The Mods of LifeAftr (
lifeaftr_mods) wrote in
lifeaftr2017-07-28 08:24 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
- final fantasy xv: ignis scientia,
- fragile dreams: ren,
- hyper light drifter: the drifter,
- marble hornets: tim wright,
- mass effect: commander shepard,
- osomatsu-san: ichimatsu matsuno,
- pokemon sun & moon: guzma,
- pokemon sun & moon: luna,
- undertale: chara dreemurr,
- ✖ all about j: j,
- ✖ bastion: the kid,
- ✖ billions: jack foley,
- ✖ black butler: sieglinde sullivan,
- ✖ blue exorcist: shiro fujimoto,
- ✖ captive prince: laurent,
- ✖ disney: mickey mouse,
- ✖ dungeon meshi: marcille,
- ✖ ffxv: noctis lucis caelum,
- ✖ ffxv: nyx ulric,
- ✖ ffxv: prompto argentum,
- ✖ fullmetal alchemist: edward elric,
- ✖ marvel 616: wade wilson,
- ✖ off: the batter,
- ✖ original: finley,
- ✖ osomatsu-san: karamatsu matsuno,
- ✖ osomatsu-san: osomatsu matsuno,
- ✖ pacific rim: newton geiszler,
- ✖ rwby: jaune arc,
- ✖ rwby: ruby rose,
- ✖ rwby: weiss schnee,
- ✖ sonic the comic: espio the chameleon,
- ✖ the adventure zone: lup,
- ✖ the adventure zone: taako,
- ✖ the walking dead (game): clementine,
- ✖ undertale: asriel dreemurr,
- ✖ undertale: frisk,
- ✖ undertale: mettaton,
- ✖ undertale: muffet,
- ✖ undertale: sans the skeleton,
- ✖ world of warcraft: yrel
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!
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!
( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )
no subject
But he's squeezing her hand and he's looking at her, and maybe she should've relied on that to see her through this in the first place, and not her own bullshit bravado. On him. Isn't that the whole point? Not to push him away? She's fucked up and she's hurt him and he deserves so, so much better than this. If she can remember how to keep him out when she's vulnerable, she can damn well remember how to let him in.
"There's nothing in any world I have more faith in than you, Taako," she says and she missed her chance at meeting his eyes but she looks at him anyway, and she hopes to any god that the desperation in her voice will be enough to prove that this isn't on him at all. "I'm just--" Fuck, why is this scarier than fighting a goddamn mass of reality-consuming existential angst. Maybe because she's doing it on her own, owning up to her private hell that she was forced to bear alone. "Things were real fucked up, in the umbrella. I didn't... I don't think I even existed properly for a long stretch of it, I had to fight so hard just to remember who I was, and then where I was, and to regain any connection to the outside at all, but I couldn't escape... And then I heard you, and Magnus and Merle, and I thought--" She chokes out a bitter chuckle, "I thought I was done being lost. Being nothing. But you didn't remember," and that's when the tears start to spill over and she turns back to the fire, god, can she just get through this.
"I screamed for you. And I figured out what had happened, what she'd done, but I was so close to you and it was never enough. So I guess when you, when you forget, for a second, it's like... Like I'm still not really here," she forces it out at last through a pained, shaky breath, and she digs her free hand into her hair and pulls up her knees to her chest like that's going to keep her from falling apart. She's sick with shame and why couldn't they still be fighting the Hunger, and stopping Lucretia, and saving the fucking world, and then none of this would matter anymore, and she wouldn't have to feel so lost and messed up.
no subject
Needless to say, he hates it, the idea of having been even accidentally contributing to this, and he is hugging her before he even finishes thinking it, awkward around her wounded little huddle but clutching her tightly enough there can be no doubts about her real, indisputable presence. How could he have predicted she might feel that way? It's so wrong, it's so not her, he's so hurt and outraged on her behalf that he's gasping through tears like he's forgotten what they really feel like at full strength. "But you are really here," which sounds like a weak argument, but he's making it for both of them. He forgot she ever existed, he can still remember everything that entailed, that's nothing to what she's got but it's for damn sure pretty bad. "Even if my memory is shit, that's not gonna change."
no subject
She could've handled it, she really could have, it's not like she isn't intimately acquainted with this feeling already, if only this stinking plane hadn't robbed her of the power she needs to feel like herself again, like she can make herself seen again. Without that, without an all-encompassing goal like commandeering the staff or fighting the Hunger, all this despair that she'd shoved aside to not fucking lose herself in there is just breaking free and he got caught in the crossfire. She can hear it in his voice, how much he needs her to be here too, and she's so fucking sorry but it's also bolstering. She nods into his shoulder eagerly, reassuringly, for both of them.
"Never," she promises hoarsely, desperately. "And I know it's not on you, okay? You can't-- I know it doesn't mean anything, and none of this, it's not your fault." She rushes it out and she can't seem to make it any more coherent but it's so important, it's part of why she didn't want to do this, she can't have this on his shoulders. They can play trauma olympics later but she damn well knows his decade wasn't any better and she should never have lashed out at him. Another sob crawls up her throat but then there's an echo of wavering, almost incredulous laughter, too. "You remember me."
no subject
Yeah this is definitely kind of a catharsis overload, very not on brand but very necessary. And painfully familiar? Like, they may be clinging to each other and crying in a shitty camp preparing to eat garbage, but shit, they could be kids again for how that is. It's not great, as a situation, just objectively, but he's a little glad. It'll make him remember things correctly, anyway. That's all this dumb island adventure is, actually, a crash course in refreshing his own memories. Wow, nailed it.
Now he does look her in the eye, drawing back but still holding onto her by the shoulders now, and he's pretty sure this will be received well? Getting surer every minute, but it's still gonna be something of a mess, for awhile, which is the point, but they're handling it. He's still shielded from feeling bad about his uncertainties for the moment by her absolution, so he may as well try to cement things a little. "But uh. No more bullshit, 'kay? From either of us," his gaze falters, but just for a second, because that's quite the commitment, but he smiles and stands by it anyway.
"We're gonna fuck up but we gotta just deal with it. We can do that, on top of surviving on a deserted island, right? No sweat. We're competent, emotionally adroit elves! You're not an umbrella, I'm not an idiot only child, we're on the same page, we have half the ingredients to a baked good. We got this, let's make soup." This is, without a doubt, the stupidest bunch of encouragement words he's ever strung together. But at least it's all true-ish.
no subject
And then he goes on and it's just, wow, it's so good to hear these things, actually? She's the one saying them usually, which she can do because she believes them with the same intensity she does everything, but after laying her horrors and weakness bare like this, she really needed the breather. And Taako still knows what she needs, wordlessly, and she's looking at him with what is probably a really dumb adoring smile on her tear-stained face. Her response is to rest her forehead against his, to savor this moment of closeness and understanding, of a connection with nothing separating them any longer. "Love you, Taako. Let's make soup."
Only a little reluctantly, she pulls back from his embrace to wipe her face and then hands him the knife and one of the birds back. It's alright, because she can reach out any time to just touch him or talk to him and be heard. Little slip-ups sting, but they've got nothing on that. "Still gonna find a way to blow a hole in this stink island, though," she says and starts peeling the burnt skin off the bird cuts she'd already made.
no subject
Taako wastes no time collecting himself and getting his trashbird situated with vicious efficiency, which is as much about hunger as it is any kind of cooking related skill. "For sure. Bet there's a DMV just around the corner, you can start there." He knows he doesn't have to appease her with shared memories, it's just that a huge ass firestorm is a really comforting thought right now, in theory anyway. He throws the various bird bits and bones into the pot, along with some crumbles of his salt rock, and then he does take a break, finally.
There's so much he'd like to say, but he's so tired, and none of it will settle and resolve into actual words, just bright, sharp feelings. And yes, there's always tomorrow, but he feels a real fear that by then he won't remember how, somehow. Tomorrow is honestly just its own huge fucking looming ordeal, all on its own. The stress of the day and the wholly different stresses of the night make things so far feel...a little unreal? Just kind of at loose ends. Tomorrow will probably put a stop to that, but not in a good way. "This is gonna be terrible, by the way. Which is not on me. But damn, why couldn't your first meal in ten years be literally anything else? That's the real tragedy, in all this."
no subject
She waits for her turn with the knife and then gets the second bird taken care of, adding it to the bowl. There's silence again for a bit, but this time it speaks of joint exhaustion and trying to get a grip on this whole mess, just enough to be able to rest at least. She busies herself with shuffling around the fire stuffing their random ass supplies back in the bags, spreading out the blanket for sleeping on, breaking down the branches into better firewood size. The broken Umbra Staff remains where it is in the sand.
Her first meal in ten years, huh. That's another unexpected emotion she's too tired to figure out, maybe more relief at having her body back when she'd been so sure she'd lost her last chance at it, maybe nostalgia for actually good food, which this insult to bouillon everywhere is decidedly not. "You know," she starts thoughtfully, "I'd like to say literally anything I put in my mouth will be the dopest shit I've tasted in ten years, and that having been incorporeal really makes me value the little things? But you're right, actually, this is gonna suck and I'm frankly insulted you expect me to eat it. So I'm gonna go with one of the many superior options we have at our disposal." The solemnity of her voice and expression doesn't change as she reaches into the bag and pulls out the sack of sugar, opening it up like she's gonna shovel it into her mouth by the handful. Which is to say, quit worrying about the food when they're lucky to have any at all, you goober.
no subject
Not that that's actually looking like the cheeriest prospect, actually, as he watches her try and order their shitty camp some kinda way. Which he's grateful for, but this is still a shit sandwich with no bread. Sleeping fireside on the beach is only a luxury funtime if you're choosing to do it. Also if you have just, a whole separate ocean of booze, like just as a rule. This is way more hobo than boho, which, points for authenticity, but he would kill anyone on this island for a real bed. Whatever else they do, they gotta get situated better than this, if they can't solve this beach puzzle by tomorrow night. That lurking magical exhaustion menace is a worry for future Taako, though, he decides firmly.
Taako actually, bless his heart, looks startled by her words for the smallest fraction of a second, like he's so tired he actually almost took her seriously, all alarmed ears and wide eyes. He recovers very quickly though, flipping her off and giving the soup a regal stir with his wand, because that's sanitary. This is all the bowl's fault, actually, he should have the energy to be as much of a shit as she's being, he'd definitely be on her level if it weren't for that. "Do it, you goblin, I dare you. Enjoy your sugar seizure, more dank ass trashbird soup for Taako. Was gonna try to Prestidigitate this into actually having a flavor, but now I think I'm gonna save my strength."
no subject
But then he pretty much threatens to magic his ass right back into the dirt and she's not down for that. Packing up the sugar, she shuffles back to her spot next to him, kind of elbowing him with one arm while snatching the wand with the other hand. "You're not the only cooking wizard on this stink island, you dumbass. I can flavor this tragedy just fine." And keep him from putting his gross face juices in there if he folds again head first.
She gives the wand an unnecessary flourish to railroad over a moment of dread and taps the bowl as usual, as she's always done, for centuries. Except, usually something happens, a minute ripple or change of color, anything. She doesn't have to taste the soup to know it's exactly the same, there was just nothing, a fucking cantrip just failed like she's never known a spell in her life. Even as her shoulders and ears sink in something like defeat, she gives it a more insistent shot, a tighter grip on the wand, a more demanding tap. No dice, and she swallows hard against a surge of nonsensical shame. "Guess you just got promoted," she manages a questionable attempt at levity, and doesn't meet his eyes.
no subject
"Yep, that's me, head chef of Trash Island Resort, now where's my fucking raise," he says, and it's very droll over all the horrified resignation, a real rollercoaster packed in that sentence. But he appreciates her attempt all the same, and whatever negativity is there, it's certainly not directed at her, not when he's got a whole fuckin island as a target. They really gotta keep it together, is the thing. Making eye contact with an emotion, as a concept, is on cooldown now. Can't do it.
"Maybe it will be better tomorrow," he tries for reassuring, apology, just something to say even. They both know it's probably bullshit but it would hurt not to say anything and just drown in his own helplessness, which is undoubtedly mirroring hers. And that's the established mechanic anyway, right? This isn't really like that, this pacing of magic exertion, these complete spell failures, that's not...that's not 'long rest' material, he strongly suspects. But maybe. Does he have a shot at being the optimism twin? He honestly doesn't remember but he thinks not.
no subject
"Yeah, maybe," she agrees with whatever fake bravado she's still got left because yeah it's bullshit, but it's good of him to try. "Maybe cantrips run on slots now and we just missed the update. Fucking-- the fucking signal's gotta be real shitty out here." Aimless soothing rambling isn't really her wheelhouse and she gives up quickly, but she's all outta bolstering speeches too. She hates this, hates how reduced this is making her feel, how needy for more of his reassurance after he's already done so much. Boy's as tired as her, probably more, and she's a big girl. There's gotta be something she can still do to be useful, without magic, without cooking, without optimism. "Listen, I'll take the first watch when we've got this meal over with, alright? One of us needs their beauty sleep way more desperately than the other."
no subject
All the more reason he's not gonna let it be a thing that she kinda just stepped in it right out of the gate. There's not a good night for Wonderland callbacks, but if there were this wouldn't be it. It sucks and he hates the reminder, and the fun new added layer--wow! What a time for magic as a whole to shit the bed! And of the spells he's tried and flubbed today, Disguise Self defs isn't topping the list but it's just. Another thing, that has happened. Just one of way too many. Same shit, different plane. But what's really the worst here is the possibility of Lup feeling even more out of sync and emotionally left-footed than she already has. It's an act of real will not to pin his ears, let any defensiveness or plain old hurt creep into his bearing, but hey, that's not something he took a hit to, right? Plenty of stubbornness left. They'll get the hang of it. The generator has to be unplugged so they can get this turd of a day over, dammit. "And yet you're still volunteering. Your sacrifice won't be forgotten." It almost sounds right.
no subject
She's fully blaming her utter physical and emotional exhaustion for how long it's taking to figure out, in the moment before it clicks. Sacrifice. She heard it in his voice alright, but she heard it in another elf's voice before that, only, what, a few days ago at most. And it's like ice in her heart to realize what she just stepped in, and she can't keep herself from really looking at him, wondering... how much of it is being tired and gross and caked in sand and tear stains, and how much is gonna be-- different, now.
But there's fire too, a wrath and protectiveness that's never going to extinguish until she herself does, and she offers him the only thing she can think to give. "You know I made Edward pay for everything he did to you, right?" she says with an echo of viciousness on his behalf in her voice, even now. "I crushed him."
the unjust got eaten by the just's umbrella
He's gearing up to express just that, but doesn't get the chance. He hears the viciousness in her voice and knows probably better than anyone still alive how that tends to shake down, and the involuntary teeth-baring grin it puts on his face probably does a lot more to make them identical than spellcasting would have. "Good." Who knew retroactive, vicarious bloodthirst could be such a warm fuzzy feeling? No one loves justice quite like people who don't see it that often. "I mean, I didn't know at the time, and I've been, uhh, a little busy since then. But now I know. He couldn't have ended up in better hands." He looks a little less thrilled about murder, but honestly, that was a good gift just now, Lup, and he still looks pretty bout it. "Sorry I said some stuff I didn't know I didn't mean, at the time. Basic liches get stitches. Better?" Please let them just. Put all of this away. At least for tonight if not forever.
vore justice, or vorstice
Also, her brother's approval is, as always, appreciated, especially considering it was the only thing she could do for him at the time, while she raged herself ragged in her prison, hearing his losses, feeling the weakening force behind his spells, utterly terrified of what would happen if the Game didn't end in time. She only regrets she didn't get to Lydia too.
His tacked on apology earns a genuine snort of suppressed laughter, tension gratefully draining away. It was a damn good zinger, which means he doesn't need the encouragement. "I dunno, how basic were they? I mean, you did applaud them like a fucking dork," she points out, tilting her head to look up at him with a shit-eating smirk. Yeah, all in favor of putting this away for tonight, how about pissing on their dead tormentors' graves instead.