etrayalogs | MISSION 009

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MISSION 009

⏵ CAMP ETRAYA ⏴
On May 16th, Aurora and the companion bots direct those not heading off to Solmara to make their way to Camp Etraya.

Nestled away from everything else in a large clearing full of wildflowers and redwoods, Camp Etraya is a nostalgic summer camp experience put together just for it's residents! Cabins are assigned, scary stories are told around campfires, gossiping happens among friends on the trails surrounding the cabins - and don't be surprised when something goes awry. After all, this is still Etraya.

While the rest of Etraya is still accessible and will not be blocked off, characters are discouraged from venturing far from camp for too long: Aurora will specify that they are on a mission, and that missions do require participation, but she has intentionally left them the freedom to wander. Not sleeping in their assigned cabins, not participating in events, and staying away from Camp Etraya will end with her having to take more extensive security measures, so please be on your best behavior! The last thing she wants to do is start enforcing boundaries, but she will if she has to.

Camp is set up much like your generic summer camp! Each cabin is named, housing is assigned to characters as they arrive, there are camp counselors, and rotating daily tasks and chores. There are also multiple activities that characters are expected to participate in, and each activity is worth points that goes toward their camp graduation score. This score will be visible on their earpiece, and follows the A-F grading system. We are not be monitoring this, and are leaving character scores up to players. We do, however, ask that you please report your characters' camp grade HERE for rewards and demerits to be handed out after the mission itself.

Cabin assignments can be found here, which also has their roles, and chores assigned to that cabin. Those who are participating in Solmara have received an assigned cabin, too, but their absence toward the beginning will not harm the cabin's ability to compete given how spread out their assignments are.

⏵ WELCOME TO CAMP ⏴

Camp life is meant to instill a sense of belonging, connection with nature, encouragement towards the creative, all on top of a firm foundation of responsibility. Upon arriving, campers will be escorted towards a table of white t-shirts and countless buckets of dye!

Each Etrayan will be invited to make three Tie-Dyed shirts- as well as required to wear one as part of their summer uniform. Camp counselors must wear 80s basketball shorts or cut-off jeans. Campers may wear cargo shorts or a skort. For those with physical limitations to what they can wear, accommodations will be provided.

Here, bonding is the camp runners' priority. They will be pushed into various ice-breaker activities, such as trust falls, two truths and a lie, and Never have I Ever. As the sun goes down, there will be weenies roasting over the bonfire, followed by s’mores and a sing-a-long! With the stars well-visible, it’s off to bed with campers.

Each day after will start much the same: with the ringing of the bell and raising of the flag (Aurora, while unfamiliar with flag designs but an understanding of the concept, has chosen a rainbow flag for the camp. Rainbows make people happy, right?), followed by a meal at the Great Hall, morning assembly, activities with counselors, chores, free time, and then an evening winding down by the great fire. An hour after sun down, campers will be escorted back to their cabins for curfew. Camp Counselors are expected to keep track of their campers, and ensure they're all within their cabins for bedtime. This is part of their grade, too! Curfew lifts an hour before the first bell.

⏵ CAMP ACTIVITIES ⏴

As with most summer camps, Camp Etraya offers a wide variety of activities to participate in. While some of these activities may be mandatory, others are optional. We'll be leaving this up to individual player discretion: perhaps Viktor is mandated to report to arts and crafts, whilst it's optional for Silco to show. Silco, on the other hand, may be mandated to report to the archery contest. Characters are encouraged to participate in a minimum of one camp activity per day.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of camp activities.

Three-Legged Race - You and a partner are tied together at your ankles, and you must race others to the finish line. Those with abilities that would give them an advantage will find that the rope that ties them together hinders those abilities from functioning.
Archery - This can be more traditional, magical, or include moving targets! If you're particularly unlucky, your target may even shoot back.
Softball - What instills a sense of camaraderie better than a bit of team sports? Games will be held on Wednesdays, the field is otherwise available for practice.
Dodge Ball - Standing diametrically opposed to Softball is dodge ball, the bully’s sport. This is a great opportunity to claim dominance or be sent to the Nurse’s Office.
Obstacle Course - You are directed into a large maze with multiple obstacles for them to overcome, such as rock climbing walls, ramps, tires, and nets.
Capture the Flag - Small teams are put together in order to take the flag from a particular bot, whose entire goal is to avoid being caught.
Canoe Race - Canoes are placed into the rivers just off of the camp, and characters must race to the finish line.
Chocobo Riding - Learn how to care for and ride these magnificent birds! Newbies will be taken around the corral, whereas more experienced riders can take the trail around the lake.
Arts and Crafts - Make friendship bracelets, bead lizards, paint rocks, learn origami! Or perhaps you're tasked with putting together an enchanted necklace. Don't know how to do enchantments? Now is as good of a time as any to learn.
Campfire stories - Share scary stories amongst yourselves around the campfire late into the night. If you're particularly unlucky, you may just hear the thing you were just warning others about..

⏵ NIGHT TIME ⏴

Once campers have been put to bed, the counselors can still stay up. Unwind with hidden beers and the strumming of a guitar. Don’t get too comfortable, though, since without supervision, no one is keeping the campers in bed.

After dark, should campers evade their counselors, they can go exploring in the dark. Eerie lights glimmer from the lake. There’s rumors of a headless spectre walking from the archery field to the edge of the forest. Should you behave, you still might hear a scratching at your bunk house window.

And on the very last night of camp, there will be a talent show. Show off your hidden talent and bask in the excitement of wowing your fellow campers!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

Welcome to Camp Etraya! Please enjoy the s'mores and campfire songs. :)

Camp will last approximately two weeks, going from May 16th to May 30th.

For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hmm, that is a good point. I think I'm one of the bigger guys around who also lives in the apartments and not some big fancy place. [He did not say that the only way that he was likely to become smaller was with the loss of actual body parts. Of course, he didn't doubt this place could shrink people, it would still be a travesty.

Solmara had forced a lot of his focus, and it was the kind of inhospitable place where he had to keep his wits about him. The team had been small yet mostly well coordinated. They had done what they had set out to do, and that was important. Mission success and no one had died.

He suddenly put a hand to his chest as if she had leveled an unfounded accusation at him. Of course, his other arm was still around her shoulders.] How could you ever accuse a hard-fought hero for purposefully receiving injuries in order to receive the care and attention of a lovely lady? [He almost made it. He tried. By the time he was saying attention, he was chuckling and trying to hold his mirth in. Not great acting.] You'll at least paint my toe nails while I'm too hobbled to fight back, right?

[let's not ruin the mood with talks of removal of body parts. this was supposed to be a nice, simple date. ] And who wants a big place? No excuse to share a room and bed at that point. [and if then there would be the discussion of if they wanted to keep living together...this was not going to be a fun topic anymore. time for the next one.

besides, Maria understood her place. she didn't assume Vander thought much of her outside the apartment they shared or they sent each other a message here or there. certainly he didn't have Maria on his mind when he had something far more important to be doing. even if Vander had said he liked things as they were now, it didn't mean it was always going to be like that. Maria still kept in mind that whatever little illusion they had going wouldn't be forever. all things had to end.

and she didn't want to think about that.

she laughs with him.] Yeah, pink nails. Could give you red or black but you'd look pretty with pink. Even if the only way it'll be seen is when you have your shoes and socks off. I hope anybody that sees will love it and agree you'll look nice in pink. Though that reminds me. [she goes into her pocket and pulls out a brown and blue friendship bracelet.] We had to make these to commemorate friendship. [before he can agree to it, she is tying it around his wrist. he doesn't have a say.]

I don't know. They seem popular topside, but then again, they have a lot of stuff to have to put somewhere. [Vander had been in Cait's mansion, and it was overwhelming the sheer amount of expense, pomp and fortune was stuffed in a single place. It had been extremely uncomfortable to live there for a week or two, which was why he preferred his modest apartment.] You ever been in a big mansion before?

[The first person that Vander had wanted to catch a visual on was Maria when he came back. The second was Jinx. He figured the latter would be angry with him, so he had made certain to approach her first to assure her that he was fine. Maria seemed to be taking to summer camp with her shorts and brightly coloured shirts. He had admired from afar until he had decided it was last night and they could break the rules to have some time together.

He made a point of gawking down at his own feet which were currently in said socks and boots. No sight of his toenails whatsoever.] Yeah, I agree. My daughter used to alternate between pink or blue when she painted them back in the day. [There had been others, but those two were her favourites. He was always willing for such things to bond with his kids.] I do look good in pink. Well, it has to be the right shade anyway.

[He turned his head when Maria produced a woven bracelet, and he blinked when she was wrapping it around his thick wrist. He lifted it to accommodate while also examining it.] What make you choose these colours?

Here? No. [but she does consider if she wants to tell him the truth about back home. even she didn't like to think about it. but decides on yes, she'll tell him.] In Silent Hill, there's this mansion. When I woke up the very first time, that was one of the first places I went. Can't say I was a fan. [not so much about the idea of a mansion but because of what had happened there. the confirmation of just what she was and how alone she was. she'd never enter that mansion again if she could help it. even when James would go inside of it, Maria would not.

if there was one thing Maria had learned about herself, it was that she could adapt. she hadn't liked this camp thing necessarily but it had been easy. no big headache, no danger. by now, she knew it could be far worse. ]

I have different pinks. I'll let you pick your favorite.

[she looks at the bracelet on his wrist with a fond smile.] You wear a lot of browns and blues. Figured it wouldn't clash and it'd blend into your whole thing. You can always cut it off when you're tired of it anyway. But it seemed like a nice thing to make you.

[He was endlessly curious about this Silent Hill place where Maria was... er lived? Was made? Existed? He didn't know what to make of that part, only that the place where Maria was actually from.] Was it packed full of riches and extravagant things, or just basically a house of horrors? [He expected that her lack of explanation that it was more the latter.

He huffed a sound of amusement and smiled at her. Of course she had a wide variety of pinks for him to pick out his favourite. Maybe he'd make her decide, since he would be debilitated on the couch.]

What's your favourite pink? And how many shades are we talking here?

[He turned his wrist over to admire the bracelet. He knew that he would cherish it because it came from a friend.] It will go well with the stone you gifted me. [It seemed that she was missing opportunity to have a gift from him, and that was something he would rectify once they were back at the apartment.]

I like it. I don't plan on cutting it off ever. [He tended to wear gifts like these until they were literally falling off of him.] I appreciate you thinking of me for one. Is there opportunity still to make you one? [He leaned in so he could kiss her forehead affectionately.]

It was a rich person's place for sure. [and since Vander seems to be curious, she gives him the answer.] It was haunted. I didn't know it at the time and it probably wouldn't have stopped me. Even that spirit yelling at me to leave him alone didn't stop me. Not that I knew he was dead. Kind of a sad story honestly. His only child died really young when she fell from the attic and he died before he could come to terms with it. [she gives Vander a look like she's expecting him to think she's crazy.] This did happen. I'm not making it up. [as if ghosts could be fake after what he saw her turn into.]

I like brighter pinks. Not a soft pink kind of girl. [that had been Mary's thing after all.

Maria simply liked doing things for the people she cared about. gifts were easy to do here. not that she didn't like gifts but she wasn't expecting anything. simply being thought of at all mattered.] Aw, you still have the stone? I'm glad. And maybe it does have something going for it. Here you are, all in one piece. Maybe that mumbo jumbo about it keeping people safe is real. [not that she was sure about that. like yeah maybe ghosts were real but magical rocks? nah.]

You making me one? With your big fingers? Well, we'll see. I have lots of string left. I can show you how it's done and you can surprise me. [her hands go to the back of his head so she can move his head down to kiss him softly on the lips.] I'd like the thought at all.

[Vander inclined his head at the explanation of haunted. There were plenty of spiritual entities in Runeterra and even in his own city. Etraya was also good about letting him understand a bit more about the spiritual as well. He believed Maria, yet her story reminded him a little of conversation with that guy who was haunted. What was his name? Henry. He wondered if they had swapped stories.

Then he considered the story itself. A child dies and a father has to cope with that loss. A common tale, he supposed, yet he was reminded of his own (currently) hidden grief.] I wonder if he blamed himself for her death. I expect he played over the what-ifs and if-onlys more often than he could count before he died. [He looked at Maria, suddenly somber.] Did you talk to him?

[He nodded his head. Honestly bright and flashy pinks definitely seemed to be the style that he would associate with Maria. She could pick which colour to put on him.

He shifted where they sat so he could reach into his trouser pocket and extract the stone that she had provided him as a gift. His thumb stroked over the smooth surface, taking comfort in it.] Maybe it brought me back in one piece, yeah. A good luck charm if there ever was one. From one of my favourite ladies to boot, so what more could I ask for? [Stone gifts were a big deal in Zaun. It was part of their fashion, part of their culture, part of something special.]

Hey, I'll have you know I had to braid little girl's hair! These fingers have skill. It just... takes me longer. [He had to be patient and usually required extra material so he had enough to wrap around his fingers.] The master of crafts will show me and then you'll even receive a prize for your efforts.

His name was Ernest and his daughter's name was Amy. He couldn't leave the room and I brought him a gift from his daughter and then something else. [it had been cult nonsense, materials to bring the dead back to life. but no need to bring that up. not like Ernest could have used it. he'd been dead himself.] He really wanted nothing to do with me but by the end, I think. I opened the door and there was nobody. I've never gone back. I know he isn't there anymore. He was trapped and now he isn't. [but now she couldn't stand the idea of ever going near that place again.

Maria smiles at the stone and his compliment.] I'll have to keep an eye out for any other rock with special qualities. [Vander had told her people where he was from gave each other rocks but she hadn't thought too deeply about it. just thought it would be a gift he'd appreciate more than anything else.]

Well I can't wait to see what you're able to make. Since you're really hyping it up here.

[He nodded his head, and it certainly seemed similar to the stories that Henry had told him about his own hauntings of multiple people. Likely no coincidence.] So you helped him out and let him be free of some of his grief, huh? I think you should start a therapy business for parents of dead kids at this rate. [It was meant as a tease, of course, but his tone was flat and struggled to find the correct joking intonation.

His thumb continually ran over the rock as if he were soothing himself with it. That wasn't too far from the truth.] I used to take it out every night I was on the desert and stroke it. It reminded me of you, and it was suddenly less lonely out there. [He smiled at her, his serious moment persisting until he cleared his throat and forced himself to make a show of tucking the rock away again. His little keepsake.]

I promise you'll be impressed! You might even wear my creation too!

[it is hard not to notice that and she glances before being able to bring in the teasing tone he's used to.] He really didn't want me around, though. Practically screamed at me to leave him alone and slammed the door in my face. But hey, you know me. I guess fair warning to you, though. Screaming and slammed doors won't do much good when it comes to me. You'd probably break the door if you slammed it too hard anyway. [she could joke for the both of them and besides, talking about Ernest had brought back those feelings that had plagued her for ages. she didn't want to think anymore than Vander did at the moment.

it does surprise her when he makes that comment. Maria hadn't considered him thinking of her at all. that her friendship could mean something like that to him. even if he told her how much she did mean to him, Maria thought of it as simple compliments. just teasing and things they could say to one another to feel less lonely. that this rock could make him feel better, by thinking of her...

it wasn't that she didn't think he was lying about their friendship. but it had never made her realize just how important it was to him until then. she struggles for an answer until the moment has passed and it would probably be too awkward to bring it back to that. something inside her tells her she should but then something else tells her to stay quiet and just cherish it. have it as something to look back on and think fondly of.]

I would wear it. I pressed that flower you gave me so I'd always have it.

Yeah well, grief makes people act out sometimes, right? You still helped him however you did. [He smirked at the idea of breaking a door. Yeah, he was definitely guilty of that over the years, and the doors in the apartments were not made to stand up to someone intent on breaking them.] I think Aurora would be upset with me if I continually broke doors when I was upset. There's a reason I have a punching back in the middle of the dining area.

[She had become a staple in his daily life, a warm presence to chat and tease with, and it kept his worst habits to a minimum these last few months. The value that he took from her friendship and support could not be understated.

He lifted his hand closer to his face so that he could examine the bracelet better in the dim light. There was a pattern there, which he likely would need to see in actual light, but it was well-made and well-intentioned. He would wear it with pride, damn the opinions of certain people who may ask questions about it.]

Did you? That flower has seen a lot, as we both know.

It does. [James had also been an example of that but who wants to think about something that depressing during their date? she had already brought up Ernest and she hated to think about him. not like this was a happy topic for Vander anyway.] Who knows, though. Maybe the next mission will need you to do that. I never thought a mission was going to be summer camp but here we are.

[Maria was just as grateful for Vander. she hated to be alone, couldn't stand it. during the day, it was easy to find ways to be around people. working at the bodega with Heather, the various friends she'd made, and if there was nobody around then she could go out and find someone. but coming home meant she still wouldn't be alone most likely. Vander had become a fixture in her life. a voice inside did remind her that one day this would have to come to an end but she didn't want to think about that right now. what was the point in ruining a nice night?]

Almost a fallen hero. [she glances at his knee.] Well, guess no repeat of that this time. Not a tradition we're keeping up with. But hopefully you being hurt won't be one either.

It's part of the process I've been told. You go through the motions and eventually it hurts less. [Maybe his circumstances weren't so different from Ernest in the beginning, but at least he could be confident in the sacrifice he had tried to make. It apparently didn't work out that well when one considered a part of him came back in that beast.] Maybe? I suspect one breather mission is to help us put our guard down so we can be challenged again in a completely new way.

[Even if she wasn't there when he returned home or when he left to head for a work shift, there were signs of her presence in the apartment. There was the anticipation that they would see each other at some point at every day even when their work shifts conflicted because if he came home real late, she was still in the bed where he could nestle up to her.

And these post-mission dates were a good idea. Maybe that's why he started this one a little on the early side because they had gone two weeks apart, and it felt painful to wait and 'behave' themselves on the last day.]

No? You don't think I could pin you to a tree and have my way with you standing up even with a bummed knee? [Vander shot her a look almost like 'challenge accepted', even if this wasn't the time and place. Plus trees? The bark would definitely be a problem.] Nah, I always heal. [A comment which was opposite to the point she was trying to make.]

[Maria considers the comment about the mission.] Seems unfair to you, who hasn't gotten much of a break. Your few days of camp doesn't count, if you ask me. But nobody's asking me. Let's hope between missions is peaceful enough. [famous last words and Maria knows that she may have just cursed them for the very opposite thing to happen.

but here's to hoping.

as always, Maria had wondered if maybe he simply would want space even if they'd both made it obvious that wen it came to the other, the last thing they wanted was space. yet every time, she wondered. it wasn't like they wouldn't see each other once they went back to the apartments. but she'd felt silly seeing glances of him and being happy to see him. luckily, for them, Vander had come to start an early date. even just simply sitting together was nice.]

I think you could and you would if I gave you the chance. But just because you can doesn't mean you should, you dog. [but it's said with affection. she takes his hand and holds it, entangling their fingers.] And I don't want my lower back scratched up by a tree. But I'll take you up on it once we have some better walls and your knee is feeling better.

Ah well, I have a month before the next mission to recover. Who knows, maybe Solmara will blow up again, and another team will have to go in again. Then there are our missions. [He liked to hope that after two startling revealing and bad missions for people personally that they would have two that weren't so intensive. Who knew, maybe some of the other people needed that.

Only time would tell.

He relaxed perhaps for the first time since returning from Solmara or even before Solmara to be with her. He trusted her deeply, which was why he made no excuses of his want to see her earlier than perhaps they normally would. He dropped the arm with the friendship bracelet across the back of her shoulders again, stroking the top of her arm with his fingers.]

Dog? Call me Hound. That's the way it's been since I much younger. [He squeezed her fingers in return with the entanglement, leaning his head back to rest against her temple.] Alright, alright, I surrender. I wouldn't hurt a lady who I like unless she wanted me to. Until then, you're my nurse and I'll do most of what you tell me to do.

The mission is screwed if they have to keep sending people out there and my number is called so let's hope not for the mission's sake. [Maria knew that she was pretty useless on missions. she certainly wasn't strong enough or intelligent enough to be of much actual help. if a mission required them to be either of those things then she didn't think she could be good for it. going to camp had been the best possible choice for her. this had been the easiest mission for her yet even if it had left her worrying about some of her closest friends, Vander included. ]

Isn't dog just another word for that? Seems like my judgment stands. But see, that sounds like a challenge. Or more like you want to be one. [or more like Vander didn't want to take it easy. he had things he felt he needed to do and resting wasn't one of those things. Maria could argue with him that pushing himself wasn't going to do any good but it didn't matter. she had a hunch he wouldn't listen. best to treat the day he gave her as if it was a treat for her.] A challenge keeps things fresh. Even if you really think not going along with whatever I have in mind is your best bet. If your knee doesn't get better then I'll find a nice cane for you.

I doubt it will happen, but it depends on Aurora's brother, I suppose. He needs to maintain some sort of order there. I might suggest you don't volunteer if it Solmara comes up again. [Of course, Vander had been contemplating the idea that they may have visitation from other places or vice versa. They did not exist in isolation as they may have seen, and he did wonder if Maria's theory of fighting each other eventually meant actual experiments like theirs against others would hold more true. It was easier to other people one didn't know or hadn't built connection with.

He smirked at her comment, and it was extremely true just not what he wanted to be called.] It is, but Hound is my nickname. I prefer to be called that if you're brandying around dog names. [He held one hand up in a sign of peace to her accusation. He did like a good challenge now and again, he wouldn't deny it.] Oh you really are on the path to making me feel old, aren't you? It will be better with your tender loving care of me, don't worry. I'll be good. [Sort of.]

I didn't volunteer the first time and I won't volunteer the second time, if there was one. I know what I'm good for and it isn't things like that. [though Maria still does not actually know what she's good for but there is a reason why she tends to avoid people she cares about during missions that require specific skill sets. at the end of the day, she knows she would only slow people down. typically, she goes it alone. unless it was someone like Henry who really did need the help. but most of her friends are better off than her.]

Hound somehow sounds even hornier than 'Dog'. But whatever floats your boat, Hound. [even saying it, there's that air of flirtation. but when is Maria not flirty anyway?] A cane could make you real distinguished. Some people like them as accessories anyway. Could be a new thing for you. But who knows? Maybe I can distract you for more than one day. That'll be my challenge. [and to some degree, it's still just an excuse to have him to herself. it really had felt like a long two weeks without seeing him and maybe that's a problem if she had missed him that much. they'd become such a staple for each other.

and maybe that's something she should think about? but that isn't what tonight is about. instead she just looks back up at the stars.]

Were you ever able to look at the stars back home?

That's fair. I'm glad they didn't pick randomly from people. It seemed to work well with volunteers willing to work together. How did you find wrangling all the people here in camp? What was your objective in this mission anyway? We had first-aid. [He had a lot more faith in Maria's skillset than she did, and he thought that camp while not ideal fit her social style very well. She could convince people into things.]

Wow, don't make my moniker sound horny, Maria. [Pure sarcasm. He couldn't hold any seriousness about it and chuckled. There had been a lot of jokes about his nickname until people realized it wasn't just about being horny. It was that he never quit hunting when he was keyed in.] Yeah but then I would have to wear a top hat again and a monocle, and that's just not me. I'm never going to even be able to fake being high society. Too much dirt under my finger nails. [He looked her over next to him.] I bet you would dress up real fancy and fit in with one of those parties where you laugh behind your hand and hold a flute of champagne with two fingers.

[He looked up to the stars as well, enjoying the brief silence and her warm presence next to him.]

Yeah, if you went to the top levels of the city called the Promenade. Those areas close to the water often had a great view because the breeze would push all the industry smog inland. Did Silent Hill have a starry night sky too?

[Maria had been created to depend on one person. she wasn't strong and she wasn't intelligent. though she couldn't see her own gift with being able to socialize, not quite seeing how that was a skill not just everybody had. this camp situation had actually been a good thing for her and even if she didn't think she'd done a great job at the music therapy gig, she'd done better than she would give herself credit for.] Our objective was just be here? Go to camp, follow the rules, and make sure we did our chores. I don't know, it was weird? But easier than yours, I'm guessing. [Maria said that so simply but they had had that serious talk before he left for a reason.

there's a scoff and Maria laughs.] Me? Doubt it. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig, so they say. I wasn't supposed to be the fancy sort and I doubt I could pull it off for long. But if you want to see me in a nice dress and that's what this is all about, I can get us some champagne and we can just dress up for the night.

[Maria lets go of his hand just so she can lean against him, head on his shoulder.] It did. I got to see it, though. [she had always been killed by the time night hit and she never did get to see the sky again.] It's nice to see the stars even if I don't think I'm much of a fan of living out in the great outdoors. I did keep coming out to see the sky.

[He inclined his head and shrugged a little. It seemed like too simple of an objective, especially since each cabin seemed to have something they were assigned to lead on.] It sounds like a relaxing mission. I assume there was an element of collaboration or something? Because just showing up and following the rules should be an easy bar to set. [And yet...

He turned his head and stared at her in the dim light, his body stilling as he considered her words. Damn, that self esteem.] But you could pull it off even for a time, and that's something most of my lot could never do. Don't make me doll you up like those fancy Piltover ladies to prove how beautiful and adaptable you are because I will.

[He sensed a hint of sadness in the way that she leaned on his shoulder, and he nestled his nose into her hair.] The stars were nice, yet seemed so cold and far away for me. I remember the first time I saw the stars too. It was... such an unexpected experience. [He nodded against her head.] I'm in agreement with the living outdoors part. I prefer underground or at least with a roof over my head.

I had to take care of music stuff. I did music therapy and did sing alongs? I had no idea what I was doing. [Maria only knew music she was supposed to dance to and that music wasn't very therapeutic? but there is a smirk at following the rules.] You asked me to break the rules by coming out here. [and it had been the end of the mission so she agreed but they were not doing much in the way of behaving.

Maria didn't consider her words to mean much. simply she'd been created for a purpose and the purpose wasn't to be demure.] You're only proving my point that it sounds like you just want to see me in a fancy dress. By now, you should know you don't need to compliment me to get your way but thank you. It's very sweet for a hound. [she did believe he found her beautiful and adaptable, at least. Vander wouldn't lie about things like that and she may tease him but she did appreciate the compliments.]

I really like them. I can see how big everything is and know there's so much more out there. It makes me feel small but in a good way. Like I'll never stop having things to see. [for once, she does feel a little silly for saying that and she quickly moves on from it.] But I'm not much for roughing it.

Huh, I don't think I've been privy to your singing voice. How did you enjoy it? Therapize some people in need? [He had belief that she had done well, and she had carried out her assignment admirably because Maria was saving her world for someone else.] I did, and if it makes you nervous, we can head back, okay?

[He shrugged his shoulders as if he were trying to play it innocent here with her accusation. What could he say. He was just a simple man looking to build up a lady he considered special.] Hardly for me, Maria. I simply believe you have the gravitas to carry yourself in high society if you needed to. That's all I'm say, but I also would not refuse seeing you in a fancy dress. [He winked at her for calling him hound. It might be the first time in over six months anyone has referred to it anywhere close to a positive.]

Yeah, the sky just stretches out in all directions with its stars and maybe the moon. You have a moon where you're from, yeah? [He nodded his head, understanding. Roughing it wasn't for everyone.] And the cabin beds aren't that comfortable either. I can't believe I'm saying that I'm looking forward to getting back to the apartment again.

I didn't make any eardrums bleed but you didn't miss much. I promise you're already hearing my best performances in private. But I think I helped some people and that was nice. [she laughs.] Funny story. A friend of mine told me to come up with a childhood dream so I said therapist. Ironic, huh? [she was sure it was just a coincidence but it had been nice nonetheless. like making her identity all the more real.] But we're fine. It's the last night. They can't fail me because I wanted to spend some time with you.

[it felt ridiculous to tell him she didn't agree. to argue about what she could and could not manage. she would simply take the nice sentiment and leave it at that.] If there is ever any reason to dress up then you'll be the first to see me. But only if I get to see you in a monocle.

[she gives him a look, teasing.] Is it so surprising to be excited to see me every day again? If you want me gone then you should have taken me up on the offer before. I could have been out of your hair.

Well, since I'm earning your best performance, I have no right to complain about missing anything here. I suppose I'll just have to make you sing for me when we get back to the city. [He provided a little charming wink that allowed him to get away with more than he should usually.] That fits actually. You are a good listener and you like to help people. I suspect you'd be an excellent therapist.

[He offered a long-suffering sigh at her requirement. A monocle? Well, he supposed it would make him look very distinguished. Maybe he would even bother with beard wax for once and sell the whole dress-up adventure if she would. The trouble they convinced each other into was baffling sometimes.] Fine, fine I'll agree to a monocle if you're in fancy dress with your hair all styled up and two fingering a flute of champagne.

[He watched her quietly; this was the second time this subject had come up in quick succession. He shifted where he sat so he could draw his bruised leg back in and resting normally.] That's the second time you've brought that up, Maria. Are you uncomfortable in our living arrangement? I don't want you to be, and I won't be offended if you make a decision that's best for you in this either. I enjoy living with you, but I understand it's... an odd situation. I'm probably not supporting you well, not nearly as much as you are me in this.

MISSION 009

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