(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

Johnny | open~

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny's actually pretty happy with this mission. Normally he'd be bitching up a storm about mandatory missions, but this time, he's more than eager to go.

He's actually putting a lot of work into the mission - chances are you'll find him collecting rocks and anything else that might be useful to his catacombs project. Anything they can use for building material. He's carrying back much more than it looks like he should be able to carry, but he looks okay. Maybe just sweating in his prehistoric heat a little, though.

Later he'll be found at the beach, hitting the water. He's not always been fond of the beach, since Johnny shirtless in the sunlight might cause people's retinas to burn, but who cares now. How long has it been since he's been able to enjoy nice weather and beautiful scenery? Time to relax and forget about all the troubles back on Exsilium, if just for a little bit.]

[chore_boy]

[Coby had never exactly been excited to get shirtless given how light he was, but it had grown to complete shame when it came to his scars. So, he wore a giant, baggy shirt and swimming trunks out in the sand, training by himself. He wasn't distanced from anybody--he just stood out in the sands, throwing punches and keeping his eyes on the water.]

[charming_jerk]

[Coby. Seriously. If this guy can manage to be half-naked in public, you've got nothing to worry about. Johnny was swimming around a bit when he spots Coby, and paddles over his way, yelling over to him from the water.]

Not even gonna take a break here?

[chore_boy]

[Coby made a face. A dumb face, as usual. Pursing his lips a moment, he reached up to adjust his glasses and made that face right at Johnny.]

A break? I don't see why I should be on one.

[Criminals would never rest. Neither would he. Unless he really needed to. Then, maybe he might.]

I'm perfectly wide awake and capable of continuing!

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny shakes his head, and swims closer to get out of the water.] Not a physical one. Mental. We ain't gonna get many of those. God knows what's waitin' for us back at the Hold this time. Better relax and take advantage of this while ya can.

[chore_boy]

We're on a prehistoric island. [Coby complained with ease, pushing up his glasses and tilting his head at Johnny. It was a true sign of friendship--the fact that he could be somewhat harsh with him. Coby's sense of comfort had been found.]

'Relaxation' is something impossible to feel in this situation, even with such a convenient barrier.

Besides--I'm already used to constant struggle.

[charming_jerk]

How haven't ya gone crazy yet? Before I got here, I spent over two years on the run for my life, only to get thrown into the middle of a fucking war. If they didn't do shit like this once in awhile, everyone'd be crazy, too.

[chore_boy]

Don't be so unreasonable. There are plenty of us that remain in war-torn areas much longer than this. It's not to say that we don't enjoy ourselves from time to time, but...

[He shrugged, lining himself up to throw another punch.]

'Relaxation' appears for us differently. If I'm used to my environment for three years, who's to say that your idea of fun would even really be the same as mine?

[charming_jerk]

I guess. Whatever floats your boat, man. I say enjoy the quiet while ya can. Before ya know it, we'll be back to rain and destruction and bombs in no time.

'sup roomie

[strategic_guile]

[Your blinding white skin is like a beacon, Johnny. Blaine has found you and he is swimming silently, stealthily, up behind you. He is, of course, totally naked but you aren't going to find that out right away. No, he's just going slide under the water and yank you under because he is an asshole.]

[charming_jerk]

[He wasn't expecting that, and gets pulled under suddenly. He is not a happy camper. Blaine better watch out or he's going to get a kick in the face. Not that he can see under the water, Johnny still thinks he knows who the culprit is.]

[strategic_guile]

[Blaine is very much retreating after dunking. He is well versed in Johnny's beat first ask questions later tendencies. Of course, he can see under the water because of a pair of goggles he commandeered, and he's swimming as far away as he can get before surfacing just enough to get a breath and lurk, very much smirking.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny pops to the surface cursing and coughing. He might not be able to see under the water, but you can't stay under there forever. He'll wait, looking around in all directions, for his assailant to surface.]

[strategic_guile]

[Surfaces and takes a breath and is backing up. When he thinks Johnny is about to look he ducks under, but he's probably not fast enough and his hair is really fucking bright and probably gleams in the damn sun. He's still swimming away like he's running for his life man.]

[charming_jerk]

Goddamnit, there you are! [There's a splash behind you as Johnny dives in to swim as fast as he can to catch up. Revenge is coming your way, Blaine, as he grabs for your ankle.]

[strategic_guile]

[Oh shi-! If he could have swum further away before going for breath he would have. Damnit you're too fast, Johnny! Blaine feels the slide of fingers and kicks away, but he has to rise for air and does so with a half gasp and half laugh. Now that he's been found he's just going to stand and fight...!]

Bring it, D'Amico!

[charming_jerk]

[Johny pops to the surface, a predatory grin on his face, and dives right at Blaine in an attempt to knock him right back underwater.]

Re: Johnny | open~

[demonbloodblade]

[Meliantha's covered up completely, and her magical backpack is helpful in getting the mineral samples together.

It's just kind of strange how she spends time near Johnny, though.

And later, at the beach, she's still fully dressed, and sitting there, just watching the water.]

[charming_jerk]

[He'll be really grateful for her crazy magic bag for this. He's pretty dead set on reinforcing the catacombs, so he's taking as much as he can back with him.

Later, back at the beach, Johnny's in swim trunks and doesn't give a damn. When he spots Meliantha sitting there, he comes out of the water and jogs up to her.] Not goin' for a swim?

[demonbloodblade]

[She looks up.]

Nothing to wear. Well, one thing, but, uh... it's a bit... revealing.

[charming_jerk]

Yeah, seems like a lotta people agree with ya there. Ain't used to swimsuits like where I'm from. [He takes a look around the beach at a few people who are really overdressed.]

[demonbloodblade]

[Meliantha looks around, a little embarrassed, and then reaches into a side pocket of her pack and pulls out a small square of fabric. She unfolds it into a one-piece swimsuit, a dark grey fabric shot through with silver threads... which suddenly and quite obviously, after a moment, is mostly transparent in that grey, like a fog, only the silver threads keeping modesty.]

This is all I have. I'm ....embarassed to wear it.

[charming_jerk]

Geez, why didn't they just give you some plastic wrap. There's like nothin' to that! But ya can't really go swimmin' in what you're wearing. That kinda sucks. But honestly? If a guy like me can go out there in these, I don't think ya got anythin' to worry about. Least ya won't be blinding anyone.

[demonbloodblade]

...Gave?

[She facepalms, then puts the dainty away, and then pulls out the small package the Initiative gave. Which has a bog-standard one-piece orange swimsuit.]

Never THOUGHT to look in there. Such an idiot.

...can you watch my things while I find a place to change?

[charming_jerk]

[He chuckles at her, but nods.] Yeah sure. I think everyone's too preoccupied to bother with yer stuff anyway.

[He'll wait till she gets back, already standing.] Nice. Race ya to the water?