[MU] - NOVEMBER STORYTELLING

[lifeaftr_mods]

After the chaos of last month's Storytelling, it's probably nice to have a little routine involved. Compared to the bombast and terror of October, tonight is downright peaceable.

Maati still awaits. But for now, you can rest and relax and trade tales of your exploits.



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

[piercetheheart]

Far as I know? And the snag in my shoulders seems to be fine now, too.

[And since Shion is giving the space Gladio looks him over in return.]

What about you? What happened?

[savedbyasong]

You disappeared. [Gladio seems fine, no injuries. Shion hugs him again, a briefer hug this time. He's just glad he's back.]

Do you remember anything?

[It's very worrying, even more so in many ways than when they used to disappear to their dead worlds. At least then they had memories, had an accounting of time. Not... nothingness.]

[piercetheheart]

Just me? [That's a horrifying thought. One that has him sitting up straighter, looking around past Shion.]

Is Ignis...?

[What? Is he what? Okay? Alive? Still glowing? Did he leave him here in pain and alone? Is Ardyn with him? Too many questions, too much panic. ]

How long was I gone? [Sorry Shion, he'll get back to the whole remember things bit in a minute.]

[savedbyasong]

He's still here. He's missed you. [They all have but not as much as Ignis. Shion's hand comes up to touch Gladio's arm, stroking it soothingly. He understands the panic.]

You've been gone sixteen days. [Said without even having to count back. ] Everyone will be glad to see you, Leo's been pining.

[piercetheheart]

Sixteen days?

[Oh fuck that's awful. If there was any one person he trusted to keep count of exactly how long he'd been gone it was definitely Shion.]

Oh shit. Leo must be a mess. Between- [He stops, cuts himself off. No, best not to think about the dying thing.]

Anything major happen while I've been out?

[savedbyasong]

I imagine he won't leave your side for a while. [He shook his head. Though he's suspicious, he hears that between.]

No. It's been quite quiet actually. [In some ways these quiet months are worse, because he expects something awful to happen and so is on edge all the time. Waiting.]

[piercetheheart]

He didn't want to before... poor guy's probably so upset.

[He doesn't want to think about how upset Iggy is too.]

At least no one's... I dunno, gotten attacked or anything while I was out.

[Not that he'd have been much use, as he was, but it's still a relief, regardless.]

[savedbyasong]

No not that I'm aware. People have been exploring Maati but so far no ones found much. Or at least they haven't said if they have.

[Have another hug. Shion's missed him.]

[piercetheheart]

Maati? [He tilts his head, curious.] Do we have another island already? Is Nuidan still here?

[savedbyasong]

Oh [He blushes, that was a pretty big thing to have happened... Had it only been sixteen days since his conversation with Anbaki? Some things were harder to keep track of then others.] Nuidan is still here. Maati is another island, the god there is one of justice.

[piercetheheart]

[To be fair Gladio vanished literally the night before Maati showed up.]

God of Justice... that sounds dangerous.

[He's seen what some people's idea of justice is. But that does have him raising his hand to show off the mark on it.]

That what this is all about?

[savedbyasong]

They seem to be more about... You doing better and being better. They don't exactly pass judgement themselves.

[He frowns when he sees the mark, he has no idea what that's about. He's not seen one before.] Has that just appeared?

[But as he reaches out he sees the red mark on his own hand and freezes, panic rising. That hadn't been there before... Had it? He hadn't noticed, hadn't looked at his hands since awakening in the Storytelling circle.] This isn't good...

[piercetheheart]

[Doing better, being better.... Gods it sounds like his dad and Cor all over again and isn't that a painful thought. Ah... best not to think too hard on that.]

Just woke up with it. Dunno how long it's- [Well hell, Shion has one too. Gladio reaches out to take the younger man's hand, lifting it up to look at the mark that glows faintly on his hand.]

I'm all for ink but there's gotta be some meaning too it. Not sure I wanna know what the meaning here is supposed to be.

[savedbyasong]

Nothing good. [His voice is quiet, he breathes in and counts, trying to calm down. Trying not to panic as he stares at the marks on their hands. His hand is trembling in Gladio's.] It probably... Means we've been chosen for something.

[Chosen for what he has no idea. By whom? He has even less of an idea. But marks appearing on you overnight were never good. They were different signs, Shion had no idea what they might mean.

But it would be nothing good. It never was.]

[piercetheheart]

[It makes him think of Prompto's barcode, of the line of ink that now covers his connection to Nifleheim. Which is enough to make him shudder and rub his thumb hard over the mark as though he might be able to rub it out if he tries hard enough.]

If it's on us here I doubt there's gonna be much we can do but wait and see what happens.

[savedbyasong]

And try and survive when it does.

[Or something. Get through it with their minds intact. Endure and pick up the pieces afterwards.

As usual. Shion leans on Gladio, tired.]

[piercetheheart]

We will.

[Whatever else happens he'll do his damnedest to keep you safe and you know it, Shion.

Gladio just rests an arm around the smaller man's shoulders, as reassuring as he can be. They both know the drill, they just can't give up.]