EVENT ★ ZETA-12 FINAL WEEK

[futurologists]

ZETA-12: FINAL WEEK After team Audentes makes it out of the desert in more or less one piece, they'll begin to notice the environment changing once again. After the sparseness of the sands and canyons, vegetation and water once again become more common; eventually, they've found a lush jungle with plants and rivers both plentiful. And like the changing environment, the squidges once again begin to transform. Please select an evolution according to your choice. Please note, you must have submitted your choice to the thread in the previous logs in order for your squidge to evolve. For those who encountered the cave: If they went into the cave, their squidge has taken on one of the following features: a fox-like tail, an armadillo snout (with tongue!), or enhanced sense of smell. However, if they stayed above, their squidge has one of these: a beak, a prehensile tail, or enhanced sense of hearing. THE JUNGLE (WEEK 6) The jungle air is thick with humidity, light barely filtering down past the dense canopy of leaves overhead. Unlike the forest back at the beginning of the journey here, the climate in the jungle is almost stifling, so recruits may want to look for refreshing Rainbow Berries to snack on and keep their energy up -- but keep an eye out for the Lucifer's Poppy, as its effects can cause the journey to reach an abrupt end. Rivers wind through the jungle, with waterfalls ending in relaxing pools where recruits can try to beat the heat and spend some extra time with their squidges as the journey's end approaches. Like the other biomes, there are no creatures here -- no birds, no bugs, no jungle cats -- but that doesn't mean that recruits can leave their guard down entirely. Apart from various poison plants (such as the Beezlebulb and the Malboro) other hazards to look out for include slippery, moss-covered ground cover that may cause a hapless recruit to lose their footing, and the dangers of heat exhaustion. Unlike the previous biomes, there is no major choice for recruits to make here. Instead, they must bathe their squidge in the Wellspring, a bubbling, faintly glowing pool of water in the depths of the jungle. The Wellspring is responsible for triggering the squidges' final transformation and allowing them to grow into adulthood. In order for squidges to evolve into an adult, squidge parents must have completed a certain amount of tasks during the Zeta-12 mission. If these tasks were not completed, the squidge will not evolve and will remain in its larval stage. The evolution form can be found on this post. Squidges who successfully evolve into adults will grow in size, anywhere between 122-183cm (4-6'). They will loosely retain their rounded shapes, their limbs and torsos elongating, and any physical transformations will also grow with their size. In adulthood, squidges are less needy and frightened than in their larval stage, and generally have a calm demeanor (with exceptions made if they happened to pick up an aggressive trait along the journey, of course). Their language remains a wordless burbling, but they can communicate with their caregivers through gestures. After bathing their squidges in the Wellspring, regardless of the success of evolutions, recruits should prepare to depart Zeta-12 with the knowledge that their alien children are better, stronger, and smarter for the time they spent together. OOC NOTES This log lasts ICly for one week, and OOCly for 1.5 weeks. Once the mission is completed and the squidges are bathed in the Wellspring, recruits will have until August 20th to say goodbye and let their alien wards leave the metaphorical nest. Direct questions about the Zeta-12 mission here. And don't forget about the bounty board! After August 20th, Zeta-12 bounties will no longer be completable. Please remember to fill out your squidge success form! Participation is required to pass AC this month. If you have any questions about the form, please direct them here. Forms must be completed by August 31th, 23:59 UTC.

Comments

[flashbanging]

[ He lifts the brim of his hat just slightly, enough to see a grin. ]

Always.

[ Jesse intertwines their fingers, squeezing gently. ]

He is e-nor-mous. And off with his own kin, now.

[ He sighs. ]

As it oughta be.

[whatshimadayou]

[There it is, the comforting feeling of the other man's hand in his own. Larger, callused in another way, and familiar. There are times in which he worries how much he's become adjusted to having McCree nearby, that he should worry for the day in which it is gone.

But then, he should take the moments in that he can, he supposes, before the inevitable good-bye. Isn't that like today with Suzume and the others?]

You will miss him.

That is not strange, or bad. You spent much time helping Eastwood grow. Now it is time he has his life with his people.

[flashbanging]

'Course I will. He was a good little fella.

[ He scratches at his beard. ]

Big fella now, I guess. Just sad to think we're probably never gonna see'em again, right?

[ He glances at Hanzo, lifting his hat entirely. The subtext of How are you holding up is clear on his expression. ]

[whatshimadayou]

He had a good example to live by.

[That, he truly means.]

...I know.

But at the very least, we have the opportunity to say our good-byes, and hope for their futures.

[Hanzo's eyes dart away for a moment. Yes, he will miss Suzume; it will feel oddly quiet without the squidge at his side.

But he means what he says. There have been too few times in his life that he could say good-bye on his own terms rather than someone ripped away brutally. By his hand or otherwise.]

[flashbanging]

[ McCree makes a dismissive gesture with his hand, but he's smiling all the same. He can't deny that he likes praise, and from Hanzo's quarter especially. The man's opinion is important to him--more so than most. ]

I reckon they're gonna be fine. It's us old folks I got a concern about.

[ Another squeeze. ]

I have a feelin' that not all our work will wrap up so peaceably.

[whatshimadayou]

If you are concerned what our future missions will be like, that is wise.

I doubt all of them will be a month long journey to care for and raise an alien infant. There will undoubtedly be more difficult missions.

[flashbanging]

[ He leads Hanzo towards a nice place to sit, a patch of short grass that's near to a bubbling, clear river. Once they're there, he'll set down, tugging on Hanzo to come down with him. ]

We did come in on a real peaceable time, didn't we?

[ He rubs thumb against Hanzo's palm. ]

Hard to believe it was only a month. Especially considerin' how wistful I feel about leavin'em behind.

[ And, he thinks, eyes locked on the man beside him, considering other things. ]

[whatshimadayou]

[A slow exhale of breath leaves him as he's guided down to sit near McCree. He's quiet a moment as he contemplates, taking in the warmth of the other man and his affections.

Hesitantly, he brushes his shoulders against McCree's, and squeezes his hand a little.]

So it seems.

It felt so long, yet it passed on by before I knew it was going to end. That is the way of life, though.

[Hanzo looks at McCree, then his eyes dart away.] I would not have guessed that things would have turned out this way.

[For him. How ... pleasant it has been, overall. There is still a part of him waiting for something awful to happen. Perhaps by his own hand.]

[flashbanging]

Me, either.

[ He takes Hanzo's hand and kisses his knuckles, courtly. Like an old-fashioned gentleman. ]

But I sure as hell ain't complaining.

[whatshimadayou]

[There are few times in which Hanzo is speechless. More than he cares to admit, but it's a simple little action that warms him slightly -- including the tips of his ears.]

So you--

[He clears his throat and looks away.] ...Good. That is good. I was not certain, admittedly, how long things might go.

[flashbanging]

[ He chuckles, his eyes bright with mischief. He leans forward, still holding Hanzo's hand. ]

Darlin', are you blushing?

[whatshimadayou]

[Hanzo lets out a low growl, not as annoyed sounding as he'd like.]

No.

[Yes.]

[flashbanging]

[ He reaches to take Hanzo's face in either hand, just so he can get a better look.

Delighted: ]

You are. I'll be damned.

[whatshimadayou]

[Despite how much more Hanzo is frowning, it doesn't stop the blush from crawling from his ears down to his neck.

He grumbles and says:]

Stop that and kiss me.

[flashbanging]

[ He drawls, grinning as wide and sunny as meadow in summer. ]

All right.

[ He strokes his thumbs against Hanzo's cheeks as he leans in for the kiss. His lips are gentle and firm, warm and soft. After just a moment, he opens his mouth and runs his tongue along Hanzo's lower lip. ]

[whatshimadayou]

[The softness remains, and his eyes close when he feels McCree against his lips. It is dangerous, he admits to himself, to be swept up like this, horrendously romantic and endearing as it is.

But he allows it, closing his eyes and running his thumb faintly against the edge of McCree's jawline.]

[flashbanging]

[ Jesse pulls away slightly, enough to murmur against Hanzo's mouth. ]

By the way, I ain't planning for this to stop anytime soon. If'n you were worried.

[whatshimadayou]

[There is a pause when he hears McCree speak to him, feels the words against his lips. Hanzo shudders softly before he's kissing the other man briefly, with a bit more desperation before he's speaking in return.]

At times, I do. Not because you do anything to imply it would happen.

[flashbanging]

[ McCree threads his fingers through Hanzo's hair, running back along his scalp, down to the base of the other man's ponytail. He resists undoing the ribbon. It is a trial. ]

Why, then?

[whatshimadayou]

[Hanzo breathes in through his nose, quietly appreciating the fingers in his hair.]

Jesse...

[He frowns and shuts his eyes for a moment.]

Perhaps it is foolish, but there are times in which I feel as though I have redeemed nothing in terms of what I have done. That I have been rewarded more than reprimanded.

[flashbanging]

[ McCree presses his forehead against Hanzo's, making a 'hmmn' noise in his throat. ]

Tell me somethin'. What kinda thing means redemption to you? Is it redeemin' to suffer?

[whatshimadayou]

I know that it was not so for you.

[He touches the end of McCree's serape, rubbing the woolen cloth between his fingers.]

Punishment felt more appropriate than anything else for what I had done. I have not earned... this. What we have.

[flashbanging]

[ He presses a kiss to Hanzo's forehead, sighing. ]

Oh, darlin'. Trust me, I suffered. They dragged me into their little organization kickin' and screamin'.

But I don't reckon I got round to redemption til I quit resistin' the process.

[ His fingers are still in Hanzo's hair, resting against the other man's scalp. He rubs gently, in slow circles. ]

True enough, you ain't earned anythin'. Mostly 'cause earning or deserving don't factor into this situation at all.

[whatshimadayou]

[There is nothing fragile about Hanzo physically, yet when McCree is affectionate with him, it has nothing to do with that. Strength or being delicate; there is a quiet level of respect there instead that he's treated with. It is comforting.

No. He doesn't feel that he has earned this, or ever really will. But he remembers his conversation with Olivia as well.

Somehow, in her own way, she understood.]

What does factor in, then?

[flashbanging]

[ He smiles weakly. There's just no way to put this that's not gonna come out sentimental as hell. But he is the sentimental type. ]

Ain't nothin' more or less than what I feel and what you feel, darlin'.