Relief Log #1

[modaccount]

I. In The Aftermath

After the mission is complete, the new recruits are invited back to Central Command for a patch-up and celebration to let loose and socialize a little bit.

The first order of business is the patching up. Anyone who was injured is welcome to go to the Hospital, if the injuries are more serious. Everyone else, those with smaller injuries like scrapes and bruises, minor cuts or burns or abrasions, are welcome to come to the Infirmary in Central Command. There will also be attendants that tell returning new recruits that if they'd like to learn a little first aid and tend to their comrades, they can also head to the Infirmary.

In the Infirmary, anyone who's not injured but shows up will be instructed in basic first aid so they can tend to their teammates and friends. Nurses will be rotating around to check in on people and make sure nothing is more serious than it looks, but generally, the new recruits will be encouraged to tend to their teammates in order to encourage group bonding.

II. Pool Party

The celebration itself, which happens after the the initial patching-up exercise, will be happening in three large conference rooms adjacent to the swimming pool. In one of the conference rooms, a large buffet will be set up, catered by food trucks and restaurants in the area, with a variety of food. Some of it will be familiar to characters in the game, with a wide array of food from Earth and any other planet or locale that the new recruits might be from. Some of it will be unfamiliar, local cuisines that are heavy on mushrooms, insects, and root vegetables - stews and flatbreads full of fillings and a lot of varieties of meat on a stick. There's also an extensive dessert bar with cakes, cookies, tarts, donuts, bars, and a soft-serve ice cream machine with a lot of different mix-ins and toppings.

The main focus of the party is on the pool, where characters are encouraged to put on a swimsuit and lounge in the pool on a bunch of assorted pool floats, swim laps, or play in the small children's pool where there are fountains. The pool also sports a small waterslide with three intertwining slides that range from extreme speed to slow speed. Through speakers in the area, music is playing that's suitable for dancing or just listening to while characters enjoy the pool.

III. For The Extroverts

In another of the conference rooms, an extrovert's dream is set up. The door is kept closed because the music inside is loud, and the atmosphere is that of a club. There's a small bar area where a bartender serves drinks. While most of the drinks are regular alcoholic beverages that are both familiar and unfamiliar, there is a selection of drinks catered by Robin's, which is known for their specialty cocktails which have a variety of effects - specifically, euphoria, relaxation, and energy - available in a variety of flavors. Servers move through the room with trays of snacks ranging from nuts and olives to bowls of chips and popcorn, free for the taking by anyone feeling peckish.

There is a nice dance floor set up and the lights are low except for fluorescents and spotlights that bathe the room in bright color, and the DJ is playing a mix of techno, rave music, and danceable oldies remixes. Along the back wall there are several booths set up for karaoke, where groups of characters can go and sing their hearts out and/or laugh at their friends who are singing their hearts out.

Did that mission leave you wanting to get wasted and dance the night away? Then this is the party for you.

IV. For The Introverts

Not everyone is cut out for a rave, though, especially not after a tiring and draining mission, and the rebels have prepared for that too.

In the other conference room, just on the other side of the buffet room, there is a party set up for the more sort of person who finds solace in quiet and peace. In the corner of the room there's a lovely tea and coffee bar set up, with an espresso and latte machine, coffee, and a truly expansive variety of teas - white, green, black, rooiboos, herbal, and some local varieties that are made specifically to relieve tension and relax the mind. These local varieties can produce a state of utter relaxation and mental calm that is beyond what normal tea could provide, perfect to drink before going to sleep for the night, or right before a calming nap.

Speaking of naps, for those who don't want to be alone but would like a bit of shut-eye, there are soft bean bag loungers where people can retire to for naps. The music playing in the room is quiet and soothing, lyrical ballads or instrumental easy listening, easy to nap through and no barrier to quiet conversation over a cup of tea. The library has also provided a large shelf of readable popular novels, non-fiction, and other books that might interest the new arrivals - there are novels of most genres that are unique to the Broken World, and research materials for anyone looking to exercise the mind or learn a little about the culture of their new world.

Besides that, there are also a cluster of small tables where games are set up. There are board games, decks of cards with printed sheets of common game rules from the Broken World, and a type of chess-like game that is played frequently on the Broken World, complete with instructions.

NAVIGATION

Comments

Rokuro Unno | Brave 10 S | OTA

[noisecomplaint]

II.

After a long, difficult mission Rokuro is doing his best to recover from the strain of over-utilizing his abilities. A feat most easily accomplished when surrounded by his sacred element: Water.

Which is why there is a pale, curvy young man wearing only a barely-there sarong and an eyepatch attempting to rest poolside during the midst of a party while nursing a nasty migraine. Getting increasingly angry at anyone being noisy, splashing, or having 'fun' in his proximity. Children are not exempt.

"Stop running! Do not disrespect the water! If you even contemplate emptying your bowels in this pool, I will drown you in your own waste!" Rokuro has already pushed himself past what is safe or comfortable, but he will risk giving himself a stroke if it means jettisoning a brat out of the water before they can defile it.

IV.

In the wake (badum tch) of his failed efforts to recline peacefully by the pool, he will go indoors and attempt to soothe himself with tea. Unfamiliar with a large variety of what is available, he will taste each one with great ceremony. Taking great care when steeping, straining, and pouring, so he may savour each cup as its own unique experience.

Greatly relaxed, he will welcome any curious bystanders to join him for a drink.

At least until accidentally sampling espresso, upon which he will choke, cough, and spit it clear across the room with the opposite of ceremony.

Extra. (CW: Nudity.)

Once the party has wound down, and the masses have more or less dispersed, Rokuro will return poolside to soak beneath the light of the moon. Without an obvious audience (or noisy children) to disturb him, he will walk upon the surface of the water, create tiny bubbles from his fingertips, and forego the confines of a bathing suit to enjoy the pool without barriers.

[Feel free to throw me a wild-card or shoot me a message if you would like a more specific prompt!]

IV

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's tried a lot of things, but he hasn't tried tea. Unlike Rokuro, there's absolutely no ceremony to how Link tastes any of it; he just grabs whatever cup is available and starts drinking. Some of them he's not sure sure about, but others he likes.

Apparently Rokuro's found one he really doesn't like, though.

"It was bad?" Link says.

[noisecomplaint]

"Bad is an understatement." Rokuro's brow twitches, singular eye watering. The taste was terrible, but the way his heart is hammering after the smallest of sips is even worse. He has never indulged in this level of caffeine, and doesn't entirely understand caffeine as a concept.

"I- I am concerned it was poisoned." He wipes his mouth on the back of his sleeve, coughing once, already feeling seemingly ill. Whether it's a reaction to the caffeine or simple histrionics, Rokuro will never touch this foul black liquid ever again.

"My heart hurts-- as does my stomach."

[newmemorywhodis]

Oddly enough, this concern about poisoning doesn't seem to be scaring Link off. Instead he's actually getting closer to the coffee, picture up a cup and looking at it with curiosity.

Is he thinking of drinking it? Yes. Yes he is.

"Maybe they used the wrong ingredients," he wonders, and thinking of some of his own early failed experiments in cooking.

[noisecomplaint]

"Thankfully, I have a resistance to most poisons... while I may become sick, it will not kill me--" Rokuro blinks back the wetness in his one eye, as if the fact the 'tea' may simply be off hadn't crossed his mind. This is what happens when you've endured too many assassination 'attempts in a short period of time.

Still, nothing good can come of this bitter sludge.

"Link. Do not."

[newmemorywhodis]

At this point, the rational, sensible course of action would be to follow Rokuro's instructions. To just decide not to try to mysterious drink, and to not risk potentially poisoning himself. There was no real benefit or reason to drink it.

Except for the fact that Link was curious as hell, and maybe just a little bit too reckless for his own good.

Quickly, before Rokuro can try and stop him, Link picks up the cup and downs it.

Unlike Rokuro, he manages to swallow. Though he does cough hoarsely afterwards, blinking. He had been bracing himself for something strong, but he didn't realise it was going to be so bitter.

I

[tech_nically]

Tech had thought this was supposed to be an enjoyable sort of activity (??) but someone's already yelling. It doesn't take him two seconds to recognize the voice, albeit so much louder than what he's used to hearing. A wry sort of look touches his face as he glances over in Rokuro's direction.

Ah. Children. Tech has limited experience with them, but he's unsurprised to see them capering about and giving the poor man grief. He shakes his head.

[noisecomplaint]

It isn't just the children driving Rokuro insane, it's everyone. Noisy drunks. Rowdy adults splashing. Women gossiping too loudly. The sun beating down on his head too hot and hard. Even the water itself is tainted with some kind of bitter chemical that burns the eyes and dries the skin.

"Stop running! Stop yelling!" Yells the extremely angry page, who is worsening his own headache as much as anyone else is. He is a single breath away from losing his last shred of composure and deafening the entire party.

[tech_nically]

Tech pauses, eventually relenting to reroute his own path so that he goes around the poolside towards where Rokuro is. He's hardly dressed for the pool, much less a party. In fact, his attire doesn't look all that different from what he's come to wear normally around here, be it mission or otherwise. Naturally, he has his tablet in hand.

"This seems much the opposite of relaxing," he observes, which is funny since he's obviously not one to talk.

[noisecomplaint]

"An accurate observation. I am not relaxed. No one here is relaxed. Instead of enjoying the water and bracing weather, they are obsessed with making a ruckus and splashing about! Why?!" An angry gesture in the direction of the slides.

Rokuro, as always, is barely dressed. So between the two of them they make a singular normally clothed person. In all honesty, the concept of bathing in clothes is entirely foreign to Rokuro, and he almost entered the pool area naked. Thankfully he took note of the others switching into swimming gear inside the change room, and fashioned a sarong out of the 'wrap' he was already wearing.

If he weren't so obviously agitated and snapping at everyone, it's likely he would be quite 'popular' with the adult pool crowd, if only for his looks. Unfortunately for any potential suitors, he is far more thorn than rose when pushed out of his comfort zone.

"All I want is to recline by the pool and rest, and instead I must keep these unruly children from slipping on the wet ground and cracking their skulls open!" A long-suffering sigh.

Always the martyr, even though nobody asked him to be.

[tech_nically]

Given most people here are in various states of undress, Tech doesn't think too much on it. It seems an expected thing for this sort of venue.

"Perhaps it is a difference between localizations? I for one cannot say that I know how these things work, personally. However people do have different ways of relaxing..." This matter of 'fun' for example, loud as it is.

"Not that it is necessarily your responsibility. Surely they are not here without supervision?" He spares a look around, not that he knows who all's been invited to this aside from themselves, but it seems quite open.

II.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra was just going to sit edge of the pool and stick in his feet in the water. Maybe a wade a bit. He doesn't think he's done anything that setting this guy off.

Yeah, now that he's looking, someone just seems to be really on edge.

"Uh. You ok, there?" he tries, gently.

[noisecomplaint]

"I am fine!" Snapped, in a tone of voice that sounds anything but, white-knuckled hands upon his hips.

Then Rokuro actually looks at Ezra, and... he's one of the very few people who isn't being an obnoxious little (or large) monster around the pool's edge. His singular eye slides shut as he takes a deep breath. For a man who spends a great deal of time in tranquil ceremony and meditation, he is finding it incredibly difficult to harness the power of chill zen.

"Yes, thank you. I am simply trying to discipline these ruffians, as it appears nobody else will."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Well. You're not wrong that those are all good rules?" the teenager offers.

Just Rokuro seems to upsetting himself, more than making impact, unfortunately.

[noisecomplaint]

After a morning of yelling at ne'er-do-wells and those defending ne'er-do-wells, or simply complaining about him yelling (had he become the ne'er-do-well???), Ezra's agreement catches him off-guard.

He settles, slightly, folding his arms across his bare torso. Singular eye casting from Ezra's young face to the pool. His brow twitches slightly, but he does not raise his voice.

"It is dangerous to run near water. I have seen many a drowned body in my time, and the children are always the worst to witness. Their grieving mothers come second."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Not running is safer," Ezra agrees.

"But the pool isn't so big that if we're is paying attention - as long as they don't break something on the way down, we can probably fish someone in trouble out quickly, yeah?"

extra

[stargazed]

[It takes a little while longer for the introvert side of things to disperse, and Mikumo ends up circling back around to the pool, since she's still not feeling particularly tired and she's got nothing against a good swim to help tire her out more. Not to mention that she's got a little bit more to work out since coming back from the mission. Since she's not entirely assuming everyone else is gone yet, she does come in wearing her swimsuit, though there's not a whole lot of it there anyway considering most of it is straps, and she's walking in mid-ponytailing her hair when she immediately spots Rokuro's swimsuit choice, or lack thereof.]

Ah, are we down to the people who don't care whether we're covered up or not? [Her tone is mild and faintly amused, as if she finds the idea of people getting too worked up about being clothed or not in a pool funny. Considering how little swimsuits often cover anyway, it just ends up looking all the more absurd.]

[noisecomplaint]

Where I am from, it is unusual to bathe while dressed. At most one covers themselves with a towel when moving from pool to pool.

[Rokuro's talking about hot springs, because modern indoor/outdoor pools were very rarely a thing in his time, owned only by the most elite and most often used to host koi rather than people. The next closest thing would be a bathhouse, which was once again far more naked than clothed.

A glance back over one bare shoulder, and Rokuro will allow himself to drop gracefully beneath the pool's surface, so only his head and shoulders remain above water, rather than stand atop it. Just because he isn't overly modest doesn't mean it's polite to converse with ones privates at eye-level.]

Clothed or unclothed, I do not mind your presence.

[A high compliment from the King of Minding Most Things.]

[stargazed]

[Once she's done with her hair, Mikumo retrieves the towel she has hanging around her neck, folding it slightly before she places it down at the side of the pool. She has seen bathhouses before - there's a large shared bath in the Walkure dorms, even if she doesn't usually stay there - so she presumes that sort of thing might be what he's talking about.

Either way, she slips into the pool a moment later with a slight, amused smile.]

I'll take that as a compliment. [And since she does find it more comfortable, or more familiar, to swim unclothed, once she's under the water she undoes the straps of her bikini, then removes it and folds it into her towel. It was still damp from her earlier pool visits anyway, so some extra water doesn't make much difference.]

I've seen you here before, though I don't believe I've caught your name yet. [Mikumo doesn't necessarily socialise unless she feels the need, so she's less likely to do it when someone seems busy or she herself is busy.]

[noisecomplaint]

I have seen you as well. You are the only other who comes here at night, in the quiet, to be near the water-- however tainted it may be.

[Rokuro isn't fond of the chlorine and other pool chemicals, but water is water. With this much metal, concrete, and technology around them it is necessary to connect with nature to replenish the spirit.

He is pleased when Mikumo chooses to shed her bathing suit, if only because it means they are kindred spirits. Rokuro has no appreciation for the female form beyond art, and so she will suffer no unwanted attention from him. Even when he draws closer to observe her face with his singular red eye.]

I am Rokuro Unno. A familiar of the water. As are you, I presume?

[stargazed]

[Mikumo is more used to seawater, but the medical ship's water is usually treated with stranger things than chlorine, so she can't say this is too tainted compared to that. Even if Ragna is an ocean planet, there's plenty of that metal, concrete and technology on the land areas.

For the moment, rather than swim, it seems Mikumo simply intends to enjoy being in the water, so she leans back against the side of the pool, spreading herself out a bit and meeting his gaze evenly.]

Something like that. [She's not quite sure, still, what draws her to water so much - the Star Singer would have no reason to seek it out, so she wonders if it was simply designed into her as a convenience of living on a water planet.

Or perhaps it's due to the way the ocean reflects the stars, even if a place like this can't match that lure.] Mikumo Guynemer. I assume you're more used to natural water features, if you consider this to be "tainted".

II

[bladebabysitter]

"Disrespect the water?"

Elma isn't dressed for swimming -- quite the opposite, really, since she appears to believe that battle armor is a suitable outfit for all occasions. In her defense, on Mira, it was.

"They're playing."

[noisecomplaint]

"Children should be seen and not heard." And considering his time and place, that's being generous. If Rokuro had made such a ruckus in his youth he would have been punished swiftly and with great prejudice.

"My children would never be so loud or careless, for their lack of etiquette would reflect poorly upon myself and my master-- and I need not mention the risk of drowning when such mischief is afoot. If someone were to struggle in the water right now, I daresay they would go completely unnoticed amongst all the screaming and splashing."

At least he hasn't seemed to notice Mira's outfit yet, far more irritated by the smaller, more obnoxious creatures surrounding the pool than a soft-handed adult.

[bladebabysitter]

"You might have to adjust your cultural expectations here, you realize," Elma muses, so as to sound like a suggestion rather than the the command she really intends it to be. "Also, as it happens, most drowning is remarkably quiet and subdued -- you probably wouldn't notice it unless you were specifically looking for it, even in a calmer environment."

[noisecomplaint]

"Common sense is not cultural." If Elma is going to command Rokuro she'll need to be firmer than that. He was born a servant, and is far more prone to submission and dominance, but he is stubborn.

"I am aware what drowning looks like. Water is my element, and I know all too well how dangerous it can be." He removes a hand from his hip, extending his fingers towards the pool. As his fingers twist, so does a small waterspout.