(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

[5055034455]

[It sure is. All that heaving is pretty distracting.





...wait what did she just say

was saul just staring at the queen of england's rack

holy shit]

Sorry — Anne Boleyn, you said?

[ensorceler]

[ With a pause, she nods and takes a moment to retrieve a small square cloth, edges frayed, and holds it out to display the falcon crest embroidered upon it. ]

You know my family? Might I know yours?

[5055034455]

[He examines the cloth, raises his brows so that he looks properly impressed, then silently regrets not using his real last name. She'd love to hear that he's a McGill, wouldn't she?]

It sounds familiar, but I'm not sure why. As for me, I have no handy dandy crest on my person right now, but — I'm Saul of clan Goodman.

[ensorceler]

[ The 'clan' mention makes her quirk her lips in amusement; is he archaic or futuristic, there's no telling. His accent is similar to others she's heard since arriving, but she doesn't know it's origin. The name, however, she does know, and it of course denotes mixed feelings (other than it being a common address for commoners). Mainly Jewish now, perhaps, but once upon a time? There have been Goodmans in London, even, are you surprised? ]

Originally from Norfolk, then. Would your crest not be a silver eagle with two heads? My uncle is the Duke of Norfolk, so you see we are friends already.

[5055034455]

[Meanwhile, Saul is trying not to pull anything from internally freaking out over the fact that he's talking to the future Queen of England.

He's so, so glad he covered all his bases with the fake name thing.]

Is he? Wow. Small world. But yes — double-headed eagle, a symbol of divine power.

[is she impressed yet huh huh is she]

[ensorceler]

[ Her chin lifts a bit at that, slipping the small cloth back into her skirt's pocket and resting her hands demurely just beneath her bodice. ]

No fear of two faces, then, or a silver tongue?

[5055034455]

[There's that face again.]

Are you familiar with what lawyers do?

[ensorceler]

You are a lawyer?

[ This is an impressed look. But then she does a glance over his outfit, and tilts her head. ]

You are not dressed as any I should recognize.

[5055034455]

[Score. He chuckles lightly at her observation, then pops his collar for the sake of effect.]

I'm on vacation.

[ensorceler]

[ Drawing her knuckles near her mouth, Anne allows enough of a chuckle to suggest amusement. ]

I suppose there would be little work for a lawyer to do in such a brutal environment, almost as little as a lady. But surely you are assisting in the scavenging at least now and then, along with the other men, hm?

[5055034455]

Of course.

[This is, surprisingly, not a lie. But it has been difficult, hiding his newly acquired strength, so he's been assisting very little.]

[ensorceler]

Then you rightly deserve a...vacation. I would not keep you from it.

[5055034455]

Oh, no, you're not keeping me from it at all. Please.

[He gestures to the empty space at his side. Walk with him, lady?]

[ensorceler]

But we have reaches an impasse, Master Goodman, for you are going one way and I another. However are we to negotiate a compromise?

[ Like it really matters, she's just teasing. 98% of how she operates with casual acquaintances. ]

[5055034455]

[Very well, your not-yet-Highness. Have it your way.

Saul smirks, steps over to her side, and literally spins on his heel so he's facing the same direction as she is.]

Problem solved. Shall we?

[ensorceler]

I believe we shall.

[ It's a very good way to put feelers out for how other people operate, too, and it's worked well for her so far in life! Look at this, it's working out great, and just to reward him she'll hold her hand out and up a bit, waiting for his hand to be offered in the same fashion; palm downward, for her to rest hers upon. It's an exercise in arm strength depending on the duration of the walk, but expected! ...Maybe not so much in modern times, but what does she know? He's bound to misinterpret, but let's find out. ]

[5055034455]

[Saul's seen movies, okay. He likes The Princess Bride. He has some vague idea of how this works in Hollywood's eyes, but Anne is crazy if she thinks he's going to walk down the shoreline with her, them in their respective outfits, like that.

He offers his arm, instead. Call it a compromise.]

[ensorceler]

[ Well. She pauses, but only a moment, resting her hand daintily over-top it. They aren't courting, so she's not about to grab onto his arm just yet thank you sir. ]

Might I ask where it is you hail from? Despite your family name, your accent is more akin to a type I have only heard since arriving upon Exsilium. It is the same as that of Mistress Mills, Master Casey, and Master Pinkman. What distant country did your families deign to make their new homes? I would hear of it.

[5055034455]

[Whatever, Anne! Whatever. Technicalities. He doesn't know how this shit works.

The mention of Jesse's name makes him smile.]

Master Pinkman and I are from the same place. The same city, even.

[ensorceler]

For true? I would hear of it. I know he is a master...chemist, as is the word, yes? Did he serve any at court? And you, as a lawyer? What of your skill?

Forgive me, I flood you with inquiries abound.

[5055034455]

Chemist, yes.

["Chemist."

Saul makes the air quotes in his head.]

And I specialize in criminal defense. I'm the best in all the land.

[ensorceler]

You care overmuch for the plight of criminals, then? Ought I be wary?

[5055034455]

[Ah, right. Royals tend to deal with criminals in their own way, don't they? Hangings and shit.]

My country operates on the principle of "innocent until proven guilty."

[ensorceler]

[ There are still trials! Anne will even get her own trial one day, and that will be totally legit and not fucked at all. ]

How is it that you met Master Pinkman? That must be a fascinating tale.

[5055034455]

[Wow okay so how is Saul going to explain this without outing Jesse as a filthy criminal to the future Queen of England?]

Not that fascinating, actually. It was a business thing — he and his chemist partner needed some steering in the right direction, so I helped.