lifeaftr | April Intro: The Flower Ripens in its Place

INTRO LOG: APRIL

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: April 3rd and onward
Where: Ziziphus
Warnings: Mark as needed!

A9: Sow the Seed
Unbeknownst to new arrivals, the archipelago of LifeAftr has recently seen the appearance of a new island, as chosen via voting - and they have been unceremoniously placed there instead of upon Ensō, where most newcomers would typically appear. It's probably for the best that the island of Ziziphus is so outwardly peaceful.

There are worse places to find yourself, all things considered. The mana pool glimmers with a greenish light, the stone ring containing that peculiar fluid set firmly into the earth. The surrounding land fits neatly into that general aesthetic: rippling fields stirred by the occasional crisp breeze alternate between amber-golden and rich, verdant green in coloration, and irregular patches of color signify the presence of a great deal of flowers of all sorts.

It's a peaceful scene.

We're sure you're all about to make it go horribly wrong.

B9: Reap the Harvest
For the unluckier, or the more adventurous, something far less tranquil awaits. Perhaps you woke up on this particular map square instead, or you saw fit to journey a little farther, just to see what might happen. In any case, you'll quickly discover that this may not have been the best idea, when an ordinary grassy mound abruptly detaches itself from the ground, hauls itself upright on bristling legs, and starts scuttling near.

SPINDLANKS have now been unlocked in the bestiary.
What might initially appear to be a leafy hillock will very quickly prove to be something far more...mobile, if you get close enough. That clump of grass and red ferns will abruptly hoist itself up on six vine-like tendrils, crawling for its prey like a very large, mossy spider. While it's fully capable of swiping at its foes with its massive, leafy arms, the spindlank's favored method of dispatching its prey is simply to scuttle forth until it's positioned directly above you and drop down. If its weight does not crush you and choking on the clods of earth doesn't smother you, don't worry; the spindlank intends to eat you alive with a set of fleshy jaws set deep in its center, buried somewhere in its underbelly.

For despite their appearance, spindlanks are very much carnivorous. Their size can vary from anywhere between six and ten feet tall when their appendages unfurl entirely. They are, in essence, very large plants, and thus can be easily dealt with, if you can burn them.

Just try not to get overwhelmed.

All new arrivals will awake with knapsacks, their names stitched to the front. The contents of said knapsacks can all be found in your acceptance notices!

As a final note to those who participated in the Test Drive Meme, bear in mind that 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.

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

No. [The word has all the weight of a stone falling. He's not relaxed anymore and the ice is spreading through him. Of course Shiro wants to know why he's in Blade armor and not Paladin. It makes sense to conclude maybe he'd become their bridge with the prince. Keith looks away from Shiro's face.

He doesn't want to see how he'll react.]

I'm not in Paladin gear because I left the team. [He checks over his arm and notes the other scars there ones he didn't have before the Blades. He can't leave it like that.]

We defeated Zarkon but didn't kill him. ...and the price was costly on our side too. Black was unresponsive when it was over. We had to haul it back to the ship. [His fingers tighten into a fist as he looks back in time to the still and empty cockpit.]

You were gone. The bayard as still in the console. [He looks at him at last. All the cheer of before is missing, even as he tries to hide it his eyes are full of pain.] I looked everywhere, Shiro! In the end we had to find a way to form Voltron again...and Black chose me.

Allura was selected by Blue and Lance....Red called for him. [It was what had to be done. Even if he never wanted to lead.] But we found you after we got used to things again. Black had teleported you as far as we can guess. We were all glad you were back. But your style of leadership and mine are different.

We started clashing. It was small at first but it was hurting the team. [And he ran.] I had started training with the Blades to get better at leading and it just made sense to do it full time once Black took you back.

[There's a world of a story there and he's not up for explaining it in detail.] I asked, you let me go. I didn't part on bad terms. And the team is just fine.

What?

( the question all but falls out of his mouth in a hurried breath as shiro tries to piece together all of the information that keith is laying out in front of him. so much had happened. just how many time had passed? he feels a little sick, suddenly dizzy as something like panic sparks in his chest. he had vanished, keith took up the lead, but gave it back to him? he pushed keith off of the team?

none of this could be right.

he doesn't doubt keith and his words, but it doesn't sound real. how could he let that happen? how could he weaken the team like that?

the hand that had been on his forehead shifts, now clutching at his mouth as he tries to hide the way he's started breathing erratically. )

How could I—?

( he needs a moment. he needs to step away. )

Shiro! [Shit. He should have worded it gently. But he had wanted to get it out and get the rejection out quickly. Instead, he'd hurt him. His guilt stabs at him as he reaches out, grabbing his arm.]

...It will be okay. I mean it. We'll be okay. [Keith keeps his voice soft and gentle. The sounds of the fire mask how Shiro is breathing. But he's never seen him cover his mouth the way he is now.]

Do you need a moment?

No, I'm fine.

( that's a lie. it's an absolutely a lie. shiro desperately needs to take a moment to remember how to breathe before he does something impulsive, but he isn't willing to look weak or unresolved in front of keith. not when he has so much to say that shouldn't be doubted.

shiro takes the hand that keith had placed on him and clasps it in his before using keith's hand as a way to pull him close enough for a hug. he holds him tight against him, trying to convey something that he can't express in words alone. )

I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, but I should have never undermined your command or made you feel that you had to leave the team.

( a breath. )

When I told you that if anything happened to me, I wanted you to lead the team, I meant it. I failed you when I went back on that.

( but why had he. . .? )

[It feels like the world flipped over and he's still hanging in mid-air. Going with Shiro's tug is as natural as breathing. But the hug feels...desperate in a way he's never had to deal with. Keith wraps his arms around Shiro and hugs him back just as tightly.

The words don't make sense to him. He was a bad leader who didn't want the job. He jerks his head up to look into Shiro's eyes and only feels confused.] Shiro. I was bad for the team. I didn't want the job! I was so focused on certain things that I nearly got people hurt or worse.

Black took you back because I was away too much on Blade Missions...sort of on purpose but. It's the work that suits me. I left of my own choice.

You didn't drive me out. I was my last call as a leader. Stepping down. You don't need to apologize for anything. I made the mistakes! Not you.

[Never Shiro. Shiro had made the calls to save everyone. Gather allies. Work together. He...he hadn't. Nor did he want to.]

Keith.

( gently, but firm. he needs keith to listen to him on this. he knows what he must think, knows that he blames himself, and he knows that none of it is right. the details of what shiro knows is limited, but if keith had left the team. . .

shiro's screw-up had been massive. )

Inexperience doesn't make you a bad leader, but having someone kick your legs out from underneath you can only make you feel that way.

( he should have been there to guide keith instead, showing him how to come to the right answers and prioritise. keith has the making of an amazing leader, but he's got to stumble before he can walk. shiro had always hoped to be his support during that time and he's so furious with himself that he hadn't. )

If the Black Lion accepted my command again, I think it's because you didn't feel you should be piloting her anymore.

( naturally. he had seen how easily black accepted keith before. he presses a hand to keith's hair then, holding him against him. )

I don't think you did. I'm the one who made the mistakes. I'm sorry for not supporting you, but I am here now. I'll make it right.

[He remembers how to speak and the words spill out.]

I wasn't there like I should have been before. I made mistakes.

[He leans slightly into his touch. It's been so long since he's seen him that even this little bit is like water in the desert.]

There's no way around that. If you're insisting you made mistakes and want to make that right...

[So far he hasn't put his foot in his mouth. He keeps going, his voice steady despite how much Shiro's words have hit a wall inside his head and made everything confusing. He doesn't get it. He can't put it all together. Something to lay awake later and try to figure out.]

I want to make it right too. We'll be better this time. So long as we listen to each other this will be alright. Okay?

April Intro: The Flower Ripens in its Place

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