middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That and sometimes readin' ain't the same as sayin', as Yondu so unfortunately found out when he thought Soldat's middle name was 'Butchanon'. Even with translators available tragedies occur.

"Yondu Udonta." He just assumes most people know his name anyway since there aren't many folks in any shade other than dirt-colored on the train.

"Yeah, it'll probably help the Ministry too. We figure out what we can. Problem is knowin' which the hell one is in charge this time."

Yondu's inherently suspicious of the Ministry, the same way a rebel and/or criminal is always suspicious of the police. That's what they are, and he never fully trusts them to do right by people. But if they want to try, they certainly have the resources to attempt to get it right.

"You need any help gettin' geared up?"

"Lioriley. A pleasure to properly meet you, Yondu." A slight incline of her head in greeting; habitual and respectful after growing up in a land that oozed overt politeness and spending even more time amongst human nobles that demanded such things.

She was tempted to ask further about his connections to the Ministry - her newness not allowing her the pleasure to even know the names of most, nor the chance to ask. But they were on a mission and such things could be discussed in detail later, she figured. If he was so inclined to indulge.

Another soft hum, pen twirled in an idle motion around slender fingers. "Geared up? In what sense? If literally insofar as supplies are concerned for when I venture out - no, I have all I need." Which, at a glance, was minimal.

Because she's polite, he is too, tapping his chest and bowing a little in a Ravager salute. Quick and only formal enough to get by. It's easier to meet respect with respect on the train. At home, he didn't care all that much what the hell people thought of him. (He did with some, but he'd deny it even to himself.) Were it not a mission situation, he might have asked her some personal questions related to her appearance.

But, anyway-

"Yeah, that's what I was thinkin'. It don't look like it's gonna be too rough though so... What duty you plannin' on goin' on yourself?" Because Yondu's probably going to bring some extra food and water because he's on recovery work. He's already going to pick some up. That way if someone's out wandering the wilds confused and dehydrated he can jam something to drink at them before they try to eat leaves or something.

Judging from his old crew this is a legitimate fear of what might happen to roaming fools.

She took note of the motion and filed it away for later along with the ever growing list of questions to be asked when the timing was more appropriate.

"Gathering herbs from the forests and scrublands, primarily. If I happen upon any displaced persons I intend to aid them as well." As of that moment that was all she was planning to do, but plans ever changed and if someone asked for her assistance, she would be more than happy to join them. "The inn's proprietor, Albany, also requested some help here as well, keeping supplies stocked and the like, so I had thought I might lend a hand."

She closed her notebook and glanced over, looking to said innkeeper moving about the main room. "You should be sure to return periodically so you do not potentially run yourself ragged." She didn't know him — but the warning was usually good to have for those that might be inclined toward bad habits. Speaking from experience.

That makes him chuckle, as usual with that vaguely unpleasant (but nothing he can help) smile.

"Ah, let me tell you. We gonna run ourselves ragged by the end. Don't matter how well rested we get 'cause some shit always happens. And with the so called quakes an' shit I bet we're gonna have some kinda void volcano situation or some shit. Who knows."

He spreads his hands. "Don't worry. If people don't wanna tell you they need help? The SCA'll give 'em up anyway." Which is a wierd thing to say 'don't worry' about, but there is some consolation in that they can't get by on saying nothing. He found that out the hard way when he tried to play bait during the last mission. "You got about ten minutes? We can put together some quick packs for them stragglers what we might find out there."

"Void volcano." She repeated, brows raised. The neon blue lines set upon her skin glowed a little brighter. "Now that is a terrifying thought." And with the unpredictability of everything happening, who was to say it wasn't worse than that? Thanks Yondu - she's going to be thinking about that the entire time.

Telling Lioriley not to worry was like telling water to not be wet. She understood the sentiment, though. "I suppose there is some solace in that." The best she could hope was that it wouldn't come to that, and people would actually think to take care of themselves when given the chance. She started to push herself to her feet, "You have me as long as you need, my friend. I will follow your lead."

"I'm sure even with my talent I cain't find a way to get in trouble while doin' inventory, but give me ten minutes I'll find somethin' else to get tangled up in." He starts to line up some extra rations and water bottles and food. "Here, put these with some blankets. I'll set out with about five sets or so an' when I get done I'll come back for more."

People do usually take care of themselves, or will be forcefully cared for and need to accept that.

"You act like you're used to dealin' with people that find trouble easy. Guess all this ain't a reach."

"Should I be worried for you over some others, then?" She asked, her tone only slightly altered from its usual base of neutrality, a hint of a smile on her lips; she was teasing, though perhaps she would worry for him if he did in fact have a habit of getting into trouble so easily.

Doing as instructed, Lioriley gathered the blankets and rolled the bundles up, mentally inventorying what he offered so she could replicate it later and make retrieval of said packs all the easier and quicker.

"You could say that. I traveled quite extensively and with plenty that would charge headfirst into danger without question. Seems a common trait amongst many here as well." with the fondness in her voice, it was almost like she liked people like that.

"Nah. Focus on the kids." He says that a little more seriously. The train is full of them, and while 'kid' to him probably has a wider range than it does with most as he's a crotchety old man, he'd rather the focus be on them despite his humor pertaining to his self-endangerment.

"I think it comes with the train's type. Takes a certain type of person to change worlds. Some of 'em just do that."

He does his best to fold and wrap the blankets in such a way that he can tuck the items into the middle folds for when he hands them out, like a package of sorts. This he does like he's had to do it before, though. "Some of 'em just try to be good people an' treat people good. Some of 'em can just cut a hole in someone and not even blink twice other than it bein' an inconvenience. Or it's any combination of the lot."

He looks over to her, scrunching up that battered face. "None of 'em are immune to gettin' their ass kicked, just try to trust they got their reasons." Because he knows sometimes healers get real frustrated with people endangering themselves. He got frustrated running rescue missions for dumb crew and Peter when he took a fit of wild and decided to sleep with another woman what would stab him. He's been forced into positions by it that he did not wanna be in.

Now he wishes he'd handled it with a gentler, less rageful hand than he did back then. Not that the healers here are in any way rageful, and she's been a saint so far. He just worries about enough of it happening getting to someone.

That response, simple as it may have been, told her a lot about Yondu. Anyone willing to immediately think of children in such situations, even in the wake of what was meant to be a tease, surely had a good head on their shoulders and intentions more aligned to her own. It also said that he probably wasn't joking about getting into trouble himself, and she did make a mental note to assure he checked in when he was able - lest she worry for his well-being all the same.

"Of course." She had already prioritized the 'kids' aboard the train, though her own baseline for that was also higher than most. Twenty-something humans still counted as children in her eyes most of the time.

Lioriley made sure to gently press against each bottle she touched, chilling the liquid inside and then tucking it into the packs, assuring it was cold whenever Yondu happened to need it; the magical chill lasting a significant amount of time longer than usual.

Trust they got their reasons, he said. Lioriley nodded and handed him a finished pack of supplies. "I understand. I have been healing people for centuries, have seen plenty of battles despite how I may look and act. I know sometimes people do what they do in the heat of the moment for the good of those around them." Mostly. "I am not immune to it myself."

She smiled. "Just try to be careful, hm? That is all I ask."

"Eh, I'll be fine." Even if he got in trouble (which he would, considering he has a friend that's going to flip out and become a super-powered King Kong) he does have a number of healers willing to patch him up, which he found out during the last mission despite his better intentions. Good to hear she's been at it that long. Means she might get less frustrated than most healers that have to deal with their workload.

They can hardly be blamed, but he is a source of trouble.

At least two of those kids are "his" though, essentially adopted, and a few others he took to mentoring and worry about them quite a bit. Even the ones he's only been there in passing for he cares about.

"...I'd ask how you did that with the bottles but I've met a whole lotta ice folks at this point so I just flat out assume I'll never know." It might not be a whole lotta packs, but it's enough to last him a while. God he wants one of those bottomless bags, but he always passes on them in favor of letting the item packhorses carry them.

"If ever you are curious to the intricacies of my magical abilities, I would be happy to enlighten you." She said with another soft laugh, clearly amused by his bafflement. That was a familiar response to her magic from most back home - having people aboard the train so easily accept such abilities had actually felt a bit odd.

She seemed to already be moving to start gathering more supplies. Something more to do while she was lurking about the inn. She wanted to be sure everything was set before she thought to leave herself.

"Was there anything else you needed? You have eaten, yes?" Wouldn't do much good to go without any energy.

"Oh, I bet you use that line on all the boys." Sometimes Yondu runs his mouth when he shouldn't, but at least from the tone it shows he has no intention of actually doing something crude. Him play-flirting is a way of casual communication (for better or for worse).

"I'm roommates with Soldat," he explains simply. "If I didn't eat I'd hear about it every time I needed to eat for the next week. He gets protective."

Which is kind of nice, having someone that earnestly looking out for him even if Yondu very pointedly is out looking for the previously mentioned trouble. He's in the kitchen plenty, so maybe even if she doesn't know him she might have seen him in there cooking. Sorta his way of dealing with his issues. A lot healthier than any of the coping mechanisms Yondu engages in. Even the particularly hateful looking plant he's formed with those Diagad-granted green abilities in the greenhouse isn't the best way.

"Anyway if I see anyone hurt for more than a patch I'll send 'em your way or give you a holler. I ain't seen Willow in a while an' she was a real reliable healer."

"W-What? No - I. Oh." Her cheeks were already flushed a deep violet by the time she registered that the comment was meant to be in jest. Too late to save herself from the embarrassment now, she simply muttered a "That was a joke. Of course." And then cleared her throat and moved into the next topic.

"I have not had the pleasure of meeting Soldat. But that is good to know." She replied, nodding her head a few times. "Please do. I should be around here for the most part, and if I am not I will not be far."

There's always a little sense of accomplishment if he gets a reaction, he can't lie, and he cracks one of his jagged grins at the blush. He'd tell her it looks nice on her for the sake of bein' a true turd, but unlike Peter he has the very slightest sense of decorum when it came to friendly flirtations and also he didn't want to start a mission by being slapped or something. Bad foot to set off on.

"Then I'll catch up with ya later. Hopin' givin' ya a call won't be necessary but by the end of it I'm sure somebody might be thrown off a cliff." Or impaled, that sure happened to him during the last one. Not fun.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Swirling Consequences Start

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