(open) mission: hit the beach

[aithinkthereforeaiam]

Date & Time: July 18th-24th, Exsilium Time
Location: Sea Shore during the Late Cretaceous Period
Characters: All! Oh those pesky mandatory missions.
Summary: In lieu of the success of the space shuttle's test flight, all of the Transports have been sent back to the Cretaceous period to gather mineral supplies and volcanic rock, while doubling as a sort of 'vacation' and chance to get Transports out of the Initiative's hair. With well stocked supplies, camping gear, and more burlap sacks than anyone could possibly ever use, the Transports have been set under a protective dome and told to collect what they can... and to enjoy the sunshine.
Warnings: Shenanigans!

The overflow log can be found HERE!

It's almost surreal, the quality of color, of light, of oxygen saturation in the air once people arrive. It's so rich that the Initiative sent people back with respirators, to help ease the transition, and warned those who would listen about the effects of too much oxygen on a system.

What they don't warn for is the sheer alien familiarity of the landscape, the warmth, the roughness of the sand on the beaches. This is not the fine, sandy beaches out of vacation dreams, but a rougher, larger granule sort, with shells that might be recognizeable as ancestors to ones those from Earth would remember washing up on familiar beaches, millions of years later.

Most striking is the lack of abundant wildlife found among the fronds and leaves and foliage, or underneath the surface of the saltier, much warmer waters extending off the beach. While acting as a permeable membrane to oxygen and water, along with the sorts of phytoplankton that kept sea creatures alive, all the larger animals had been pushed out by the Initiative's installment of the safety dome. Along the transparent walls, curious creatures would come close, peer in, tap against the barrier and run off if frightened, but very few were found inside at any size larger than that of a house cat. It was for the better in the long run.

Too bad that the Initiative didn't have ultra-violet blocking technology in their shielding. For all the atmosphere is in much better shape millions of years in the past, the sun is as strong as ever, and the unwary will be burned through and through if they're not careful.

Comments

Elliot Nightray | ota

[nobleminded]

[A- Away from the beach]

[It didn't take Elliot long to decide what he was going to focus on in this mission. At the first glimpse of the beach, he quickly decided that a respectable person should NOT be seen anywhere near. As menial as collecting rocks sounded, it was certainly better than that den of depravity.

But despite being away from the beach, it was still pretty hot and Elliot was still dressed as formally as he had been able to manage with the resources in Exsilium. The heat is definitely getting to him, seeing as his face is already an odd shade of red and he's sweating profusely. But if picking up rocks is somehow going to help people, then it's his duty as a noble to see it through!

...Even if he's starting to feel a little dizzy...]

[B- on the beach]

[Sooner or later Elliot will learn what exactly "heat stroke" and "heat exhaustion" are.

For now, he's staying as far away from the main area of action on the beach, looking completely mortified. He is now in a pair of swimming trunks and a tank top, but from the look on his face he may as well be naked. As well as everyone else on the beach. Which you may or may not hear about if you talk to him.

Still, it's a beach! He should be having fun, right? Because he obviously isn't.]

a

[whatsupcroc]

( Collette is slowly getting the knack for how to drive this ATV, which mostly means her stops and starts are getting less jerky. She still goes woah when she stops, but that's just reactive, she swears!

For the sake of Elliot's nerves, she's as practically naked as half the rest, stripped down to a bikini top and tie-on pants, hair pulled back with a bit of twine. She's long since ditched her helmet, finding it way too hot, and she's compensated by going slower overall. She spots Elliot -- someone who looks familiar -- and grins, about to call out a friendly hello when she sees him sway. )

Hey, Elliot! Are you doing okay?

( She drives the ATV closer, going slow, tendrils of windblown hair falling down around her face, teased by the wind coming in off the water. )

[nobleminded]

[Elliot doesn't immediately look at her despite the clamor she's making. Obviously anyone with anything that loud is just seeking attention and he doesn't want to humor that behavior. He recognizes her voice, too.]

I'm fine! What are you...?

[Before he can question the ATV, he finally looks at her and his eyes go wide while his face somehow turns even more red. With the shock in his already weakened state, he loses his balance and falls backwards in a seated position.]

WHY AREN'T YOU WEARING ANYTHING?!

[crocodilesmiles]

( Collette glances down in a hurry, pre-emptively blushing, because what if her top had come off and she hadn't noticed?

Only it's well in place, double knotted before tied into bows, a lesson learned after the Lavi debacle. )

Ahaha, hey, don't scare a girl like that! For a moment I was worried I didn't have my bathingsuit top on!

( So she can dismiss that and look down over at him in concern. )

You totally don't look okay. Have you had water? Do you feel hot? Your face is super red, you should get out of this heat like, pronto, buster!

[nobleminded]

THAT DOESN'T COUNT! IT'S LESS THAN A TYPICAL UNDERGARMENT, RIGHT?!

[And hopefully she ignores the fact that even yelling a little seems to be taking up a lot of his energy, since he needs to catch his breath before he continues.]

This is nothing! We're supposed to be searching and there's little else here!

[crocodilesmiles]

Uh... nope! It's pretty much the same as a normal undergarment. Only it's not see-through when you get wet and it gives you better tan lines.

( She'd been informed of the latter by Annie, several times.

She does see him catch his breath, differently than how he usually is on tablet. )

You're out at the water, it's not that surprising -- hey, Elliot, have you had any water today? How long have you been out here in the sun?

[nobleminded]

S-See-through when-?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE NORMALLY WEARING?!

No! And I've been searching since shortly after we arrived here, of course!

[crocodilesmiles]

( His outrage is really a step away from adorably hilarious, and she's not the best person in the world -- she stifles laughter into her hand, pulling hard on concern to ignore the dramatics. )

Underwear, duh.

( with how he says he's been looking for water, she... wait, no way )

Please don't say you've been looking for a stream! Hahaha oh man, there are two at least, but they're not great to drink from this close to the sea! Here, look.

( She reaches for her canteen, offering it out to Elliot once she gets it unhooked from its place on the back of her ATV. )

Here, it's probably still cool, if not cold like early this morning.

[nobleminded]

[Am I doin this rite?]

b

[concealingeyes]

[While collecting shells, Kido spots her good old stuffy tsundere buddy. And he looks pretty upset over this. Somehow she's managing in her hoodie with just some shorts.]

...Oi, Elliot. You'll burn up if you just sit there.

[nobleminded]

[He does appreciate her being modest, though the shorts are still off-putting. Still, he feels like he's seen every part of enough women today that it's not bugging him so much.]

Where am I supposed to go?! I don't have my clothes!

[concealingeyes]

[On the bright side, Elliot is pretty familiar with Kido's body anyway...]

Huh? Did someone drag you into that? It's weird seeing you looking less stuffy.

[nobleminded]

[HE LOOKED AS LITTLE AS HE POSSIBLY COULD, OKAY?]

They're not stuffy, they're appropriate! Obviously that doesn't matter to anyone here! [And just take the implied "Yes, someone did," he's too annoyed to admit to passing out on his own.]

A!

[imperfect]

[Ed is on the lookout for the right kinds of rocks, not unfamiliar idiots who appear to be prioritising their fashion sense over any kind of survival instinct, but even so he has to stop and gawk for a moment. He's wearing a long-sleeved shirt, thick trousers and gloves, and this guy is making him feel underdressed.]

Hey, you know... if you just took a layer off and put it down somewhere, I don't think anyone here would care enough to run off with it. [He gestures vaguely in the direction of the beach.]

[nobleminded]

[Elliot looks at him and scowls. Oh, it's that guy who was so irresponsibly trying to hand out milk.]

I would care! I have to remain presentable in public! That's one of the duties of a member of a dukedom!

[So is ignoring the fact that the ground is spinning...]

[imperfect]

[Ed doesn't look terribly impressed as is, so god forbid he find out that someone thought of him as "that guy with the milk". He rolls his eyes.] Like anyone gives a damn about that here. And I said a layer. Unless all of your other duties involve passing out.

[nobleminded]

I JUST SAID THAT I GIVE A DAMN! And that obviously isn't a duty! [He just had Chain-induced PTSD before...] I can endure this!

[He takes a step and by COMPLETE HAPPENSTANCE stumbles a little. But he's still standing, so he's good.]

[imperfect]

[here!]