A. T. Menelikov (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amourtician) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ph_logs2024-10-08 09:47 pm
amourtician) wrote in ph_logs2024-10-08 09:47 pm
[CLOSED PLAYER MINI-EVENT] Citrus Quest: The Search for Citron
Who: the people who signed up, plus Lev/Lyubov, Anzu and also Darcy
What: an expedition to gather citrus, and other tropical fruits
Where: Paradesium
When: vaguely backdated to the last week of September
(OOC: feel free to set up prompts during moments not explicitly described, but that would've logically happened — like descending into Paradesium from the caves. There'll be additional prompts going up later, as the expedition progresses.)
Day One: Departure
On a foggy morning in late September, the much-delayed Paradesium expedition is finally ready to set off.
At 5 AM, Anzu is at the arranged meeting spot on the Town Green — just in front of the fountain — along with the camping gear leased from the town hall and from Dr Coldwood. He's pacing around, tense and full of nervous energy, eager to get going ... and besides himself with impatience, since the actual departure is scheduled for after the sun begins to rise. He's turned up early (way too early) to make sure everything is ready, and is now waiting for others to show up.
Lev/Lyubov is dozing in a deck chair they borrowed from the beach, the straps of the tfiln still wrapped around their head and their right arm, and a siddur and their husband's tfiln bag in their lap.
As the sun begins to rise and everyone has gathered and a headcount has been taken, the expedition sets off towards Crane's Ridge. The day is shaping up to be chilly but clear — the sun's pale rays have dispersed the fog.
Anzu falls back and wanders around the ragged column of explorers, checking in with everyone and introducing himself to those he's not had a chance to meet face to face before. He's relaxed some, and the nervous energy has been replaced by frank excitement. He's curious about what Paradesium is like ... and maybe a little too quick to dismiss any potential dangers. After all, how dangerous could a subterranean forest be, in comparison with everything else on and around the isle?
Day One: Setting Up Base Camp
Once the expedition has descended into Paradesium and gotten to a clearing, Anzu calls for a brief halt to take a second head count, and satisfies himself that everyone is accounted for. Compared to his exuberance early that morning, he seems a little subdued and a little awkward — it has finally sunk in that he's going to have to take some charge of the expedition. Leadership is not his forte, after all.Seeing his hesitation, Lev/Lyubov lays a hand on their husband's shoulder and bends down so they're more or less face-to-face. The height difference, usually quite glaring, seems particularly egregious in that moment, as Lev/Lyubov has to fold themself almost in half.
They briefly confer in Yiddish. Satisfied that they've got both permission and blessing, Lev/Lyubov raises their voice just a little — and oh, does their voice carry, even without the acoustics of a shul.
"Oy, may I like, have your attention, if you'd all be so good? Right. I think like, we ought to establish a base camp here, rather than farther in. Once it's up, anyone what wishes may explore further, but I suggest that we stray not too far from here, at least the first day. I'm sure that like, Phil shall go find anyone what gets lost, but getting lost would be embarrassing, and the wrong way to start off."
They look around at the assembled, and awkwardly clear their throat, ducking their head.
"After lunch, we can meet to figure who'll go scout out potential routes, and take a vote on how to proceed. Or like, at least have a big argument about what to do and like, have to find a compromise on purpose, instead of waiting for one to materialise out of the aether," they pause, bite their lower lip, and clarify, "sorry, like. Been to too many workers' council meetings. The argument is like, optional."
Anzu raises an eyebrow at his husband, then squeezes their hand, and whispers something to them. Lev/Lyubov blushes brighter.
"Well, darlings! Any objections?" Anzu says. "If anyone here's got the relevant experience, they ought speak up before we all blunder into a mandatory ghost convention."
Day One: Evening/Night Watch
The camp is set up, the expedition members have all had enough time to meet each other and ascertain that there's no deadly grudges among them; Anzu is more or less satisfied that things are going well, but he's restless. Mindful that he shouldn't wander off alone, he contents himself with wandering around the base camp's perimeter, still technically within the camp itself ... but at a little distance from where most of everyone else is congregating. It's less that he can find nothing to do just now, to mitigate the restlessness, and more that he needs some time to think, to plan the next move.The day moves towards evening. He notes down several likely directions in a notebook, and casts one final look around, before conceding to himself that he ought to call a meeting.
Once everyone has gathered, he's brief and to the point: "I've identified three possible routes from here. I suggest we break up into groups, nu? With sending stones and our, ah, aerial division," he nods at Phil, "it should be little trouble keeping in touch."
He pauses, double-checks the notes he made and adds, "ah, the last route ... it's one I'd prefer to explore myself. I've found a trail that leads, as far as I can ascertain, to a cave system. There may be a passage deeper into the underground. A second level, of sorts. Anyone what minds not some proper spelunking, I'd appreciate the assistance, darlings."
Day Two: Morning Recoinessance
Coming soon (along with prompts for the other days).
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Anzu nods in agreement, and suppresses a smile. He quite welcomes the chance to spend more time with Shen Qingqiu. He had been worrying he's coming off as clingy, but as long as Shen Qingqiu's also seeking out his company, he supposes he need not worry.
"The cave seems to be rather, nu, difficult terrain," he says. "Within, that is. I suppose not thou would'st have any spelunking experience?"
It doesn't hurt to ask, he figures. After all, his dear friend is a wuxia ... ah ... figure. He's more than likely to have all kinds of skills useful in foolhardy and vainglorious escapades.
He's not really dared bring up what Shen Qingqiu's ghost told him with his friend. Some part of him prefers not to know the details. And if Shen Qingqiu did tell him everything, wouldn't he have to reply in kind, and tell him about the tzar and the guillotines? Surely such weighty, painful conversations can be put off, at least a little while?
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Shen Qingqiu has no idea what all his younger self might have told Anzu -- the little shit wouldn't say. But surely it couldn't have been anything that bad. He didn't know anything, before his transmigration.
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Anzu snorts, good-naturedly.
"Rather more experience than I have, darling," he says. "Really, if ah. If not for the guarantee that true death is impossible here, I would not have suggested exploring that cave."
He pauses, and adds, "I am not particularly, ah. Sensitive. But there's something in that cave, quite unlike the rest of the island. Quite unlike even Paradesium."
He looks around at everyone else, and then remarks, more or less to himself, "maybe we should all go, and pick citrus on the way. That cave worries me so."
It's just a strange place. Even standing at its mouth, it felt ... strange. Almost like standing in shallow Silver, near the Bones. Not quite real. Or not real the same way the rest of reality is real, at least.
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