EVENT ★ WELCOME TO ZETA-12

[futurologists]

WELCOME TO ZETA-12 Recruits arrive on a relatively calm, placid afternoon on the tundra. The snow is sparkling white and completely untouched, the sky overhead is a dazzling blue that seems to go on forever. The new arrivals have hopefully dressed warmly, though, because the temperature isn't nearly as nice as the weather. It's well below freezing today, helped not at all by a nippy breeze that stirs to life now and then. THE TUNDRA (WEEK 1) Not far off, the scene grows a little less tranquil. Here the ground is raw, ripped up and shredded by the recent, skidding passage of an asteroid on its way to a violent stop. Snow has already begun to fall and soften the torn up earth, but it's a long way from looking whole again. The asteroid itself sits huge, the size of an office building, half buried in the ground and cracked open. The interior of it is a silent labyrinth of stone, and here and there basketball-sized clear, jellylike balls can be found: the squidge eggs. There are no adults in sight, although there are many pools of spilled liquid here and there, presumably from eggs that didn't quite make it. The eggs nearest to the outside air are cold, some of them even starting to solidify. They'll need to be warmed up if they're going to pull through. All eggs should be kept warm, but some of them are strong enough to pull through anyway if neglected — while some of them are going to need a lot of attention to make it through. Those eggs that do make it will eventually begin to soften, and 24 hours after the recruits arrive, will finally blink open their black, beady eyes and unfold into the squidge shape everyone will come to know and (hopefully) love. A small handful of squidges that hatch won't seem to imprint on anyone. These squidges are standoffish and sullen, but follow the group at some distance. Any time after that, the journey begins. Recruits' jewelry will pull up a compass when needed, with a blinking red light urging them on south. The journey begins whenever you start walking. The weather stays fair as the recruits head south, and the snowy plain is fairly uneventful, but eventually an impasse is reached: an enormous lake. Its shore is studded with beautiful snow stars, and may as well be an inland sea, for all that it seems to extend before them; that flashing red light asks that they cross straight over it. The water is iced over, but not thoroughly and not reliably. Even now, before any attempts to cross it have been made, there are cracks in the ice, great floating chunks that have broken free of the crust and would give a nasty surprise to anyone attempting to step onto them. The first choice is a simple one: take your chances with the ice and attempt a crossing? Or do you venture east or west and hope it has some sort of end that won't take you weeks out of the way? Please choose one of these options to determine how your character fares. As the journey takes them on, plantlife makes a slow return to the scenery. First it's the water cactae, proving a welcome relief to anyone tired of melting snow for water, if you can get into them. But eventually the temperature drops even further, and a forest begins to spring up around them. The first few days of it are chilly, sometimes even still snowy, but further on the plants are beginning to get a little more colorful. THE FOREST (WEEK 2) The second week of the journey is entirely under the leafy canopy of the forest. There's green all around, and the sun is warm whenever it breaks through the leaves. There is much more food to be scavenged here, although you couldn't possibly have made it too far through your food rations, right? Meals can be supplemented by berries, roots, or edible leaves, although it's suggested you find some way of quickly telling what's poisonous and what's nutritious. Here and there are plants trying to bite back, too. Do you hack these apart, or just give them a wide berth? The learning eyes of your squidge are on you, whichever option you pick. Eventually comes another obstacle, not unlike the earlier frozen lake. This one, though, is a sheer drop. A deep, seemingly bottomless chasm has been slashed through the forest. The good news is that you won't have to find your way around it this time! There's a thin spit of land joining the two sides, only wide enough for two people to walk abreast, provided they don't mind getting cozy. You could walk right across… but you'd be leaving your squidge behind. It turns out that squidges are terrified of heights. They want nothing to do with this, and would much prefer they just live out the rest of their natural lives on the near side of the chasm. The choices are these: A squidge must be sweet talked into crossing, calmed and comforted for several hours, or, if you must, forced into it. The squidges collectively are doing a lot of nervous wailing just at the suggestion of crossing, but a forced squidge will do a lot of screaming, even for days afterward. Recruits will find that they have an easier time of it in a group with at least one other person and their squidge. Although they still clearly hate it, they can handle it better in groups. But take heart: on the other side of the chasm will be a grove of large winefruits, a reward for the haggard parents. Just make sure your squidges don't partake as well, that wouldn't go well. Please select an option below to determine how your squidge will be gotten across the chasm. The forest begins to thin out again after the challenge of the chasm, and finally begins to warm up. In fact, it's getting a little muggy. It's easy to feel drowsy in the sunlight dappling through the leaves… or maybe that's the magical poppies. Seemingly innocent little red, purple, and yellow flowers begin to line the way. They're generally harmless on their own — but they're rarely on their own. Any recruits who lie down in the vicinity of a batch of magical poppies may find themselves slowly overtaken by dermal vines. Discretion is most definitely advised, as recruits finally make it to the swamp. OOC NOTES This log ICly and OOCly covers two weeks! Characters may proceed at whatever pace they'd like, but going too quickly or too slowly will mean they travel alone. (And those going too quickly will probably have to contend with screaming squidges, who prefer to travel at the speed of an easy plod.) The unbonded squidges mentioned at the beginning of the log will be determinedly trailing after the group. They refuse to interact with much of anyone currently around... but may be convinced to take a liking to someone as we get new characters apping in. Characters have been provided with large backpacks containing basic necessities -- food and water rations, shampoo, soap, etc -- and whatever they decided to pack. They will not be receiving another official supply drop, so it's up to them to make the rations last. We are also introducing a Bounty Board for Zeta-12! It is entirely optional, but gives you some ideas to spark threads and rewards you for playing them out. Please remember to select your choices in the threads below! How you choose will determine how your squidge grows.

Comments

Loki | open & closed

[selfimage]

Storytimes | Open

[ it had been days of travel with loud, wailing little soap children. while Loki didn't feel the cold, the babies certainly did. there had been a close call at the lake, and warming them up was one thing—keeping them from wailing was entirely another. still feeling the after effects of their near-death experience, Loki had put more energy than he thought he should into entertaining them. while he wasn't good at comfort, which was Ahad's unfortunate department, he was left with them when Ahad needed an inevitable break from the fussy, weepy little beasts.

so, that's the story of how Loki had acquired two squidges.

at the moment, he's holding them on his lap between the folds of his jacket, trapping the warm air from the fire in front of them. ]

Good, now stop your wailing, it's loud, and who knows what's lurking about. [ they both make a noise that sounds dangerously close to one of them breaking out in tears again. (go fig, when one of them does it, the other one follows suit. ] No no no ... Stop that! [ there's a squeak and a croak, and in efforts to keep them from shrieking again, Loki beckons to the fire in front of him, drawing out a little illusion of a small goat, barely the size of a mouse. it stops both of the squidges from their inevitable howling, and refocuses them on the fire.

Loki deflates. ]

The Lake | Ahad

[ it had been a bad idea to start with, all exaggerated by the tiny, wailing little balls of soap in their arms. there were more than one long, insufferable sighs from Loki, occasionally followed up by why, again? that he never expected to be answered. among the bright ideas that they had, one of them had been the crossing of the lake. they were gods, and Loki had an array of magical artifacts, so what could be the problem? somewhere amid all of this, there was a well, we can't get hypothermia joke that half falls flat.

handing off Eggs & Bacon (the names that Loki had given their children after Ahad had gotten very obviously attached to them), Loki tests the ice with a toe. while his weight is far more than any normal mortal, his density three-fold, the Seven League Boots allow him to glide over almost anything, no matter how impossible, with magical ease. ]

Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Absolutely no problem! Perfectly and utterly steady!

[ he says back to them, sliding backwards on the ice. it's half an assurance to the young Squidges, who are half about to wail, half watching him with horror and fascination.

ok, so, he's probably making a little bit of a show. ]

Photobomb | Olivia

[ after playing babysitter, his squidge gets pawned off on Ahad in favor of a little exploration. he hands them off, gives a little salute, and heads toward the outskirts of the forest for a little bit of fresh air, fine and squidge-less. if he doesn't return soon, Bacon (see: "Loki's" squidge) will start up a wailing storm that Eggs will soon follow in suit, creating an annoying chorus of a squidge duet.

there are a few interesting tidbits, and he takes his StarkPhone out, focusing it on one of the plants. when he pans in for a close-up, he can make out someone not-so-far. ]

Oh, hello.

[ Olivia, he's snapping pix of you. again. ]

storytime

[giantsheart]

[There might be monsters out there. Or giants.

One who approaches the fire completely not-stealthily, considering her footsteps sort of... shook the ground she walked on, (don't even ask how much she weighs), taking a knee beside Loki, the small serpent tattoo on her thigh roughly the size of his head. Shrugging off her rucksack, she carefully set it down.]

So you're a fire giant... ?

[Nevermind that she says "giant" in the same way you'd say "dwarf", opening up her bag to reveal... her squidge, sleeping inside it nestled in what might be an ALASTAIR uniform coat (giant-sized, so more than big enough to serve as a squidge bed).]

[selfimage]

[ only us giants, here. ]

No, I'm a frost giant. Kind of, let's not get into details.

[ there's a huff that sounds close to on the contrary, even though it's not voiced. he shoots her a withering look that's hard to take seriously with the two writhing little squidges on his lap. ]

I'm the god of fire, too. A bit contrary, don't you think? It's more like a battle of extremes really. Both of them burn, if left unattended.

[ though he hardly seems bothered by her size or her presence. there's no odd glances, no lingering looks, and no staring. it's as if he's gone through this before. even if he hadn't been brought up by the giants, he was still somewhat used to the whole giant thing. ]

[giantsheart]

["Giants".

As it was... Yeah. He didn't look all that intimidating with two babies in his lap. Like, at all. Nor did she quite buy that fire God spiel, either. Why would a frost giant be the God of fire? Or vice versa? Those were two totally opposite elements, weren't they? Diane's gift might not lie in the magics of her world, but she knew elements... Basically.]

If you don't want to say what you really are, suit yourself.

[She hmmph'd, ever so gently lowering herself into a sit so as not to wake the sleeping squidge in her bag or upset the ones on his lap.]

I just want to keep Dolores warm, is all.

[selfimage]

[ they are unsuspecting children, okay, he can't really let kids die. there was one too many, a bright-eyed other Loki, a child, that had been killed by him on his own selfish ambition. there were some things, few things, that took precedent over his reputation, and the well-being of these two squidges were one of them.

he'll be sly and tricksy later. right now the babies seem enchanted with the little fire theatre that Loki is providing. ]

That whole bit of don't want to say doesn't really matter, you know. I'm quite happy as what I am. [ frost giant and fire god; he can tell himself that, anyway. ]

Dolores sounds a bit ... old person-y.

[winces]

[ loki must they really go through this again...! ]

—again? Loki, please!

[ cheeks colored and puffed, she drops the bundle of plants she'd been attempting to harvest so she can march over towards him, holding her hand out for the phone. ]

[selfimage]

[ YES, OBVIOUSLY THEY MUST. ]

Your hair looks far better this time, the moment needs to be immortalized!

[ in some ways, he got what he wanted. Olivia's dropped attention off of anything that she was doing and focused it purely on him. there's some level of satisfaction that comes from that.

his eyes go to her hand, and then to her face, there's a long silence between them while he resists being scolded. ]

[winces]

[ her eyes narrow suspiciously, and it's truly her own fault for being so easily distracted... and surprisingly vain. ]

Are you sure...? I want to see proof.

[selfimage]

[ he makes a show of sighing, before twisting his hand and offering her the phone with a tug of his lips. the expression on his face is defiant with a smidge of huffy relent. ]

You have to give it back.

[ he did take the photo, after all. it's his. ]

[winces]

[ she frowns at him, looking almost offended. ]

Do I look like a thief to you, Loki?

[selfimage]

You look like someone that would erase my beautiful photography if it would offer you the opportunity to forget the horrifying memory of a bad hair day.

[ there's still some mock suspicion in his gaze. the picture is still up on screen: Olivia with her hair, mouth open in protest, part of it covered by Loki's thumb.

what a wonderful composition. ]

[winces]

[ ah, he's got her there... last time, she'd tried to do that very thing, hadn't she? ]

Can't you take comfort in the fact that I don't know how?

[ ... at least she's being honest! ]

[selfimage]

That depends, you're not far from the "press all the buttons" type, are you?

[ with a toss of his dark nailed fingers, his eyes go between her and the phone, as if being without it has some how made him naked. ]

[winces]

[ gdi he's got her again. at least the last time she did it, it didn't actually do anything bad?? ]

Can I at least see it?

[selfimage]

[ look, he knows all the tricksy ways of doing things, it's pretty much his jam. ]

Fine, fine ...

[ he flicks his fingers over the screen in a casual gesture, it flickers to life and a few taps later, there's a picture of Olivia's mad face. ]

The Lake

[dailydouble]

[ Loki could name his squidge whatever he liked, but Ahad refused to acknowledge either name. Naming was important, and while Ahad hadn't decided on something yet, he would eventually. Eggs and Bacon were terrible placeholders. ]

Shouting may not be as helpful and you believe.

[ Ahad takes a cautious step out onto the ice, holding both squidges in his arms. Teleporting them across would be easier, but both had shown a certain dislike for magic used on them. He would hold it in reserve for an emergency, but walking across should be simple enough. ]

[selfimage]

[ the only way they could properly tell them apart was by who imprinted on who. Loki could only go so far for so long without Bacon breaking out in wails. it's been an endeavor that had ended in turn-taking, and luckily for the two of them, they didn't need much sleep. ]

Can they hear me? It's good to have some reassurance.

[dailydouble]

[ Bacon continues to home in on Loki's voice, tracking him as well as he is able. Eggs seems more content in Ahad's arms, but only by comparison. Both are clearly nervous at the crossing, fussing but not outright crying. For the moment. ]

Stay close. They're difficult enough when we're on land.

[ As if on cue, Bacon starts to reach out in Loki's direction. ]

[selfimage]

[ for the moment

it was a miracle, really. with everything that they've gone through that between the two of them they've managed to keep the two small, soapy creatures distracted enough not to cry. Loki, despite his flippant attitude, seemed to somewhat care about their wellbeing (possibly stemming from an existential trauma faced in the past, cough cough). ]

See, you little soapy beasts? Solid, stable, we'll be fine.

[ he says with a flourish of his fingers. ]

[dailydouble]

[ It's at that moment that Bacon decides to start sniffling, and making those other sounds indicating that a good cry is coming. Ahad sighs and shifts both squidges in his arms again, attempting to comfort the one without upsetting the other. ]

Speed may serve us best.

[selfimage]

[ with some reluctance, Loki approaches again, the heels of his boots glowing. he moves to give Bacon his finger, and the squishy little thing takes it and tugs, still sniffling, but sounding less like he's going to burst out in tears. ]

Speed may upset them. We spent four hours last night consoling them from the point of wailing. It sounded like the halls of the dead.

[ he sounds somewhat frustrated, but he's determined. ]

[dailydouble]

I meant a brisk walk. If that upsets them...

[ He'll shrug, indicating that he's at something of a loss there.

There's also some underlying fuss of his own here, which Ahad is trying to cover but likely unsuccessfully. ]

[selfimage]

[ there's a sigh that comes out as a huff. ]

Ah, I suppose we haven't much of a choice. A brisk walk, then ...

[ no, there's not much more than can do. he's certain that teleporting will upset them almost as much as the lake crossing does. he wiggles his finger from Bacon's grasp. ]

No crying and we'll eat on the other side.

[ well, the squidges will eat. ]

[dailydouble]

[ His sigh here sounds suspiciously like a snort. ]

Yes, because telling them not to cry and promising food has worked so well in the past.

[ What Ahad can do is start off on that brisk walk. Across the ice.

Nothing is bound to go wrong here. ]

[selfimage]

It's worth a shot—besides, it's talking, don't babies like talking?

[ because you never shut up, Loki.

with the soles of his boots glowing, he follows him, keeping the pace. ]

Nix that, I don't know much about babies.

[ .... LOKI .... ]