie isn't worried about it.

the damned thing is still in there good, she'd be working up a sweat were they not submerged, and she's breathing ("breathing") hard a handful of minutes later; the tooth has budged, but hardly. releasing it at last, she rubs her sore palms together and sighs, glancing around. ]

I don't suppose you brought a hammer and chisel with you, hm?

[ that'd be too easy. ]

Atsushi-kuuuuuun

[ofseraphim]

[ continued from beep boop ]

[ Yes, you! Why not you? ]

Daifuku?

[ There’s the most adorable white tiger bean in the sand at his feet now, and Sorey’s not just going to leave it there. Bare-chested (which he is) or not, he’s going to pick it straight up -- without the sling -- and delicately cuddle it to him like a proper proud parent with a sleeping child would. No need to have the little guy get upset, now, right? ]

That’s a unique name. How’d you come up with it?

[ Sorey isn’t from Japan. He has no idea it’s a food.

Aaaaaand this is probably a bad time to ask, given that they’re already ushering Atsushi away for the event. ]

tiger, the other other white meat

[gekkajuu]

[Awww, Sorey likes his cub! Maybe that shouldn't make Atsushi so stupidly happy, but it really, truly does.]

Everyone was listing foods, and at first I thought that was silly, but -...

[Oops, already getting ushered off. Looks like they're in a hurry to give everyone a chance - and move on to the next person.]

I-I'll tell you later!

[Okay, a blindfold. That's not scary at all, except it kind of is, and uhhhh, why is Atsushi being spun around?! He kind of hates himself for even considering giving this a try, now - but here he is all the same, blindfolded and holding a bat, with everyone shouting things at him. This would be a lot easier if people at least shouted the same thing...

More than a little uncertain, he tries to listen for Sorey's voice in the crowd, eager to listen to his friend.]

NO EATING TIGERS! D:

[ofseraphim]

[ Of course he likes it! And he'll continue to like it until it viciously attacks him, and even then, he'll forgive and forget. Sorey is a true gem.

Anyway, what was that? Food? Well, it'll have to wait -- they're already taking hold of Atsushi, blindfolding him and spinning him around. Jeez, they're quick about this! And the crowd is even quicker, already keen to shout out whatever, apparently; or maybe they're just not taking into consideration the fact that their left is not his left, either way.

Regardless, he got Atsushi into this mess, so he'll get him out! Simple, right? Peering at his grip on the bat, (which he seems to have little experience with), then-- ]

Take a couple steps forward!

[ Sorey's pretty loud on his own just normally, but this time he has quite a gathering to overcome. Hopefully Atsushi can pick out his voice from the rest. ]

not even "eating" them? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[gekkajuu]

[Fortunately the cub isn't vicious in the least, though it'll grow up enough to get mischievous soon enough. For now it's nothing but an adorable fluffball with the very rare tendency to chew on something it shouldn't, however.

Atsushi has good hearing, and his focus is surprisingly good. He thinks he recognizes Sorey's voice, even in the crowd, and boldly takes a few steps forward - boldly, because it's basically that or chickening out altogether.

Let's hope he's not fast enough to trip over the melon.]

DON'T YOU LENNYFACE AT ME (but ey you never know my friend)

[ofseraphim]

[ And right now, it's an adorable fluffball that seems to be snoozing pleasantly.

...Even when Sorey yells out-- ] Stop!

[ Good gracious, Atsushi! For someone who just radiated uncertainty moments at, he sure is taking strides now, isn't he? One more step, and he would have done a faceplant over the melon! ]

Choke up on your weapon a bit!

[ That, or take a step back. Sorey figures this is easier. ]

And, ah... two steps to your left!

~(^ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°^)

[gekkajuu]

[Atsushi freezes in place the moment Sorey yells at him to stop, then follows the other instructions. The rest of the crowd is getting more eager, too - and with that, louder - but at least they seem to be getting more unified in their opinion. Between that and what Atsushi can hear of Sorey's instructions, Atsushi is getting a bit more confident.

He still holds in place a moment, making sure he doesn't have to move some more... and then he brings down the stick, hard.

...! He's hit something?? Quickly, he reaches up to get rid of that blindfold, making sure he felt it right.]

Mikleo

[ofseraphim]

(( original thread here. ))

[ Reckless? Nah -- it's Sorey!

...Which means that Mikleo will first need to define "reckless".

Sure, he's done some things that, uh, were less than smart, perhaps: venturing out into a winter storm without proper gear; donating blood at the hands of a man who'd never done the task in his life and practically mangled Sorey's arm; and let's not forget about the horse he has in the barn now.

But! All of that can wait. (Or never, ever be spoken of. Perhaps that's the better option.) And he wouldn't be so quick to say he's got people "looking out" for him with how often one of them pulls a gun on him, but. Details. ]

What, you expected me to fall apart without you? No way!

[ He goes to give Mikleo a playful shove to the shoulder, but... somehow it ends up being more of a stroke, instead. His brow knits again then, his smile relieved and heartfelt and secretly adoring. ]

But, well...

I missed you, Mikleo.

1/2.

[circulets]

[ His lips twitch upwards at that. ]

Well, at least you're still in one piece.

[ He knows how reckless Sorey can be, but... there is the possibility that others have been looking out for him while he's been gone, too. If that's the case, then Milkeo can't help but feel glad for that, ]

[circulets]

[ He smiles at that. All things considering, he can't say he even had a chance to miss Sorey, but... he's glad that he can be back with him. He's a little surprised that their other comrades hadn't awoken, but... they're safe. That's what's important. ]

... It's good to see that you've been doing alright.

[ofseraphim]

Yeah! Everything’s been just fine.

[ Lonely in spots, but fine. He’s got friends here -- a good lot of them -- but none of them quite make up for the lack of Mikleo in his life. So he’s plenty happy to have that deficit resolved. ]

Hey, when we get back into town, I’ve got something to show you. [ Cue the somewhat sheepish dart away of green eyes. ] ...I might need your help with it, actually.

[circulets]

Something to show me...? [ Color him curious. What could Sorey have that he specifically needs help with. ] What is it?

[ofseraphim]

You’ll see! [ He grins brightly, not about to give away any surprises just yet. ] I’ll show you when we get home.

[ His smile dampens a bit here. ]

Speaking of, your room’s clean. [ Er, amendment-- ] I mean, it might be a little dusty by now, but... I kept everything just as you left it.

[ Hoping someday he’d peek in, and Mikleo would magically be there once again.

But if he keeps on that thought train, he’s going to want another hug, and the first one was unexpected enough for his best friend. There’s no need to inconvenience Mikleo a second time. Time flows so differently between the two points that Sorey already likely seems like an emotional fool at this point. He's spent weeks clinging to hope of reuniting with his other half, all the while that other claims he didn't even get time to miss him. ]