lifeaftr | April Undercurrent: Breaking Barriers

APRIL UNDERCURRENT

Who: Everyone!
What: Normal boundaries are made malleable, for a time
When: April 3rd to April 19th
Where: Everywhere!
Warnings: Please mark anything as it comes up!

Keep Me In Your Clouded Mind

As days pass, and the Water begins to exert their pull, your surroundings will begin to grow hazy, almost dreamlike. Though some might find this sensation to be unpleasant, the feeling will soon pass, and the world will seemingly right itself. Perhaps a fit of vertigo, and nothing more...?

But come the morning of April 3rd, the island's skies and seas will paint themselves anew in faded guises - every colour it's possible for a sky and sea to be, from sunrise to sunset - bleeding into each other like ink in water, until the horizon vanishes. And from that vanishing point, where sky and sea meet, you will begin to see...rafts. Rafts bearing familiar paper lanterns - some crumpled, some stained from their crash into the water, but recognizable all the same.

Remember those lanterns that you made last month? It turns out that they've actually served as beacons. And, as those rafts drift closer, you might find that the lights you set free, forged in your grief and longing, have managed to guide the subjects of that longing to you...at least for a time.

Of course, it's not all people you know. Those on the rafts are just as likely to be strangers, people who have simply drifted in on the tides of dream. Or they may be both familiar and not - the people you knew, who have changed in your absence or theirs.

They might even be you, though not as the island has made you. Perhaps they're the person you once were, or the person you will be. Who knows what the tides may bring?

To distinguish such temporary visitors from those making a more permanent stay, those brought in by these strange waters often look faded or filled with an ethereal light. They may also have a strange translucency to them, though this will not affect their ability for physical contact, interaction, or their solidity.

This month, no special tasks are required of you other than to interact with these new visitors, whether they bring you joy, grief, or the mutual, fleeting bond of a first meeting. The more you accept them as part of your lives - temporary as they are - the more power you produce.

Their stay might be short, but their impact is no lesser, and recognition of that is necessary to pave the way for Elytlan's arrival.

♆ FOURTH WALL EVENT ♆

We'd like to welcome anyone and everyone to LifeAftr's Fourth Wall Event! We'd like to start things off with a few points of clarification, if necessary:

[ ♆ ] This is an IC event. All characters will remember the fourth wall event and any characters that pass through it.

[ ♆ ] You are free to enable and post with absolutely anyone! For this event only, all rules regarding doubles and duplicates are to be considered null and void. Doubles, CRAUs, player-made AUs, original characters, whoever you like who can be brought to interact with the islands is free to do so! Characters who might be re-visiting from their past experiences in LifeAftr can recall as much or as little of their time in game as you like.

[ ♆ ] Please be aware that visiting characters will likely notice that their powers have been slightly or greatly dampened. While they will probably still be capable of smaller or more ordinary things, any game-breaking or world-ending powers will have no effect on these shores. You are free to nerf them even more if you want, though! We certainly won't stop you.

[ ♆ ] Only members of LifeAftr will have posting access, but all characters and players outside of the game are welcome to comment anywhere in this log, unless a player wishes to opt out of the event entirely.

[ ♆ ] This does include posting to the network, over at lifenet! Newly arriving characters will have access to the Stones of Farspeech that enable long-distance communication, but they will not be able to make their own posts - only comment to the posts of others.

[ ♆ ] We ask that any visitors be mindful of our game rules. Most characters will likely be arriving on the island of Ensō or the islets just off of its coast - feel free to read up on those pages for more information, and don't be afraid to ask questions!

[ ♆ ] This event will only last up until April 19th. At that point, all characters who have been brought to the Fourth Wall event and are not currently in game will fade away. Due to the ethereal quality to them while on the islands, the temporary nature of their stay will likely be apparent. That being said, this log will remain open once the event itself is complete - backtagging is both welcome and encouraged.

[ ♆ ] As the game will be entering endgame shortly after this event, we will not be opening Applications after the event unless you are a returning player who would like to be present for endgame.

[ ♆ ] If anyone has any questions about this event, please ask them HERE!

Color in My Sheltered Mind

Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. You're free to use this log as a catch-all for the duration of April's Undercurrent Event, as well as any of the other minor events listed on our Monthly Rundown post. And, of course, you are always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed.

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

April Timeline

[ ♆ ] April 1st: "Make Libations" begins and lasts until April 10th
[ ♆ ] April 3rd: "Breaking Barriers" begins and lasts until April 19th
[ ♆ ] April 12th: "Isn't It Dreamy?" begins and lasts until April 21st
[ ♆ ] April 20th: Elytlan arrives at the archipelago
[ ♆ ] April 22nd: "Got Your Goat" begins and lasts until March 31st

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you ever just wear a shirt?

[Ardyn, predictably, was at home inside so long as the sun was out. He didn't seem all that shocked to see Gladio, opting instead to roll his eyes in annoyance. Of course he'd show up sooner or later, this blasted island was just that way.]

Honestly.

[There's some satisfaction in finding Ardyn at home, and even after the months at Rookshire this is definitely home, not retreating back to his place away from the rest of them. So Ardyn sasses and Gladio just grins.]

You know the answer to that. Besides I just got outta the water.

[His grin widens for a moment and then he's leaning down to shake his head, letting his hair spray water all over where Ardyn's sitting.]

Come on, can you blame me after that fucking desert?

[It is so nice to be cool again.]

[He shadowstepped out of the range of Gladio's antics, adjusting his hat once he'd fully rematerialized a few feet away.]

First, don't start provoking me the second you get back inside. Second, what are you talking about.

[Oh... wait... it wasn't that close to the storm-

So Rookshire wasn't here. This was just the islands. Oh man too many alternate dimensions.]

Didn't realize you were back to full power. But I'm not afraid of you and you know it.

[Would he still have done it even if they were mid-storm and Ardyn was max powered? Yeah probably. Just... maybe from a step or two back.]

I don't care if you are or not. It's not worth the trouble of killing you and dealing with whatever Ignis would say on the matter.

Immediately back to the death threats.

[He makes a show of pouting, trying to keep it playful and not show how much the short temper stings. Again. He really is a glutton for punishment, isn't he?]

Is this because of Liam or just a fresh bout of cranky because you're full daemon again?

[?????]

...Who in the hell is Liam.

Tall... blond, dashing space traveler? We were literally drinking with him last night...

[????]

Gods fucking dammit did the timeline get fucked again?

Never heard of him, and I was here last night. So...very likely, yes.

[Never heard of him...

does that mean?]

I was here, we had the stupid paint guns and shit... there were 2 months missing, Prompto apparently got pulled away too. And then all four of us, and Shion, all ended up in Rookshire for... almost three months.

[He scrubs a hand over his face, huffing a muffled breath.]

What happened on your end?

...Nothing?

[A small shrug.]

I don't know how long ago that even was, I've ever been terrible with measuring time. You and Prompto alike left, and it's been the pair of us in this charming little house ever since. Until just now, obviously.

[Nothing.

So Iggy was still here, still missing him, still had no idea- It's heartbreaking, absolutely terrible and he's not even going to try to press Ardyn for a more accurate time frame. Not when he's being bratty.]

Are you-

Have you guys been okay?

Mm, I'd say we've managed, more or less. I assure you he misses the pair of you far more than I do.

[Slowly his expression shifts into something smug, a downright shit eating grin.]

More means you did miss us though~

Pushing your luck as usual, I see. Shall wonders never cease?

I'd hate to disappoint you.

[Ardyn you enjoy snarking at him, at least a little. Don't lie.]

I'm disappointed every time you breathe.

[maybe a little.]

I should show you how long I can hold my breath then.

[Yep, that is an honest to god brow waggle.]

You'll need to, if I decide to throttle you.

[children.]

If that's what gets you off....

[He just shrugs a little. YKINMKATO]

You are testing my patience today, Gladiolus.

No different than any other day.

[But he shrugs, throwing his hands up in surrender. Look he's learning to accept boundaries as Ardyn establishes them. Mostly.]

So... you're actually living here with Igs?

[Deadpan:] No, your house just has a better roof than mine and I hate sunlight.

[ardyn...]

[Ardyn you say no but you just said it's the two of you here and that here is better than "your" house. Gladio smiles, not the cheeky grin but something softer and more touched.]

Good. That's good.

Whatever. I care little for your opinion on the matter.

(no subject)

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