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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[The moment he speaks, she takes a step back. His voice is quiet enough to not startle her into running away, but it's a surprise to hear regardless. She had truly thought, in her worry riddled mind, that no one would wake up. It's something she had seen happen once. To her, it's a relief, and a reward for her vigilant watching. People are waking up from their sleep. Even if he had been unknowingly awake the entire time. Just let her have this.

Now comes the real struggle-how does she respond?]

No.

[Yes. There's a pause.]

Are you still tired?

[A small, sad smile curls the corner of his mouth a moment before fading as Ignis slowly pushes himself up into a more upright position. The girl seems skittish and he doesn't want to startle her more than that quick step back indicates he already has.]

I'm going to be tired for a very long time, I'm afraid. Survival conditions like this don't leave a lot of time for recovery, but it's no matter. I've suffered through worse.

[Ignis.]

Are you hungry? There is a little fish left over from when I was cooking before and the fire is still high enough to warm it with.

[Oddly enough, the whole time he's talking, Ignis doesn't open his eyes.]

[Those words are enough to trouble her and it's an indication that someone might be feeling the effects of the experiment. Being tired for a long time is a symptom she understands, a way she can tell when her own condition deteriorates. He must be feeling very tired, even in this moment, for him to keep his eyes shut like that.

His question prompts her to look up, searching for the direction of a fire.]

Your eyes are shut.

[Just in case he didn't know?? She doesn't get how he can tell if the flames are still high enough with his eyes like that.]

How do you know the fire's okay?

That they are. One no longer opens and the other I keep closed so it can heal. Bright light would not be good for it now.

[Ignis has no way to judge just how badly his right eye is injured, but keeping it closed is something he can do to encourage sight to return to it, no matter how little that something may be. It's a small speck of hope he really needs right now.]

My friends and I did a fair bit of camping before we were brought here, so I guess I am used to working with campfires. Even without that knowledge, it's not hard to use my other senses to judge its strength.

[He pauses, holding out his hand, stopping just above the top of the low-burning flames.]

I can hear the wood crackling and smell the smoke, but the crackling is soft now and the smoke smell faint. The heat is not as strong as a full fire would be either. It has burned low, but not out. Perfect for rewarming leftovers.

[His eyes are injured? That comment makes her lean in to inspect his face. They definitely look hurt. She can't imagine how scary it must be to not see what's going on around you, especially after arriving on an island. At least her temporary blindness resolved itself quickly and she was able to hold Seto's hand the entire way through.

As if testing his method of fire sensing, she shuts one eye and holds her hand above the fire too. It might be easier if she closes both, but she can't bring herself to do that. Too dangerous. She can understand what he means, at least. The fire radiates a warm heat, but not scalding hot.]

If you're hurt, you should eat it.

[Even though it was offered to her, it seems like he could use it more. She can survive without it.]

I think reheating is something I can do.

[How hard could it be???]

[Her concern for him causes a small smile to cross Ignis' face.]

What kind of cook would I be if I didn't taste my own food? You needn't worry about me, dear. I've eaten what I need.

[Or at least what his stomach will allow. There are times when pain and vertigo still make it rather unhappy with him.]

It's really no trouble for me to do it. Call it good practice. I need to learn quickly how to move around without my sight so that I can help everyone out with more than just food. Why don't you take a seat and tell me about yourself while I work?

[Ignis motions her forward and then moves carefully over to where he 'stored' the left over food, moving it back toward the fire.]

Pots we have, but utensils we do not.

[A joking tone enters his voice.]

I hope you won't judge this chef too harshly on that. I intend to have words with whoever is in charge about their oversight.

[It's amazing, really. She had been too scared to move when blindness struck her however long ago and he's walking like there's nothing to fear. That kind of bravery is hard for her to wrap her mind around. All she does is listen and inch closer to the fire to watch him work. In case something happens, she can at least be around to help. Even if the odds are 50/50 she would run away first.

Sadly, the joke goes over her head. At least she won't complain about no forks or chopsticks? ]

It's easy to eat from a pot. I can teach you.

[After it cools down, she can figure out the rest. Maybe there will be enough leftover to shove into his pocket, so he can have a snack later. She's content to stay in silence, despite his request to know about her, because she doesn't know what to say outside of her name. Except one word sticks in her mind. The mention of 'dear' earlier makes her think of the animal. She's seen a giant mouse-it isn't a stretch to think she's wildlife too.]

My name is Ren, but I'm not a deer. I'm human, like you.

[Look, she doesn't want to give off the wrong impression. In case he was concerned about that kind of thing.]

[Ignis is thankful he has just set the pot down in some warm coals when she makes her introduction, because if not, he may have dropped it.]

'Not a deer?' Whatever are yo-

[And then it strikes him and as impolite as it may be, he can't stop himself from laughing. A hand comes to his mouth to muffle the sound as he shakes his head. Ignis realizes she missed his previous joke so the pun that follows will likely be lost on her too, but he can't help it anymore than he can help the fond look that covers his face.]

My darling, it's a term of endeerment. I didn't mean to suggest you are actually an animal. That would be rude. Has no one ever called you by such thing before?

[How strange if that is the case. Surely such a sweet, innocent child would have someone who could give her nicknames?]

[The laugh makes her tilt her head, not that he can see it, and looks towards the food.]

No. They only called me Ren.

[Before they died that is, but Seto referred to her by name only too. And she certainly never used this 'terms of endearment' stuff. People are confusing, what with their animals and pumpkins and all.]

Do they call you dear?

I have been called that yes, though I was much younger at the time.

[Being appointed as Noctis' advisor at such a young age had the unfortunate side effect of putting a quick end to people referring to him with such terms. It just wasn't polite to use such an informal greeting with him. Even his uncle had stopped using them by the time Ignis was seven or so.]

My name is Ignis, so my friends often call me 'Iggy.' They also call me 'Specs' since I wore glasses before I was injured.

[That's a big collection of names for one person. What is she supposed to call him? The friend nicknames can be eliminated, since they just met, but that still leaves two. She hesitates for a moment and decides to ask-]

Do I call you Ignis or dear?

[A gentle smile crosses Ignis' face as he adjusts the pot with the food in it and then settles back to let it warm.]

What would you like to call me? My name is fine, of course, but I'm not going to get angry with you if you choose something else. Why, you could even think of a new nickname if you wanted.

[Despite the formal mannerisms Ignis is used to employing, he can see that it would be silly to insist on such a thing in a survival setting like this one. They have more important things to worry about. Besides, nicknames tend to make people smile. He's hardly going to deny her the opportunity to use one with him if it makes her happy to do so.]

[This is the smallest amount of power she's ever had and it stuns her into silence as her brain goes into overdrive. The name isn't the problem. She names cats all the time and they tumble out of her mouth without a second thought. It's natural to pick their names, but a person? Let alone an adult?

He speaks kindly and is injured-that combination does wonders and alleviates some of her worries about sitting here, waiting for this food to rewarm. Food she's not sure he should be offering her to begin with, when he could keep it to himself, but she'll take it all the same.

It's probably okay. People have been nice so far and she can always run away if he gets mad at the name. The long pause finally ends when she blurts out-]

Dearignis! That can be your nickname.

[Look. Nicknames should be shorter, but she doesn't know that okay? It seems right to just mesh the two names together, instead of deciding between them. Win/Win/Win.

Stop her.]

[~~No! Cuteness must be encouraged!~~

Ignis isn't sure what he was expecting her to say, but that certainly wasn't it. He brings a hand to his mouth to cover the way it twitches as he holds back a laugh. She is so enthusiastic and happy. The last thing he wants to do have her misunderstand his laughter and end up embarrassed instead.

Oh, but does her excitement and innocent cause a warmth in his chest. Now that he thinks on it, Ren reminds him a bit of Prompto. They are both so full of sunshine and happiness. Ignis can only hope she will be able to hold onto some of the innocence that Prompto seems to have lost recently.]

If you wish to use that, I won't stop you, but it's a little long, don't you think? Nicknames and terms of endearment tend to be shorter than a person's given name because it's a more relaxed way of referring to them.

Would you like to think about it for a while? If you can't think of anything you like, you are certainly free to use 'Iggy' or 'Specs.'

That's for friends. It's okay to use those names?

[She's trying to keep up with all the rules that accompany making nicknames and endearments. Regardless of what she calls him now, the eventuality of it is she'll have a nickname for him. However dumb it will be. Maybe it'll come to her in the middle of the night, where she'll wake from deep sleep to whisper 'Igs' in his general direction. Maybe it will never come at all. She'll give it her best effort though.]

Of course.

[Ignis almost seems startled by the question.]

I see no reason why we can't become friends, do you? It's not like you are a difficult person to like. You have already proven yourself both kind and respectful.

[He pulls a knife out of his supplies and then moves forward to check on how the food is doing. In the back of his mind, Ignis makes yet another note that they really need to find or make some other kind of utensil to use.]

Hopefully, I'm not presuming too much to think you would like to be friends with me?

[It shouldn't be a hard question to answer and even Ren can understand the simplicity behind it. It's just hard. She can't remember ever being asked that question before. Even her friendship with Seto had happened naturally and without words to ever confirm it. He saved her, they traveled together and she knew every time she held his hand they were friends. An adult has never asked her that and she can't remember if the other children were alive long enough to recognize friendship is something they wanted.

This man has been nothing but kind to her. He's laughed and warmed up food for her, when it was unnecessary to do. She doesn't know if he'll wake up in the morning or be consumed by whatever killed the people of her world. Can't figure out how bad his injuries are outside the wounds she sees on his face to know if that might be the thing that kills him tonight.

But she wants him to wake up tomorrow. To be friends. To wake up in the morning and see all these people in the ruins again, even if she can't express it in the same, simple way as can we be friends.]

You can give me that thing. I can stir.

[A pause.]

Iggy.

[The amount of time it takes her to answer worries Ignis. Perhaps he's overstepped and assumed something he shouldn't have? Before he was blinded, he was so good at reading people, but without his vision, he's literally going into it blind.

When she finally speaks and uses his nickname, Ignis feels like a weight has been lifted off him. Warmth flares in his chest and he knows it has nothing to do with the fire. He wasn't wrong; she does want to be friends. A smile crosses his face and he carefully turns the knife handle in her direction.]

Here you go. Just be careful, my darling. A knife isn't the best thing to stir with and I don't want you to get hurt. It's almost done.

[She takes a few steps towards the fire and is finally able to relieve him of his food warming duty. It's easy enough to heed his warning and she's careful when she tentatively pokes at the fish with the knife.]

I'll be okay. You can rest.

[Rest from his injuries and, while a part of her wants to caution him against sleeping, it won't make a difference. If he's going to die tonight, a warning won't change anything. Though, she is starting to eye the area around him in an attempt to figure out where to hide the leftovers should he wake tomorrow. A place it will be easy for him to find without her help if she happens to fall asleep herself. Maybe hidden a little, so if he doesn't live, she can get to it before any wildlife does.]

It makes a nice smell when it's done, right?

[SHE.........thinks. Maybe it's supposed to turn colors? Cooking is too hard already and she's done absolutely nothing. Where's Seto when you need him?]

[Ignis starts to insist that he's all right and that the little bit of activity hasn't tired him that much, but she's been so persistent about taking care of him that he can't make himself do it. Instead, he nods, shifting back to lean against the rock he'd been resting against when she first approached him.]

Yes, it will. Since it's already cooked through, you shouldn't see too much change in how it looks. Smell is going to be the best test aside from trying a small piece of it to see how warm it is.

[He lets his right eye fall closed then, remaining silent for several moments, just listening to the fire and the warming food. Eventually, he does speak again, though.]

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

It's making a good smell now.

[Ah, okay. That's what she thought and with him finally resting, she can take her eyes off him to focus on the food. It smells nice enough that she doesn't need to take a piece to try, though he might hear the sound of knife tapping against the pan as she cuts it. 1/3 for her and the rest will be bundled up for him.

Old fish will be a Fine Smell to wake up too Iggy. This is what you get. Try to be nice and get old nasty fish.]

That's on the clipboard. I don't remember the number.

[Which is to say, she doesn't mind him asking, but she can't recall and it's never been important enough for her to find out.]

[There are many a dish considered delicacies made from old fish. Fortunately for everyone's sense of smell, Ignis knows nothing about how to make any of them.]

Be careful about pulling it out of the fire, then and eat all you want. Noct will likely catch us more tomorrow should the sea be kind to him.

[Ignis can't help but start a little when he hears her answer to his question. That was certainly not what he expected to hear.]

What do you mean, 'on the clipboard?'

[And why does that phrase cause an icy chill to run down his back?]

[If by 'be careful pulling it out' he meant 'stab the slab of fish with the knife and pull it out', then she did great. Twice even. The pan will be fine probably. The promise that a person might catch more later doesn't make her deviate from her plan. You have to eat what you can, when you can. Food is difficult to come by.

He might hear her patter around and the sound of a palm leaf tearing. Just don't ask questions, Iggy.]

They would write all our numbers down and put them somewhere else.

[Age. Height. Weight. It was like clockwork for a small chunk of her life. That's about all she can remember. And since that's all she can offer as an explanation, she's going to start looking for his bag now. Hopefully it's nearby, so she can shove this leaf covered fish into his pocket.]

How do you make the sea nicer?

[Ignis unconsciously notes the tearing sound and her moving around, but he's more interested in her answers than her movements at the moment. Conveniently enough, his bag is nearby, the flap with his name stitch on it clearly visible even in the weak firelight.]

Were you in a hospital then?

[Because that is the only place Ignis can think of immediately that would record such things. Still, she doesn't seem sick. Of course, without his vision, there is no real way to know for sure.]

Make the sea nicer?

[For a moment, Ignis is confused at her question and then it strikes him. She hasn't understood the turn of phrase.]

It's just a saying, my dear. Sometimes fish are easy to catch because the conditions are right and other times they aren't. Being good at fishing can help, but there are some things that are beyond even the best fisherman's control.

No.

[Not quite and she's not going to correct him beyond that. It isn't important anymore. The lab is gone and despite predictions that said otherwise, she ended up outlasting everyone inside. No sense in going into details for a sad place like that. Her age and birthday aren't worth it.

When her eyes finally see his bag, she takes a quiet step forward and opens one of the pockets to shove the palm covered fish into. That will keep it safe for him.

Yeah.

Job well done, Ren. You hid food from the blind man. #missioncomplete]

Cats like fish. They could help him catch some.

[Oh, wait.]

But they're still hiding. I don't know where they are.

Ruins Mingle Log!

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