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

[lifeaftr_mods]

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.

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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!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[ishotyouuu]

Luckily, Luna's appearance has the desired effect. Wade's eyes soften as he takes in the small girl positioning herself in front of the wolf-thing, and he relaxes his posture and releases his grip on his sword. He's always had a weakness for kids, and in addition to being cute as a button, Luna's hit upon the added bonus of asking about Wade's little Pokebaby, which just so happens to be one of his favorite topics of conversation.

"Yeah, she's my girl. Wanna say hi, Tibs?"

The little Cubone maneuvers her way around Wade's leg, keeping close by in case the Lycanroc isn't as friendly as Luna says she is. She looks over human and Pokemon with naked interest, and after her eyes have gotten their fill, she rapidly moves her claws in a series of signs.

Hi. My name is T-I-B-I-A. What's your name?

Wade chuckles at her antics, the laugh of a proud father watching his child show off in front of strangers, before he returns his attention to Luna. "Uhh... in case you don't know sign language, she just told you her name is Tibia. An' asked for your names."

[holdmyhand]

Tibia.

The little creature's hands move so fast that Luna can barely keep up-- and by barely, she means 'not at all', because sign language is not one of her best traits. Not even a little. Not even slightly. That being said, she finds herself fascinated and drawing closer (with Chiffon close behind, of course). Luna stops a short distance from Wade and his baby-girl, not too close, but...it's hard to see her tiny clawed fingers from so far away.

"Tibia...I'm Luna! And this is Chiffon," she introduces Chiffon, who lays down tamely next to her, trying to sniff Tibia from their distance. It's difficult. "You can sign...? That's incredible! You're amazing!!"

It's meant! Every single word. Her hands come together and she happily looks at the strange man in red spandex. "I've never seen a Cubone that can sign before...she's so amazing!"

Doesn't hurt to repeat herself. Chiffon borks softly, pushing on Luna's leg, and Luna gives her little diva some love.

"You're special, too, Chiffon!!" Bork bork. A happy pupper. ♥

[ishotyouuu]

Never really one for being shy, Tibia responds to Luna's praise with a short bow. Watching the human indulge her jealous Lycanroc's desires, the little Cubone ambles her way over to Chiffon and sits down a few feet in front of her, extending a claw to allow her to sniff. Wade watches this with only a slight "Careful..." of warning-- Chiffon may be a Pokemon, but she's still an animal, and animals can be unpredictable. He turns his attention to Luna, offering a smile at her exuberance.

"Yeah, that's a smart cookie I've got there. Barely over a year old an' already she's signing just as good as someone who's been doin' it for years. She can talk, too-- not as good as she can sign, but she's gettin' there."

[holdmyhand]

As soon as Tibia moves, Chiffon is watching her-- but...it's with curious and somewhat gentle eyes that she does. A couple of sniffs and a gentle nudge of the skull on Tibia's head ease Chiffon's posture into a content slouchy-lay. No threats. What a good day. The exchange seems to brighten Luna's entire being.

"She can talk?!" Luna's hands clasp together and she shares a look with Chiffon, who looks away from her. Learning to talk? No thank you. The wolf whuffs quietly and Luna just laughs. What a silly pupper.

"That's amazing-- and, uh, it's nice to meet you also!! You must be an amazing trainer to be able to help her learn how to sign!"

[ishotyouuu]

Once Chiffon has established that she's not a threat, lying down at Tibia's feet with a soft doggy sigh, Tibia reaches out a claw to begin scratching the larger Pokemon behind the ears-- first hesitantly, and then with the enthusiastic delight of someone who has made a new fuzzy friend.

His little girl thus occupied with lavishing attention on the contented canine, Wade gives Luna his undivided attention, smiling demurely and shaking his head at her praise.

"I wouldn't call myself a trainer per se-- I found her as an egg and we just grew to like each other, y'know? If I'm gonna be totally honest, I don't really know the first thing about trainin' Pokemon. I'm just kinda playin' it by ear right now, know what I mean?"

He gazes down at his tiny Cubone with an almost paternal smile. "I mean, she hasn't raised any objections so far, so I must be doing somethin' right, yeah?"