lifeaftr | February Intro: Chasing Kairos

February Intro: Chasing Kairos

INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

Who: New arrivals, and you!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: February 4th and onward
Where: Monsun
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Monsun, for the uninitiated, is an island divided in two, separated by a ribbon of flowing river. To the east, a rich deciduous woodland and perfect temperature heralds a plethora of resources at your disposal, at one singular, significant cost: your very worst traits will manifest the longer you remain in the area, until, by the twenty-four hour mark, you're living your absolute worst self.

By contrast, the island's western region is a harsh wasteland, a swathe of desert with hardly any shelter from the unrelenting sun and arid heat. Most everything here wants, in some way, to kill you, from the landscape to the fauna. Ugly storms and predators run wild, but the benefit is probably exactly what you think it is: namely, that your best traits manifest more and more strongly the longer you remain on Monsun's western half.

You, you lucky band of newcomers, are going to be arriving on one of two sides of the island. Whichever one in which your character wakes is up to you - though they're certainly welcome to head either direction, once they get their bearings.

Monsun, B2: Desert Air Won't Drown You Out
A craggy stretch of desert borders Monsun's northwest coast. Parts of the sand here, the further north you head, seem to have gone suspiciously slushy or boggy...though that might be the beginnings of an oasis that looks like it might be present on the region further up. Or, possibly, something else entirely.

It'll probably be hard to tell when you've got a mess of your own to contend with. Namely, the presence of a predator that's going to be making life quite...difficult for you, the longer you remain.

Nova Scorpions have been unlocked in the bestiary!

Nova Scorpions are about one meter in length and have a large stinger to match, with a golden carapace that makes them near-chameleonic when it comes to blending in with the sands they so favor. They are nocturnal by nature and tend to burrow into the sand and form lairs with others of their kind. Occasionally, one might encounter a scorpion carrying its young on its back.

By far the most dangerous thing about them is their venom, potent enough to floor even the most powerful and even those of the nonhuman persuasion. They can be, potentially, milked for said venom if you're in need of a powerful toxin to lace your weapons, but it's recommended that you make sure the scorpion is very thoroughly dead or well on its way before doing any harvesting of its resources. You know. Just to be on the safe side.

The good news, of course, is that your better traits will be amplified the longer you stay on this side of the island. If you don't mind the danger, you're far more likely to earn yourself some help here than you are on the other side of the island.

Speaking of which.

Monsun, C1: So Scared of Overgrowing Youth
By utter contrast, the rich woodlands of Monsun's east give all the appearances of being the best sort of welcome one could ask for. With the island's coast lining the region of C1 to its north and a deep, beautiful green swathe of lush deciduous undergrowth swarming throughout the entirety of the area, one could almost call it idyllic.

One thing is certain: it is very, very beautiful. The presence of so many growing things make it a glorious contrast to the island's western half. And in C1 in particular, there's no shortage of resources. The odd berry bush, the abundance of trees that can be harvested for lumber, if necessary...and the presence of some very odd, but nonetheless potentially adorable little creatures known as mosslings.

What may initially appear to be a tuft of particularly springy moss will, on closer inspection, prove to be something a little bit more. Mosslings are practically indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape unless one is keen-eyed enough to pick out the twin yellow points of glowing eyes nestled among the leafy orbs of their bodies - or unless one happens to spook one by accident, prompting it to scurry hastily away. They are extremely peaceable, extremely docile creatures, though they can make traversing the landscape startling on occasion, for the faint of heart. Aside from potentially edible, leafy flesh, they don't have much use in the way of resources, but they are quite harmless!

You, on the other hand, probably aren't so harmless. At least, not the longer you stay here. If you don't start forging your way west, or weaving your way to the island's single mana pool - located on E3 - to get off of it entirely, your very worst self is going to be manifesting, along with all your worst and least desirable qualities. Prone to violence, cowardice, jealousy, or paranoia? Better hope no one else is around to aggravate those traits, because they're not immune to Monsun's psychological effects either.

The only danger here comes from within. But the worst things usually do.

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

[Christ, but he hates this side of the island. Hates it.]

[That's standard. Most people hate this side of the island. It brings out the worst in them, despite the trees and the ambience and the kinder weather and the lack of anything that cares to want to kill you. It's not worth the trade off. But because of who Agent Washington is as a person, because this part of Monsun brings his paranoia and his aggression and his anger frothing to the surface, he's in full fucking armor as he's tramping through the undergrowth, on his way to the better side of the island. The hot, arid desert that doesn't make him want to shoot something if he's there for longer than an hour.]

[He nearly trips over someone en route. His reaction is terse, immediate, and involves the whip-quick drawing of a sidearm when his heart jags up against his ribs, nerves shot to hell.]

Jesus -

[His expression is impossible to discern through the visor of faceshielding, Duraplexed and gold, but his tone makes it pretty clear that he's pissed.]

I almost stepped on you.

[Yusuke is definitely shocked for a moment. Who couldn't be when you see a gun like that? Not that Yusuke isn't used to seeing guns because he is though they're model guns and just look real in the Metaverse. But still. More of a shock is the armor this person has on. Mostly he's staring, finding himself lost in the way the light plays off of the armor. It's hard for him to look away until something about this person's tone registers to him.]

Why are you mad at me? Perhaps you should have just been looking better. I ask that you don't blame your lack of spatial awareness on me.

[Not only is one of his worst traits how he just hyper focuses on art, or anything beautiful for that manner; but his poor social skills. This side of the island is really starting to show itself in him because he usually wouldn't be quite this bad.]

You're lying on your back in the dirt and you're going to blame me for that?

[What would be offhand annoyance is quickly morphing into something almost like disgust. Not outrage, just yet. Yet, because he still has his sidearm out, and is currently trying to remind himself that ammo is limited, and he probably shouldn't waste it shooting at a damn kid.]

Did you just get here, or did you decide to flop the fuck over on this side of the island for fun?

Normally I would assume most people take a close look at their surroundings which would include the floor. Unless thinking ahead isn't your strong point. [That was unnecessary but it was the first thought that popped into his mind. The fact he doesn't sound annoyed shows he really did just say whatever came to his mind.] But for your information, I did just arrive here and it's very sad state of affairs if this is how newcomers are welcomed.

[And now he sounds a little bit annoyed and he's ready to say more before he's distracted by how some leaves move, getting lost in that. It'll take a bit for his attention to be brought back.]

Most of them don't arrive here.

[He is, in fact, hyper-aware of his surroundings - largely on the lookout for things that might be attempting to kill him. This did not include the floor, and now he's wishing it had.]

Why, when waking up on an unfamiliar island, is your first instinct to lie down in the middle of the woods?

[Unfortunately, Yusuke is distracted. Very distracted that he is just staring up at the sky again, his head tilting as he moves his fingers up to frame it with them. There's a peaceful smile on his lips as he continues to look around.

It isn't until he looks towards the other he says anything to him.]

Do you need something? You're ruining my vision.

I need you to answer my questions.

[Strictly speaking, he doesn't need that. He would just prefer that. Quite intensely, in fact. He would prefer that this newbie quit jerking him around and staring off into fucking space while he's at it.]

[Deliberately, Wash steps closer, so he's more or less looming over him.]

And what were those questions? I wasn't paying you any mind as these surroundings are very distracting. [He blankly looks up at Wash, unintimidated, but then he's watching how the light reflects off of his visor.

Yeah, this place does wonders for inspiration but this is terrible for his people skills.]

[Oh my god. Wash breathes out hard through his nose, trying to get a tenuous grip on the patience that was always pretty thing, even after an extended period of time managing the Reds and Blues.]

Why are you lying down instead of doing something useful.

[The way he grinds it out between gritted teeth, it barely constitutes as a question.]

[He motions to the area around him like that's enough of an answer because it is to him. Look around, it's absolutely beautiful.]

This setting is beautiful. I can't really control myself. How can you not? Even someone who has no artistic talent must be able to gaze upon this place and fall in love!

No, because it's hell.

[He kneels abruptly, brazen in his invasion of Yusuke's personal space, one arm draped over the armor sheathing the adjacent knee, his helmet low.]

This place takes all the worst parts of you and magnifies them. Until there's nothing else left. Do you understand?

[It's what's happening to Wash right now - though he might not be that much more tolerable on a good day.]

No, I can't say I do. [He looks around again, smiling.] It's so beautiful here. How could something so ugly happen in this world...?

[And he's dazing out again, lost in his Artistic Vision. On a good day, he wouldn't be quite this bad. At least his manners would be better.]

For fuck's -

[He's officially done here. Wash reaches forward, seeking to grab a fistful of Yusuke's shirt-front to yank him upright. Clearly, he has every intention of dragging the kid all the way through to the mana pool if he has to, no doubt based on some rudimentary, lingering sense of accountability.]

[That isn't hard to do as Yusuke is clearly underweight and he's nothing more than a beanpole.]

Excuse me?! Unhand me! [But he really isn't going to go otherwise.]

No.

[Curt, annoyed, and pretty determined to just - mow this guy straight over to the fucking mana pool. He's single-minded when it comes down to it, and single-minded is translating to "being a fucking prick," currently.]

You're clearly not gonna go anywhere on your own, so I'll have to make you.

You're...! It may be easy for someone with much too brawn to understand where an artist is coming from but this land is an unending fountain of inspiration...!

[That's a little much but as far as Yusuke is concerned, this is supposed to be his artistic haven. Somewhere with unlimited innovation. He has no idea how ridiculous he's being.]

And there's a much nicer, better island that doesn't psychologically fuck you over, where you can do all the inspiring and admiring you want.

[Somewhere in the red fog of his frustration, there's a point - he's trying to help. Angrily, abrasively, and with no small degree of struggle to either end, but that's what he's trying, at least.]

[It really can't be helped and even if Yusuke doesn't know it, this is better for him. Later, he will be very grateful and while he will always be blunt and very passionate about finding inspiration he does not take people helping him very lightly. He's a rather grateful type of person.]

Somehow I don't think you understand just what this island truly is. If you have even a shred of artistic integrity, you would unhand me...!

[Please don't.]

Nope.

[Wash can at least say he's never taken a crack at art, though the words would've fallen on uncaring ears anyway. Eventually, he utters a sound that's more or less a sigh of relief, marred as it is by his profound and unrelenting irritation at the situation that he kind of willingly involved himself in.]

Mana pool's just ahead. Let's go, Picasso.

[Yusuke does try to struggle out of Wash's grip but well. He's a beanpole. He barely eats most days and really, he is most likely dehydrated a lot. Up against someone like Wash he really can't break free. Which is fine because he shouldn't.]

This is ridiculous! Do you treat all people like this?!

Sometimes I shoot them first.

[This is...actually true, in some contexts. Wash stops short of the pool entirely, trying to gauge how best to get this guy off the island without potentially releasing him and giving him the opportunity to get the hell out. He might be fast - he's certainly weedy enough to look like he could be pretty agile, and Wash isn't keen on taking those chances.]

[He settles for the next best (worst?) thing - which is drawing his sidearm and pointing it straight at Yusuke.]

Don't move.

[That is definitely enough to make Yusuke freeze. No matter what effects have a hold of him, having a gun to you is enough to make you stop.

He isn't dumb. He's always been one of the members of his group to not do something stupidly impulsive so he won't move but the look in his eyes is screaming about how absurd this is.]

All right. Good.

[He bends, swiftly, to swipe one of the flower blooms from beside the mana pool and hurls it into it, focusing on the islets, the islets.]

[In the seconds before the transportation takes hold, he reaches out again to try and snag Yusuke by the front of his shirt in the hopes that it will force the mana pool to take them both back.]

[The positive thing is Yusuke is transfixed with the flowers and then by the mana pool. So he at least isn't about to run off as he stares and luckily enough for Yusuke, he is taken back with Wash.

And when they are transported, Yusuke blinks and looks around.] I...hm. This place gets stranger.

[Wash blinks rapidly behind his visor, stepping back several paces as he abruptly releases Yusuke and lets his sidearm fall away.]

...sorry. Sorry. That place makes you - it takes a lot out of you. [Already, the volcanic tightness of his anger is ebbing away from where it pooled in his muscles and drew his jaw tight. He breathes out, slow, trying to ease the rest of it away.]

[It's slow going.]

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