middleofsomewhere | Under the Sea: Mission start

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Under the Sea: Mission start

After fleeing the strange shapes in the sky the voidtreckers are perhaps not looking forward to yet another mission and indeed the first few days of Fiddlesticks go by without any strange dreams, no warning that another mission might be nigh. Yet on the morning of day five their SCA's will glow with the colours of the void and a holographic message will appear.

Preperations

The dressing room is open once again, though the clothes this time are simple in choice. A wet suit for each void trecker as well as a pair of flippers, a helmet and a breathing pack. It at least has instructions and there will be a little bit of time for them to figure out how to use them. Apart from that there are some waterproof packs for supplies to be packed in.

They will have a couple of hours to get ready for their mission.

Arrival: Blue and Red

"We are now approaching world #7625000129523. Drop order is Red and Blue, Purple then Orange. Red and Blue team to doors. Arrival in world #7625000129523 in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train shudders and lurches as they exit the void, the view from the window goes from the ever shifting void to a beautiful deep blue sky. They fly through the air and swoop down to land on a sandy beach. The doors open allowing those who are taking part in the Blue and Red missions to debark. The doors close and the train swoops up into the air.

The beach stretches from one side to the other, in the distance as the beach turns into sloping green hills they can see a village. Beyond that there is a jungle. Any red team who check their SCA will see four points, the rock pools.

The villagers have noticed the huge train sweeping down onto their island and so contact is made quickly. They will be quite accepting of the help and explain the situation. They will help any of red team to the rockpools if asked.

Red

The rockpools are built up and indeed made so the water will reach a persons waist if they stand in them. The water is cold but not overly so. When the water shoots up anyone in them will shoot up also.

They will find themselves in a vortex of water, with anyone else who enters that rockpool. The water itself seems to be fighting them, tendrils of water reaching out of the whirlpool to try and drag them further into the chaos. It takes a whole lot of willpower to stay in the centre, the water can be fought with weapons, even with fists. They feel as if they are falling or flying, perhaps both. Surrounded by the pure chaos of the ocean.

Blue

Hopefully they spend the day helping with preparations because when night falls the monsters emerge from the sea. Terrifying twisted creatures. The villagers only have simple weapons but will tell them that fire is helpful against these water creatures.

Hold off the monsters and keep the people safe.

Purple

The doors close and the train flies off into the sky, flying over the island to the other side where it lands on a rocky bay, near tall towering cliffs.

"Purple team to doors." The doors open, allowing the purple team to disembark before flying off once again.

In the cliff face there is a large cave entrance, over the entrance there are symbols, translated by their SCA's. Clear mind, clear heart. Come those who seek to serve.

There are six people stood by the entrance, looking quite surprised at the new arrivals. One, a woman with silver hair recovers enough to speak first. "Ah. Void warriors. We are honoured by your help."

Once introductions are made the spiritual leaders will happily accept the escort and their adventure can begin.

Orange

They fly up and out across the ocean, a longer flight than before but eventually they descend and there is a slight juddering before they land, floating on the ocean.

"Orange team disembark, please use luggage or dressing carriage doors only."

They will step out onto an inflated platform that streches around the train. Down below are the depths of the water and their SCA's show them at the point of Bui. It is below them so all they need to is dive.

The dive takes a while, and depends on their swimming ability but hopefully with a bit of teamwork they arrive at the silent city of Bui.

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"Maaaaru!"

He'll probably hear that before he sees Madoka, considering she attaches herself to him the moment she sees him standing in the dressing room like that by giving him a quick hug from behind. Madoka is probably so used to his cute kitty form by now that it makes her hesitate so much less with showing affection like that even in his human form..

Not to mention the girl seems rather excitable today. Usually she's kind of nervous for a mission, but this is the first time she's going with Maru. So it's going to be much better this time! She's going to be useful, she's ready for it!

Hence why, once she lets go after the quick hug, she moves until she's in front of him, smiling up at the other.

"You haven't put the mission clothes on yet?"

Even if he hadn't heard her, he would have known she was near. He didn't react though. At least until he was hugged from behind. It was something he was starting to get used to. Before Madoka he hadn't been hugged much, if ever. Maybe as a cat, sure. But in his 'normal' form, he couldn't really remember many hugs in his life...

When she let go to move into his line of sight, he was even able to give her a small, though tired looking, smile.

"No..." He agreed and looked away to where the orange wet suit was still hung up. "It's orange."

It's hard to tell if it's even possible with how wide Madoka's smile is at seeing him to begin with, but it's as if it grows just the tiniest bit wider at seeing him smile back at her. She's just so excited for this mission that she's glad to see him in an even slightly good mood too!

Though her gaze turns a bit more curious as she looks at the wet suits. "Oh?" That.. sure is orange, yes. Madoka looks back at the vampire. "Hm.. Is it the colour that's the problem? I guess it is kind of bright.. Maybe we can see if there's a spare blue one instead? It'd match your hair!"

"It is too bright..." Maru agreed. It hurt his brain. It was unnatural. It reminded him of someone...

Though he looked a bit hopeful when Madoka suggested a blue one. While he still wasn't too thrilled to be wearing something so skin tight. If it was blue he could handle it. He thought. Maybe...?

"... Blue would be better. I like blue." And he did. Back home it was his colour. Blue and black. Not orange.

"Then let's have you wear a blue one!"

Madoka sounds rather happy. Mostly since she's just glad to have found a solution! There's no way she would want to force Maru into something against his wishes right away on their first mission.. She'd feel so guilty about this, especially since he's going along with the mission so well since he's there to protect her.

She picks up a blue one, holding it out to him so he can take a better look at it.

"I'll be wearing blue too, of course, so we'll even match! Then we'll even look more like partners." Madoka likes that word for their contract. It makes them feel much more like equals in this deal, which she greatly prefers, no matter the fact that she is aware she is the one controlling him when it comes down to it.

Orange reminded him of Mahiru. It wasn't a colour he needed to be reminded of. He preferred blue. He preferred Madoka's colours.

He watched as she went to find something that would fit him. He tool the wet suit when it was handed to him and eyes it suspiciously. It was a better colour, but it still looked several sizes too small. It would constrict him. He wondered if it would hinder his ability to fight?

"Partners..." Mahiru has said that as well. It wasn't a term that was uncommon to him, and in all honesty he liked it too. While he didn't think for a second they were on equal terms, he liked to think they were a team. "... Yeah. We will."

She smiles when he agrees with her. It's just so sweet.. Even though Maru is so strong, he listens to her. And sure, technically he has to do that, but it doesn't feel to Madoka like he'd full on disobey her if he had the ability to do that. He just seems like a good person, no matter the fact that he's a little lazy.

It drives her to want to be more and more accomodating to him, which is why she's already thinking about how to make this wet suit deal even easier for him.. Madoka glances around for a moment before she seems to have an idea.

"Oh, how about I put one on first? Then you can see what it looks like and that it isn't so bad at all! It's just.. um.."

She nervously glances at the door, letting out a shy little laugh before looking back at Maru. "You'll just have to help make sure no one comes in while I'm changing.." Guard the door from the outside for her. Like a good kitty guard.

Maru looked over his shoulder at the door, and then back again. Was she expecting someone to come in and peek? Were there strange people like that on the train? That was weird...

"Alright..." He'd guard the door if that's what she wanted. No one would get in and see her. "You put yours on first." He turned and walked to the door, then stepped out and leaned against it, arms folded. Maru wouldn't let anyone enter unless Madoka said they could.

"Thank you so much, Maru..!" She calls out after him, right before he leaves the room for a moment. Honestly, it's not even that Madoka thinks anyone would look on purpose, but.. it's just a busy time right now, with everyone getting prepared for the mission. What if someone accidentally walked in on it, it'd be so embarrassing!

It says a lot about her trust in Maru that she doesn't even hesitate to change clothes once he's outside of the door. Madoka truly believes Maru wouldn't let anyone in, no matter how lazy he might seem.

And she thankfully doesn't take too long anyway. A few moments later there's already a knock from Madoka's side of the door, and her calling out that he can come back in. When Maru does, he'll find her wearing one of the blue wetsuits, spinning around a little to show it off to him.

"Look! It's a little different from normal clothes.. But it doesn't look that bad to wear, right?"

Edited 2020-05-11 20:46 (UTC)

Maru didn't have to turn anyone away, luckily. He just stood there, arms crossed, looking bored with the whole thing and like he was moments away from just falling asleep. And he might well have done if Madoka hadn't chosen that moment to knock and call him back.

He stepped through and closed the door behind him before giving the girl his attention.

Okay, so maybe it didn't look so bad on her. But she was small and cute. She could get away with it. Maru was not small or cute. He could not.

"Not on you..." He sighed and then gave a shrug as he started to pull off his orange hoodie. "I suppose I don't have much choice. If I have to wear one."

Uh oh, apparently that's the wrong thing to say in front of Madoka. Because she's ready to fight (okay.. maybe not fight, but still..) Maru over him not being cute according to him! She thinks he's plenty of cute. Yes, even in this form, not just his kitty form!

So even though she isn't going into full on pouty scolding mode, her cheeks do get a bit puffier as she shakes her head.

"It'll look good on you too, Maru!"

And anyone who will tell him otherwise will have to be prepared for some extreme puppy eyes! The horror!

"I'll guard the door for you this time. Don't worry, no one will get past me!"

No, definitely no choice. He gave Madoka a nod for her to watch the door, if that's what she wanted. Though he didn't think there was a reason for it, no one would want to look in on him and even if they did it didn't bother him. What would be the point?

He waited for her to leave and the door to close before he started to peel out of the rest of his clothes. He had to work at getting his own suit on, it was a bit tougher than Madoka's attempt, it seemed.

But when he was done, he grabbed his hoodie and slipped that on over the suit. Maybe the colours would clash, he didn't care. It was more comfortable.

Maru went and opened the door and stepped out beside Madoka. "... It feels weird."

".. Weird?"

She repeats the word once he steps out next to her, glancing over at him. Madoka looks him up and down for a moment - although it's not like she can see much of a difference with him still wearing that hoodie over it. But she's just trying to figure out if this is a Serious kind of weird or just a more trivial kind. If it's the former, she can't just ignore it! If Maru is protecting her, then the least she should do in return is take care of him.

"How weird? Do you think you can bear it? If it's too much, maybe we can find some other solution for you.." Nevermind the fact that they only have limited time left before the mission starts and the fact that Madoka would have no idea where to start thinking. She'd still try for him!

"Tight..." He explained further. Maru pulled at the fabric at his waist and frowned. There was very little give. He supposed it had to be that way, it was a wet suit, they were meant to be close fitting. That didn't mean he had to like it.

"... It should be fine." Just bothersome. As soon as he had the chance to get it off, he would be taking it.

Madoka stares at him for another moment. Really, she trusts Maru completely, but since she technically hasn't known him for that long by now, she still can't know some stuff for sure. For example, she has no idea if he's 100% sure about it being fine or if he's just saying that to keep her from worrying. It's probably the former, since he did bother to speak up about it being weird to begin with, but with Madoka being Madoka, she can't help but fuss a little all the same.

After a moment of staring she seems to deem it alright though, since she doesn't bother to ask about it further. But she does move up to stand on her toes so she can reach up enough to pat his hair, just like she would if he'd be in his cat form.

"That's good.." She smiles. "You're doing great. I'm proud of you."

To anyone else it might look like a weird sight, especially considering their (apparent) age difference, but to Madoka it doesn't feel weird at all.

Maru... actually found himself leaning down. He wasn't sure what Madoka was going to do, but his natural instinct was to lean forward. And then she patted his head. Maru wasn't too sure what to think of this. As a cat it didn't seem so bad. But as a human?

And yet... the head pat... coupled with the words... made him feel something he wasn't sure he could readily identify. Tentatively he tried to name it happy, but it was something deeper than that. It made him feel warm inside. And without realising he'd done it, Maru had lowered himself to one knee so that Madoka didn't have to stretch and strain herself. And there was a small smile upon his lips.

He hadn't ever had anyone proud of him before.

.. that's an unexpected reaction, but it's a cute one. Madoka hardly even realises what he's doing until she feels that she no longer has to reach out her arm as far as she can in order to be able to pat him like that. It's sweet on his part to adjust things to make it easier for her, and the smile on his face just makes Madoka feel all warm inside too. It's just so nice to see him happy. Even though she doesn't know quite what part of what she just said or did was able to draw this kind of reaction out of him.

"You're looking really cute right now, Maru."

Listen, maybe she's overusing that word, but how else is she supposed to describe the way he looks so positively adorable when he looks happy?

"Are you happy?"

Maru didn't blush, he didn't know if he could, or it was something that was so rare it almost never happened. But if it was something he did it might have happened then. Madoka really did overuse that word. Maru was starting to think she'd given him the wrong name.

Was he happy? He thought about it. Seriously thought about it, because Madoka deserved an honest answer. And the honest answer came to him very quickly.

"Yeah... I'm happy." He nodded, he had smiled, hadn't he? There hadn't been many times in his long life where he had felt like smiling. But so far Madoka had earned several of them. "... Are you?"

"Yes."

She doesn't even seem to have to think about the answer the way he does.

"After all, when you're happy, I am too." It's as simple as that. There's nothing Madoka loves more than seeing the people around her happy - especially when Maru is about to do so much for her. He already forced himself to put on this wet suit, technically for her sake. As long as he seems happy enough, Madoka doesn't have to worry about feeling guilty that he's doing so much for her.

"Good." He seemed pleased with that answer. Having her happy was very good in his book. She deserved that.

"Just stick with me... We'll get through this." Maru would definitely protect her happiness.

Madoka nods with a smile.

"We will." It's the most faith she's had for a mission so far, honestly. Usually she spends this time kind of stuck in the middle between dreading everything coming up and wanting to do her best.. But she doesn't really feel the dread anymore with Maru here with her. Instead she can smile without a care.

The girl grabs his hand, tugging on it to get him to come along.

"Come on, let's go! I think we have to get off the train soon."

He gave a soft sound that could have been a laugh or it could have been a huff of a sigh, it was hard to tell. But his hand was taken and Maru didn't protest because Madoka seemed happy and calm in the face of the upcoming mission. Her strength of will and her faith bolstered his own, he felt stronger for it.

Maru gave a little shake of his head and let her lead him. "I'm with you." He promised.

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Under the Sea: Mission start

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