❪ 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

[personalwar]

[ Of course Jack has asked himself if there was anything he could do to prevent all of this. Maybe if he'd paid a little more attention, maybe if he'd been a little more available, none of this would have happened. He can beat himself up about it all night and day, but when push comes to shove he knows that what Reaper has done is wrong, and that it's his responsibility to keep him in check.

The second that he begins to target people like Lena or Angela, if he does so, 76 won't hesitate to bring him down.

That laugh has only the barest hints of Gabriel left in it, but it still makes Jack's shoulders draw tight as he clenches his jaw. ]

You apparently wanted to. [ There must have been a reason that Talon had decided to target Katya Volskaya specifically. Russia may as well be a powder keg right now. Or it was, anyway. None of it matters that much anymore, does it? ]

[deathproofs]

( not for the first time when dealing with jack, does anger rise up within him. even before he became the monster that he is, he would become furious with jack over certain things. old habits. what's even more galling is jack trying to take responsibility for reaper's actions. he's done everything with a clear mind. reaper knows what he's doing. it's hard not to simply attack. violence is always a much easier means of communication. but, he's not going to give jack that satisfaction. well . . . not yet, anyway.

a hand lifts, and the tip of one finger taps against the mask. a dull clink, clink, clink. small plumes of smoke rise off of him and dissipate into thin air. a low and thoughtful him leaves him. )

Funny how now you're taking an interest in what I do. Don't I feel special!

[personalwar]

[ The fact that this hasn't turned into some kind of fight yet is what 76 finds the most unnerving. Somehow exchanging punches and dodging shotgun blasts would have felt more appropriate, rather than this showdown in some back alley. Even now, his mind briefly wonders at what Reaper might do if some unsuspecting person wandered back here to find them.

Well, he'll deal with that if it happens. For now, he has to try and defuse whatever fuse is slowly burning here before more damage is done. Jack doesn't care about himself, but if Reaper lashes out against anyone else, that's going to be at least partly on him.

It's impossible not to roll his eyes behind his visor, though. ] Is that really what this comes down to? [ That he didn't pay him enough attention? Somehow, Jack doubts that, and he can only assume that this is Reaper's way of directing the conversation away from the real matter at hand. ]

Whatever you were trying to build back there, it's gone now.

[ Swallowed up by the Storm. ]

[deathproofs]

( truth be told, jack wouldn't like what reaper would do if someone wandered back here into this showdown. it wouldn't end well for anyone. except reaper. he purposely chose tonight, down this back alley so they wouldn't be disturbed. he doesn't want to be. there are things he needs to say -- or at least, antagonize jack with -- and wants to get it out. reaper's aim isn't to kill him. not tonight. no matter how much his trigger itches.

and, this is what jack doesn't get. it isn't about reaper -- or, gabriel as it was -- getting attention. he didn't need it nor want it. never mind that the un and upper echelon of overwatch saw to it that he didn't get attention for all the shit he was doing and cleaning up. it's about so much more than something as stupid as attention. )

Don't be an idiot!

( he growls it at jack. snarling like a beast set to intimidate his prey. reaper's fingers flex, yet he doesn't grab for his weapons. or to hold jack and shake him like he wants. )

I wasn't trying to build anything. I was stopping something useless from being built. Again. ( overwatch. he means overwatch. ) Can't say I'm happy about what's happened, but that storm took care of it for me.

( there's a heartbeat pause, if only for dramatic effect. )

Or granted me a boon so I can take care of what's left here.

[personalwar]

[ For all that Reaper might be posturing and trying to intimidate, it doesn't quite work on 76. Maybe it's because he had once known him as a friend, or maybe it's because he puts so little value on his own life, but there's nothing that Reaper could threaten to do to him that would make him his stomach clench with fear. Whatever is going on here between them, it feels in some way inevitable.

No, it's what he might do to others that will keep him up at night, and Reaper knows to focus in on that to rile him up. Jack clenches his jaw behind his visor and exhales, his free hand clenching into a fist. ]

Do you really think I want Overwatch to come back any more than you do?

[ Both of them had been burned by the organization, in the end. Reaper will always be able to claim that he suffered more (just looking at him offers the proof), but Jack had given himself over to Overwatch completely. Is it any surprise that the idea of a revival sets him off? ]

None of it matters anymore. Overwatch doesn't mean anything here.

[ Which also means that taking out the few ex-members who are awake is unnecessary. 76 realizes that trying to speak reason to Reaper probably isn't going to work, but he has to at least try. ]

[deathproofs]

( jack always was an optimistic fool. the more things change, the more they stay the same. reaper is beyond reason now. there's nothing to reason. looking at him is proof enough that he doesn't need to have it. also, the way he intends to antagonize jack. but, reaper thinks he deserves it. )

Doesn't it?

( it meant enough to have a stupid recall. earth getting ravaged means nothing. if enough of them wake up here, it's a problem. it might not be overwatch as it once was, but all of them working together . . . no. reaper will stop it. )

Overwatch is always going to mean something as long as there are people around who it meant something to.

( come on, jack. u should know better. reaper begins to slowly circle around jack with slow, heavy steps. )

I spoke to Lena the other day.

( and just the way he intones that it's clear he knows it will bother jack. )

[personalwar]

[ It would be a stretch to say that all of them are working together. Yes, Jack and Ana have been working as a unit, and Jack has done missions with both McCree and Lena, but to say they're all working as one cohesive group? Not so much. Maybe it's because Winston isn't here, but Lena hasn't pushed the issue.

Reaper's point is a valid one, though. There are a handful of them who have memories of Overwatch, both good and bad. Much as he might try to behave like he was never Jack Morrison, and like none of it meant anything to him, it really isn't so simple to cut ties. Especially when there are ex-agents of his running around, and most of them know who he really is now.

The moment that Reaper mentions Lena, though, all bets are off. The slow pacing had already been putting Jack on edge, but this pushes him right over, and he acts as quickly as the snap of a whip. He turns sharply toward Reaper and both hands reach out to grab for his shoulders. Assuming that he doesn't become incorporeal, Jack shoves him against the wall, leaning forward so that his visor is only inches away from that skull mask. ]

Leave her alone.

[ It's a little too easy to push his buttons. ]

[deathproofs]

( oh, no. reaper stays as he is. solid. sturdy. he lets himself be manhandled. allows it. because, it's funny. hilarious. which, he makes known immediately as he laughs. it's a cold and cruel sound. almost as if it's mocking the very idea of laughter itself while being it. the best thing about their relationship is how well they know one another. time may have made fools of them both, but in them jack and gabriel still exist. reaper knows where to stick the blade. and, just how to twist it to get the reactions he wants. (on the other side, jack can do it to him, but it's something he ignores.)

if there's a way for a man wearing a mask to look wholly pleased with himself, reaper is doing it. it's always so easy to pluck at the stings of sentimentality to play the most beautiful songs. fools. the whole lot of them.

he doesn't say lena approached him. he doesn't even say that he'd rather wash his hands of all of them. there's no fun in that. besides, he's here to antagonize jack. )

Or what? You plan on stopping me?

[personalwar]

[ Given how brief their encounter in Egypt had been, Jack's not entirely prepared for Reaper to let him take hold like this. To feel Reaper's shoulders solidly beneath his hands, even with the thick material of his gloves and Reaper's coat between them, is bizarre. Is he still shaped the same way that Gabriel Reyes was? Would Jack recognize anything underneath the mask and the coat?

Jack realizes that Reaper is allowing this, that he could whisk away whenever he chooses (and probably will, when he's decided he's done with him), but he'll take what he can get. His grip tightens on his shoulders, trying to feel for bones underneath skin, for any sign of a human still left in this shadowy being.

His first mistake is hoping that he'll find some remnants of his friend there. ]

You think I won't?

[ His voice is still laced with anger and roughness. ]

She has nothing to do with your grudge.

[deathproofs]

( oh, he's so easy. back when they'd both been alive, he would needle jack. just because he could. and, just because he knew where to strike. comes with the territory of going through hell together more than once. jack knew how to hit him back, too. things are different now. there's little to hit reaper back with. and an entire world to grind up into dust and shove in jack's eyes.

as a meager boon, he stays in place. he can hurt jack so much more with words. it's fun. )

Oh, Jack. ( he laughs again. it's as patronizing as his tone of voice. ) You don't believe that, do you?

( but, of course he does. he thinks he can stop reaper because jack's always thought the world of himself!! little golden god can do anything! well, surprise bitch, you can't stop death!! reaper leans closer so there's a small 'click' as their mask bump against one another. )

There's nothing you can do, Jack. Nothing.

[personalwar]

[ Needling or hitting back doesn't really have the same effect when Jack has no idea how Reaper would react to that. A shotgun blast to the face would be just as likely as anything else. Back when they'd both been young, it was different. They could tease each other and give each other a hard time, but it was always brushed off because they knew it was in a friendly way. Over the years, their comments had grown sharper and nastier until it took less and less to be at each other's throats.

It had been gradual enough that Jack had never really known what to do about it, and he certainly never expected it to go this far.

His grip tightens when Reaper says his name. He's not Jack anymore, he wants to insist, but Reaper would only mock him for it, even though he's also abandoned his name.

Reaper wouldn't be the first person to tell Jack that he couldn't do something. He's proved people wrong before, he'll do it again, although now it's less a strategic maneuver and more a moment of unbridled anger that he can't hold back.

He leans away, lifting an arm to take a hard swing at Reaper's face.

Punching his problems probably won't fix anything, but it might make him feel better, if only for a moment. ]