(Mingle Log) These Embers Can Be Stars

[mooninthewater]

FOOD TO SURF-VIVE ON

After getting some feedback from various people on the beach, the need to do a big cookout becomes apparent between those who either fear the ocean but like seafood or are just completely new to the ocean entirely. And, of course, there's wanting to try the new fish that only exists within this world that piques the curiosity of many. Thus, with some help from Moder, a massive bonfire is set up late one evening and an invitation to join Mizuki on the beach is announced. For those who seem wary about this, what with the cave definitely flooding soon and cutting them off from the cabanas, will be informed that Mizuki has a plan!

...Did you think he'd just tell you what it is? No, no, of course not. You'll just have to come and find out for yourself. Regardless, the get together seems to be for cook-out for everyone. A good handful of people seem to be cooking, either over the bonfire, or over makeshift grills, or maybe even preparing raw foods. Some beach tables had even been stolen to set food along them so they're not just sitting directly in the sand, as well as towels and such laid out for those who might need them.

It's cozy. In a way that maybe has been needed for some time.

AP-PIER-ANCES ARE DECEIVING

A ways back, towards the forest as not to be swept away by the tides, is a little shrine set up. It's made from shells and pretty stones and handful of sand from the bottom of the ocean that shimmers spectacularly, with little sea-themed stickers placed everywhere. There are names written on the shrine of people who didn't make it to the beach with them, and notably people who could potentially be considered to be "lost" to the forest. Around the shrine is a gathering of spiky looking flowers that glow brighter as the last remaining bits of the sun disappear over the horizon, keeping the shrine lit.

There's a small empty jar nearby sitting on top of a small stack of paper, as well as a note left there with instructions on how to fold one to make an origami star. At the bottom, it's signed with a doodle of a sea jelly, and a reminder that when you're making the star to make a wish on it (or even write it on the paper), then leave it in the jar. In the morning, he'll seal the jar up to send out to sea.

WITH A PORPOISE

Around the bonfire, of course, there's going to be entertainment provided. Either by songs from someone's phone, an instrument, someone outright just singing, teaching people how to make s'mores or even spooky stories around the fire, but there'll always be encouraged to have something going on.

And, of course, if you thought you could escape dancing last month, you're wrong. Of course, the looser, more chilled out mood here makes for some less formal and more silly dancing to be encouraged. The Cha-Cha Slide WILL happen and you canNOT escape this.

IT'S OKAY TO BE A LITTLE SHELLFISH

...As for the plan to sleep for the night, well, it's quite simple! You see... you'll all simply sleep on the beach tonight! Wow! What a turn of events. It'll be like one big sleepover! There's going to be various tents set up for those who don't like looking up at the starless empty void that is the sky and just want somewhere a little more confined to sleep, but for those of you who aren't cowards, there's going to be a patchwork mess of towels and blankets and pillows and such for everyone to lie down on. Even Moder can be used as a bed for anyone afraid of Sandy Pants(tm).

It's prime conditions for a cuddle pile, though I'm not your mom. Do what you want I guess.

(CODE)

Comments

[eidxiety]

You could say that. [You could even say his mom is literally God if you wanted to.] You are too, aren't you? You are a Mr. Priest.

[Not just a priest. But a Mr. Priest. A very important distinction, clearly.

Ain idly plucks the strings as they talk, strumming a random chord each time like he can't quite hold still.]

These sorts of songs are a lost art on Elrios. Not many people sing them after the El Explosion wiped out most of the planet. There are a few dedicated churches to Ishmael left, but... [Hums.] ...I find their depiction of angels offensive, haha.

[lupusxylem]

Mm...yeah. In a manner of speaking.

[He likes to think that there is a higher power out there watching out for them, but in that case it makes him wonder where they've been while No Man's Land rots at its core. It's better than worshiping the plants, at any rate.

Anyway Ain saw the Church that literally has "Saint Nicholas" on it, it's not like Wolfwood can be like "No I'm not"

Also, the "El Explosion wiped out most of the planet" sure is a hell of a thing to drop in casual conversation.]

...so your world's strugglin' too, I take it.

[eidxiety]

...oh, that's right. Your Elsword is different than mine is. Mine would have told you.

[And he has no idea about this Doctor Add but the idea offends him so much that he refuses to think about it, sorry.]

Mr. Jellyfish explained that to me, anyway. But yes, it is. Or... it was a lot worse about a year ago. A cult called Henir's Order blew the Large El up about five hundred years ago, and that's when Ishmael sent Her angels to deal with the problem. [He sounds, uh, like he was there. Oops.] Of course, it didn't work, and so Elrios was a mess for five hundred years. The land was torn asunder, there were floods and other natural disasters, and society crumbled. The only way for humans [...] to survive was to build civilizations around shards of the El. Without the El, there's no life. If you were to go to a place on Elrios without an El Shard, you'd find nothing but wasteland, and you'd probably fall into a hole in the rift and die.

A lot of humans spent history fighting to have these shards, for reasons I'm sure are obvious. This was five hundred years of history, and for a long time, it was all people knew. A year ago, Elsword entered the Large El physically and stabilized it, repairing it entirely. Did he tell you he's basically a walking battery while he was here? It's kind of complicated, and Mr. Jellyfish said he lost his memories. Anyway, our friends had to pull him out before he died. He's quite stressful to be around sometimes.

Elrios is... repairing. The shards of the El still exist. We were looking for the Dark El in the Demon Realm when I left, but a whole bunch of stuff stopped us along the way. I guess we're faring a little better now, but our mission still isn't completed.

[lupusxylem]

...a cult. Of fucking course it's a cult.

[Why is it always cults

Anyway, Wolfwood is paying closer attention than most might give him credit for. He catches the few tells. "Humans", for instance.]

If you mean Squirt- [Mizuki, why can't you guys be normal] -then yeah, he's right. Shit with Elsword was a little weird. He always seemed like he was on the cusp of rememberin' somethin', but couldn't quite get a hold of it.

[It was sad. But at least it seemed like he enjoyed being around them all...being with Mizuki. Fishing.]

M'glad things are improvin' in your version of that world, at least.

[eidxiety]

That's what the Illuminous Phenomenon does to it. Ms. Harnier, the El Lady, has it too. She told me once that she used to fill the void by eating sweets. I... get what it's like to not feel anything. But now, I can't imagine being emotionless.

[Strums...]

...haha, do you mean that? Thanks, Mr. Priest. I hope yours gets better. Elsword is pretty good at fixing things — although mine is different from yours, maybe we can open an interdimensional portal to your world? He'd fix it for you. We all would, even if Mr. Ancient would complain the entire time.

[lupusxylem]

[Hearing Ain say these things about Elsword, even if they're not "his" Elsword, hurts. It fucking hurts, knowing what happened to him. How could he not hope for a better world for them?]

My world's pretty fucked. If you all could fix it, even a little bit, it'd be a miracle.

[eidxiety]

Between you and me, we're pretty good at fixing things. And building portals. And, mm... getting into trouble? Haha.

[Strum, strum...]

...do you wanna tell me about it? Or, if it's easier: Do you know any good songs?

[lupusxylem]

[Normally...he wouldn't do this. He wouldn't tell people about No Man's Land, because it's not really their business whether his world lives or not. But he's drunk, and he's made himself feel sad and guilty thinking about Elsword, so...]

...I was born on a desert planet. But people say that we came from a different one. Earth. When we ruined it, took all of its resources and destroyed what was left with war, we had to find a new home. We had the technology, back then, to go anywhere in space we wanted.

But then the Big Fall happened.

[eidxiety]

[For some fucking reason Wolfwood is the 3rd person this month to confess things to Ain, and Ain has no idea what he did to get any of this. Like he just approached people and went :D and now they're lamenting to him. Do angels have a secret power he doesn't know about??

Now, if he were a bard, this would be the part where he starts weaving rhymes. Fortunately he is not a bard, so Wolfwood is spared.]

The Big Fall, huh... sounds ominous. What happened there?

[lupusxylem]

[That's your rizz Ain, duh.]

Somethin' went wrong. The ships malfunctioned, and...they fell and crashed on the planet I was born on. We had to start a new civilization with a fraction of the population, and we're strugglin' to survive as it is because the planet is inhabitable otherwise. We wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the Plants.

[You know, like Vash-]

[eidxiety]

The plants? I thought you said it wasn't habitable? I'm pretty sure plants are supposed to give you air to breathe and stuff, so that much is obvious.

[No Ain, the Plants. Capital P.]

Can you not grow food? Is that the problem? Tree bark isn't that great, but you can make it into teas. Just... trust me on that. [Ciel has done some stuff.]

[lupusxylem]

I don't mean those kinda plants. You've talked to Vash, right? Has he told you about his whole deal?

[You know, him being an ay-lee-yun and all.]

[eidxiety]

Mr. Plant? Yeah, I did, and when I called him Mr. Bug he told me to call him Mr. Plant and refused to explain.

[...dots connecting, whips around—]

Mr. Plant!!!! So he IS supposed to grow leaves?!

[...some of the dots only.]

[lupusxylem]

...no.

[Not that he can blame Ain, it's kindof confusing.]

"Plants" are...otherworldy beings. Aliens, you could call 'em. They ain't from our world, but they're the reason we're able to live on our planet. They're like...generators? They can produce water, and energy, and the means for life to flourish depending on their type. There's not...a whole lot of 'em left functioning on the planet, so they're a huge commodity. If your city has one, you're considered lucky. Hugely populated and wealthy in some cases, especially if its a water Plant.

[eidxiety]

Oh... they're kind of like the El.

[Like almost exactly, but the El is not some sentient thing that can make its own choices like Vash can.]

Then you must be lucky to have Mr. Plant around! He's fun to talk to and he's big and important. Haha, I thought he was a Mr. Plant because he photosynthesized, but I guess not. [why are you like this] So what do you call leafy plants, like flowers and stuff? Do you just call them flowers?

[lupusxylem]

Uh, well...we don't really have plants on the planet at all. Not like trees, or grass, or anythin' like that. It's just not built to support that kinda life.

I only just recently saw flowers for the first time. But that's what they're called...or they used t'be called, when they existed on Earth.

[It's as sad as it sounds.]

[eidxiety]

Oh... that's kind of sad.

[Ain can't imagine not seeing just... scenery. Nature. Things around to look at, old scenery from civilizations long gone, pretty new things from people who came in. Stories told in the way the grass bends and songs sung amidst wildflowers.

He flicks his wrist, and blue glyphs float over his shoulder. From one of his hands blooms a flower made of ice, which he hands over to Wolfwood, putting it in his palm.]

It's not a real flower. I can't make those, and that one's gonna melt anyway... but here. Now you can say you've gotten to hold a special flower that doesn't grow anywhere else!

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood blinks as the icy flower is placed into his palm, where it will probably begin melting almost immediately. But, at least for this fleeting moment...it's beautiful. Like the first time he saw a snowflake, only on a much larger scale.

And, for just a moment he actually smiles a little, faintly.]

Heh. This ain't half bad.