NationStates Jolt Archive

Elena, a 15-year-old from Temme, pulled her knees up to her chin on her cabin bunk. Her mother came in, "Elena, you should at least try to make some friends. I wish you'd break out of your shell." Elena was about to retort back when an announcement came over the ship's intercom.

The ship is on fire. Do not panic. Calmly go to the nearest life jacket station, put on your life jackets, and wait for instructions as to what lifeboat to go into.

Elena took off at a run. Her mother fussed, "I bet your brother Jeremy doesn't have clean underwear." She went off in search of him, because in case your boat sinks, you have to wear clean underwear.

Elena followed instructions. Soon, she was wearing a life jacket, and being lowered into a crowded lifeboat.

Mike sighed and went torwards the life boats. he ignored the life jacket warning, he didn't believe in such things. he looked around and rolled his eyes "great, just great."

Elena watched as the boat went up in flames. Were her parents and brother on it? Or had they managed to get away? She hoped so.

She decided to get to know the other passengers on the lifeboat.

Cletus, one of the passengers lucky enough to make it off was to put it simply Southern. A sweaty, oil stained, camo, pair of overalls, shaggy, untrimmed beard, missing teath, and a pig belly were some of the most noticable Southern traits.

Talkative by nature, Cletus broke the silence with a single phrase: "Hi y'all. Purdy damn good fi'ire if ya ask me. Where y'all from?"

Elena smiled shyly. "I'm Elena from Temme. I'm 15." She pulled her knees up to her chin again. "And you would be?"

"Cletus, I's goin' o'n a vacation from Alabamer. Don't get out of there too much, ain't got the money." He scrateched his chin,rubbed his belly and stretched himself out as much as he could.

Elena moved a little out of the way to accomodate Cletus. She almost fell in the water. She managed to stay clear of the ocean, though, and asked, "Do you have a family, Cletus?"

A figure dressed in shorts, greenpeace t-shirt, blackened from smoke and carrying a daysack staggered blindly out of one of the doorways, followed by a cloud of thick black smoke. He rubbed the oily soot from his eyes and looked around. First he grabbed a lifejacket, then he tore a first aid kit out of it's casing. He threw both down to the nearest lifeboat, and then threw the daysack in for good measure.
"Hold these will you? I will be back shortly."
He then turned around and ran back into the burning boat.
The blaze had got a good hold now, and waves of heat were spilling over the lifeboat as the wind caught the fire.
There was no immediate sign of the figures return.
He was gone for almost five minutes, and when he did come back it was obvious why. He was staggering under the load of two huge sacks. The first was thrown in the boat as carelessly as he had hurled the other stuff in. His second sack, clearly much heavyer than the first, was lowered in carefully. Then he jumped in, made himself a seat in the stern and began to try and coax the outboard motor into life.
He smelt of sweat, fire and cheap aftershave.
"I say, this is a bit of a bad show. Well then chaps, it looks like your hollidays have been extened, all at no cost to yourselves." He began shrugging on the lifejacket he had thrown in earlier. "Anybody got a beer? I am quite terribly thirsty."

Elena moved a little more out of the way to accomodate the stranger. "Sorry, no beer." She'd read a theory that said that people tend to act the opposite of the way they'd normally act in a crisis, and that's how she was acting. Totally friendly, accomodating, and almost extroverted. All of the sudden something occured to her. "I'm an orphan. . .I'm going to have to live with my grandmother! Look, if anyone comes to rescue me, don't let them do it." She pushed the tip of her nose up with her finger to emphasize her point.

The crewman turned to Elena and hugged her.
"Don't you worry none, Love. This frightfull mess is rather less frightfull than it seems. We will have you back on land in a day or so, two at the most." He was lieing, but didn't feel the need to scare her by telling her just how long he was actually expecting to be at sea.
"My name is Fletch, I worked in the engineroom."
Fletch returned his attentions back to the outboard motor, and soon coaxed it into coughing life. He opened the throttle wide and let the boat pull clear of the wreak leaving a wide wash behind it.
"Surely your grandmother can't be that much of an old witch?"
Fletch then fished his daysack out of the heap of stuff in the middle of the boat, and rummaged around in it untill he found a small bit of cloth.
He unfolded the cloth.
It was a flag.
It was the Irregulars flag.
Everyone in the boat looked at him a little differently after that. The Irregulars had a reputation as pirates and crooks. It was a lawless group of misfits and miscreants who had left their previous homelands for one reason or another, and that group was large enough to pretend it was a nation.
"I say, does someone want to give me a hand getting this mast up. I want to put this on it." Fletch held the Irregular out. "A sail or two as well perhaps."

Elena turned to Fletch. "I don't want to go home," she said. "My grandmother is as bad as I say. She acts like royalty. 'We must impress, dahhling.'" Up ahead, she spotted a dark shadow that soon turned into a lush green island. "I'm going over to that island," she decided. "Can we steer the boat there?" She then remembered all the stories about people who went crazy alone. "Anyone care to join me?" she asked.

bump

A man emerged out of the water gasping for breath:

"over here!! help me!" he shouted waving his arms also trying to stay afloat

he grabbed onto the side of the boat and was helped in by another survivor:

"hello..err what happend? i ..i..must go back!"

This Gentleman was clearly from Baccardi as he wore a German Army cap, breaches and jackboots, his jacket was gone:

"i left my documents on board! row back!!"

No one replyed right away:

"i am Sargent..i mean i am Markus Keller..rank don't matter here..i had documents for architecture..i design buildings for the Fuhuer..well help my commanding officer...what will become of us!!"

Markus was already starting to panic given the situation:

"can some one please tell me!!"

Elena asked, "Are you from the same boat as us? Our boat just burned and sank. But if you're from another boat, I suppose we could row back, if Fletch doesn't mind. Don't worry, we won't die or anything. Perhaps, if you can't find your documents, you'd like to come live with me on the island over there." She pointed and smiled.

Elena asked, "Are you from the same boat as us? Our boat just burned and sank. But if you're from another boat, I suppose we could row back, if Fletch doesn't mind. Don't worry, we won't die or anything. Perhaps, if you can't find your documents, you'd like to come live with me on the island over there." She pointed and smiled.

Elena asked, "Are you from the same boat as us? Our boat just burned and sank. But if you're from another boat, I suppose we could row back, if Fletch doesn't mind. Don't worry, we won't die or anything. Perhaps, if you can't find your documents, you'd like to come live with me on the island over there." She pointed and smiled.

The soldier looked towards the burning boat:

"they are on that one! gone!" he yelled, he then looked back at the girl and said:

"live on an island? we will all die! i am an a architect! i design and build houses and living areas!"

He was amased at the girls calmness about the situation:

"i apoligize...i am acting un gentleman like..but our situation!

He waited for the girl to reply

Elena smiled. "I'm sorry." She smiled, hoping to find a way to communicate her sympathy. "I'm sure we'll survive. Fletch, here, says that we'll only be a day or two here." She knew Fletch was lying, but she didn't want to frighten this architect. "Hey, might you know how to build a grass hut? Even if you don't want to come with me, I have no clue how."

Argan hated being in crowds. If it weren't for the fact he would probably die if he did, he would jump out of the lifeboat. When he noticed the girl, about his age, talking about going to the nice, big, island, he couldn't resist the idea of a little space. "I like the island idea. There's no way we could last long in this crowded excuse for a boat."

Elena smiled at Argan. He seemed to be about her age. "Sure. Can you see it? It's up there." The boat was headed straight for it.

Argan spots the island, then grins. "Yeah. Big improvement on this little huddle." He turns toward Elena. "What did you say your name was?"

Tristan was the quiet one beside Elena. he watched her and the rest cautiously and stayed quiet.

She smiled at Argan. "I'm Elena. And you would be. . .?" She gave a small smile to Tristan, to let him know that she wasn't ignoring him.

Argan smiled. He, like Elena, was normally quiet. "Argan. I'm from Muktar."

smiles back at Elena slightly. he still stays quiet, but now is relieved he wasnt ignored. he still doesnt talk, not wanting to at the moment.

The island loomed large. They were almost there. Elena announced, "All who are coming, jump now!" She splashed into the ocean, her orange lifejacket marking her location.

Argan decided to cannonball out of the boat. Once he is in the water, he begins swimming toward the island. "Race ya!"

decides, why not, id rather live on an island than here, and he jumps out as well and swims after Argen and Elena.

Elena laughed and began swimming too. As she passed Argan, she splashed water in his face.

looks back as Elena begins her swimming and looks forward to his destination, the island.

Argan smirked. He wasn't even trying at first, just being playful. Now he speed up a little. When he came alongside Elena, he smirked at her. "Done warming up?"

The three were all swimming and laughing. Elena was having a great time. She thought of her grandmother, but she chuckled as she imagined her prim-and-proper grandmother out here in the water. Noticing that the boys were ahead of her, she stroked faster to get to shore.

is ahead of Elena by his own height and keeps on at his pace

Elena slowed down a little to wait for Tristan. She didn't want him to be left behind. She wasn't seriously racing, she was just having a little fun with her soon-to-be close friends.

Argan looks behind him at Tristan. "Hope you don't mind the view!" He looks back in front of him. The island is so close. He goes as fast as he can.

looks to them both and says nothing as he quickens his pace and over a bit so he is not behind Argan and gets up to about his pace and is still a head shorter.

Argan clambers onto the shore-smoothed beach. "And Muktar wins the gold in the Castaway Olympics!" He stands up and turns around to see how the others did.

Climbs unto the shore and looks to Elena to determine his place is the race. he sees he made it before her, so he made second. 'yes, Tritanor takes Silver in this race.' he thought

Muktar sees Elena is taking a while. Removing his life jacket, he dives back in and swims toward her. "Need a hand?"

watchs as Argan re-enters the water. he also removes his life jaket and goes back in about half way and stays there a bit as Argan just reached her.

OOC: I think Temme logged off. We'll call this a night and bump it back in the morning.

ooc alright, ill be late though at about 2pm central ill be on.

ooc alright, ill be late though at about 2pm central ill be on.ooc np

ooc kay, ill see later then.

BIG :arrow:

Elena could have swum by herself, but she graciously accepted the assistance. "Bronze for Temme!" she laughed. "Although, I'd rather have something to eat."

Argan chuckles as he and Elena come ashore. "Something to eat does sound nice. We should probably explore the island."

Elena sat down on the beach as the sun was setting. "Oh, man, this has been an exhausting day." She spotted some coconuts. "Hey, anyone know how to open these?"

double post

Argan smirked. His uncle owned a summer beach house, and taught him how to open coconuts. "I got it." He picked up one of the cocunuts and slammed it into his forehead, cracking it. He then peeled it open. "Not exactly a clean cut, but I can handle it."
He split open two more and handed two halves to Elena and Tristan, each. "The brown stuff is nasty, but cocunut milk is good."

Elena slowly sipped the milk. "Ow, that must hurt," she said to Argan.

Argan chuckled. "Na, they're softer than they feel at first. Ain't much to break the brown layer 'cause it's thin, and the white layer is soft." He takes a sip from one of his own halves.

Elena found herself lost in the sunset. She wished she could stay frozen in this moment forever. White sand beach, sipping coconuts, laughing. . .she knew tomorrow she'd have to attend to the business of survival.

Argan finishes his first half, then looks at Elena. "You alright?"

Elena smiled. "I'm fine, Argan. I just wish this moment could last forever. . ." She sighed and cracked her own coconut.

Argan raises an eyebrow, dismisses the thought, then gets to his other cocunut half.

The sun slowly slipped behind the horizon. Elena stretched out on the sand. The sand got in her hair. She gazed at the stars, feeling safe and secure, knowing that her grandmother would never come here to get her.

Argan finished the other cocunut half then looked around. He saw a pool of fresh water in some rocks. Better put some cocunut shells there to harvest it. We'll need water. In the thick of the jungle area, he saw no motion, but some color in the treetops. Fruit? He then looked over at Tristan and Elena. They both seemed to be dealing with the situation fine, as was he. He hoped everything would turn out for the best, though.

Elena couldn't sleep. She sat up in the dark and looked around. The moon shimmered over the water. She thought of her life up until that point, and how she expected the rest of her life to be. She glanced over at Argan. He definitely seemed to know how to survive. She sighed and lay back down.

Argan picked whatever empty coconut shells were present and put them by the pool. He then began to empty his pockets to find useful items. He pulled out some change worthless here..., a Swiss Army Knife excellent, and some lint.

Elena finally drifted off to sleep. She dreamed. . .

Her family was still alive. They were all on the lifeboat. . .and then she jumped, leaving them behind. Her grandmother flew down in a helicopter and tried to get Elena.

While the others were alseep, Argan kept himself busy. It would only be late afternoon in his hometown right now, so he could handle it. He rummaged through the forest for loose branches and fallen trees. Bananas were avaiable, and there were pygmy boars every so often. This meant meat and fruit were covered. After a few trips he had enough supplies to build a hut. He used some vines to tie the pieces together, and managed to build three huts. They were small, not exactly room to move around, but enough to avoid the elements. He decided not to wake the others up and crawled into his hut, on the far left.

was asleep in the sand bout 6 feet away from elana. he dreamed of nothing but his homeland and his fallen kin that where on the same ship as he was.

Elena had always been an early riser. She woke up just as the sun came up. She noticed the three huts and crawled into hers. It was small, but that was okay. She crawled out, shook the sand from herself, and cracked a coconut for breakfast.

Argan was still snoozing in his hut. He hadn't dreamt since he was little.

Elena noticed that the others were still asleep. She went for a walk down the beach. She didn't want to go into the jungle alone, in case she got lost. She noticed a small lagoon where the fish were plentiful, and tried to catch some in her bare hands, but without much success.

wakes up . he sits up in the sand, stretchs a bit and stands up and looks at the huts. he walks into the last and empty one which was about the same size as the others. he walks out, cracks open a coconut and eats it as breakfast. He sees elena trying to get something and he walks over to her and saw the fish. and joins along with her, only to have caught nothing but water. "Fast lil fish, we need a net."

Splash! Elena fell into the water after reaching too far for a fish. She heard Tristan moving and went to join him. "Sorry, I tried catching a fish, but, well. . ." She squeezed the water out of her hair.

Argan is awoken by the splashing. He crawls out from under his tent, and in a few seconds he recollects the previous events. He stood up and smirked. "Hey, guys, I found more food in the jungle."

nods in agreement with elena

Elena smiles. "I found food too, but I couldn't quite bring it home." She begins collecting sticks for a fire. "There's a small lagoon just down over there with tons of fish."

As they eat, Elena suggests, "Maybe we should explore the jungle today. I'm curious to see what's there."

"Trees, bushes, bananas, and pygmy boars. I didn't go very far though." He heads into the jungle. Still in view, he picks three bananas from a tree and comes back. "See?"

Elena grabs one of the bananas. "These are great!" she exclaims. "Better than the ones at home. How far did you get?"

takes a banana from Argan and begins to eat it, while listening to them.

ooc: man, my comp is slow today. so, i may have to log off in a bit.

Argan shrugs. "It wasn't very far, just a few meters. I just went for the nearest one." He unpeals his banana. "Probably should explore the whole island though." In quirk of Muktari dialect, he pronounced the 's' in island.

Elena smiled. "Sure, let's do that."

"alright, im up for it as well." he says as he finished the banana.

Elena stood up, brushed the sand off, and cracked her neck. "Let's go!" she exclaimed, full of excitment.

stands up, brushes sand off and waits for them to go before him and he'll follow.

Elena steps first into the forest and waits for the others to catch up. She's depending on the others to keep her from getting lost.

Argan decides to take the lead. When he reaches the edge of the jungle toward the beach, he picks up a very long vine and ties one end to a tree. "Who ever is going to be back farthest should hold the other end so we don't get lost.

Elena takes the other end. She's grateful for Argan's practical brain.

ooc sry, i gotta log off. see yall later.

"I'll be last" he looks to Argan as he said that

Argan nods at Tristan and readies his knife, just in case there are predators on the island. "I'll lead." He begins to make his way through the brush quietly.

Elena follows Argan, a little nervous at the thought of predators.

Argan signals for the party to stop with his hand, he peeks through the underbrush slowly, then leaps back in alarm, knife ready.

Elena took a deep breath. "It's okay, Elena," she thought to herself. "Argan can handle it." She closed her eyes for a moment, then thought better of it.

Argan laughed, reached into the underbrush, and pulled out a fallen banana. "Gotcha."

Elena scowled, then laughed. "I knew it all along," she said, but she was a really bad liar. "Okay, so maybe I didn't."

Argan chuckled and pocketed the banana. He then continued through the jungle, making sure the others were with him as he went.

Elena followed, a little jumpy from the whole banana episode. It was a great joke, but it still kept her on the edge.

Argan parts some branches to see a twelve foot drop into the ocean. "Hold it!"
He gestures for Elena to come forward so she can see. "Lucky we came up on the beach side, huh?"

Elena nodded her head. "Scary. So, this is the east end of the island. How far is it from east to west, do you think?"

Argan looks back to see Tristan. He is about 5 meters back, and the vine won't go any further. "About five meters past the vine."

Elena's stomach started to growl. She grabbed a fallen banana and began to eat. "What time would it be?" she asked.

Argan looked up. "Right now, morning. In Muktar, sunrise. Where your from, I dunno." He steps past Elena. "Think we should head back to the beach?"

Elena shrugged. "Sure, let's go back."

Other than a few coconuts for whomever is hungry, Argan notices nothing as they head back. When they reach the beach, he checks the water supply.

Elena sits down on the beach. She begins to finger-comb her hair. She smiles as she thinks of all the tropical-island shampoo commercials. Her hair certainly didn't look like that.

Argan noticed Elena combing through her hair and gets one of the coconut shells filled with water and brings it over. "This may help."

Elena took a little bit of the water in her hand and dumped it on her head. She did manage to remove the tangles, although it was hardly commercial-quality. "Thanks," she said quickly.

Argan sniffs the air. He then heads over to where the others won't see him. "Pardon me, I need to take care of... hygienic stuff. Don't look."

Elena crawled into her hut to see if she could do anything to make it a little more homelike.

Argan comes back around with wet hair. "Done."

Elena crawls out of her hut. "What now?" she asks. She never considered the possiblility of being bored. . .

Early that morning Markus stumbled down a sand dune and fell on hi face:

"hello there!!" he yelled

The others stared at him as he tripped and stumbled over the sand, when he finally reached them he smiled:

"when you jumped off the boat i paddled back! i never did get my documents but i did find a case of Baccardi rum, err.. which i have been drinking all day on thr other side of the beach! it's quite wonderful here isn't it!"

He toppled over and then sat up, he then took off his military equipment belt and threw it on the sand..what he had not realised is he had a knife,a tin mess can,a water bottle aswell as a shovel attached..this he would need some one to poit out or he never would notice:

"would anyone like a drink! damn..i forgot it..o well not like anyones going to steal it out here ahaha, i have come to the conclusion i need to design some living quarters.."

He then passed out with his finger still pointed in the direction he wanted to go...

Argan jogs over to the officer and checks to see if he is dead. After finding he is just unconcious, he searchs the belt for tools. "A shovel! Excellent."

Markus awoke afew hours later, he had passed out from drinking too much. There was much work to be done around here, he had to start designing what the living space would look like:

"ahh the equipment on my belt, haha i had too much to drink therefore i hadn't noticed"

Markus grinned taking off his cap, he started to dust off his boots but realised what the hell does it matter at this point and time:

"may i ask where you are all from? and your names? i have met Elena"

He paused then continued:

"i am Markus Keller of the 1st SS service Battalion, i was on my way back to Baccardi..whats this .. June 3rd? 1938? My plans are almost due for the Reichstadt..o yes and im 19"

Argan had been busy shoveling a toilet in an area where the rocks met the water, so it was private and hard to spot. "Argan Tarkut, mid June, 2004, Muktar Military Academy, 16.

Markus looked at Argan and smiled:

"you also are from one of those future nations yes? i attended collage therefore i know english, Baccardi speaks German...our nation is recovering from a first world war right now, our new dictator chose my unit to help build a new Goverment building..my Reichstadt..that is at the bottom of the sea.."

The strolled over and took the Combat knife off the belt then got on his knees stabbing the ground where Argan dug:

"like digging a trench haha"

"Umm... Markus? I'm done. And I gotta go."

Tristan was the whole time making his hut look like his home....just without his stuff. Oh well, he walked out an hour after Markus passed out and began to search for the evenings firewood and some material to make a net to catch some fish. he came back with some wood as Markus asked who they are. he looks to him as he set down his load "Tristan Idane, Tritanor Orphanage, age of 14."

Seeing Markus is oblivious (still a tad drunk?), Argan gets Markus's beer container. "Markus!" Markus's head instinctively turns. He sticks the beer in the ground. When Markus goes to get it, Argan goes to the restroom he made to take a dump.

OOC: Sorry about the GMing, but Argan really had to go!

Markus took the shovel and started digging a hole in the sand, 4 feet wide and 5 feet deep. This would be where he made his home, he would cover the top over with branches and wood..a make shift bunker he was taught to build in training. The work took him 3 1/2 hours till it was complete, he climed inside and started to organize the stuff he owned. He came out and said to Tristan:

"you need any help lad? i can make you somthin like this here..?"

markus sat on the sand sipping from the Baccardi Rum bottle Argan stuck in the sand.

Argan comes back from the 'john' and notices Elena has been working to improve her hut. He decides to do the same by scavanging more fallen brambles and loose vines and making it bigger. Now it is more like a miniature yurt.

bows lightly "No, but thanks for offering. i already got a hut." and he points behind him with his thumb to the hut about 50 meters away from him, he was making a net from some palm leaves, hoping this may work.

Markus stood up singing a German Army march song drinking from the Rum bottle:

"i must really stop my drinking...but this island drives a man to drink..i have a water bottle that i shall share"

nods slightly, not really listening but is just mostly concentrationg on the weaving at the moment so he just nods at what ever he just said.

Argan notices what Tristan is doing and walks over. "WOuld you like some help with that?"

Markus tosses the water bottle at Tristan and smiles:

"there you go, if you need a knife..shovel just go in my hut and grab them, Argan can i intrest you in a drink?"

Markus looked over at Elena's hut:

"she must be sleeping.." he thought aloud

looks to Argan and nods "Sure, maybe you are better at this than i" and he loks at the water bottle fell into the sand beside him and looks to Markus "uhh, thanks for the offer"

Argan shook his head. "I'm trying to quit." He chuckled to himself as he began weaving the net together. It was turning out a little more like a mat than a net, but it would be enough to block the sun, or maybe catch fish. "Our stay here should help me quit real fast."

Markus grinned then replyed:

"i know what you mean haha, i only have 4 bottles left on the other side of the beach, i found a case washed up on the shore..later i shall take a walk and see what else i can find along the lines of wreakage and such.."

He then looked at Tristan and said:

"you are a young man who knows what he's doing..and what has to be done...and you are only 14! well i understand..i grew up in an ophanage and attended school at the same time..you are from 'future' times..we are still in 1938.."

Markus took a half dryed package of ciggerettes from his breaches pocket and light one with a zippo:

"this is somthing else i will have to quit haha, or find a subsitute.."

stops as they finished "well....our new Sun cover has been made. now, we need some thing that'll support this stretched out and we can have ourselves complete shade while we eat and rest shortly." oh well, it woud work better that way than as a net in his idea. and he looks to Markus "that so, and thank you for the compliment"

Argan chuckled as Markus got out a smoke. "If you find a joint in the wreckage, whistle for me, alri'?" He looks over the palm weave. "These could make walls take up a lot less resources."

lookd to Argan "your right, it would. good idea too....why didnt i think of that. oh well"

Argan gets some loose leaves from nearby and begins to make another palmweave.

gets up and leaves the finished one there and gathers some supplies and begins another palm weave as well. to make production faster,he wont work with Argan on his palm weave

Argan chuckled to himself as he finishes his first weave. He used four to make it thicker and less likely to come apart. Apparently, Markus had terrible capacity for alcohol.

Markus inspected the palm weave then started to construct his own while smoking his ciggerette:

"i have the feeling i drink too much.." he grinned and continued his work at hand

After he was half way to done his first weave he looked out at the sea:

"does anyone have the slightest idea where we are?"

Markus was still trying to figure out what a joint was...he was from 1938 no such word existed besides a joint in his body or a joint bank account..the english had strange ways of speaking..especially those of the future.

He then said aloud:

"if we are near Baccardi a U-boat might stumble across us..or a Krigsmarine ship of some sort.."

He looked at the surroundings...they were not near Baccardi as it was exactly like Germany/Austria in 1938.

Argan noticed the look of confusion. "A joint is like a cigarette, but with a drug called marijuana." He finished his double-weave. "Muktar is landlocked."

looks to Markus as he finished his second weave "No, i dont think we are even my country." and he begins another.

Elena hadn't been sleeping. She climbed out and grinned. "Bad habits, eh men?" She grinned. "Markus, I'm so glad to see you." She noticed the boys weaving palms, and she did the same thing.

Argan chuckled. "Unhealthy, maybe. But you've never been to Muktar. Since the drug laws are so relaxed, people don't bother with the nasty stuff. Things are a lot more... open there." He leaned over to make sure Elena was doing it right.

Markus smiled and replyed:

"ahh yes! i have read about in school, this seem like surroundings for it yes tropical?"

Markus took out his rashin tin and looked in to see a choclate bar, he looked at the others and divided into 4 peices giving 1 to Argan, to Tristan and saving one for Elena:

"im sorry i don't have more..we are going to have to look into food.."

Elena replied, "Food? We have tons of food. Well, fruit and coconuts anyway." She smiled at the memory of fishing that morning. She'd have to get someone to teach her how to fish properly.

ooc off for the night

Yum.

Yum.

Markus finally finished his weave and put it beside his foxhole/hut using his suspenders from his breaches to tie it to a tree. He sat on the beach emtying sand from his jackboots:

"if im here for awhile im not worried about footwear" he grinned as he put his tall boots back on

Markus went to the far side of the island to collect his rum when he seen a box on the beach, it read 'telus mobile phone'..he did not understand so he took it back although it was broken:

"what is Telus?" he asked holding up the box

OOC: im off for the night, will catch up tomorrow. Good night all

Elena didn't have a clue what it was. "It looks like a mobile phone; only the government officials have one in Temme, but what's Telus?"

OOC: I think we should just make everyone go to sleep and then wake up when we start RP'ing again.

OOC: Argan smirked. "Don't forget milk, pork, and fish." He then proceeded to remove his shoes and began to remove the shoelaces. Never know when you could use some rope.

Elena woke up and stretched her legs. She shook the sand out of her hair. "Good morning, everyone."

Markus crawled out of his shelter placing his cap on his head, the sun beamed down on the island but a slight breeze was present:

"hello Elena! good morning to you aswell"

He strolled towards a banana tree and started to shimmy up the side holding his shovel, he took afew swings and knocked the best ones to the ground. When he got back down he grinned picking up his prize:

"umm i never eaten ones taste this good yes?"

Argan woke up in his little yurt as well, without his shoes of course. He crawled out the entrance. "Morning, Elena."

Tristan wakes up and walks out of his hurt "Good morning Everyone."

Argan walks into the jungle. Although his isn't wearing shoes, the ground is soft enough and there aren't any pricklies. He picks four bananas and a pair of coconuts. "Guess what's for breakfast!"

Markus was occupied with somthing sitting on the shore with his back to everyone. He had a long bent stick where he tied the laces from the left leg of his Breaches to it, then he took of his Nazi party pin and ripped the stick pin off sercuring it to the lace, he bent it so it would make a hook:

"the best i can do!" he exclaimed holding the crude fishing rod up

Argan split to coconuts and gave everyone a half and a banana. He then noticed what Markus was doing. "Good idea Markus." He got a long, narrow stick out of the jungle and began to shave it smooth with his knife while making a point at one end. Better idea Argan he thought to himself.

Elena smiled. "Better than my bare hands, I suppose." She grabbed one of the bananas and ate it. "What's on the agenda today?" she asked.

Argan thought a moment. "Signal fire."

Markus tossed another Medal at Argan, the Iron Cross:

"if spear don't work..use that, i can just get another, as for signal fire i agree! and i will donate 2 bottles of rum to catch it faster!"

Markus grinned still holding up his fishing rod:

"mean time i am going to get some bait and try this..thing i have constructed"

He walked along the beach till he found a small worm type thing, he stuck it on the hook then dipped in the water waiting for some stupid fish to prove his invention right.

After finishing his spear he walked over to the opposite end of the fish pool from Markus. He threw it in and pulled out a fish. The other fish, of which there were many, swam away from the distrubence toward Markus's worm. He quickly gets a bite. "Thank me later."

Elena frowned for a moment as she thought of her grandmother. She dutifully gathered sticks for the fires, but her thoughts were on the rescue. She absolutely couldn't go live with her grandmother. Oh, well. She'd simply go hide in the forest when the rescuers came. If she went insane, all the better. Grandmother would never want Elena insane.

Argan stuck the blunt end of his spear in the sand by his yurt until the fire was ready. He went with Elena to help gather kindling. "Are you alright?"

Markus yanked the fish out of the water and nodded towards Argan:

"thank you my friend" he continued fishing for more

Elena decided to make her move. "Look, when the rescuers come, I'll be hiding in the forest. Don't tell them of my existence. I can't go back home. My grandmother will absolutely ruin my life." She continued picking up kindling.

Argan shook his head. "You don't need to go back with your grandmother." He picked up a rather dry log.

"How can I avoid it? I'm only 15, and Temme law states that unless you're married or over 18, you have to have someone as your legal guardian. My parents picked my grandmother."

Argan nods. "Sixteen is the adult age in Muktar. So technically, I'm an adult." He thinks a moment. "Maybe there is something I could do to help."

Elena shook her head slowly. "The law states that whoever the parents select as guardian must be their guardian, unless the guardian does not want them. And Grandmother wants me. She wants to turn me into one of her society snobs." There was a way, but no way would she reveal it.

Argan frowned. "There needs to be some other way out. Things can't be that strict."

"Like I said, the only way is marriage or turning 18." Elena continued to pick up wood. "Or living here for the rest of my days."

"Can't you move to another country?"

Markus looked at Elena and frowned:

"when i go back there is still a war on..im positive i design bunkers,goverment buildings,had a say in the Eagles nest..Burdesgaden..some day i will see the battle feild perhalps..i wear the uniform by law.."

He started to light the fire to cook the fish:

"we are in horrible situations Elena.."

"Grandmother will come after me. By Temme law, if a minor citizen's guardian wishes to claim their dependent, they may, even if in a foreign country." Elena shook her head. "Don't worry about me. Just don't tell the rescuers I exist. You've taught me enough about how to survive that I think I could handle it on my own."

"Muktar would be willing to grant political asylum. Akan would sympathize with your situation."

"Well, I'm still a Temme citizen. By law, Grandmother can come get me if she wants to." Elena sighed. "Unless Grandmother has plans to marry me off, I'm stuck. And she won't have plans until I'm 'civilized.'"

Argan looked at what wood they gathered. "I think we have enough wood." He turned toward the camp. "Are you sure there isn't any other way?"

"Well, there is another way. Death." She chuckled humourlessly.

"Ha ha. Seriously, there has to be some other way. Such limitations couldn't be humanly tolerable."

"It's tolerable, if you like your guardian. Our Chief Public Servant (OOC: head of government) obviously has never had to live under a ruthless grandmother." She tossed her head. "Oh, well, don't worry about me. I'll be perfectly fine living here alone. Or maybe with Markus, if he wants to stay."

Argan shook his head as he began to prepare the fire. "We could lie. Tell the rescue workers that you have amnesia. You could pass for sixteen in Muktar."

Markus smiled and looked at the surroundings:

"if i stay i will be a deserter...but if it means staying alive..so be it.."

He took out a cigerette and light it, the wind was picking up slightly and dark clouds were moving over the island:

"uhh..this does not look to good.."

"I can't lie. I won't lie. I'd rather live with my grandmother. But it's okay. Just don't mention anything about my existence. I can stay alone."

Argan looks at the clouds. "We should wait to start the fire. Markus, we should start expanding your dig."

Elena went inside the hut to wait out the storm. She took a coconut and a few bananas in with her.

Argan grabs the shovel and hops into Markus's trench-home. "We need a shleter that can weather the storm." He begins to dig and area for the four of them to hide.

Markus nodds then jumps in the pit aswell shoveling out with his hands:

"we must complete this quickly as this looks like it will be bad! i say another 3 to 4 feet, it is 4 feet wide already 5 feet deep! we must expand!! also get everything we need ready to bring in!!"

Thinking better of it, Elena started to help with Markus' shelter. She had a perpetual frown, thinking of what life would be like without Argan and Tristan. She'd definitely miss them, but hey, she wouldn't see them anyway if she was rescued.

Markus heard a crack of thunder then looked at the horizon:

"lightening followed by thunder! after this storm we shall improve on our huts as i didn't think of this before!!"

Markus removed his SS tunic and gave it to Elena, he still wore a white undershirt, his suspenders held up his palm weave which he quickly took down then replaced his suspenders for the time being

Elena gratefully accepted the tunic. She huddled down in the shelter.

All of a sudden rain stated to pour out of the sky like being dumped from buckets and the wind picked up:

"Argan!! get the cover on commrade!! hurry!!" yelled Markus

He ran over the soaked sand picking up his equipment belt then jumped in the shelter:

"we can get fresh water from this rain to Ja?"

Elena nodded her head. She exited the shelter and ran back to her own hut, where she grabbed the coconut shells. She placed them outside the shelter and then climbed in. She was soaked. "Sorry," she apologized as she took her place.

Argan brought Tristan into the shelter, along with his spear and whatever random item of importance he managed to pick up along the way.

OOC: Sorry about that, tornado warning.

The four of them sat there listening to the rain fall on the cover. Elena occasionally reached out a hand to grab a coconut half and offer the water in it to the others to drink, then put it back.

Argan accepts one of the water offers. "Hopefully these storms won't be frequent. It would be hard to get a signal going."

Elena points out, "We are in a tropical climate. These could be frequent, or maybe it's the beginning of the rainy season. Or possibly the end."

Argan nodded. He sparred a peek outside, just his head, and brought it back in with his hair dripping. "We're a little over halfway through."

"Halfway through the storm or the season?" Elena asked. She put the empty coconut outside and grabbed a new one and took a sip, then passed it around.

Argan politely refused the drink. He had just gotten plenty of water. "Both, I'm pretty sure."

Elena passed the water on to Markus. She smiled. "Good, my legs are cramping up."

*tries to find some means of drying out his hair.*

Elena said to Argan, "Try squeezing your hair. Like this." She demonstrated on her own hair. "It won't totally dry it, but it won't be sopping wet either."

Argan tries what Elena suggested, but his hair isn't long enough for it to be effective.

Elena removed Markus' tunic. "Here, try this." She handed it to Argan.

Argan looks outside one more time. "It's starting to clear up. Nothing but a light rain now." With that, he heads out of the cover.

Elena also walked out. She gave the tunic back to Markus. "Too wet for those signal fires." She smiled happily, unable to help herself.

Argan frowns. It seems he is frowning at Elena's smirk, but he is really frowning at how his yurt fell over.

Elena thought that he was frowning at her smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wish you guys trapped."

Argan looks at Elena and shakes his head, sending water everywhere. "No, no. My yurt fell over."

Elena sighed with relief. "Here, let me give you a hand."

Argan nodded as he began working on fixing his yurt. "Thanks."

Elena assisted. "So, tell me a little about Muktar."

"It's a rough place. It's mainly a wasteland, with big cities. Crime is at an all time high. But it still has good attributes. We're very religious, and since our major deity preaches we should be passionate in all things and treat one another with respect, most crimes are just gang violence. The real prize of Muktar are the parties though."

"Interesting. Tell me about the parties."

"They're pretty much like raves, except the drinks are never tampered with, and they're legal."

"Raves? What's that? The closest thing we have to a wild and crazy party in Temme is when we run around in the streets after dark."

Argan raises an eyebrow. "You don't know what a rave is? Then I'll just explain a Muktari party in further detail: a couple dozen teenagers find some building to play loud music, smoke marijuana, dance, make out, and have sex."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Nothing like that would ever happen in Temme. The worst thing I've ever done was woken up an old lady while running through the streets at night. There is absolutely no crime where I come from."

Argan shrugs. "I've only been to a few parties. The ones I went to were actually kind of mellow, considering the standard."

Elena smiles. "Oh, you should have seen the old lady. She was in a nightgown with a silly looking cap. She was yelling at us, "You teenagers have no respect for your elders. Back in my day, all proper children were in bed by 8:45.

"Lemme guess: it was your wicked grandmother."

"No, although it turned out the old lady knew my grandmother. I got a stern talking-to from my parents, and I was grounded for a month and a day."

Argan blinks in suprise. "You got grounded that long for something like that? Worst I've ever gotten in trouble was a week grounding for not wearing plastic."

"Oh yeah. They're super strict where I come from. At least, I'm from the city of Saskatchewan in central Temme. They're a lot more liberal in the northern city of Douglas.

Argan chuckled. "In Muktar, things are very liberal. Not that we aren't capable of supporting ourselves. Akan has pulled together a fantastic military and a great economy."

"Economy? Well, we used to have a pathetic economy, but now we've pulled it up. Our military isn't very large, as we now go by the policy of 'violence never solves anything.'"

Argan picks up the lighter and gets wood dry wood he managed to take with him into the shelter. He begins to start a fire. "One of Muktar's neighbors has been at odds with us before. A strong military became essential for survival."

Elena sighed. "Oh, we had a terrorist attack once upon a time when I was a little kid. We haven't had a large military. We can defend if attacked, and our peacekeeping force is strong." The rain had completely stopped. She grabbed a palm weave and decided to try fishing. "I'm going fishing. Care to come along?"

Argan managed to get the fire going. "Sure. I'll heard them toward the net with my spear." With that, he hefted his spear and went toward the fishing area to join her.

They started fishing. Elena was much better with the palm weave, and she managed to avoid getting too wet.

There were only four fish between the two of them when Argan stopped spearing. "We better conserve our supply. We could be here a while."

Elena shrugged. "Okay." She took them over to the fire to begin cleaning them.

Argan took the knife off of his spear and began cleaning fish too.

OOC: sorry lol, i forgot to hit watch topic last time i posted, i read up though.


Markus removed his soaked cap running his fingers through his hair, it naturally slicked back now as he had done it for years:

"Baccardi's military is strong...we have the biggest battle ships, most powerful airforce and strongest best trained land forces in 1940...i have much training but i have never had to use it.."

Markus light another ciggerette with his zippo puffing on it hard, he looked outside to see the storm was clearing..the blue sky was comming out once again.

Elena finished the first of her fish. "What can we put this on to cook?" she asked.

Argan begins cooking a fish. "The best land forces? Maybe in your day, but Muktar is inspired. We fight like foxes."

Elena shook her head slightly. She put her fish on to cook. "Who needs a military when you have what we've got--99.44% employment rate, guaranteed healthcare when you're sick, and a comprehensive welfare program for those who can't work."

Argan shook his head. "The reason our neighbor went at odds with us was because we scorned them for invading a pacifistic nation. They had no weapons."

Elena nodded her head. "Yeah, I suppose you need a military for when people invade you." She put her other fish on to cook.

Argan finishes cooking his fish and begins to dig in using his knife. Well done, in case of parasites.

Elena offered her first fish to Markus. She wasn't all that hungry anyway.

Argan continued to eat his fish while cooking a second for Tristan using his bare feet.

The sun began to set. Elena took her second fish off the fire and began to eat it. She ate around the bones as best as she could. "You know, I've never tasted food this good before."

Argan finished his fish and gave Tristan one. "My uncle always said it tastes better if you make it yourself."

"I suppose that's true." Elena huddled closer to the fire because it was getting cold. She began to finger-comb her hair again.

Argan handed her another coconut shell with water in it.

"Oh, thank you." Her hair was combed through quickly. She smiled at Argan and handed the coconut shell back. She kinda felt embarrassed that she had to look after her hair all the time.

ate his fish slowly, savouring the flavor "I havent had a meal like this since.....ever" he said after he got done eating.

Elena gathered up the leftover coconut halves and stacked them neatly. "I think, if there's nothing else to do, I'll go for a swim."

looks to Elena and nods and returns to the fire and takes a look at the stars that have just come out.

Elena stays by the fire for a few more moments and then slowly wades out into the water where yesterday she had swum to safety.

Markus looked at his jackboots:

"im so glad i have reliable footwear" he grinned then looked around..

His expression was annoyed:

"i wish i had some good english books...i need to read..and write!"

He took off his cap and set it on his knee:

"there is a war brewing in my homeland..we will fight the english soon.."

He looked depressed, deep in thought...

Tristan stays there by the fire, gaining the warmth of it, slightly glancing at the others, listening in on Murkus. "Whats going on thats making a war brew in your homeland?"he says trying to strike up a conversation, as well he was a bit curious in their war.

Elena noticed how Markus was acting. She climbed out of the water and sat beside him. She didn't say anything; she just wanted him to know she'd be there for him.