ximilialog | MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 2

MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 2

● ● ● M I S S I O N 4 . 2

INTRO • THE DREAM DEFERRED • YOUR WAKE UP CALL • FYI

// INTRO. WELFORD BRANSON  

It is barely past twilight in Scorpion’s Bend, the twin suns having just set, taking their light with them — but the moons delay, and so darkness lingers over the town as Lan Xichen’s conversation with one Welford Branson comes to an abrupt end. At the same time, all around the town, the team will notice the town natives around them stilling — some freezing in the middle of a sentence, a man with a fork in the air, a woman mid-step on the street, some youngsters with their mouths open in laughter. All of them become statues in less than a heartbeat; still, eyes vacant, like everything that made them seem alive has been taken away.

And then — a reverberating sigh, echoing heavily in the ears of all the Orbers. What follows are words, spoken by a chorusing voice now familiar to most of the team —

“Well now you’ve done it.”

The orb’s echoing sound is filled with disappointment, even annoyance.

Some may see that amidst all the frozen townspeople, an old man runs, clawing at his thinning hair. Some of you may hear his words, muttered, desperate:

“I don't understand, I thought 'twas just a bad dream, everyone was fine, don't understand, what in the name of the Eight could've done somethin' like this —”

The disbelieving mumbles trail at his wake, making it clear he does not know what is going on at all — in fact, you may have a better idea as to what has happened than he does. But as you turn to follow him, open your mouth to yell at him to stop... everything around you shatters.

The lights in the buildings grow dim and break; the smell of food disappears; the horses in the stables simply fade away. You notice that if you were wearing or carrying something you bought while here, it too disappears, your clothes turning to those you had on upon arrival, all equipment shimmering away slowly.

But perhaps most importantly… the frozen statues of people crumble into ash right in front of you. It may fill the floors of the now-silent, dusty and worn-down houses, or it may blow away with the harsh desert wind — whichever it is, sans the team, the town of Scorpion’s Bend is now devoid of people.

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// PART I.THE DREAM DEFERRED  

The town that now surrounds the team is very different from the one it used to be — the houses are quiet, filled with sand and dust; doors broken, tables turned over, drawers open and mostly empty, aside from anything not valuable. The beds in Thornbush Inn are ragged, insects of various sizes skittering along the floors. The Saloon is dusty, furniture broken, and a lone piano stands in the corner, half its keys having crumbled away. The door to the Mayor’s office is ajar, a banging sound repeating as it hits the wall in time with the wind.

1.0 In the corners of the Sheriff’s office, the school and the church, the embera slither along, searching for food; owl-shrews hide from the Orbers on the streets, while feathered coyotes howl at the five moons now lending their light to see the town’s destruction better. The team may be the only living humanoids, but they are not the only living beings in the town anymore; in the absence of people, animals have made the town their home. And coexist they must, now, to survive the rapidly dropping temperature of the night that has fallen upon them.

2.0 The next morning, as the moons disappear underneath the horizon and let the two suns bring out their scorching rays once more, the team wakes up to the reality of having to survive Scorpion’s Bend… with very little supplies. So search the empty houses, for they still stand; the fire that has burned away the people has not touched the buildings… but they have not been immune to the passing of time, or the harsh weather in the desert. You may find clothing, basic equipment, pots and pans left on a now-cold stove; but no valuables, no money, no gems, no jewelry, no weapons.

But amidst your search through the town, remember that what you need, first and foremost, is to find water and something to eat — it will not be long until the suns are high in the sky, and some of you are already in desperate need of proper nourishment, without being left to endure the scorching temperatures the days on the planet of Badrock bring.

3.0 But should you want to brave the heat, you’ll find it is now possible to leave the town and venture out into the desert. Out there, the rock dragons search for prey, while bald vultures circle above your head in groups of three or four, their shrieks growing in volume the farther you walk. If you show weakness, any weakness, they strike — and the dragons, sensing their chance, are not far behind.

And when you least expect it, the ground underneath you trembles, like a small earthquake is approaching you… and then you see it: from the sand, a whale surges up, then another, and another, arcing through the air like suspended there, before the sand swallows them once more. Should you get too close, you too may be swallowed underneath the sand; unless you’re very, very careful, or have in your arsenal something else that may help you to deal with these near-immortal giants that have swam across the deserts for hundreds of thousands of years.

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// PART II.YOUR WAKE UP CALL  

Time passes at a snail’s pace without the comforts of the town you were used to. Scorpion’s Bend is now a wasteland you must survive, and it clearly isn’t easy. Some of you might question whether retrieving the orb is still an endeavour worth pursuing after all of this, but the rest of you know that it is. That you’ve come this far and you’re nearly there; you just need to band together and form a gameplan.

As the suns begin to set over the horizon on yet another grueling day of scorching heat and rough, dry sand in the ghost town of Scorpion’s Bend, you might begin to hear a distant thunder that has nothing to do with an oncoming desert storm or otherwise. It rattles at the already weakened structures of the old Saloon and the General Store, bits of broken glass and debris vibrating with the raucous sound of clattering hooves, feet, and paws. And as the sound of the invasion grows louder – you’ll hear the unmistakable manic howling and bellowing in accompaniment: these are the Bouldersnakes that some of you have already heard much of.

4.0 The Bouldersnakes are not a group to be taken lightly, and have garnered the fearsome reputation that they now hold for a reason. Kicking up dust, they arrive like a cloud of chaos in different sizes, shapes, and forms. Some have the ability to shrink and grow in size to match their opponents in physical size and weight. Other Bouldersnakes are agile and quick; and others yet are superhumanly strong and robust – either way, they make for formidable opponents when you, yourself, have been weakened from weeks of a lack of proper nutrition and sleep. The individual members of the Bouldersnakes are like a band of bloodthirsty brothers: from all walks of life and all colours and creeds, with a severe and mean streak to them, who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

What goals, you ask? Should you listen carefully, their leader, riding a winged lizard-like creature, shouts to their underlings:

“Find it! This is where it told us to come to. We missed it last time, but no more! I don't care what we have to do, we're getting our hands on that thing!”

As it so happens, you are not the only crew in search of that elusive orb; the Bouldersnakes have been tracking down the whereabouts of this mysterious and all-powerful object themselves, burning through towns – quite literally – to get it. News that Scorpion’s Bend has seen a resurgence of life and might still be the resting place of the orb has the bandits seeking out the town again. Their first round through Scorpion's Bend about a year ago had them coming up empty-handed (save for a few bits and baubles), but this time they are determined to find what they've come here to find. Though if there’s anything left here to salvage... they’ll ransack as they please.

Whether you confront them head-on or they catch you in hiding, they won’t easily back down from a fight. It will be best to keep your distance if you can manage it, and hope that they’ll pass you by. But the Bouldersnakes have their weaknesses too: once maimed, they still bleed, and none of them are immortal, though they are notoriously difficult to kill based on their talents alone... and when they carry weapons, too, well — those not accustomed to battles may find it best to hide. And even for those with fighting experience under your belt, teaming up with your fellow Orbers and combining your shared skills will be your best chance at survival.

5.0 By the time the suns have disappeared and the moons have risen, the Bouldersnakes invasion will make the bandit attack from the other night seem like a childish tussle. The Bouldersnakes don’t play nice and have adapted to the harsh lands as ruthless survivors. They arrive like a wave, many equipped with weapons: guns, sabers, pistols and small knives. A few others have engineered their own specially crafted weapons made of metal and magic (in the shape of guns, blow-torches, and blades) that wield a special element harnessed from mined ore called ‘pulsefire’. It is this pulsefire, glowing a deep blue (like the hottest colour of flame), that has the capability to destroy all living beings and allows the bandits to systematically ravage unsuspecting towns down to ash, reap its benefits (either for the town’s riches and wealth, or and especially: for any supply of ore), and then leave without a trace.

The best way to fight against pulsefire is to acquire weapons of pulsefire of your own and best a Bouldersnake before they best you. (Think high stakes, noon-time duels of the pistol.) Of course, this is a very risky and very dangerous affair as one shot by pulsefire could mean your untimely demise and the element itself isn't easy to put out either, so it might be best to work in teams to strategically disarm and swipe a pulsefire weapon to use before they manage to overwhelm you.

NOTE: If your character is alive, your character will be vulnerable to the effects of pulsefire. Unliving things such as buildings and infrastructure will not be affected. Pulsefire has a slow spread-rate over unliving things, but its effects on the living are instant. Once in contact with the element, pulsefire quickly consumes the living body and spirit until it is turned to ash. Putting pulsefire out over unliving things is relatively easy, but once pulsefire has touched the living, there's little to no chance of making it out in one piece.

All through this, you must still remember your goal — it is not to stay in Scorpion's Bend, or even fight the Bouldersnakes, but to find the orb... and that means finding Welford Branson. How will you convince him to give you the orb, when all signs point to him not even knowing what it is, or what it has done? That is what you must decide... if you survive the Bouldersnakes in one piece, of course.

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F Y I

• The events in this log take place ICly right after the end of the NPC thread.

• The voting for how to get the orb is now open! Please head HERE to submit your idea for how the team should proceed to get the orb, or +1 others’ ideas.

• The conclusion of the mission and the return to the station will be posted on February 13.

• If you have questions about anything in this log, please direct them HERE.

• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪

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▶ NAV

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[ He does likewise wince some from the sting of being tended to, but it's not entirely too bad. The cuts are still pretty raw, painful as they heal, but he's making sure they don't get worse because that would be all they need.

It's ... weirdly nostalgic, too, he thinks, being taken care of like this. The comparisons are stark; this dirty, dark room compared to a bright sterile medbay. Blue's focused concern in his care directed at him personally, instead of doctors trained and doing their jobs whose names Yzak doesn't even remember (though, they're gone too, aren't they). Yzak's humiliation, the ugly boiling of outright hatred and revenge he felt so easily back then, probably on par with the nastier things Blue's felt from humans toward Mu in his experiences, whereas now ... those sorts of feelings aren't there anymore. Capable still in him? Absolutely. But it's not even due to the exhaustion setting in that he doesn't feel it, it's because it's been so long, and that he's changed since then.

(of course, he's still a Normal Amount of Big Mad about this whole situation - which for Yzak is always a little more dramatic than most, so, ya know) ]

Thank you.

[ He runs his own hand over the bandage work before standing to do as suggested. But before he moves, he peels off the overcoat he had on outside and holds it out to Blue. ]

Here. Put this on, too.

[Blue lets the coat fall into his hands, hanging onto it for a few beats before setting in his lap. he watches Yzak rummage, shrugging the blankets off his shoulders so he can drape the coat over them.]

Before I was able to catch up with you... Did you encounter any of the others? Those who may not have...sounded off on the network already.

[ It's like the bf hoodie trope but BETTER.

The inside of the coat itself is still warm since Yzak's been running around in it, and he doesn't appear to be too affected after removing it, since he's still got a couple of layers on himself. ]

Some of them, yeah.

[ Including Sabriel, who he thinks about in particular, since he had gone to check up on her personally after her own network post. The new local wildlife serves as a slightly better variety compared to just snakes. So thankful that for the time being they can actually eat well, Yzak grabs some of what he has left from that earlier. The owl-shrews aren't that bad! ]

Everyone appears to be accounted for. I think we've nearly cleared out everything of use in the immediate area, too.

[ As he moves to sit back down, he traces out a Charter mark to relight a nearly-dead fire in the small, very carefully made makeshift area to contain a fire, made out of a spare pot and a few broken piece of a metal chair to keep it a couple of inches off of the floor. The issue with the houses now is they have to be careful nothing catches or else the whole thing will light up like a matchbook. It's something, at least. ]

[trope or not, it's nice...it's warm, yes, but it also smells like Yzak. is that a strange thought to have? maybe, but individual minds also have something of a distinct 'scent' too...

Blue settles back against the wall once he's got that and the blankets wrapped around him, snug as a bug. the fresh fire doesn't hurt, either.

he offers a small smile as Yzak settles back down.]

Good news...no one missing. It's a step...in the right direction.

We'll have another.

We'll have plenty of others!

[ Always aiming that much higher, this one. And that determination isn't just because as a leader he has to motivate others, but because he wants to believe in what he states and motivate himself.

He makes pretty quick work of what shredded meat he grabbed, after considering reheating it up some near the fire but impatiently deciding against it. Cold or warm, Yzak's not picky here where leftovers are concerned. ]

You haven't sensed anything new amiss, have you?

[ He kicks off his boots and slides back against the wall to join Blue, shoulder-to-shoulder. ]

[as Yzak comes to settle in, Blue picks off the edge of blanket, quietly asking him to sit up a moment and take that corner for himself. no arguing, either!]

No. [...] I still can't sense him, either. That man... [the one whose life is entangled with the orb, the one who constructed that false town.]

[ He takes it without arguing (though he looks like he wants to, because he's not that cold still! he feels it, it's still settling in, but Blue was just shaking like a leaf!), though when he drapes it over his own shoulders, the blankets aren't big enough to completely cover them both without some exposure. Not when they're still sitting the way they are, anyway. Hmm what can be done here haha. ]

I'm not shocked to hear that. This whole experience will surely have us on higher alert about everything moving forward. [ Because to go all that time not even realizing themselves that they weren't properly eating... ]

We'll find him, though. We can't afford not to.

[Blue hums a soft sound. it's true, they have little choice; no one will be coming to save them should they falter. it doesn't make sense, though...there's three of these orbs in the Ximilia...none of them would assist in pulling its kin and everyone else back with it?

he sighs, tilting his head to rest it against Yzak's, a hand fishing around for his.]

It's just a matter of what's going to happen when we do. [ There's a tenseness in his voice when he says that, because Yzak himself doesn't know how this is going to end. Doesn't even know what he's going to want to do when they come face to face with making choices. He never does, though, does he? He just has to strive to make what he thinks, hopes, is the right, the best decision. For himself. For his team. For his friends. Even for this victim living in this painful, illusionary denial all this time. ] And what exactly the nature of this orb is.

[ Yzak's hand is easy enough to find, still very warm compared to Blue's. ]

[Blue's fingers thread between Yzak's, more comfortably practiced in this. his own hand is cold, yes, but it warms gradually with this. he gives Yzak's hand a gentle squeeze, as much a response in the affirmative as a consolation to that ever-active brain of his going over these unknowns and what contingencies they can even make.]

With a little more time...we will find the way. As we have before.

Rest a little for now, though.

[ Find the way. Of course we'll find the way, Yzak thinks back, somewhat placated by the touch that he's likewise getting a little more used to. There's still that beat of hesitancy that can't be helped, but if one were hyperfocused on it, it doesn't last as long, not as long as it did a few weeks prior.

That and, well, once Blue does take his hand... with the eye he can see out of he shoots a quick look down, and then straight at Blue. ]

What the fuck why are you still this cold!?

[ He blurts that out despite knowing very well why, he just can't help himself from opening his big mouth. ]

[the outburst, tied to that vexed feeling behind it, startles Blue a little, and he sits back a bit, double-blinking.

after a beat, he smiles, both amused and apologetic.]

I'm sorry, Yzak... If it helps, it isn't bothering me so much right now.

[ Yzak regards him for a long moment, regards their circumstances, and already that ripple of awkwardness runs through him. Is he ever not going to make things like this weird?

(no probably not) ]

You're hardly going to be able to rest like that! [ And that would mean Yzak wouldn't be able to either. So this is a mutually beneficial idea, he thinks as he gives Blue's hand a gentle tug. ] C-come here. Closer.

[ Much closer. Pulling his own legs in, Yzak lets go of that hand so he can shift and slip his own around Blue's waist and urge him to turn in closer to him, while the other reaches out around Blue's shoulders to grab for the other ends of those doubled up blankets. He leans in close when he does so, flushing when he feels their noses touch, and Blue can probably hear how thickly he swallows when he pulls the coverings back so he can properly get them wrapped up well enough to better trap in their body heat.

He'd probably be able to do this with less of a fuss were it anyone else (only less of a fuss, there'd always be a fuss), but because it's Blue who he already knows this intimately (?? kinda), every little thing feels that much stronger, warmer, different and new. Like every unsure but exciting new step down an unknown but just as exciting road.

Luckily for Blue, Yzak is naturally warm so he can serve as a Coordinator space heater. ]

[Blue is easily moved as needed for this adjustment, and scoots in as commanded, a curious, somewhat amused smile, catching the end of one of the blankets to help keep it in place where Yzak put it.

he tilts his head to flash that smile up at Yzak while his head is still tucked in up to the chin in layers.]

This is better, as a matter of fact.

[ With a couple of tiny wiggles to settle in and back comfortably against the wall (and so they can both rest comfortably warm against each other), Yzak leaves that arm around his waist while the other stays draped around Blue's shoulders to keep him close.

He tips his head down in turn to meet his gaze, still pink (cause gosh he's all cute bundled up like that, ugh). ]

Good.

[ He mutters, and then adds, voice and eyes dipping the tiniest bit, still pink as he feels Blue's hands move back against him, because, ]

If your hands are still that cold, you can ... put them under my shirt, skin - skin is warmer, that's why!

[ That's ALL HE MeaNS but it can't not sound weird. ]

[even if that's REALLY all he means, it's impossible for Blue to not follow through in imagining the implications, because the last time anyone's hands were under anyone's clothes?

...

...okay he got dizzy and almost blacked out. BUT THE OTHER TIME--

with an equally pink-tinged expression:] You won't mind? If you wind up...worked up from it. Or if I do? [pointedly:] It would be inevitable.

[ wOW BLUE he was trying not to let his mind go there and now look what you've done. Yzak's going from pink to a nice shade of tomato and his voice goes up a couple of octaves as he stammers. ]

I— I wouldn't have offered if I minded! And who said I get worked up that easily!?

[ Now that almost feels like a challenge. Which Yzak can never back away from. ]

J-just do it already if you're still cold!

[Blue can't help but breathe out a gentle laugh, ducking his head from the bluster, knowing full well Yzak will likely eat those words...

but then again, if his pride is so on the line, maybe he'll endure it? either way, he'll do as Yzak says, twisting to turn into him a bit, propping himself up on one hand between them so he can send his other hand freely to Yzak's side, having to feel around for the hem of his shirt and slip his not-as-cold-but-still-chilly hands underneath, holding his breath and bracing for the response.]

[ The question is, is he hoping for Yzak to eat those words?

What actually happens before anything, is when Blue's still-chilled hands touch the much warmer skin under his shirt, Yzak can't help but let out a strained, high-pitched little noise and automatically squirm against them because it's actually fucking cold.

But he quickly, stubbornly says, before Blue can do anything or even consider pulling those hands away: ] Don't even think about moving them!

[Blue presses his lips together in a thin line to stifle his smile, tucking his head under Yzak's chin, resting it against his shoulder. he is obedient of course, keeping his hand right where it settled under that twitchy stomach, but:]

If I asked permission, would you consider it?

[ As he adjusts to that feeling, he ... was about to settle down and ask Blue if it feels any better, any warmer like this. Because the way he was shivering earlier, and the chill of his own skin were concerning enough. But wow, this is taking a turn.

... though, if the point here is to stay warm, maybe not that big a turn.

Blue will feel him tense a little when that question is posed, focus completely grabbed by it. Yzak opens his mouth, closes his mouth, somewhat thrown.

Thrown, but intrigued. ]

Seriously?

[ Quickly: ] I mean— obviously! But you ... are you actually asking, or not!? [ What's with this 'if'! ]

[the chuckle is from the voice of his thoughts, not his breath this time.

but aloud:] Yes, I'm asking. Because it's worth asking.

[he tilts his head up, the bridge of his nose gently bumping his chin, bangs brushing his cheek.]

So...may I? Touch you elsewhere.

[ That is probably the hottest question Yzak's ever been asked in his entire life. And the fact that the word worth is mentioned along with it makes it actually ... that much more meaningful to him. His heart speeds up, and he in turn tilts his head down some more, bringing them nose to nose again like earlier - though it also presses his forehead against Blue's, and Yzak has to tip it slightly to the side so it doesn't aggravate his injury. ]

Y-yes. As if I'd say no to a question like that! [ Or, rather, specifically: ] From you.

[ And then he pauses, blinks once, and narrows his eye as he looks directly into Blue's, very serious for a moment. ]

You ... you had something to eat today, right?

[ Because speaking earlier about almost BLACKING OUT LAST TIME... ]

[Blue's heart jumps a bit as well being nose to nose once more, able to look back at Yzak's beautiful eyes agai--

...well. eye. the bandage does obscure things, reminds him of where they are. and if that didn't do it, the way Yzak's focus pivots into scrutiny, leaving Blue to huff out a little sigh, closing his eyes.]

I did.

[...it didn't go well. but he did eat.]

And a supplement.

[as he affirms this, the palm against Yzak's stomach moves, gliding across his middle and back...and then downward.]

I won't push myself...and make a burden out of me. [he passes the thought along while he tilts his head in order to steal a kiss from the corner of Yzak's mouth.]

Okay. [ That's all he wanted to know. And it's not even that he wants to be disrupted later, because he's going into this fully expecting that as a possibility and with enough respect and self control to ease up if Blue hits any physical limits. It's because he actually has a great deal of concern about him and doesn't want him to end up getting dizzy or nearly passing out like that again because he didn't get a chance to get his three crumbs of food a day. So this bodes well so far. ]

You better not push yourself. [ The thought back is soft, as he moves to counter that steal and kiss him fully - but it's light, reflecting the tenderness of the thought. He twists the tiniest bit when that hand moves to his back - though it's from ... the fact that Blue's hand it still not completely warmed up rather than anything else just yet. ]

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MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 2

● ● ● M I S S I O N 4 . 2

F Y I

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nsfw cw yzak eats his words edition