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

Oh? Would you have tried to stake your claim?

[It's asked with an air of amusement.

Hanzo murmurs his thanks and opens the door. The interior is spotless, perhaps unsurprisingly; there's hardly much else to it, spartan as it is.

There's a pause, then he slips his hand into McCree's, squeezing it as he goes inside, sighing as he sits on the edge of his bed.]

Reckon I just might've.

[ He shuts the door behind them with his foot, then slides up beside Hanzo on the bed. He interlocks their fingers, his grin turning sly. ]

Like I said. You were awful pretty.

[When their fingers interlock, his hand gently squeezes and he snorts as he leans his head against McCree's shoulder.]

Were pretty? Am I hideous now? [He isn't serious, though his tone might be hard to read.]

[ McCree kisses Hanzo's hair; murmurs. ]

Naw. Now you're gorgeous.

[It's not something he isn't aware of. If anything, he preens a little, smiling faintly.]

I thought you were handsome.

[He turns his head, nudging his nose against Jesse's jawline.] Suppose you're all right now. Scruffy as you are.

[ Ah, that feels good. He shuts his eyes, squeezing Hanzo's hand. ]

Oh, yeah? That's mighty gracious of you.

You were a little more well groomed back then.

[With his free hand, he reaches up slowly, letting out a sigh as he gently scratches Jesse's chin and jawline through his beard.]

Hmm. I don't think I'm so bad now.

[ He leans in to the touch as he opens one eye, smirking. ]

I'm rugged.

Is that what it is called now?

[Hanzo curls his fingers around the side of his jaw, tugging him down enough so that he can kiss Jesse. It's brief, but the softness is there, different than how he normally bites and demands.]

I like you as you are. [Less teasing, more sincerely spoken.]

Yep. That's the scientific term.

[ He drawls the word, drawing out its syllables. But the kiss chases off any smugness in his tone or expression; he's surprised by the gentleness in it, the restraint. Like the kiss from earlier, it's unusual. Warm in a way that Hanzo hasn't been before.

Jesse rubs his neck, feeling it heat up with a red flush.]

You're bein' real sweet right now, y'know.

Hmm.

[He lets out a breath and closes his eyes, resting his head against McCree's shoulder again. A wry smile forms at the edges of Hanzo's lips.]

I can stop, if it is a problem.

[ He slides a hand to the small of Hanzo's back. Starts massaging, gently.

Jesse murmurs. ]

Now, I didn't say that. Don't go puttin' words in my mouth.

[That earns a small, pleased rumble from Hanzo.]

Then you like it.

[ He makes circles against Hanzo's lower back with his thumb, he sighs against Hanzo's hair. Then, he pulls away, slightly, just enough so that he can bend to kiss Hanzo's neck and reply, hotly, against the other man's skin. ]

Sweetheart, I like everything you do.

[A huff of air escapes him, his chin tipping back when he feels the hot breath and mouth against his throat.]

Hmph, easy to please, then.

[He grins to himself, reaching up to scratch at the back of McCree's head.]

Careful, cowboy.

That's me. Takin' what I can get.

[ He keeps pressing kisses along Hanzo's throat, nipping lightly with his teeth as he goes. His grip on Hanzo's back tightens. ]

Objections?

[A shudder escapes him and he thinks about it. Not for long, not with how McCree continues to spread his affection over his neck.

Hanzo eventually growls out:] None.

Give me whatever it is you wish to, Jesse.

[ McCree looks up at Hanzo for just a moment, his brown eyes dark with intention. He keeps that hand on Hanzo's back where it is, but he presses the other one--the good one--flat against Hanzo's chest. Pushes him down flat on the bed. ]

You got it.

[ He leans over Hanzo, kisses him hard. It's more forceful than in the past, more insistent. His teeth scrape at Hanzo's bottom lip. ]

[Such is a difference, McCree's mouth more demanding than he'd ever been. It's sobering, which is convenient since that's precisely what Hanzo needs at the moment.

Usually, he's demanding control, even with Jesse -- biting and ordering, asserting himself.

But it's not something he always must do. With hesitance, he relieves himself of that mindset for now, opening his mouth and pressing back into the kiss, touching the side of Jesse's face.]

EVENT ★ BACK TO THE FUTURE

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