epidemiology | EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shall I say that my heart was lost the moment that I saw you?

[ He opens up his hands to frame her between them. There is a beat of silence before he offers a wink.

All things considered, he's handling this all right. But it may be because he is absolutely sure that he will be sent back home soon. His skills are better than most but he's too lazy, too wild, too everything -- it's what he's built himself to be so that he won't have to take any responsibility or have to be part of the world his family is. ]

This food here is only able to somewhat ease my pain.

[ Cheesy, isn't he... but at least he seems to be aware of it, banking on the self-awareness amping up the charm, and at least its effect is slightly better than someone who truly believes the lines they're spouting are the most original and women should fall over themselves upon hearing them...

The air he has is a strange mix of a pirate and a bounty hunter, someone skilled but entitled -- the kind of person she'd consider stealing from, if they were anywhere where you'd have things worth stealing with you. ]

The pain of what? Losing your heart? [ Ah... might as well play it up, too, to match him-- it's more fun, like that, playing the game with someone who seems to have a faint idea on how to do it. She leans on her side, lifts up her arm, pushes her short hair behind her ear with one elegant move. ] Hm, really? It seems I've become a thief... quite by accident.

That's right. I can only hope that you'll return it, or at least treat it well.

[ There is another beat before he offers a wink with the other eye. He's already laughing and leaning back in his chair until it is rocking precariously on two legs. ]

It seems that you are. I hope you will not be too hurt by becoming such a thief. [ He rests his hand over chest. ] You seem like you're a much better captor than the ones that are keeping us here now.

Return it? You know it's bad manners, don't you, to ask something back that you've just given away!

[ She leans her chin on her palm, swings one of her legs over the other. Ah, she was right... this is much more fun. ]

Who knows, maybe I was a thief already! [ A joking tone for the most truthful thing she's said so far. ] You think so? And yet... they've given us food. I haven't given you anything, have I?

I guess I will have to hope that you treat it well, then!

[ Another laugh. ]

With a face like that, I'd say that you always were a thief. [ This is good. It puts him at ease that these people who took them actually have fun people to hang out with. It's gonna be sad when he returns home, but ah, it'll be fine. ] You've given me the shining light that is your company and your smile.

I can promise to try. Hearts are important, after all!

[ She matches his laughter, though hers is brighter, playful. ] Bingo! [ No shame, no hesitation. She's a thief and excellent at it. ]

You never run out of pretty words, do you? I bet you say the same to every girl. [ Not that she seems too hearbroken about that... it's good tactics, after all. Some girls probably even fall for it. ]

Not as important as your beauty, though.

[ Please appreciate the appearance of finger guns, again. ]

If I do, it is only because the world is filled with lovely people and they should be told that they are so. If I must be the one to do it, then that is my curse. [ Like he could actually deny that he's this much of a flirt when he's flirting so much with a young woman that he doesn't even know the name of. ]

Hmm... alright, I accept that!

[ Self-confident? You got that. The finger guns make her giggle-- less impressed and more playing it up like she's amused when in reality, the gesture is... rather tacky, ehh. ]

A curse, is it? Such a difficult life you must be leading, Mister! [ Or, you know, not. ]

Mister, ugh.

[ Excuse him as he looks almost offended. ]

Genji. Genji Shimada. [ The way that he says his name indicates that he believes that she should know what it is and should be impressed with it. ]

Your fault, for not giving me your name earlier!

[ She shrugs and winks at him... and while the name, when it's offered, sparks no recognition whatsoever, it's clear he thinks it should. ]

Really? [ It's a good thing she's a professional thief, liar and actress... ] I'm a lucky girl, aren't I?

[ And after a light pause, ] Nami. Just Nami. [ An orphan like her has no fancy family name to give. ]

EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

NO PROBLEMO. I fell into a hole for a few days 'cause of allergies

ohh nooo allergies suck i'm sorry :cc

THEY ARE THE NO GOOD

protects u from them!!

THANK YOU THEY ARE THE WORST

don't worry i got you

YOU GOT ME SWEET BABY YOU GOT ME

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