Returning Island: Umui

[lifeaftr_mods]

RETURNING ISLAND: UMUI

Who: Everyone!
What: Umui returns to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: January 20th, and onward
Where: It'd almost be beautiful, if you didn't know it could kill you
Warnings: Please mark if anything comes up!

I Found a Plot of Weeds Instead
Perhaps some of you remember the island of Umui...its mysteries, its dangers, its eerie quiet. Almost everything here was both overgrown and Overgrown - remnants of an old civilization were buried beneath layers of the flowers that eventually killed them. And travelers got to unpack and hunt down whatever clues they could find about just what happened to the people out here, until the answer became all too obvious.

When Umui resurfaces on January 20th, you might be startled to discover that everything has become even more overgrown than before. No, really - almost every landmark and building has been rendered more or less totally unrecognizable. It looks very much as though centuries of growth has now overcome this entire area, as though you've left it like this for a period of millennia and not merely a period of months. The buildings have been utterly buried beneath grasses and flowers, and if there were any of those automatons left lying about, they're probably buried pretty deep under the ground too. It's not recommended that you go digging too deep. You probably don't want to awaken any old strains of the Overgrowth, right? You already dealt with that earlier in the month! And that's the good news in all this. As long as you don't go digging too deeply into the island, you won't have any fear of encountering the Overgrowth again.

Well, unless you're after something or someone in particular. Some of you might remember robotic entity that several of you worked together to save. They're probably underneath all this stuff somewhere, right? Still deactivated, but...maybe there's something you can do to save them...?

If anyone has questions about what you might find if you poking around Umui's landscape, you're free to ask them here! It's worth noting, however, that except for the flora, this place is almost completely devoid of other life. Nothing sentient lives here...anymore.

Buried Deep Underneath the Tree
That doesn't mean Umui is bereft of any of quirks entirely, however. While you might recognize some of the flowers poking up from the humps of moss and greenery, a certain type of bloom is definitely new...and definitely not one of your standard types of flowers, either. If anyone thinks to ask one of the gods about these flowers, they will receive an assurance that they are not innately dangerous - but they are innately linked to the dream island of Mu. They glow with a strange, vaguely ethereal light, and if you get too close, they'll waft some thick spores of pollen in your direction.

These spores have all sorts of ways of latching their effects into you. Whether they get breezed into your mechanical parts, inhaled, ingested, if they land in your eyes, whatever the case - pretty soon, they're going to start working their magic. And once they do, you'll soon find yourself feeling inexplicably and incredibly tired. Inexorably, you'll find yourself settling down for a nap, regardless of whether you're not one for sleeping, or even if you're one who requires it. The moment you close your eyes, you'll find yourself entering a dream state on Mu, and one that is linked with all other dreaming entities. This means that it's highly possible that your dreams will be bleeding into other people's, or that you may end up wandering into another's dreams. It's very probable, in fact.

The dream-state you enter may vary in depth. You might end up completely beholden to Mu's wishes, or you might find yourself in a vaguely lucid, almost "sleepwalking" state, where in the following effects are "projections" visible to the waking world. Most likely, you'll all be bumping up against one another's heads within Mu's vast and comfortable shores. Whichever of these it is, once you're caught within Mu's grasp, you'll find that it's a trove of memories that await you - your memories. You may find yourself re-enacting them or simply watching from afar...but the same may be said for others who might stumble upon your mind. Perhaps they find themselves in place of another character, or watching invisibly from the sidelines. Either way, Mu tries to make each instance as close to the real thing as possible. When it has completed, it may either restart itself, or simply fade entirely.

Should you be affected by Umui's pollen, any one or more of the following will occur:

[ ♆ ] True Bliss: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you were truly happy. This may be as simple or as grandiose as you may like, but it had to have really happened.

[ ♆ ] True Judgment: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you felt exceptionally guilty. And no matter what you do, you'll find that it is impossible to change. Try as you might, you can only ever witness the same end result that has stricken you with so much guilt. And the same can be said for whoever might have gotten caught in this instance, and is watching it happen...

[ ♆ ] True Peace: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you felt the most at peace, whether with some aspect of yourself or the circumstances around you. Perhaps this sense of peace bleeds into your own consciousness as you witness or act it, or perhaps it only serves to unsettle you...or maybe it affects those who go wandering into your dreams.

[ ♆ ] True Balance: Mu selects a memory or a time in your life...and warps it so that it is experienced in the opposite manner that it was initially. For example: that happy memory of you rescuing a bunch of kittens from a burning building? When you experience it this time, it will be in a relentlessly negative light - you absolute monster, traumatizing those kittens by carrying them through the fire like that! You should have been more careful! What if the fire was your fault all along? That horrible memory in which you slaughtered a bunch of innocent people? Well, it was all for the best, wasn't it? It was good that you did this. You have nothing to be sorry for. There's a bright side to everything - even this.

[ ♆ ] True Fate: Mu creates what it understands to be your final destiny, whether it be the place where our story ends, or the circumstances under which you perish. Perhaps this is something that is known to you, or to others. And perhaps it isn't.

You may pay witness to any one or more of these dream-states at a time. Perhaps you visit the island five times and receive the same "effect" each time, or perhaps you visit only once but find yourself looping through all five "effects" in the same space. The memories may vary, as well; for example, you might experience the "True Bliss" effect three times, and experience three separate happy memories each time. The choice of what your character experiences is up to you! While there are no inherent risks to this dream-state, it should be worth noting that your body will not be immune to entropy should you stay in it too long. Your body may suffer from hunger or thirst, or require recharging at a mana pool. For the most part, however, the only things you have to fear are the, uh, trauma that this might inflict. Or the trauma of other people seeing some of your most private memories.

Where My Friends Plot to Bury Me
Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. Characters are not required to go to Umui; you're free to explore any other minor events listed on our Monthly Rundown post. You are also always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed!

Also remember that if you died this month, to fill out the corresponding form over on our Deaths page!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them over on our Monthly Rundown post!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[onegreeneye]

...Then the more good days you can get, the better.

[Now it's Ginko's turn to go quiet - because he does know what Hector means, better than he'd like to admit.

Then again, he doesn't really need to admit it. Hector knows more now about what goes on in Ginko's head than Ginko ever wanted him to, and there isn't any way to take that back. So... he might as well hope that knowing that could help Hector, somehow.]

I know I can't ask you just to decide to stop blaming yourself. But, if you can try and tell yourself, every so often, that it wasn't all your fault - please do that.

[vagabone]

[Letting go of his self-loathing is as impossible as finding a way back to the real world, he wants to say. He can't. It feels like fact, not opinion. It might be written into the fabric of universe somewhere: Héctor Rivera, good-for-nothing husband and papá, got what he deserved.

But all Ginko's asking is one small thing. He'd have to start somewhere...] I... can try, I suppose. To remember other people might not have seen it coming. Didn't, actually. I've met people who were, well... died like I did. I just didn't know the truth back then.

[onegreeneye]

[The smallest bit of tension spills from Ginko's shoulders. It's not much, not with Hector's death still repeating over and over not far away, but the possibility that Hector might try to be slightly kinder to himself is a pretty significant relief.]

That's a good start. I know this kind of thing is going to take a while, but... I'm glad you're willing to try.

[vagabone]

[Dios, he's tired. And he doesn't know what it means to be kind to himself. It's been too long. Too, too long. He'll... have to think about it a while, it's too pathetic to admit out loud.

For now:] ...you're a good friend, Ginko.

might be wrapping?

[onegreeneye]

[...Ginko should probably say something to that. Probably.

But nothing he could say feels right. So he just stands there, not responding except for a hesitant nod of appreciation.]

surprise

[vagabone]

[That's alright, he doesn't seem to mind. He's used to it with Ginko, it doesn't mean anything's wrong.

The scene finally changes... They're in the land of the dead now, at night, and the whole city is lit up by colored lights. Bridges and roads are built in midair, buildings stacked on top of each other. If it weren't the spirit world, it'd never work, but things are not quite real here. It's fine, nothing's going to topple.

And Past Héctor's driving a small van. Slowly. Carefully. He's new at this. Present Héctor looks like he wants to shrivel up and disappear.]

Ay, why couldn't it be a nice memory...

[onegreeneye]

[Oh, well. This is new, in any case - though the stacked buildings, precariously hanging bridges and streets, make him take a step back.

Not that there's anywhere to go. It's all a memory, after all, all around them.

But, again: A new one. Hector isn't dying anymore, he's dead (an improvement, against all reason), and he's... driving a van.

Ginko makes a face like he's smelled something mildly gross.] What is this one, exactly?

[vagabone]

[There are other skeletons walking the streets, ones not wearing rags. Not duct-taping their bones together, not so faded and grey. They're mostly clean, healthy and bright white, with facial markings much brighter than Héctor's are. It's quite a contrast, isn't it?

The van keeps lurching along. His past self hasn't got the hang of braking gently yet.]

Ahh... you know how I keep telling you I haven't always been the nicest guy? [He looks like he wants to die of shame and whatever's coming hasn't happened yet.]

[onegreeneye]

[Now that he's looking at those other skeletons... it's not something he's ever noticed, just seeing Hector and nobody else from his world, but he looks... bad. That's really the only way to sum it up, unfortunately.

...Also, that's, uh. Ominous. Ginko looks from the memory to Hector, squinting slightly.] So... what am I looking at?

[vagabone]

[The scene slides along around them, tracking the car. No getting out of watching what happens by lagging behind, it seems. The van's getting closer to the bridges bit by bit...

He's clasping his arm, hating this even though it beats watching his own death two dozen times. Hah...] Something very stupid, very illegal, and pointless because it didn't actually work.

[onegreeneye]

[Why is he getting the same feeling he did watching an eight-year-old grabbing for a dangerous mushi back home? It's like the world's slowest train wreck.]

...Were... you planning to drive over it?

[He's gonna be honest, that bridge does not look sturdy enough to hold up a van.]

[vagabone]

I was running out of ideas. [Quietly, defeated. It's in the past, he'll never have to scheme again, but... Some feelings linger.] My better ones had already failed. Not much time left either, the bridge is only there once a year. Most years I only had one good shot at it.

[onegreeneye]

Guess I can't really blame you for that.

[One attempt at the impossible, every year, for a century. It sounds like an absolute nightmare, even without all the other circumstances weighing on Hector.] I take it this isn't the kind of thing that can be cheated around?

[vagabone]

[The borrowed van is lurching its way to a series of checkpoints standing between it and the bridges...]

If it is possible... I was never clever enough to figure it out. But next year might be different. It's fine. It's over.

[onegreeneye]

...I don't know how much being clever has to do with circumventing a world's basic rules.

[Which, from what he gathers, that bridge seems to be. And, listen, he knows some things about trying to get around a place's nature. Literally.]

But, like you said - you don't have to try anymore.

[vagabone]

No. Miguel will make sure I can cross over the normal way. [He's one determined kid. He'll find a way, even if the living Riveras don't cooperate.]

But, ah. That's not the real reason I don't like this memory... [Héctor says, just as the van crashes through the gates, sending skeletons running for their unlives. "Sorry! Still learning how to drive!" yells the memory-Héctor, following it up with a giddy laugh... right up until the van hits the petals and falls right through. Then there's only screaming.]

[onegreeneye]

[Oh holy shit he really just... did that. That sure did happen.

Ginko makes a choked sort of coughing sound and covers his mouth with the back of his hand which... well, Hector can't prove that was him hiding a laugh. He can understand Hector's frustration, and he feels bad for those other skeletons, but also. Also.]

So, uh, where-- did you fall to?

[vagabone]

[He knows you, Ginko. Knows what a laugh sounds like coming from you, and that...

Ginko laughs. Ginko laughs and he goes quiet, feeling the cold burn of humiliation. He expected no better, he knows damn well he's nothing more than a big joke, an idiot clown, but it still stings. He can't bring himself to meet Ginko's eyes, staring at the ground.]

There's a river beneath the bridges. I made it back out of the water alright, it's not like I can drown. [His ribs did pay the price, though.]

[onegreeneye]

[Ginko isn't always the most observant person. But he notices that. He notices, and guilt twists in his stomach immediately. His tail pulls in close, a quick motion to make himself smaller that he can't quite control.]

...I'm glad you were alright.

[vagabone]

[He's not paying attention, eyes on everything but Ginko. New memory, same scene. Bridge, gates, scanners, attendants and guards. And Héctor, wearing something like snowshoes on his feet. 'Snowshoes' made of scraps by a man who's never even seen snow. He tried! They're well made, at least.

Memory-Héctor doesn't even wait for the scanner to buzz and deny him. He just takes off running like a maniac, dodging guards, making it to the petals, getting a few feet across before sinking down up to his eyeballs. Another failure, another year wasted.

Present day Héctor says nothing this time. What's the point? Laugh it up, Ginko.]

[onegreeneye]

[There's no sound from Ginko this time. Complete silence as his eye stays fixed on the very similar memory.

A hundred years of this.

He really is an asshole.]

[vagabone]

[The memories keep going, because there are so many to choose from. An unfamiliar skeleton with a backpack on is allowed through! Only to fall into the flowers until he lets go of his pack, which of course has another skeleton in it, dissembled.

Another one where Héctor tries his luck with the scanner, which can't seem to figure out who he is--because he's swapped bones with several different people. And yet he falls through anyway.

A third where he shoves his way past everyone and latches on to someone already through the gate, who must be in on it because she doesn't panic. Piggyback ride! Unfortunately, another failure.

The real Héctor clears his imaginary throat.] You... you don't have to stay. This could go on a while.

[onegreeneye]

[Ginko flinches - just barely, probably only even notable to people who know him well enough to contrast it against his usual body language - and glances briefly at Hector. The real one.]

I... right. I can go if you want me to.

[Won't be any surprise if he does.]

[vagabone]

[The next attempt is a little longer: Héctor lassoing an unwilling flying alebrije, which ends in disaster, naturally, and that familiar broken tibia.]

I just... want you to understand, I wanted to see Coco. So very much. I wasn't, ah, driving everyone crazy for no reason.

[He's not that big a jackass.]

[onegreeneye]

[He winces a little at that one. Ouch.

Ginko drops his gaze, breaking away from actually looking at all Hector's failures.]

I know. I'm sorry.