mapping party mapping party

[rebells]

Who: a bunch of less-than-upstanding nerd boys
Where: along this route
When: Day 8, or thereabouts
Open/Closed: closed to mapping party; pm rebells if your character would have icly asked to come!

[So you may have gotten a telepathic message a few days ago about an expedition to map the coastline . . . or maybe you were invited along by a friend. Whatever the reason, it's bright and early this morning, and it's time to set out!

Characters would have gotten a further telepathic message from Jay with a date and time to meet outside the shacks. They'll be heading east along the "shore," tracking the coast, and then heading directly back towards base camp . . . who knows what they'll find along the way?]

Comments

BASE CAMP - SETTING OUT

[rebells]

[There's a cluster of people gathering on the beach outside camp; Jay would have asked if you can fight, but he's there giving everyone a quick once-over to be sure they look vaguely prepared. Mingle, or introduce yourselves to people you haven't met yet, maybe?]

[p_mortem]

[ Minato's met most everybody here, so he lingers at the side of the group, watching, listening, looking like he hasn't slept for the past two days since Jay asked around for a group of volunteers. If he looks sluggish, it's because he has four bags of beads stuffed into his pockets or hanging off his belt, and a sword in both hands tracing twin trails in the sand where he lets the tips drag in the sand; what is proper sword maintenance.

He knows Dave could probably equip the entire party with swords, but Minato could let one of his go too, if somebody would like one that looks less... sbahj ]

[rebells]

[Jay is equipped--he's swinging a small dagger in his hand--but he looks at the swords with interest nonetheless.]

Do you use both, or just one?

[parodeity]

[ dave shows up pretty punctually, probably alongside john egbert, although he'll drift away while in the group to wait for people and/or scroll through the songs on his mp3 player. he's got headphones on over his ears and it's in a knit cozy for some reason.

that's probably how it still has a charge, if you know what his sister's magic is.

still, whenever anyone gets closer he'll drag the headphones down to around his neck and look up, eyebrows raised. ]

Hey, sup. [ and if he doesn't know you, he will be moved to add: ] I'm Dave.

[ STUNNING CONVERSATION. he's got his sword in a sheathe at his hip and has his shades on, and seems to still be of the opinion long-sleeved shirts and jeans are the best option for clothing always. otherwise, he does have a red knapsack on, which presumably has useful items in it. maybe. ]

D'you need me to draw you a thing, or.

[windeity]

[While John and Dave showed up together it's pretty much agreed upon that they're fine separating and getting a feel for who else is in this group of people. Mostly it's people John recognizes and while he has his hammer slung over his shoulder he's also pretty casual and excited to get going.

Depending on whoever's next to him, he'll flash a grin and cheerfully chirp:]

It's probably better to do this now before something else comes up, huh? We still don't know much about this island and it's been like a week.

[splinten]

[Dirk has the katana in his holster, hanging from his hip. He is standing a little to the side of the group, stoic and neutral-faced, with his hands in his pockets. The truth is that he's a little on-edge around this many people, especially with some of them being people he knows.

He will however raise a hand in greeting if someone approaches. He has manners, sort of. They're just awkward and unsure.]

THE CRAGS

[rebells]

[Eventually they'll come across a craggy area near the coast, "filled with bizarrely sharp rocks that jut out from the ground. This area is also inhabited with a variety of snakes, some of which are poisonous. These can be determined by a diamond print on their bellies."

They don't know that, though, so it's probably best to try not to get bitten--?]

[parodeity]

[ it's absolutely probably best not to get bitten. dave grew up in a city, though, and more to the point he's used to being way faster than he is currently. training at his current speed helps some, but his partner doesn't jump the fuck out at him and force him to rely on ridiculous childhood reflexes.

when he fails to dodge a snake, it becomes apparent that dave isn't one of those people who will yelp or really make any visible signs he just got hurt beyond a very, very slight wince and a stumble backwards before he catches his balance enough to stop that.

it's actually possible to kind of miss the entire thing if you're not watching, because he apparently has Zero inclination to make it known to anyone beyond the wince and an immediate reaction of "slice offending thing with sword", though he then shifts all his weight to his left leg instead of his right and glances down with a sort of uncertainty because he's dealt with plenty of injuries but he has no idea what the fuck you do for snake bites.

maybe if he just ignores it, it will stop being a thing!

ok probably not but cleaning whatever it is probably is step one and -

oh hi. ]

Sup. [ how long can he pretend that didn't just happen even if someone else just witnessed it let's find out. ]

[splinten]

[Literally no time. Dirk is here, and Deeply Worried.]

Did it get you? Fuck.

[He moves over to grab the snake's head and flip it over. He's going to check out the fangs and possibly just yoink them off to see if there are any signs this snake may be venomous? eg hollow teeth

he's lowkey panicked it's fine]

OCEAN . . . LIKE, ACTUAL OCEAN

[rebells]

[There's also a spot on the eastern shore where ocean appears to still be attached to the coastline. "It's a space that's about a mile wide and a mile long, jutting out of the rock and floating in space. It ends as abruptly as the rest of the coast, as if someone tore a chunk of the ocean off along with the land surrounding it."]

[parodeity]

[ THIS IS STUPID. dave doesn't make any move to actually go in the water, but he's frowning with his brows furrowed, standing at the edge of the beach where the water just barely starts to touch his shoes. ]

So, like...if you swam out there, is it possible to just swim right the fuck into space? Is the water spillin' off? Or is it like an invisible cup?

[ again: he shows no signs of waning to swim out and see but What The Actual Fuck. also by this time he probably actually got persuaded to confess to a snakebite and dealing with it somehow. idiot. ]

This absurdist landscape makes me feel right at home I guess but dude. Do you get slingshotted back if you swim out, too? That sounds like a good way to drown, if so.

[p_mortem]

[ Dave is equipped with infinite tools to make this possible, so Minato can't understand why he would stand there debating with himself instead of just swimming off into the sea like Minato would done without hesitation if that's what his curiosity dictates.

If not Dave, Minato's always willing, so here goes. ]

Got a few art requests for you.

[probablynoteren]

I... don't know.

[Lenka's come over to stand next to him at the sight of water... in space. What the fuck. He's not usually the type to stand around and yell at clouds but this is a bit much, isn't it?

He's showing no inclination to wade out, either, still dressed in his full uniform getup including gloves, in the sun (he looks a little ridiculous, but at least exploration-ready) -- and would probably stop Dave if he made a move for it because snakebite or not, haring off into whatever this is is just a bad idea right now. Instead, he motions down the coast, to where the water ends.]

If we find where it ends, we can see if the water is spilling, or how far down it goes [and that's what he does, he starts walking along the water instead of into it, because there's nowhere else to go] ... Slingshotted?

[splinten]

[Dirk glances at the ocean only briefly before his mind calculates a few key things. Without removing his shades or his clothing (which is actually nice since it isn't of his choosing), Dirk takes a few steps back from the shoreline to get space, then runs and leaps and drops straight into the ocean.

And he doesn't come back?? For a very long time.

If you choose to let him go, you heartless monster, you will find that Dirk does not return for a full ten minutes. If, however, you try to come after him, you will see that Dirk has been diving downwards, to try to explore where the ocean 'floor' hits.]

LAGOON

[rebells]

[Coming back up from the coastline, they'll find "a small stream that shoots off from the typical water source. It ends out in a lagoon type area with a variety of frogs hopping around, but the main point of interest might be the strong, thick reeds that grow in this area, perfect for building or creating tools with."]

joint prompt;

[windeity]

[Getting ahead of themselves and the rest of their group, John and Dave begin to follow the stream mostly on John's whimsy. He'd spoken to someone a few days ago about finding streams and water sources and though Dave updated him on some of the other things he saw their attention lay in following the new path.

Upon coming to the lagoon though they both stop, staring at the water and listening to the croaks of frogs around them. Looking at his feet, John's carefully shuffling to make sure he doesn't step on any of them and though he can't be sure, he thinks Dave looks interested in a large pair of frogs not too far from them. Anyone who also approaches the lagoon will witness Dave asking:

"Hey. What happens when you merge two pieces of illegal contraband together?"

For all that John looks affronted and protests, he too finds himself looking at the pair of frogs. Coming through the clearing of the lagoon, anyone who approaches will find Dave on the shore of the lagoon and John creeping forward toward the frog, attempting to pick up both of them at the same time. The Vrillyhoo, John's hammer, sits to the side near the water's edge as both frogs are picked up and he looks at them, holding them up.]

I don't know if I can. They're sort of. You know. Alive?

[Please stop whatever the hell they're doing.]

[ooc: tag order of you, Dave, John!]

[splinten]

[Dirk was going to leave Dave alone for the rest of the mission but John is going to fuse frogs.]

Egbert, that's the kind of mad science I don't know if even Ro-Lal would go for.

[HE WON'T STOP HIM BUT.]

Re: joint prompt;

[rebells]

[Sorry, if you wanted to be dissuaded you probably should have gotten someone other than this asshole.]

You might as well try it eventually. Would a frog and a frog just make another frog?

[rebells]

[Jay is stooped down to examine a clump of reeds, first tugging at one with a hand to test its strength, then cutting it down with a swing of his dagger.]

I'm no expert, but I would think these could be woven. Do you think the frogs are more like boar or more like crabs?

[As if it heard this remark, one nearby frog gives an alarmed-sounding croak and hops away.]

[splinten]

[His eyes flicker to the frogs.]

I wouldn't think it's worth the risk.

[He takes a look at the reed Jay cut down, testing out its flexibility.]

Woven or shaped into tools. It would be good to keep an eye on the growth rate so we understand how to use our supply.

ABANDONED CAMP

[rebells]

[A small clearing with "four rusted tent pegs still stuck in the ground off to the side of the clearing, dirty shreds of tarp littering the ground in various places and a slightly rusted camp stove stuck into the ground near the center."

Looks like someone was here before us. But then, we knew that already, didn't we?]

[windeity]

[The campsite is a little unsettling, given the fact it's a.) abandoned and b.) looks like it was abandoned a while ago. John can be found making his way in a small circle through the clearing, poking around at the shredded tarp and overturning it curiously before he finds himself standing in front of the stove.

He doesn't know what to do with it, but he'll glance over at whoever is close by.]

Do you think it still works?

ORCHARD

[rebells]

[Close to the base camp, there's also what looks like an orchard--but the trees are bare and diseased. It looks like they'd have to do something first if they want anything to grow here.]

[potentite]

[Jake is taking a look at them and frowning.]

Umm, consarn it, I can't remember what kind of disease this is...

[Look he was practically a baby when grandma rambled at him about plants? Still, he wishes he could remember.]

If we can clear this up, though...

[splinten]

[Dirk actually stops and stares at these trees and something very stupid comes out of his monotonous mouth.]

What the fuck this is so sad.

[He has only barely gotten used to seeing trees. And now there are these trees?? He knows about tree diseases in theory, he has listened to Jake talk for years, he has even seen pictures of things. But he hasn't ever seen anything of the like in person.]