lifeaftr | Ruins Mingle Log!

Entry tags:

Ruins Mingle Log!

Who: Newt Geiszler

ohnehalfte and EVERYONE
What: So a bunch of people headed up towards the ruins, so they've got to all run into each other and start to congregate, right???
When: Evening of the mingle log and onwardish.
Where: The Ruins
Warnings: Um...same as the mingle log?

The beach curves up a gentle slope until it meets forest, some manner of building visible through the trees. Further exploration of this area will reveal a dilapidated building of sorts; the architecture is indiscernible to even the most skilled eye. Despite looking as if it has seen better days, there are areas that offer some form of shelter...and who knows what else. Just because it appears uninhabited doesn’t mean you won’t wind up pleasantly, or unpleasantly, surprised.

[ooc: Hey y'all! I thought this might be a good place to start getting larger groups of characters together to do some exploring, settling down, banding together and figuring out rations, etc. Feel free to throw up any threads of your own for specific things like exploration groups, a gathering in the entrance hall, whatever strikes your fancy or that you think your character would organize. Have a party!

Edit: Additionally, there is now an OOC Post for those that want to handwave their character signing up for ruin exploration]

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Yeah, I remember.

[His voice was quieter, softer. He wasn't joking around anymore.]

You guys are all right. That's good enough for tonight.

[He certainly didn't have enough energy left to get into what happened to him right now. He had promised he'd tell them and he would, in time. Maybe Gladio would make it there, and they could be in a better spot before he brought up something. Today, they'd been through enough.

He let out a soft laugh.]

It's probably going to be hard to sleep tonight. Too much to think about. My snowmobile is still out there, too.

[Maybe it was ridiculous to worry about it being taken, but hey, auto-theft could still be a thing.]

Now that we have food and shelter of a sort, why don't we make it a priority to get your snowmobile up here tomorrow? If everyone works together, it shouldn't be too tiring. It may not work, but that doesn't mean we can turn it into something useful to carry supplies with.

[Ignis isn't worried about it being completely stolen, but he can definitely see it being stripped for useful parts. If they ever want to make it work again, they need to prevent that as much as possible.]

There. One less thing for your mind to linger on. What else can I help with?

[His tone makes it clear he's not pushing for anything Prompto isn't ready to talk about, but if there are more simple things a little planning with take off the blonde's mind, Ignis is ready to assist with them. No matter what they face tomorrow, it will be another long day and sleep will be necessary.]

[Taking a deep breath, Prompto reached over and held Ignis' wrist.

Even now, when he was practically limping along, Ignis had a way of being the rock of the group. When Prompto should have been the one supporting him. He would probably never be able to properly say what it meant to him when he never really had anyone else like that in his life. His parents hadn't even been there to see his Crownsguard uniform before he left for their big trip. Just another disappointment in a long list of them that he'd gotten used to. He didn't even realize how unusual it was for him to be left alone so long at a young age until he got older.

So what he said was and wasn't connected to what they were talking about. It wasn't about the subject of the words, but the thought behind them.]

I'm really glad you're still with us, Iggy.

[He squeezed his wrist gently.

Another deep breath, but he took on an ever so slightly more casual air, even if it was still tinged with a more quiet tone.]

There was a girl I met out in the brush. She was setting up camp there instead of at the ruins, and was looking for people, too. I'm going to check on her before I call it a night tonight. Maybe bring her some food, make sure everything is okay.

[Ignis is surprised, at first, when Prompto's hand closes around his wrist, but the surprise doesn't last long, the expression being replaced by a warm smile instead. He shifts his wrist slightly, not pulling away, just moving so that he can wrap his fingers around the blonde's wrist to return the gesture.]

I'm glad I am too.

[His voice is soft, almost lost in the crackling of the fire. There are so many ways he could have been lost to them both here and back home. Unwillingly, Ignis' mind starts listing all of them, and he has to very firmly shut that mental voice down. It's a road he doesn't want to travel down. Not now and not ever.

It's fortunate that Prompto has a topic change right at hand to help distract him away from it.]

Of course, you can take some food to her. I just hope she and her friends will be okay away from the ruins. We still don't know what roams the night here. It sounds as if she made an impression on you, though. Perhaps, I shouldn't worry about her ability to defend herself so. Will you tell me about her?

[A lot of unspoken communication was in that grip. It had no doubt become obvious that Prompto didn't want Ignis to leave. He didn't even want him to bow out on is own. He would have supported his choice, but it would have pained him greatly. Having Ignis still here was important to him.

Maybe it was selfish. Ignis was in pain. If he needed to leave, maybe Prompto shouldn't have pushed. But he had so few friends as it was, he couldn't stand the thought of losing one of them. And because of what? Because they weren't willing to support him the way he had always supported them? Had they left him behind, it probably would have been one of the most difficult things in his life.

Luckily, they didn't. Somehow Ignis was still here, chugging along.

Those were the type of thoughts he didn't usually vocalize in his group. A lot went unsaid between them. Words couldn't properly describe much of it.]

She has magic kind of like Noct's, a bit. I don't think she can warp, but she can do some sort of bluish symbol thing. Like making a platform? And she's pretty like a... like a snow princess. I ran into her when I was looking for you guys and she helped me spot some movement on the beach. [A sigh.] I kind of wish she was coming to the ruins.

[It was probably a good thing she wasn't.]

[Despite all the talents that those in their group have, being able to clearly communicate their emotions is not one of them. Gladio is perhaps the closest to being able to, having grown in the most 'normal' family, but even the Shield has trouble because of how much a part of his life his duty to Noctis is. They've had no choice but to learn how to understand the unspoken, because there would be no hope of them succeeding in their task otherwise. It's led to misunderstandings true enough, but at least now, that is not the case. He and Prompto are on the same page.

Ignis gives Prompto's wrist a gentle squeeze, but leaves it up to the blonde to decide when he wishes to pull away.]

We have no way of knowing what she faced right before she was brought here. If she needs the distance to feel comfortable and heal, we must allow her that. At least she is accepting help and visits. Even if she is not here with us, we'll still be able to aid her. Between that and her magic, I am sure your snow princes will be just fine. Perhaps at some point, she will even feel comfortable enough to join us.

[He didn't let go. He probably wouldn't for a bit, taking some time just to have that connection. Whether or not he planned to meet up with them again this way, they were together. They did have a way of being more physical with each other than other people. Whether they were wrestling, grabbing, pushing, kicking, poking, smacking butts, or any other sort of seemingly shallow interaction, they always seemed to be a little hands-on as a group.]

I think... maybe she doesn't want to come to the ruins for some reason. Maybe she's scared of them?

[He hadn't asked for an explanation. It didn't feel like it came from some sort of pain, though. For some reason she was forming another group out there.]

She's friendly, though. We should all be able to work together. I'm just... not sure what to look for. Beyond food, that is.

Do you think the crystal could have something to do with all of this? Noct said he got to it.

Perhaps. If nothing else, she may just be wary of them. Look at it this way. If these ruins looked more like the entries to the caverns and tombs we have explored, would you wish to stay in them?

[Ignis knows he wouldn't want to. Not without a Haven for protection at least.]

As long as we are all willing to work together, then it might even be to our advantage to not have everyone in one spot. What if something attacks the ruins or what if a fire gets out of control? With our supplies as short as they are, not having all our eggs in one basket is best.

[Once he is able to make more food than can be used in a single meal, he will definitely want to keep some of it away from the ruins. Having a secondary base is not a bad thing.]

Remember the kinds of things we kept our eyes open for back home when we were camping or scouting out an area? It'll be the same here. Food is always a high priority, but so is anything else that could be useful. Old tools. Things that could be made into tools. Containers. Old shelters. Look for dangerous areas as well--places that we want to keep people away from. We want to avoid as many injuries as possible in conditions like this.

[Up until now, Ignis has had an answer for all of Prompto's questions, but this one? This one he has no idea how to answer. He squeezes the blonde's wrist again before giving it his best shot.]

If I go by instinct? I would say I don't think this has anything to do with the Crystal. Nothing I've ever learned of it says it can do something like this. At the same time, I'm not foolish enough to think we can even begin to understand all it can do.

Maybe we can set up stops around the island for people. So if someone gets stuck out when the night falls, they'll have someplace close they can go to for the night.

[Really, he was babbling to push away what he was truly thinking about. It was a long term plan, considering they would likely be attempting to leave as soon as possible. That was something he and Ignis were probably on a different page on, though. Ignis had always been focused on duty. Prompto just sort of ended up with them because he was a friend. Noctis' mission was important, Prompto wouldn't deny that, but he was more willing to get distracted.

If Ignis was really the hardass he mistook him for when they first met they would have likely bumped heads over that a lot more. He shifted in place, and considered taking his hand back as he moved, but somehow...

With a sigh, he let go. But a moment later he scooted closer to Ignis as he adjusted.]

Is it... wrong that I don't mind being here that much? I was still trying to get back to you guys back home, and I didn't know how far ahead you'd gotten, or if anything had happened...

[He knew he was supposed to be helping on their mission, but he was just happy here with them. Even if they were down one. Somehow, he knew Gladio would pop up. Ignis and Gladio were easily the ones to least worry about if they got separated - though that status had changed for Ignis now.]

Yes. Think of it as creating a string of Havens. We don't have the kind of magic needed to create protective runes, so we will have to do it the old fashioned way. Once those areas are set, we can stock them with basic supplies.

[When Prompto asks his question, Ignis almost wishes the blonde had not let go of his hand, even as he logically realizes it may be for the best considering the conflicted state said question leaves him in.

Hands folded in front of him, the advisor turns his head toward the fire, imaging how the flames must flicker as he chases ideas around in his own mind.]

I can't find fault with anyone who fears what unknown lies before them, especially when they are having to face it alone for who knows how long. Nothing about our journey has been easy and we are all tired. Relying on each other is the only reason we have made it so far. We should get back as soon as we can, but as long as Noct is here, I would rather we be here with him than anywhere else.

[There. Will Prompto notice that Ignis didn't really answer one way or another if he thought it was wrong to want to stay? He really doesn't know how he feels on the topic aside from not wanting Noctis to be alone facing whatever it is he has to face wherever he's facing it. If being here also gives him time to work out being blind, isn't that for the best? Maybe it will help avoid some of the tension and unease Prompto mentioned his disability causing. Wouldn't that be a good thing? Something to make them stronger down the road? He just needs time to get back to normal--back to a place where no one has to waste their limited energy worrying about him.]

[Exactly what he was thinking. They'd used havens so often when they were away from towns. He'd feel better with something similar around.]

Yeah. I still can't get over the 'no daemons' thing. [They'd been running from them for so long.] But... even if this place turns out to be nice, I know we have to go back. Iris and Aranea and Cindy and everyone are waiting for us. [And it wasn't fair to leave them behind with the world like it was. If only they could somehow pull everyone out of that.]

[Hesitantly.]

But... While we're stuck here and there's nothing we can do, we might as well enjoy it, right?

[Since it was out of their hands. Though he felt guilty about it.]

[Despite his worries, Ignis can't hold back the small smile that curls his lips at the blonde's tentative question.]

Prompto, are you really asking my permission to enjoy yourself should the opportunity arise?

[His tone is light and joking, but even so Ignis has a feeling that deep down, the usually cheerful boy really needs some kind of confirmation it's okay to feel happy or even have fun while they are trapped here. It's why he doesn't wait long before continuing.]

Look at this as a detour. Getting to our destination may take longer and we may run into frustrations we wouldn't have otherwise, but we will eventually get to where we are suppose to be. If we have fun or learn something of value along the way, then all the better.

[Maybe he was. As usual, Ignis seemed to know what to say. It didn't mean Prompto wouldn't have any bouts of guilt in the future when he thought of where they left everyone else, but hearing Ignis reassured him.

He plopped a hand on his shoulder.]

Thanks, Iggy.

[At least here they were, and they'd face these things together.]

Hey... Is there anything I can do to help?

[Ignis rests a hand over Prompto's, giving it a gentle squeeze.]

You're quite welcome. There is something you can do for me if you wish to.

[Keeping the blonde occupied seems like a good idea right now. It will keep his mind from straying into thoughts best left alone.]

Talk to the others here. Lets find out if they have anything that may help us improve the meal I'm putting together. Of course, you can let them know they are free to share whatever I whip up should they contribute.

[Squeezing him back, Prompto used Ignis' shoulder to push himself up.]

Sure, I'm on it! There's bound to be a ton of stuff. Just, call me if you need anything!

[There was a small hop to his step as he went back into his normal mode. So long as he had something to focus on, some way he could be helping, he could at least pretend things were all fine. He was a little nervous about talking to all of these people, but they were just as stranded as he and Iggy were.

With that, he jogged off to see what he could manage to get done.]

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Ruins Mingle Log!

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