[OPENING] island hub - day 1

[spellbindmods]

Who: All Characters
Where: Main Hub
When: Day 1
Open/Closed: Open to All

TDM threads can be considered canon if you so choose, they contain the power that you apped with and both parties confer that the thread is canon.

For characters that were on the TDM and who were not accepted/didn't app, these characters will be considered dropped characters that were magicked away.

Night has fallen upon everyone. It's thus far been an eventful day -- you've met some new people, discovered some new aspects of yourself that weren't there before you appeared here (however that might have happened). The original inhabitants of the island have been working hard to prepare a few things. One activity might have been one you were a part of, but there's still time to get your hands dirty. A ▢ Brie has rolled out a large copper pot and created a pit on the beach. It's unrealistic to think everyone can subsist on the few foods she's collected from other words and boar jerky alone. She's got a few boar carcasses sitting on the beach that need attending to as well. Your characters can help feed themselves and others, and here's what needs to be done: Fire needs to be started for cooking the meat AND a large bonfire for light and warmth. The large copper bowl needs to be filled with water. Crabs need to be bravely collected from the bath house for boiling. The boar needs to be either cut up for kebabs or stuck through. Does your character know anything about spit-roasting? Any other helpful magical skills are welcome to help make food. Post feasting, there are dozens of crabs and a pile of roasted boar meet that are up for eating. Even if you didn't offer to help in making any of the food, they're open to eat it -- even if the true helpers may give you dirty looks. The boar is fine, if not a little bland and chewy, but it's probably better than the jerky. The crab is delicious, if not a little tasteless...there problem with the crab isn't exactly the taste, though. B ▢ The crab isn't a species that's immediately edible for most species, though your character will grow to get used to it eventually. For now, the meat isn't settling well within your character's system. Your character will experience sweats, a high fever, blurred vision, potential vomiting, hives...it's very obvious their body is rejecting the unfamiliar meat. This may also cause a bit of an issue with your character's powers. They're still getting physically and mentally acclimated to these new changes, so expect their telepathy and magic to go a little haywire.

It's almost completely dark outside when the next event of the evening happens. You're living your life when you see it out of the corner of your eye -- it's absolutely hard to miss. What you see is a large lit caravan, larger than even an army tank. It's bright white and shining, covered with golden, ornate details that emanate an even more dazzling sparkle. The entire thing is aglow, and it's quickly coming towards the large bonfire that's been made. It's not rolling across the sand, but instead it's floating, and so is a matching trunk that's sailing along next to a figure beside the caravan. C ▢ A tall, slender woman has also come along with the large caravan, quickly opening the trunk that eventually lands on the sand with a large thud. She's handing out sacks, very similar to the ones previously in the large lobster cage. These contain a parka, a type of candy of your choice, a bottle of water, a large shard from a broken mirror and a letter rolled up and bound with a roll of twine. There are two other thread options associated with this prompt: Genette's top level and her telepathy training post. Around the same time as Genette is handing out this new little goody bag, you suddenly receive a telepathic message. It might seem a little strange at first -- but on that note, what about tonight isn't strange? D ▢ The telepathic message your character will receive is a simple one: Hello. It shows up in text form across your character's line of vision and it doesn't go away until they respond back, though the message that's sent out won't go to the original telepath. Instead it will ping pong to a random person in the group. You've made a new friend! After you've met Genette, she's also got a few more supplies that she pulls out a small door in the base of the caravan. She's insistent that you only get two items, since there aren't exactly a lot of them to go around! E ▢ The last of the starter supplies are being handed out, and these are items that are more cumbersome or rare -- they may not be immediately useful for your character, but maybe you can make use of them somehow, whether eventually in another world or with your power. An electronic/technology: these can be as obvious as an MP3 player, as useless as a garage door motor or as scandalous as a Hitachi Magic Wand. If it can be powered by electricity or batteries, there's a tub of them. They're also partially charged if they don't need constant electricity to work. A fashion accessory: there are a lot of these, surprisingly. Flower crowns, belts, bras, shoes, earrings, other types of jewelry. Your character can look cute while suffering from crab vomiting. Books and stationary: maps of various worlds, books written in a myriad of languages (maybe even one you recognize!), writing paper, ink pens, gel pens, stickers. Any kind of stationary can be found here. Other household items: this can include cleaning supplies, furniture, and other miscellaneous goods. These won't be personal affects from your character's home, but they may be useful! Feel free to come up with unusual or alien items -- these have come from all over the universe, remember!

As the night winds down, it's recommended by Brie that you should probably go to be in your hut -- or at the very least get somewhere inside. There are a lot of people around the camp, however, so it's no surprise that there are a few people waiting around to get their fill of food and supplies before heading to bed. The noise of the new members and the light of the fire have attracted a very large pack of boars, who you'll later find make routine trips to the beach every night. Boar mating season has made the wild hogs rather testy, and the smell of food -- even if it's their own boar brethren -- have made them even more volatile. F ▢ If your character isn't quick to get inside tonight, they're likely to get a boar charging at them. The chances are doubled if they happen to be holding onto a food item. Female boars can leave a few bruises and trample you, but beware the males -- they've got tusks. However, it's not like staying up at night doesn't have its advantages. Once midnight hits, another species of animal makes its regular rounds across the base camp. In the sky, characters can see an Aurora Borealis-like sight. Instead of being dancing green and blue lights, however, the reality is that they are a massive species of space worm, and hundreds are wiggling past on their way to travel back home. They're shimmering and in every color imaginable, lighting up the sky with their magnificent hues. G ▢ The space worms operate outside the natural barrier of the hub, but they still are in close enough proximity to shed a film as they travel. If you're still awake, boars or no, you'll be in the middle of a shower. The film sheds from the worms and enters the atmosphere, creating multi-colored, sweet-smelling mists of worm water vapor. Worm water vapor is kind of weird, but it's also pretty cool. It's also calming, and that's a bonus. Inhale too much and you might become a little too calm.

Comments

[teratias]

Dirk's analysis is something Waver wishes he could get in writing to pour over it properly. Words like this go too fast, and he's hardly in listening-to-a-lecture mode, taking notes like a good student. And Waver is a good student, if nothing else.

Besides, he knows he needs perspective. Waver himself had only gotten so far into the whole matter, thrown for a loop by the system of magic and the concept of a coven. A coven was a laughable idea back home, one that came from lay people with visions of witches, not proper magi. All the additional points about communication were even more important, and world hopping, which threw Waver back into reconciling this with the Five Magics.

No wonder he barely processed anything tonight. But there is something that does stick out, now that so much has been laid bare.

"None of this really connects with the mansion we were in earlier. Aside from the book trove, there's no indication of a tangible connection to a concentration of magic resources, or anything beyond people worried about a weird hoard of home invaders who showed up after they let the place go."

[splinten]

"The spycams were from Brie, one of the handmaids. She decided to put them up so she could have to keep an eye on us without having to come up to meet us."

That's that issue settled with. He continues by nodding, affirming that the discrepancy definitely is there. "It could be a chunk of a world straight-up yanked away into space."

[teratias]

"That's one mystery solved."

Not a satisfying conclusion though. Waver sighs, unhappy with all of this, wondering why this isn't getting to him more right now. He tiredly pinches the bridge of his nose, and then lets out a tired sigh.

"It could be any number of things at this point. It could be a shell for a big hermit crab living underneath."

That'd be interesting, come to think of it.

[splinten]

"It could be turtles all the way down." He remembers the last time that phrase came up, less than twenty four hours ago. He refuses to wince in the memory. At least his damn sprite didn't come with him here.

"You look kinda tired, dude. Maybe take a rest."

[teratias]

"I hope they're literal ones." Metaphorical ones were much worse in this situation.

Waver tried not to look offended at being told he looked tired. First off, that was stating something he already knew, and besides, wasn't it obvious that if he could sleep, he would?

That kind of heat was dulled by the effects of the worm water vapor, prompting a more genial reply.

"Sleep hasn't been happening for the past two hours."

[splinten]

He doesn't really note the offence, with the way it's been muted. He looks at Waver in a calm curiosity. It's almost birdlike.

"Crab or somethin' else?"

[teratias]

"No, that passed. Just," Waver knew he didn't want to articulate what was going on in his head. It was so all over the place that he doubted he could.

Instead, he gestures expansively, a habit borrowed from someone else who he ought to be with right now. Especially since Saber just kicked both their asses.

"Everything."

[splinten]

"You mean our situation, and the phenomenally high levels of bullshit that pervade it."

To take a guess. He considers offering for Waver to come sit with him, but it occurs to him that Waver might not be able to climb the hut as easily as Dirk can. It further occurs to him that maybe Waver wouldn't be comfortable with that, and that he also doesn't know if he's comfortable with that. Comforting people in person is still a strange idea, and he wasn't exactly the prime shoulder-patter amongst his friends.

[teratias]

"Yes."

But also no. Waver's mind drifts back to the Grail War, back to Rider, worrying about if the servant could stay manifest with Waver so many lightyears away (and surely, they must be lightyears away.) There's a quiet that falls over him that's more introspective than anything he's let slip out so far, his defenses far lower thanks to the mist and the atmosphere and everything in the moment.

"There are things I am in the middle of back home as well"

[splinten]

It's a familiar sentiment, but not one he shares. Dirk can't go back to anything. It's just death and futility. Game over. But others have said it: they need to go back. They need to finish something.

Dirk is just finished. What he wants, more than anything, is to not return to that hell of hopeless eternal life.

"Genette's letter said that helping Qri is necessary to the survival of your home."

It's less of an argument than a quiet counterpoint, for Waver to give his own opinions on it.

[teratias]

Waver only shook his head no. Survival of home wasn't where his concern lay. He sighed, trying to figure out how to phrase it, then settled on what he hoped was generic enough.

"I'm in the middle of something that's time sensitive, that's all. So my worries are more short term."

[splinten]

"Temporal bullshit might mean you're covered on that front. Alternatively, it might fuck you up entirely, but it would be entirely probable that that was how the timeline always had to go and changing it to a more advantageous option would completely doom your timeline to destruction."

He isn't sure about his world now. Dave said it was the Alpha timeline, that things were right. So maybe they were all meant to die no matter what. It doesn't seem like there is much to lose in John trying to fix it.

"You might get returned to the exact moment you left from is what I'm suggesting."

[teratias]

Strangely enough, those were words Waver found comfort in. Sure, it took a moment for Dirk to parse out his own meaning, but the point was reassuring. He could return to the Holy Grail War smarter and wiser, and win having spent so much time away and developing new strategies. What a glorious thing that might be.

"That wouldn't be so bad," he said, the ghost of a smile crossing his face. "Might actually be good."

[splinten]

Dirk doesn't disagree with the idea of a pause being helpful. But he notes the smile, and the worry flickers back. If Waver hadn't already refused to go to sleep, Dirk would advise it, but that apparently isn't a thing.

"Maybe, yeah. There are boars around at this house, so maybe you'd be better off climbing up here."

[teratias]

"You sure?"

Idiot. If he wasn't sure he wouldn't offer. Waver chides himself internally, and looks around for a foothold to get started.

"Where should I start climbing?"

[splinten]

"The ribbing along the sides of the shed make for good groups." But he worries, with how hazy Waver has been, and he adds, "I can also help you up."

[teratias]

"I've got it."


Which is to say that by ten seconds in? He don't got it. Waver lands with a soft thud in the sand, stands up, and tries again. Same result.

Waver grumbles, lets out a soft damnit, and then sighs. "Yeah, a hand would be good."

[splinten]

"Hang on." Dirk swings himself over the edge, landing on the sand in soft silence. He turns around and crouches. "Hop on my back."

He's going to give Waver a piggyback ride up.

[teratias]

Waver stares for a moment. The tilts his head. Then tilts it back.

Then he manages words, with a tone that sounds nearly scandalized. "You must be joking."

[splinten]

Dirk turns around. Even in the darkness, he does not, in fact, appear to be joking. "Nah. Why would I be."

[teratias]

"I'm not used to people just randomly offering me..." he splutters, then cuts himself off. This was stupid. He was stupid for questioning it. This was also better than being scruffed like a kitten by a massive Macedonian war machine.

"Yell if you think you're going to drop me, please," Waver says, climbing onto the offered back. Mostly, it is so he can brace for impact.

[splinten]

"Not gonna happen."

Dirk easily carries Waver's weight. Waver may, however, not appreciate what he is in for: Dirk backs up, closer to the 'shore'-line, to give himself what he needs without flashstep speed. Then he dashes forward rapidfire—his grip on Waver still steady—he leaps up, kicks off one hut wall, the other, shimmies up—and lands them in silence on the rooftop.

"You okay?"

[teratias]

This is somehow worse than Rider's chariot flying through the sky, and that is saying something. Probably because it involves clinging to another person rather than standing on a platform. Either way, Waver barely restrains himself from screaming in Dirk's ear. He does cling for dear life.

Once they're on the rooftop, Waver just lets go and falls square on his ass. His hair is frazzled, eyes as big as dinner plates.

"Yeah, totally," he intones, and if the effects of the space worms weren't present, he'd be much sharper. As it is, he is managing sarcasm in spite of the mist.

[splinten]

"It's fine, dude. I wasn't going to drop you."

He is very skilled? Relax, Waver.

"I figured you realized what I was going to be going for when I offered it to you."

It wasn't like he could use his arms while giving a piggyback ride.

[teratias]

"Uh, I thought I was just going to hang off your neck while you climbed up," Waver counters. There's no point in fussing now though. He's up here, and he shouldn't be picking a fight about that fact unless he wants to get shoved off the roof.

"Anyway, I'll know to expect it next time. S'fine."

It wasn't, but again. Not worth arguing. Waver settles in a little spot away from Dirk's workspace, and re-focuses his eyes upward.