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

[brightdawn]

[ yes always ]

Hm? But your eyes are striking. Do you suffer injustice because of them?

[ He shakes his head. How barbarous.

And, speaking of possible barbarism, his hands slip down from T.F.'s shoulders to his waist. He presses his thumbs--gently--into the small of T.F.'s back as he adjusts his position, leaning forward slightly. Koltira murmurs, his low voice breathy. ]

If you find me untoward, do not hesitate to say so.

[fateality]

Flatterer. If you don't know much about it, I'm not too concerned about discussin' it.

[If anything, it's incredibly charming how welcoming Koltira is. And, well, everything else that he has been.

T.F. lets out a hum, terribly pleased.]

Sunshine, I don't think that's gonna be possible from you. You've been an absolute gem.

[brightdawn]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I never flatter. But your tales are your own, and I would not pry them from you.

[ He glances beyond T.F.--he can see the stables in the distance. The unicorn continues trotting along, in no rush. There are no hideous bugs in sight to aggrieve her sensibilities, after all. ]

This is merely honesty, and courtesy. Perhaps you need more of them in your life, my friend.

[fateality]

It ain't much of a secret where I'm from, how river folk are treated is all. Most of the world where I'm from ain't real fond of us. Suppose I'm just used to it.

[That was the short of it, in any case.

Soon enough, the unicorn will be delivered back. It's almost a shame; the ride had been pleasant.]

Hell, won't be finding much of that where I'm from and with what I do. But you've been incredible company.

[brightdawn]

[ Sounds like injustice. But not one he has the power to correct, at least except in this small way.

Once the unicorn arrives, he leaps nimbly off of her, landing soft and straight up on the grass.

He grins. ]

That only makes me wonder what you do, precisely. But I am glad to have shown you something else, in any case.

[fateality]

[Damn, even graceful when he leaps. T.F. chuckles to himself, sliding off of the unicorn smoothly enough, dusting off his pants.]

I'm a lot of things, charming. [Nothing he thinks this man would approve of, but being shown such respect and nobility is a unique thing.]

But for you, maybe a nice little memory.

[A hand rests upon Koltira's arm. Quick as a snake, he leans in, gently pecking the elf on the lips. He cracks a grin.]

Call me Tobias, hm?

[brightdawn]

[ Color rises to Koltira's cheeks. By his people's reckoning, he is still a young man. Though by no means inexperienced, he is given to blushing--and can't hide it, either, considering his fair skin. His mouth is soft and warm to the touch, his lips pliant. He resists pulling T.F. back for something more substantial, and instead just runs a hand through his long hair. ]

Ah--as you wish. Tobias.

[ He touches his bottom lip. ]

I will honor this memory.

[fateality]

[Now that is adorable. He smiles at the blush, pleased enough with this outcome. Tobias tucks a few braids behind an ear before he gives a little bow.]

Oh, I'll be rememberin' this favorably, too.

Hope to see you around. [But otherwise, he is going to take his leave, casting one last look to Koltira.]