The Terrifying Sound of Still Waters

[shatteredlenses]

Who: Ignis Scientia (shatteredlenses ) and OPEN
What: Strategy Session Mingle! (Pretend Ignis put a very messy announcement on the Rock O' Communication, but as he is, you know, blind and won't be responding to anything, I'm not going to waste a post with it.) Oh! And there will be food, because stress cooking is a thing, even if supplies are limited.
When: Starting the evening of 3/17
Where: Islet 4, in the area of Shack 1. Just look for the HUGE tent (and the grumpy hobo who wants you off his lawn).
Warnings: None to start with. Please mark if anything pops up!

New trial. New island. New monster of the day. New danger. All these things aside, there are routines that Ignis has become used to. Certain people visit. To talk. To share food. To share information. As time passes since Ai'tuoh appeared, though, these routines become disrupted. People don't appear. Stories pass through those who remain. Rules--nonsensical as they may be--take their toll. Whatever is going on over there, it's obvious their individual skills and knowledge are not enough to keep them safe.

It's one night, near the end of the week, that Ignis stands near the shoreline not far from the cottage listening to the waves that roll into the shore. His friend and prince is once more missing, and he is only one of many. Is it Ai'tuoh to blame or is it the whims of the unknown which have taken him so many times for the kind of naps that even Noctis can't enjoy? Does it matter? Whatever the cause, something has to be done. This can't continue, his mind tells him. Something has to shift. How long until the citizens of Ai'touh decide to find out where all these strangers have come from?

What happens if they do find the mana pool considering the Storyteller's warnings?

May those who violate our law be cleansed in the Standing Water.

The first time Ignis heard that, unease tightened in his stomach and that unease has only grown with each new instance that has come to his hearing. Now as he stands--water rolling over his shoes--and tries to once more figure out why that is, terror washes over him more powerful than the water at his feet. As it does, sound fades and a forgotten dream once more comes to memory.

It was so still.  So quiet.  He was so helpless.  So alone...

Are they?  Was that...?

When Ignis finally shakes free of the memory, he's on his knees, breathing hard, hands clenching in wet sand.  He stays there only long enough to catch his breath and then pulls himself to his feet. He has no way of knowing if that was the Standing Water or just a reflection of all the water he encountered in Altissia, but either way, something needs to be done.

Now.

Prompto showed Ignis where the announcement stone was not long after the floating islands vanished and while it takes time, he makes his way back and scrawls a messy, but ultimately mostly legible--if the scan of the resulting words through his bracelet is correct--note asking for those remaining to meet at the tent on Islet 4 that evening.  It isn't much time and he risks Ardyn's ire by drawing so many to a location so near his home, but the Chancellor can just deal with it.  Right now, Ignis' concern is not for his comfort, but those currently held captive.  They need to plan.  Organize.  Form a strategy for rescue.

It just so happens he's pretty good at doing just that, vision or no.

Comments

[ungrieved]

Like the barracks.

[Gabe regards the explosives with an eagerness that nearly lines up with theirs. Finally the kind of "distraction" on a scale that he can appreciate.]

[achievementhunter]

Precisely like the barracks.

[Let it be known, sir, that they do not like you. Let it also be known that in not liking you, Chara can also accept his willingness to cause distress for everyone around him.]

I take it that is a location you would enjoy tackling?

[ungrieved]

[No one really likes him. No one even wanted him around, at home or here, and yet - here he is, regardless. Might as well make the best of a lackluster situation, right?]

If we hit it hard, they'd have to split their attention.

[achievementhunter]

[Fight them in the Denny's parking lot for title of least wanted by anyone ever, scrub.]

And in the aftermath, they'll have less resources for a pursuit.

How much damage do you think you can do with a single plastic explosive?

[ungrieved]

I can get up close to the barracks. Break in. Maybe even steal some stuff.

[How's that for being a self-declared avatar of chaos and discord?]

I can do a lot.

[achievementhunter]

[Eh, that's passable, I suppose.]

In that case, consider this yours. [There is something rather unfortunate about Chara handing Gabe a plastic explosive, but really, who cares?] Do you require instructions on its use?

[ungrieved]

[NICE]

[This is going to be awful!!! He can’t wait. He studies the thing intently, torn between delight and utter awe. He’s never beheld something like this before - not in theory and not up close. The destructive potential in his hands is...exhilarating. ]

Press a button and don’t be near it when it goes off. Right?

[achievementhunter]

That is the last step, yes. First, you have to put it together.

[What, you think they do things the easy way? You're missing a few items, Gabe- namely, the fuse and detonator, which Chara hands over with a growing smile.]

It should be simple for someone of your intellect, no? Please do try not to blow yourself up.

[ungrieved]

[Gabe snorts. Didn’t miss that dig, no, but he’s got more important things to worry about. Like learning how to make stuff go boom.]

Yeah, I bet you’d be really torn up if I did, huh?

[achievementhunter]

Oh, I'd positively fall to pieces.

[Or, to be more accurate, he would.]

[ungrieved]

I guess I'll have to do my best not to. [He grins, equal parts mocking and fatalistic.]

If you're going to pieces anytime soon, I wanna be there to see it.

[achievementhunter]

Take it from me, sir- should I ever fall to pieces, the very last place you'll want to be is close by.

[Ask anyone who was underground with them in October.]

[ungrieved]

Is that a challenge?

[It’s not said with any real intention to follow through, but he kinda wants to see what’ll happen if he implies as such.]

[achievementhunter]

On the contrary, sir. It was a warning.

[So that's what happens- and now, Gabe, it's time to back off]

[ungrieved]

[Gabe snorts. Plainly he's the only one allowed to be posture edgily around here.]

Sure. I'll keep that in mind. [Said with the Utmost Skepticism to the kID WHO IS CARRYING BOMBS AROUND BECAUSE IT'S GABE AND HE'S A MORON.]

[achievementhunter]

Do with it what you will, sir. Perhaps keep this in mind, as well; I am not often inclined to repeat myself.

[So, y'know. When they inevitably stab you for pushing all the wrong buttons, don't cry to them about it.]

[ungrieved]

So you’re gonna shut up at some point? Thank god.

[No, actually, he’s pretty sure they won’t, because he wouldn’t either, but a boy can hope.]

[achievementhunter]

And allow you the satisfaction of the final word? Never.

[Sorry Gabe but their last words will probably be a clapback.]

If you don't require any further instruction, run along, Gabe. Adults are plotting.

[ungrieved]

Is hypocrisy too many syllables for you, or is it that continued apathy again?

[He barks out a laugh. Never mind; he got what he came for.]

I think I can guess. You make it easy.