[MU] - MAY STORYTELLING

[lifeaftr_mods]

In the wake of what has occurred on Ziziphus, the Storyteller has not appeared for this night's sharing of tales. The campfire is ever-present, but a morose air hangs over the flames nonetheless.



There will be no voting this time around either. It seems the Storyteller is due for a break - and so are the rest of you.



It is time, once more, for you to tell a story. The setting will be familiar for oldcomers, and newcomers will recognize it from the introduction they received in their dreams. This too is a dream, and the ink-black dark is illuminated only by the bonfire surrounded by log seats. And seated around the fire are your fellow islanders, many of whom doubtless know the drill by now.

One by one, you will each have the opportunity to share your stories, as stories possess a certain undeniable power. Newcomers can tell whatever tale they wish, but for those who have been in LifeAftr for at least one Storytelling, only stories of their time in LifeAftr will count down the road. The story need not be long, or conventional, or even verbal; as long as the Storyteller knows it has been told, it will qualify. Those of the nonverbal persuasion have, as of a request issued by Ren (catpiper), an alternative means of telling their stories if they so choose, in the form of the Chamber of Glyphs.

If you prefer to keep your mouth shut, that's always an option, though you're more liable to benefit if you do. Perhaps you'd rather not relive any of your history, varied and variegated as it must be. Or maybe you're something of a compulsive un-truther, prone to embellishments and long, fanciful tangents. As long as the core of the story is true to its spirit, you are free to spin your tale however you like.

So choose well.

Comments

IC || STORYTELLING

[lifeaftr_mods]

If you wish to thread out the relaying of your story so that other characters may react to it, you may do so here!

The Legend of the Immortal

[piercetheheart]

[Speaking of himself was not something Gladio was prepared for, certainly not with recent events. But everyone insisted he needed to talk, needed to heal, to let out some of the pain and he didn't know what they expected from him. He didn't know how to speak so openly about the things that pained him. But perhaps, there was one story he could tell. One tale that the others deserved to know.]

In Lucis there is a man hailed as being Immortal. Overcoming what all others had deemed impossible, surviving against insurmountable odds. He served his King with the kind of unwavering loyalty other men never dared. Loyalty that led him away from danger in his King's hour of need. That left him alone to guide the forces of a country devastated by war, to teach and to lead and to suffer the tragedy of carrying on while his King lay dead.

I was privileged enough to have this man as my mentor, my friend, my companion. There are lessons he taught me that, even now, I still have yet to fully understand. Without his king he devoted every waking moment to his last task, protecting the people of Lucis. Against all odds, against unceasing darkness, against despair. Even as the people fell to the ravages of disease, for years upon years as darkness swallowed the world.

One small city left illuminated against the darkness, the entire human race limited to the refugees able to scrape a living out under the shadow of a power plant barely able to keep up with the demands of so many people in so little space. The rest of the world dying around us, plants, trees, animals. Food becoming harder and harder to come by as the land itself lost all hope of producing anything edible.

Despite it all we carry on, we fight back the daemons, fallen friends, those we couldn't save, mutated by disease. Hoping against hope that the True King will return before the last of the light fails us, before the desperately limited supplies run out, before our hands are forced to chose who to save and who we must sacrifice for others.

[A slow breath, trying so hard to weave the tale without letting himself get too invested in it. No names, no real connections, just a story, nothing more, perhaps that way it wouldn't cut so deeply.]

Return he did, welcomed with open arms, hope restored to so many. And when the time came to fight, to reclaim the Dawn, the Immortal soldier stood beside his prince. Faced the Accursed - [A fleeting glance at Ardyn, a strange mix of guilt and uncertainty in his expression.] with a kind of determination that even the King and his Glaives had to admire, take heart from.

And when the King's Shield failed him... [His voice shook but he forced himself to continue, to finish the tale despite the weight of his shame.] the Immortal, seemingly so invincible, felled by a blow meant for his prince, the King, the Chosen One who would save them all. Even standing there burned and bleeding, knowing his time was come to an end he spoke only of hope, of victory... standing to face countless hundreds to buy the King time to face the- [No, he would not say it again.] face his fate.

There was nothing I could do.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn narrowed yellow eyes coldly but said nothing, looking thoroughly too exhausted to even bother making a comment.]

[shatteredlenses]

[It's no easier now to hear of Cor's death than it was the first time Gladio mentioned it. Ignis tells himself that is the only reason he hesitates before moving to Gladio's side, but he knows that it's more than that. Ardyn's there--he always is--and Ignis doesn't want to make Gladio or Ardyn feel as if he is taking sides in this. He would comfort them equally if one wasn't so stubbornly dead set again it.

After a few moments, Ignis eventually stands and makes his way to sit at Gladio's side, blindly reaching to find the Shield's hand.]

Grieve all you wish, but please don't blame yourself. Do you know how much extra training he would put your through if he heard you talking like that?

[It's a gentle jest, one he hopes will bring forward good memories of Cor instead of those last moments that Gladio is so determined to focus on.

Ignis only hopes this won't backfire like his earlier attempts to help Gladio have.]

[piercetheheart]

[He takes Ignis' hand as soon as he reaches out, twining their fingers together, shifting a little to lean against him. He's too tired and too raw after everything that's happened to protest the comfort offered or summon up the anger that still eats at him.]

He'd kick my ass. [A soft agreement, a sigh because it's not that easy to just let it go.] I'm sorry I couldn't... didn't say anything earlier. It's just-

[He shakes his head, it hurts too much and he doesn't know how to explain that so he simply squeezes Iggy's hand and leans his head on his shoulder.]

[shatteredlenses]

Hush now. You needn't make excuses. The time wasn't right.

[Ignis squeezes Gladio's hand back, his head tilting down so that his mouth is near the Shield's ear, voice low. It's as private a conversation as he can make it in this storytelling group.]

There is so much we need to talk about, so much to tell, but it will do no good to force it all out when we are emotionally exhausted. We take one step at a time, and this is the Marshal's time.

[piercetheheart]

One step at a time... [A soft sigh, a nod. Yeah. maybe they can get through this if they just pace themselves. If everyone will just stop pushing so hard and let it come when he's ready.

Though there's some things he's not sure he'll ever be ready to discuss.]

Thanks, Iggy. [What would he do without you?]

[shatteredlenses]

[Well, depending on which Ignis we're talking about, he may have a lot less pain in his heart...]

You're welcome.

[Ignis falls silent after that, content to let his presence and warmth provide comfort since his words haven't always been right lately. After all, he means what he said about this being Cor's time. Not just it being the time when Gladio could finally talk about it, but also a time for reflecting and mourning one who battle gave no time to do so for before.

Still, after several moments of silence, he feels compelled to speak again, softly, almost tentatively, because he really doesn't want to say the wrong thing. And, when talking about his elder self, it always seems like the wrong thing.]

I don't want to become him, Gladio.

[piercetheheart]

[The silence is nice, welcome after so much pushing. It might have taken weeks for him to really talk about it but now that he has there is a weight lifted from his shoulders. It's easier to step back and look at things objectively once he's told it, explained what happened and, in the telling, realized how skewed his own perceptions had become. Just having Ignis beside him again after so long without him is enough to ease his worries for a time.

For a moment Gladio doesn't understand what Ignis means. Then he sighs, squeezing his hand, turning his face in against hit friend's shoulder. What can he say to that? How does he explain that it's not Ignis' fault without telling him- Without explaining things that will only drive him away again.

Things he must keep to himself.]

You won't... [He wishes he sounded more confident in it though.] Things are already different.

[nightcure]

[ Noctis listens, and his heart aches for his friend. He hadn't realized that Glaio felt so, so guilty about Cor... and he kicks himself for not realizing. Still, he leans forward, hands clasped together, arms on his thighs. ]

... I don't think he would've wanted you to blame himself. Cor knew the risks.

[ His voice is quiet, and he locks eyes with Gladio. ]

As long as you kept on keeping on, Cor wouldn't be upset with you.

[piercetheheart]

I still should've seen it coming. [He was younger, healthier, had his shield. Perhaps he could have withstood the blast where Cor had not.

But the idea of keeping on just makes him sigh, an odd smothered laugh in there, dark and humorless.]

Keeping on... Until the end. However little time that is. [Yeah, Noct he's 110% sure that he dies with you.]

[nightcure]

No one did.

[ Noct straightens up and looks at him, blue eyes serious in the flickering light of the fire. ]

More time than I had. You, Iggy, Prompto--you guys survive to see the dawn.

[piercetheheart]

[Whatever Noctis might have expected from him Gladio straightens, amber eyes wide in surprise and something that almost looked like fear. His breath catches in his throat and he stares at Noct for a long moment, disbelieving. ]

No... [ Breathless and lost, he shakes his head. No it can't be like that. He is destined to serve his King, to Shield him from all enemies. The idea that he should fail so utterly, that he should survive when Noct does not is like a physical blow. ]

I can't-

[nightcure]

[ It eats at him. It has, ever since he's learned about it, and maybe it's not fair of Noctis to drop this on Gladio... ]

... If I'd kept it from you, it would have hurt more when I finally told you.

[ He bows his head. ]

I'm sorry.

[want_to_belong]

[Cor. Prompto had only gotten to spend so much time with the man, but he had all the respect for him. He still remembered Cor praising him early on. It had been an honor to fight alongside him and he would have liked to have a chance to do so more.

They'd lost a lot. He didn't like to think about it, but even well before darkness fell many people had died. The people of Insomnia. Probably his parents. Noct's dad. Gladio and Iggy's families. People they'd grown up around. Jared. Lady Lunafreya. Even Pryna... And now Cor. They kept moving forward because there was no other choice.

He sat cross-legged near Gladio, idly fiddling with a wood chip he'd found by turning it over in his fingers, body slumped over silently. He didn't have words. All he could think was, "This hadn't happened yet where he was from". They could stop this. He knew Gladio didn't like his plans of fixing everything back home, though, so he kept quiet, only letting out a somber sigh.]

[encircling]

one.
Not terribly long ago, I received a remarkable gift. It came from a wish I had made, a wish to be able to provide for the people on this island. Our resources are running low, that is true... but with the gift I received, I like to think I can help in even a small way. What I received were tools, as well as a wide and large variety of seeds: herbs, vegetables, fruits.

It was more than I ever thought I could receive.

[ She pauses, and her smile becomes sheepish. ]

Truly, the rewarding part of this project is not that we have more resources... though, that is certainly part of it. What makes it truly worth it is the smiles of the men I have delivered food to. I had not realized that they would treat them as treasures of their own, and it is for that reason that I intend to open my garden up for anyone who wishes to receive what I have grown. If you wish to take me up on this offer, please find me on the southernmost cottage on the southernmost islet.

two.
[ This story finds her more somber, and she's quiet, staring down at her hands for some time. In the light of the fire, the scars around her eyes are harder to see, but they are there nonetheless. ]

Not long ago, I embarked upon a foolish quest. I explored a part of Ziziphus on my own, and it was a decision I regretted. I found only danger, and it was far from worth it. There are... creatures I found, quite large octopi who do not take kindly to being disrupted. They produce ink, which burns and blinds if you are unfortunate enough to receive a face full of it.

I warn you all, to do something you likely know already: Do not explore alone.

[ Here, she bows her head. ]

But even so, it was the kindness of another that helped me through this. I was blinded for the day and exhausted, unable to use my magic to heal myself, but Ignis took care of me, even as I was too frightened to do much of anything. I... am not entirely sure I can ever repay him for his help... but I am glad for it.

three.
The last is a story we likely know all well. Bliss--they took advantage of us. For me, I saw my parents, alive and whole and happy. We were all happy, and my home was flourishing and free of oppression and wrongdoing. Had I been able to stay there forever, with no consequences, I believe I would have. Yet... it was a lie, and a cruel one. I've no doubt you all feel the same, as you should.

[ Her expression is hard, as well as her voice. ]

I was glad to see them burn. They deserved it, for their foolishness.

[ But there's something about that thought that disturbs her. ]

ooooone

[everylittlesecret]

[Hello girl who looks incredibly like her best friend back home. She's just gonna listen and try not to interrupt, but man, gardening is reminding her of the good times in Airlocked. Yuuri and her chatting away as they played around in the soil to make sure everything would grow just right. It's something she's missed if she were to be honest.]

.... So. Like. If I were to tell you I could....... make the process a little faster, would that help?

[encircling]

[ Her eyes widen, and she leans a little toward the redhead. ]

Would you be able to? Truly?

[everylittlesecret]

Yeppers. Not too much, though, this place seems to have put a bit of a damper on how many things I can do a day, but hey. I can do what I can. Ya know... as long as it's not growing something I refuse to eat. Sorry, fam.

[Pineapple lovers are fucked because she despises them.]

[encircling]

No, of course not. I would not request your help for something you would not eat.

You are a mage, then?

[everylittlesecret]

Good. I know a few peeps back where I just came from might call me selfish or a bitch for it, but ya know, I don't really care. Why waste my powers on something I can't directly enjoy?

[It makes sense to her.]

Nope. The proper term seems to be Elementalist, but I prefer Dragon.

three

[crosslaced]

Pardon- what exactly made them deserve death, again?

[Mira is taking the fall for being the first one to icly talk about Bliss, sorry. But he's, uh, not here to fight- just curious, and perhaps too tired to exercise restraint in starting discourse.

Was the dream of everything he'd ever wanted unpleasant? Yes. But does he consider it unacceptable? No, he's a guy that complimented his own assassination attempt and he doesn't understand the righteousness this lady shows.]

[encircling]

... I can only speak for myself, but I hardly appreciated being taken advantage of. Of having my own desires and wishes exploited.

Had I been able to, I would have stayed there forever. Even if it meant that I would have died.

[crosslaced]

Oh. You said we should agree with you, earlier.

[stop being such a lawyer… ]

It's not the worst case of exploitation I've seen. It’s… unusual, where I come from, everyone’s reaction.

[savedbyasong]

Island Report 4

Not long after last months Story Telling I came across Akira on Ziziphus, he had found Delphinium. It is a poisonous flower but I believe it can be used to create ink, our first experiments were partially a success though I would describe it more as a dye rather than ink, we are probably missing some components.

Me, Aster, Thalassa, Excalibur and Cobweb had a visit from Ren on her birthday, it was very good to see her and I hope you enjoyed yourself and liked your gifts [He's turned to her at this point, with a smile]

Islands fell from the sky, I am not sure what caused that but they created effects much like when we were on them. Most of them were bad... [Some were awful, but he's not going to talk about Tim's injuries, that is Tim's story.] Me and Dagger explored and found some plants, including Hippophae rhamnoides, which helps with pain and fevers. I took some and also attempted to move some to the islets. I worked on trying to create a garden. Hopefully I was successful.

Me, Seto and Ren also explored Ziziphus. I concentrated on gardening throughout the month, until Bliss attacked. I believe everyone knows what happened from then on. [The dreams he had been pulled into, the dreams he had later went in to destroy. Those were all private. Peoples memories, hopes taken from their minds. He should never have seen them and he's not going to talk about them to others.

He's also not going to talk about fighting Bliss, the Story Teller might not be physically present but it seems... wrong to talk about killing someone so close to them, when the stories were the islanders gifts to them.]

Science

Last month Tim spoke about a strange phenonomon on Zizipus. A... what can only be described as a black hole except it is not, but concentrated to a small area. It seems to draw in and destroy all sentient life but leaves plants life, soil, air alone. It isn't really a black hole at all except in how it looks...

The closer your get the stronger the pull gets, which makes sense even if the rest of it doesn't. There is no way a black hole, or anything like it should exist here on the islands. I am not sure if it is some kind of illusion, some kind of portal... More experimentation is needed to understand what is going on and why it is here. [It was frustrating how little he had been able to work out, but he had thought of some ways to test his theory]

Intrepid Explorers

Me, Seto and Ren went on an exploration not long before the attack from Bliss. We didn't find much in the way of resources but we did see some of the strange webbed octopi in the shallows.

We were also attacked by Bliss' vines, they tried to drag us off into the forest. Seto and Ren were incredibly brave, they fought off the vines and we ran away, I was very glad that I was with them so we could all help each other escape.