(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

[retraced]

--No one on this beach is wearing clothes!

[It comes out sounding more like a complaint than an explanation. Still, he doesn't let go of Oz's shirt.]

Just let me fold it up a bit!

[velveteened]

Most of them don't have Incuses, either!

( #things people here don't need to know about!!!!

but he grudgingly loosens his posture so long as folding up a bit is all gil does. )

[retraced]

[No one has a deep scar across the front of their body either, which is one of many reasons why Gilbert has definitely not taken off his shirt where anyone could see since they got here, no matter how hot it's been. So that at least shuts him up a little, but it still doesn't solve the problem in front of them here.

He drops his hands away from Oz's shirt for the meanwhile. Fine. He'll get to his back later, or when he can finally convince him that no one is looking. Instead, he grabs the aloe and rubs it between his two hands before reaching up and rubbing it into Oz's neck and what he can reach of his shoulders without pulling at his shirt collar too hard.]

[velveteened]

( that occurs to him a beat later, how gil has a similar - worse - issue, and it keeps him quiet for the moment. hard enough to explain a scar like that even without getting into details, and he really hadn't realized how many open secrets have surrounded them until they became true ones.

the aloe really does feel cool and soothing though, much as his first instinct would've been to flinch away from the touch. )

What is this?

[retraced]

Aloe. It's made from a plant.

[Or at least that's what was explained to him; he was only given the bottle, he didn't make it himself.]

Does it feel better?

[velveteened]

It does. It feels - ( how to put it ) - cooler. Do they look different?

( the burns - it'd be silly to assume so maybe, but at the same time who knows with all the strange things they've seen here. )

[retraced]

[He doesn't answer at first, instead shifting himself so that he can sit at Oz's side and face him easier to get the front of his neck, chest and his face.]

No, still the same. It's not going to heal that fast. Close your eyes.

[velveteened]

( he sits still, obediently shutting his eyes at the command. his hands fall near his lap for now, fingers idly splayed on the warm, sandy earth. )

I didn't think it could be so bright somewhere, all the time.

[retraced]

...It's annoying.

[In Gilbert's professional opinion. He rubs Oz's cheeks carefully, making sure not to poke him in the eye of press down on his skin too hard.]

It's too much. My eyes feel like they're burning.

[velveteened]

Hahah, you think so?

( there's the brief laugh at gil's initial assessment, but he listens for the rest. )

I think they have something to cover your eyes in the supply tents. ( the gigantic hat mostly rendered looking too far into it unnecessary for oz. ) To protect them from all the sunlight.

[retraced]

[He thinks he knows what Oz is talking about. He's seen a few others wearing them, but he's been too busy flitting between collecting rocks, making sure that everyone is fed and tucked away safe at night to think about going to the supply tent to ask for help.]

We won't be here much longer, it doesn't matter.

[He spreads more aloe on his hands and reaches down the front of Oz's shirt, again trying not to tug on the neckline too badly.]

[velveteened]

continued here!