EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

[futurologists]

BENDED TIME As outlined in the OOC post, things start to slow down and grow quiet in Oska for a few days as the bugs crawl away and slowly disappear. But then the cocoons hatch. Fully grown temporal insects claw their way out of them, each about the size and temperament of raging bulls. They come out far more aggressive and eager to fight, are are willing to take on anything that moves with jaws and claws alike. Except, of course, another insect — when two of them encounter each other, they enter into a mating dance and then slip away into another dimension, leaving behind only the temporary ghosts of years gone by. If you can’t find a way to pierce that thick shell to take one down, better find another one to pair it off with instead. Just try not to get bit while leading them around and find yourself suddenly 5 years old again. The insects aren’t the only thing going on in Oska, though. As it turns out, unicorns really hate this adult form of the temporal insects, and will start kicking their way out of their stalls in the stables to get at the insects in an attempt to impale or trample them. According to Uruz they’re gallant warriors, but not always quite cut out to take on a bug, and can easily get themselves hurt or killed. She would really appreciate recruits taking a moment to recapture any stray unicorns they may come across and leading them back to the stables. Try to avoid any insects on the way, or you’ll find yourself suddenly fighting insect and irate unicorn, which is no one’s idea of a good time. The lake is getting more active, too. All the fighting has woken up something in the depths of it. Dark red tentacles sometimes creep up onto shore — and don’t worry, this time they don’t belong to a sea goddess. The tentacles don’t attack unless attacked, and can in fact be quite agreeable. Nodes along the length of them act as primitive eyes, which see well enough to interact with anyone nearby. They’re also all a little peckish. Toss a tentacle a bit of food and watch it curl around and ingest it using tiny mouths on the underside. It might even be willing to play a few rounds of fetch or slap a bug into the sky for you if you put it in a good mood with a morsel of food. The senior ALASTAIR members can be seen out and about and doing their part, too. Uruz and Dagny fight as a team, centaur and elf, sometimes fighting back to back and sometimes as mount and rider. They’ll stop and lend a hand, but the cats are a little less generous. Cherenkov and Crowley fight inseparably and use magic and science in deadly combination to ward off and destroy the bugs, but can usually only be seen darting on their way from one place to another. They have a lot of magitek to repair in the destructive wake of the insects. Pomarr, neither as senior nor as invested in actively picking off the bugs, offers shelter near a tentacle-free portion of the lake, calling down storms to toss away bugs for her and anyone in the vicinity. OOC NOTES This log spans a week ICly. Characters will find themselves beginning to understand each other again as the bugs first vanish, as the effects of the cats’ work on the magitek pays off. The translation problem will be completely fixed by the time the cocoons hatch. All of the bugs will have been killed or shipped off by the sixth day, leaving the last day before their departure to the next mission blissfully relaxing. Any temporally misplaced recruits will be back to normal by the last day, as well. A reminder to anyone still texting: the texting feature of magitek jewelry operates based on thought! There are no physical keyboards, recruits merely think the message that they’d like to send to another recruit.

Comments

[beforenoon]

[ Don't have to tell him twice. He slips his arms 'round Hanzo's waist and holds on tight ... maybe a little more tightly than strictly necessary. ]

Aw. That'd be ever so kindly.

[ The unicorn whinnies. NO IMPURE THOUGHTS. ]

[whatshimadayou]

[Hanzo will have the self control to not think too hard about McCree's warm body against his back]

Since it seems to matter much to you.

I am surprised a cowboy has not ridden a horse before.

[beforenoon]

[ Jesse groans, pressing his forehead against the back of Hanzo's shoulder. He had a feeling this might come up. ]

Look, I'm a busy man. I got world-savin' stuff to do. Horses these days are for men'a leisure.

[ I.e., rich people. Like this one here in front of him. ]

[whatshimadayou]

[So that's what it is. A poor American boy who idolizes cowboys of old who didn't have the opportunity--

Wait.]

World-saving. Really. [He doesn't sound like he really believes McCree.]

[beforenoon]

That's right, sweetheart.

[ He shifts against Hanzo as the unicorn trots along, pats down the black body armor covering his chest. ]

I ain't wearin' this for fun. I'm part of an organization. Peacekeepin', like. 'S called Overwatch.

[whatshimadayou]

[Despite himself, he stiffens up, frowning to himself at the news. Overwatch. Of course he knows that name. How could he not?]

I see.

You should let go of me.

[beforenoon]

But then I'll fall off.

[ He noticed that stiffening. HE IS A NOTICER. ]

Did I say somethin' wrong?

[whatshimadayou]

Who cares if you fall off?

[It comes out irritable. His feelings are-- mixed.

Genuinely, he does think that the American is a little cute. Endearing. Perhaps a bit silly. It's bad enough that he knows he shouldn't have indulged anything, but this is worse.

Father would never--]

I will walk. [It's said quietly.] So please let go.

[beforenoon]

[ He physically winces, because, hey ... that hurt. He thought they had a good rapport going. He worries his bottom lip for a second, trying to pinpoint his misstep. Did he brag too much? Damn it.

But even his rude 17 year old self isn't going to force the situation. He lets go, feeling confused and sullen. ]

--if that's what you want.

[whatshimadayou]

[Carefully, he slows the unicorn's pacing, just enough so that he can slip off. There's still a stiffness in Hanzo's body language, and he gives a glance over his shoulder at Jesse.

Then he shakes his head and proceeds forward, his hands curled into frustrated fists.

No. He should have known better.]

[beforenoon]

[ Jesse actually has no idea what the fuck he's doing, so he scrambles for purchase once Hanzo's gone, clutching the unicorn a little too tightly by her neck (which she does not appreciate). Shit. He is going to fall off. But before that happens, he calls out. ]

God damn, you could at least tell me what I did wrong!

[whatshimadayou]

[The words are caught in his breath, the desire to at least tell him what or why this happened. Instead, Hanzo grits his teeth and shakes his head to himself.

It doesn't matter. He was a fool. He should be focusing on the future.

His mistake.

Hanzo runs, leaving Jesse behind.]