Your New Life

[mayorityvote]

Another New Life

You wake up to the sound of surf, much, much closer than you've ever heard it unless you moseyed down to Puffin Pier back in the old days. What old days...? Why, the days when you had a body, of course. The memories are probably coming back by now, jumbled along with everything else you lost. What a wake-up call.

But at least the ocean is real, unlike your dubiously fragmented remembrances. This little island out in the middle of nowhere sports a crude sign reading DUCK DAMNED ISLAND that seems like it's really railing against whatever fate you've been left to. There are little seashells and sparkling fragments amongst the sand to the left of your face. If you look further, to the left and right, it seems you're not the only one who's woken up here; it's considerably less cushy than your last wakeup, but maybe that's not a bad thing.

Here, you're free, albeit... kind of incorporeal, as you'll soon find out. The island is covered in pretty little trees that don't quite form a forest, bowed over the really beautiful sandy beach that is way prettier than the one on the mainland. One, slightly rickety treehouse -- bare of anything, because incorporeal ghosts don't need furniture, of course -- peeks out from between the leaves. This is, apparently, your home away from home now.

Finally, there's a small bay-like area on the island that leads you to a strange-looking storm drain, marked with a symbol that's not-quite-an-apple. Stepping in will wash you alllllll the way back up to Puffin Pier, right where the sewers normally let out.

Oh, and once you step onto the mainland? You're now a duck. What kind of quacking afterlife is this.

((OOC: the tldr; about death is here!))

Main NavWeek Two

code

Comments

[driftedaway]

[ Well, that answers his question at least. ]

...Yeah, I died. And I'm sorry you died with me. It's my fault. That shouldn't have happened. It...was just meant to be me.

[ Keito exhales slowly before continuing, trying to ignore how hoarse his voice sounds. He owes him that much. ]

Karma.

[ Unlike at the supermarket, his eyes are focused and alert, if incredibly puffy. ]

[lovebombing]

...

[He's silent for a moment. That permanent smile wanes, ever slightly.]

[He actually does sound concerned.]

He killed you, then.

[driftedaway]

[ He tries to force a smile. He doesn't really feel like smiling though, so it doesn't come out quite right. ]

It should've been similar to how I killed you. So at least you got avenged quickly.

[ Hence karma. ]

[lovebombing]

Mm.

[He closes his eyes, tilts his head to the side. Thinks for a moment.]

[And then, a question.]

Was it funny? My death, I mean.

[driftedaway]

[ He looks unsure how to answer that, but after a few false starts, he finally responds. ]

...Sorry, it was ridiculous. I couldn't adjust your pose before I blacked out. [ Or well, died. ] I don't know how you landed with your butt up.

1/2

[lovebombing]

My...butt. My butt was up.


[He stares for a loooong moment.]

2/2

[lovebombing]

[And then, with no warning, bursts into a peal of laughter.]

Oh, that's - haha - that's great! That's- ha - the best thing I could ask for!

[???????]

[driftedaway]

[ The sudden laughter startles him, causing him to freeze up. He's about to get punched, isn't he— ]

Huh? What...what are you saying?

[ ??????? ]

[lovebombing]

It's alright, kid. Its hard to explain, but...

[He reaches over, pats him on the shoulder.]

I wasn't happy about it. Dying and all. But that? That makes it a little worth it.

[driftedaway]

I don't get what makes it even a little worth that...? [ The confusion is sure getting to him, making his eyes swim. ] I thought you'd punch me.

[lovebombing]

[He tilts his head at that.]

Do you want me to punch you?

[driftedaway]

...No. [ He shudders at the thought. ] But I wouldn't stop you.

[ Closing his eyes, he nervously twiddles his thumbs. ]

I can't say I remember everything that happened that night beyond the general timeline and your butt being the last thing I saw, but I don't see what about it would be worth it.

[lovebombing]

Like I said. It's complicated. Let me see...

[He turns his head this way and that, thinking.]

Let's just say its like performing a nice part in stage, and a grand audience is having a good time. Any drama needs its shadowy comic relief.

[driftedaway]

[ He looks to the side, considering all of that. ]

But doesn't that mean you'll be lonely?

[lovebombing]

Gee, you're like Noah. You guys really worry about stuff like that.

...There's others like me. Even if we don't see eye to eye, we have similar paths in life.

[driftedaway]

Not really. I can't act like a protagonist the way he does.

While I still can't say I get it...it's pretty cool to be able to stick to your path like that.

[lovebombing]

Hehe.

[Another pat to the shoulder.]

Well, that's that. In the end, it seems we're not really done yet. The play is still going. We're simply backstage.

[driftedaway]

[ He nods, letting his hands fall loosely to his side. ]

We must've awakened here for a reason.

[ If only he could be sure it was benevolent. ]

I've never seen anywhere like this though... Maybe it's where the people Adela and Miss Makima talked about disappeared to?

[lovebombing]

Maybe, but...

[Looking around...]

Have you, um, seen anybody else?

[driftedaway]

Yes. there's the rub. I don't spot anyone but us here.

[ It's just...beach and treehouse so far. How mysterious. ]