There's (not) always a beach party

[wheremst]

And sure enough, true to Carmen's word, it's not long before she grants clearance and others start to appear - some familiar, some less than. There's no guarantee that you'll understand each other, or even really enjoy each other's company, but in a way, you all share the same strange and traumatic experience. Surely that counts for something, right?

Carmen herself hangs off to the side, ready to send anyone home who wants to go, or to elaborate on things that have happened, but for now it's a beautiful day at the beach, you're all alive, and that's good enough for now. Enjoy the vibes.

[ ooc: welcome to the last IC log of Unknown Seas r2! Feel free to mingle to your hearts' content, get up to Shenanigans, whatever you'd like! The world, along with the multiverse beyond, is your oyster.

For R1 characters, about 3 months have passed since the end of your round. You've been able to do some travel, but this is the first time Carmen's gotten the Lutece Machine fully operational like this. also, you've all known in broad terms about this for a while, if you talk to carmen much! She mostly just... didn't want to drop "oh and there was ANOTHER round of this" right after the end of r1. So come in, say hi to everyone from your prequel-sequel (or, dare I say, pre-sequel) round, and have fun!

As for our lovely players, see you guys in the OOC comm for the love meme, and, if you're interested, further beyond for Round 3! ]

Comments

[emberserker]

I can't complain too much about the heat, but I'm starting to think that sweltering tropical islands might attract these sorts.

[Stepping out is a teenage girl in a fancy dress, who immediately puts her hand out and draws a magic circle in the air.]

It doesn't look like we've got any unpleasant surprises waiting. Whoever this lot is must have some level of competence. Just tell me this place is civilized.

[Did you miss her?]

[bolderfell]

Tell me how you really feel, Anna.

[But he's hardly even paying attention to his companion, really, shading his eyes as he looks at the Queen Alice's Revenge over there.

Yes, yes, he knows there are people to talk to, but consider: pirate treasure.]

[hardnosed]

[ And suddenly, the biggest goddamn woman you have — well, maybe not ever, but recently, not counting the goat — seen appears and approaches with long, heavy strides. She doesn't look particularly impressed, but would anyone from eight feet up? ]

This is them? Ch — figures. I don't know what I expected. [ Her lip curls, and it looks like she's going to say something else vaguely derisive, but then her eyes catch upon: ] You?

[ Sorry, Jasper. ]

Why is he here?

[onlyyoucan]

...you know him?

[You don't look like you're from the same world, just saying.]

[fivestagegod]

[So Birkin has always been weird and standoffish, at least a bit - much in the way of those who don't know how to socialize but don't care enough to fix that fact, either; he's found somewhere to sit and keep tabs on everyone at this little gathering they're all having, probably on some sort of downed tree or something, and he's got materials on him - it looks like he's taking notes on everyone here, though what he's writing is hard to discern from a distance and if he notices anyone trying to come up on him he'll snap the book he's writing in closed rather sharply.]

Good to see that "unmitigated mess" is sort of the state of everybody who comes out of these things; damn, you guys are a disaster. Anyone remember if we were this much of a disaster?

[That last bit is sort of addressed to the group as a whole; he's got that sort of smirk that implies that he fully expects that to be met with the insistence that he should shut up.

He will not, in fact, shut up.]

No, really, it's good that this other incidence of...all of this bullshit ended well enough. You guys are either smart, lucky or some ungodly mix of both.

[silentscout]

We just had to fight curses and pirate ghosts.

[There is a definite sense of salt from his tone there.

That said, he's wandering over to see what Birkin is writing. He's not asking, he's just trying to walk over and peer over his shoulder or over the top of the papers if he can.]

[philoxenia]

[ As far as strangeness has gone, this... actually isn't very! It's not exactly comforting that this has happened again, but....

Well, at least she's brought snacks. You want some cookies? She's got cookies. They're kind of just chilling, piled up on a suitcase that she's brought, and there are a lot...

But other than that, when she's not hanging around those she's closer with, she's definitely mingling. While the new group has no way of telling, she stands a little straighter, with her (longer) hair pulled back and out of her eyes--she's still somewhat quiet and hesitant, but she's in a way different place than when she was in a murdergame. So if anyone approaches, well... she's sure not going to turn them away! ]

Hello. I'm glad you're all safe now... even if it's a lot all at once.

[bolderfell]

[Yes, Mira's got cookies, but now she's suddenly a couple cookies poorer. Surely that guy casually standing some feet away to watch the ocean has nothing to do with that. Whatever he's discreetly munching on is must be something he brought from home, o-obviously.]

[onefuture]

[It's hard to believe that three months have passed since the end of their tenure in that virtual reality, but Lif is rather quick to come along, all things considered. He has been curious for quite a while, just what's been happening, but things in Skyrim have certainly been interesting.

...Though Lif does kind of cut a very imposing figure as he steps out, but rather than the glowing purple sword at his side, he has a large broadsword at his back over his cloak. He's still very much glowing and zombie-like after all this time, so hopefully he doesn't...scare too many people off, but...

Well, he's gonna go over and wallflower a bit, but he can be bullied into social interaction. Though, you might hear him talking to himself just a little bit, almost amused.]

...It seems that an interesting lot was pulled in. I wonder if any of them are strong...

[...Lif, please.

But otherwise, he'll be fairly quiet. Kind of skulking, really, someone's gotta get him to stop that.]

[cethflayn]

[Curious staring! Gosh sir you are all glowy like our dead friends were, are you okay?

He's probably not okay, but.]

Hello. You were part of the other group, yes?

[reallyhatesharks]

[Nova steps through dressed, uh. Like she's the one who was going on a cruise. That's just. She's just wearing a bikini top and Daisy Dukes with a leather jacket over them. Oh, and she has a chainsaw strapped to her back.

Pulling her sunglasses down, Nova looks over the R2 folk.]

So, which of y'all are secret rocks? And why'd you bring Michael Cera with you?

[Given the amount of celebrity cameos in Sharknado, who's to say that Michael Cera isn't one of them in the alternate reality hellhole mess that's been made of Sharknado's timeline? Jedward showed up three times.]

[onlyyoucan]

Wait, how do you know Scott's title already?

[shieldsister]

[Did you all miss Aela? No?? Well here she is anyway. Three months isn't very long, so it's probably no surprise that she hasn't changed much. She's wearing her usual dark green war paint, her weird Skyrim fur armor, and armed with a bow and a quiver full of arrows along with a sword strapped to her hip, but she isn't looking for a fight today. Truthfully, she's not really sure she has much of a place here; but she is here, and she's watching everyone curiously. For awhile you can find her standing around on the beach with her arms folded. If you approach, she'll greet you:]

Are you one of the ones who died?

[........thanks, aela??? At least she'll just greet anyone from her own game with a nod, which is definitely an improvement.

...Later on you can find her looking through Queen Alice's Revenge for anything interesting to loot but like, what did you expect. Skyrim characters are like this. Feel free to come bother her there too??]

[silentscout]

[He definitely approached her because her outfit looked somewhat closer to what he wears than the modern clothes everyone else wears, albeit a bit too far on the other side of the 'far past' timeline. Still, he stops suddenly when he hears that question, and he frowns.]

What of it?

[nothingcanstop]

[ Interdimensional travel, you say? A grand adventure? Well, of course Della's there! She gets to see all her weird-looking furless, featherless friends (and Sly)! She chats to those she recognizes, as she sees them. ]

...and I tell ya, the kids are not pleased about me leaving them behind, but really, what else could I do? I'll let 'em have a multiversal trip after we inoculate the newbies. ...Waait, are we the newbies? Ugh, time travel! Sucks!

[ Yeah. Here's Della. She may also be pulling out some pictures, as she can. You know, catching people up on some things. ]

And here's Huey, getting ready to compete for the Senior Junior Woodchuck promotion, which he still should've gotten, I'm gonna tear Launchpad a new one— no, I'm calm. And here's all the kids and Uncle Scrooge, off battling for the fate of the universe in Valhalla...! Oh, I'm so proud of them.

[ ...Ducktales.

To the new group, she's friendly and welcoming, mostly. ] I'm sure you already know this, but if you need any help, Carmen'll get you on your feet. Girl's a peach, really. Helped save our sorry butts, after all.


[ But to one duck in particular: ]

MAGICA DE SPELL?! What in the world are— her?! Carms, her?!

[silentscout]

[...duck.]

You're not green.

[Did he expect all the ducks in Magica's world to be green? Maybe.]

[baitless]

[Well, Seteth's been trying to enjoy himself over the past three months and keep an eye on Rhea, so. Well. He has decided to continue enjoying himself before he goes back to Fodlan proper, so along with some luggage containing clothes and whatnot he has brought a fine selection of fishing gear to maybe get some of that in. Even if he was fine with more simple rods back home, he's kind of been fascinated by all the new tech and the interesting-looking lures and so on, so he may as well give it a shot while he's here!

He will look slightly apologetic if anyone unfamiliar approaches, though.]

Ah... forgive me. I intended to do a better job of familiarizing myself with what was happening here, but I ended up a bit busy and so I am a touch loss. May I ask your name?

[...

At least until he spots a certain green-haired fish enthusiast, at which point he freezes and drops the cooler he's been carrying around.

You can hear the Kill Bill sirens going off in his head...]

1/2 ARE YOU READY TO GO

[cethflayn]

[See, here's the thing. Flayn's still sore from being thrown bodily into a window, really relieved that her new friends are alive and her powers work, and now there's so many new people to meet? And one girl made cookies? And she got to meet a sea goddess? This is a lot, so she's not bouncing between people like Seteth might normally expect. And...you know, it's odd. Her hair's never been that short, and she certainly would never let her ears be seen normally. And the gold ribbons on her sleeves are gone? One is tied around her wrist and hand, but the other is missing. Seteth spots her in a moment where she's not near anyone, just taking out the ugliest homemade teddy bear in existence and hugging him with relief, and then, she

looks up

and their eyes meet]

...Br...

[sharddrive]

[So. Shard's kind of hanging out at the edges of everything? This is a lot of people, guys, and a lot of humans specifically. And he might still be feeling a little guilty for what feels like kicking off seven weeks straight of murder, it's not great.]

[But sooner or later he'll start approaching people. Mostly the people on the Swift, but if anyone's sufficiently obviously non-human he'll approach them anyway-]

So are humans just, like, the multiversal majority somehow or are the people who run these things really biased. Or both.

[Or, more in general, you might hear him complaining about the beach.]

I'm ready to never see sand ever again ever, I dunno about anyone else.

[It's course and rough and gets into memes etc etc.]

[...Or just wildcard it and approach on your own, he's a shiny metal hedgehog, that's probably at least a little eye-catching right?]

[silentscout]

[No escape for Shard. Lalli is going to look for him.]

It might just be bias. Jack is human, LeChuck is...probably human. So they mostly got humans.

[He wants to believe in endless possibilities, so sue him.]

/dabs

[cethflayn]

[So many new people! Flayn is...she can't flit about as well as she usually would, because everything that happened really is hitting her and the adrenaline rush is leaving her like a tide pulling out. But she's here, and hey, Round One?

She looks way too similar to Seteth and Rhea for her not to be related to them.

Still, she gives you a smile if you're new, extending a hand to shake.]

Hello there! Even in such circumstances, it is wonderful to meet you. You can call me Flayn.

[Flayn, Cethleann. In her heart, they mean the same thing. It's not hiding.

She's not hiding anymore.]

[snackooed]

[ Ema can't help but let out a bit of a chuckle, seeing this earnest young girl, with short, messy hair and ears pointed outward. Maybe it's the sentimental part of her, but she thinks of words that Seteth had dropped offhand, way back when.

My sister...talks...about-- ]

See any good fish lately, Flayn?

[ She looks pure and good, indeed. ]

[bolderfell]

[When Therion finds out there'll be no take-home pirate treasure, half his enthusiasm for being there visibly evaporates from his body. That it's only half says something about how hecking much he cares about the people who've gone through this.

He takes the first opportunity that presents itself to slip away to whatever seems like the less noisy side of the lighthouse and enjoy an apple. Anyone who comes near, whether he recognizes them or not, gets a sidelong look that isn't entirely unfriendly.]

Looking for someone?

[He says it even to those who are probably looking for him.]

[hardnosed]

No.

[ F R I E N D S H I P. Jasper crosses her arms, looming over him, as she's wont to do. ]

I'm surprised you showed up at all.

[silentscout]

[Lalli is here? As more and more people arrive he starts to get more and more disgruntled looking, but that's mostly because crowds are loud and he'd rather not see so many people at once.

Eventually he's going to retreat to the outskirts of the group, though he's not leaving entirely. He needs to get fitted for the world traveling, and he's actually curious about the other group. He does keep an eye out for anyone familiar, but that's a foregone conclusion so he's not going to ask after anyone from his world.

Instead, he has another question for the round 1 people:]

What happened to all of you?

[And then, for the round 2 people:]

Don't come to my world to visit. I'll come see you.

[cethflayn]

You should bring Onni to visit when you come. And your friends from your group. I want to meet your family.

[Considering they all survives Adventure 2...]

[ladygeryon]

[Nira's mostly hanging out far away from the ocean part of the beach, leaning against one of the trees and looking up at the air. Aria is curled up at her feet, supporting her. She'll give anyone who happens by a smile.]

Good job making it out of there. Hope you don't mind us all showing up.

[And later on, probably...]

So, I heard Angel's "dad" is somewhere with you? [You can hear the quotations around "dad" very clearly here.] I'd like to have a...little talk with him, please. [Her expression is hard and weighty, the anger of a mountain behind it as she starts walking towards wherever Jack is.]

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara's here when the new people arrive, wallflowering awkwardly with a doll the size of a small child sitting next to her on an empty crate. If you approach her, she'll stare at you for a second.]

...So I guess it's back where we came from from here.

[pimpplan]

[ Zelos has had quite the wild (ha) five months, what with the experiment immediately followed by helping to reunite the worlds. For someone with his title, it's been a lot of work – too much, in some cases, but he's got a lot of making up to do, between this group and his group back home. But given everything, if you haven't gone to see him before now, this is probably one of the first times you're seeing him since the experiment.

So of course he shows up with everyone else when there's word of a new bunch of people. He doesn't bring a whole lot, but what he does is probably needed, especially with the newer group of people - booze. ]

Yo! I heard that there was a party that needed starting around here?

[ He is, above all things, still himself. If he comes across any of the new people, he's got the awareness to be a least a little more reserved. But only a little. ]

So you got stuck in one of those murder machines, too, huh? Not exactly my idea of a vacation.

[philoxenia]

Is there? I think someone may have told you wrong...

[ She's teasing, of course, because girl can't keep a straight face here. ]

[snackooed]

[ MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH
MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH

You'll hear the sounds this one makes before you get a chance to see her face. It's not that she isn't happy to be here, mind you, but she's been a pretty busy lady! Judging by the long, white labcoat she's wearing over her duds, and the bright pink sunglasses pulled over her eyes, those who recognize her can at least make the inference that she's still in her old line of work. As if she'd quit it for the world.

But she's also armed, this time around. And if she catches anyone trying to wallflower or hang off to the side (or go too long without saying hello to her, if you're a familiar face), you'll just happen to get sniped clean, by one of these bad boys. Her hand is steady, she balances the Snackoo right on the side of her pointer finger, and with a precise flick of her thumb...

ka-tonk! ]

No hiding. We've got reason to celebrate today. Keep that chin up, got it?

[ Judging by the smirk on her face, like she's the cat that swallowed the canary, she's not even a little bit apologetic. But you can't be that mad at her, can you?

After all, you're alive. It wouldn't do for you not to act the part. ]

[philoxenia]

[ Excuse you, Miss Skye, what's that over there?

Surely it's not someone swiping some of those Snackoos. And looking totally shameless about it as she munches away. ]

[ahelpingpaw]

[Who are all these people that suddenly appeared? Filbo is...well, he is feeling a little lost because let's face it, it's a whole bunch of people he has never seen before, most likely from worlds he can't even imagine. Although the murdercruise got him used to other intelligent life forms, he finds right away he wasn't as prepared as he thought.

Anyone unfamiliar who approaches gets a nervous wave from him]

...hello? Uh, welcome! Also well done surviving a horrible death vacation at some point, that's really impressive!

[More people than he expected came out of that portal, wow, either this group was better put together than those in Filbo's group, or they also managed to defeat whatever strange mastermind had gathered them. Both are a reason to be impressed, in his opinion]

[emberserker]

Vacation? Hardly. It was a science experiment. Were they going to torture you into being their mindless followers, or were we just lucky?

[guffawsungraciously]

[...so it's apparently time to leave, huh? Ah, now that the opportunity is actually here, he's kind of... dithering... it's probably partly that he actually likes the people he's spent all this time with and wants to properly say goodbye, but uh. Unlike his usual aloof confidence, the way he's standing awkwardly near Carmen is more akin to someone who probably needs to talk to the teacher for some kind of favor after class but hasn't done his homework in approximately a month.

...please talk to him he's desperate to put this off.]

So this... keeps happening, then.

[ladygeryon]

Apparently so. I believe we're the third group now, taking the time travel into account.

[hypnowhip]

[It was quite a shock to learn that this has happened to other people, but that doesn't mean Sylvando isn't eager to speak with his fellow unwilling murdergame participants. He'll give new faces a friendly wave.]

Hi, darling! I wish the circumstances could be better, but it's nice to meet you all the same! I'm Sylvando, entertainer extraordinaire~

[And speaking of entertainment...now that he's back to normal and with his abilities back, how about a little performance? Sylvando has his recorder back (because...magic, don't worry about it) and he's combining playing that with a graceful dance. No flashy acrobatics today, but the dance is still pretty damn flashy! He's kicking up a misty pink gust of air as he goes, scattering leaves and flower petals with each twirl. He'll even ask particularly eager onlookers to join him! Let's party!

As things start to wind down, he'll approach fellow murdercruise participants for last chats and goodbyes.]

I'm curious! What are your plans after all of this?

[onlyyoucan]

I have something to attend to. I don't know what the state of things are back on the Libertad, if it's still there. But if I leave it as it is, it'll only get worse. ...But after that, Z -- [Oh, right. She's not keeping his secret anymore. Not here, anyway.] Lelouch asked me to come with him. I can do more good there than with the Union, even if they did still want me.

[bonesorter]

[Oh boy, a chance to meet people, and it's exciting to hear people talking about making plans to have everyone travel to their worlds, or to... their own...

It's at this exact moment when Lorna suddenly realizes there is a crisis on her hands here.]

Oh my gosh, how am I going to be able to explain any of this to Auntie Whispers...

[Sure, Lorna is not possessed anymore, but... old habits die hard, how is she going to convince her extremely hostile towards outsiders aunt that Lorna has not been converted by the devil or hip hop music or some shit instead when she gets back...

... and also, you know, making sure no one here heckin' dies coming to her world since it is technically an afterlife she lives in...]

[cethflayn]

[Shit Lorna she wishes she could help, but also she doesn't know yet that even though her Dad is here, it's not the Dad from her timeline? So Flayn's going to have to explain everything over again to him, and to her Professor, and quite a lot of people and it's going to be a production, really.

But!]

Lorna, I almost forgot - I have your book with me.

[And sure enough, Flayn has gone through her bag 'o stuff and taken out the Tome of the Unknown.]

I am sorry that I went through your things, but...I remembered seeing you with this, and it seemed important, and yesterday Mister Davy Jones said we had to pack everything we wanted to bring with us because we would not return to the ship, so...

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel sort of... slides in, after a bit, more than a little on edge? She's doing a lot of work to try to avoid... well, on person in particular, but anyone who saw her picture on the ship might understand why!

Mostly she seems content to stay over towards the edge of things and watch everyone else - though if she recognizes you from the first round, she'll wave. ]

Heck of a reunion, huh?

[ And if you're from the second round: ]

Uh... hey. I'm Angel, but you might know that already?

[philoxenia]

I think that's putting it lightly....

[ But, hey girl. Mira's happy to see her. ]

It's wonderful to see you again. How are you?

[leaveittomother]

[There's someone who is cordial but is definitely lingering near the edge of the group. Reika is just watching the sea quietly. So... that was it, wasn't it? Everything was done.

If time's been marching on without them then there's no point in going back. Why bother? She stretches out with a smile.]

Hah, I suppose I've gotten to the end of the story with no chance of a sequel. Guess I'll see what luck has in store for me. What about you?

[ahelpingpaw]

Honestly? I dunno what's gonna happen with me at home. Either I lost my job or I didn't and I have to find something to do with myself -- probably going for mayor again someday.

[He's both eager and dreading to go back home. Oh well, at least it'll be nice to be back among grumpuses again]

But there's no point in stagnating, right! We survived! And that means we have to tackle whatever comes from here on.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[It's been a very busy three months, hunting down VILE's operations, scanning letters and documents for more clues as to the nature of the Lutece Machine... as well as getting accustomed to the nature of a modern world, and all the new hurdles that brought with it.

Aside from a very immediate, and very public shouting match between herself and Handsome Jack, Cassandra stands mostly out of the way. She keeps an eye on this new crowd of lucky casualties caught up in the ever-growing mess. Some part of her isn't really... sure how to interact still? That's why Carmen's here.

All the same, she tugs on the sleeves of her jacket, black leather.]

This was not the right thing to wear to a tropical island.

[snackooed]

What, don't tell me you wanna switch with me?

[ Cass may be hanging off to the side, but Ema's got some degree of sympathy for her; she's been making an effort to snipe the stragglers with a Snackoo, but Cass doesn't find herself down Ema's sights just yet. We'll give her (and her voice) some time to recover.

The reason for her off-hand remark is a bit obvious; it may be white, but the labcoat draped over her outfit is still a bit heavy for fun in the sun. Not that she envies Cass in her unfortunate choice of outerwear, but she won't find any relief in a swap, that's for sure. ]

I mean, if you want, I'll let you borrow it...

[bogwife]

Whooo, wow! There are even more of you all than there were of us.

[What kind of lunatic wears a medieval-style corset, chemise and chunky boots to the beach? This sunshine goth lunatic! But hey, she's better prepared for this impromptu beach trip than she was her last one. She has her staff strapped to her back and a basket on her arm filled with small glass bottles of bright red, deep purple and clear liquids that she offers to whoever comes close, be they from her round or this new batch.]

Anybody need a drink? I brought some water, healing potions if anyone needs them, a little wine- [She pauses, recounting her bottles quickly.] Alright, it's mostly wine but anything beats sea water.

[cethflayn]

Would you allow me some wine? I am not so young as I appear.

[Hello Zerinda, there's a girl who looks quite similar to Seteth and Rhea who is asking you for alcohol.

Look, it's a reunion and a party and a relieving situation, she can have one (1) drink.]