May Adventure: I Want to Go Where Everyone Goes

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: IO

Who: Everyone!
What: Io appears!
When: May 10th and onward
Where: Io
Warnings: The possibility of drug use and alcohol may come up. Otherwise, tag as you go!

Things Are Shaping Up to Be Pretty Odd
As of May 10th, the mana pools on Ensō and its islets will now allow for travel to Io. Though you could always opt for sailing, if you wanted. As we mentioned on the island's introductory post, no exploration is necessary! The island is small enough and easily traversed, and with a minimum of dangers, you have plenty of time to visit each of Io's six draws.

The temple is the easiest place to get in touch with the local avatar, though you can contact them just as easily by striking up a conversation with just about any honeybee you see in the vicinity. The lazy drone of them can be heard all over the island, though they're quite complacent, and not at all prone to disturbing adventurers. The temple itself is twined with grapevines and smothered with inlays of rubies, proud and sparkling. Inside, it smells of honey and wine, and seems to exhibit a naturally contented glow. Just outside, numerous fruit trees sprout all about the temple's courtyard, to be sampled at your leisure.

The bathhouses are located just south of the temple, and are prime locations for some rest and relaxation. Bathe, swim, take a spa day! There are innumerable rooms to do exactly that, and more space than be reasonably filled by some sixty-or-seventy people. Or maybe you're interested in getting absolutely sloshed instead. The vineyard is perfect for that, located to Io's northeast on one of its long, tapering peninsulas. Rows upon rows of grapevines lead up to the crown jewel of the region: a proud winery with enough goods to satisfy even the most parched.

For those less keen on mind-altering substances, the tea gardens are a far safer bet. They practically emanate tranquility, with their soft paper lanterns, thickets of tea trees, and a tea room with a seemingly endless supply of every supplement to your drink that you could ask for. And if none of the teabags or tea leaves in there suit your preference, you're free to wander about the gardens yourself and sample whatever you like.

The Honeycomb at the island's heart is much more akin to a play structure or jungle gym than anything else, but its interlocking passageways and erratic, hexagonal architecture aren't for nothing. It's an ideal spot for play or exercise, if you're into that kind of thing - or for getting positively sick on honey sticks.

The campsites ensure that you don't truly have to depart from Io, if you don't want to. Tents full of chairs and cushions and blankets make it a wonderful place to spend the night if you're so inclined, and the lockers full of food and drink are assurances that you won't go hungry. And with all these massive bonfires and firework cannons, why would you ever want to leave?

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Welcome to the island of Io! Please, enjoy your stay and make full use of this island's many faculties! For further information in regards to the island, or plotting, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC info and introductory post
[ ♆ ] Io on the Locations page

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[scourgingstars]

I remind you that's something I've tried before. [He brushed some wayward hair out of Ignis' face before laying a scarred hand light on his shoulder.]

As I recall, all of you rather insisted I leave.

[shatteredlenses]

Right. I suppose the results would be no different than they would have been back then.

[Ignis sighs tiredly, leaning into Ardyn's touch as it brushes over his face and then settles on his shoulder.]

So many people are gone now and while I know there was nothing I could have done, my brain keeps telling me different. We could have explored more. Asked more questions. Something.

I just...want to stop thinking about it for a while.

[scourgingstars]

I know.

[Ardyn didn't care nearly as much and they both knew it. But a lack of being openly annoyed was almost as good as sympathy coming from him.]

With any luck, this place will be here and largely free of disaster for a while yet.

[shatteredlenses]

[At first, Ignis just makes a soft affirmative sound, but after a few second a smile suddenly starts to spread across his face.]

And how much of a disaster would it be if I decided I was going to dunk you right now? I mean, I do still owe you that birthday disaster.

[scourgingstars]

I will be furious and kill everyone on this island, of course.

[ardyn, don't...don't just joke about that shit]

[shatteredlenses]

Oh, that old threat again. Can't you come up with something more creative?

[Ignis...what? DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!]

[scourgingstars]

Probably, but why bother when the old standby is just as good?

[shatteredlenses]

Because a bored Ignis is an Ignis who has more time to plot your downfall via dunking?

[scourgingstars]

You wouldn't dare.

[shatteredlenses]

[There is a slight shifting in the water which may or may not be Ignis curling his legs under himself, readying to spring at Ardyn.]

Wouldn't I?

[scourgingstars]

Not if you know what's good for you, you won't.

[shatteredlenses]

You have called me a fool a great many times...

[Ignis lets his words trail off for a moment as if he may act despite the warning not to, but in the end he just laughs and splashes water in Ardyn's direction.]

I suppose I won't make you call me a fool yet again this time.

[scourgingstars]

Hm. [Ardyn laughed under his breath, playfully shoving at Ignis' shoulder.] A smart choice.

[shatteredlenses]

I have my moments.

[He laughs softly and then holds his hand out toward Ardyn.]

Come sit by me? I promise. No dunking attempts will commence.

[scourgingstars]

If I must. [He took Ignis' hand and shifted closer, leaning light against his shoulder.] Losing this island will be a downright tragedy once it inevitably vanishes, won't it?

[shatteredlenses]

Only if it stays this peaceful. If things go true to form, we may be glad once it is gone.

[Ignis sighs contentedly when Ardyn leans into him, moving his arm so he can put it around the redhead's shoulders and draw him a little closer.]

[scourgingstars]

A true enough point.

[Ardyn didn't even think to push Ignis' arm away, something he swiftly regretted when he felt it brush against ancient vicious scars running haphazardly along the length of his back. He went very still and tense, saying nothing to address the matter.]

[shatteredlenses]

[Ardyn tenses at his touch and Ignis can't help but frown, only really noticing the ridges of scarred flesh under his fingers at that point. It's not like he doesn't know Ardyn has scars. He's already felt those on his hands, but these are so much worse. There is part of him that wants to trace them to find out just how bad they are, but he forces his hand to remain still.]

Do you want me to move my arm?

[Ignis doesn't want to just remove it immediately. That might give the impression he's repulsed somehow, which he's not. How can he be when he wears his own scars? Of course, he also doesn't want to make Ardyn any more uncomfortable than he already has.]

[scourgingstars]

It’s fine. I was...merely startled, nothing more.

[Slowly, he forced the worst of the tension out of his shoulders and leaned against Ignis a little more. As inconspicuously as he could, Ardyn raised a hand to his chest to guard the scar sitting dead center from an ancient stab wound.]

You’ve not done anything wrong.

[shatteredlenses]

You're doing a wonderful job of fooling absolutely no one. I hope you know that.

[Ignis can't see where Ardyn moves his hand to, but he sure can hear the water moving as the action is completed.]

You realize I am the last person who is going to care about your scars, right? Or it is the memory of what caused them that bothers you instead?

[scourgingstars]

...a bit of both, perhaps. I'm so accustomed to hiding them that the matter hasn't come up in a very long time.

[shatteredlenses]

That's understandable considering what they are a visible reminder of.

[Ignis moves then so he can float in front of Ardyn and brush a hand along his face.]

Just remember you don't have to hide things from me, okay? It doesn't matter how painful or ugly those parts of you are.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn leaned his head into Ignis' hand, managing a faint smile.]

I suspect we both know there are far worse things about me than a few marks. [Then, after a brief moment of hesitant thought, Ardyn turned around.]

Here--you can see for yourself, if you like. I've no reason to hide anything from you.

[Inasmuch as Ignis saw anything, with a more direct approach. If he did reach out, he'd find a collection of haphazard slashes no doubt from a greatsword, the worst of which ran diagonal from shoulder to waist.]

[shatteredlenses]

It's not just the marks; it's what they represent.

[But Ardyn knows that just as he does, so Ignis doesn't push the point. Instead, he floats closer, fingertips brushing lightly over each raised line. His touch is reverent almost for he knows each line holds a life changing amount of pain and betrayal. Once he wanted to heal these wounds, to give Ardyn back what was so cruelly taken from him, but now he understands that some wounds cannot be healed. Indeed, they should not be.

Once he's memorized the lay of those marks across Ardyn's back, he leans forward to press a kiss to the very top of that longest slash. Ignis has no pretty words to say now, for there is nothing pretty about the marks or what they have created, but they are part of Ardyn and so he accepts them just as he has everything else.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn was accustomed to Ignis touching him as much as he could be with anyone touching him, but even so he was incredibly still and quiet as hands traced paths carved in by blades.]

[It was nice, almost, to finally let him touch marks Ardyn had kept hidden for decades. There was something reassuring to the action, even if Ardyn had no ability to pinpoint what or why.]

...you're far better than I deserve, you realize.