event } lime, coconut, explosions

[seeingyou]

WHO: All y’all
WHAT: A nice vacation to ease everyone in
WHERE: Various locations on Alkonost Island, including Navi
WHEN: Sept 12-30
WARNINGS: Use ‘em in your threads if needed!

Welcome to Alkonost, the beautiful tropical island on the planet Tetagari where you have just made an emergency crash landing! You’ll be here for a while, so settle in and get cozy with your new shipmates until Navi is repaired and ready for takeoff.

Alkonost is a small island with an eponymous beachfront village, with the rest of the land covered in tropical rainforest, dry forest, and grasslands. Most of the land is still wild, as the Alkonost population is centered at the beach, though ancient ruins can be found a bit more inland. Alkonostians are a humanoid, amphibious people, with light green skin, gills, and webbed fingers; they are friendly and welcoming to tourists, business contacts, and intergalactic refugees alike.

Speaking of business, the main exports of Alkonost are various types of fish, shell jewelry, and a unique, dark red pearl that is only cultivated in the waters surrounding the island. These red pearls are highly prized on other islands and provide the bulk of income for the Alkonost population. They’ve also recently attracted a band of pesky pirates, which has taken to raiding export ships and even the pearl farms themselves, on occasion. Warning signs are posted near the shoreline and will be explained by locals if asked.

While visiting, you can elect to work as part of a fishing or pearl farming crew, or with one of the island’s fruit collection squads, and you’ll be paid daily in fresh fish and equally fresh fruit. For necessities of the non-consumable sort, the village open-air market is open every day for all of your shopping needs. Otherwise, grab some sun on the beach, dance and sing around bonfires at night, get to know your fellow passengers, or just chill on the ship and get to know Navi.

Comments

[secreteary]

wherever you find Martin, he's doing one of two things: either fussing over others and making sure they're alright (they usually are, and if he's honest with himself he wouldn't know what to do if they aren't), or scowling with his arms folded at some part of the scenery he's currently in; half angry and half deeply worried.

[so, pick your poison:

Martin is either trying to trying to talk to the Navi for any proof they might have that this is real and not a part of where he just came from, or in his head;

on the beach staring off at the ocean or the ship lost in thought or running away from the pirates (combat-trained, he is NOT);

sitting under a fruit tree looking VERY upset,

or in the kitchen trying to find something.]

[eyediot]

[Jon has decided the ship? Well and far above his pay grade. He's stuck here though from the looks of it. Not his flight crashing, not a weird dream, just. More strangeness that, for once in these last couple of years, may not actually be Institute related.

He's grumbling to himself as he moves to sit under a tree, taking his bag off from his shoulder to take stock of what he has with him.]

Gerry's page gone... Lighter's here. Recorder, keys... [And a sigh of relief.] Some statements, that's good...

[He hasn't caught on someone is sitting on the other side of the same tree yet.]

[secreteary]

[the mystery person on the other side of the tree is definitely NOT sulking, thank you very much. never mind that he has plenty of reason to do so.

...okay, so he's sulking. it's either that or kick something.]

Oh, am I the only one who got taken without anything useful? Brilliant. Isn't this your lucky day.

[his tone is sharp and biting; almost venomous.]

[eyediot]

[It's easy to slip into old habits when he's distracted, checking what statements these are, among other things in his bag.]

Well, I'm sorry, Martin, it's just what I had on me when I got nicked. I was asleep on the flight, I didn't even have a change of clothes since Julia took me from the bus and. [UGGHHHH] What did you have with you?

[secreteary]

[likewise, Martin is too determined to stew in his angry misery to pay attention.]

Nothing. Nothing! Just clothes. Not my pack, not the rope, I even had extra statements for you hidden around... Nothing.

[there's a noise somewhere between a thud and a thwack from the mystery person on the other side of the tree. after a pause, a tiny "ow".]

Now I've gone mental, except I dunno which power this is. Spiral, I guess? Thought Helen'd show up, though.

[suddenly, he yells.]

I sure wish she would right about now!

[eyediot]

[Muttered:] Helen would be good right about now.

[He starts carefully putting things back in his bag, now that he's reorganized it.]

No, this isn't Spiral. It's- I don't think it's connected to anything?

[secreteary]

[another thunk.]

Just... Just perfect.

[a long, quiet sigh. there's a beat, then Martin tries to add some iota of optimism into his tone:]

Still. Maybe we need a little more vacation.

[eyediot]

Fairly certain I'm done with vacations for the time being.

[Remember how he has that problem of working more than he's living?

Speaking of.

Wait.





Wait.

He moves to look around the other side of the tree, hand bandaged and neck still wrapped to keep anything from reopening the wound.]

Martin?

1/2?

[secreteary]

[Martin would know that voice if he was deaf, dumb, and blind. it isn't until Jon brought up his work ethic that Martin finally realizes who he's talking to.]

Jon?!

2/3

[secreteary]

[when he tries to clamber up to move around to Jon's side, Martin doesn't even manage to get to his feet. in his excitement, he instead just grabs Jon in his arms and topples them both over.]

Oh my god, I thought- I didn't know what had happened to you, I--

[reluctantly peeling himself back, Martin holds Jon's face in his hand and just beams with gentle adoration.]

I was so worried--

[secreteary]

[and then Jon gets a loving kiss right on the mouth.]

1/?

[eyediot]

Martin, where did you even--

[And then he's grunting falling back ow owowowow Martin-]

[eyediot]

[Hands on his face.]

Well I'm fi-

[WHY are there hands on his face-]

3/4

[eyediot]

[UM.

EXCUSE.]

[eyediot]

[Nope. No, nope this is not what he signed up for, this is officially not real and he is in a strange dream.

He squirms and pulls away, covering his mouth with one hand and eyes wide. Before brows lower in mild irritation.]

Martin, what are you doing.

1/???????

[secreteary]

[excuse me what do you mean 'excuse me']

What...

[wait.]

people in...

[hang on.]

love...do......?

kitchen

[shahrrehth]

"Was there something in particular you were looking for?" comes the voice from behind him in the kitchen. When, or if, he turns he's going to see a woman with a friendly smile tilting her head trying to see what he's digging into.

[secreteary]

"Oh-"

He does turn, closing the cabinet he had been rummaging through. There's nothing guilty about the action; just politeness and habit. Martin smiles a little, and shrugs.

"Just some tea. Any tea. Could use a cuppa."

[shahrrehth]

She frowns as she considers the request, slipping into the kitchen and going to a particular cupboard before tugging out a large box.

“It’s herbal since that’s what I was able to find, but I thought it was pretty good. Strainer’s in the drawer to the left.”

Then she smiles at him.

“Clara. By the way.”

[secreteary]

"Martin. Thanks for the help."

Doing as he's directed, he grabs the tea strainer in the drawer and pulls out the kettle he found earlier.

His smile is friendly, if guarded, as he walks over to the sink and fills the kettle with water.

"Nice to meet you. You, ah. Was going through the kitchen the first thing you did?"

[shahrrehth]

She nods immediately.

"Everyone's got to eat. And I took the room right over there," and she points towards the door nearest the kitchen. "Since I, uh... well, if you've been wondering who's been leaving out the cookies?"

She flutters her fingers then.

"Stress baking. And canning, since I found the supplies in here. Navi can repair the ship but I figure we're on our own for food."

[secreteary]

The last vestiges of Martin's sour mood are blown away just enough that he manages a small laugh.

"I. I know what you mean. Never got much into baking, but stress cooking? Yes. Many times yes. Between the two of us, everybody might drown in food." There are worse consequences to a lot of self-soothing activity.

"What d'you suppose we'll have to do for food? Trade with the...th-the people outside?"

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[It's not, directly, Emet's intention to go around making the acquaintance of everyone from the ship he hasn't already spoken to. There will, presumably, be time enough for that later, whether he wants to or no. (There is after all, only so much space aboard any kind of ship, and this one seems to be no exception.)

On the other hand, when his wanderings have him drawing near to the tree Martin is sitting under he can't resist speaking up.]

Whatever did that poor tree do?

[secreteary]

[when he hears the voice call to him and looks up, Martin realizes that he isn't sure if he wanted to be left alone or if he had been hoping someone would come along and notice his sour mood and let him vent. ...well. too late to figure that out.]

Oh- You know, it's been very rude, this tree. [for whatever reason, Martin grins and runs with it. just a little.] Insulting my country and everything. God Save the Queen, and all.

[.......wait. judging by this...person's? clothes? they probably have not a single ounce of understanding for what he just said. well.

he clears his throat awkwardly.]

Honestly, it's not the tree's fault. Just lost in my own thoughts. [a small, weak laugh.] Are you used to this kind of situation or something?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[He understands the sense of the comment, if not necessarily the specific meaning.  Mostly in the desire to defend the good name of one's own country, but it's enough to give him something to go on; the rest is - he presumes - not quite as important,]

Something like that, yes.

[Perhaps not in terribly recent memory, but it's a situation that's not terribly unfamiliar, either.]

And there are certainly worse places to end up lost in one's own thoughts, besides.