[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

[potentite]

Well, grandma would scold me for not picking a computer, I think. [But he doesn't seem too bothered by that.] But it didn't seem practical out here with no signal or special alien know-how to grease the wheels.

[windeity]

Yeah, that does sound like Jade. [Sigh.] But it would be pretty useless without a signal or a way to charge the battery. At least with something like this car you can maybe combine it with something else, or at least trade it with someone if you get bored with it.

[potentite]

That's using your noggin. [He can't help smiling.] You're awful clever, huh? I kind of figured you would be but there were more stories about the others.

[windeity]

[There's a slightly awkward laugh.] I don't know about that. It just makes the most sense to me. But you really think so?

[But also he doesn't seem to mind knowing there were stories about his friends moreso than stories about him. They deserve to have their stories told, after all.]

[potentite]

Of course I do! I just have a good feeling about you. You seem on point anyway from chatting so far.

[windeity]

Thanks. [Jake why are you like this!! It's hard to say if he's flushed because of his fever or if he's actually slightly embarrassed.] I don't know if Dave and Rose always think so, but that is kind of nice to hear.

[Anyway.] If you keep the car, you still have one item you can pick to take back, right? Have you decided?

[potentite]

[Look, Jake is used to feeling like the stupid one of his group so it's just natural for him to assume everyone is smarter than him, including John.]

Oh, no, not yet. I do want to keep this, though, I think. But I wasn't sure what might be useful to take? All I had were my computers and guns and my room, basically.

[windeity]

I do not think you can find a replica of your room in one of these piles. [A grin.] I was thinking of picking up either stuff that made me think of home, or stuff I can use with my powers. But I haven't decided yet either. Maybe we can look together?

[potentite]

Righto, why not? [He bends over to grab the car and there's a pause here as he instinctively tries to captchalogue it and frowns.] Ah, this consarned limitation. I keep forgetting. [Fine he'll carry it like a normal person.] I hope that magical frequency bullshit clears up soon.

[windeity]

[A sympathetic grimace follows.]

You and me both. Do you know how hard it is to carry everything by hand and the Vrillyhoo? I only have two hands, so unless there is a magic to let me grow a third one we need a new option.

[potentite]

I'm keeping my guns in my front pocket but I suppose I'll have to invest in a holster. [Which is a shame because really they just don't suit him unless he is wearing barely any pants.] I tied up my bag of knick-knacks and so forth up in a tree earlier though. I didn't feel like carrying it.

[And a tree seemed like. The place to put things apparently.]

[windeity]

That may be wise so that you do not risk shooting yourself. [How do guns work, we just don't know.] Maybe we can draw you one or something if you do not find one.

[....] Uh. Why...are they in a tree? Isn't that what you're supposed to do only if you are worried about bears?

[potentite]

Oh, I've never shot myself, so it's fine. [But he's also never carried his guns like this so who knows. At the other bit, he can't help getting shy again.] Umm, well, I thought about putting it in one of the huts but... I wasn't sure if I wanted to nab one, so I just tossed them in a tree so a boar wouldn't rummage through and eat the sweets I found.

[windeity]

I guess that makes sense. [JAKE??? John should maybe be concerned but uh. That's fine. It's not like he's really bonked himself in the head with his hammer so maybe Jake knows what's up. And he's ignoring the fact that he might be partially responsible for a baby having dual flintlock pistols in the first place.]

You realize that you just told me you are probably planning to live in a tree, don't you? Is that really a thing you are planning on doing?

[potentite]

[Oh. Shit. He did. Shit. That probably sounds worrying. Hm. No, he's got this. It's cool.]

Um, it's... it's just more comfortable, I think?

[Nailed it.]

[windeity]

Have you lived in a tree before? [This is sadly a very real and possible outcome and he is aware of that.

[potentite]

Technically not? I've slept in them before, though, when I had to high tail it from monsters but couldn't make it back to my room.

[windeity]

That sounds very uncomfortable. [In a way he's glad he got the Crockerbert side of things and, like, lived in a nice house and everything.]

I don't think the huts will be that bad? Some of them are a little small, but we checked them out earlier and they should be okay shelter-wise.

[potentite]

Oh, yes, they seem fine, they're just... packed like sardines? I'd be so close to all these people. [Which he realises sounds stupid but oh well.] I'm a mite shy.

[windeity]

[Ohhh. There's a nod of understanding then, even if he doesn't entirely understand.]

Yeah. I'm kind of shy, too. [But.] I think it has just been so long since we've seen so many people that I think it's kind of fun? And trees still sound a little dangerous. [He furrows his eyebrows together.] Then again not being around so many people probably means less telepathy shenanigans.

[potentite]

Ah, well. You grew up around people, right? [He's kind of curious.] Jade, me, Dirk and Roxy didn't. I think? Is that how it went?

[windeity]

I mean, yes. We lived in a neighborhood and I know Jade lived on her island. The rest also makes sense, but Roxy and I did not talk much about that when I saw her. Is it really that different?

["Yeah, I can see how you might find it a little slow here. I dunno, I haven't minded much... maybe it's different for me though because I used to live all alone?" Maybe Jade was onto something.]

[potentite]

[He tries to think of how to describe it but it's surprisingly hard.]

Well... at first growing up, I had grandma but she died when I was, um, about five? And then a few years later, I connected to Dirk and Roxy and Jane and that was pretty much the first time I had talked to people again! Sometimes I would duke it out with some faceless specter on a film forum but... mostly it was... only them. And we didn't, um, face chat too often? So even seeing them was an occasion.

[He still doesn't feel like he's explaining it well.] But that would only be one person at a time, um, on a screen. When we all met up, it was a bit overwhelming but I was okay enough, because I'd known them so long.

[So, even knowing them for years, meeting just three people was still nerve-wracking.]

[windeity]

[How did Jade and Jake both end up raising themselves, what the fuck. It's a mystery he can solve later because it's clear he's listening to Jake and taking all of this into account. Meeting your friends on the internet isn't weird. He and Jade connected, and then Jade connected him to Rose and Dave and the rest was history.

He dealt with the trolls and screwed around online, but having only three people...it's interesting, really.]

When you put it that way it makes a little more sense, yes. [Trees tho.] I think at least once we start going to other planets we can spread out more, but I think maybe that would be a little weird for anyone. Especially with telepathy thrown in, too. [A beat.] But what about Dirk? You guys are here and together aren't you? [Logic: having friends here is easier!]

[potentite]

[John you don't want to go down this road. Jake hesitates. What should he say about Dirk? God, he hasn't even talked to Dirk about this yet. He's still convinced that Dirk is glossing over things, that Dirk doesn't really want to be around him anymore, that he just feels obligated and that he's too kind to do anything else, trapped into looking after Jake. At the very least, he's certain Dirk is still pissed as fuck at him and he's absolutely right to be. He should hate Jake.

Oh, right. John asked him a question. That pause wasn't suspicious at all! Fuck. Well, may as well say something about it. They're stuck together like this now and it'd be hard to dance around it long term.]

...He, um... broke up with me. A couple of hours before all of this. So...

[Yeah.

Wait no putting it like that sounds like he's blaming Dirk and—]

I mean! Quite right to, in fact. Slipping me the icy mitt was good for him. I mean, um, he should have ages ago. Fuck, he shouldn't have dated me in the first place—

[Wait now he's getting too much into it. Fuck. Why is he this way?]

Um. Sorry.

[He'll just. Shut up.]