(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

[controlledvariable]

[God Saul you're the worst. She half-heartedly kicks at the water around their feet, achieving her important goal of getting his shins slightly wet.]

How've you been?

[Somehow she manages to keep up the light, teasing tone, as if they haven't been avoiding each other for weeks and she's just casually enquiring about a friend.]

[5055034455]

[Wow. That's rude and immature.

So naturally, Saul will do the exact same thing while considering his answer. What Stephanie just asked is a loaded question — compared to the past few weeks, he's been great. Fantastic. Even in spite of Walt's continued existence.

His smile is genuinely content.]

I'm good. What about you?

[controlledvariable]

[More often than not I'm good is just the answer that people are supposed to give, so Steph's relieved to note that Saul actually looks genuine when he says it. Even if she's still making faces at being splashed with water.]

I've got almost all my family here. Things are pretty good.

[Not her... actual family, but Kara and Babs at least, and Helena is fast becoming part of that. All she's missing is Cass, really, to have the full set.]

[5055034455]

[Her word choice is what has him arching a curious eyebrow. He's as familiar with the concept of found families as anyone, but he's not sure whether she means actual family, or...

Saul will be pretty freaked out if he has to meet Stephanie's parents, somehow.]

Yeah?

[controlledvariable]

Yeah, there's gonna be too many Bats to fit into the city at this rate.

[Which is kind of an exaggeration, since Kara isn't even a Bat (though she was trained by Bruce), but it's mostly said to answer that question he's not quite asking.]

[5055034455]

[Aha. That kind of family.

...somehow, that's not relieving. But — ]

I'm glad.

[controlledvariable]

Remember you said that when I inevitably go missing 'cause Oracle has finally had it with my shit.

[No one would ever find the body if Babs snapped and killed Steph.

But she's smiling, so she's probably joking.

Probably.]

[5055034455]

[can u not]

Well then maybe you shouldn't give Oracle any shit. Did you consider that?

[controlledvariable]

She'd think I'd been replaced by a pod person.

[Being antagonistic is how their relationship works.

Also she really couldn't sound more fond as she talks about Babs.

She just loves her a lot okay.]

[5055034455]

Good point. I would, too.

[He also sounds pretty fond.]

[controlledvariable]

It's a pretty good test, apparently. Easier than asking someone to shoot me.

[ahhahaha

#things that have happened in her life.]

[5055034455]

[And here Saul was hoping Steph's inclination toward the morbid would lessen a little, now that she has a significant other.

Alas.

A tsk, an eye-roll.]

Embrace this vacation while you can, Steph. Let's not talk about anyone getting shot, hm?

[controlledvariable]

[She's dating Ellie...........]

I've never had a vacation before, I'm still figuring it out. [That's... true. It's not like her family could afford them, and then she just.. got busy.] Closest thing I've had to one was spending a few weeks infiltrating an all girls school.

[um]

[5055034455]

[more hideousness over this way]