[OPEN] Well. That Didn't Go Quite As Planned

[moneytwin]

Who: EVERYONE
Where: The Temple of Beginnings
When: Immediately After The End.
Rating: PG-13, may vary by thread
What: You fall, you pick yourself back up and you move on. Or at least, you try.


Fished Out Of Water
One minute, you are witnessing the fabric of an entire world implode as it is literally ripped apart by powers unknown. The next, that tell-tale twist somewhere beneath your sternum, before you are bodily YANKED away from Akvos, away from the ocean and the Queen and the King and the Princess.

And land back on (mostly) solid, dry ground.

Welcome back to the Temple of Beginnings. Don't worry, there's no hurry for you to get back up just yet.


Hey, Howya Doin'?
Once you do get back up, now is the time to be taking stock of the situation - yours, your friends, and even those new merfolk neighbours (who may need a hand getting their fins back into the water). There is also the missing members of the Circle to consider: people who disappeared on the journey to Akvos, and those who never made it back..

(There's also that small matter with a certain 'witchess-san' that may be a cause for concern to some more than others.)

Whatever the case, it's a lot to process right now. Take the time you have, because you don't know if it'll be enough for what you need.

---

[[ OOC: Here's an open post for threads reacting to the end of the Akvos world hop. Feel free to use the above prompts, and/or make your own! ]]

Comments

[dadandgone]

A start at some notes on what transpired at Akvos. Barabas and I started using this place as a kind of library or office, keeping an archive of what the Circle has experienced...a kind of hub of information. We wanted any future members to know what's happened, since the population changes so often...but I also think it could be useful for noticing any progress or patterns we've made as we go on more missions.

[There was so much to process after all and no where to keep a record. Making this place had made sense. Even better, it gave him something to do. On the negative side of things though, it was forcing him to remember all that was lost because of what happened. He looks down at his paper sadly.]

I didn't think this time I might be writing the only remaining history of an entire world.

[dadandgone]

The short answer? No. But I very much doubt anyone in our group here is.

[Maes looks over at Barabas before returning his gaze to the desk. He picks up the pen and begins to twirl it between his fingers.]

We're dealing with recording information of a place that is very likely completely destroyed. All we have are our memories of the event and what are we supposed to do with them?

[foundafamily]

[Firo tries not to think about how long it can take a person to drown, tries not to wonder if the reverse (drowning on land?) is quicker or slower. He just focuses on moving from one person to the next.]

Beats me. You'd think-- [He inhales as he lifts up another mermaid. It's a harder feat than it should be, given that they're limited in what they can do to prop themselves up.] --they'd shoot for the lake.

And these guys're the lucky ones.

[Compared to anyone who didn't get dragged back to the temple.]

[weremongoose]

That's fair. I think you're likely right.

[Because Barabas knows he himself sure as hell isn't okay. But they have to be, even if they aren't. They haven't been given much of a choice.

Barabas reaches for one of the notebooks he keeps here, but doesn't open it, folding his hands atop it as he looks over at Maes.]

Learn. It's all we can do. Figure out what the hell happened so if we come across something like that again,w e don't live through history repeating itself.

[He slumps back in his chair.] That's the only thing I can think of besides just screaming.

[shootstyles]

Yeah.

[Izuku gives him a ghost of the bright smile that he's capable of but still... it's a smile. He watches Hank flop down next to his bottle. He can tell that Hank probably needs his own time to process all of this. Izuku had sort of... intruded on that even if it was unintentional. He decides it's best to give Hank space.]

I'm okay. I'm... I should probably wash my face. [He's pretty snotty and splotchy.] And then I'll go ask my friend to spar. He probably needs it.

Umm...

[Still he stands there for a few seconds, thinking back on their conversation as his face suddenly turns a little red. Finally it just all bursts forth in a fluster.]

Um! What I said before, I know that I said that I had low standards and... that's probably true. Not a lot of people in my life have given me advice until recently... I mean, what I'm trying to say is I really do think what you said was helpful and... it definitely sounded like high quality advice! Like one of my teachers might give.

[He seems to realize that he's sort of rambling and stops himself. He sniffs loudly and stands a little straighter.]

I'm trying to say... thank you, Lieutenant.

[PAUSE. Like he's steeling himself.]

...Hank.

[He inclines his head in a small bow.]

[shootstyles]

...Thanks.

[He takes it and wraps it around his small shoulders. It feels warm from the fire and her body heat and the weight of it is a comfort in and of itself.

He exhales deeply, wraps his arms around his legs and rests his head on his knees. His voice comes out muffled.]

Do you ever feel so tired you can't sleep or do anything? I wanna ask about your bear but... I'm so tired.

[fairysong]

[She's not ready for the cardigan to be offered, and she looks up. For a second there it looks like she's going to turn it down, but then she wraps the garment around her shoulders. It is cold.

Granted, it's her waist and below that's wet, but she doesn't want to get this nice knitted sweater wet! That'd just be sad.] It's just sad that you had to go through that.

[She gives Konoha a tired looking smile at the offer to make a fire.] I'm sure you can, but Korra was the Avatar. She could shoot fire out of her fingertips, and I don't think either of us can do that.

[Okay yeah, she's shivering now. She huddles a little closer to the tall jinba.] ...what a mess.

[fairysong]

I am calm! [No, no she's not.]

How could she just let that happen?! Isn't she supposed to be some all-powerful witch?!

[fairysong]

I've done a lot of singing lately, and I don't think any of it's done one damn bit of good. [She is kinda feeling a little down on her own usefulness here, to be honest. Why did she get such a useless power?]

But if they want a song, I guess I'll give them a song. It's always on the table.

[theseuschip]

[ Actually never mind she is very calm, she’s convinced him. ]

I think we’ve established she’s not an ‘all-powerful’ anything. It wasn’t under her control.

[ Not that that isn’t unsettling in itself. ]

It was a really... really shitty accident.

[brodakota]

I'd appreciate that. And yeah, I guess we'll need to get a headcount or something.

How do you check the roster?

[brodakota]

Well, things definitely look familiar. So if I can find my way back to my room without incident, I think we'll be okay. Hopefully.

Unless mass hallucinations are common here?

[brodakota]

Sure. I'm in a similar boat, so might as well commit.

[It's been a while since he's had a night like this.]

[brodakota]

Fair point.

I can't say I've ever done the whole end of the world thing. Came close a few times, but yeah. It's kind of big.

[brodakota]

Yeah, I get it. Kinda just want to be there waiting for you?

[Coming off of a bad mission, the last thing you want to do is wait for the coffee to be made or something like that.]

Guess our arrival wasn't quite expected.

[taketori]

Isn't that because we adapted to that world?

[ That's his guess anyway. He doesn't know anything about magic, but that sounds like a good magical explanation for it. But, if that's her choice. ]

...From how it sounded, we were doing well up to a point. If it's something out of our control, then that's just how it is. All we can do is learn more from it and see what can be done to fix it going forward.

hank and connor icons are the best icons

[bleps]

No. I don't mean it like that.

[He looks down at Hank, deciding to clasp his hands behind his back again, fingers twitching and tightening.]

Only that... given the weight of our mission failure, we could likely throw a hundred more rocks into the lake, and the dissatisfaction would still be unfortunately prevalent.

[lumberlady]

[Cardigans can be dried, Sheryl! Influenza cannot, so Konoha shakes her head and plucks at the shoulder of the garment.]

Just use it as a towel, okay... ? I don't want you to get sick, so you can use my hide to wrap afterwards.

[... and it's also a good way to not think about how painful it had been, to be given glimpses and figments of home and her parents only to have it ripped away.]

It won't take long at all, though it's not, um-

[It reminds her that the last time they'd been here... hadn't she been swimming with Korra's polar bear dog? And Mako? And he was gone, too, and she has to stop a moment in order to try and control her voice.]

It's not hard...

[fairysong]

Konoha, more than anything right now, I think I want your hide to stay on you where it belongs. [She says, a weary joke through chattering teeth as she... gives in and starts toweling off her lower half.

Man, that was a really bad idea, in retrospect. At least she's no longer dripping.

She does catch the hitch in Konoha's voice-- or rather, the pause to prevent one-- and just rests a hand on her flank, right below her human body starts. It's a wordless gesture.

She misses them too.] Maybe you can teach me? I don't have a lot of skills for a place like this.

[lumberlady]

My hide... ?

[Not having expected any sort of joke, even a tired one such as that, Konoha actually thinks she's misheard for a minute there, just blinking a bit in confusion before she gets it... and tries to laugh, managing a small smile for a moment before it fades.]

Just take this, okay... ?

[As her boss was fond of saying... Throw a jinba out into the snow naked and they'll make it down the mountain, but a human won't make it out the cave. ... She doesn't get cold easily, is the point, so she undoes the cord holding the bear pelt about her waist and hands it over, retying the cord to keep her shirt closed.

It's warm- body heat warm.]

And I'll teach you how to make a fire.

[fairysong]

[Ordinarily, she'd fight a little harder. She's Sheryl Nome. She doesn't need someone's pity.

But this isn't pity, it's kindness from a friend, and she's not got the fire in her to resist. She wraps the hide around her shoulders; it's warm and it smells like her friend.

This is probably the first time she's ever worn anything that could be accurately described as a pelt.

It's not too much later that a fire has been made and Sheryl is huddling close to it, her dress off and laid next to the fire on the grass to dry off.] You made that look easy. Perhaps not "shoot fire from your hands" easy, but easy enough.

[lumberlady]

[Coming from Konoha, it can only be kindness. And selfishly, just a little... it's also something for her. Taking care of others... what else can she do in this place, so far from her home and all she'd ever known? What else is there to feel useful, in the wake of Akvos and all she'd not done?]

It's even easier if you have your own flint and tinder box... I'll keep an eye out.

[Circling a bit behind Sheryl, Konoha finally eases down to her knees and then her side, shifting a bit clumsily closer to the other woman. Not because she's cold... but because she misses home. Misses sleeping beside other people, misses embraces and warmth from things beyond fire.]

... Not that we've really gone anywhere that has the kinds of things I'd know how to make use of.

[rightfully]

[ Sheryl's resilience isn't exactly shining here. Lucina tells herself, patience, and does her best to soften. It isn't like she's not upset, too. That frustration of Sheryl's, as aimless and ill-defined as it is, would be a disadvantage on the battlefield. Framing it in such coldly tactical terms, it helps Lucina know what to do next. ]

... come.

You'll catch cold if you linger in wet clothing.

[rightfully]

[ By now, she's gotten pretty tired of Hank's self-pity and repeated demonstrations of flagrant disrespect - for her, for himself, for whatever happens to be nearby. Her discipline is twice-over, after all: first, as a princess who understood that duty mattered more than all else; and then as a soldier in a line, one of many, a single cog in a much larger mechanism. With such a wildly different point of view, she's left wondering why - how - one man can be so miserable - such a hindrance.

Her anger is misplaced. Simmering, in need of an outlet. Later, she'll be apologetic. Boorish behaviour is unbecoming, after all.

Right now, though, she's thinking nothing of it. Reaching down, she utilises a surprising amount of strength to grab Hank's collar and yank him to his feet. He's, like, a foot taller than a person should be, so the last few seconds aren't quite seamless. ]

- on your feet.

[fuck1ngusernam3]

[Hank looks away, jaw tight. Hearing someone just say it out loud like that is... Well, fuck, it's what happened, isn't it? He chases the clenched feeling in his throat with the burn of shitty homemade moonshine and coughs a little, leaning over his knees.]

I'd settle for kicking the shit out of something. Thought about those uh, dummies or whatever, over by the temple, but they'd probably kick my ass.

[He tilts his head back and forth, a 'then again...' gesture.]

Still thinkin about it, actually. What'd you think? That count as venting too?