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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nope.

[Said ever so calmly.]

Didn't really occur to me, what with all this goin' on. And I was gunna save my food until I was absolutely sure my friends aren't here. Gotta make sure there's enough for everyone.

Hmm. It does make sense to ration, but I really think you should keep up your strength while you can. Especially if you don't find your friends right away. That's how my party got wiped out before...

[ Marcille grimaced a little; it wasn't exactly a pleasant memory. ]

Well, anyway. I gathered up some clams and mussels from the beach. Do you like seafood? 'cause otherwise, I was going to eat by myself.

[Okay that deep immediate trust he had in you before? Now it's INTENSIFIED BY LIKE. 100000%.]

Oh boy, would you really? That'd be swell! I'll try not to eat too much, I promise!

[ How wonderful! Dinner plans! Marcille beamed. ]

Great! Actually, I was in the middle of getting some firewood when I got sidetracked, but with two people, this should be way faster.

Would you mind carrying some wood? Then I'll just need to get some of that spring water, and we should have all the materials we need.

[Salute!]

Sure thing, you can count on me! I might not look it, but I can carry plenty!

Perfect.

[ She handed him a bundle of firewood while she went for two coconut bowlfuls of water. Careful not to spill either, she turned to Mickey. ]

By the way, do you know anything about making fires?

[ Though she had her own way of doing it, she'd grown used to letting Senshi set up with his flint, seeing as how he was so opposed to using magic -- even if it made things easier! ]

[Hup - He manages to handle it all, then considers her question.]

Hmmm, well... when me and my pals got desperate for heat, we'd look through the trash for matches. Don't think that's a possibility here.

Didn't people a hundred years or so use two rocks or somethin' like that?

They used to, and they still do sometimes. I usually just use magic, though. It beats having to carry an extra flint.

[ Marcille led Mickey over to where she'd already gathered up some wood and gestured to it. ]

If you could just put that down here, I'll show you!

Magic, huh...

[Boy, if that they had something like that in his world, stuff would be a whole lot easier. He carefully puts down the load, not wanting to break anything.]

You must be a really amazing person to know magic! I always thought that kinda stuff was made-up.

[ Marcille puffed up with pride. ]

Well, I was the top of my class at the magical academy! Heheheh.

[ With a few chanted words, Marcille set the bundle of wood alight, producing a merrily crackling fire in mere moments. She placed the bowls both nestled into the fire, saying a few quick words over both. ]

This is how I usually do it. I know some people prefer lighting campfires the 'normal' way... but this is so much faster!

[Good thing Mickey emptied his hands earlier, cause he certainly would've dropped them in shock. Plus, now he can applaud!]

WOW! Look at that! You did that like it was... nothin'! That's super fantastic! You really are an amazing person, you might be one of the most amazing people ever!

[ Gosh, compliments. Just let Marcille bask in this for a little, her party members never appreciated her for this sort of thing. ]

Ha ha! Well, now you're exaggerating! It is pretty neat, though, huh? Technically, just about anyone can learn to do this sort of thing. I don't know why more people don't!

[ She opened her knapsack and took out the shellfish she'd gathered, carefully placing them into the bowls. ]

Actually, I'm really glad you came along! I dug up a little too many for one person, and I'd hate to throw any away.

[Mickey is king of praise and will continue to prove it.]

Just about anyone? I had no idea...

[He hesitates, looking from the bowl to her, back and forth. Gosh, she's already been so nice to him... he feels guilty asking for more.]

Say, maybe... I dunno, maybe I could learn how to do it? B-but it wouldn't be right for you to teach me without gettin' anythin' in return! ... Problem is, I don't think I got anythin' you might want.

[ She looked a little surprised. Wow, someone actually wanted to learn? ]

Well, sure, why not? We can start while the shellfish is cooking!

[ She brought out a bit of seaweed and seemed to brush it briefly over the bowls, checking on both before taking a seat near Mickey. ]

First, I'll tell you about mana. Here, take my hand.

[!!! OH GOSH!!! He puts his hand forward - then takes it back. Then puts it forward - but then takes it back.]

Aw, gee, I really do want to... but... like I said, I don't have anything for you. Just doesn't feel fair, you helpin' me in such a huge way, and me doin' nothin' in return! There's gotta be a way I can repay you!

[ Marcille considered this. Mickey was certainly much more polite and thoughtful than some people she knew (who would remain nameless). ]

Mmm... well, would it be okay if you just... promised me to do some kind of favor in the future? I really don't mind, really! In fact, barely anyone ever asks to learn, so this is great!

[ Come on buddy. What could go wrong

???? ]

Oh, I can do that! I can definitely do that! It's a promise, and I always keep my promises!

[With that out of the way, he eagerly grabs her hand!]

[ Marcille smiled at him and took his other hand as well. ]

Okay, now close your eyes. In order to do magic, you have to use mana -- it's magical energy that flows through people. You should have some already. Just imagine a wave of gentle power, coming down my arm and flowing into you. It circulates and flows back into me.

[ Carefully, she channeled her flow of mana so that it was doing just that, making a circuit into Mickey's frame and returning. Nothing huge or startling; she wasn't trying to blow anything up, after all. ]

Can you feel it?

[Mickey does exactly as she says. He does feel... something. It's different. Not bad different, but definitely not something he's used to. It kind of tickles.]

Gee, I... I think so. I ain't ever felt anythin' like this before...

Then you're better at this than some. Maybe you've got a hidden talent.

[ Marcille let go of Mickey's hands. ]

Okay, all you really have to do is use that feeling and channel it in the direction you want in the same way. For lighting a fire, you'd direct it to the wood. Well, that and you need to say the magic words!

[ She spoke the words for lighting a small flame in the old language, slowly so Mickey could repeat them after her. Most people, even novices, could at least manage a candleflame as long as they could take direction and didn't botch the words. ]

[Good thing she repeated it because he absolutely would have tried "abracadabra" or "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo".

Taking this VERY seriously, he gets down on one knee, and concentrates. He holds out his palms, aiming it at a small piece of wood. He mumbles it first, just to see how it feels in his mouth... then a murmur, getting used to it... then louder, with confidence!

Something begins to light up - a hint of it - and yes, it would perfectly fit atop a small candle. Mickey's eyes nearly pop out of his skull.]

I... I did it! I really did it! Oh my gosh, I really -

[Except we can't expect him to fully master this in one go, right? That's why he's only now noticing he also set one of his gloves on fire.]

... Uh-oh.

Oh, drat!

[ Marcille batted at the fire with her sleeve, aiming to smother the flame before it could get any bigger. ]

I guess I should have mentioned that might happen! I didn't expect you'd get it the first time, though!

[HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT Mickey is also frantically blowing at it, and their combined efforts put it out! Thankfully he doesn't appear to be hurt, but the shock of it all does make him sit.]

...

[Awkward smile?]

Whoops. Sorry about that.

[ Marcille sighed with relief... and then realized that the bowls were about to boil over. She rushed to take them off the fire to cool. ]

Whew... disaster averted.

[ Whew. Overcooked shellfish would be the worst. ]

Don't get discouraged. It can be hard to control, especially at first! Fire is tricky that way.

[he rubs the burnt spot, still not in pain, but grateful that it wasn't worse.]

I'll be all right... I'm just sorry that I made such a fuss... But I'll keep my word. That favor's still gunna come, one way or another.

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