lifeaftr | May Intro: We're Going Down, Down

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May Intro: We're Going Down, Down

INTRO LOG: MAY

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: May 4th and onward
Where: Ensō...and above
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Floating Islet: And Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging
While new arrivals may generally be expected at this time of the month, one factor that has continuously failed to maintain consistency is their point of arrival. And indeed, it appears that this month has once again exceeded even the Storyteller's expectations as to where arrivals may take their first steps on this world.

Those who were with us in February will most certainly remember the floating islands hovering far, far above the mainland. While they currently remain inaccessible, they are still steadily floating overhead, shifting appearance as if made of the clouds themselves. And so while waking up on top of the world may be a surprise, at the very least new arrivals will have a bird's eye view of Ensō to enjoy for a time...until they take notice of a rather sinking sensation.

In fact, that sensation would be the island itself, starting to sink out of the sky.

So that's nice.

On a crash course for the ground at F6, the Storyteller will eventually slow the island's progress to the ground below, though a rather profound impact is, simply put, inevitable. Characters with the ability of flight will find the island skimming low enough to reach on their own. Others may wish to utilize their resourcefulness to find an alternate means down.

Or, perhaps, you'll simply deal with whatever awaits you at the crash site.

F6 and Beyond: In An Earlier Round
Thankfully, the Storyteller's intervention will ensure that no one still on the not-so-floating island upon impact will escape with minor injuries at worst, the island itself crumbling to pieces and taking down more than a few thick trees. The pieces of the island will very quickly begin to blacken, crumbling underfoot as the floating island turns to dust. Anyone still aboard may wish to make a very quick departure.

The ripples of this impact, however, are far more significant than two pieces of land bumping up against one another.

Previously, visitors to the floating islands may have experienced some...oddities, during their time above the clouds. For the next few days, these oddities will spread across Ensō itself, leading to some rather awkward scenarios:

[ ♆ ] Some may find their weapons are... behaving oddly, though all are still functional. Weapons, in this instance, may also include fisticuffs, if the intent is to use your fists as a weapon.

[ ♆ ] Equally as irritating are those who find themselves coming down with a severe case of NPCitus: periods of time in which they find themselves incapable of saying more than one or two lines of the same, repetitive dialogue.

[ ♆ ] Equal parts nostalgic and irritating for some are the instances of lag (walking forwards, only to find oneself back where they started), Swimmer's Ear (incapable of movement unless swimming through the air), and clipping (suddenly stuck halfway through the nearest rock are all common, regrettable side-effects).

[ ♆ ] Other unfortunate side-effects may also transpire, as varied and wild as one's imagination.

Though many of these may be hindering or even dangerous in the right situations, they are, for the most part, passive. The Storyteller will assure anyone who asks that these oddities will disappear in the next few days.

You are free to create or utilize glitches you are particularly fond of, though keep in mind that any potential content warnings should be mentioned in your toplevel! You may peruse some of the past glitches here, or create your own along those lines! And a special thanks to our local Donn-mun, Jake (

venesection), for the first glitch on the list!

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

[Some day, there will be a time where he can approach things calmly and rationally but today is not that day.]

We've dealt with weird things before, but- There's no way you could have been here for that long on your own! Assuming any of this is real and not just...some big Galra-induced hallucination!

[Because that is clearly more reasonable then this actually being real.

He swims closer, over-correcting his trajectory for a moment and going past Keith instead, before doubling back to grab Keith's shoulders and just.

Staring.]

You're lying to me. You've got to be lying.

You know me. [He glares up at him through his messy bangs that cover more of his face than they did months ago. He should trim them a bit.]

You know I wouldn't lie about something important. [He points up at the section of sky the island fell from. He turns his violet eyes back on Lance all the anger leaving him. He's deadly serious.] That island was up there at first, right?

There's something weird about that area of the sky. The being called Storyteller didn't want people messing with it. And this? This is all mostly harmless weird.

I've seen way worse since I got here.

[The worst part is, he's right. For as much as Lance picks fights, for as often as he mocks Keith, he knows him and he trusts him.

He deflates, letting go and floating back.]

...Yeah. I do. But it's just-

You've been here alone? All that time? Until...until Shiro showed up?

[Shiro from far back, which is something Lance still doesn't quite understand.]

You said he was from far back, and that time works weird here. What does that mean? For Shiro.

[He lets out a small breath of air. Now that they’re not shouting or dealing with dumb crap he rakes his bangs out of his eyes. He doesn’t want to answer that question. But it’s something Lance needs to know.

He sighs.] He’s from before he vanished. He has the Bayard so it has to be from that battle against Zarkon when we stuck a virus in his ship. And his hair, he has the longer...bangs. I brought up the mission I was last on and he had no idea what I was talking about.

We had a talk but. I’ve seen this happen with people here. They come from one reality but from different points in their history. Counting us lucky you and I are from the same point.

[That's...a lot to process. It's not that he doesn't believe Keith - he wouldn't lie about Shiro, not when he was the most stubborn about looking for him after disappearing, but...

It feels like a lifetime ago, that fight with Zarkon. And that's the last thing Shiro remembers?]

...Maybe it's for the best. [He hesitates, already predicting Keith isn't going to take it well.] Something happened to him when he was gone, and it wasn't anything good.

[He doesn't have any proof except for Shiro trying to- trying to talk to him. Telling him to listen, in Voltron's shared head space, and it might be nothing but it also might be something.]

How often do people show up here? Sounds like it's a lot.

We get a handful every month. As I said, no one knows why we're here. Storyteller really doesn't have any answers...we'll have to find them ourselves.

['Something happened to him when he was gone'. His hands curl into fists at his sides. He doesn't like it. It makes that urge to track Shiro down right now and make sure he's alright hit him like a wave.

Shiro will be fine. He'll be fine.]

He was in the hands of the Galra, Lance. There wasn't anything good about that even if he got away.

So...if we find out what's going on here, will we get to go back home? It's not like the universe can exactly afford for Voltron to be out of commission. Again.

[It was bad enough when there was no one piloting the Black Lion. Being two Paladins and a Keith down...? Yeah. Things don't exactly look great from where he's standing.

Of course, apparently Shiro is from before they need to change it all up, so maybe it won't really matter. But, still, he worries.]

I know, but...This is something different. I don't know how it is, but we should keep an eye on him even if he doesn't know it happened. Or if it hasn't happened yet, whatever.

[He lifts his head, anger curling in his chest like a fire about to burst to life. But seconds after it flares up his eyes go unfocused, staring back down the days and months as far back as when Shiro first returned to the team.

...He compares how Shiro reacted here to there and what he comes up with...he doesn't like. He rakes his hair out of his face.] Okay,

[He concedes as he forces himself to think on what he's being told.]

We'll watch him. We should watch each other's backs here anyway. This isn't always a harmless place to be. [As if it were waiting for that cue a centipuppy surges out of hiding in a wide leap at Keith. He side steps, and ignoring the weird voice calling out KNIFEEE, then SWORRRRDD, he transforms his blade and cuts it down. Blood flies but the thing keeps moving, unharmed. Then dies at his feet. He stares at it and steps back to poke it with the sword tip.]

...uh. Okay?

[It's a relief, that Keith isn't making this a fight. He's never sure how it's going to go - but he managed this time. For now, at least.]

Y'know, you should really cut your hair. Longer doesn't make it look any better.

[Because he can't stop himself.

But before he can say anything else, at least acknowledge that he understands, he's totally ready to do what he can, there's an - alien? Going with alien. - leaping out of them. Somehow, the noise his bayard makes as he raises it is even worse than the weird voice.

And then Keith - he thinks he kills it? He's not really sure what happens, but the shrill noise doesn't stop even as he drops his arms. So.

That's great.]

...What did you do?

[And why does it seem like the alien doesn't have any bones any more? It's just some weird lump on the ground.]

What the hell is that noise coming from your bayard? [Normally he wouldn't be stupid. Normally centipuppies die when they're supposed to and not seconds later. He kneels down, sword at the ready and reaches out to turn the dead lump over.

Right before the assumed dead critter leaps for his face. He yells and jerks back. Ember the phoenix cuts through the air like an arrow and smashes in away with a fierce shriek. The bird bursts into flame seconds after being out of range of catching Keith on fire.

The centipuppy drops to the ground, now charred. Flames crackle in the shape of it just to the left of the body.]

...Let's get away from here and you just got here. Don't waste your cracks about my hair until we're two weeks in. [He holds up his arm and the bird drops onto it with a soft sigh. He blinks at the constant low crackling of flame emitting from the bird.]

I don't know! [It only gets louder the more he gestures with it, so maybe he should like...Not do that? Maybe.] At least it's not talking to me.

[He's getting very sick of the centipuppy. Things that are dead should stay dead, but considering how the fire is very much not on it then...

Maybe it'll come back. Again. He grimaces, pushing off a tree. He can't get anywhere fast, because despite the air not having the resistance of water he's still being slowed by something.]

I need to make up for lost time. But, fine, fine, I'll keep quiet about it until we get out of here. [He looks back, squinting at the fire that's...decidedly not burning Keith.] I think your bird might be broken.

Says the guy that's swimming in the air. Ember is fine.

[The flames on the bird die down and vanish but the gentle crackle of fire is still present. That will drive him nuts eventually. Or a lot sooner than eventually. He whistles and the sound of flapping wings comes before Ember leaps up into the air. He watches the bird go with a blink.

That is the most janky flying he has ever seen.]

Can you get your bayard to stop screaming already? Put it away or something.

Hey, I never said this whole place wasn't broken! So forgive me for being concerned for your pet.

[He hopes the bird doesn't crash. It's not looking too good.]

The screaming better not be permanent if this place is as dangerous as you say it is. [He's glad to stow it away, at least, even if he's still worried.]

If it is we'll just scare everything when I swing a sword, or you shoot something. [He says half-distracted. His eyes are on Ember circling over head. Despite his claim his friend is alright he has half a mind to call him back down to check.

Keith pauses, because he's still young enough to pause for the stupid but also very important questions.]

...what the hell is it going to do when Shiro uses his arm?

Not everything is afraid of loud noises, Keith. Some things don't feel fear.

[That is a very important question. Lance hesitates, before swinging his arm in front of himself.]

I don't know. It could just go aaaaarrrrmmm but maybe it'd be more like SWHINK?

[That seems like a good sound effect to him!]

Wouldn't a sizzling or laser noise make more sense? It can cut through metal or melt it.

[He cuts his right arm to the side. Ember actually flies correctly after that. He blinks up at him. Huh.]

I know everything isn't afraid of loud noises. Some things don't even have brains and still try to kill you.

See, I was thinking more of the way he fights. Pewpew doesn't exactly fit.

[At least he's doing okay. It shouldn't be as much of a comfort as it is.]

...We should ask him. You think he'd mind? [A beat.] And I don't see many things with brains around at all, so maybe we'll be okay.

I think he'll be glad and worried to see you. [He folds his legs under him while the centipuppy finally has fire on it and cooks in the dirt. Keith lays his sword across his lap in case he needs to hop up and kill something else.]

We will be fine. There's a bunch of us on these islands and between the two of us we can kill whatever tries to make dinner out of us. [He blinks and runs his hand down the blade of his weapon. Us. His mind had turned right into that mode without consulting him. He'd been alone for months and one moment around Shiro. One moment around Lance... then he'd automatically thought of ways to support their actions here. It rattles him internally so he leans back and watches Lance.]

Think if I tried to pull you down to the ground you'd be able to stick to it?

There's nothing he needs to worry about. [Even if he doesn't know the half of what it's like to be on these islands.

Even still, he doesn't want anyone, least of all Shiro, to worry about him. He's...He doesn't want to be the weak link again.]

How many people are there? Besides the three of us. [Is it better or worse if there's a lot of them? On the one hand, there's strength in numbers.

On the other...The more people here, the bigger a problem it is. He's not going to pretend he truly understands everything going on here, but it doesn't seem fair to pull dozens - or maybe even hundreds! - of people from their homes into danger. It's...not good. Displacement is never a good thing.

He sighs gustily, shrugging down at Keith and trying to act like he's not bothered by everything. It's a weird place with constant threats but he'll be fine! He's just the goofball. The comedic relief. He's fine.]

Maybe. It's worth a try - my legs are getting tired.

There’s at least sixty or so of us. Not all human either. [He turns his sword back into a knife and sheathes it. One glance around them and he can see the best path to grabbing Lance. He climbs to his feet and takes a running start at a tree. He catches the thick lower branch and swings up into the tree. So far. So normal.

He moves like a shadow, ghosting between the branches until he’s in leaping range of Lance.]

We all live around. Mostly in the islets beyond this island. Some in an area cleared out before I got here.

[He readies himself and leaps summing to grab his legs and let gravity rip them down.]

That's still a lot of people. [Sixty is no small jokes. Maybe it's not entire populations of people in danger, but it's still too many to be just a coincidence.]

What's the housing situation li-

[Some warning would have been nice, Keith. Then he could have at least asked his question after tumbling to the ground instead of being interrupted mid-word because he wasn't braced for impact.

He's glad to feel something solid, though.]

Owwww....

You have to fix up what's already there. I've been working on it. We don't have anything like showers or so on set up yet. Have to boil the water clean and use it that way.

Probably should figure out more things now you two are here. [He lets go and sits back, cracking his back. He's trained these days for lone operative work. He's been living in that fashion. Not affecting the area around him in ways that would give him away.]

...what's that sound? [Is that the sound of a jet pack's low and constant whoosh? Oh boy.]

Can we figure out showers? Or at least a really nice bathtub. I am not going to be running around the woods being completely filthy.

[Oh, god. Sure, the Castle of Lions is a luxury. Sure, he doesn't need to pamper himself (even though he's worth it), and yeah, survival should be the most important thing.

But this? This is going to be terrible. He can feel it in his bones. At least before having a rough day or barely getting out of a fight there were ways to relax. This is just...Nothing, apparently. Or less than nothing.]

Before you accuse me of anything, I'm not doing it on purpose!

I wasn't going accuse you of anything! [He snaps back, and cracks his back one more time. Then he stops because that cracking sound is looping. Keith checks his back to be sure it's fine. .

His back is fine. The dual mix up of whooshing and cracking? That's horrible.]

We can...figure out showers. I don't run around filthy! It just takes extra steps to be clean.

[It's a hassle but he hadn't minded it. The complete chaos even makes sense. After the Siege anything made sense.]

It would be just like you to shift the blame! [It wouldn't, but that's besides the point. The point is everything's gone from bad to worse. He liked it better when he was just floating, because while that was annoying, it wasn't grating.

Maybe they should just...just stopping making noise? Maybe.]

Do you even have soap? Or a hairbrush? [A beat.] Scratch that, of course you don't have a hairbrush. I don't think you've ever seen one.

[Maybe he should ease up, not dunk on him so much, but. This is just a few shades too different from anything else he's seen. Making fun of Keith, being a jerk, is normal. It's familiar. Maybe it's too soon to need it, but he was just on an island that fell from the sky and reality seems to be on a vacation.

He'll take what he can get.]

May Intro: We're Going Down, Down

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