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

it's love

[riastraid]

[ Fortunately(?), she has survived this harrowing experience. He's less personally affected, more focused on making sure neither of them faceplant into the mud, but he soon follows her gaze around. Hats first, supernatural explanations probably never. ]

Well then, we better get it back.

[ Thanks to being GROSSLY OP, he spots it quickly—a dark blot up the hill, only occasionally shifted by the rain and mud. Out in the open and perfectly safe from further disaster, probably. He squints and taps her shoulder. ]

That it?

[ So far, so good. ]

oh i guess that's okay

[cachemoney]

[Wow, good eye, possibly-magic and/or cyborg dude (it's the red eyes). She turns to look, and yes, that is her hat! Unless it's someone else's identical hat, which would be really coincidental, but she's not about to let coincidence stop her when hats are on the line.]

Oh! Yeah, probably. [She pats him on the shoulder like, thanks bro, because she's a Cool Chick™, and starts off toward the hat in a slow jog. Whatever, she'll deal with this (she presumes) newbie in a minute. Priorities.

But then a gust of wind happens and off goes her hat into the air.] Oh, my god -- don't you dare! [The casual jog quickly turns into a sprint as she tries to make it there before her hat is lost forever, but she just slips and slams her face in the mud instead. Again.]

◡‿◡

[riastraid]

[ Wow, what a Cool and Hip exchange. Lancer's already swept off his feet, they should get married—whenever she manages to go five minutes without faceplanting, that is.

For now, he's too late to dive and take the fall for her or anything. Why try!! Instead, he helpfully watches the hat as it's gusted into the nearby treeline, disturbing a resting flock of birds and whatever else. ]

Not your day, huh? Here— [ He pulls off his (relatively clean) jacket, passing it to her whenever she decides to find her footing, in case she wants to wipe up her new mud mask. His free hand jabs a thumb over his shoulder in the right general direction. ] Still wanna go after it? I'm sure it was a real special hat, but... [ ur havin some terrain issues bro ]

[cachemoney]

[SHE'S USUALLY NOT THIS CLUMSY, it's all the mud. Mud is not a Thing on Pandora, don't judge her until you see her, like... gracefully running around on sand, I guess. She considers just lying there until she dies, that is a real option, but eventually she props herself up on her elbows and... slowly... climbs to her feet.

Grabbing his jacket, she mumbles,] Thanks, [and swipes at her face with it. There's still a lot of mud left over, but at least she can see now. Brow quirking, she hands the jacket back, in case he wants a bunch of free mud.]

It was a gift. I guess. From ALASTAIR. [She pauses.] Yooouuu probably don't know what that means, uh... okay, this is going to be confusing, but --

[riastraid]

[ Okay, once they get to a deserted wasteland (soon), she can be all elegant and shit. For now, he'll just take that jacket back and leave it draped over a shoulder. He's definitely going to lose it, but whatever. There'll be other jackets at the castle.

Which he already knows about, and while really very sweet and helpful, it's not another lecture he wants to sit though. He peers off before interrupting, waving vaguely. ]

Oh, hey. Is that a... troll walking off with your stuff? I think it is.

[ A classic 'look at that over there' ploy, but also the truth. Or is it a gnome? Some squat shadowy blob with a comparatively tiny hat? ]

[cachemoney]

[Oh. Of course it is.

She whips her head around to look, and yep, that is definitely some kind of... creature... with her hat, this is a brand-new, fancy hat, she doesn't need this kind of situation in her life.] Are you kidding me.

[She lifts her foot like she's going to make another dash toward it, then thinks better and... very... cautiously... steps down to. Quickly power-walk toward the thing. She glances over her shoulder, like why aren't you helping.] Well? Come on. [This is your problem now, too.]

[riastraid]

[ There are other hats in the world. Hats less abused by the elements, perfectly happy hats looking for their forever home. But if Fiona really wants this particular one back, it's fine. He has conditions. ]

Sure. [ He sounds pretty upbeat for a guy who's been dragged—unfairly!!—into a fetch quest. ] But if I get to it first, I'm keepin' it.

[ And he starts out at a jog, so she might wanna step it up. ]

[cachemoney]

[Keeping it, excuse you!! That is her hat, she received it fair and square! For whatever reason! Far be it from her to look a gift-bodysnatcher in the mouth.

Fiona makes an offended sound, partly at his audacity but also because of how he can move that quickly without face-planting into the mud. Rude. Gritting her teeth, she follows -- maybe if she doesn't haul off and sprint this time, she won't trip all over herself. So far, so good.]

That is-- not fair, I don't agree to that! I am not agreeing to that.

[riastraid]

[ Hey, maybe he too wants a jaunty hat from their mysterious HR benefactor. Or maybe they're more likely to actually catch up to the thing if they pick up the pace a little. Probably a little of column A, little of B, added bonus C that it's funny to see her get frustrated. He does a poor job hiding a creeping, lopsided smile as he talks over his shoulder. ]

What are you gonna do about it? Chase me down?

[ Look at that, they're almost at the treeline. Baby's first jog through the elements. The mossy peat and brush aren't slip-free, but maybe they'll provide a little more traction than watery dirt. ]

You don't know—maybe it'll look better on me.

[cachemoney]

[Chase me down, ohhh, my god. Why is her life dealing with douchey, smug boys? She's gonna get the hat first and then hit him with it.

Once they make it off the mud, Fiona gets her footing a little better, feeling confident enough to pick up the pace. She's one of those chicks who can run in heels, someone to be Feared, quickly matching his speed.] With your bone structure? [She shoots him a sideways glance; it's a slightly mean, competitive little smile.] I don't think so.

theresa vs html

[riastraid]

[ Smacking him upside the head with piece of fabric, Fearsome. His grin turns sly as they come up on a clearing. ]

I won't keep you speculating.

[ Get it, because he's gonna win?? Sucks to suck, Fiona. The troll is finally in earshot, and it's... large. But it's also dim and lumbers slowly, covered in lichen like barnacles and one tiny hat. It's dapper enough that he almost feels bad about lobbing a rock at its head to catch its attention, though he does it anyway. ]

Hey! Over here, ugly.

oh my god did i make it worse somehow, why

[cachemoney]

[She stops at the clearing, taking a second to catch her breath as she squints through the rain at... whatever this thing is. A troll, sure, it can be a troll. It's not like it's the weirdest thing she's seen lately. She's about to do -- something, she's not sure what, but then he takes initiative annnnd.

Oh, he threw a rock. Okay.]

Is that your plan? Oh, my god. [There's not a lot of time to bitch about it, though, because the troll apparently finds this very Rude and immediately starts charging toward them. Fiona should probably take this as a cue to turn around and head in the other direction, but goddammit, she wants her hat back, so instead she runs toward the thing, using some nearby, conveniently ascending rocks to get some height before launching herself at it, the momentum sending her foot right at its face.]