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

[forwearemany]

We cannot.

(They do not attempt to answer the obvious question of why, exactly, they're here in that case. Perhaps they themselves do not know, or lack the ability to articulate.

...Most likely it has to do with lots of people being here.)

[counterblows]

Exploring?

[That was one of the reasons he set out down here in the first place. The other reason being that he's had a bad couple of fucking weeks, and he's interested in drowning that out some.]

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(It's one reason they're here.)

We do not understand organic fascination with self poisoning.

[counterblows]

It's not exactly that.

[A pause while he considers that.]

Well - okay, you're not wrong. It is kind of that. But alcohol has benefits to go with the self-destruction.

[forwearemany]

These benefits outweigh the risk?

(Though they are hard to read, it's possible that Wash may pick up on both the subtle shift in tone and the movements of their eye and headflaps that indicate doubt.)

[counterblows]

Sometimes.

[His tone is wry.]

For some people, the risk is part of the appeal. They drink because they want to forget something. Or they want to have a good time, even if they end up damaging their liver in the process. It makes things easier to think about, sometimes.

[forwearemany]

...We question these judgements.

(Those pros don't really seem like much. They don't even necessarily seem like pros.)

[counterblows]

You never just want to forget all your problems and tune out for a little bit?

[Maybe they don't. Wash is generally not one for that kind of coping, but things have gotten dire over these past few weeks. Upsettingly so.]

[forwearemany]

"Forgetting" problems does not remove them.

(They chatter. This conversation is unproductive. There are more important topics.)

You are experiencing distress?

[counterblows]

You could say that.

[He actually admitted it to someone. That's a step up from usual.]

It's a way to avoid dealing with them, because dealing with them doesn't usually feel so great - and getting drunk does.

[forwearemany]

It also harms you.

(Hurting onesepf to avoid problems does not seem like rationel, responsible, or wise behavior.)

[counterblows]

Not short-term. [Not really.]

Not unless I'm risking alcohol poisoning by over-drinking, which I won't be, because I'm not that far gone. Long-term, sure, it'll wreck your liver, but I've had worse anyway.

[forwearemany]

Hangover?

(That's a short term, if temporary, form of harm.)

Nature of distress?

[counterblows]

Nothing most people can't handle.

[Wash included. Hangover's nothing compared to the feeling of broken glass in his hair, digging into his skin.]

Got to remember a few things that I'd rather forget. From a couple weeks back, when we all got to be young again?

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(They stare at him. Waiting to see if he will continue.)

[counterblows]

Brought up some memories.

[He starts digging into the cork on the bottle of spiced rum until he's able to pry it out from the neck and set it down on the nearest table.]

I'm a little bit tired of those at the moment.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

You do not wish to speak of it?

(Just confirming. Since it's pretty clear he doesn't.)

[counterblows]

Not in specifics. Don't think we ran into each other when everyone was getting their ages fucked around with, did we?

[Just checking. He's pretty sure he remembers everyone he ran into, but it pays to make sure.]

[forwearemany]

We did.

You have forgotten?

(Headtilt. Concern, confusion.)

[counterblows]

I've got a lot of memories in my head. It pays to keep them straight sometimes.

[More memories than one person's meant to have. More than one specialized military operative is meant to have.]

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

You are experiencing difficulties?

(If so, they wonder if drinking will worsen them.

They will not prevent him for doing so, but they are concerned.)

[counterblows]

Little bit, yeah. It's pretty standard. It'll pass, eventually.

[Arguably, setting about trying to de-organize this mess in his head by drinking is just going to make it worse, but hey - no one needs to know that.]

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

(Their own knowledge of this topic is limited: they cannot offer assistance.)

[counterblows]

[A shrug. He doesn't need a drinking buddy, just now, which is good, since Legion can't drink. Instead he settles for taking a swig of some of that spiced rum and making a face.]

...mm. Forgot how this stuff tastes.

[forwearemany]

...Mixing?

(That's a thing organics do with alcohol, right?)