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

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❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM. -- the 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.

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[ A hesitation, then a shrug. ]

Not necessarily. Sometimes, that high level of anxiety is...preparation, after a sort. The worry makes them prepared for what comes later. So - not your fault.

[ A sigh. ]

You may want to...discuss him less, though. In that case.

If one needs to prepare for being a cowardly asshole, you may just be right.

[No, Byerly, Louis was not prepared for what came next, and if he was, wouldn't that just make things worse. If it had been done with forethought instead of just fear and a self-preservation impulse that trumped both love and basic decency.

But the next part of what's said doesn't entirely click.]

Is it offputting? I wouldn't plan to reminisce about fellating him on a first date.

Oh, that'd actually be quite enchanting, in a prurient sort of way.

[ He taps a fingernail on the glass. ]

When the Orbiters first woke us up, we were in a...simulation of sorts. Do you recall it?

Prurient indeed.

[This seems a disaparate topic to the first, but he'll try to catch on to the threads.]

I remember waking up from it, that's all. It was cold, and I don't think I'd passed my test.

Mm.

[ Byerly tilts his head up. His voice is precise and level. Very, very unlike his previous foppish absurdity. Indeed, he seems nearly like another man. ]

There were elements to that simulation that lead me to believe that a conflict is on the horizon. Not merely between individuals here on the ground, but amongst us refugees, as well. And if that is the case... [ A little shrug. ] I intend to take a lesson or two from Koschei the Deathless.

Is he the hoot at parties that he sounds?

[Dry. He's not misjudging Byerly's sudden change of manner, just doesn't know what he can do with it.]

Hm?

[ By's brows draw down a moment, until he realizes - ]

Ah. Koschei. [ Then, settling back in his chair - ] Yes, always full of magic tricks, that one. [ But this is a serious matter. And so Byerly asks: ] If a conflict does come, Prior, what would you do? Lay low?

[This is a paranoid matter, surely. Something Byerly worries himself over needlessly so he can feel prepared?

Questions to answer a question.]

Why would they bring us here to fight each other? From what you've told me, in both our worlds we were doing just fine with that on our own. And what does this have to do with Louis?

Koschei the Deathless.

[ A shrug. ]

Hide your heart.

[Is that... it's a fairytale, isn't it. Prior even thinks he's heard of it: something like it, from the places where their two worlds echo. And he laughs. Crazy is a theme around here, so he laughs, and dips his head into his hands until his hair pushes through between his fingers.]

Oh. You mean- [He addresses the table, since that's the angle he finds himself at, clears his throat and starts again.] I love Louis, but he's already done me all the damage he's capable of. My heart's not up there in that person-sized pickle jar. If anyone wants to use it against me it's easy to find.

[Looking up, Prior pats somewhere between his chest and his sleeve.]

So if I'm doomed, I'm doomed. But if you cut off everything that can hurt you, you cut off everything. Happiness. Love. What would there be worth fighting for?

[ He says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world - because, to a Barrayaran, it is - ]

Honor. And duty. [ With a half-shrug - ] The health and lives of our hostages. [ He brushes his hand upwards to indicate the space station where those hostages are held. ]

I see. Very noble. [While he's not at all mocking in his response, there's a faint sense of play about it - chin up, jaw firm, Judy Garland greeting the troops. funny how his assessment hasn't adjusted from a terrible mess. Honor and duty aren't without value even to an un-milatiristic, pampered soul such as himself, they're just applied in different circumstances, for reasons uniformed by national pride. Simple as moral values are, they should suffice.]

The health and care of our comrades in the chiller cabinet's as important to me as to anyone. [he trails a finger lightly up Byerly's arm and shoulder, tapping it lightly against his jaw. Look at me. ] But where does your life come into that?

[ In response to that little camp performance, By lifts his eyebrows, tilts his head very slightly to the side, lets out a short huff of acknowledgment. He knows it's all ridiculous. He's spent enough time with galactics - and is, himself, self-aware and cynical enough to know - that all of this is ridiculous. But even a fish that hates swimming still lives in water. ]

This is how it comes into it. [ He lifts his fingers to Prior's hand - not urging on that touch, not pulling it away. Just holding it there. ] I live to serve, you see. [ A private joke - that is the ImpSec motto and slogan - but...true, as well. He lifts his eyes to Prior's, then. He looks a bit tired. ]

[Prior tucks a smile into the corner of his mouth. A little nod.]

If that's what gets you off, I saw a little place looking for wait staff about three doors down.

[He doesn't know what you do do, Byerly, but there's a great deal more to it than the lady of leisure act once put on. Prior moves his hand eventually, but only to meet Byerly's fingertips with his own.]

So maybe war is coming. Or maybe you see it coming because you're too used to watching for signs to think they could be anything else. All I know is if they're recruiting us for soldiers they made some strange choices, and... and if you think death's on the horizon, then you'd better do all the living you can until it gets to you. Because it will get to you. And when it does–

[He stops, abrupt, and swallows something down. Smile a little watery but firmly back on.]

I'm not laying low. I'm going to put up a goddamned fight.

[ Byerly is quiet a moment, fingertips brushing Prior's, a little smile on his face. It's not exactly happy, but it's not exactly sad, either. Just quiet, and a little strange. ]

I know seasoned soldiers who would be shamed by your courage. [ It's a funny thing, isn't it? Outrageous, effeminate Prior, braver by far than...well, anyone Byerly thinks he's ever met. Maybe with the exception of the likes of Lord Auditor Vorkosigan. But remarkably brave. ] How will you fight, dear Prior?

Edited 2017-09-21 21:17 (UTC)

Is it really courage, when it gets to do or die? I suspect cowardice could get you to the same position just as easily.

[He doesn't feel brave. It's hard to think of it, when you're terrified half the time and desperate the rest of it. He feels weak and useless and dirty, the last of which he hates more than anything. Untouchable: just the worst.

He curls his fingers back against his palm and lowers his hand to the table, shaking his head as if to shake off that brief flirtation with melancholy.]

And who knows? Lets find out when we get to it, shall we? I have pulled some hair in my time.

[ A lift of his eyebrows. ]

A coward finds ways to run. Or lays down weeping when it comes to making said do-or-die decision.

[ But - in some ways, it might be a bit...preferable if Prior were a coward. There is something very dangerous about having access to others' secrets. Men kill to keep their secrets. And not only evil men, either. By is under no illusions; he knows that his ImpSec has had people killed. A fellow like this, a fellow who can see into someone's heart, is a fellow who runs the risk of frightening the wrong people... ]

But - I should say, dear fellow, if things do get to the hair-pulling stage...do come to me, hm? I like our odds of successfully pulling a bit of hair better if we're together, I think.

Having both run and wept in plentiful amounts, my options are growing fewer.

[Though there is quite probably more of both in his future. He's been running for weeks now - since an Angel crashed through his ceiling, since a diagnosis crashed through his life - and it's wearing him thin. There's always a point where you have to turn around and face it, but he doesn't feel brave for knowing that.

For the most part, he just feels tired.

It's easy to recognise Byerly's request for what it is. And, no. Prior's not playing one more hostage for the man to put above himself. Besides which, its a hasty offer just as likely to be regretted if the worst does come to itself. And Prior can deflect, too.]

You haven't told me what you'll do in the war, soldier. Do they make camouflage fatigues in a vibrant enough hue?

[ There's just a little twitch of his lips - frustrated, disapproving, disappointed - before he arranges his face once more in an expression of irony and mockery. Eyebrows raised, eyes hooded, mouth curled up just a touch. ]

Why, I intend to spend it largely naked. I'm a truly fortunate man.

Debatably so, if the sight of you undressed is enough to terrify your enemies.

[No, he doesn't miss the fraction of an honest response, and yes, he knows. It doesn't change a thing. He's not ready to throw himself behind anyone's protection with nothing to offer in return - least of all someone he likes. Byerly is not the only one capable of strapping on a smile in avoidance of the point.]

[ He looks down and addresses his crotch with a fond sigh. ]

Dear little tentacle.

[ Then, with a wry smile, he looks up and settles back. ]

The Empress is quite the hedonist, they say.

[That wins a bark of laughter from Prior.]

How could I have forgotten the magnificently sentient cocks of your people. [A little sigh, and the smile's in his eyes too, though there's still something a little careful in the way he looks at Byerly. Careful for him, not of him.]

Seeking an alliance already? Fast work.

[ With a flutter of his eyelashes: ]

The only thing fast about me.

[ Then, with a small gesture upwards: ]

They want us to influence this world for the better. Rescuing puppies and serving soup to the homeless is heartwarming and sweet, no doubt, but change gets made by those in charge.

Does it? I've ignored more political fights between friends than I've ever tried to listen to, but it seems to me real change - the lasting, meaningful kind - filters up, not down. Slowly, painfully, and with bumps and backtracks along the way. Change that happens because someone with a lot of power had a whim seems most fragile of all.

[Two men in... hauberks of some kind... jostle through the door, and again Prior's reminded where he is.]

Then again, I come from less feudal times.

[ A small shrug. ]

When I was born, my world was embroiled in a bloody civil war, mutants had their throats cut, all births were body-births, and gene-cleaning didn't exist. And then Gregor took over. And now none of that's true. I suppose your change-from-the-bottom can work in theory, but dear heavens, it takes a while, and frankly the average person is an idiot.

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priorly - 2017-09-22 23:32 (UTC) - Expand

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