epidemiology | MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No it's- EEP! [she wasn't expecting that sudden drop and she digs her hands- mercifully free of fingernails, but she's still definitely pulling hair- into his scalp to maintain her hold.] Watch it, you clod!

[is that any way to talk to someone who is helping you not die? absolutely not. insult first, apologize later, that's Peridot's motto.

she waves her hands again and the earring is back in view, hovering in the middle of the flock of swiders. Peridot wiggles her fingers and it begins vibrating back in forth like an annoying metal insect, ramming hard into the sides of the climbing feathery and leggy monstrosities and making them attack one another in confusion- probably because they believe there's some shoving afoot and not the machinations of a maniacal metal manipulator. Satisfied that she's disoriented them into turning on each other, she flails her hands upwards and the earring returns to her palm.]

There. I've successfully driven them to anarchy.

[ While mullets deserve to be punished, he's a good person who's suffered so much. Why the ears. Why the hair. Why this little green ogre that insists on hurting him at every turn. After a displeased yowl, he's snatching his jewelry back with a grimace. His previous encouragement evaporates with one too many hair tugs. ]

Woooow. [ insert golf clap ] Not bad for a gremlin.

[ But he does peel her off his shoulders to carry her properly, hopping down onto one of the distracted swiders and straight off into a clearing. It's a graceful enough descent and escape, given that the monsters are all too busy hissing and quacking at each other. Once the noise dies down, he lets out a worldweary sigh.

Dry as a desert: ]

Well, that was fun.

I'm a gem. [because she has to correct this... gremlin word he just used. how dare someone be incorrect in the presence of their rescuer, even if he's the one doing the actual escape part. she's grateful enough for that that she actually shuts up until they're far enough away that she feels as safe as she can in the middle of unfamiliar territory.]

I question your definition of "fun," because I found that horrible

[she's still working on sarcasm.]

[ Gem and gremlin aren't mutually exclusive for him, probably because he doesn't really understand either of them. But he's at least it's not wholly unfamiliar. ]

Oh, another one. [ Pearl'd been transferred a while back, but she was all right in his book. A bit stiff, though. ] Do any of you guys come with a sense of humor?

[ Also, he's going to—very unceremoniously and with no warning—drop her now. Escape, complete! Good job, team. ]

I'll have you know, I'm very funny. [and then he drops her and she makes a series of unfortunate noises, which... are sort of hilarious, but not in the way she would prefer to be funny. She scrambles back to her feet to try to reclaim some of her dignity.

And then it hits her- the full weight of his words- and she looks briefly panicked, because of the implications.] Why? Are there other gems here? Are they from Homeworld?

[SQUEAK]

[ Those sure are some words he doesn't know the context for. He mostly ignores them in favor of putting his earrings back in, though it's hard to miss the thing string of panic. ]

Why's it got you worried?

[ They just escaped a flock of arachnid birds, that's practically Hitchcock. Surely nothing could faze her now. ]

Because I'm a traitor to my Homeworld! They'll shatter me for sure if they find me.

[she might have been wrong about being a Big Anti-Homeworld Deal who was worth shattering personally, though she won't admit that to anyone, least of all herself, but all logic dictates that she'd still be shattered if a higher-up ever had the chance to.]

[ Traitor. Unfortunate buzzword. His demeanor shifts subtly, from laidback to dismissive. ]

And why shouldn't they?

[ Betrayal means payback twice over. ]

[she may have the unfortunate distinction of having high intelligence and low wisdom, but she picks up on that and sort of slowly takes a step back, while still trying to maintain some higher ground about her moral superiority. only peridot can combine cowardice with bravery and achieve some kind of result.]

Because my- because Yellow Diamond showed her hand and proved herself petty and illogical! I couldn't continue to serve her if she was willing to destroy a planet with so much potential for no reason.

[ It's hard to know the right line to draw when it comes to following orders. Defection and betrayal are nuanced things, and to a more reasonable person, her argument would probably strike a stronger chord.

But it's hard to say if he sympathizes, expression barely shifting besides a slightly raised brow. After a moment, he exhales out in an exasperated puff. ]

Well, don't expect them to show you any mercy if you ever get back.

[ extremely chipper forecast aside.....!! ]

But you don't gotta worry about that here. My name's Lancer—if you run into trouble, holler.

[ Regardless of their pasts, they're now freshly minted teammates. So he'll offer a hand... sometimes. ]

I know that.

[she huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, trying to look dissatisfied when really all she wants to do is shake and cry and scream about the idea that Yellow Diamond might find her and shatter her.

that's the one benefit to being in this horrible place- maybe she really can't find her here.] Peridot. [a beat] ...Can you at least take me somewhere out of this... rain?

[ Well, better angry or irritated than scared—that's a good coping mechanism thinks Lancer, a guy who got himself violently murdered in his 20s.

But all that aside, they really have been soaking up water for a while now, and it looks like the path's clear of bird-bug hybrids. So he starts off in a direction and hopes for the best, expecting his new companion to follow because there's not much other option. And also because he's great company. ]

If the castle's where I remember it being... [ bear with him, it's been a while. ] Let's get moving.

MINI-EVENT ★ WELCOME/RESCUE PARTY

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gently wraps up!