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

[lowtier]

No, no!

[ Yeah, he's getting the idea that he's being set up for something, but-- ]

I'll consider it! What is it?

[iomnic]

They are ceremonial robes I found. I think, out of everything in this world, if there was an outfit it takes talent to look good in, it would be those.

[ Not even anything silly like a giant hotdog costume, either! ]

[lowtier]

Ceremonial robes, huh?

[ He's usually in his own training garb -- to appease -- and whatever he can for the club life. ]

I guess that's right. You gotta look like really zen and all that, right?

[iomnic]

I take it you are admitting defeat, then.

[lowtier]

No!

I'll do it! [ And he's going to stand up and a little straighter even, to show just how he's going to prove the Omnic wrong. ]

[iomnic]

[SUCCESS.]

Ah, I see. Well in that case, should I bring it here?

[lowtier]

Of course!

[ SHOWING YOU WHO IS BOSS! ]

Bring out your worst, even!

[iomnic]

[And Zenyatta leaves with a laugh and a wave. He wouldn't bring his worst, of course. But he is bringing back something that he's sure the other would never willingly wear- be it this Genji, or his student. They're pretty nice robes he comes back with, but it's absolutely more for personal amusement, that he prompted this to begin with. Something he'll always have in his memory banks, even once Genji returns to being his more current self.

Holding out the robes for Genji to see when he returns;]

It is not too late to back out, if you have changed your mind.

[lowtier]

Ah?

[ He's already standing so he can go over to the robes. Leaning forward, he can't help but snub his nose up at them a little. Poking the material, he looks them over as they're held by Zenyatta then looking back to the robot in question. ]

These look a bit like what you're wearing, huh? You wanna match?

[iomnic]

[ He had a feeling Genji would feel this way, but he's sure he can make this work... ]

Match? Oh, no. Mine are much shabbier. I think these were intended for me. But I have no use for them.

I thought perhaps someone who likes clothes more might have more fun with them.

[lowtier]

I suppose I can.

[ Well, then!

He offers a bright smile to the Omnic before grabbing onto the bottom of his shirt to heft it up over his head. Never tell Genji Shimada what he can and can't do. He's gonna put this outfit on right here and now. ]

1/3

[iomnic]

[ ... ]

2/3

[iomnic]

3/3

[iomnic]

[ Yeah, he's not stopping shit. ]

[lowtier]

[ Stripped, he stands proud in his undergarments. His hands on his hips, his chest pushed out; he's pretty proud of his body.

There is a laugh before he starts to pull on the ceremonial robes -- and not having that much difficulty getting them on, at least. Not too different from some clothes that he's had to wear once and awhile for special occasions. And they're a little bit more simpler, too. ]

Well, this is breezy.

[iomnic]

[ The only sign that Zenyatta gives of his feelings on Genji literally just stripping in the dining room in front of him is a small puff of steam from underneath his faceplate, and the gentle whirr of his internal fans kicking on quietly. But of course, these could just be simple omnic things, and nothing to do with Genji.

When Genji finishes putting on the robes, Zenyatta claps his hands together, amused. ]

It is rather lightweight, yes. But I stand corrected. I thought perhaps that these would not flatter you, but it seems that no matter what you look like, you are always very striking.

[ He doesn't know if Genji will remember this, when things return to normal, but if he does... he hopes he remembers that line, at least. ]

You may keep them, if you would like.

[lowtier]

You okay?

[ The steam is a little concerning, right? Or well, he doesn't know what that means for Omnics. Either way, he tugs a bit on the new clothes and turns so that he could look at his own backside. This really doesn't do much to showcase his best asset, does it? Ah... well. ]

You think so? I didn't think Omnics thought much about humans. That mean that you actually think I'm good-looking then? [ His head is starting to swell. Stop him. ]

Maybe, I will since you say I look striking in them.

[iomnic]

Oh, yes, I am fine.

[ More than fine. ...Is Genji looking at his own- yes, he is. Zenyatta can't help the brief laugh at that. ]

I am sure some Omnics are without a second thought on humans. Other Omnics may consider a few thoughts more.

[ The omnic tilts his head back a little, but of course, his expression betrays nothing. To a Genji who doesn't know him well enough at this point, his feelings are completely disguised. Which is good, because Zenyatta's a good deal out of his element with this sort of conversation. He doesn't want to say... too much. ]

I am sure you can be quite the charmer, when you want to be.

[lowtier]

That so? So, you lot don't just think about killin' us, well, obviously. Some actually want to date us. Or don't feel anything and wanna date each other, huh?

[ Well, that's interesting. Certainly nothing that he heard about what was going on with the Omnics. He wonders about what that means -- and adjusts the robes some more, if only to have the "collar" come down more to show off his chest. ]

You mean I'm not charming you yet? I should try harder

[iomnic]

It is fairly complicated.

[It honestly depends on if there is a God A.I. involved. Something he thinks he'll avoid talking about. Or maybe he shouldn't avoid it, since it seems Genji's over his original dislike of omnics, and now flirting with him. Now this is dangerous territory.

Zenyatta's internal processors make a sort of whirring sound as he stalls for time. Yes, he may have... lingered his gaze far too long when the other changed clothes, but this is different. It's... ah... very direct. Too direct.]

I assure you, you need not try harder.

[ This is very much not objecting to the flirting. His traitorous voice box... ]

I am quite inspired by that confidence alone.

[ This is the opposite of holding back, Zenyatta.]

[lowtier]

Attraction is like that, huh?

[ He scratches his chin. Running his hands through his hair, he does his best to straighten it but ends up only messing it up more. Oh. Well. He looks good like that, too, doesn't he? ]

I don't need to. So that means that I am winning, huh?

[ But he pauses as he holds his chin and thinks that maybe this isn't an Omnic that is interested in humans. ] Inspired by it? I'm inspired that there are Omnics out there that aren't out to kill me, so there's that. I mean, you could be luring me into some sense of safety but from what I heard... it isn't like that, is it? [ Just shoot on sight with the others, eh? ]

I wish you had an expression so I knew if I was pleasing or not, though.

[iomnic]

Attraction takes all shapes and forms. Some might even say that love is purely a chemical reaction. But then if that were true, I, in theory, would be incapable of it. Something I deeply disagree with.

[He wishes too, sometimes, that he could make an expression. This is not one of those times, because he's sure he'd give himself away. He can manage to tease without hinting towards his own lack of certainty in the conversation.]

Are my words not enough? And here I was thinking you were the epitome of boldness.

[lowtier]

That means that you love, eh? You've decided that?

[ What a surprise! Did everyone know that Omnics were like this? Why is there a Crisis if they are as cute as this one here. He laughs a little more, covering his mouth with his sleeve. ]

Is that so? [ He lifts his chin up before stepping forward. ] Then, that means that ... what does that mean?

[iomnic]

I have. To love and express that love is a choice.

[ And oh, he doesn't think he's ever seen Genji laugh like that before. It's adorable. ]

It means...

[ Zenyatta tilts his head, as if observing something in the near distance, just a little bit left of Genji. Deflection. ]

You have reason to be confident.