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intro log
Whether you were in the middle of battle, on a grand adventure, or simply relaxing somewhere comfortable doesn’t matter. Whatever it was you were doing is suddenly interrupted by time suddenly going still. Everything around you freezes. The rest of the world seems to come to a standstill. The only thing that appears to be in motion is you -- though any temptation to try and figure out what’s going on is suddenly interrupted by the presence of something...small. Something light, like a piece of paper, floating down right in front of you.
A closer inspection reveals that this mysterious piece of paper is actually a ticket of some kind. You can’t quite decipher what it says, but judging by the layout of the text and the clear image of an airplane on it, you can tell that this is a travel ticket.
Not that you have much time to inspect it anyway, because when you reach out and touch it, the world suddenly starts to warp.
- Arrival
You blink, and the next thing you know, you’re falling. You aren’t falling quite as gracefully as that strange ticket was; no, you’re descending very rapidly towards the ground. You can make out that your body is...glowing...a bright shade of yellow, and the ground can either mean the sand on the beach or the ocean itself. Regardless of where you land, the impact is not painful. You can feel the thud or the splash depending on where you end up, but it doesn’t hurt whatsoever.
Those in the water are not far away from shore at all. A quick swim will get you to land! For those of you who can’t swim, well, you may want to consider calling for help, given that you aren’t alone. The glowing seems to have stopped, but you can clearly make out the figures of other people nearby under the moonlight.
The land above the sand is thick with grass and overgrown weeds. There are some bugs here and there (namely tiger beetles) that skitter about, but unless you’re willing to use your bare hands, you don’t have anything to catch them with. For a light source, you can try to make a fire on your own using some twigs lying about from the trees, both apple trees and non-fruit-bearing trees alike, if you wish. Nobody’s stopping you.
There are also assorted tents throughout this part of the island. Each tent has a number on it and a little mailbox to accompany it, and there are eleven total. There’s nothing inside, when you go in, however.
The only other notable thing here is that smack down in the middle of the area you’re in seems to be some kind of man made area. There’s a large rectangle of dirt, and sitting on top of that dirt are three things: A wooden bulletin board with nothing on it, a large green tent with a leaf-like emblem above the opening, and a tall speaker next to the tent. Seems like someone’s been here before. If you step inside of the tent, nobody’s there. It’s completely empty inside, too. Below that tent are two large red tents, one with a "Women's" sign over it and one with a "Men's" sign. There are so many tents.
The airport to the south is locked, and try as you might, the seaplane docked behind it will not start up.
But before you venture too far out, you might want to gather your bearings first and chat with those who’ve been brought here with you. Maybe try to figure out a way to survive the night...assuming help isn’t already on the way.
And maybe some of you might need the help, considering you might not be like how you were before…
The Nook
Some time passes into the night. You’ve met some of the others, maybe did a little bit of exploring and set-up; but moments later, there’s suddenly a little seaplane up ahead. You can hear the plane from wherever you are, and it starts to descend near the airport. It descends rather quickly; you can’t quite see who’s operating the plane, but the passenger door opens.
If you happen to be near the airport, raccoon-like figure emerges from the plane and looks at you expectantly. He’s wearing a white collared shirt with a turquoise leaf-like pattern on it; he also has some khaki shorts on. Finally, he’s got the same emblem on his shirt that the sign above the entrance to the large green tent had. He smiles and it reaches his eyes.
“Ah! You’re all here already, hm? Yes, yes, it’s nice to see you here.” He walks towards the rectangle of dirt, and from his pocket he produces a microphone. Then, he speaks into it, and his voice echoes through the speakers: “Please report to Resident Services near the airport. Thank you.”
Whoever does decide to gather around will be met with an introduction from the tanuki: “Let’s see… First things first, welcome, everyone, to your new island! My name is Tom Nook, founder and president of Nook Inc. This is our first ever Deserted Island Getaway Package experience, so please bear with us while we make adjustments to our program as needed. Now... Today is your first official day -- er, evening on the island. Nook Inc. will always be available to ensure your comfort and safety.”
He then goes on to do roll call. This may take a while, but at least you’ll start learning the names of the other people you’re here with!
“Moving on, I have some camping supplies for each of you that I’ll be delivering to your tents tonight. I do have some assignments for each of you, you see, to ensure that there aren’t some people who are without a place to sleep in…”
Tom Nook then proceeds to read out the tent assignments. Yes, you all have those now, apparently. Hope you get along with your new roommates!
“There will be more announcements for you tomorrow, after you all get a good night’s rest. Yes, yes! Please get to know each other, and I will see all of you at nine AM tomorrow morning.”
A pause, then: “Ah-! Before I get to distributing the supplies, if there are any questions that I can answer now, go ahead and ask them.”
Should you not have any questions, you're free to turn in for the night. Get to know your roommates, arrange your camping supplies when they're delivered to you, and enjoy the sweet tunes on the radio. Or...you can get up to mischief outdoors, too. Nobody's stopping you! This is your island now and you get to do whatever you want.
Isn't that swell?
(OOC: Welcome to Vella’s intro log! Any IC, NPC questions can be posted under the “NPC QUESTIONS” top level; any intro log questions can be posted under the “OOC QUESTIONS” top level! Don't forget to turn in your threads for rewards, too. We hope you have fun!)
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Someone who has stuck by him almost all of his life, and then four years going by in the Scenarios.. The anxiety is a bit suffocating. He knows he'll have to approach him soon enough, but in the meantime they both seem to avoid one another. Like two people skirting around on eggshells. It's a bit funny, really. Enough to make him laugh if he wasn't too busy swallowing any words that wanted to bubble out of him.
Dokja stops as he finds Joonghyuk there by the tent he was assigned to. Finding a chill snake under his nerves as he meets that gaze. Come on.. don't look at him like that. He doesn't know what he's thinking. Someone who could say they know Yoo Joonghyuk as a character well but.. he does not know this one. His ears flicker back, tail low and almost seems to want to curl between his legs. ]
Yoo Joonghyuk.
[ It's a quiet reply. Yet, even as Joonghyuk stares at him, he can't help his gaze as it drifts to the side. Does he know? He can't possibly. He hadn't even done it. He was going to. They were moments from walking out of that subway train and.. If the other man was expecting him to say anything else, he does not. He has no excuses, no regrets, what happens back home.. he just has to understand. That's all he can ask for.
'Do you regret it?' ]
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Joonghyuk always thought that he understood Dokja the most, but after they left that train—he didn't know Dokja too well at all. The furrow of his brow lightens, but he keeps his eyes on him, worried that if he looks away then this moment will disappear. Again, his companion will slip through his fingers. ]
I want to talk to you. [ But not near the tent where people might hear. ] Somewhere else.
[ You owe him. ]
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I know. It's fine, he can't possibly know. He has to treat this as if just moments earlier they were still on that train. So, he has nothing to hide then. Then why does his words make him anxious.. He never realized how much he was left alone with his thoughts without the Fourth Wall there to supply commentary. ]
Alright. [ Well, the airport is in that direction so.. He gestures to the beach before he makes his way there. He keeps quiet again in the meantime, looking back to Joonghyuk once they reach the shores. With a glance around he has to assume they're the only ones here. It's getting late so most people are in their tents. ] What is it?
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He takes a moment even after Dokja pries for the topic at hand. His fingers curl, clenching into a fist as his gaze falls onto the dark horizon beyond. Joonghyuk desperately wants to say so many things and Sooyoung would have encouraged him to. They needed to communicate.
Why? Why did Dokja leave them? No, he knows why, yet his heart still asks. Dokja couldn't imagine happiness for himself. Why? That question is one he doesn't know the answer to...
Why... When all of their happiness included him in their future, but he's gone. ]
I'm planning to regress with our comrades when we return. [ Turning to Dokja, his eyes burn a fire fueled with emotion. There's determination, then also sorrow. Without giving him time to respond, he continues. ] We'll save you and bring you back home.
[ Those words were easier to usher than he anticipated, but the next part has his expression twisting with frustration. ]
... The conclusion we want—it includes you, you fool.
[ His fist shakes, desperately wanting to punch him, but he holds himself back. ]
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However, he puts that behind him, focusing instead on the man beside him once again. Watching, waiting... were their situations were reverse, would he know what to say? ..Of course, he's done it before, hasn't he? Explained time and time again.. to get his head out of that darkness, to focus on the people that were here beside him.
His eyes widen at the words he finally receives. It causes his mouth to open, only for it to close, fists curling into tight balls that tremble as he shakes under what he hears. ] What... Together? Since when could you.. you've never- [ His Regression doesn't work that way. In all his reading, it's never happened. Never. If so, why would it only happen now? All those years spent regressing alone time and time again.. He doesn't understand. He doesn't get it.
He winces and starts to shake his head. ] You can't. [ Stop. ]
I.. I'll be there. [ Please. Stop. ] Isn't that enough? Everyone will be happy, everyone can live a normal life. You all will get to continue. [ Stop. ]
My ■■ can't be any other way. [ If everything stops... that's it. There won't be anything else, there won't be anymore. Did he even have a choice? Deep down, he doesn't want to sacrifice himself. However... he's accepted it as repayment. For everything he's done, for this endless cycle the man before him has lived.. He was paying back that debt. His jaw clenches, teeth gritting and he wants to hit him. He wants to yell at him. Yet, he feels that hot emotion bubbling in his chest. Maybe if there was a way... if possible, they could reach such a conclusion. But, with how things are, that was impossible. This was how the Star System was. How it's always been.
In the end, someone had to be sacrificed. ] Leave it be, Yoo Joonghyuk.
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... You can't stop us.
[ Firm, resolute, he has no intentions of stopping. This is their selfish wish to bring back the person they all loved. He doesn't need to say it, but Dokja should know what he's thinking. Joonghyuk wholly believes that they can somehow figure this system out where Dokja doesn't need to be apart from them... A solution where the other man can live peacefully with all of them in the big house he wanted. ]
We can't be happy with only a part of you, Kim Dokja.
[ How could they be happy with only 49% of Dokja? The Dokja that doesn't remember them completely, only certain parts. He has seen how his comrades interacted with the avatar... Those expressions of fleeting happiness only to be filled with an undeniable sorrow. They would lie to themselves. That's the conclusion Dokja gave to them.
He can feel the nails digging into his palm, but he relaxes his fist and instead holds out his hand to him palm upright. ]
When we find you again... When we reach out to you, take our hand.
[ It's the only salvation he can grant them. This is how he can save them—by letting them save him. ]
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However, this confirms it. What he plans to do. Out of habit he glances to the side, as if where a window choosing from Bookmarks would be reflected back at him. He wasn't going to lie to them, allowing a percentage to go off and live with everyone.. was that not a small atonement for everything? If this dream was to be stopped now, then the world would forever be frozen still. ] It doesn't change anything. As soon as we return.. I have no choice.
[ The smile that lifts his lips is shaky, empty, a smile that does not reach his eyes. Even as he glances over to that hand held out. He finds himself just.. staring. A slight tilt of his head, as though unsure what to do with it. His chest feels tight, fighting against the emotion that almost suffocates him.
[The ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking! ]
Dokja is sure in this very moment, it would be. With the Fourth Wall not here to settle his nerves, to calm his emotions and relax him he feels as if he's going crazy. Like with the Secretive Plotter and his ■■. Yet, Dokja.. Dokja... Dokja wants that happy ending. His vision blurs, blinking rapidly as he continues to stare at the hand. He's not going to cry. Refuses to.
However, his hand doesn't move from where it trembles. Why.. Why are they willing to go so far for him. Fingers slowly uncurl, the tips of them ghosting over that palm in which he can see scars littering over skin. ] Even now, I continue to be saved. Just this once.. [ Let him do the same. He shakes his head, his hand feeling heavy. ]
You understand, don't you? When we return to that subway, it won't stop it from happening. [ Any promises they make here.. Kim Dokja will do whatever he can to let their lives continue on. ...But, if there just so happens to be another way.. just maybe. ..Wouldn't that be okay?
Finally, that hand takes hold of it, gripping as firmly as he can. All that stamina, all that strength is gone now. Feeling strangely weak in this strong hand. ] But, if anyone can do it.. it would be you.
[ Of course 'you' includes all of their companions. Perhaps, in the end, this is as much as Kim Dokja himself can do. Everything he sacrifices, was meant to end up this way. But, maybe there's something he hasn't thought of yet. Maybe there's more he can possibly find out as The Most Ancient Dream. His tail still quivers lowly, ears completely pressed back but he wants to hold out. He would have to. No matter how many years it took, it would be his salvation. Finally, he meets the other's gaze, even though his own holds many uncertainties. ]
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He doesn't clench his fingers to capture Dokja's when they skirt his palm. Watching his companion being so emotional, almost pushed to tears, has his ears pin back. It must be hard... He knows. That guilt however was never for the other man to bear. ]
Your story saved us.
[ Ever since Dokja left them with only a fragment, they've lived off of the story they weaved together. He doesn't outright say it, but that debt that Dokja mentioned in the train, it has been long paid with his love for them. His love and care for each and every member of < Kim Dokja's Company > is what brought them this far, so how? How can a man not see... A future where he's happy? Joonghyuk's thoughts are interrupted when the other man finally takes his hand. Then and there his chest swells with warmth, even though he had every intention in taking that hand forcibly if he had to. He won't leave you behind, Kim Dokja, because you never left any of them behind.
Despite all his confidence, a relieved and small smile laces his lips as he closes his eyes, hand holding on securely to convey everything he couldn't say. That wolf tail may even be wagging a bit, making him look less like the cool protagonist Dokja remembers. ]
When the time comes... Let's go home together, Kim Dokja.
[ Maybe Dokja out of everyone in the universes could hear the silent words that are said in the way his smile. Not in audible words, but unspoken between connected hearts.
"Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for everything..." ]
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That's what he should be saying. Even though, they know to a sense, don't they? From what they've gathered. Of course, he does not know if they truly realize it. Even though he thinks of the past before him.. thinks of that previous stop they got off at. Forced to be at arms length. The cruelty of the world around him.. however, that story he read. Every chapter, every regression, saved him. Helped him live. Helped him continue on. He was.. able to live because of this man before him's story.
Dokja swallows, lips pressing thinly together as his hand trembles from where it rests on the other's. He lowers his gaze again, low and almost fleeting at the ground and wonders how he can say that so assuredly to him. All he did until now.. was use the story he's loved and read upon most of his life, used every single one of the man before him's regression turn to completely create the perfect turn. Maybe he could have done better. Maybe he could have saved more people. In the end... wasn't he just selfish? Was it all his own greed? How could they thank him for that?
When he looks back at him, he finds an expression he.. does not expect. How many times has he read the character Yoo Joonghyuk with such a look? A look one could likely compare to being in.. peace. He feels his eyes shake, especially when that grip grows secured around his hand and he subconsciously takes a step closer. His own tail has raised a bit higher but for the most part he's stock still. Almost as if the slightest movement would spook him running.
[You are the only person who knows the secret of this world.]
Even like this, Kim Dokja would say he's still the cool protagonist he's read about. But this.. this side of Joonghyuk that he is not familiar with, that he is not use to seeing.
[The world’s time will not flow if the dream doesn’t continue.]
..He wants to see more of it. How desperately he wish he could hold back the emotions bubbling out of him, sounding like a choked off laugh. Before he even realizes it, he's already closed the distance between them to lower his head and press his forehead to the other man's torso. His vision blurs over again, watching as droplets fall onto the sandy shores beneath him. Soaking into the sand, drop after drop. Please, don't look at him. He must be making such an ugly face right now. ] ...Un.
[ He can't trust his voice in being able to say anything. So, he settles on a slight nod and a noise to confirm his companion's words. ]
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What can he even say to console him? Joonghyuk wonders and all the words that come up aren't things he would want to say to him. Dokja has been the powerhouse behind their group—he has done everything well... However, he has left them in tatters when he decided they would be happier without him. He doesn't want to lie to him, but he does want to comfort him if only a bit. This man went through hell with one single lifetime just for him, likewise Joonghyuk also lived for him.
He lifts his free hand and gently strokes his head, much like he faintly remembers from the 1863rd turn. Let it all out. No one will hear the sobs beyond the crashing waves near them. No one will see them in this dark night. ]
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Their linked hands still causes a tremble, closing his eyes shut and freezing once more when he catches feel of that hand atop his head. It's.. strange. If someone had told him Yoo Joonghyuk would comfort like this, he would have deemed them mad. However, now that he's here.. he can't help this almost childish feeling of wanting to cling to it. It's nice. Especially as the trembling seems to slowly stop until it ends entirely. His crying seems to lessen too until the only sounds he catches onto are the crashing waves and the sound of his breathing getting under control.
Except, as gentle as those strokes are, every time fingers touch those ears he finds a sensation running down his spine that almost makes him squirm. They're sensitive. Which is strange. Ears flickering and quivering under the passing touch. But, it gets his emotions and thoughts gathered, rubbing at his face and taking a deep breath until he's sure he won't cry anymore.
He glances briefly up at him, only for a second, as if embarrassed to meet his gaze. ] It's... a bit ticklish.
[ His eyes are probably red, obvious with his dark circles but he doesn't. Want to talk about him crying. However, now that he's still close.. if he pays more attention, he can actually hear the steady beating of Joonghyuk's heart. ]
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Those are some tear-stained eyes, all right. ]
You look terrible. [ Carefully, Joonghyuk tilts his head using his chin as a pivot before letting go. There are no injuries since their arrival good. Now, he fixes his bangs to be just as he remembers when they were on that train. ] Get some rest.
[ You think he hasn't seen those dark circles under your eyes? They did arrive when there was no light on the island, but he can discern details once his eyes adjust. Even the brightest star in the sky needs rest... A long-overdue rest. Before he lets his hand fall, it grabs onto his collar tightly. Let him at least warn the other man. ]
But don't ignore me again, Kim Dokja.
[ (Even. Though. Joonghyuk was the one that ignored Dokja. It's not supposed to be mutual neglect) And Joonghyuk is back to his normal with that familiar scowl. ]
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[ He. Didn't. Ask. For your opinion!! His nerves bunch up and he brushes off that hand the moment he lets go as he's feeling even more self-conscious than he was before. Ears fold back as fingers brush over his bangs, eyes fluttering to a close before eyeing his companion again. This moment is all.. so new to him. He isn't sure how he feels about it. Doesn't like how nervous he feels. His tail reflects with quick swishes. ] That was the plan.
[ Maybe. Sorta. Though, thinking about going back to his tent.. should he even bother with the barricade? At the moment, he doesn't even consider that Joonghyuk won't let him out of his sight. He's distracted that he emits a surprised sound at the grab of his collar. Well, it's a bit funny how familiar he is to this. He immediately takes hold of that wrist with a semi-firm grip. ]
Hey, don't pretend you weren't ignoring me either. Especially with what you pulled in front of everyone else earlier. [ Jail? Really? Anyways, the fact they're now semi-arguing and they still.. have their hands holding is becoming a well known fact so he's quickly letting go to now knock knuckles against the other man's chest. ] Is there anything else we need to talk about? Or can I go to bed now.
[ His eyes sting from all that crying and he preferably would like to avoid the rest of the other arrivals. Should he try for his tent again? Or... he continues to stare at him before he caves in.]
..Actually, I need a favor. Let me stay in your tent.
no subject
There's nothing else.
[ He thinks that the "don't do anything reckless" bit must be tiring to hear as much as it is to reiterate, so he rounds that in. For now, he intends to keep a critical eye on Dokja... Even when their abilities and the threat of the apocalypse are gone, that doesn't mean Dokja won't do something stupid.
Just thinking about it makes his blood boil. His grip tightens around that collar, finding odd comfort in the hand that grabs onto his wrist. Tilting his head back, he looks at him with an inquisitive gleam in his eyes. ]
I'll let you stay if you let me hit you.
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Where he really had to dance around what he said doesn't nearly count as much now. Yeah he should still not do anything to piss Yoo Joonghyuk off but. Feeling that hold on his collar tighten only encourages his own grip on that wrist to tighten. Not just that, but he brings his other hand to hold onto it as well. ] I refuse.
[Not that he has a much of a choice but since he's requesting? He's obviously gonna say no, you bastard. ] I'll go somewhere else then.
[ This is where he would probably walk off but he. Can't. So. Let go of him already. ]
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I'll do it gently.
[ Promise. ]
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... He must be going insane to be hesitating to respond. ]
You're going to hit me anyways. [ Ugh. ] Fine. Whatever. Get it over with already.
[ While he waits, he's subconsciously tensing up. ]
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See? Gentle. ]
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Satisfied?
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No, he doesn't notice it. ]
Follow me.
[ And this just transpires to this disaster. ]