❪ 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

[daemonized]

[There's little reaction outwardly from Ardyn. Too many years of keeping his countenance purposefully hard to read has become second nature by him now. His eyes merely continue to look out as they follow the gentle curve of the shoreline.

Silence passes for a long moment.]

Well. That changes things, doesn't it?

[He stops walking, turning to face her properly. If she's observant, she'll see how very faintly his brows knit, despite his usual expression remaining unchanged, if not edged with something that wasn't there before.]

What is it that keeps you immortal? A sorry fate, indeed.

[originallutece]

You think so? I've enjoyed being able to see the changes in science and technology over time. My counterpart enjoys the cultural shifts, but to each their own.

[She's chattering, but it's not mindless. She'd noticed the slight frown, the sudden edge in his gaze. It's subtle, but oh, it's there. And just as his expression has changed just slightly, so too has her own: her eyes gleam in eager delight, because she and Robert had spent so long doing something so dull, and oh, she misses him terribly, but this is fun.]

But as to what keeps me immortal . . .

[Not rendered her as such. Hm.]

--I suppose, if you were poetic, you might call it the principle of what if. I am . . . a possibility, you could say. Alive and dead all at once, constantly caught in a state of both and neither-- and thus, unable to die.

[That explains almost nothing while being absolutely accurate.]

[daemonized]

[Yes, he thinks so. He thinks that his immortality has been nothing more than a drain, a burden, a suffocating thing -- stretching his humanity throughout the years so that it barely exists any more. That he cares for little, that the only thing that allows to live within him is either boredom, or apathy, or cruelty, or sorrow, is the consequence of it. Festering from the inside out, driving a hole in what still exists of his soul.

The eagerness he sees in her expression, he cannot ever hope to relate to. It's oddly fascinating, though easily dismissed with a singular question.]

How long have you "lived", then?

[Because, no, her explanation tells him very little. Other than the fact that she is a possibility, which implies something almost intangible, and yet here she stood quite solid before him.]

[originallutece]

I died when I was thirty-eight.

[That's not what he asked, but that's the answer he gets as Rosalind watches him for a long few seconds.]

And after that . . . my counterpart and I traveled across countless worlds, through time and space. It's a bit hard to keep track of years when you do that.

[daemonized]

[Thirty-eight. That was around the time when he... well. He wonders, sometimes, if he even recalls it correctly. The thought is rightfully shoved aside for now.]

In that case-

[He continues their walk, angling his umbrella again.]

-then I imagine you've still not lived long enough. Eventually, you'll learn that immortality becomes a very tedious sort of existence. [A small "hmm".] Though perhaps you had the advantage of traveling from world to world, whereas I did not.

[Nor would he have cared to. He had only a few singular goals, and they all existed on Eos.]

You said you died. Is this what triggered your immortal state?

[originallutece]

I suppose. I don't believe I'll have to worry about that, though.

[Really, she can't imagine her immortal state of being ever described as
tedious. But then again, she considers, she has a companion. Perhaps that's what makes the difference. Living life without Robert would be tedious, but Rosalind never has to worry about that.

Anyway:]

Yes. I died in a way that didn't truly kill me, but rather rendered me into . . . well. This.

[But before he can follow up on that:]

Quid pro quo, now. What makes you such an exception to your disease?

[daemonized]

[No, she won't, he thinks to himself. Especially if this ability has been torn from her, like so many things in others. It's a wry thought that flitters through his mind, though he does not speak it out loud to attend instead to the question at hand.

An exchange of information. Fair enough, though this threatens to unearth something within him that he's almost never inclined to talk about.]

My magic. It allowed me to carry this disease in ways that others could not, and as such, here I am. Unable to die, made immortal by exactly what I had... [Wanted to heal.] ...tended to in others.

[originallutece]

[Well now.]

You were a doctor?

[daemonized]

Not quite.

I did say magic, didn't I?

[originallutece]

. . . you used magic. To heal them.

[But even her skepticism about magic can't stop her mind from wandering, and so:]

No. You used magic to . . . to what, take it from them? Remove it from them entirely? But somehow, it twisted on you, and instead of killing you, it made you into . . . this. Yes?

[daemonized]

[It's odd, hearing it summed up in that fashion. So concise, so matter-of-factly. None of it untrue (instead very much on point), and it's rather hard to be flippant about it -- but oh how he tries, and with some measure of success.]

You're quite clever. Yes, that's correct.

[A gesture of his hand, sweeping with concession.]

And now? Here I am. Many, many years later.

[originallutece]

For at least a thousand years.

[God. That is a long time, and despite the fact Rosalind wants nothing more than to travel all the worlds with Robert at her side for the rest of eternity, she in turn can't imagine simply . . . existing like that. To live a thousand years alone, stuck in one world, stuck with her limited human knowledge . . .]

I suppose if nothing else, this is a bit of a variation, hm?

[It's not that she pities him, no, nothing so weak as that. But she's . . . hm. Call it more interested in him, perhaps, than she'd been at the start of this conversation. Invested in him.]

What do you do to pass the years?

[daemonized]

[Oh, you know. Nothing big. Just plotting revenge for 2000+ years or so. As you do.]

Variation. That it is, though I do hate having circumstances thrust upon me when I have no say in the matter.

[He pauses.] I do what any man would do. Float through the centuries, looking for purpose. Or for entertainment. Eventually, I found myself embroiled in politics, but even that was fated to be only temporarily.

[originallutece]

I should think so. People don't tend to take to someone who never dies.

[But though it's not in her nature to look towards the positive, she can't help but do it now. To have all that time at his disposal . . .]

Still . . . you must have mastered an extraordinary number of skills in all that time.

[The contributions he could make towards sociological and psychological papers alone . . . oh, but that reminds her:]

Did it come with any other side-effects beyond immortality?

[daemonized]

Yes.

[But-]

What else does your immortality afford you? Beyond the world-jumping, which... I assume you no longer possess in its full capacity.

[originallutece]

[She's far more amiable towards talking about this now, it seems. She won't reveal all her secrets, but there's something a little more easygoing in her tone now.]

World-jumping, yes, and--

[Actually. Can she still . . . Rosalind taps his arm, drawing them both to a halt, and glances around. They've walked far enough that there's not many people around, and so she doesn't feel much harm in just . . .

Disappearing.

And reappearing! Soft as a shadow, easy as anything, suddenly she's gone from his side and appears a few feet ahead, turned to face him, a smug sort of smile on her lips.]

That.

[daemonized]

[The tap on his arm is more than enough to make him stop (rarely do people ever reach out to him -- perhaps he intimidates, perhaps they're not ever sure if they're allowed to), but he turns to look at her.

And then she's gone.

Ardyn does frown a bit in confusion, though he doesn't look terribly shocked. And when she reappears, he raises his eyebrows in a pleasant sort of surprise, lips curling once more into a smile.]

A bit of teleportation, then! [It does remind him a bit of his own magic, being able to warp from place to place, though he would bet that there are differences worth mentioning.] How useful for you, in a myriad of ways. Are there limitations?

[originallutece]

Certainly I'm limited to one world, but I haven't yet tried out distance.

[Still, at least she can do it at all. (And that makes her wonder once more: how immortal is she, really? Is she still unable to die? Worth experimenting, and she has no doubt this man would help her, but does she really want to give him such control over her? No, no, best to discover that on her own later on).

Still, a blink later and she's at his side once more, still looking pleased.]

But they've also blinded me to possibilities. I used to be able to see . . . everything. Every outcome, every possibility, every choice.

[She's not quite as blind as she thinks she is, but that's for another day. For now, though she's discontent with that limitation, it isn't so bad she's dour. Indeed, she seems quite happy as she glances up and says:]

And yourself, Mr. Izunia?

[daemonized]

[As she appears next to him, and says that she used to be able to see everything, he's almost disbelieving how casual about it she sounds. (Ironically, since he's rather the same way.) But that sounds an awful lot like omnipotence, which is something that his own immortality didn't grant him; far more useful than teleportation.

He believes that if he were to have lost such a skill, he might be more discontent with it than Rosalind appears to be. But he can ask more about that later -- the sort of possibilities she's seen -- his own curiosities having been sparked.]

Two abilities that remain beyond me, and would not be suited to be on display here, anyway. The others... [He lists them off rather plainly.] Faster healing, illusion, and a few tricks to make my weapons more effective in a fight.

[originallutece]

What manner of illusion?

[Frankly, she wants a detailed understanding of all of those powers (especially those two unmentioned ones). But one has to start somewhere.]

[daemonized]

[Getting a detailed explanation about all of them might be tricky, but she is of course welcome to make an attempt with this frustrating man.]

The sort that makes me appear as someone I am not.

[originallutece]

Show me.

[She says it in an instant, and one of these days she's really going to have to learn not to boss him around. But she's so hungry for knowledge, and she watches him with clear interest.]

[daemonized]

[The instantaneous request both amuses him and makes him less inclined to humor her with any expedience whatsoever.]

Out here? For all to see?

[originallutece]

Don't tell me you're embarrassed. I showed you my powers; the least you can do is show me yours.

[daemonized]

And would you like to pick out a face here, or shall I surprise you?