The Crash Site

[blindandlost]

It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter how you were travelling. All that matters is the Island, and the Island wants you. All are drawn to the same stretch of shoreline; your plane suddenly loses power and drops from the sky to crash into the sand. Your boat runs aground. Your helicopter plows a deep furrow until the blades tangle and catch in the thick growth of the jungle.

However it happened, now you're here. You belong to the Island. There might be something salvageable in the debris, but no matter what you find, no matter who is with you, one thing is certain:

You are lost.

Comments

[doctoral_bird]

[ What was that off in the distance, on the horizon of these churning waves and deep blue sea? It almost looked like someone had forgotten a toy bird in a small toy boat of in the distance amidst all of this panic and mayhem.

Over the course of a few minutes, the figure will slowly drift closer to the shore, brought in with a firm stillness that gave the man an appearance of some sort of strange floating mannequin rather than a plague doctor.

In reality, Malkus was just trying his best to not burn to death under the smouldering heat of this tropical HELL! His tiny boat offered little relief from the heat as it was quickly rendered useless the moment the waves pushed it ashore. He was...

Shipwrecked Lost. ]

It is hot. How in hell's flames did-...

[ He tried to remember how the resident of a land locked city ended up on a tiny fishing boat with just his plague doctor garb and a bone fishing harpoon but... well. Oh jeez, it seems there are others around. ]

Aye, hello? Is this a coast of Trasen? Hot. Hot. Hot....

[missfunction]

[All the while the stranger was slowly--so very slowly--drifting towards the beach, a lone figure stood perched there at the shore, awaiting his arrival; a tall, looming shadow against the white sand and crystal clear sky. As Malkus inched closer to the island, a human shape would finally emerge from that darkened silhouette, though after that initial hint of recognition, the shape would only be twisting again into something incredibly inhuman the closer he came to land.

...Perhaps at this point, it would be best to just turn around and try your luck back out there in the big ocean, little plague doctor. There would be nothing but trouble for you here.

But whenever Malkus finally arrived, Rabbit would still be there waiting and staring, not having moved an inch since her optics had first spied the ship out there on the sea, arms held stiffly at her sides, head tilted to the side as that boat rocked closer.] ....Guessin' ya d-d-didn't bring a new plane t' lift us outta here, huh?

[doctoral_bird]

[ Malkus let out a sigh of relief as he came closer, but it was replaced with a slowly rising feeling of ominous dread as the figure grew and grew into one rather tall amazon of a woman-... woman? Metal-... lady? Should he scream? The doctor flexed his throat, opening his mouth to lick his lips in preparation when the realization hit him. He was also quite parched. Too thirsty to wail.

So instead, the doctor will just sit in his boat, legs folded underneath him as the raging fire of burning plane debris continued off in the distance. ]

A w-what? I- my-... what? My boat only carries one, if that's what you meant.

[ Girl what the hell is a plane. Girl what the hell are YOU. It was clear that this guy was either ogling her or trying to decipher what manner of golem stood before him. ]

[missfunction]

[The Amazonian with the mismatched, glowing optics was staring with just as much piqued curiosity back as the man approached. Because just as foreign as she must have appeared to someone from his particular time period, the plague doctor’s appearance was just as equally startling for Rabbit to see in this modern age of barred midriffs and jeggigs, especially after something as disorienting as a plane crash. That dark, cumbersome robe looking like something straight out of a Disney movie (something a villain would totes wear, btw), the wide brim of his hat casting just enough shadow to obscure the stranger's questionable appearance, and then there was that long beaked mask….

The conclusion was all too easy for Rabbit to make as the gears ticked around in her head.

A bird. She was conversing with a giant, talking bird.

….Birds had finally advanced enough to sail ships. They were evolving too fast. They were going to take over. They must be stopped at all cost.

Luckily for Malkus, his reply to her came just in time before Rabbit was about to rev up her flamethrower and properly eliminate this new menacing species of avian, that unfamiliar, stammering voice enough to throw the ‘bot off of her train of thought completely. He was safe. For now.]

Only c-carries one plane? [Rabbit moved closer, sunlight flashing off of copper as she stomped through the sand nearer to the stranded boat and man, just so she could lean in and give the masked human a closer look.] Well, if it’s a g-g-good plane, ya only need one anyway! Where’s it at? [A skinny arm poked out at the man’s chest. Peter A. Walter was no doubt rolling in his grave from his eldest’s lack of social etiquette .] In yer r-r-robe?

[doctoral_bird]

[ How do you know he's not wearing that underneath? The doctor took off his hat and fanned himself with it as he took in the situation. None of this made any sense, and he really should be screaming and panicking a lot more. He would if he weren't steaming inside. And in shock. Her poke was enough to pull his attention back though. ]

One plane- no! One person! Me! Now if you don't mind.

[ He reached into the small vessel and pulled out the ancient looking harpoon. Really the bone-line aesthetic almost fit in with the pale white mask. ]

I must be going. My people need me.

[ They don't, but it sounded like an appropriate thing to say as he reached down to push his boat back into the water. He strained and strained, huffing as he dug the spear into the sand and slowly got back to floating in shallow waters. ]

If you c-could direct me to- well- where is... I assume-

[ He looked down the shore in both directions then behind him. ]

I assume if I just swim back over the lake I'll be home soon.

[missfunction]

I d-d-don't think so! [And before Malkus would be able to push off of the shore and back out to the peaceful quiet of the open sea, the heavy robot would be stepping with a cute bounce into the vessel with him, effectively making it useless as Rabbit's hefty metal weight had the boat digging into the sand.]

We're waitin' t' g-g-get rescued offa this island! Ya c-c-can't just leave like that, bird guy! There's hurt people that n-n-need help!

[doctoral_bird]

What- what do you mean- what are you doing! Stop!

[ He quickly tried to shimmy further into the ocean but that LEG, Rabbit was like a cute anchor. And though he tried as much as he could, his end of the boat was leaning up just a bit. ]

What on earth is an island! What are you doing! You- You- my boat! My boat! What hurt people!

[ His long slender arm shot out towards the burning wreckage, pointing directly at some disembodied leg. ]

He is fine!

[ Truthfully, his doctoral instincts were flailing and writhing in his body. Damn damn damn! ]

[missfunction]

[The taller, far heavier figure only moved forward as the doctor attempted to wiggle out of her reach, causing his side of the boat to abruptly drop again, before a copper fist was curling around the robes in front of him, her metal mouth pressing together into an unhappy line. This was not a happy robot.

Rabbit's bi-colored optics flickered to the severed limb--mouth twitching unpleasantly at the sight--before Malkus was hefted up with ease and, gracelessly, tossed onto the sandy beach, head first.] I'm t-t-takin' over yer boat, Squawky!

[doctoral_bird]

[ Faster and faster, the feeling of numb denial faded away only to be replaced by a growing sense of utter dread and complete horror. Something about this approaching womanbot made her suddenly too real. His eyes focusing on the inhuman metal of her countenance threw his brain deep into the uncanny valley.

When her hand curled around his robe, a flash of terror jolted his nerves awake with a shudder. Oh hell he was in unfamiliar surroundings. He was LOST. ]

N-No. No. No!

[ His hands shot and latched onto her wrist. The doctor gave a shrieking yell as he was lifted and tossed onto the sandy sandy sand of this scary island. The impact of his body leaving the safezone of his boat was the sealing nail on his coffin. ]

No! I have to go, I must leave! I don't want to be here! Stop! Thief! Thief!

[missfunction]

[But it was too late.

As soon as the doctor had been so casually demoted from captain of his vessel, the robot was already stepping out of the boat and easily hefting it up over her head, the shrieking man now being completely ignored as the automaton simply stepped one long leg over him and continued on her way back up the beach. The wooden boat certainly did nothing in slowing the automaton down, but at least the sand kept her stride from increasing into anything faster than a sludge-like walk back to her family's home base.

Plenty of time for the doctor to catch up and try to talk some sense into her, right?]

Hey! [Calling out across the beach to anyone who might listen.] Look what I found! I g-g-got a boat!

[parasitus]

I'm afraid not. My sincerest apologies.

[The voice that answered him was cool and loose, feminine, it was... off somehow. Or perhaps it was simply an undertone due to the person to whom it belonged.

She stood at the shore, clad in strangely elaborate, striped clothing that had been torn and stained with what was quite possibly blood in places. One dark-skinned hand was outstretched towards him in an odd kind of greeting; the other at her side, a heavy revolver held there, just in case.

Her lips were too-red. When she smiled, her teeth were too-white.]

Welcome nonetheless, as due as a welcome would be to such a place.

[doctoral_bird]

Oh that's quite alright. I've gotten lost before, I'll just need to retrace my steps.

[ The doctor spoke as he looked down at his boat, taking a moment to look behind him at the churning waves of the ocean before turning to face the stranger.

Wait what.

It was clear that her appearance gave him pause, as the man seemed to lock up for a bit. Shoulders suddenly tensed up as his blank thousand yard stare focused in. His eyes drifted towards her outstretched hand, confusedly. His lips pulled into a tight line under his emotionless birdmask. Was this some sort of golem? A magical construct of a wizard? Wizards did that kind of shit, right? ]

Thank you, ah- Miss. A pleasure to be here. Afraid I won't be here long, though, as I'm quite needed back where I came from.

[parasitus]

[Her hand lowered, and she almost looked apologetic.]

My, you're confident! Plotting to cross the ocean itself in such a vessel. Are you certain you're up to the task, friend?

[doctoral_bird]

[ His expression seemed to soften at that look, shoulders slouching just a bit. After a short pause, he let out a relieved sigh, thankful that the natives of this strange land weren't immediately hostile. ]

Confident heheh perha- wait- [ He choked and coughed on the last remaining bit of moisture in his mouth. ] ocean?

What ocean? I had just crossed a lake! I was-... I mean I think I did!

[ He looked down in his tiny boat, pulling his rickety bone harpoon up from next to him. ]

That's what this was supposed to be for, right? I-I must have wanted to fish but can't remember why. I hate fish!

[parasitus]

Welcome to the apparent home of lost souls. You'll find upon proper landing that we two are hardly the only ones here, much less the only ones who had no intention of coming here. This world is truly a mysterious place. I myself was in the process of being flown to collect on a job that I had been recently assigned, and then, quite suddenly, my vessel crashed, slaying all aboard but myself.

[doctoral_bird]

[ His eyes went back to squinting, but not out of displeasure. More out of skepticism. And bewilderment, because how is one flown to collect on a job? Still, this woman didn't seem to mean him any ill will, so the best he could do was slowly shamble out of his gallant ship. ]

Just marvelous. So I'm dead or something? Because that sounds a lot like the lines and phrases an owner of purgatory would give.

[ The man's knees trembled, weak from the trip. ]

Well I'm glad you seem to be alright! huff I-I mean, unless we're the only ones who didn't make it. Being deceased here and all. I-I don't know how it works yet, give me some time to figure that out.

[ He dusted his robe with his hand, taking off his hat to seriously fan himself. Black did not reflect heat very well. ]

[parasitus]

I'm not certain whether this is purgatory or not, but I am fairly certain that, whatever this place may be, it doesn't belong to me. If I had my way, why, I would be back among civilization, cleaning the streets as they do need.

[She spoke wistfully, pressing a hand to her chest melodramatically.]

[doctoral_bird]

[ When he was all prim and proper again, he slowly shuffled up to the woman, grimacing as his boots sunk unpleasantly into the sand. These robes were not beachwear... Eugh. ]

Then we are kindred spirits at least. My name is Malkus Iverwelling.

[ He dipped into a small bow. ]

Cleaning the streets? You're a streetsweep then? A noble profession, I'm sure.

[notinvayne]

[A man stands just out of reach of the waves that lap the shore, squinting through cracked glasses at the approaching boat.

When it draws near, his eyebrows lift--is that a plague doctor? How very... odd.]

I would answer your question, sir, but I haven't the foggiest where Trasen might be. Were you at a fancy dress party?

[It's the only logical explanation.]

[doctoral_bird]

[ When he finally touched the sand, Malkus remained seated firmly in his boat. He wasn't sure, after all, whether or not he'll need to make a quick retreat back into the waves! ]

It's-

[ He turned his back and extended a long slender arm towards the ocean horizon. ]

It should be across the lake, but I don't remember the lake having all of this sand on the other side. A party? No! Hohoh- as creative as this face may be, it's part of my profession!

[notinvayne]

Part of your... [Give him a moment, his mind is changing tack. This man is clearly not the survivor of a shipwreck he had at first assumed.

Either that, or the bird-man is very, very delusional.]

Pardon me, but if I understood you correctly, you're claiming to be in a profession that hasn't existed for quite some time. Are you quite certain you haven't come from... someplace else? A shipwreck, perhaps?

[doctoral_bird]

[ Why not both? Clearly his shipwreck is... of a much tinier sort. The man is also just a bit delusional, judging from his insistence against all logic. ]

What on earth are you talking about? Look!

[ He knocked a knuckle against his beak, ruffling his long black oilcloth sleeves. Because clearly the issue was that this man just wasn't astute enough to notice! ]

I'm quite certain I'm from where I'm from! Though...

[ His eyes glanced down at his tiny boat, quickly retaining water. ]

Shipwrecked may be accurate now.

[notinvayne]

[He notes the water gathering in the bottom of the boat with lifted eyebrows, and quickly offers a hand. Perhaps two. The doctor's mind seems unsound enough, how does that bode for his footing?]

I... think it might be best if you join me on the beach.

[Then they might together proceed to unravel the mystery of a plague doctor appearing on a tropical island.]

[doctoral_bird]

[ Perhaps Malkus was in a bit of shock. Understandable, given how damn hot this island is under these robes! The tall gangly doctor rose to his feet and uneasily shambled out of his little boat like a marionette on loose strings. ]

P-Perhaps. A beach. Sand! Wh-Whoah-

[ Yes doctor, sand was a pain in the ass to walk in. ]

Do you know how- well of course you wouldn't. Are you also a uh- whatsit- shipwreckee?

[notinvayne]

Steady there--

[Thomas does his best to keep the doctor from losing his footing to the wet, sucking sand.

At the question, he glances back over his shoulder at the wrecked plane.]

You could say that, yes. There was a mechanical failure, or so I assume. Myself and a handful of others survived.