July Event: Riding the Wave

[lifeaftr_mods]

JULY EVENT: RIDING THE WAVE

Who: Everyone!
What: The Jormun reappear to allow some transformative fun...and potentially some underwater exploration as well
When: July 10th and onward
Where: Ensō and the ocean floor around it
Warnings: Potential (and fully optional) body/transformation horror may arise when undergoing shifts from land-based to sea-based shapes, and vice versa. Otherwise, tag as you go!

I'll See You on the Other Side
The Jormun resurfaced to greet their old allies on July 8th, bringing with them the offer to explore the ocean floor alongside them. They're not the only old friend that's made a return, however. The kaleidoshells, placid, rainbow-tinted creatures reminiscent of sea turtles, have also made their way to Ensō's shores for their nesting season. For much of the month of July, you'll have to tread carefully around mounds of sand hiding delicate heaps of kaleidoshell eggs. Those of you uninterested in sea exploration can remain on the surface, if you like - the kaleidoshells can make for a stunning sight if you're glimpsing them for the first time as their shells throw off vibrant rainbow swirls of light reflected into the ocean waters.

Predators are always keen to feast on easy prey, and kaleidoshell eggs are no exception. If you feel like protecting them from any hungry slypers or pterax, you'll find that some of the Jormun are happy to stick on the surface with you and assist. They'll even lend you a schlacknorkcvic, which is the Jormun equivalent of a simple driftwood training staff, to help keep any thieving creatures away from the nests of kaleidoshell eggs - though they recommend that you do so peacefully, if possible.

Get Carried Away
Or you can brave the sea waters with the Jormun, instead. With the help of the sne'akleriad pendant, your new, aquatic shape will allow you to navigate the waters just as easily as they. Whether you intend to make use of this new skill to go roaming about and explore some of Ensō's uncharted ocean squares, take a look at that underwater structure that's been sighted before, or just have a joyous time beneath the waves with your new scaly, tentacled, flippered, or be-gilled form, the choice is yours.

---

In the meantime, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC Event Info and Plotting Post
[ ♆ ] Underwater City Exploration Page
[ ♆ ] Jormun NPC Information
[ ♆ ] Ensō's Locations Page

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] July 8th: The Jormun and the kaleidoshells return to Ensō's shores
[ ♆ ] July 10th: Underwater exploration begins
[ ♆ ] July 17th: Part Two of our second year anniversary Test Drive Meme goes up
[ ♆ ] July 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs
[ ♆ ] July 22nd: The final island in this voting round appears
[ ♆ ] July 25th: The Jormun return to their home beneath the waves

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

a

[catpiper]

The truth of the matter is, poor sweet Ginko, is that cats are never wrong. It's impossible to stop that hunting instinct and turtle harassment is just par the kitty course. It's why she tries to keep her own pets away because she's not sure they wouldn't try to grab a snack or two along the beach.

"Hey," There's a stick in her hand that she presses against the sand, moving it back and forth in swift motions to see if it capture's that cat's attention. "Play with this thing."

[onegreeneye]

Frankly, that's probably a better idea then letting his big dumb plant tiger near the beach to begin with... but, then again, he's not sure he can keep this hundred-pound stubborn bastard animal away?? This is his life now he guesses.

A thing that is already moving is, fortunately, way more immediately interesting than a thing that will move if she knocks it over, and Tanpo's attention snaps to the stick in moments. She chuffs quietly and drops close to the ground to watch it, raising a paw in preparation to smack at the stick.

Ginko lets out a breath, staying between her and the nest for the time being. "Thanks, Ren."

[catpiper]

Her level of usefulness increases and decreases with the amount of cats in the area, so this checks out. Once the kitty's attention is nabbed, she moves the stick a bit faster, hoping to keep it out of her reach. The cat's gonna be faster than her though, she knows it. That's just how it is. But if she occupy the feline's time for a short while, then that gives the eggs enough time to hatch and amble off.

"Cats like this kind of thing, so you can keep this stick if you want."

[onegreeneye]

"I appreciate that." Normally, he could just go get one on his own, but... you know. That would require moving away from the eggs and leaving Tanpo unattended for a bit. Not... ideal. "You seem to know a lot about cats."

[catpiper]

She knows so much about cats and it's the one bit of knowledge she will readily admit to having. With a smile, she continues to run the stick across the sand, running back and forth just to make sure the tiger's focus is only on her.

"I met a lot of cats and we stayed together for a long time. They taught me a lot of things."

[onegreeneye]

Ginko sits down carefully in the sand, watching Tanpo bounce around and swat at the stick like a giant, leafy kitten. Which he guesses isn't far off, but sometimes it's amazing how much dignity she has not gained as she's grown.

"...Huh. Were there... any other humans there, or was it just you and the cats?" Because that wouldn't really surprise him, knowing Ren, but also: Concerning??

[catpiper]

"It was me and the cats for a very long time. Everyone else was dead." The stick swings up, up, up and she runs a couple feet away to keep the animal on its toes. Come on, ya great being of the forest. Catch it!! "But then Seto found me-he's human too."

[onegreeneye]

"...who was 'everyone'?" Ginko keeps his voice steady, but his brow creases. How many people was everyone? A family, a town, more than that?

Tanpo pounces clumsily at the stick, trying - in theory - to snap it with her big dumb paws, and misses completely. So she goes chasing after Ren again.

Tanpo has no goddamn idea what's going on, and Ginko almost envies her.

"How'd that go?"

[catpiper]

"Everyone was 'everyone'-I think the whole world turned into ghosts." Seto was the only one who seemed to think there were others and while he had heard the girl over the radio, Ren didn't think-

She wasn't sure if they could find her in that big wide world with no way to communicate. But he had been determined to do it.

And maybe he found her in the end.

"But it was okay because I had Seto."

[onegreeneye]

"I'm... glad you were alright." He'll focus on that part, because that's better than dwelling too much on the thought of the apparent annihilation of humankind. "How did he find you?"

[catpiper]

There's just so much to unpack with all that. The laboratory, Glass Cage round two boogaloo and honestly, she doesn't know what weird twist of fate allowed two lonely souls to meet in that random place. The timing could only mean-

"He followed the sound of my heart and when I ran away, he kept following me. He always found me," Which doesn't explain that much, but she's always happy to talk about Seto. "He's good at stuff like that."

[onegreeneye]

"At... following people's hearts?" Kind of abstract, but... honestly no more so than the most succinct ways of describing some stuff Ginko's run into before.

Besides, whether Ren's description is factually accurate or not... it certainly seems real enough to her. So, good enough for him.

[catpiper]

"At everything." Because when it comes to incredible people, Seto tops the chart every single time. At finding others, at comforting, at exploring and being brave and-

He's everything. "There's nothing Seto isn't good at. That's how he is."

[onegreeneye]

As she replies, Ginko can't keep from smiling, just a slight, gentle shift in his expression. It's not even just the fact of what she's saying, but... the way she says it. There's something truly uplifting about that kind of earnestness.

"It sounds like you really were fortunate to be found by someone like that."

[catpiper]

Fortunate in so many ways.

If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be alive. She wouldn't be free. She wouldn't be traversing across islands and eating weird plants and playing with cats.

If it weren't for him, she'd be nothing. Have nothing. Be worth nothing.

"Have you been found by a special person before?"

[onegreeneye]

There was really no way for Ren to anticipate how hard that question hits Ginko. And, for that matter, it may not show now; he just goes very, very still, except for his tail shifting in the sand to curl closer to him.

"What do you mean by that, specifically?"

Not that there is a single possibility for what she meant that won't be horrifically awkward to answer, but, you know.

[catpiper]

Specifically? It's already extremely specific to her. There's plenty of people she considers special-it's just that Seto tops the list every single time. It's easy for her to recognize and pick out the friends and family who make her heart flutter with happiness, even when they just look at her, so-

"People who make you happy. Very happy."

[onegreeneye]

Well, that phrasing at least brings a specific answer to mind. It's not like Epsilon is the only person who makes him happy, or even close to it, but-- the consistency with which Ginko feels better when he talks to him is kind of stunning. And it's kind of hard to forget, when they're living in the same cottage.

Ginko remains very still, except for his claws curling in the sand. "...I guess so."

[catpiper]

The silence that follows is weird to her, but most things are. Because Seto is everything. It took awhile in the days following his absence to be able to say his name again, but once she could bear to think about him-

It was like she had never stopped and sometimes, she couldn't help to blather about how incredible he was. How special he was. How good he was.

The I guess so is quieter answer. Once she doesn't want to press, but-"Are they here too?"

[onegreeneye]

"Yeah. The people I'm living with here are friends from the last world I was in; they're really important to me." He gets a better handle on himself, bit by bit, as he speaks; there's no need to risk worrying Ren by getting too caught up in his own hesitation over his own feelings.

He manages a smile, even if it's very slight. "Do you know Ed and Epsilon?"

[catpiper]

The name Ed brings an immediate smile to her face. Her body straightens and she extends her arms to both sides of her, as far as she can, and points to the sky.

"Yes, I know Ed-he can fly really high and he saves people."

Specifically, her, from drowning in Ai'tuoh, but she's sure he must rescue others with great frequency, whenever he can. He's brave like that.

"But I don't know Epsilon."

[onegreeneye]

Just hearing Ren's description of Ed actually makes Ginko's smile more genuine by the moment. "That's him, alright. I'm glad you've met him."

As for Epsilon. Okay. He thinks he can be normal about this.

"I think you'd like Epsilon. He's very kind; he's always thinking about other people, and trying to look after them."

[catpiper]

"Does he live with you? Near you?" Because she needs to go on an Epsilon hunt.

[onegreeneye]

"With me. Ed and Epsilon and I all live in the same cottage, on the northwestern islet - it's the one without any wood, with plants growing all around it."

Because that's kind of how it's gotta be if a nymph is going to live in it comfortably, and they would all prefer Epsilon be reasonably comfortable there.

[catpiper]

"Okay, when I look at that place again, I'll say 'Hello, Epsilon'-that's what I'll do." Because she's always wandering around-she'll make a note to greet Ginko's special person while she's in the area.