driftfleet | [closed]

Entry tags:

[closed]

Who: Kaname (

axi), Messer (

vartex), Lucina (

lacyprincess), Prompto (

this_loser)
Broadcast: No
Action: Drade, Islands and Mists
When: Friday, July 20th

[Exploring the mists somehow became something on Kaname's to do list, so of course Messer didn't want her to go alone. She mentioned the idea to Prompto, who decided to accompany her as well. Lucina was an invitation of her own. She liked the girl, and she'd serve as someone else for any of the rest of them to talk with.

Masks and lights (and weapons) in place, the four head out to the edge of one uninhabited island and begin their trek. Some ways in (maybe a twenty minute walk), they find what looks to be an old, abandoned village. It's not nearly as up to date as Veynar... maybe two or three centuries behind, it's hard to tell.

Kaname carefully makes her way into a stone building that was probably a home of some kind back in its time. The roof is mostly gone, and she's careful when moving under the pieces that still hang precariously from above. Something catches her eye, causing her to stop and crouch to get a better view.]

Messer, can I get a light? [From overhead. Because he's tall.] You should come see this.

[If and when Prompto and Lucina make their way over, too, they'll see a dull sort of carving etched into the floor in one corner. It could possibly be a creature hovering over a very small home, its mouth wide open. Maybe. If they squint.]

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[Messer's never more than a few steps behind, so once she calls him he's there, lifting the light up so the stone is more clearly visible. His eyes narrow at the carving- not just the design, but the scale of it.]

The network's been busy with talk of that giant creature in the mist. We might be venturing into its territory.

[In other words, he's back on high alert. As if this place wasn't bad enough already...]

[He's only here because of Kaname. Tromping around in the mysterious mist (mysterimist?) was not his idea of a good time. He leans over Kaname's shoulder to see what's got her attention and frowns.]

Much as I love fighting big monsters... [which is, not at all] Maybe we don't tempt fate with that one?

[Lucina is there because she was invited and she is curious about what's going on with this system as much as anyone else. It was really a no-brainer to accept going down with a semi-organized group.

At Kaname's words, she approaches on the other side and looks down at the carving. What Messer and Prompto are saying might be true.... but.]

Do you think this is some sort of pictographic historical record? That home doesn't resemble what I imagine this one must have looked like before it was covered in the mist.

[Someone has spent too much time with Laurent and she's not even sorry about it.]

It's hard to tell what this residence looked like before all of this. [She brushes away more dirt and dust, but it doesn't reveal anything more helpful than they already see.] A warning or a record... maybe both. Either way, if we run into it, I for one plan to run the opposite way.

[Kaname grins over at Prompto before moving to stand back up.]

If this is here, there could be more around. Was anything else noteworthy found yet?

[Messer turns the light outwards near a broken wall, to give them a broader range of sight, the dim light revealing more of the houses along the street, little more than a winding path mostly obscured by the mist.]

Many of the houses have barricades over the doors, and seals at the windows. It's possible that they saw this coming and thought it would spare them.

[Might explain why they were carving graffiti into their own floor.]

[If only there was some sign they shouldn't be here. Oh, wait!]

I stand by my original comment.

[Still, he scans the room for any more markings. Poor people, whoever they were.]

[Lucina looks over her shoulder at Prompto as if she sympathizes with him, but she looks around as much as she can, pulling a rotted board away from the hole that must have been a window at one time.]

There's a building over there that's bigger than the others. Perhaps it belonged to someone of importance.

[She steps towards the outside of the building with the intent of heading towards the ruin she just found.]

I bet there might be more to find there than a strange drawing on the floor.

Maybe a central town building. [Kaname does take a last look near the corner where the carving is before indicating to the others that she's going to follow Lucina.

When they get closer, they find the entrance, on a regal looking stoop, is blocked by some rubble. However, a window (?) about five feet up next to it seems open enough for them to fit. She looks to the other woman, then the guys if they followed.]

What do you think? It might be worth a look. [Even though her tone suggests she's going in regardless of what they might say.]

Lucina, do you need a boost?

[...Alright, guess we're doing this now. Messer lifts his foot to push it against the pile of rubble, checking how firmly in place it is, but it doesn't budge. Damn, he'd been hoping there was a chance of clearing it.

He moves instead to stand underneath the window, bracing himself against the wall and cupping his hands together to vault someone up. He's the tallest and arguably the strongest, and the others would have difficulty lifting him up, so he's the logical choice. And if Lucina doesn't go through, he knows Kaname will want to at least look.]

If you see no other entrance that we can access, don't jump down. It's a bad idea to get separated here.

I think I had a nightmare about this once.

[Even so, he offers to go first. There could be something on the other side. Or offer an assist for the others, if needed.

But he'll bypass the boost up, thanks all the same. He pulls himself up through the window and peers in.]

Definitely nightmare material. Lots of debris in here. Watch your step.

[Lucina, on the other hand, is more than willing to take the boost. She has no real ego to prop up and she's not willing to get injured without any healing spells at hand.

Once she's through the window and in the decrepit building, she takes out the cheap sword she brought for clearing debris and starts trying to make it so there's at least nothing in their way as they travel.]

There are worse things than a ruin, Prompto. And this is worth it if we can find anything useful.

[Next is Kaname, who also utilizes Messer's offer of assistance, hoisting herself through with no trouble. Turning around, she helps him enter as well, letting go of his hand once he's steady. She shines her flashlight ahead, moving it slowly over old and forgotten furniture: tables, chairs, a shelf here and there.]

It's like something out of an old movie... Oh. It reminds me of the second planet in the next star system over. Remember that one? [She looks at Messer, recalling something.] Abandoned before it got too warm.

[Kaname steps forward towards a shelf, with most of the levels askew in their home.]

Prompto, you brought your camera, right? Maybe some pictures of these could give us answers later when we get back. [Her light shines on what looks to be an old, dust covered book, open with pages scattered everywhere.]

I remember.

[They've visited lots of different locations over time, but he wouldn't forget so easily. Walkure and Delta had made each memorable, one way or another.

He casts his light towards the walls, seeking out alternate entries and exits, pressing his weight against a door across the room. It resists, but gives a little on his second try, something scraping against the ground on the other side, so he clicks his light on and off to draw Kaname's attention, gesturing towards it- another option to break through, if they find themselves trapped here. For now he'll leave it, since it's better to keep the noise level down.]

[Prompto frowns pointedly away and busies himself with examining the room.]

Hm? Oh. Yeah. 'Course.

[He pulls the camera out of the armiger, the brief twinkle of light almost too much in this dark, quiet place, and fiddles with the low-light settings. He snaps up some pictures of the pages scattered around, and the room itself, close-ups of the shelves and furniture. Who knows what might be important?]

[The flash of Prompto's camera, though expected, is still a bit much in the gloom of the building and Lucina finds herself looking away to blink the bright spots out of her eyes.

As she does, the light catches on the gleam of metal and she walks carefully forward towards it. Bending down and shuffling some of the decaying furniture away, she can see that it's the relic of some sort of weapon.]

Messer, is this some sort of gun/bow hybrid? [She figures he might know, but only because she's seen the way he works with his own guns.] It doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with.

[Messer's flashlight flickers get her to look, and she sees what he's signaling about. Kaname flashes hers back in affirmation. Before she can say anything, Lucina's find has the other woman addressing Messer, so she takes a moment to join Prompto.]

Hey. [She nudges him lightly. Her words are quieter, meant for him.] Good thinking getting the whole area. I'm glad you came along. Let me know if I can help with anything, all right?

[Kaname looks back, speaking louder for the other two.] What do you have over there?

[Neither the camera nor the architecture interests him much, so when Lucina calls for his attention he moves to examine what she's found, running the light over the surface of the weapon. This is more his area of expertise, thank god.]

...It resembles a crossbow, but the mechanism is internal. We'd have to dismantle it to confirm what sort of ammunition it can accept, unless we find any here.

[Assuming it still works, anyway. Carefully he runs his fingers around what he guesses must be the trigger to see if it has a safety.]

Hey.

[He lowers his camera so he can give her his full attention, though he twists the lens in and out of focus.]

Yeah. Of course. Glad to be here. Y'know, creepiness aside. [He nods at her offer of help, though nothing comes to mind.

And then turns his attention to the other two, eyeballing what he can see of the thing they're examining. He snaps a picture. Could be useful.]

[And she's seen Prompto's weapon since their arrival and she wouldn't mind a second opinion.]

Prompto, what do you think? You also use a gun, yes?

[She's not sure about taking pictures of everything they see, but she's sure that Miriel and Laurent would be thrilled if they were here.]

If this was some sort of municipal building, perhaps there might be an office with records that have survived. We should start looking for that.

[Kaname nudges Prompto to go take a look while she stays where she is, interested in the scattered pages of the book. She picks one up, turning it over in her hands. It's faded, and what script can be seen makes no sense to her. That would be too convenient. The singer picks up a couple more and puts them in the bag she brought along before going to join the others.]

We could take it along, if you're all curious. [Being the only one no too interested in the weapon doesn't bother her at all. In fact, she's glad the three have a common interest to discuss.] Crossbow or gun, what's the likelihood we find ammunition laying nearby as well?

[Kaname listens to Lucina's suggestion and nods.] That's a good plan. I'll take a look at the door Messer found, maybe it's another way out. We could find something else as well.

[Leaving them to look more or follow, she heads to the door he previously pried open.]

[Messer offers the weapon out to Prompto if he wants to have a look at it, shrugging off his pack so it can be stored inside when he and Lucina are finished with it. Whatever it is, it's not likely to be superior to what they already have, so it's probably more for educational purpose that they'd take it. Can't hurt, though.

When Kaname moves on, he crosses the room to follow her, one hand moving to his waist near his weapon in case there's trouble. He's not about to let her wander off solo in this unknown place.]

Careful. The floor felt unstable earlier.

[Which is pretty much the only thing he has time to say before his own weight combined with hers causes the floor tile to crack, the whole floor heaving as a sinkhole caves in on itself. With a forward lurch Messer hooks an arm around Kaname's waist to yank her backwards and shove her away onto solid ground before he drops down out of sight.]

[The camera goes away for a moment, so he can take the weapon from Messer and look it over, glancing briefly at Kaname as she sets off across the room.]

Auto crossbow, maybe? If it was fired here, there should be some ammo or casings...

[They would be a pain to find among the rubble, in the dark. Though he'd be happy to break the weapon apart and put it back together, regardless of whether or not they figured out what it was beforehand.

He's about to say so when he hears the floor give way. He turns, dropping the weapon, just in time to see Kaname being pushed to safety before Messer disappears. He's at her side in an instant.]

You okay? [And then louder, toward the new hole.] Dude! Still with us?

Messer, wha-- [With his shove, Kaname stumbles back, almost colliding with Prompto. She gives a slight not to his question as she goes towards the edge, trying to look down, worry evident on her face.]

Messer! Can you hear me? Are you all right? [She takes another step closer but stops when she feels the floor shift underneath her feet. Still, she doesn't move back, instead shining her light through the hole in hopes of seeing him.]

I'm coming down, okay?

[Glancing back to Prompto and Lucina, Kaname removes her bag and slides it away from her towards more stable ground. One of them will grab it, right?

With a hop, she's down the hole, her rocket skirt immediately kicking in, so her descent is slower and safer. It also offers a brief moment of more light.]

[Ow.

Messer grimaces at the bottom of the hole, which is actually not that far down, merely to a low-level basement, but it'd been an unpleasant way down and he'd landed badly, a crack to his jaw on impact leaving him stunned and unable to reply to their calls right away. It's also pitch black down below, so he's squinting and dragging himself to his hands and knees when Kaname's skirt lighting up the area.

He presses a hand to his chin beneath the mask, testing- doesn't seem to be broken, just sore enough to feel like he's been socked in the jaw by the captain. A few times.

Again, ow.]

'm fine. [He coughs, shifting to face Kaname properly, though once the skirt's off again he can't see a damn thing.] I have rope, if you can find something solid to tie it to.

[He hovers anxiously as Kaname moves toward the hole. He considers joining her, but worries that their combined weight will be too much.

And then her bag is sliding over, and she jumps in, and he doesn't have time to voice his concern about that. Even though he can see the burst of light from her skirt, he scoots closer to the hole to see what he can see - which isn't much. Or really anything.

Rope?]

We can find something to anchor it with up here!

[Furniture or something?]

[Lucina is quick to join Kaname and Prompto at the edge of the hole where Messer disappeared. However, she picks a different edge so as not to have the floor give away underneath her to join him unexpectedly.

When Kaname jumps down with the aid of her strange skirt, Lucina debates the intelligence of her own impulse to jump as well.]

Throw it up, Kaname. We can use it to haul you both up. Neither of you are injured, yes?

[She looks over at Prompto.]

I don't trust anything here to use as an anchor, so you and I will have to do to balance out the weight difference.

[The moment her skirt's off, her flashlight is on, finding Messer instantly. She's down at his side, carefully checking him over, and once temporarily satisfied, Kaname carefully moves to put his arm around her shoulder to help support him.

All this is quick and methodical, old training coming back into her movements. Even as she helps him stand, the singer gives him a one armed hug of relief. She looks up through the hole, the pair now visible thanks to her light.]

We're well enough for now, but Lucina's right. Give me a moment to get him secured, and you can pull him up first. The two of us at once might be too much. I don't want to test it.

[Kaname does what she can to keep any residual worry from her tone. It's mostly successful. She hopes.]

Try not to jostle him too much.

[Then quieter, to Messer, she speaks as she starts to tie the rope she fished from his bag.]

Thank you. For looking after me like always.

[He helps her with tying it best as he can, but it's easier to just let her work without his hands in the way. She's deft and skilled, and he trusts her knot-tying skills just fine- more than that, he trusts her with his life.

Her working on that gives him a chance to regain his breath and his senses, shaking off the remnants of the knock to his head. He clenches and unclenches his fists, and they feel sturdy again.]

Of course.

[He knows it's all he needs to say; protecting her will always be instinctive, something he'll do without question. The nature of their relationship - work partners, acquaintances, clumsy arms-length friends - has never changed that and it never will.

He gives her a light nudge once she's finished, winding the rope around one hand and pointing up with the other.]

Go ahead, go back up. They might need you to catch them if ground is still unstable.

[And if anyone falls, they'll fall on him while he's climbing. No thanks.]

[He frowns briefly at Lucina's suggestion, but then nods. She's probably right.

He calls down,] We'll be gentle!

[He catches the robe when their end is tossed up, and steps back from the hole and let's Luncina get into position. It wouldn't do any of them any good if the floor gave out mid-rescue.]

[Hey, she's done this before. Not everywhere in Ylissa and Plegia are super modern. Ruins are a thing, especially in her time.

She's impressed with the ease that Prompto catches the rope and she goes over to him. She wraps some of it around her waist.]

You'll have to pull from around me to get the best leverage. I hope you're not squeamish.

Be careful, you two. Keep an eye out for things down there.

[While Messer's suggestion makes sense, Kaname shakes her head in reply.] If something happens down here, I could be useful. That aside, I don't have enough lift for the thrusters to boost me up from here anyway.

[She pats his shoulder with her hand in a show of comfort before stepping back and calling up.]

He's good to go!

[Once the rope is firmly tied, Messer grips it tightly and begins to climb, ignoring the throb of his head and focusing on rising one foot after the other. Between his climbing and the two at the front pulling him up, it doesn't take him long to reach the top, although by the end of it, he's breathing harder than he normally would. Weird- he must have hit his head harder than he thought.

Still, he's okay, it seems.]

...Thank you. We should move on from this place, though, if it's this unstable.

[I hope you're not squeamish, she says. He laughs weakly, but doesn't complain as he helps her help Messer up and out of the hole. Once he's safely up top, Prompto nods.]

Won't hear me complain.

[And into the hole:] Ready, Kaname?

[Look, she's dealt with so many different kinds of people in her life. Poor Ricken still can't look at her for some reason after she dragged him from drowning in the river.

Who cares if he was naked?

Once Messer is up, Lucina visually checks him for damage without saying anything as she removes the rope from around him to toss it down the hole again and turning her attention back to extracting her other friend.]

The sooner we leave, the better.

Almost-- give me a moment, I think I saw something when I got down here.

[If Prompto or Lucina get close enough to the hole to check on her, they'll see her flashlight pointing to a corner away from the opening. A gleam of white catches her attention, and Kaname carefully makes her way over towards it.]

It's not something that should be here... it's not dusty at all. [Once there, she crouches to pick something up right in front of the pile.]

A gun? [Back over to the hole, she holds it up for them to see.] What do you think?

[Of course he's scooting closer to see what she's up to. He wants her up and out of there, not poking around at more potentially dangerous things. Especially not when she was down there, and they were all up here.

He squints down at what she's holding up.]

Sure is a gun. [but] ...It looks familiar. Can you bring it up with you?

One moment. [Kaname goes to the rope and secures it around the firearm.]

You can bring it up now, I've got a little more I'd like to see.

[Oh, what, she's staying there for a while? Then-]

I'll go back down.

[He reaches for the rope. It would be easy enough to just slide to the bottom again.]

[Lucina reaches out to stop Messer.]

It might be easier to let me go down there. I'm smaller than both of you. If you have to pull me up, there's less chance of the ground collapsing.

[No way is Lucina letting either man going down there at this point. She's small and agile. Let her go, Messer.]

[While they argue about it, Prompto pulls up the gun. Frowning at it, he speaks, a little distracted. This is his gun.]

I don't want Kaname down there by herself and you already took a fall, dude. Lucina's right - if we need to haul her out, it'll be easier with us two up here.

[The island's size is substantial, and the mist is thick and concentrated in the central area where Nami sent Kaname and her group searching for Messer. It's been this way for long enough that even here, the territory lies empty and abandoned, save for one man.

Three things are noticeable before anyone sees him- first, a soft, tinny jingling. Second, heavy breathing and the occasional aggressive snarl. Third, the mist parts to reveal a brutal cityscape of what must have once been a normal, thriving metropolis and is now just a mass grave of bodies scattered throughout the street. Men, women, children, humans and alien humanoids- the population is a blur of unrecognizable figures, with death being the only thing they have in common. Some of them have veins protruding from their faces, most of them are covered in blood. Some have no faces at all, too mangled for any features to remain. Whatever happened here was violent, brutal, and left little room for survival.

Any attempt to check on the bodies will reveal them to be a mere hallucination, and with enough searching, they'll find him: staggering through the center of it all is Messer.

He's been wandering for hours non-stop, and it shows on his face- gaunt and exhausted, driven forward only by the infection flowing through his body and the bloodlust it brings with it. His muscles stretch the clothing he's wearing, tense and pulsing with excess energy and adrenaline, the veins pronounced on his face, eyes bloodshot. The mask that hangs from his neck is even more broken than it had been when he'd left them, nail scratches like deep claw marks over the filters, bits of shattered plastic missing from the shell. There's remnants of blood on his hands but it's impossible to tell the source from a distance.

The tinny voice is a recording of Kaname's AXIA that echoes around him like a siren's song, faint and occasionally glitching, the battery of his bracelet running dry. Not that it was ever effective in this place, with the hallucinations and the madness of the mist too overwhelming to give him a chance. Even Kaname's real song hadn't been enough to spare him in the moment where the Var had taken over his mind.

He hasn't noticed anyone yet.]

[Alfheim. The sight is instantly recognizable to Kaname, a reminder of what she and the early Walkure had been unable to fix, sans for one man. Now here he is again, reliving that nightmare the two thought behind them.

Nami's message was almost a godsend, arriving when the singer was almost at her wits' end. She has to thank her captain later.

Now here, she glances back at Prompto and Lucina, both relieved and on edge with them there. They'd been clued in as soon as they could be even before he ran off, and the rest after. The fact they'd decided to stay and help meant a lot. Kaname keeps her voice low when she begins to lay out the plan that has been brewing in her head since their search started.]

It'll be like Selvin. [That rundown is for Prompto to grasp the general idea of their strategy.] Lucina, you're up there with me, Prompto's covering us. I need to draw Messer's attention and have his focus, and I've got to be close to do it.

[She pauses, the small echo of her song permeating the air around them and renewing her resolve.]

My abilities are stronger when my life is in danger. I'm afraid that's what we need here. Don't let him get you, once he does, you won't be released. [Her eyes flicker to the illusions of corpses strewn about.] When I give the signal, I need you two to keep him off me for three minutes. If nothing's changed after the time is up... Do what you have to.

[They should know what she means, there's no room for it to be anything other than the last resort judging by her tone. Kaname looks at both of them.]

Last chance for questions or to change your mind.

[The landscape is a terrifyingly familiar one. It's Yssitol all over again. Only, without fire. Lucina's grip on her sword is white-knuckled and tight. Nothing can make her drop it at this point.

She's not sure what the comments about Selvin reference, but she thinks she has enough information going forward.]

I won't change my mind.

[Her voice is far more sure than she feels, but that's good. She's here to help her friends and to make sure that nothing bad happens to Messer, if she can do something. And, well, if it comes to it, she'll cut him down as well.

Hopefully.]

Can he be reasoned with like this?

[He does not like the idea that Kaname will need to be in danger, and opens his mouth, a protest on the tip of his tongue.

But he opts not to say anything after all. She knows what needs to be done.

He presses his lips together and calls up his gun.]

I'm good. [Good enough.

He listens for an answer to Lucina's question. An alternative to having to shoot the guy would be preferable.]

[It's a blissfully hopeful question, somewhat naive considering the situation. Kaname doesn't reply as straight forward as normal, since the answer is obvious to her.]

If he were, we wouldn't be doing this.

[The singer drops her bag at the edge of the illusion by an old post of some kind after gripping it to make sure it's real. In one hand, she has her flashlight from the exploration. Her other clutches a small music player, previously belonging to Freyja.]

I'll head up on the left, Lucina, you take the right. When I'm in position, I'll draw his attention. That'll be your cue to head in. Engage when needed, either to give me distance or a reprieve. I'll do the same for you.

[Glancing at Prompto, Kaname's all business now. There's no familiar warm gleam when their eyes meet.]

Keep him in your sights and off our backs if he gets too close or if we need the cover. If I can, I'll use the flashlight to show you where to shoot.

[Instructions delivered, she nods to them and heads off to her specified direction. The grip on her items tightens until her knuckles are white. He may be tired and ragged, but she knows the Var. He'll keep going until cured or dead.

Once in a suitable position, Kaname stands at attention and turns on the music. Messer's attention is drawn, and she changes into a familiar outfit. Flashy and distracting as it needs to be.]

Messer!

[If someone were to ask Messer, while in is right mind, what goes through someone's head as the Var runs its course, he'd find it difficult to answer; if pressed, his answer would be very simple: nothing. No thoughts, no words, no coherency. There's only feelings, rushing in one after another, drowning out anything and everything. Rage, frustration, wrath, a hunger for something unquenchable. Instinct too great and terrible to name.

Like a wild animal, sickly and lashing out- you either cage it or put it out of its misery. That's all the Var is.

In the distance the man's staggering body goes stiff at the sound of her shout, turning clumsily towards them. His gaze zeroes in on Kaname as the source. If the music is familiar to him at all, he shows no sign. He snarls wildly, muscles bulging, and charges towards her with fingers outstretched.]

[Lucina is wordless as she nods. It's a difficult position, but she knows that it has to be done. It's not the first hard decision she's ever had to make and it probably won't be the last, given her role.

She darts to the right, sword out in front of her, ready to help as much as she can. She knows how to subdue as well as maim and kill. She's learned all her lessons well enough.

What she's not expecting is the look of wildness on Messer's face that wipes it of anything familiar at all.]

Sweet Naga...

[In that moment she wishes that her brother was there to sort of goad her forward, but she's glad that he's safely away.]

Kaname, now!

[He listens to Kaname's instructions and nods seriously before falling back, gun flashing into his hand.

He gets a good look at Messer when he turns and charges. He hardly recognizes the man. Still, he doesn't want to have to shoot the guy. And he silently prays that they won't have to kill him.]

Fuck...

[Three minutes. That's ... that's a long time.

He flicks off the safety.]

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the search // cw for death/blood/violence

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