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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Prompto sat crossed legged on the table in two-toned outfit of black and purple. His clothes also had several spots where it had been fashionably cut to make it look more punk or grunge (depending on who you asked). In one gloved hand held a banana he was munching on and the other was busy helping sort mini-first aid packs for their team.

He looked up when Ignis did and tilted his head to the side. "Hey teammate! You goin' blue with us, dude?"

Oh, finally!

"Hey-" Tidus takes a step forward into the space, relieved to finally locate the guy he's been looking for, even if it's with someone else. He looks over to Prompto, chuckling into a shrug that lifts his hands up some with it, a somewhat awkward smile tilting on his face.

"Maybe! That's what I wanted to ask about."

He turns to Ignis with that, but doesn't entirely ignore the other guy in the room, not bothered by the lack of privacy (privacy? on a train?). Prompto's question even helps lead Tidus into his own, to get to the point:

"I saw you guys don't have as many people as the Purples do, and I know people switch switch teams. I was wondering if you're worried about how many hands you have going with you. This'll be my first job," he admits, waving a hand, "so I dunno if I should be thinking there'll be fifty priests for the Purples to protect, or if a whole island sounds in need of all the help it can get."

The teams were imbalanced in places, but maybe it was for a reason; maybe it made sense on the missions. Or maybe there was good enough reason to ignore all that and to go where his gut told him. But then, if he didn't go with Purple...

Ignis took a sip of his coffee as he studied the blonde newcomer. But he was admittedly curious as to why this man was here. However, it didn't take long for him to find that out after he addressed Prompto's question and it only served to further his own curiousity.

He listened politely and respectfully as the other stated his business. He then took another sip of coffee as the other continued on and smiled behind the cup so it wouldn't be seen. The advisor was impressed the man would seek out those that needed help the most which seemed to speak of his character. The blonde seemed honest and willing to help out a team that badly needed all the help it could get as it was put to him.

Setting down the coffee cup down, the advisor let out a small sigh and adjusted his glasses to put them back up on the bridge of his nose and he nodded. "I certainly appreciate your offer of assistance. The Blue team has always been the smallest and we would be most grateful for your help with our mission objective."

Prompto listened, knowing he wasn't the one the other fellow was after. However, he watched the exchange and gave a thumbs up and an encouraging smile when Iggy answered in his 'oh so Iggy' way.

"Way to impress him, man! You wouldn't happen to like the color black, would ya?" He asked, giving Iggy a playfully mischievous grin. He was so poaching this guy for the black team when they got back! He didn't think Iggy would actually care, especially since the guy was obviously wearing purple not blue. "What's your name?"

Oh--so that was a yes? Tidus's eyes raise in surprise from the response, expecting more of--something, admittedly. Hoping, maybe? But it's short-lived, a momentary feeling: approving of any extra help pretty much answers the most important question, doesn't it? So the look starts to settle, before the other guy pipes in--congratulating Tidus like he aced a job interview, or something. And with such a contrasting energy next to the Mr. Glasses, too!

But geez, that's totally how it sounded, huh? Talk about embarrassing...!

"Er," Tidus lets out somewhere as the blond first starts to speak, before the request for his name. Though the mention of black catches his interest, a curious look drawing on his face. Oh, was this...?

"Tidus," he offers. "You talking about Black Team? ...Are you the guy behind that?"

What was the name again? Yuf? Yoof?

The advisor waited to see what the blonde would say but the first thing he noticed was the marksman's thumbs up and grin. "Prompto that can.." And he held off, realizing he might be interrupting their guest, which was rude. So Ignis nodded at gaining the man's name and then he looked at the other blonde.

There was a quiet sigh as the other unofficial team was spoken of and there was a slight shake of the head at the group photographer. "Might I remind you that you're on the Blue team at this point and all talk of Yuffie's Black team must go through her."

Moving away from the table, Ignis got up and extended a hand to the newcomer. "Welcome to the Blue team Tidus. I look forward to working with you."

Prompto picked up another banana and offered it to their new friend (that's what he was, right?). He looked like he was ready to speak up and answer Tidus' question when Ignis beat him to it. His grin dropped off and he gave a quick, "Nu-uh! Black team means I can be both! Black team, we do what we want!" He said that last thing in an exaggerated old school 'punk' speak.

He snickered when he undoubtedly got a look from Ignis. "Okay okay, I won't steal the new guy!" That was really not what Ignis was likely worried about but whatever. "Blue team's cool, Tides! We're small but mighty! Even if we don't like being called turtles.." He rolled his eyes like this was important for some reason.

Alright, so that guy isn't Yuffie.

Which Tidus learns in the least embarrassing exchange--with none at all--but talk about being serious, Ignis. The two were familiar with each other, that's for sure, though Tidus wasn't about to guess how closely.

He waves a hand at the offered banana, "No thanks," and then he's got the other offer held out. More formal than fruit, too serious; he wants to ignore it for a good second like he's signing a contract he wasn't prepared for, and now who's being too serious?

But Yuna didn't really mind if he did this, did she? Should he be leaving her alone in Purple...?

But this was important, too.

"--Yeah," he kicks out of his throat, taking the hand with a grip that's forced, quick and tight, giving it a single shake. Tidus ignores his doubt, rolling off the energy of the other blond to pick back up his own. "I dunno what you mean by turtles, but tell me about Black Team later. I doubt Yuffie'll mind." He looks from Prompto to Ignis, giving a shrug while saying more assuredly, "I'm here to help the island either way, one way or another."

And nothing about teams was going to change that.

"You got anything to ask me?" He continues on, to Ignis. "Or do we do the team huddle once we hit land and we know more?"

He wasn't sure about why Tidus sounded like he suddenly sounding a bit nervous but he wasn't going to ask. After all the unexpected offer of help was more than enough. Far be it from him to try and parse out hidden motivations if goodwill for his team was being offered. After all, the taller blonde man seemed to be a charitable spirit for this operation and that's the way the advisor was going to look at it.

Ignis let go of the hand in his and turned his green eyes towards Prompto. He so did not just give this newcomer a nickname. No he didn't....(except he totally did) So the marksman was on the receiving end of a look of 'Don't screw this up' really briefly.

There was a small smile and a nod at Tidus' reassurance of help and the advisor piped up afterwards. "And we appreciate your kind offer. I've no doubt the islanders will as well." We was for the team because even if Ignis was getting help from other sources, more of a combined effort would always be advantageous. In turn, he would always be grateful for the help. Four people he could handle without issue. More than that was a matter of getting the members into smaller more cohesive units.

'You got anything to ask me?' Tidus had wondered. Well he was dealing with a man whose first reaction to just about everything was to analyze, though the offer of goodwill wasn't under the usual scrutiny. So he simply nodded in response at first. And then his question came out.

"Since we're going to be on the island, we may have to fight in the water." There was a pause. "I trust you know how to swim?" And at the question leveled at him, another small smile appeared. "I know as much as you. Our reports on the worlds aren't always accurate and unfortunately we do seem to gather intel far more quickly when we're in the actual situation."

Edited 2020-05-14 01:35 (UTC)

"We've been trying to come up with mascots for the teams- like animals or something to represent- and we thought maybe turtles for blue but people didn't like the idea. Didn't help when someone said turtles hide in their shells, which wasn't what we were going for. I just thought this team tends to be protecting stuff," he explained and then took a big bite. He bobbed his head up and down, nodding in agreement that the team appreciated Tidus' offer.

His expression turned a little sheepish at Ignis' look, but it didn't phase him for too long. When Tidus asked if they wanted to know anything more, Prompto wanted to answer but had to wait till he swallowed. By then, Ignis had asked one of his questions. That didn't stop him from asking more though. "Oh yeah, we're going to have to be fighting a bunch of monsters or something. Know how to fight? What are you good at? Oh and what do you think about blond boys?"

That last question wasn't quite what Prompto meant to ask and it wasn't what it sounded like.

The last question might have been accepted with some jest, but when the guy took the time to talk about the mascots and then tacks that on the end of a set of okay ones, Tidus can't help but stare at Prompto dubiously. Just briefly.

"Looook... I have someone I want to talk to before we leave," he starts with amicably, hopefully to curb any more derails. With that said. "But yeah, I can swim and fight. Both at once if you need it. I can go half an hour underwater without breathing, depending." A small tilt of the head. "It was my job."

Ten minutes was his job--the rest was pure stubborn training, to kick up his endurance to take a beating without choking. They have the breathing apparatuses anyway, but Tidus puts it out there just because. And Prompto did ask what he was good at.

"I got a weapon from a guy here, so I'm covered there too. Anything else... you're gonna have to ask," he admits, starting to draw a blank on any more specifics. "I can heal if you're desperate, and I know some other magic, but I'm basically the slice and dice guy in a group. Unless it turns out the fiends really hate being belted with balls," he adds jokingly, "then I'm a great aim."

Inwardly Ignis cringed at Prompto's question about blondes. What in the world did that have to do with anything? So he turned and grabbed more coffee, wondering how that was going to go over and couldn't blame Tidus for wanting to make a quick exit.

"That's remarkable." the advisor said, lowering his coffee cup at hearing about being underwater half an hour. And the last part got his attention too. "Your...job?" Was not to breathe? That was something he'd never heard of that someone could go that long underwater. How in the world did anyone not require air for that long?

He was quiet as Tidus listed off the other things he could do and wondered what balls had to do with anything. Hopefully Prompto didn't make a joke out of it, but he figured the marksman would.

Hmm, he needed to go talk to someone? Maybe their new friend was taken. Poor Dyme. Prompto had been so hopeful for his single buddy.

The marksman nodded along with Ignis' remark that Tidus' list was remarkable. Those were a lot of very useful skills! He also noticed the uncertain look, but it mostly went right over his head.

"That makes it sound like you were in like a circus act or something!" Why else would someone need to hold their breath that long as part of a job? He could see the banner now! 'Tidus, the Amazing Breath Holding Champ'. He snickered at the idea. "Who's giving away weapons?"

His eyes widen a bit at the balls comment. What the heck did that mean? "You throw balls at them or hit them in the balls?" Yes, Iggy knew him too well.

"You'll reach for a joke, won't you," Tidus remarks, humouring the other blond that much--and maybe with a bit of a tilted brow, his mouth quirked; not offended, but he can't say that apparent ball humour scored a goal with him--before getting to the initial questions. "A guy called Piccolo made it. And what I did was play sports. You're swimming in water tackling and knocking people to score or get the ball. But I've fought fiends underwater," he explains, "so my experience isn't just being under for that."

He'd add more, but that seems to be it. It'd be a nice surprise if either of them knew about blitzball--and he might've been looking for any sign of recognition from the description, just a little--but Tidus wasn't going to get his hopes up.

"Prompto..." Ignis said, giving quite the look of shutting up, while trying to remain polite in front of Tidus. He took a breath and in the next moment the photographer was talking about giving away weapons. After that, his green eyes went back to Tidus and heard the explanation about Piccolo and nodded. He listened intently about the tackling which sounded like a game but then that conversation sobered into fighting underwater. That was something neither of those two could do so he was silently impressed. Not to mention the whole holding breath underwater for half an hour thing.

The strategist was definitely giving Prompto a talking to with comments about balls being bandied about. And his green eyes glared daggers at the man. But he noticed the silence and he looked back at their guest. So he had to ask to try and keep conversation though he was admittedly curious.

"What is the sport called? And how is it played? It sounds almost like a team sport." Getting to know people was part of teamwork too even if this wasn't particularly mission related.

Prompto started to offer a sheepish laugh at Tidus' comment, but then flushed at Ignis saying his name. Crap! He was in trouble! Lowering his head, he mumbled an apology back to the taller man and returned to adding supplies to the bags of first aid kits. He glanced at Tidus briefly and said quietly, "Sorry."

He peeked back at Tidus when Ignis commented about the activity being a sport to see if that was an accurate description or not. However, he didn't add any of his own commentary this time.

...It can't be counted as the weirdest first meeting, but this sure was something odd. Tidus catches the small apology, offers back a shrug and the lift of a dismissive hand--a don't worry about it. The guy probably wasn't in the same hurry as him, despite shuffling off now to do whatever (not get in more trouble--Tidus could tell that), while Tidus...

"Yeah, it's a team game, six on each side--called blitzball," he explains to Ingis as he turns back to him, but as for the rest: "I can tell you about it another time if you're interested, but I meant it when I said I had someone I wanted to meet before we left. I don't know how long we have until then?"

And he didn't know if this was exactly the best time to get into it, before whenever the mission was supposed to happen. Unless they had the entire day and he was trying to hurry through this for no reason.

Then, whoops?

Ignis listened of course because that's what he did and he understood the pressure of time and preparing before a mission so he offered the out. "I would be most interested to hear at another time, and thank you most kindly for your time and effort." It didn't hurt to learn about other worlds and to keep doing so.

This blitzball game sounded interesting though he himself couldn't hope to hold his breath for half an hour. But if others on the train were interested and somehow somewhere a game could be played, the advisor would certainly be on board for watching it be played.

Meanwhile there was a Prompto to talk to.

Prompto hadn't really 'gone' anywhere. He'd turned back to the packing that was on the kitchen counter top he was sitting on. However, he might as well have moved away given the way his body language had gone from open and engaging in their conversation to subdued and visibly contrite.

As he finished his snack, he peeked up again at Tidus. Hearing what the other had been referring to was actually a game made it all the more interesting. He had no idea how someone held their breath that long, but decided it was best not to ask. He didn't want to irritate Iggy further.

If the other blonde leaves after Ignis' comment, he'll risk a friendly, low-key wave.

Tidus gives a nod to Ignis, and with that said he starts to turn, but not without parting words. "Well, I'll see you both ground side."

So he does catch Prompto's wave, gives the guy a quick lift of his hand in return. But with that, Tidus will leave them to go search out for his friend--who maybe he can convince to come with him, this time round.

(Narrator's voice: He did not convince her to go with him, but instead lost 5 relationship points.)

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Under the Sea: Mission start

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