MISSION: RELEASE THEM BACK INTO THE WILD

[initiates]

Date & Time: April 27th - May 1st
Location: Wollongong, Australia, 2464.
Characters: All voluntary transports + maybe a few drafted ones.
Summary: Make those stay-at-homes leave their nerdcaves! My god, do they even know what sunshine looks like???
Warnings: none planned, will be updated accordingly!

The city is old, dark, and very, very quiet. A good deal of the buildings are crumbling and old, but the ones that are actually inhabited glow like candles in the dusk the Transporter has dropped you into. All of these buildings are infested by wiring pouring in from every angle, ensuring that each inhabitant in his or her little block of a room has every modern convenience available in 2464.

There is no one on the streets, no public transportation, and even cars look scarce. But that doesn't mean there's no movement. Maintenance drones, controlled remotely, run deliveries or work repairs. Armed law enforcement drones patrol on rounds through the city, although their mechanized attention is mostly turned outward. Still, they might come to investigate a ruckus within the city limits. And if the persons causing the ruckus don't respond to peaceful attempts to get them to cease, the drones might attempt to subdue them with paralyzing technology and haul them in for a night in the city jail — another dark, unused place.

If you get hungry, there are entire warehouses dedicated to the production of foods. It can't be that hard to sneak in and collect a meal, right? Or you can hack into the system and order whatever you want, if you're good with that kind of thing. Or you can just scavenge—or fast for four days, maybe—if thieving and hacking aren't your style.

And somewhere around here, in those glowing, secluded towers, behind the legions of automated drones, live the reclusive citizens of Wollongong. The methods are up to you, as long as you can get them to come out and breathe the fresh air somehow.

[[ ooc; Mission details are here! This will run from 27th of April to May 1st, with those on the mission returning to Exsilium at the same time that the new arrivals show up. It's an optional mission, but if you'd like your character to go along that would ICly sit it out, feel free to say that the Initiative drafted them for this one.

There aren't any teams or structured threads to this one, so go wild! ]]

Comments

[concealingeyes]

[Sigh.]

...I'll try it once for you.

[duplicitoussight]

I'm glad!

Was there any place that caught your eye? Ah, I think the beach might be nice. But that's a long walk away... or maybe we could take one in front of the campfire! That'd be nice, too--it's really festive around there!

[concealingeyes]

We could do both. The campfire pictures would be nice... and it's been a long time since we saw a beach. Especially one like here. Australia has nice ones, right?

[duplicitoussight]

Yup. And what's a vacation without a romantic stroll down the beach, right?

[He's kidding. Kind of.]

[concealingeyes]

[She would have been more open to that idea before someone was a jerkface.]

Where did that come from...? Vacations aren't just romantic.

[duplicitoussight]

Don't you think walking down the beach is romantic, though? [He sits up, giving a small laugh.] Ha ha... don't mind me!

[concealingeyes]

[She frowns. This trip was supposed to be her chance to try harder but that already backfired. What kind of signals is he giving now? Or is she just 'reading into' it? What a pain... Well, either way, no point in being honest about it or calling him out on anything.]

We can go down there tomorrow morning. It's better to do it before it gets too hot.

[duplicitoussight]

... that sounds nice. Yup, tomorrow morning, then. [He's trying to make up for what he said, even though he knows the damage has been done. The most he can do now is smile and kid around and hope.]

But! Until then... Kido owes me a picture.

[concealingeyes]

[Mostly she's just impressed he's still continuing on like this.] You want a picture of me right now?

[duplicitoussight]

[Lying's a hard habit to break.]

Sure! Why not?

[concealingeyes]

I've been out in the sun all day in a hoodie. Let's face it, I look terrible!

[duplicitoussight]

Eh, but so have I! I'll be in the picture with you! And it doesn't matter... it still counts as a good memory, doesn't it?

[concealingeyes]

Fine, fine. What do you want me to do?

[duplicitoussight]

[He gets up, dusting off his pants.] Just stand over here with me~ Act natural.

[concealingeyes]

I can't act natural. You're taking a picture of me...

[She gets up anyway and stands next to him, hands in her pockets and head slightly down.]

[duplicitoussight]

... don't be afraid of the camera! I promise, it's not going to blind you.

[He stands a little closer as takes out his tablet, holding it up.] C'mon, try a smile!

[concealingeyes]

[Smiling on command looks so awkward though...

Looking gloomy in a photo would probably be bad, even if it'd serve him right.]

Uhm... Hang on.

[She's going to regret this.]

...Tickle me.

[duplicitoussight]

... eh? [Did he hear her right.] Tickle you? Ah, that's so cute of Leader to suggest...!

[concealingeyes]

Sh-Shut up! I can't smile on command! Tickling just produces that reaction naturally! So if you want me to smile just hurry up!

[duplicitoussight]

[He wants to laugh so badly right now no he's got to hold it in.]

Don't be upset! I'm doing it, I'm doing it!

[After an awkward moment of hesitation he jabs at her side with his free hand. Tickling works... best around here, right?]

[concealingeyes]

O-Oi! [She squirms but not because it tickles.] Is it that hard to do? Geez...

[Grabbing the edges of her hoodie, she peels it off over her head.]

Is that easier?

[duplicitoussight]

It's hard when Kido's wearing so much!

[She sure is taking smiling seriously. As soon as those words leave his mouth, her hoodie's tugged off. He looks over at her and tries a small tickle again.]

[concealingeyes]

[She turns a little red, mostly from embarrassment.] It's not like I'm going to bite you if you try harder...

[duplicitoussight]

Bite me?! Wow, that's way out of line--!

[But he gets the hint. It's hard to tickle with one hand! But he tries her stomach now.]

[concealingeyes]

[She didn't really expect him to actually do it. The surprise gets her more than anything and she grabs hold of his arm to stop herself from moving around too much. Actually, it didn't tickle enough to do much but she smiles because he's such an idiot and she doesn't understand what today has been.

Half-leaning on him, she waves her hand.] Okay okay!