MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

[futurologists]

WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY The temporal insects have all either been squished or hopped into another dimension and all of Oska's inhabitants have gone back to their (relatively) normal selves. However, they didn't leave before chewing through some of the rift magitek, causing the new arrivals to end up in a slightly less safe place than the castle. The new Audentes recruits are dropped right at the edge of this pocket universe in the untamed forest. It's easy to lose your way in here, and to make it even harder, it's dark and storming. Going off without a buddy or two isn't recommended; you may walk in circles for hours. Meanwhile, a select few recruits receive a frantic message from Dagny begging for their help in locating these members and bringing them safely home, promising a reward in return. The forest is home to a whole host of unusual creatures, some friendly, some not. While you're avoiding a run-in with them, you'll also have to be careful not to step into the pockets of distorted reality left behind in the temporal insects' wake. Each pocket seems to be from the time before Oska was ALASTAIR's HQ, when it was still just a crumbling universe. The feelings and sensations are vivid; the earthquakes feel very real, as does the falling debris, so watch your head. When everyone has returned safely to the castle, Dagny will be waiting with the promised rewards. Each established recruit who participated in the rescue and all the newcomers will receive two bracelets, both made of a thin gold chain, and the instructions to give the extra to somebody close to them to tighten their bond. OOC NOTES Established recruits are entrusted with diving into the forest and bringing the newbies back to safety. Once they have, everyone is welcome to get situated in Oska until the next mission starts. Characters aren't required to give their second bracelet away, but those who do (or have their bracelet stolen/lost/found) will find that the moment both bracelets are slipped on, they'll share a significant memory of theirs with the other wearer and vice versa. This is a one-time effect and will not work after the first time, even with different wearers. Please note again that this log occurs after the temporal bugs have been cleared out. Due to the OOC extension of the previous event as well as this mini-event, the IC time between the bug extermination and the start of the mission has been extended past the 24 hours stated in the dossier to around half a week. As a reminder, this log is open to newcomers and those who signed up on the OOC post only.

Comments

[strictdiscipline]

[Ugh, fine. She'll skirt through the field of cuttlefox but she won't be happy about it, lips twisting downward into a scowl.

There's a thick coating of slime all over her boots by the time she's done, plus two additional scratches from a slimy friend with enough daring to swipe out one tentacle-paw in her general direction. All surface wounds though, and none severe enough to keep her from pressing onward. She makes it through just as the ground fizzles out of existence behind her, though it's hard to tell with mist starting to swirl through the trees in this new pocket of reality.

Thank goodness for her doggie companion and his sense of smell, far more useful than her feeble human eyes. His paws move forward as he sniffs unceasingly at ground, leaves, and shrubs all in his path. It's a bit of a trek, over a fallen oak centuries of years old and through a small flock of zebra-pigeons, but the journey culminates in Hayate leading them straight to—]




[(—probably another rock.)]

[riastraid]

[ Thankfully, it's the same rock. And its owner, who greets Hayate with a welcoming pair of hands, immediately picking him up for a face-to-face greeting. ]

Oof—someone's put on a couple'a pounds, hm?

[ But Lancer still lifts him like a puppy, grinning despite the fact that the sky is dumping a season's worth of rain on them. And thanks to Riza doing all the legwork, he's slime-free and unharmed. Thanks, Riza. With that, the runic stone finally clatters to a stop, and Lancer turns his attention to her for a tearful reunion. ]

I meant Hayate. [ just to be clear. ] You look good... mostly.

[ Cue a pointed (if not way too amused) look towards her boots. ]

[strictdiscipline]

[If there's water on her face, it's because of the torrential downpour and not because of any particular wellspring of emotion bubbling up within her. Plenty of surprise, to be certain, mixed with a healthy dose of uncertainty, but he is still more friend than anything else and that above all else is what leads her chin to lower in relief and the lines running through the rest of her body to relax.

Never fear though, Hayate has happiness covered by a long mile, tail tick-tocking furiously back and forth as he squirms happily in Lancer's hands.

Being a dog is so much easier than being a person.]

I could say the same to you.

[By which she means, thanks but no thanks, we both know we look like absolute disasters in the rain. And while rain is hardly a large deterrent to either of them - unlike certain other men she knows - she would still like to get out of it sooner rather than later.]

I take it you haven't managed to find your way out of here?

[Hence, the rock.]

[riastraid]

[ Not even on this plane of reality and getting shit on, sorry, Roy.

Anyway—why did he have to be incarnated like this, why couldn't he have been an actual dog with happiness dialed up to 11 over nothing. Except he looks pretty damn pleased himself, only softening his grin as he puts Hayate down. He trades him for the now inanimate stone, popping it up into the air and catching it again. ]

Yeah, this was supposed to figure that out for me. [ So this was its idea of a solution. ] Must've decided we should meet. Or... maybe fate brought us together—? [ Sarcasm. Not to be mistaken for a pickup line (probably). Much as he would like to strike up some friendly banter, probably best to get a move on first. ] In any case, you can rescue me now.

[strictdiscipline]

[Ha ha, charming as ever. Good thing she doesn't believe in fate.]

You don't strike me as a particularly helpless maiden in need of rescuing.

[Not enough frilly lace, for one. But her unimpressed look only lasts a brief moment before she's turning on her heel to peer through the rain-drenched and mist-covered trees surrounding them. Dagny had asked for her assistance, and at her core Riza is still a woman of her word.

Her (comparatively) weak human senses don't provide much enlightenment in their not very light times, but her magitek tracking shows them as being somewhat northeast of the castle. Those suspicions are confirmed by Hayate, who once again proves his worth by climbing over rock and through nearby shrub to point at their route back.]

This way then.

[riastraid]

[ Who needs runes when they've got the best dog?? He lets Hayate do the brunt of the work and saves his magic for another day, trotting into place beside Riza with a fake sigh. ]

My girlish figure needs some work.

[ But even if he's not in dire need of being princess-carried to the nearest castle, he's happy with who showed up. Which he demonstrates after about two whole seconds of walking, ignoring any possible threats ahead to cut ahead of her with his best Roguish Smile and a very serious, ambush question. ]

So—! D'you miss me?

[strictdiscipline]

[Aren't they supposed to be friends....friends don't ambush other friends like this, traitor.

Her steps pause, and Riza narrows her eyes suspicious at the introduction of this particular topic out of the blue. (Hah, blue, get it.)]

Does it matter what my answer is?

[She's seen very little that's altered his expression away from the default carefree grin. Surely the feelings of a mere coworker shouldn't affect him in the least. But for all that she keeps her expression composed, the words spoken are the biggest giveaway - she wouldn't reply back with a question if the answer weren't at least slightly in the affirmative.]

[riastraid]

[ Don't hate, being dickish is a tried and true sign of friendship. As is being able to read between the finer lines; he's been gone a while, but Riza's mannerisms are comfortably familiar.

...And it's all the more reason to press the question instead of flitting away to another topic. ]

Of course. [ He's hurt, casting an affronted hand over his chest. ] Would I ask if it didn't?

[ Probably, yes. But that shouldn't count against him. ]

i hate honesty hour

[strictdiscipline]

[Like pulling on a girl's pigtails to show romantic interest? Truly, the patriarchy is terrible. She eyeballs him another moment, unimpressed, before she resumes walking again.]

You do many things that don't always make sense.

[Much to her chagrin. But fine, if he wants an honest answer she can give him one.] But I did. You were a friend. You still are.

[She's not that cold-hearted.]

gurgles..... i'm sorry

[riastraid]

[ Does he know she doesn't actually have a tundra where her heart should be? Naturally. Was he wheedling her for an honest answer? Yes. Was he actually expecting one? No, because he's an idiot, and it catches him off-guard. He startles slightly, one step made too wide and sloppily fixed by the next. Friendships and camaraderie were easy to him, so much so that it seemed flippant. Carelessly dealt, maybe.

But Lancer felt gains and losses as strongly as anyone does. Of course he's touched. He catches up to her, old nostalgia and cheer driving him to greet Riza in earnest this time, as he would with the closest of his knights after a long departure. As with Naoise in Alba, like Ferdiad at the ford, he tosses an arm around her neck and shares a grateful kiss for their reunion.

Then, before long, he pulls back to casually draping over her shoulders, words warm and open as flame. ]

Same to you, of course.

i really don't think you're sorry at all

[strictdiscipline]

[It's her turn to stumble and nearly fall this time, caught completely unawares by this sudden display of affection. (Lancer's both enemy and hero in this scenario, steadying arm around her shoulders the only thing that saves her from landing facefirst in the mud and consuming an early dinner of sticks and leaves.)]

I—

[—what, missed you? Too forward, too open, and besides she's already said the exact same words in a slightly different order. Truly the sign of an addled mind, repetition. Color crawls up her neck and across her cheeks at the thought, and she's suddenly very grateful for the darkness of the forest. But she doesn't pull away immediately, instead letting her shoulders relax and relishing the moment for just a little bit longer.]

I think we should get you back to the castle first.

[Preferably before either of them get any more covered in goop and incessant rainwater.]