Even paradise could become a prison if one had enough time to take notice of the walls
welcome to Dire Tactics
Oddities are individuals born with extraordinary gifts. Because of this they are hated, feared and generally persecuted across the globe. In an attempt to give them a refuge the billionaire Theodore Ashford has created Ashford Isle. Presented as a Sanctuary for the special some believe their to be much darker motives behind his generosity.
Ashford Isle
A state of the art city powered completely by renewable energy, gorgeous modern building erected against the backdrop of a tropical paradise. It has all the luxuries modern technology can afford accompanied by the natural beauty and serenity only nature can provide. This city is open to all Oddities and their families, along with several hundred A.R.I. employees, it boast a modest population of just over 5,000 individuals consisting of a mix between both human and oddity. This wonderful utopia however is shaded in mystery both metaphorically and literally. The United Nations have dispatched several fleets of O.S.E. ships near the island, this gives the coastline a ominous view.
Blueprint is a premade Proboards v5 theme designed and built by punki of Adoxography and Pixel Perfect. Dire Tactics is the work of the mind of Clover. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. All images belong to their original owners.
updates
1/06/23
We would like to welcome our newest citizens to the island! David, Alice, Lynn, & Emmett welcome to paradise!
1/01/23
Ashford Isle is finally recovering from the massive hurricane and officially back open for business!
i'm a warning sign [open]
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Mar 29, 2024 9:42:45 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Mar 29, 2024 9:42:45 GMT -5
At times like this, he really missed his dogs. Were they being cared for? Did his old man get rid of them? He hoped they weren't dumped somewhere like they did with him.
Leaning his weight back on one hand, Salem sat at the edge of the pier, legs dangling over. The hard fruity surface of a sucker clinked against his teeth as he rolled the candy with his tongue. It was a poor excuse of dessert for him, but at least it gave him something to gnaw on while he watched the sun slowly descend past the horizon. That was where his plans ended. What would he do after that? Not even he knew.
Oh well. He was used to winging it.
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Mar 29, 2024 18:55:38 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Mar 29, 2024 18:55:38 GMT -5
He had heard this was a dangerous pier but no one ever said why. Did people come here to contemplate life? Probably yes, also they could do that anywhere. What was he doing here? Simple. Who in the heck did not love water, would he sit like this person, feet dangling and such, if he was in a deep state of contemplating very possible but other than that this pier seemed just quiet. Sunsets were, did he find anything in them? Who knew. Growing up was also something else becoming who you needed, who you wanted all things that had to come up and eventually life did come full circle at least that was what people said but who wanted to talk about things like that deep matters not him. He just thought maybe he'd sit too. Speak though, well he was not going to and then he decided why not. "Hello," he said. "I sell hammocks." No hidden meaning there it was a truth. "You should buy one." Businessman he had never became but crafty perhaps yes who knew. Salem Yang |
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Mar 29, 2024 19:55:05 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Mar 29, 2024 19:55:05 GMT -5
Though he noticed the presence of another, alerted by footsteps, Salem made no attempt to check who it was. His gaze steadily watched the horizon, not a single glance taken in the direction of the newcomer. Rolling the sucker around in his mouth, he made the immediate decision to ignore them. A random person on the pier should get bored soon enough and leave, right? Then came the greeting. Still no glance in their direction. Well, perhaps, his direction, judging by the voice. He rolled the sucker to the other side to store the candy in his cheek, the tip of the white stick turning in the opposite direction. " Flattered if I look like I have money to you," there was a faint drawl to his voice, low and lazy but mostly caused by the candy occupying his mouth. " 'Fraid I don't have a penny to my name. Spent it all on this." He rolled the sucker with his tongue as if to prove a point. A twenty-five cent point. Roy Wordles
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Mar 29, 2024 20:59:48 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Mar 29, 2024 20:59:48 GMT -5
His voice sounded distant, like he was the type to be nice though he did not want to be not that he was not a nice person but sometimes even nice people needed space. He understood that more now than he had times ago honestly. He stared now not to be rude but he had to see. People grew up but did it mean that they looked the same he had to wonder. "Do you have a name?" He didn't know many people and names were a dime a dozen. "My name is Roy," he said. "You look like a Robert, your name is Robert," he said as he turned and put his hand out. "Nice to meet you Robert." Salem Yang |
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Mar 29, 2024 21:19:29 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Mar 29, 2024 21:19:29 GMT -5
Of course he had a name. That did not stop him from being given a new one. Wasn't the first time. Probably wouldn't be the last time. Definitely not the last time. His eyes briefly left the horizon when there was movement at his side. A hand? Salem placed the hand he was not leaning on in Roy's hand without a moment's thought, completely ignoring the fact that it was the wrong hand for a handshake. Whether instinct or habit, he inwardly cringed with embarrassment. He had regained his senses a long while ago, but that damn pup liked to get in the way. " Guess I'm Robert." A pause. " Prefer Salem, though." Roy Wordles
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Mar 30, 2024 9:36:32 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Mar 30, 2024 9:36:32 GMT -5
Robert was a cool name but it was not that which shocked Roy it was what he said after and it caused Roy to fall off the pier and into the water. Good thing no one really seen that as he got up out of the water and shook his head. Did he know this guy? Maybe but maybe not at least not how he would be now as he carefully looked around for his hammock thinking of how to go about this. Clone had to be but he kept his distance just in case. "Salem," he said calmly because he was shocked but he could handle it more now. That had been a pretty friendship though short so he found himself thinking of how to handle this. Who had cloned this person with this name he did not know but he knew clones were different and it would be rude to ask him if he was a clone because did clones know they were clones he doubted it. He stared long now yep still fucking pretty, whoever had made this clone paid a lot of attention to details. "Nice to meet you," he said. "How did you get here?" Hey a clone had a story too. Salem Yang |
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Mar 30, 2024 10:42:01 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Mar 30, 2024 10:42:01 GMT -5
Their hands disconnected, and the following splash forced Salem to finally look at the person who had spoken to him. Said person was now drenched, wading in the water. " You good?" He leaned forward, palms pressed against the edge of the pier for support. He wasn't about to jump in after someone, even if he had already been sprayed by the splash of Roy's fall. Now that he was actually looking at him, he squinted, brow furrowed. Familiarity washed over him, followed by a gnawing knot sinking in his gut. " By... boat?" Salem tilted his head in confusion at the question. Didn't they all get here the same way? Well, he supposed the rich might have flown in. Didn't matter. " Need help getting back up?" This time, it was Salem who extended a hand out to Roy. Roy Wordles
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Mar 31, 2024 7:20:17 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Mar 31, 2024 7:20:17 GMT -5
This was embarrassing beyond a level of comfort for Roy but friends, he thought that him and the real Salem had been friends so this clone was all he had left of that in a way. He wished still they had made it ugly because it would be easier but Roy was fine being alone, gave him enough time to make sure he was good to others and all of that mush. "I'm great," he said keeping it together actually. By boat of course but he did look at him like "come on you know what I mean," that was how he knew it was a damn clone. Help? Oh god. "Sure," he said as he seen his hand out. "Oh," Sadness poured over him for a second but he took his hand for the help anyway. "Thanks," he said. "Look Salem," he said as he took his hand back. He had so many questions but the main one always are you okay but even he knew people would say they were okay when they were not so he did not ask. The whole reason for who he was now standing here, it was a lot to take in. "You get an apartment for living here but you have to make an appointment. When you wake next you should make your way down to the Ashford Research Institute and let them know that you are here. " He had really good skin for a clone though. They had even gotten the smart-ass sarcastic ratio right which made Roy laugh. "Anyway you get a hammock from me, free of charge, for pulling me out." Roy totally had it though. Back then when Roy was figuring out life, he turned to chairs because he had discovered that comfort and recharging were done better when crafted, something he did only find out because of Salem. That is how friendship does you, which is why he found it ironic that people said love did that? Those people were the type who had never had a friend who became your muse for the person you became, no way ever. Salem Yang |
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Mar 31, 2024 9:10:52 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Mar 31, 2024 9:10:52 GMT -5
" What?" He shot back his own look. " Should I have said I swam? I don't think I can doggy paddle that far." He flashed a cheeky grin, the chewed-up stick of the sucker pinned between his teeth. Once Roy was safely back on the pier, Salem scooted away from the ledge and pulled his legs up. One person falling in was enough for the evening. He wasn't taking his chances. He remained on the ground, head tilting to one side as he reached up to rub at his neck. If one looked close enough, one might notice the strange scarring in the dimming light. " They've really made moving here a hassle. Can't I just find someone to crash with?" Salem leaned back until he was lying on the pier. He stretched out, eyes staring up at the darkening sky for a moment before he turned his gaze to Roy. " Hammocks, huh? Chairs not work out for you, Roy?" A slip of the tongue, out in the open before he could stop himself. Roy Wordles
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Apr 2, 2024 6:27:33 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Apr 2, 2024 6:27:33 GMT -5
The more people change, well. "At least you realize it doggy paddling never got anyone very far." Now he wondered if Salem had some of the good juice, power or non but it did not matter. Space was still important he took in through the movements. Was it really a hassle or was he slightly lazy but Roy still thought about this. "Yeah that is always an option but it could mean less space at times so I would suggest someone who's body clock is different from yours. Good luck with that," he said. Then there he was for an instant it seemed not a clone but the same snark he had known. "Well," he paused then he went on. "No they do not. Chairs are hard and not comfortable though if you prefer a chair, I can make that too." Maybe it wasn't a clone because it was starting to not seem like a clone but it had to be a clone. "You're still such a pain in my ass," he said. "Lucky for you I'm feeling nice so room mate, don't get a crazy one." Salem Yang |
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Apr 2, 2024 6:56:38 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Apr 2, 2024 6:56:38 GMT -5
Finding a roommate of any kind would require knowing people, regardless of 'body clocks'. So far, that was a grand total of one: Roy. He could use the excuse that he had only recently arrived. Maybe he should roam the island and attempt to socialize more. The introvert in him shuddered at the thought. There was a crack as Salem bit down on his sucker, chewing away as he thought. He swallowed the loose candy before speaking again. " Or, I could find someone I enjoy the presence of. I can pay rent with home cooking!" Another stretch, like a cat lazily sprawling out, and a sly smirk curled on his lips. " Or my body." Salem chuckled as he pushed himself up with one hand, combing back his long hair with the other hand. " 'Still'?" He echoed with a tilt of his head. " Alright, enough beating around the bush. Roy Wordles, right?" Small world. Still a cute last name. Roy Wordles
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Apr 2, 2024 20:21:26 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Apr 2, 2024 20:21:26 GMT -5
Salem's teeth, Roy could see it now cracked eventually due to such cheap tastes in candy as he listened. "You most certainly could do that or that or that." Such a slut tease in all honesty, one again the more people change. Still, Still, Still. "There are a lot of bushes around here though," he said. "Yes Salem," he said but how did this clone know his last name? He double blinked and he slowly backed up, went forward, backed up, went forward again and then stopped. "You know what I'm pretty good with ropes now but honestly if you get a room person, they should not make you give your body unless you want to or just like doing it to get away from pain." People had weird ways to fix pain. "I guess you could come be my room person until your stuff gets straightened out. I won't hover or anything like that you can still do whatever you may find you get into here but you will not just be sleeping wherever and take the chance of getting you know body emasculated in the night." Did he feel like bullshitting rules? Not really. "Oh but one rule, I get to lick your face once, but when I am ready." He laughed because that was ridiculous. "I'd never do that." Salem Yang |
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Apr 2, 2024 21:25:12 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Apr 2, 2024 21:25:12 GMT -5
" Nice try, but the bushes are back that way." He motioned with a slight jerk of his head in the direction of the island. None of the bushes made it this far down the pier. " Dear sweet, innocent Roy, I wouldn't put my body on the table if I didn't want it." A joke, perhaps, but even that was to hide from the pain. With Roy's identity confirmed, Salem pushed himself all the way up, using the pier railing as an anchor to pull himself into a standing position. One last crunch as he bit off the rest of the candy, he pulled the chewed up stick from his mouth and strolled over to the nearest trashcan. He tossed the stick and wiped his hands off on his jeans before turning back. " Roommate," he corrected as he stepped closer, a coy grin spreading across his lips. " I'll take you up on that. But, you know, Roy," Salem leaned closer, tapping his cheek with his index finger. " Why stop at lick? You were never given the chance to act on past desires after all." Since a certain Salem completely fell off the face of the planet. His fault! Roy Wordles
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Apr 3, 2024 13:40:39 GMT -5
Post by Roy Wordles on Apr 3, 2024 13:40:39 GMT -5
"Sweet?" Okay he could not argue that point. Innocent? Not in this day and age. "Salem you are not too pretty to get thrown into the bushes but I would never not right now at the moment anyhow. Perhaps later because it's looking more and more tempting if I am honest." Watching Salem be Salem was still an allure one he should walk away from and yet here he still was. "Friends between room space," he said as he listened to him. "Desires?" Busted, big time. "I desire what I desire without shame and question but with respect too." He shook his head. "Desire is a two way street though so, I mean say what you want, we both are well aware of the truth." Salem Yang |
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Apr 3, 2024 17:02:56 GMT -5
Post by Salem Yang on Apr 3, 2024 17:02:56 GMT -5
" When did this become about throwing me in the bushes?" His nose wrinkled with confusion. " I'd rather be tossed on a bed than into a prickly plant. Think about the comfort of the throwee!" 'Friends between room space' sounded like roommates was getting unnecessarily censored, which he found hilarious. " Alright, alright. 'Friends between room space' it is." Salem fell quiet for half a beat before he tilted his head. From this proximity, the scars encircling his neck would be exposed, but he was too preoccupied to care. " Humor me, Roy. What is the truth?" Roy Wordles
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