EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

closed.

[combats]

[ As much as Jacquese wanted to stay out there and keep fighting, punching monsters tended to wear a person down at some point. He knew his limits and he also knew pushing them would be needless when there were plenty of other fighters around to pick up where he'd left off. He could afford a break.

So that's why he finds himself making his way back to his assigned unit to get a quiet moment to himself and recharge, maybe take a quick nap even.

He could always jump right back into the fray again after. ]

[eyecontact]

[Jericho's slumped against the rail, his arms folded and chin settled on top of them. he's staring out at where Jacquese has just returned – out there where monsters are crawling about. things he can't do a thing about.

some hero, huh..]

[combats]

[ It would be very difficult not to notice the boy slumped against the rail and it makes Jacquese stop in his tracks. The mood everywhere had been grim upon his arrival and the monsters were plenty of reason to feel that way, but the boy seemed particularly affected.

Perhaps he would rather be left alone, but seeing a child so depressed? Jacquese couldn't help himself. He takes out his miniature blackboard and a piece of chalk to write something on it before moving up to the boy. He holds out the blackboard, which reads: ]

Are you alright?

[eyecontact]

[he does a pretty graceless double-take, seeing the words on the board. his eyes swap from the board to the face (the horns?), the board and back, mouth hanging open a little.

he pushes away from the rail, straightening up as he stares.

he points...

you... his own throat, head shaking. can't speak, either?]

[combats]

[ Jacquese just waits patiently, head tilted to the side slightly with a concerned expression on his face that doesn't waver.

At least not until Jericho starts gesturing, then his own surprise is very much evident. There's a startled pause before he remembers himself and nods. If this boy was mute too, then maybe...

He tucks the blackboard away under his armpit to free his hands, before signing:

I am Jacquese. ]

[eyecontact]

[he grows all the more attentive, seeing sign. it's incredible to find those that knew.

I am Jericho.]

[combats]

[ That makes Jacquese smile warmly, what a pleasant surprise. It was rare enough to find people back in Rune-Midgard who knew sign language, considering the small population here, Jacquese hadn't expected to find anyone at all.

He pockets the blackboard again before continuing.

Nice to meet you, Jericho. What has you so troubled? The monsters will not reach here. ]

[eyecontact]

[it's a surprise, for sure...rather nice. and...well. Jericho's face colors a little, feeling shy, embarrassed for his impression. he didn't make a very good one, did he? the questions only made him more self-conscious, and he found himself looking at the ground without realizing it, quickly shaking himself out of that.

It's nice to meet you too. he tries to smile at that, but ends up just looking more troubled. I know it's safe here, I

he stops, his hands hovering in-place as he frowns. his shoulders sag a little.

I just wish I knew how to help.]

[combats]

[ Of course the fact that Jericho was mute as well was rather saddening, but he was glad to have someone he could 'talk' more naturally with all the same. Or well, what was natural for him anyway. His smile remains as he watches Jericho go from slightly embarrassed to troubled again.

He nods his understanding when Jericho finishes. It was a sentiment he could understand quite well.

Fighting is not the only way you can help, there are plenty of other ways too. ]

[eyecontact]

[there's a little wince in his eyes at that, despite his nod. sure, true enough, but...Titans save the day, don't they?

but...he's being awful mopey, isn't he? Jericho swallows, mouth pressed tightly into its frown, looking down at his shoes. he needs to stop this!

his head lifts quickly – shoulders, too, as he sucks in a fast breath, breathing in what he hopes is resolve. a more certain nod. this Jacquese is right, after all.]

[combats]

[ That was more like it. Jacquese returns the nod and holds up a finger, hold on, before he moves on ahead and ducks into his unit briefly.

When he returns, he has a handful of candy that he had brought with him from Lutie and he offers it up to Jericho to take however many he wants. ]

[eyecontact]

[he blinks, looking from the candy offered to Jacquese's face and back again.

huh?

...oh. oh, jeez. Jericho flushes, his mouth tugging, feeling sillier. he shrinks a little, bashful, about to refuse, but...that's awful rude. he plucks up one, to be polite, signing a thank you with the other hand.]

[combats]

[ And with that, Jacquese promptly plops down in an indian style sit, putting the candies down into a small pile next to him. He takes one, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth before his attention returns to Jericho, smiling up at him.

Are you new too or have you been here a while? ]

[eyecontact]

[oh...

he shifts in-place for an uncertain moment. looks like they'll be camping out there for a bit, huh? well...it's not like he was doing anything very useful, anyhow!

he sits, crossing his legs as well, still palming the candy he took himself while he situated, setting it down beside him to free up his hands.

Months. he stops, blinking. I don't know how many.]

[combats]

[ Sorry Jericho, you're stuck with this big doof for a bit.

He needs the break, so he figures he might as well spend it in company and maybe try to help keep Jericho distracted so he won't go back to being depressed on his own.

He nods thoughtfully.

I'm sorry, that must be hard. Did they sent you out on missions? ]

[eyecontact]

[he nods, watching him fiddle with the candy a bit before giving much more of a reply. and even then, he has a squinting, dubious look, and a couple shrugs as he explains:

It was very confusing. We would go somewhere without really know exactly why...and come back not being told what became of it. And things would change...]

[combats]

[ That makes Jacquese frown. He'd tried to stay optimistic about the entire situation, which essentially had been a kidnapping, but the more he heard about the Initiative from other transports, the more suspicious he became.

Also it was one thing to send out adults capable of fighting, but another entirely to send out children.

They do not explain their own missions at all? How do they expect to succeed like that? ]

[eyecontact]

[Jericho shakes his head a little, looking dubious.

They explain a little but it doesn't always make sense. And then when we come back, sometimes it's like it never happened to them...]

[combats]

[ Jacquese takes a moment to unwrap another candy, thinking it over as he does. Honestly, he knows nothing about time travel, but if they kept changing stuff, that would make sense, wouldn't it?

If something is changed in the past, to them it would be like it never happened, correct? I don't understand how they can keep track of progress if they keep forgetting that way. ]

[eyecontact]

[he squints, head tilting. he...guesses so? with a shrug, he shakes his head. all this time travel stuff kind of goes over his head most of the time.]

[combats]

[ Yeah, he's... not going to dwell on that either. He has no idea about time travel either. So, time to change the subject!

Where are you from? ]

[eyecontact]

[Jericho pauses, thinking about how to reply. well...

Earth. he tilts his head side to side in a dubious way. But not this one I think...It was a different year there.]

[combats]

[ Considering how they were all from different worlds, it wasn't odd to think that perhaps some of those worlds were similar to each other. He tilts his head in curiosity.

I see. Is it like this one? ]

[eyecontact]

[he gives another so-so gesture, shrugging his shoulders up.

I do not think it is as broken...or as full of computers. I think.

he gives a sheepish smile, glancing away a second.

I did not get out much.]

[combats]

[ Jacquese merely smiles and nods, not questioning why.

My world is very different from this one, it does not have advanced technology like what they have here at all.

It's full of monsters too, but I heard that is not supposed to be common here. ]