[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

[splinten]

[Dirk moves to throw the orange at Jake and then stops.]

You don't get my orange.

[HE'LL EAT IT NONE FOR JAKE]

[potentite]

Bro, I don't want your orange! I worked that bit of prestidigitation for you and you alone.

[splinten]

This isn't slight of hand.

[He looks at it. Okay. So he peels it. Dirk sticks his thumb in, and carefully pries at it. This is a clementine, so this isn't crazy difficult. He discards the peel on the ground because it will just biodegrade. And then he stares at the orange.]

So I should... eat it slice by slice.

[That seems right.]

[potentite]

Um, yeah. [Jake moves in closer so he can point at parts.] These sections are called carpels. They're divided by membranes that keep the juice vesicles nice and cozy. It's all perfectly edible. I suggest just popping a slice in your mouth and eating it that way. The juice sort of gushes out so um... and then you're left with the pulp and it's kind of, um, chewy? So... I hope it's what you dreamt of.

[splinten]

You know a lot about oranges. Scientifically, I mean.

[Carpels and membranes.]

General botany things from the island?

[potentite]

[Somehow that's embarrassing to get caught on but he nods, shifting a little.] I tried to learn about the things grandma left behind.

[splinten]

[His eyes flicker to Jake.] I can tell you that I've always respected your breadth of knowledge. [He's allowed to be honest. So he can say that.]

[potentite]

[His heart jumps and he isn't sure why exactly.] It's just— Um, it's not— [But he appreciates it even if he can mentally break down how useless and dull that information was. Even if he doesn't understand why someone as clever as Dirk would think anything of him, Dirk does.] The white part is the pith and it doesn't really have a taste but it's not going to knock anything so... um. Yes.

[splinten]

[Okay. He can work this out. So... there's the pole. He understands the shape. Very carefully, he splits the orange open. Some juice gets on his fingers. He can deal with that. With the very same meticulousness, he removes one of these slices from the orange. Then, very cautiously, he places it in his mouth.

There's a bit of flavour spilling out. Something in the, the skin? Something leaking through. Experimentally, he presses the slice against the roof of his mouth. Flavour bursts out, even more powerfully than before. His breath catches in his throat and he almost feels dizzy. He can't do any more. There's so much. So much flavour. So much... freshness? Is that what it is? It's fresh, and rich, and sour-sweet, tangy. He bows his head, a hand over his mouth.

His face is flush.]

Holy shit, Jake.

[He swallows the whole thing, but his mouth is still tingling. The acidic burn down his throat is so different than what you get from centuries old soda. There's stinging at the corners of his eyes.]

Holy shit.

[potentite]

[Jake watches him, taking in every expression and reaction, because it's downright shocking to see Dirk react so strongly to something.]

You look like you're experiencing the sockdolager of the century. [He isn't even sure what he should do or say but he wishes he could capture this moment. It's just so rare. He puts a hand on Dirk's shoulder.]

[splinten]

This is the sockdolager of the fuckin' aeon. [He isn't even tense or anxious at the touch. This is the most amazing thing he has tasted in his life and it is overwhelming.]

[potentite]

[Since Dirk doesn't seem to mind, Jake keeps his hand there for now to support him.]

Have another slice, then!

[splinten]

Thanks.

[He does. It is amazing. He is going to die from joy.]

[potentite]

I'm glad it exceeded expectations. You look... happy. [It's crazy to think that. He doesn't know the last time he saw him happy.]

[splinten]

It's an orange.

[This is somehow informative.]

[potentite]

[It's amusing but also very endearing.]

Yep! And I'll try to rustle up some more for you whenever you want. I can't always guarantee it but I'll try.

[splinten]

Seriously? Thanks, English. I don't deserve it.

[potentite]

Of course you deserve it, chum. Citrus is a vital part of fighting scurvy and you don't want to become a pirate, do you?

[splinten]

I could. That might be my ideal career choice going forward.

[potentite]

[He's amused.] Just try to avoid the rampant disease.