[closed]

[axi]

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.]

Comments

[axi]

[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.

[vartex]

[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.]

[this_loser]

[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.]

[lacyprincess]

[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.

[axi]

[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!

[vartex]

[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.

[this_loser]

[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?

[lacyprincess]

[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.

[axi]

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?

[this_loser]

[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?

[axi]

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.

[vartex]

[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.]

[lacyprincess]

[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.]

[this_loser]

[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.