middleofsomewhere | Event: Abort! Part One

Event: Abort! Part One

Until now there has been one mission in every month. The practice in Apple and since then one for each month. So for those that have been on the train for a while they will be extremely surprised when on the twenty fifth day of the month of Egret their SCA’s glow gold and a hologram appears. Another mission.

Strange or not preparations need to be made, the voidtreckers are needed, strange timing or not.

Preperations

As promised the dressing room is open once again and there is a collection of leggings, shirts and tunics. All are in bold, differing shades of team colours and are made of sturdy material. There are a couple of cloaks, like those they wore in the goblin world they look medieval in style but will keep rain off as well as a modern raincoat.

As usual they have about an hour of preparation time, to gather supplies, get changed and help those who need more help disguising themselves to do so.

Arrival

”We are now approaching world#27462947582. Warning: Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four,” Hopefully even those who are new know to hold on or sit down by now. ”Three, two, one.” A jolt and a lurch and the void from outside the windows disappears to show green grass and a blue sky.

The Voidtrecker Express has landed in a small dip between two hills. Tall enough to mostly hide it and once everyone who wishes to disembarks it vanishes.

The voidtreckers, on climbing the hill, will find they are inside the city walls, just. Here it is mostly farmland still but as they move towards the centre there are more houses and things become more crowded and bustling. The city is big enough that an influx of strangers doesn’t turn many heads.

Their SCA has a map, red team’s has a marker for the northern gate, purple’s show the position of guard posts. Orange and Blue’s shows the main gates that lead out into the kingdom beyond.

Red Team

Getting to the northern gate doesn’t take all that much time and they are let out without much fuss, though fair warnings about the monsters out there. It is clear that though this city is nominally guarded and walled, it has been a long time since there has been war here and people can come and go as they wish.

The desert is, much as can be expected. It is more a scrub land rather than rolling dunes of sand but the land is cracked and dry. They have to move at least an hour away from the city before they come across any monsters at all.

When they do they are strange almost-boar looking creatures. They are vicious and will attack on sight, charging with huge tusks and teeth that are far too sharp to belong to a natural creature. They are clearly intelligent, even if they don’t seem to have language. But they never come across more than five at once and there doesn’t seem to be any movement of them towards the city.

Purple Team

The guard posts are only have a few guards there at any one time. Though questioning any of them the voidtreckers will learn that there are other guards in the city, ready to come to the defence of the walls if the alarm is ever sounded. Those on the walls are there to keep watch.

It might take a little bit of persuading but there isn’t a huge problem with purple team being allowed up onto the walls. As long as they don’t seem to be causing or bringing trouble.

The surrounding countryside is clear. To the north is the desert but to the east, west and south there are rolling hills of green. The kingdom that this city is part of.

For them it is a few hours of tedium and anticipation. Watching the landscape, waiting for a threat. The other soldiers are curious enough that they could be coaxed into conversation or a game of dice.

Blue Team and Orange Team

It is very difficult to convince a city full of people who have not known danger in a long time that they have to pack up and leave.

There are difficult shop keepers, confused farmers, worried parents.

Some are able to be ready quickly and so can follow the Blue team out of the southern gates. It might take more than one group, with a few blue team going with each one. The kingdom isn’t particularly dangerous but who knows when that may change. Keeping everyone together and moving will be the challenge here.

For Orange team there are plenty of logistical problems to get stuck into. Animals need moving, people need help packing or wrangling small children. Older people need help finding carts to ride.

Not to mention the very stubborn ones who will take a lot of persuading. Those who were on the goblin world have had practice in this already of course, and hopefully have tips to share.

(OOC: Information about this event is here)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Town: Getting put into another mission wasn't Ignis' idea of a good time, especially right now. However, as Prompto said, 'Ignis all business' so that was the side he presented to everyone. He's already nominated both Raven and Bucky as Blue Team co-leads, after taking some advice he'd gotten to lighten his load and to put something down.

Dressed as he was, it felt odd to be out here. With his verbal skills he was able to talk quite a few townspeople into learning that they were in danger. The shopkeepers and farmers were the ones that were presenting the challenges. Ignis could certainly sympathize with those wanting to be able to put food on the table, look after their livelihood and care of their customers.

There was a little boy with serious brown eyes who came up to the advisor and tugged on his sleeve. "Are we going to be safe mister?" Looking at whoever was near to him, there was a nod and a reassuring tone as he knelt down in front of the child. "Of course you are, we'll keep you quite safe."

Closed to Madoka - Walking along the beach wasn't something he had been able to do since Galdin Quay and Altissia. But Madoka stopped to gather some shells for a necklace and Ignis patiently stood nearby. He would keep an eye on her, and he looked out at the water staring even as heated words echoed through his mind. 'The red team goes on the dangerous missions. We're the ones with nothing left to lose. We're the ones who are being asked to go where the fire is the hottest and if you give a damn about me you won't ever mention taking you or our girl anywhere near there.'

He sighed and took a shaky breath, turning his head away from his daughter for a moment with clenched fists and a clenched jaw at the remembered painful words that had been spoken to him. And that's when he noticed a woman standing there. How she'd gotten there without him hearing her or where she'd come from, he had no idea. She had long flowing pale blonde hair and bluish green eyes. There was a pearl necklace around her neck with a flower like symbol on the pendant and sea foam roses were worn on either side of her head with golden stems and leaves.

For a moment the advisor just stared at her, dumbstruck. Mentally he berated himself since it was impolite to stare just as he'd admonished his boys about that very same thing at times. But she had the most serene direct expression Ignis had ever seen and suddenly it felt as if something was pressed into his hand. She then said..something in a foreign language and the next thing he knew, he blinked to the sound of a splash. Emerald eyes then turned towards the sound and watched as a pink fishtail disappeared into the water.

He turned at the sound of Madoka's voice and he clutched the gift in his hand to make sure what he just saw was real. As his daughter went on, the strategist opened his gloved hand and saw a pink scallop shell.

Edited 2020-04-18 22:12 (UTC)

“You look ridiculous.”

Joscelin doesn’t look much better in his purple tunic (whose pockets currently jangle with ill-gotten gains), but at least he isn’t in leather. The boy feels awkward around Ignis, fierce loyalty to Tony Stark conflicting with genuine concern for the other man. He doesn’t know that he can forgive Ignis for making Tony sad, but now isn’t the time to dwell on that.

“This is stupid. Why are we here? They don’t want to leave their homes.”

There was a very slightly amused smile on Ignis' face when he recognized that voice. Turning to face Joss fully, his green eyes noticed the boy. This was Tony's son and even if he couldn't see the man himself, it was a great comfort to see this one. Especially since there was unspoken guilt about not being able to keep him safe on the last Blue mission.

And as usual whenever the advisor spoke to him, it was always very patient and kind.

"We're here because they're in danger. However, it's been quite the task to try and convince them of such." He watched a boy run down the street with his dog as if nothing was amiss and the strategist shook his head.

Honestly, Madoka has no idea of what just happened. She was too busy looking for seashells herself and idly babbling on while she was at it. Maybe even moreso than she usually would, because.. well, she's worried about Ignis, obviously. No matter how strange and complicated this whole situation feels to Madoka, she's always going to put other people's feelings before her own. Especially the feelings of someone as important to her as Ignis. She's sure he must be having a tough time, especially with the sudden mission to have to deal with on top of it all.

And.. well, now it feels even more like her personal responsibility to look out for him. He's her papa, after all. And who's going to do it if she doesn't?

So she dragged him along for a moment to go do something else than purely focus on what they had to do. Something simple enough to not make him have to think too much, but also fun enough to be distracting. Madoka has been gathering up all kinds of shells, showing them off with an eagerness that she was exaggerating just a little bit in order to try and make Ignis smile as well.

But when she turns back to him now, she notices he's actually holding something in his hand. The girl quickly jogs over to him with big curious eyes.

"Papa, what's wrong? Did you find something?"

Edited 2020-04-19 12:20 (UTC)

Her voice was much more soothing than her Papa would tell her. It was a great idea to get them out doing Papa and daughter stuff rather than being cooped up and moping, trying to not be in Tony's line of sight. It was funny and heartbreaking, he used to be always looking forward to seeing the other and trying to be seen, even if he pretended he wasn't. It made him think that he and the boys should just go back home and idly he wondered if at least he would, to face this blindness that Prompto and Noctis had spoken about.

Something had shifted on the train and he could sense it but what it was he couldn't put his finger on it. In any case, he was on the losing end of it as he figured would happen.

Madoka's gentle voice and curious eyes shook him out of his daydream. But for the life of him here he was standing but his mouth felt just so stuck. His gaze looked at it again as his daughter asked if he found something but it was really more like the object found him.

"I.." and he didn't know what to say. How he got it? Who gave it to him? So all he did was show it to her.

"Wah, it's so pretty!"

For as lost in thoughts as Ignis himself is, Madoka's mood right now seems pretty straightforward. Oh sure, there's some feelings she is making sure to shove deep, deep down, since she really wants to focus on trying to make Ignis feel a little better rather than think too much about how complicated and kind of sad this whole situation is. His feelings are so much more important than her own to her.

Besides, it's a little bit easier to focus on happier things when they're just out here doing something so simple. Like, you know, just happily looking at this pretty shell he's holding in his hands.

"It's pink! I don't ever think I've seen a pink one before.. All the ones I've got here are just brown or gray!" She moves her hands to rest her fingers on top of his - making sure to not go too far, since she isn't trying to take the shell from him at all. She's just hoping having some touch between the two of them is slightly comforting to him in the middle of all this. Along with the bright smile she beams at him. "You should make sure to keep it, papa. It looks really special."

It was a rather beautiful shell, the likes of which he'd never seen. Madoka's touch surprised him and he smiled. "I will most certainly keep it with me at all times." It reminded him of his daughter's hair and of course receiving the shell during a moment's peace from a strange and beautiful lady was a wondrous thing. She'd had some sort of sea green-blue gown that was gauzy and shells were up top but she'd disappeared and it didn't seem as if Madoka had picked up on her presence.

Kneeling down, Ignis tugged Madoka close to him as he looked out at the sea. A gloved hand went up on the back of her head, much like used to happen when he held her Dad. Green eyes searched for the lady who'd been kind to give him a gift during his time of trials but he was grateful to her, whoever she'd been.

So he smiled for her sake but didn't move, speaking softly. "I love you darling and I will always be here for you." He paused and closed his eyes against the pain in his heart, holding her a little tighter. "Don't ever forget that."

Edited 2020-04-22 06:16 (UTC)

She doesn't quite see the words coming, considering Madoka's thoughts are still much too caught up in seashells and all, but the surprise doesn't last for more than a slight moment. She kind of gets it, after all. Even though he's never been the type to talk much about it, Ignis must be having so much pain right now. And of course even trying to do something fun together could never fully distract him from that. Madoka knows.

So she allows herself to be held close, leaning into the hold but remaining quiet for a moment. Madoka really wishes she knew the right things to say now. If only there was something that could make it all better.

But she knows she has to at least try. Even if she can't cheer up her papa entirely, the least she can do is try and be there for him during this difficult time.

"Of course I wouldn't forget," she softly replies. After all, even when Ignis had disappeared suddenly during the last mission, she had told Tony that he'd be back. Even though she hadn't been sure about it, she had held out hope the whole time. And she's not sure how much hope there is right now that things may ever go back to normal.. she still wants to reassure him. "But.. papa, you know you aren't alone though either, right? I'm here with you." Madoka smiles, a bit more softly yet more fondly than the beaming smile from a moment ago. "You don't ever have to be lonely as long as I'm here. That's what family is for."

Madoka didn't need to say anything, her presence alone was worth it. He smiled softly at hearing her say she wouldn't forget and it was very comforting. Green eyes slightly watered at the words spoken about him not being alone. "Of course." It was all he trusted himself to say and he left it at that.

Even if they were apart, the advisor hoped that Tony was alright, wherever he was and whatever he was doing. There had to be a way to have some discourse, but all he kept hearing was the angry tone and seeing the back turn away from him. He'd thought about giving chase of course, but didn't believe that would help them so he was at a loss. If he ever got the chance though, he wouldn't let him get away ever again.

"Thank you darling." he said, pulling back to give her a kiss on the cheek. And he was struggling for her sake to be strong. "Now show me all of these shells you have." This was his way of getting Madoka to not focus on him and the moment she turned away, he quickly swiped at his eyes.

It feels a little bad.. There's so much he's obviously not saying, after all. And it doesn't feel bad for her own sake - she knows there's nothing personal about it, and Ignis seems to have a lot of trouble sharing more personal feelings and emotions with anyone - but it makes her just feel bad for him instead. Difficult times have got to be even tougher when you can't vent your feelings anywhere.

But then again, Madoka's problem is that she's just as polite as him. Which means there's no way she's going to force him to talk about anything he doesn't want to talk about. She'll just have to try and keep her own spirits up and act normal and hope that helps him.. maybe that's all she can do for him right now.

So the girl does turn for a moment to grab the shells she's gathered and put them in her two open hands to show them to Ignis.

"Look, I have all of these.. I just hope we can get them back to the train safely. It'd be really sad if they all ended up getting crushed."

It was hard to express things. He was raised to be the caretaker and not the one to be taken care of. So somewhere along the way Ignis learned to tuck his feelings away and dismiss them as unimportant. Then it became habit and necessary when dealing with taking care of Noct and dealing with court and politics.

Plus the advisor wanted to be strong for Madoka as he was for Noctis. So he wouldn't be discussing any of this with his daughter at all. But looking at the shells now had him smile. /this was a memory she would have, the two of them out here together gathering shells.

Her worry had him find a medium sized pouch in his backpack. "Well, we can put them in here and we can find some more if you'd like."

".. Do you want to look with me then, papa?"

There's the tiniest hesitance at the beginning of the sentence. Not because she doesn't want him to look with her - she wants to do absolutely anything and everything with him! - but it's just her way of making sure he feels up to it without explicitly asking that specifically. She doesn't want to point out that she knows he isn't doing great. And if he'd rather feel like sitting there and watching her, Madoka of course wouldn't mind.

"I mean, I'd like to take back more.. then maybe I can make gifts out of them for other people too when we're back on the train. I think that'd be fun."

"I can do that darling." Ignis promised. Getting up he could only smile. He sure loved to pick people with big hearts and that's what his daughter was doing right now. For her sake alone he had to try and pick his mood up. This was going to be tough and it hurt. But she was his example and he would try for her.

"You could..string these for bracelets or necklaces. And when we get back, we'll wash them up and I'll make you something to snack on while you prepare these gifts." Not to mention, he should try and grab some fish or something for some dinners. He didn't know what else he could do right now.

When he gets up, Madoka takes his hand and gently drags him along a bit closer to the shoreline to look for the shells. She doesn't let go until they're right next to the water, and even then it's really only so she can bend down better to look for them and pick them up. She rather likes the idea of making small things with them back on the train with Ignis making her some food.. It might make things feel a bit more normal again, even if they're not exactly.

But even as she's looking down at the sand, she's still talking.

"I'd like to make bracelets out of them! I guess you already have your own shell, but I could make some for my friends.. Like Ple Two or Raven! Or Mami-san, of course.."

It's that last part that makes her look back up at him. She's smiling, but there's a hint of worry in her eyes.

"I hope Mami-san is doing okay.. She's strong, but who knows what could be happening back in the city."

As Madoka goes on, Ignis finds a shell that he almost says something about. But instead he tucked it away in his pocket. That would be a good pendant for her and so he said nothing. Somehow he had the feeling that it should be presented on a special occasion and so he resumed his walk.

"I may make it into a necklace." Ignis said distractedly as he found a red starfish. Somehow unbidden it reminded him of the light in Tony's suit. So as green eyes gazed at the thing he tried to recall the older man's name for it. Was it..arc..reactor or something had it been termed. So that went into his pocket as well.

He looked up and saw the worry in Madoka's eyes and nodded. "I'm sure she's fine. And if in the future you want her to be part of the Blue team, let me know and we'll make sure she comes with us." There was a genuine smile. "You are my daughter and who is important to you is important to me. So we will keep her safe together."

Edited 2020-04-29 18:06 (UTC)

It's rather sweet of him to say that - that everyone who is important to her is important to him as well. And it's not like Madoka doesn't understand that coming so naturally. After all, she's tried to treat all of Ignis' friends from back home nicely too when they showed up here, because she feels the same way.

"Thank you, papa. I know you would help so much." Ignis always does, after all. "I'm sure that if I would've asked her to come along with the blue team now, she would have.."

Mami is nice too, after all. (And that's even without Madoka being fully aware of just how powerful she is when she makes a sad face at anyone, Mami probably included..)

"But.. I didn't want to force her or anything. If Mami-san wants to fight, then I don't want to hold her back, you know..? Even if she may not look like it since we're almost the same age, she's really strong. Much stronger than me."

"You're quite welcome." he replied warmly. She was so sweet and his heart ached again for her Dad to be there with them but he knew better. Even if they were together, he wouldn't be here. And as deep as the wound cut, the advisor understood it in his own way.

"I'm rather surprised you didn't request it." Ignis said after his daughter said she hadn't asked. And there was genuine surprise in his tone. He wondered if Madoka didn't because of what he was going through. It really was something she would pull he knew, but with the best intentions of course.

Hearing Madoka say she wasn't strong had her Papa shaking his blondish head before getting back down to her level. Hesitantly he reached a hand up to touch her face with his gloved hand. "You have strength too darling, yours is simply a gentler strength." He smiled, hoping he wouldn't show any tears here.

"It's sort of like your Dad and I. I think he's stronger in a lot of ways than I am." Ignis definitely now thought Tony stronger since he was the one who walked away with the ring. "But nothing is as strong as gentleness, and that is where your strength lies."

Ignis really knows her too well. Of course there was a tiny part for Madoka's meekness in the reason as to why she didn't ask Mami to come along - her natural selflessness making her not wanting to bother the other girl with the request. But another, bigger part of it was that she really wanted to make sure to stay close to her papa the whole time and focus a lot of her attention on him, which would be harder with her friend from back home by her side.

Which is why she finds herself surprised when he's suddenly turning that attention onto her instead. It shows on her face too - quite obviously so, considering he can easily see it the moment he gently touches her cheek like that.

"Papa.."

Her voice sounds half-surprised, half-touched. To think he's still trying to reassure and comfort her, even in a situation like this..

There's no way she can just keep standing there like that. Emotion and the desire to just do anything at all to help overtake her, and Madoka suddenly moves to latch onto Ignis, her tiny arms wrapping around his shoulders now they're at the right height for it. Her hug is a little tighter than usually, like there's an edge of desperation in it.

"You have that too though, papa.. You're always so gentle and sweet." And sure, Ignis could actually kick someone's ass, so he's strong in that sense as well, but still! "You're one of the strongest people I know. I mean.. dad is one of those people too, of course.." Her tone grows a tad more hesitant at that. Even though Ignis brought up Tony, Madoka still feels a little bit awkward about doing so in front of Ignis, not wanting to hurt him. "But you're so amazing.. You know I really look up to you, right?"

He smiled softly when she said 'Papa.' And of course he was trying to reassure and comfort her even during his own distress. He'd thought plenty about all of the ramifications a child would have in his life and the things he would have to do and be in order to be a successful parent. And all of this was all before he asked her to be his daughter. So no matter what was going on with him, he tried to put her first and take care of her. That was what parents did, right?

Suddenly though her arms were wrapped around him tight and Ignis let out a tiny laugh. Madoka had looked so ready to cry and he couldn't figure out why. But with this hug, it informed him as to why that was. Hugs were always good and he was about to say something when she spoke first.

His daughter's words came from her heart and of course the advisor knew that. A few tears came down as what she said hit him but he didn't pull away because he didn't want her to think she'd made him cry. It was just the unexpected kindness that he was hearing and receiving. Ignis simply never expected anyone to be kind to him because he wasn't as important as the people in his life.

"Thank you darling." And at this point the advisor was sure there was more emotion in his voice than he wanted there to be. But he really was touched that his daughter was here with him and they really were two of a kind at times. It was nice too, to hear that she included her Dad on the list of strong people because he really was. But that last part broke him and it wasn't her fault.

The advisor just let the tears come and held onto Madoka with all he had, trying to be careful not to hug her too tight. She truly was a blessing to him and he silently thanked whoever was listening for her presence in his life to give him the strength he needed to go on.

She can definitely pick up on that emotion in his voice. It'd be hard not to, considering how close the two of them are right now. And the moment she hears it, her grip becomes just the tiniest bit tighter, determined to not let go of him now.

Because.. in a strange way, it's like a slight relief. Of course she doesn't like the fact that Ignis is hurting. She doesn't ever want either of her dads to have to feel bad, no matter how unrealistic that expectation is with the way life is. But if her papa has to feel bad at all, she's at least glad that he can show it around her right now. Ignis is so proper, which is generally a good thing, and so withdrawn, which is generally slightly less good, but Madoka knows it must mean he has to keep these sort of things to himself a lot. It's just like Raven said to her.

But that shouldn't have to be the case. Sure, she may be young, and she may be his daughter, but she wants to be there for him at moments like these. Madoka gently nuzzles her head against his shoulder just a little bit, trying to be as much of a comfort as she can in this situation.

"It's okay, papa.." She makes sure to keep her voice soft, not wanting to startle him too much while he's so emotional. "I know things must feel really not okay right now, but they're going to be okay in the end, one way or another. I have faith in it.."

If there's anyone on the train besides Tony that can humble Ignis fast, it's Madoka. She is the heart of the two of them and her care, kindness and compassion can bring him to his knees quick as she's doing right now. It isn't intentional, but she still has the ability.

A hot tear slid down his face as she said she had faith. Well if his daughter had trust in things turning out to be okay, then Ignis would put his hope in Madoka. He didn't have any of his own right now of course. "Yes of course." It was all he could think to say right now and he was so grateful that she was here with him right now.

And as loathe as he was to move, he swiftly brushed at his eyes under his glasses before pulling back to look at her. "Would you like to keep collecting shells, or would you like to see what is in town?"

Before..whatever happened here.

The moment he pulls back to look at her, Madoka makes sure to have the absolute warmest smile on her face. At least it's a lot easier to shove down her own worries and insecurities when she has to be there for someone else. She's so focused on Ignis and his wellbeing that all she can do is try to be as reassuring as possible for him.

"Let's go look and see what's in town."

Maybe that'll be a good distraction for him? She leans forward slightly to press a kiss onto her papa's cheek before taking his hand.

"Come on, let's go!"

He nodded, worried she might be getting cold as well. But then Madoka kissed him and it warmed his heart. So he took her hand and they walked towards town. The walk on the way looked pretty quiet and the two talked amicably as they ambled towards their destination.

Somewhere along the way, Ignis saw something of a shimmering light as the walked. A hand went up over his eyes and another woman appeared, this Lady with quite the regal bearing. The other one in the sea foam coloured silken dress on the beach did as well, but this one was definitely different.

His steps slowed and he let go of Madoka's hand for a moment as he got a better view. She wore a golden type crown with a white veil draped around it and her brown hair seemed to be pulled back, but he really couldn't tell if it was simply short or not. The rest of her outfit was white and she had a timeless classic look to her and the advisor couldn't find it in him to speak.

She held a peacock feather in her hand and spoke in the same language as the lady on the beach or so it sounded to Ignis. He couldn't understand what was being said, but suddenly she too disappeared and the peacock feather remained in his gloved hand. As his green eyes examined it, he took out the pink seashell he'd received on the beach.

What was going on??

Madoka may have been a little too distracted by the shells back there on the beach to have noticed what was happening there, but this time it's harder. After all, all her attention was on Ignis while they were walking and talking, so the girl can't help but be a little surprised when he suddenly lets go of her hand like that.

But when she notices what has captured his attention, she mostly just looks confused. She doesn't know who that lady is.. maybe just someone from this place? Madoka doesn't want to interrupt, feeling that it might be too rude, but a slight worried frown appears on her face anyway as she watches...

.. until the lady is suddenly gone.

"P.. Papa? What was that..?"

Gold glitter seemed to notate the Lady's leaving, kind of like the gold light that dimmed when Lady Lunafreya's life had left her. But he heard Madoka's voice which was a gentle shake out of wherever his head had just been.

Turning back to her, he shook his head. Why was he receiving gifts and kindness? He felt as if he deserved none of it. After all, the man he loved wasn't by his side so he wasn't sure what to do. However, his daughter was here with him and he showed her the feather.

"I don't quite know or understand. But it was the sort of same way I received the pink shell."

Event: Abort! Part One

Blue Team (Top is OTA, bottom is closed to Madoka)

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