lifeaftr | August Intro: You Think...You Wink...You Do A Double Blink...

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August Intro: You Think...You Wink...You Do A Double Blink...

INTRO LOG: AUGUST

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr.
When: August 3rd
Where: Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Part I: Get Wrekt
You rouse to a splash of sea salt drying on your skin. A haze of glass-white sand glitters in your vision, dappled by lush palms and thick, curling foliage that disappears into a jungle of deep jade. From behind, crackling wood and sawing rope groan from a mangled life raft ran ashore. A petering wash of tide over pebbled sand fills your ears as you struggle to gain your bearings in a vast portrait of tropical color…

No...no, no, that’s not precisely how this story starts.

Why don't we start over?

You rouse to a splash of sea salt, spraying across yourself and the wooden floor beneath you as it breaks across the edge of the platform. The light as it dances across the sea is blinding, dappling white spots across your vision as you slowly come back to consciousness and realize that - this is not where you last remember being.

The middle of the ocean is likely not a place most recall being at all. As you struggle to fully comprehend the new scenario in which you have found yourself, three things become quickly apparent. The raft you find yourself upon barely constitutes as something that should float, never mind a boat. In the distance, perhaps a few hours away at most, a large island beckons to you, a wide strip of beach surrounded by cliffs making it very clear where the most fortuitous of directions shall be.

Lastly, of course, you’re not alone. Hopefully your new companion(s) are just as keen to get ashore before nightfall as you, or voyaging together will not be the most positive experience. At your side you will find a knapsack, one to every member of your raft party, and upon inspecting its contents, you will discover any rewards you may have accrued - as well as a few other items to give you a fighting chance.

A note to those who participated in the Test Drive Meme: those threads, if all parties involved would like, can be game canon in the form of dream-like memories involving a place very much like this one, though the layout is considerably different.

Part II: Choose Your Own Adventure

By fortune (or misfortune, as it were), you eventually find your feet meeting sand, blessed shore to stagger upon as you shake off your newly found sea-legs. There are those that may find this place familiar, as though it appeared in a dream, though the expanse of shore certainly seems larger. The beach stretches off into the distance on both sides, curving around sharp ridges and cliffs, mist obscuring the view the farther along it goes.

So here you are. You’ve found land. Company. Supplies. The sun is now beginning to trek rather low upon the horizon…spending the night outside in such an unfamiliar land is unappealing at best and outright dangerous at the worst.

There is one silver lining in the midst of this mess. Directly ahead, the beach curves up a gentle slope until it meets forest, some manner of building visible through the trees. Further exploration of this area will reveal a dilapidated building of sorts; the architecture is indiscernible to even the most skilled eye. Despite looking as if it has seen better days, there are areas that offer some form of shelter...and who knows what else. Just because it appears uninhabited doesn’t mean you won’t wind up pleasantly, or unpleasantly, surprised.

So what shall you do from here, traveller? There is land to be explored, strangers to meet, friends to reunite with. Supplies to inspect and plenty of questions in need of being said aloud. Choose your path, make haste, and above all else: survive. And whatever you will, take heart.

Your story is about to begin anew.

Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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[ her louder footsteps echo against the grain of the ruins. ]

Hello?

[ it's amazing that despite how full of life this island is, there aren't any natives-- just empty ruins and lots of trees...it's a little confusing to work around. He kind of blends into his corner, so it takes a moment before she spots him, and she yelps!! He's!!! So quiet!!! ]

I'm sorry-- are you...you okay? And do you mind if I sit with you?

[ he could very well get up and leave, but Luna's legs are aching from all the hiking she's been doing. Bleuugh. She's been wandering islands for a while before this-- and she's not tired, but she's also just recovering from however long it was that they were out on a rinkydink raft, and there's stress to accumulate, too...

she lets the knapsack fall to the ground a distance away and sits down, leaning against it. Hopefully he's not a bad person...hopefully. ]

[The sound of footsteps break the silence and the Batter looks up.

...another child. He was not good with children, was not created to entertain them. Regardless of who had created the purifier in the first place.

But all the girl is asking is if she could sit down. And it wasn't like there was a reason for him to refuse. As long as she didn't cling to him it was fine and the Batter could simply leave if that was the case.]

It's fine.

[To say it sounds like pretty much all emotion has been scrubbed out of the man's voice is an understatement. The Batter pulls his bag closed and resumes watching what he can see from where he was. If Luna wants a conversation, she'll have to speak up. Otherwise he's content to stay silent.]

[ she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pokeball, running her thumb over the soft scratches across the top and the indentations around it's middle. Only two-- she's still missing four, and that doesn't even account for the ones left in the computer. the button in the middle is pressed, and Lycanroc emerges, seated in front of her and pawing at her knee. What's?? What's wrong?? Why did we stop?? Excuse me?? ]

I'm just taking a break. It's okay! We just gotta keep our heads up...I'm sure we'll find them! They've gotta be around here somewhere! [ she pulls her shoe off and dumps some now dry sand out of it, then slides it back on uncomfortably...gross. The tail of the big pupper wags a couple of times. ]

[He leaves Luna to her devices and resumes staring at the exit, or at least until she draws out a ball. He'd assume it simply a child's toy and leave it at that, but then a creature appears from it.

It seems that everyone here is some level of 'strange'. But at least the creature doesn't appear to be hostile.]

What is that.

[It's not really a question.]

[ Luna looks up at him curiously. He...doesn't know what a pokemon is? No, that can't be it- maybe he just is unfamiliar with this type because he's from another region? It's not uncommon, or...that's what her mom always said. ]

This is Chiffon! [ she stays seated where she is-- the tone of his voice is a little weird. But...she's met a lot of really weird people.

Just none of the weird people she was with before she got here. ]

She's my partner! And I'm Luna...who are you?

Edited 2017-08-06 13:39 (UTC)

[Luna and Chiffon. Partners. Was it the same sort of relationship that he and his Puppeteer once shared? Maybe.

Or maybe being idle for so long allowed the Batter's thoughts to wonder. So, to answer her query...]

I am called the Batter. I have not seen one of those creatures before.

Edited (Wow I messed up that tag....) 2017-08-06 15:37 (UTC)

The...Batter? Is it okay if I just call you Batter?

[ h-hopefully he doesn't take offense to not being called 'The' Batter. O-or maybe his name is The-odore Batter??? Oh, no!! ]

[That's a first. It never really occurred to him that someone would ask to shorten his name. "The Batter" wasn't a title but - from his point of view - a name given to him by his creator to be called by.

So there is no real reason to object. He shrugs, not in a carefree manner, but it seems he doesn't mind.]

Sure.

Okay! [ relief!! Good!! Great! With a big smile, she nods. ]

Okay! And!! You can call me Luna! Not that I have anything other name... [ she stares at the ground. He's very quiet, for an adult. Chiffon sniffs at the ground, and then to Luna's knee, where she licks-- causing Luna to tense up and curl away. ]

Ch-chiffon! What are...you? Oh...

[ she's got a scab on her little knee, and Chiffon's just trying to be a bro and help out. :C so ungrateful. Luna tries to pull her knee closer to her body so she can inspect the little injury, but it's hard to see it, so she moves her leg around in several directions....c-can't see it! ]

[This girl - Luna - was easily excitable, it seems. As for "Chiffon" it appears it can pick up on her state before she herself could. Was it due to a physic link or something it was innately capable of, through being what it was or time spent with her? Questions for later, he decides. Meanwhile...

Ah, yes she is hurt. One would expect an adult's first reaction was to help, even if it's a minor scratch, but he doesn't move.

For the moment, the Batter will just observe. If the creature was capable of doing something to ease Luna's injury, he wishes to see it. If not, then who knows?]

[ she reaches out and scratches behind Chiffon's ears-- what a good pupper. Just lookin' out. A very good pupper indeed. ]

I'm okay! We've been through worse, right? I'll wash it out with some, uh... [ she wonders what's around here to wash out a scrape with... ] ...w-water. With water. I'll just go play in the ocean! We can go together!

[ Chiffon just stares at her. The dumbest idea she's ever heard. The pokemon begins to crawl into Luna's lap with protest from Luna herself, who pushes against Chiffon. ]

Ch-chiffon, stop! It's hot! [ Chiffon plops down on Luna's lap and lays on top of her knee. >:C dis scrape will never see the light of day ever again. ]

[It gets a little louder than the Batter would like but he doesn't leave. He knew nothing of the people here so finding out information through observation, even if it meant putting up with things he normally would not tolerate for long.

Although it doesn't seem to amount to much, this time. Chiffon seems to understand what Luna says but immediately disregards her words. Lying on her lap was likely an attempt at comfort, as he could not see Luna dying from a single scrape.]

It does not seem willing to listen to you.

[An immediate contradiction with the Batter's comparison to the Add-Ons. They listened to the Puppeteer's commands without fail, provided they were not inflicted with a random ailment. But this does not seem to be the case.]

She's just worried, I think. [ she pets Chiffon's coarse fur. ] My mom back home used to get worried just like this when I'd come home with a scrape or a fever.

[ Chiffon rolls a little into Luna's hips, and the little girl rubs the belly of a demanding pupper. Compensation!! ]

I think she picked it up from my mom, honestly...did your mom worry about you like that, too?

[ it sounds happy though. At least a little piece of home to take with her on a new journey. ]

No. I do not have a mother.

[He had a father if you consider the one who created him such a being. But the less said about that the better. Hugo had been put to rest. That's all.

So the Batter attempts to move the conversation elsewhere.]

She is able to learn from others?

Oh, you...don't? [ UH....WELP ] I'm really sorry...

[ his question reminds her that there are rocks from rock puppy's neck digging into her legs, and she tries to shift out from under Chiffon. ]

Yes! She has a certain move-set...things that she's learned just by being herself, and things that I've taught her! [ Luna seems very proud!!! A proud poke-mom!! ] But she can pick up habits anywhere...Chiffon is really perceptive.

[He knows that Chiffon is not like his Add-Ons but that was yet another thing they had in common with each other. They learned as the Batter did, but not from him or others but by defeating others.]

What is she capable of?

[For the first time in this conversation, the Batter sounds a little bit curious. Fancy that.]

[ Chiffon rolls off of Luna and sits up straight. The young trainer's hand settles happily on Chiffon's head. ]

She's a rock-type. So as long as she's near the ground, she has a pretty wide list of moves she can perform! But...she also bites really-- really hard. And she's really fast! [ the settled hand slowly turns into scratching, which is just!!! Yes. It's so good. A+. ]

[It possesses a "type" and has an advantage on the ground. Some specters were much the same, being strong against a particular Element, but this being was the complete opposite of hostile.

Perhaps it was because Chiffon was with her...partner?]

What do you mean by moves?

Er...well?

[ she looks at Chiffon, who stands up and brings some nearby loose, sizable rocks to her side, where they circle around her. Luna looks over at Batter. ]

She can attack and defend using rocks! But other pokemon have other moves and types...Nina can use ice, and focuses more on special attacks, like ice beams and hail!

[Versitile. She can use rocks but also other elements as well. Although the Batter actually doesn't know what ice is.]

There are more like her?

[That's what it sounds like anyways.]

Oh, yes! [ WHAT A GOOD TOPIC! POKEMON! A GREAT TOPIC! ] There's a lot of them! But...none of them are here. I wish I could show you! There are bug types, and fire types and grass and flying types!

[ the rocks that circle around Chiffon are dropped into a neat pile next to them. ] Do you have anything like them where you're from? Oh! I saw a horse, earlier!! Do you have horses??

[ OTHER NON-POKEMON BUT ARE STILL ANIMALS ARE STILL SOMETHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ]

[So there are many where she is from, of different types and likely different shapes and sizes. It would be interesting to see what each one was capable of.

As for the Batter's world, well...]

There are cows that are harvested for the Elements they provide.

[That's about it, really. Unless you count the whales but no one really does. Space whales and all.]

Elements?

[ she thinks about it, crossing her arms. Harvested? That...seems questionable. ]

[The Batter sighs. He normally doesn't talk this much and explaining such things back home seemed to fall to the likes of the Judge and Zacharie.]

Metal, Plastic, Meat, Smoke and Sugar. The Elements of that make life possible to live.

[There you go Luna. The Batter's pretty sure the merchant would have made a crack about him being a terrible "NPC" but he's not here.

None of them will be.]

[ he lists them all and she looks absolutely more confused. Smoke? Sugar?
Plastic?

Baffling. ]

Mmm...but...what's a plastic attack look like? [ "Plasticbreath!" or maybe "Plastic blast!" Yeah, that second one has a nicer ring to it, but still seems strange... ]

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unpurify - 2017-08-15 13:44 (UTC) - Expand

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