❪ 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

[vorrutyer]

It won't.

[ Byerly confirms this with a tone that's mild and light. ]

Stuck on as if by magic. Or perhaps literally by magic, heaven help us.

[priorly]

Ha!

[Both hollow and freaked-the-fuck-out.]

It won't. Never rely on heaven for anything except [He manages to unbutton his shirt (paisley, blue with a hint of pink) with shaky fingers, opening it to just below his collarbone before folding it back over the label. This of course reveals more of his chest than he'd like, stained and bruised, but beggars/choosers.] personal irritation and a bill for white goods repair. Now, where were we? Oh! Traveling light.

[vorrutyer]

[ Yes, traveling light. Well, let's see if we can distract from that... ]

Now, now, fair's fair. Explain your nametag. All that poetic nonsense. What's it about?

[priorly]

Well I didn't write it!

[How dare you bypass his smooth and entirely unflapped reversion to the subject. Now his voice is at least an octave too high to count for calm.]

It's poetic nonsense. That's exactly what it is. I have no idea what it's talking about.

[True, in some sense of the word. But he's breathing a little too fast.]

Do you know - my leg hurts, I believe I'd like to sit down.

[vorrutyer]

[ That sounds like an I'm working up my nerve to tell you if Byerly ever heard one. He tilts his head very slightly, gives a little nod. ]

Then, friend, let us find a place to sit. Shall we have some coffee? [ Beat. ] Wine?

[priorly]

Wine.

[There, hear that sigh, he's unclenching a fraction already. Just a fraction, mind, and offering his arm for an escort. Somehow he trusts, or suspects, Byerly already knows his way around here. At least the important parts of it.]

If there exists such a thing dans la rue des douleurs.

[vorrutyer]

Wine it shall be, then.

[ Byerly takes his arm. Strange thing, to be walking arm-in-arm with a man, openly. Even a brazen, shameless fellow like him...well. He'd never have dared on Barrayar. But it seems to be all right, here - hardly a glance at them. ]

There's a place nearby - here.

[ Very nearby; it's merely two blocks over and three doors up. He leads Prior inside and, in a rare show of generosity, actually indicates that he'll get the first round. ]

[priorly]

[This place may not be entirely so bad as Prior's first impression suggested. Although he maintains the cleanliness standards outside leave something to be desired, in here at least the tables appear to be washed.

He takes a seat at one of them, hands clasped in gratitude to Byerly's offer (with no idea how rare it may be).

With Byerly gone, Prior returns to attempts to pick off his label, managing to shred the edges and make his fingers tacky, but not much more. He may be seen snapping at himself or some invisible force, sharp whispered things like: Can I not get one single god damned break? or You've got to follow me even here?

He's done before Byerly returns, shirt crumpled but label resolutely in place.]

C’est vraiment gentil. Truly. If your house is burnt to the ground in a fit of bosomy venom because I've kept you here I'll never forgive myself, I swear.

[vorrutyer]

[ With a c'est-la-vie shrug: ]

Such would be life, I suppose. Honestly, it might be well to my advantage. If I were a poor homeless refugee, no bed, no possessions, no et cetera, I would get so much pity, wouldn't I? Everyone would have such pity for me, and so they'd inevitably buy me things. New clothes, drinks...

[ He clinks the two glasses he's holding together in a toast to himself, then sets one (the glass of white) before Prior. He takes the glass of red for himself. ]

[priorly]

I do hate pity.

[Taking his glass, that's what Prior drinks to, adding before taking a sip.]

Although sometimes it might be nice. [Louis could've stayed with him out of pity, surely. No one would have had to know. But forget that, forget all of it. Wine. Pity bought? Who cares.] I'm sure enough people would buy you things with a flutter of those eyelashes. You don't need that card in your hand.

[For his part, Prior's always somewhat liked being able to provide for those he cares for. It's only when the provision, or the care, is uneven that it begins to gall.]

[vorrutyer]

I do have astonishing eyelashes.

[ He toasts Prior, toasts that comment on his finest feature - hell, just toasts for the sake of toasting, so he can take a deep drink. And so he does, throwing back a healthy mouthful of wine. ]

But I suppose you've gotten an excess of it lately? Pity, I mean. Not eyelashes. [ With a slight tilt of his head, he takes in Prior's physical state. ]

[priorly]

You would think so.

[On Prior's tongue, these words drip poison.] Some people do, I hear, receive pity when they're dying. Sympathy, even. Comfort. Care. Others apparently receive nothing but a cold bed and a laundry list of incomprehensible chores.

[He relents on one point, softening a little.]

I had friends. Medical professionals or unflappable queens, either way pity was not the order of their day, but they did care and I am grateful. [He trails a finger up the side of his face, partly to put the line of one arm in front of his neck, hiding a little of the stains of sickness and brushing a fingertip across the lid of one eye.] I am grateful, also, that eyelashes can be bought.

[vorrutyer]

Adorned with feathers and glittering jewels, if you know the right stores.

[ He brushes a finger across his own eyelid, then drops his hand. Then he settles back in his seat. Prior is trapped - at least until that glass of wine is finished - at least so long as Byerly doesn't say anything too outrageous, the sort of thing that'd make Prior throw a glass of wine in his face and storm off. So. He can get a little bolder. ]

So who was it who denied you your pity?

[priorly]

[And know the right stores Prior does. Did. There must be somewhere for the fabulous to go in a city of this size. Maybe he'll look something out to cheer himself up.

The thing with Prior, is that it rarely requires traps or tricks to get an answer from him. Most of the time, simple questions will do. On occasion a little persistence helps. That's all. So:]

My boyfriend. Louis. Four-and-a-half years together, hearth and home. [His expression's flat, his words are sharp as knives.] Then I had to spoil it all by doing somethin' stupid like becoming symptomatic.

[Prior lifts his glass, drinks, marking out a line across the table in the condensation left behind, and letting his fingers march across it.]

He didn't leave when he found out I was sick, of course. Even Louis isn't despicable enough for that. No, he just waited until I was sick enough to really need him. Haven't seen him since except for... in those things, up there. I can't even ignore the bastard properly, since he has no idea I'm doing it.

[vorrutyer]

[ Byerly's lips turn down very slightly - very slightly - in disapproval. It's the subtlety of the gesture that marks it as particularly genuine. When Byerly fakes, he fakes a bit bigger. ]

How charming.

[ Then, sitting back with his wine: ]

I suppose I should want to repay that level of faith by defrosting his cryo-chamber up there.

[priorly]

Oh no, no.

[With a gentle sigh, Prior continues sweetly-]

I'd defrost just down to his neck, scream fuck you in his face and smile as it frosts back up.

[But he's not bitter. He also wouldn't honestly do this - well, anything bar the fuck you part, and he's yelled that so many times in his head he can't even imagine reality would offer the same satisfaction.]

Anyway, that's Louis. Louis and me. And this conversation's getting terribly one sided - I am so tired of me. What about you, Byerly? Aren't you cold? You're not wearing your coat.

[vorrutyer]

[ By shrugs, flutters his fingers at Prior. ]

Why, of course it's one-sided, my dear. Your nametag labeled you a prophet. I'm trying to see if I can hear some words of life-changing wisdom.

[priorly]

Oh, no one really wants their life changed, do they? Do you? [Prophet. Not getting into that without a push: he likes Byerly, it would be an awful shame to watch him run the other way. Lets not sound crazy to new friends. So he pushes back, instead.] I'm cold, could I borrow it?

[vorrutyer]

[ He lowers his head in a half-bow. ]

Perhaps we should have had that coffee, then, instead. It seems I got you a drink that was chilled - my apologies, dear Prior.

[ Avoidance! Two can play that game. ]

[priorly]

[But it's almost the answer Prior's looking for without a word.]

Then you do have one. And it says something terrible, or true. [He's looking at Byerly more sharply now. This one's important.] You don't have to show me. But will you tell me if it's true?

[vorrutyer]

[ A beat. Then his eyes slide away from Prior's, avoiding holding his gaze. ]

If I don't want you to see it, then you can presume it is something terrible. And if I confirm that it is true, then it's as good as a confession that there is something terrible about me. No?

[priorly]

Everyone has something they think is terrible about themselves. We'd all be intolerable if we didn't.

[It's not quite gentle, but it's close. But still, persistent.]

[vorrutyer]

Oh, I don't know.

[ He looks back at Prior, the smile fixed back on his face. ]

I've known my fair share of people who were utterly self-loathing and intolerable. I actually find that most people are intolerable once you get down to it.

[priorly]

I don't. I wish I tolerated far fewer people than I do. [Prior's smile is smaller but more genuine.] On the whole even intolerable people have things remarkably worth tolerating about them, it's a cruel trick.

[Sorry, Byerly.]

Please. Is it true?

[vorrutyer]

[ A beat. The smile fades. He looks away again. ]

Yes.