(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

sososo sorry if this is lame ;;

[onemistress]

[ Excuse her Elizabeth is staring, because she can't get used to how people just seem to swim here. They seem so at ease with it. Like they weren't scarred of the water and the monstrous creatures that lurked in the depths there of. Her brightly coloured skirts pulled up in one hand, and her shoes and stockings held in the other as she stood ankle deep in the water, a desperate attempt to keep cool in weather her heavy dresses were not made for.

Mostly there seemed to be a rhythm to it, her other issues pushed aside for a moment as she observed. That itself was fascinating, and whoever that... red hair belonged to seemed to be rather proficient at it. Her head tilted the other way looking at other swimmers, her plait of red hair swinging for a moment. Most of them did, even enjoyed it. Really when did anyone learn to embrace such activities? Not even sailors knew how to swim from the few she'd met. ]

it's fine!

[recorden]

[ The water is saltier and warmer than any he's used to and experienced before, but it only takes a little while for him to get comfortable in it. Lavi's nothing if not adaptable and within moments he's right at home, swimming around without a care. (It's fine as long as he keeps his mouth and eye shut.) Although warm, the water still goes a long way to help keep cool and the feeling of freedom it provides ensures that Lavi will be sticking to it for a while.

He knows he's being stared at, he can feel it, but he pretends not to notice. It's when she finally looks away that Lavi disappears underwater—

Only to suddenly resurface right beside her. ]

Enjoyin' the sights?

[onemistress]

[ There were not a great deal of things that scared Elizabeth all that often. A child raised in court was hard to even make look startled at the best of times.

But she was too nervous near the water to start with, skittish even -- and his head popping out of the water like that gave her a right start. She skittered back immediately, half tripping with the effort. Once she calmed down to realise that it was not a sea monster or even a cunning assassin, her hand went over her heart as if to stop its rapid beating and find her words. ]

Forgive me sir, I meant no offence but you were certainly a sight to me. [ and she had been staring so. Perhaps it was easier to pretend to be a simple lady, it at least excused her clumsy words. ] for it is a sight indeed to see so many take to water in such a fashion.

[recorden]

[ He watches her reaction with interest and an air of amusement, though not mean-spirited. It's been a while (or it feels like it anyway) that he's pulled the randomly appearing act on someone and although this wasn't quite like usual, it's still good to see that reactions to it hadn't changed. She's an interesting sight to behold to start with, with a dress like that.

When she recovers and speaks, the mildly curious and amused expression on his face is quickly replaced by an easygoing smile as he rises to his feet. ]

It's fine, it's fine! [ A dismissive gesture. As if he'd ever be bothered by a lovely lady watching him. ]

People don't swim where you're from?

[onemistress]

[ The only other person she knew that was so proficient at creepy about was Walsingham. But quite obviously this boy was nothing like him at all, but it was that same eerie feeling.

Thankfully she recovered quickly from it, giving him the briefest of smiles. ]

No sir, not in my England. Water can carry away souls. Or so it is thought. [ But apparently not. ] And even if they could, I doubt many ladies of much standing would... be inclined to dress as many do here to partake in such activities.

[recorden]

[ He's sufficiently pinged by the mention of England and what she says, as well as her dress, are easy to place now as her being from past England. Or a past England anyway. It makes his smile widen a little as he shakes his head. ]

That's just a silly story. The water's fine! [ As if to make a point, he's taking a few steps backwards into the water. ]

It feels great, you should try it.

[onemistress]

Silly? It is what the explorers of the New World say... [ she's frowning. Really she tried with this whole new time and all the things she thought she knew.

Turns out sugar was apparently bad for you. Who knew?

All the same she gives him a plain dubious look as he steps back. ] I cannot swim sir, it was why I took to watching you, as you seemed rather proficient with the art ... [ and then she looked down at herself, rather pointedly at her dress. ] ... Nor it would seem from what the others are attired in for such an occasion, something I am currently unfit to do. I am quite certain I would sink. [ And a smile tugged at her corner of her lips, bemused by the whole thing a little. ]

[recorden]

Water is life. Why would it carry souls away?

[ He poses the question with a cheeky grin before he shrugs, letting himself back into the water so he comes to float on his back. He turns himself around enough that he's still looking at her, upside-down. ]

Then I can teach ya! It's not that hard. You just gotta ditch the dress and you're set.

[ Is he just casually proposing that? Yes. Yes, he is. ]

wait ignore that this is one message I derped

[onemistress]

[ She just gave him a look for that. ] No doubt because one cannot breath it in. I find it seems rather contrary to do so.

[ Elizabeth is smug about that for all of a second before he goes and says that -- ]

I beg your pardon?

[ SCREECH.


ON SECOND THOUGHT NEVER MIND, NO, SHE'S GOING TO RING YOUR NECK. ]

In my England, you court a lady before you ask her to take her clothes off. [ Forgetting about drenching her skirts, she stepped forward enough to cup water in her hands and splash it on him. Then when they wasn't enough, kick it at him for good measure.

TAKE. THAT. ]

[recorden]

[ He'd argue (or rather, have some witty comeback), on both points, but that's a rather hard thing to accomplish when one finds themselves with a sudden faceful of salty water. The accidental inhaling of said water doesn't really help matters in the slightest.

There's some spluttering and a completely ungraceful flail to right himself again before he's turning on her with a vengeance.

Vengeance in the form of water being splashed back at her. RIGHT BACK ATCHA. ]

Well sorry, but ya can't exactly go swimming in that!

[onemistress]

[ Elizabeth is caught between laughing at him and being truly mad. Which it was easy enough to keep doing the first until he hit her in the face with water. Spluttering, she wiped it from where it stung her eyes and it seemed she couldn't stop laughing either. ]

You'd have to execute my father before you got me into what they wear swimming. [ Wiping away the water from her mouth as well, her mouth tasting awful from the salt. ] .... I see why they tell sailors to never drink this...

[recorden]

[ He's snickering himself, not an ounce of seriousness to be found. It's all in good fun to him and she's laughing herself, so that's that. ]

You're wearing a lighter dress under that, right? It should be fine!

[ That's how those dresses worked, right?? Frankly he has no idea, but oh well. ]

Of course, salt's only gonna make you thirstier.

[onemistress]

[ it was the most she had laughed even before she had come here. All the same she looked at him when her laughter faded with an eyebrow raised. Then down at herself, thinking on the three layers and corset she wore underneath, not to mention the fiddly nature of getting it on and off.

Which she night just be cruel all the same. ]

I can hardly get it off myself. You would have to help me. I cannot reach it all without it knotting terribly.

[ with that she gave a sad sigh, as if the world was just too hard some days. ]

[recorden]

[ Amusement never leaves Lavi's face even as he raises an eyebrow in return at her lament.

That's an easy thing to fix. ]

Well, for the sake of teaching, I don't mind helping.

[ There's a totally innocent smile to accompany the statement. For the sake of teaching, indeed. ]

[onemistress]

[ Privately she still wasn't completely sure she was alright with this. But the water did look lovely and she couldn't seem to cool down any other way. ]

Well then, teacher. [ she gestured him closer then, standing on the shore. Because she didn't buy that innocent smile, not even a little. ] You've got many ribbons to undo. [ she tugged at one that held her sleeve up, getting it half way undone. ]

[recorden]

[ Although he doesn't show it, he's somewhat surprised she seems to be agreeing. Then again, who could resist the water in this heat? It's also not every day one got to swim in an Cretaceous Period sea, but that might just be Lavi and his penchant for history.

He comes to her when she beckons him, moving behind her so he can look at the task at hand, which earns a low whistle. ]

So I see. How do you even get into this?

[ He asks quite casually as he reaches out to start undoing the ones she can't reach. ]

[onemistress]

[ Elizabeth stood still for him, going about the buttons on the front of the dress. ]

With maids, at least two of them. Currently? With great difficulty. I do half of it up so that I can reach it once it's on me. [ She pulled her hair out of the way. It could be worse, there was still her under dress that covered... mostly everything. It was at least cool. ] I cannot tell if its better or worse that I don't even know your name. All I can know of you so far is you are young, and quite probably too sure of yourself.

[recorden]

That's a lotta trouble to go through for a dress.

[ But maids, huh? Royalty or someone with a high status of some sort, then. A fact he files away as his fingers start working deftly to unlace the ribbons, not pausing even as her statement makes him laugh. ]

Nothing wrong with some confidence, yeah? It's Lavi, by the way.

[onemistress]

It is the price we pay for dressing well, and as long as your maids are loyal and skilled at what they do. [ She shrugged. It was normal to her, and simple as that. ] The Queen has five maids to dress her, and her whole household is at lowest twenty four ladies.

[ It was easy to speak of her Grandmother in such a way. Far off distant figure that she only knew through stories. ]

Lavi? [ Strange name, but she was getting used to those. ] La-vi. [ It was quietly repeated, the same way she fixed everyone's names to her mind, before Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder to look at him. ] Lady Victoria Guildford, lady in waiting to Her Majesty, Elizabeth of York. [ The lie was getting a smoothness as it fell from her lips, and she busied herself instead of dwelling on it by pulling off her bodice completely then. Just down to her corset and chemise, still mostly covered in comparison to everyone else. ]

[recorden]

There's easier ways of dressing here.

[ 'Here' meaning Exsilium. Granted, the clothing wasn't anything grand unless you could afford it, but still. It's the only remark he makes as he listens closely, putting pieces of information together like a puzzle in his mind which—

Ultimately doesn't feel necessary when she announces who she is. His hands halt on their way to the corset and he glances up to her, single eye widening in surprise. ]

To the Queen? No way!

[ It's an exclamation out of surprise rather than genuine disbelief. Surprise that smooths over into a wide grin that holds just a hint of excitement. Who knew the Cretaceous Period wasn't the only bit of history he'd get to interact with on this beach. ]

Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you, m'lady.

[onemistress]

[ Elizabeth's laughter burst out again, her fingers pressing over her lips in an attempt to hide it. If only they knew. But she still wasn't willing to risk breathing a word of it. ]

Indeed so, I am rather well acquainted with the royal family. And if -- [ where his hands stopped she moved with well practiced fingers at undoing another set of ties and buttons. ] -- you teach me to swim, I shall tell you of them, if you like.

[ As she spoke she pulled away the heavy skirts, wriggling them down her hips until she was in her petticoats. The plain linen much lighter, though she could feel the sun already working to reduce the coolness she momentarily felt. ] And a pleasure to meet you, Master Lavi.

[recorden]

[ It's not like he minded teaching her how to swim (certainly not with the added plus of getting to undress her) before, but with the offer of firsthand information he's completely sold. He visibly perks up, eager, unsuspecting in his enthusiasm as her sudden laughter goes promptly forgotten. ]

For real? I'd love to hear.

[ So it's with renewed vigor that he starts helping her with the corset. It takes a bit more fumbling before he manages to start unlacing it with the same deftness as the ribbons before it. ]

Just Lavi's fine. I'm merely a humble apprentice.

[onemistress]

[ Elizabeth kept smiling to herself, an idea forming. ]

How about after you've taught me to swim, if you help me learn of these modern... devices, I can tell you as many stories of court as you like in exchange for the help.

[ She nodded, waiting until the last part of it was undone. He was quick apparently, and bold. At the very least he wouldn't be dull conversation.

Once it was undone she stepped away from him, down to less that she would of thought was decent, but more than everyone else apparently. ] Well then Just Lavi, I await your instruction. [ and she gestured to the ocean. ]

[recorden]

( continued here! )