lifeaftr | April Undercurrent: Breaking Barriers

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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 )

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Some irrational part of him is afraid to move, afraid to let go. They could be standing here for an eon, honestly. He doesn't want to move... he never wants to let go again.

"No one's alone. You live in the same house, I think. Or a house in the same place. It must be bigger now, so many people live there." He sounds like he's smiling, unseen. "Ay, I'd tell you all their names, but that's more than you need to know."

So she doesn't leave. She doesn't have to leave and that's nice. The house gets bigger and the family gets bigger and surely things are better then.

"So... you visit? Or, watch?" That's the more important thing, the thing she really, truly wants to know. But also... "... you'd know about the ban then. Do you know if that ever goes away?"

Because missing him and music is, no matter how she tries, the same thing.

"It... it takes a long time." Two questions, one answer. A lifetime. Over four lifetimes, really. He presses another bony-lipped kiss to the top of her head and... just tries to savor the moment. Make it last forever.

"I can't tell you any more, you have to live it yourself." Without him. Hoping, waiting, the rest of her life... his voice is shaky again. "I'm sorry, Coco. I'm so sorry. For missing it. I hope you can forgive me. One day."

"... You're silly, Papá," She says then. She leans further into him, his bony ribs. "I'm not mad."

Mamá was mad. Always, always angry about this. Maybe that's why she couldn't be, or at least, not in the right way. It always felt like she had to defend him, and parts of all of them.

"I just miss you."

"Then... then I hope you never are." He tugs at her a little, hoping they can sit in the sand and continue to cling like barnacles. "You won't have to miss me forever. We'll be together one day. Promise." He can promise. He's sure, and what a wonderful feeling that is.

And then a breathy laugh. "What am I saying? We're together right now, however long it lasts."

He tugs. She follows. She'd follow wherever he wanted to go at the moment. She can't bring herself to let him go.

The promise aches. She knows that means it won't be for a long time. She doesn't know if she can bear it-- but he points out the reality before her now and her heart lifts.

"Do you know? Do you know how long this will last?"

"No. No, I don't. It's never happened before. People showing up who aren't completely here, I mean." The glowing, the transparency... Who knows? She's solid enough to be hugged and that's what's important.

"It's a strange magical island called Enso. Anything's possible. You never know what might happen next." She's had a much nicer start than he did--no flying demonic elevators swallowing people up, that's good!

Any second, any minute, she could wake up and it will just be a dream. It kind of feels like one now, and it saddens her to think that's the most likely scenario. But that's something to worry about later.

"Mmm what kind of things? Like...flying shoes? Or dancing dogs?" Now she's being silly.

He laughs. She could tell the worst joke in any world and he'd have to laugh, because it's her. Because he's happy. He loves every inch of her with all his heart and to be allowed to hug her is everything he wanted... and there are so many things to tell her.

"Rainbow chickens! Sheep whose wool are flowers! Friendly tigers who are plants! I had one move into my house one day, I couldn't get rid of him. Good thing for me he only wants to cuddle. He's a vegetarian, he wouldn't eat anyone."

She wasn't actually expecting the answer to that to be yes. She looks surprised then delighted.

"Really? May we see, Papá?" Actually... "Is your house here?"

She would've thought heaven to be different.

"It's not far away." He makes no move to get up, telling himself he will any second now... "My, ah, island house. Not the family house. This isn't the land of the dead, most people I know are still alive. Same as you."

She's going to ask how they ended up here and why, sooner or later, and he won't have any answers for her. No one knows, least of all him. He's not looking forward to it. "Are you up for a walk, mija?" Mija. Mija and papá. The two very best words.

"Oh." An island home. So, not heaven. And she's still alive. She appreciates that reassurance, even if it puts a distance between them.

The only reason she doesn't spring to her feet right then is that he's there and she doesn't want to let go of him either. Still, she declares, "Yes! You can show me!"

And they can go together. She seeks out his hand, hesitating only a moment before taking it.

"Are you allowed to tell me about the land of the dead too?"

Allowed. As if there are rules, as if he has any idea if he might be screwing up her future. He shifts around, clasping her hand in one much bigger, bonier one and trying to hug with the other arm. They must look ridiculous, and they're still not walking to his little cottage. He doesn't care.

"Suppose it can't hurt! As long as I don't talk about, ah, future family members, mija." Where to begin... wherever she wants him to, of course. "What do you most want to know?"

This weird angle of being held, it's probably going to lead to a crabwalk. Which, in turn, will probably lead to tripping. But she's not focused on that right now. There are so many things she wants to know. Too many! But what she wants to know most...

She chews a moment on her lip before speaking.

"Is it okay? Are you happy?"

Assuming they manage to get up. She may have to force him, he isn't budging yet. Too overwhelmed, it seems. He hesitates before he answers--the truth is not good and he won't lie.

"Your mamá was... is going to take a long time to forgive me, even after we see each other again." When she dies, in other words. "We're getting along much better now, I'm happy about that. And it's a beautiful city, I wish you could see it. Pretty sure you're allowed to get a sneak peek, but I don't have any photos of it."

He's avoiding her question a little. He's not answering directly whether or not he's happy. It makes her heart ache. But, she guesses, she can understand.

It's still hard some days. Most days.

"Can you tell me about the city? What's it like?" She won't ask about Mamá. Even she couldn't help there.

"Its a city. A beautiful one, mija. There are building stacked on top of other buildings, bridges and roads up high connecting them, everything's lit up in a million different colors at night... I always thought it makes the whole city look like a pile of toy blocks. Big messy towers, but they never fall down and I imagine they never will. It's the land of the dead, it has to be a little magical." He's rambling. So sue him. Won't it be nice for her to know the other side isn't gloomy or scary, that wonderful things are waiting for her one day?

"And whichever way you look, you'll see skulls in the empty spaces between buildings. Friendly faces. I don't think anyone planned for them to pop up, it just happens that way. Magic."

What else? What had he been taken for granted that she'd be interested in? "There are real alebrijes all over the place too. And I don't need to tell you we're all skeletons there... but it's not so different from being alive. It's never been boring, that's for sure."

She makes a face at the comment that it's a city. She knows that, Papá. Though, she also hasn't really been to a normal city either.

Her eyes widen as he talks of towers, a smile brightening as he speaks of lights. Little skulls and magic all over.

"Alebrijes? Really? I've seen those! There's a man who just brought some to town!"

No blaming him for being off his game, he has every reason to be incredibly distracted. Everything he's been starving for, right here in his arms.

"Ah, so you know what I mean. They're all over, and I don't think any two are alike. Your mamá has one... suppose I shouldn't say what she looks like. Other than big. So big she scares me a little."

"Ay, Papá." She leans a bit into him, in lieu of a bump. "I want to meet her. She sounds cool."

And if she was Mamá's Alebrije, she had to be fine.

"What do you do for fun there? You said it wasn't boring..." She makes a face and mutters. "...like shoes...

His face feels wet again, which he supposes he'll have to get used to. It's his unlife now, all this happiness spilling out of his eyes. It has to go somewhere or he might explode. She's so real and vivid and alive.

Fun, though. Fun... "Ordinary things, mija. A whole city full of everything the living have. Sports games, movie theaters, shops, whatever." Things that cost money he hasn't had in decades. And he doesn't play music anymore, of course. There's probably no ban now, if he felt like playing for his family, but... it still doesn't appeal to him like it used to. One day, perhaps, he'll get over this mental block. Once his afterlife is no longer on hold, and he's spent more than four days getting to know the younger dead Riveras.

"To be honest, I'm happy enough pestering the neighbors and playing cards all day like the viejo I am. Oh, I did learn how to drive! Though... ah, there's room for improvement." A sheepish little laugh, pressed into her hair.

Ordinary, she thinks, is not what she'd jump to when she thinks of fun. She gives him a look for it. "Never boring" is time spent with her Tíos out of the shop.

She's about to argue that he's not much of an old man, when he surprises her.

"You have a car?" She asks, blinking. She tries to picture it, her Papá, driving down city streets in a fancy car, perhaps puffing a cigar... no, she can't see it.

He draws in on himself a bit at that look, from her--of all people. He may deserve it for a thousand different reasons... and yet that doesn't make it feel any nicer.

But then he lets out an entirely unnecessary breath, blowing the tension away. "Ha, no, no, they're too expensive for me. I borrowed a friend's van to to learn on." Borrowed, never returned, as usual with him. May she never find out... "It's trickier than people always made it look."

She's... not sure what happened there. He just... seemed to withdraw.

"Cars are too expensive for anybody," She says, decisively. Mamá would probably say that anywhere they needed to go, they could walk to. She wants to ask about how it went but she's too caught on his reaction before.

"Are you okay, Papá? Did I say something wrong?"

"You're absolutely right, it's awful. It's not enough to pay for the car, you've got to keep filling it up with gas every other day!"

A little more animated, like a flick of a switch, just for a moment. He's fine! He's fine. The real question ought to be what did he say wrong? "No, of course not." An awkward pause. "Did I?"

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

April Undercurrent: Breaking Barriers

♆ FOURTH WALL EVENT ♆

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hurgl i'm sorry

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fff I'm sorry, I know it's been ages

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