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

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[moneyballer]

[Still, Asher remains wary.

Maybe this was the reason why Hanzo was so hesitant to accept any praise or kindness even during their first conversation, as the guilt of his actions is still seated in the in the rigidity of his jaw.]

If you killed him, how is he here?

[There's distance between them now, a good deal, but Asher isn't ready to run just yet.]

Is he from before?

[whatshimadayou]

I do not know, entirely, how he survived. But I know that his life was saved. He was... reconstructed. Most of him is synthetic now.

[He looks away.]

Speak with him, should you wish. Whether he is alive or not does not change the original action. That I did attempt to kill him, that I thought I had for a long time.

[moneyballer]

[None of this makes sense.

Asher wracks his brain for a plausible explanation- Hanzo had mentioned something about being a killer for hire before. Maybe his employers had pressured him to do it, maybe he had no choice in the matter...

In any other circumstance, he would walk away. But Hanzo's slight has touched on something a little deeper, a little closer to home, although it might not be quite so extreme.]

Does he forgive you?

[Asher makes eye contact briefly, his gaze more accusatory than anything else.]

[whatshimadayou]

[Always the inevitable question. Slowly, his heart sinks further, and he sighs when their eyes meet. Hanzo's brows knit, as if he's reluctant to speak.

Eventually, his shoulders slump and he nods.]

Yes.

Despite everything, he has forgiven me.

[moneyballer]

[Asher looks more than just a little surprised, almost slighted.

Family or not, he's not sure he would ever forgive an outright attempt on his life, but the circumstances for Hanzo are vastly different. He was a hitman or something of the sort, and maybe there were people threatening to have them both offed if the deal wasn't followed through.

Still, Asher will need some time to process all of this.

It does change a few of his opinions.]

It's over then.

Your balls are in his court now, bro.

[wH Y

WHY MUST U PHRASE IT LIKE THAT THIS IS SRS???]

[whatshimadayou]

[Telling Asher in this moment was difficult, and he had excepted more reprimand. A part of him yearned for it, actually.

The intent can be seen, but the words ruin the profoundness of Asher's tone.

Hanzo squints at him.]

I... suppose.

[He's not... wrong??]

[moneyballer]

You're lucky.

[Reproach is there within his words, subtle as it may be.

Asher's typically goofy countenance is nowhere to be seen as the silence passes between them, evident in how he glowers back.]

If it'd been me, I probably would have never let you off the hook.

[The lingering cloud of judgement soon gives way to something else, however. Out of all his classmates, he is definitely the worst liar, because no matter how hard he tries to pull it back his heart will forever remain on his sleeve, exposed and tender.]

Your brother... He must really love you.

[What is that like?

Asher wishes he knew.]