Camp Annawanna, we hold you in our heart

[andcountry]

Characters: OPEN
Date/Time: October 12th, Anytime
Location: The Wilderness
Rating: Varied
Summary: Among concerns about the missing and the trapped with the storm raging up above, those who managed to evacuate find themselves in an idyllic paradise by comparison.

Comments

wandering the grounds near the lake; feel free to interrupt

[forgotmyforge]

This is not what Flame had thought of when someone had mentioned camp. She'd expected tents, or blankets slung over tree branches, hunting and fishing and being refugees. But this was tame. It was a place people came for fun, she'd been told.

And there was no reason not to enjoy that. She was currently inspecting the trees along the shoreline, trying to decide which one would be best to take an afternoon nap under, and humming quite cheerily under her breath.

[blue_shields]

Sky was, at that moment, taking a moment to rest after having spent the past few days helping evacuate the Tree. He hadn't been paying much attention to the journals- not that he'd had much time to, anyway- and hoped that everyone was down here and safe.

He sat on the lake dock, his boots and socks off, one bare foot dangling in the water. He'd been surprised that it was still summer-like here, but that could only help if they were trapped down here a while.

Sky's thoughts were elsewhere, however. The evacuation had been a distraction from thinking about Ghost, and imagining how he'd react, worrying if Blood was down there and safe and not insisting on helping the Guard, complaining the whole time, wondering if he really was gone or if he should hold onto the tiny bit of hope that he'd just rehatch in a few days... like he always had...

Sky took in a deep breath, splashing with his foot and wondering where Inara was. He spotted someone unfamiliar wandering on the lake shore and gave her a small wave.

[forgotmyforge]

Her eyes caught the movement of another person, and she smiled and waved back, making her way over slowly to meet them. She'd met so many people in the last few days that their names were beginning to blur together, but she wasn't tired of it yet. Each person was a possible puzzle piece, like Nova had said. And even if they didn't remind her of home, she still liked being around others.

"I think you have a good idea," she said when she was close enough to speak comfortably. Dangling one's feet in the water seemed like a relaxing prospect.

[blue_shields]

"It is relaxing," Sky admitted, forcing himself to be social. It was better than brooding, he reminded himself, better than his thoughts wandering to Ghost and what it would be like if Inara disappeared tomorrow-

Stop it. Just STOP IT.

"I'm a member of the Watch, so I've spent the past few days helping the evacuation. I'll take a break when I can get it, and this seemed like a nice place."

[forgotmyforge]

"You look like you need a break," she said, mistaking his brooding for tiredness. "I bet that was a lot of work. I pretty much arrived in the middle of it."

But she'd made it here, and not without her brother. The weather felt far away now, and she hadn't had time to become attached to temporary housing, so she didn't mind being uprooted again. Heck, she'd hardly had time to explore. She'd have to look and see if there was anywhere as outdoorsy and relaxing in the rest of the Sphere when she got back.

"Actually," she said, taking a seat nearby, though at a comfortable distance, "what is the Watch?"

She had a vague idea, but she'd never heard the term before.

[blue_shields]

Sky gave her a sympathetic look as she sat down.

"That had to be tough," he said. "Popping out of a cocoon then being pressed into service right away... this has happened before, too. Having to evacuate while people are arriving, I mean." He remembered the gigantic bedroom department, when a talking polar bear of all things had emerged when he was on duty and felt a little better, especially because that was when he and Inara had really begun to connect. "Twice since I've been here it's been due to an invasion of giant ants; I've never witnessed a storm before, though."

Sky smirked a bit, warming to the subject, as the Watch was his job and his identity as a member was one of the most important things to him.

"We're a police force of sorts. We try our best to keep order and protect the citizens of Edensphere from harm. That's why I was helping supervise the evacuation; it's important that the cocoons especially are taken to a safe place when things like this happen."

[forgotmyforge]

She smiled back. "I don't mind it. It's nice to be able to actually do something to help." There wasn't a question of panic or hesitation. This was better than waiting around... An odd thought she didn't chase.

She was a little surprised by the giant ants, but she'd already been around to look at the animals on the signs for the cabins, and she didn't recognize any of them. Wherever she came from, they didn't have creatures like that. So maybe giant ants weren't unusual here. Though if they'd evacuated, then they were probably dangerous.

She nodded to his explanation. It made a lot of sense. "It would be terrible if something happened to those people before they were ready to be born." If she'd been a few days later, and they would have been moving hers.

[blue_shields]

"I agree," said Sky. "It's part of why I took the job- that and if my memories are correct, it's pretty much what I did back where I came from, anyway. I always felt drawn to that kind of profession, so I was glad when Commander Stoneface formed the Watch."

He rubbed his face.

"It would be," he said. "It's hard enough being born here with no memories and no idea of who you are... it would be worse to pop out right on top of someone while they're carrying your cocoon." He held back a tiny snort of laughter; horrible as that idea was, he had to admit it was also a little funny.

"... I'm Sky, by the way," he added, realizing he'd never introduced himself.

[forgotmyforge]

Flame nodded, interested. She knew she'd have to figure out what kind of job would best fit her skills, once she figured out what they were.

"I'm Flame," she answered. "It's nice to meet you, Sky." She paused for a moment, and then a vague idea rose in her mind. She itched to pursue it. "If you're in the Watch, does that mean you have a sword?"

She couldn't imagine what else you'd keep the peace with, really. And she had an itch to get her hands on one and see if Nova's suspicions were correct - if she knew swords somehow. She thought she might.

CHEESY POSE TIME IS GO

[blue_shields]

"You, too, Flame." Sky was oddly happy- well, perhaps not happy, but excited- that he'd met somebody new; in spite of how miserable he may have felt, it was always best to keep going, keep moving forward, not let his misery achor him to the ground and keep him closed in on himself, only coming out of it for Inara or Bridge.

"I do, actually," said Sky, standing and reaching into the pocket of his jeans for his badge. As usual, he felt the strange but still natural-feeling urge to do a pose and shout S.P.D., Emergency! when he transformed, instead contenting himself with merely pressing the button on top, instantly transforming into his spandex-clad form. From the sheath at his side, he drew his sword, with its silver and red blade and the dog's head at the hilt.

I LOVE THIS THREAD SO MUCH

[forgotmyforge]

To most people, the sudden transformation might have been shocking. But even if she didn't remember it, this kind of thing happened at home. Not with the spandex, maybe. But evolving armor and magic were both things she had been familiar with in her old life, and though she jumped back at first in surprise, it wasn't long before she came close enough to look at the sword, eyes bright with interest.

"This is a beautiful weapon," she said. "Whoever made it was very skilled with magic."

It's getting good XD

[blue_shields]

Sky was actually surprised at Flame's nonchalant reaction to his transformation- indeed, she seemed more interested in his weapon than anything else, including the fact that he'd suddenly changed from a man into a man clad in armored Spandex and a helmet with dog ears on it. Most people who saw him do it were surprised, perhaps even scared.

However, he wasn't about to bring this up, so instead he offered it to her.

"You can take a closer look if you want," he said. "... Skilled with magic?" he then repeated after his brain had taken a few moments to register that. "I'm not sure how it was put together, to be honest with you- but magic seems like as good an explanation as any." He wasn't sure what sort of human-made technology could produce suddenly-appearing skintight armor, but the idea didn't seem too foreign to him- just a concept that was distant and uninteresting.

I started laughing when he transformed, ngl.

[forgotmyforge]

She took the sword from him and held it up, blade flat, as if testing its balance. She then took a look at the strange hilt, brow furrowed, not really sure what to make of it.

"How else would you make a magic sword?" she said as she handed it back, lifting her eyebrows as if this was the most common conclusion in the world.

|D That is what Rangers do, after all

[blue_shields]

Sky took his sword back and sheathed it, transforming back into his usual form in a flash of blue light.

"I don't know much about magic," he admitted. "I've never really given thought to where my weapons came from or how they were made, just that they work. Magic or other technology, they let me get the job done, and that's important to me."

it made me want to watch the show again |D

[forgotmyforge]

"Did they come with you here?" she asked. They had to made somewhere. She smiled, though, to see his dedication to his job. A weapon had its purpose, and she was glad he knew his.

JUST AS PLANNED

[blue_shields]

"Actually, no," said Sky, looking down at his badge. "I found it one day when I was in the middle of a battle. My friend Bridge has something similar, and he found his broken down in the Scavengers' Yard and fixed it up."