East Exploration Mingle (CLOSED)

[equinoctials]

characters: Aziraphale, Bucky, Crowley, Hopper, Jason Todd, Kol, Ignis, Kakyoin, M.K., Noctis, Riku
location: East of Beacon
date/time: September 9-12
content: Mingle log for various interactions happening during the expedition to explore east of Beacon.
warnings: Please put warnings in your threads if you need to warn for something!

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1st "Night" - Camp

[equinoctials]

[ For threads taking place in the camp they set up on the first "night", on the other side of the newly discovered river. ]

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley doesn't often sleep---well, he would sleep for decades back on Earth if the time suited him, but this whole 'regular sleeping' thing still doesn't make a whole lot of sense to him. Needing to sleep. Needing to rest. It's annoying and irritating.

He'll sit in camp, vaguely nodding off, staring into whatever source of warmth they have set up for themselves. He should really lay down and rest.]

Are we taking watches then? Staying up to keep an eye out?

[worthallthis]

[Oh, come on, Crowley. Don't you know this drill by now? The Soldier shakes its head, from where it's standing a little bit behind the ones at the fire, lantern still slung over its back and still with its shutters on, emitting no light itself.]

I'll keep watch.

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley turns his head to look at the human soldier person] Yeah, but you have to sleep sometime, Soldat. Can't have you up all night, you won't be...you know, refreshed for the morning or whatever it is that happens after you sleep.

Do you get refreshed?

[worthallthis]

Yes.

[For some level of "refreshed", it supposes. Sleep is required for optimal functioning, but it's not exactly something it enjoys a lot. Too vulnerable.]

I don't need that much sleep, and I slept well before we left.

[Basically, the Soldier planned to not get much sleep on this trip. Even if it tried, it doubts it could manage to get much.]

(Riku & whoever)

[equinoctials]

[ Riku had brought along the bonfire torch that was typically installed at the boat house, since there was no longer anyone else staying there to miss it. It means the torch serves double duty as their campfire. His own supplies are rather meager - some canned vegetables of some variety, but as canned things go, quite disappointing - but he does leave the bag holding them open and near to the fire, presumably so others can help themselves.

He isn't much of a conversationalist. Most of his contributions have centered around offering helpful advice, keeping what has been told to him in confidence and offering little that isn't strictly related to surviving, to their overall situation.

For the moment, he's watching the fire and occasionally the others gathered around it, picking at a tin of green beans. ]

When we get back, I'll probably ask for some help building a bridge over that river we crossed earlier.

[ Still all business. So much for small talk. ]

[broplaints]

[Noctis is strictly avoiding your offering of vegetables, Riku. Mostly because he was intelligent, for once, and had shoved as much baked bread and other non-perishable things as he possibly could into Armiger before they had set out. Which was also how he had ended up eating a bread sandwich for dinner, but he would literally rather die than eat canned peas.]

Never really built anything before. But I guess there's a first time for everything.

[Does knocking over a tree count? It probably doesn't count.]

[equinoctials]

[ Riku is the opposite of a picky eater. Some of this is out of necessity in the face of meagerness. The rest is all due to having a very adventurous palate. That said, months here have made him miss the fresh fruits and fish fry of the islands.

He can't help the twitch of a smirk at Noct's bread sandwich, though. Seems a popular choice. ]

Why not? It's only gotta last a couple of years at most.

[broplaints]

[Honestly, Noctis misses being able to fish. Apparently casting a line into the ocean gets you absolutely nothing more than your time being wasted. And he wasn't about to try the river.]

Let's just say I'm not really the 'fix it' kind of guy.

[He could probably build you a master piece in Minecraft though.]

[lunchbreaks]

Oh. Well, I'll be happy to help you do it.

[ He says now, over his own sad sandwich which seems to be a piece of bread sandwiched between two more pieces of bread.

He doesn't know that their plans will be waylaid by having to rebuild the church, which will take priority for him over a bridge. ]

I'm not much a builder, but I'd like to assist, if possible.

[equinoctials]

[ That's yet another in the bread sandwich club, Riku thinks, a little more mystified by the man himself than his supper choice. It's not the man's demeanor, exactly - though he's quite the character, to be honest - it's...

It's the light.
The light in him, specifically.

With Kairi dead and Sora gone, Riku was aware that the balance between their shattered trio had tipped dark, so he sought ways to restore his equilibrium, ways to take the darkness and shore it up for when he needed it, rather than let it drag him down into despair.

The Darkness, after all, could no longer corrupt Riku. But that didn't mean it couldn't burden him. Now, being near so much light makes him keenly aware of its lack everywhere else. There are exceptions. Daylight, who has his own struggles.

It makes Riku hope that the man sticks around a little longer. ]

Thanks.
...So what did you do? Before- [ Riku hesitates. ] Before you died?

[lunchbreaks]

Hm?

[ Aziraphale looks up at him, and quickly swallows his bite of sandwich. ]

Ah, I owned a book shop. I'd collected all these... rare books in my lifetime, so I thought I'd open a place to store my collection.

Of course... I'm not terribly good at selling them. It's just such a shame to let them go.

Mostly then, I suppose, I did a lot of restoration and translations.

Were you a student, Riku?

[ He just assumes, because, he's you know, 18. Well, Aziraphale can't really tell how old he is because he's 6000 and everyone's young to him, but Riku is especially so. ]

[darkeyed]

<sub>[Going along to get along may not rate high on M.K.'s list of priorities at any given time, but learning more about this world? Now that interests him, and he doesn't need any coaxing to invite himself along on the party, packed and armed and eager to pierce the darkness. Others can say what they like about his personality, but on a venture like this? He's an asset and he damn well knows it, content to be a pinprick of torchlight scouting slightly ahead of the main pack where danger is welcome to find him.

In fact... those who've met him in one of his (many) sullen moods might find him more approachable than usual on the trek. And--in a word--lighter. Danger suits him. Or maybe mutual purpose.

Or maybe not having a chance to spend all his time drinking and feeling sorry for himself. That, too.

He's looking forward to heading out in the "morning," but for now, their motley little camp will do for rest and reassessment. By necessity, traversing the terrain is slow going, and getting past the river had been even more so. Turning on the gift with a running start had allowed him to jump it alongside Noctis' warping, but by the time everyone had made it over, it was enough to pick out an optimal spot for a rest break.

Now here he reclines against a bedroll-turned-pillow, having passed the baton of guarding the perimeter onto another, warming his feet by the fire. This nippy weather's hell on the toes, and it's not even winter yet.]</sub>

Here.

_{[Think fast--that's a bundle of salt flying your way, perfect for seasoning those rather sad-looking beans of yours. Just because they're marching into the black depths of hell doesn't mean they can't eat semi-well.]}

[equinoctials]

[ Here, he hears, and sees a blur of movement, his hand snapping up on reflex honed from years of playing games of catch with his friends - and a few years snagging healing items pitched his way from an ally in the midst of battle, too.

Riku looks down at what he's caught, glancing up again at M.K., a silver eyebrow inching towards his hairline. It's salt, he's familiar, and a little impressed he was carrying it with him. There's a lot of uses to this, a pinch in water can keep one ticking longer under exertion than water alone.

A lifetime by the sea tells you a lot about the qualities and benefits of this humble mineral. ]

Thanks.

[ He doesn't toss it back, however, not when he can step around to where he reclines, helping himself to a piece of ground nearby, holding out the bundle to him once he's seated. ]

...Did you eat?

[darkeyed]

_{[Throwing is easier than catching in this constant, oppressive darkness, and made easier still thanks to Riku's coloring. Pale eyes, pale hair--that much more visible for it when he stands in such a way that the moonlight plays off the silvery tones in his hair. It's cheating a bit to take advantage of Riku's unusual features, but the other doesn't seem to need the help, snatching the projectile with a lifetime's worth of ingrained reflex.]}

Some.

<sub>[Enough for what he'd consider his ration, with remainder to spare for the rest of their number. They don't know for sure how long they'll be away from town; they have to make what they have last. Of course, being in a land of the dead with mysterious monthly supply shipments means they can afford to spoil themselves a little with seasoning, surely.

When the other boy joins him, he sits up a bit more, turning the bedroll from a pillow into a cushion for the lower back. The hand resting at his side closes, and the object he's holding in it closes with it in a soft snap of metal. Click click click click. In moments of downtime, it's a sound that sometimes follows M.K., drifting from the golden compass he has a habit of taking out, opening and closing it in his hand almost rhythmically.]</sub>

Prefer it plain? _{[He smiles the slightest bit when Riku hands the bundle back without opening it, suggesting he's feeling some sympathy for Riku's taste buds.]} Your call.

Bucky | OTA

[worthallthis]

During the "day", or whatever they're calling it, the Soldier stays on the ground and keeps close to the other travelers, a gun in its flesh hand and its plain 1930s-looking lantern tied slung over its back and shuttered tight to keep its light from showing. It maneuvers by the light of everyone else's lanterns, instead, since it's here to guard and not explore, itself.

The Soldier doesn't talk much, but isn't particularly gruff or unfriendly, either. Just focused on threat analysis and keeping track of its charges like a particularly large and well-armed mother duck. (Maybe a mama bear might be more appropriate?) Anyone stumbling in the dark might find it hovering close, but not touching.

When they camp for the "night", or whatever they're calling it, the Soldier makes regular patrols around the site and stands outside the ring of light cast by the torchlight unless specifically invited closer, even eating whatever they put together for dinner while on its feet. Occasionally the Soldier swings up into a tree for better sight-lines out into the woods, not that there's much to see when it's so dark, and for clearer air for listening. It insists on staying up to keep watch while at least most of the others sleep, and makes no move to go to sleep itself. After all, it made sure to get plenty of sleep before they left. This is a mission. Missions aren't time to sleep.

Noctis & Whoever

[broplaints]

[Setting up camp was heart-achingly familiar. Except there was no Gladio telling him and Prompto to do less complaining and more working. No fancy Coleman tent and no warmth billowing off a roaring fire. No fancy meal to be prepared. And there definitely would be no sun rise to greet them.

Still, it was habit that drew Noctis to sit near the single torch they were currently using as a makeshift beacon. Before they had set out he had stuffed Armiger full of freshly baked bread and other non-perishable items that could be easily stored away and pulled out when needed. Which of course means he's currently eating what could only be called a bread sandwich for dinner, but there's plenty to go around.

It's late, probably, and he can't sleep, despite how exhausted he actually is. Mostly because it's eerily silent and it leaves him with nothing but his thoughts.]

It's too quiet out here.

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier isn't sleeping, either, but it's doing that on purpose. It has been professional with the deposed king, but also careful. It definitely overstepped its bounds in their first conversation, and half expects retaliation at some point. (If this were HYDRA, there would have been retaliation well before now. It's like waiting for a shoe to drop that never fucking drops.)

But Noctis is initiating conversation. So it'll reply.]

Quiet isn't always bad.

[broplaints]

[Noctis is a master at holding grudges - it's those good Lucis Caelum genes at work - but only against people who deserve it. And despite whatever line may have been crossed, the soldier definitely hasn't come anywhere near that point yet.]

Maybe not. It's just weird, you know? Like in video games when something is about to go down it always gets really quiet.

80 years later, spiderman points at u

[trivialpursuit]

[Kakyoin likes camping, not that he'll admit it. He hasn't been camping with near strangers in... ever, and that much makes him a little uncomfortable, but he's present and helpful enough with setting up, if a little reserved.

And he's still reserved when it's time to eat... bread, which is incredibly boring. He's thinking idly about what kind of breakfast with actual flavor he could scrounge up in the morning when someone speaks, and, ah--]

Not anymore. [no wait that's RUDE] That is to say... yes?

[nailing it]

86 years later, exactly

[broplaints]

[Do you have any idea how many times he eaten fire roasted toast? And then complained about it? But apparently his only other option is a can of cold beans and he just isn't about that life.

If Ignis doesn't cook them something edible in the morning he might just resort to starving until they get back.]

Smooth. [Thankfully, this is exactly how he normally is with his friends.] Are you always this charming?

1st Camp

[reigniter]

[There are a lot of them in the group. Handling the food and drinks is a task, that's for sure. Still, he did manage (with help of Noct's armiger) to pack some bottles with tea, coffee, and some bagels (they last longer). He's taking a place near one of the wide and tall tree stumps, paper cups out as well as the bottles and few bagels on the paper plate. They might be dead and they might not need to eat and drink, but they should keep their energy up.

He takes a seat nearby, to replenish the food once it's gone from the plate, drinking coffee from his cup. He's a bit high strung, considering this is probably the furthest he's been away from the Bonfire and beacon. Someone won't be sleeping tonight.]

[equinoctials]

[ Riku went into this as self sufficient as possible - not because he's some pro at this, he just doesn't want to rely on anyone else when everyone else is dealing with all the same challenges, have all the same problems. He ate from a can of string beans, offered the remainder (canned vegetables, mainly) in a satchel he dropped near the campfire.

Said campfire was really just the torch from the Bonfire that Riku had brought along, but it had to do.

He drank from his canteen, watched Ignis across the fire about as much as he watched everyone else. Sometimes he spoke with the others, or took a turn watching the perimeter. It's after that duty that he realizes Ignis isn't resting.

He probably isn't even the only one, but something about it thrums with tension. ]

...Hey.

sorry for the slow ;;

[reigniter]

[The endless travel Ignis and the other got stuck on while they were alive made Ignis pretty good at managing the food for everyone. This scene, the atmosphere, is almost the same as it was then- only the dawn will never rise, and Prompto isn't around to take pictures and Gladio isn't around to bicker friendly with Noct. Those memories are another reason why he's still awake and not sleeping.

He looks up from the fire when Riku approaches and nods in acknowledgment.]

Everything alright?

[Ignis didn't hear a sound, save for people chatting in low voices around the fire. But, you know, it never hurts to ask.]

[equinoctials]

Perimeter's quiet.

[ He doesn't wait for an invitation, smoothly sitting on the ground nearby. It might just be a torch, but the warmth it gives is more than welcome. As summer wanes, the temperature has dropped. Even if he's well traveled now, he's still at his heart born and raised in the Destiny Islands.

The cold really doesn't agree with him. ]

You're not going to rest?