I've Been Through the Desert on a Horse with No Name

[theskyaccepts]

Who: Tsuna and you!
Where: In the Desert
What: To complete his sentencing, Tsuna has led an expedition out into the desert to find the ruins of Tresed, and see if anything has changed Last time
Warnings: Risk of injury and possible death, hallucinations, monsters. Additional warnings to be added if needed.
OOC Notes:
-You do not need to have responded to the OOC Interest Check or the IC Interest Check to join in. Please feel free to dive right in!
-Timeline wise, ICly the expedition will return prior to the 15th so that we're all back for the event, but please don't feel you have to rush anything
-On a more personal note, while there is a risk of death with this expedition and if that's a direction you're interested in going for please do, I would also like to keep the body count to a minimum if possible. The ramifications of leading a bunch of people to their deaths is not necessarily something I want to play out with Tsuna at this time. Thank you!



The Expedition and Scouting Parties

The thing about deserts is that they are harsh environments. Unforgiving, some might say. The sun beating down, the wind whipping sand, the sound of monsters making their way through the desert. It's not the kind of place anyone would really want to go into, and yet, Tsuna is determined. Whether it is the effects of his sentencing or his own backbone finally making itself known, he has led this group into the desert for answers. It's not easy, and it weighs on him, but his face is set as he sends out small scouting parties, consulting maps and other information that he has, hoping to find the ruins of Tresed.

Sandstorms are prevalent in the area, so small scouting parties are being sent out to try and find some paths through it. Going out too far runs the risk of getting lost, injury, or potentially death. There are some monsters about, but they also have to contend with the storm.


The Oasis

But eventually, relief comes. An Oasis is discovered with clean, fresh water and edible vegetation. A respite from the harsh winds of the sandstorm. It's a chance to catch their breath and consolidate what they have learned so far. But as is so often the case in this world, things are quick to go awry. Mirages, of course, a key part of any desert expedition, start to appear. Images from that previous trip out to the ruins.

If you were on that previous trip to the desert, you've seen these images before but something about them seems off, wrong, not quite right. Warped, some might say.

If this is all new to you, you're seeing something that's happened before. But if it is wrong or right, who's to say?

But it might not matter if you've been in the desert before or not, because this vision is from the perspective of one of the Shadow Creatures that attacked before, and were ultimately killed. It comes with feelings of aching hunger, despair, and mindless fear in those final moments.

Or maybe it isn't an image of the desert at all. Maybe it's something far more familiar. An image of home, in the past, the present, or the future.

The Message and Returning Home

A message appears on the Chosen's tablets. Text, barely legible but undeniably a message:

FIND ME

But despite searching, and Tsuna will want to be thorough, the source will not be found, and they will be unable to trace it.

It's not much, but it is something. And they can return to Aldrip with that knowledge. One thing is clear though. They are not done with the desert yet.

Comments

ange ushiromoya | umineko no naku koro ni | ota

[entreats]

( 1. monsters )

[ Ange doesn't hesitate to volunteer to scout. Sure, it'll likely be a pain with these sandstorms around, but it'll be just as much of a pain to sit around and wait. She might as well go out there herself - it'll spare her waiting for any other incompetent group to come back.

But fighting monsters out here in the sandstorm? It's a little bit more difficult than expected. Not that Ange is doing horrible, but she's not the strongest fighter to begin with, let alone when the sandstorm obscures sight, separating the scouting party from each other.

Maybe you're paying attention to the sound. Even in the sandstorm it's possible to hear Ange's voice letting out a shriek.

If you try to follow the sound of the source, you may find Ange lying on her back in the sand, a monstrous shape barely visible through the sand flying all throughout the air hovering above her.

Help? Maybe? Thanks? ]

( 2. mirage )

[ Maybe you'll see the same image as Ange, if you happened to be standing near her. It's quite the difference, because the scenary of the oasis changes into something else entirely. The sky with the hot sun changes into a night sky instead, and the sand underneath your feet changes into the cold hard steel of a rooftop. There's a fence all the way around its edges, but beyond that you can see all sorts of other skyscrapers.

You can even see Ange, though she won't be at your side for long. She's running beyond where you're standing, all the way towards the fence, reaching out like she's trying to latch on to it.

She only seems to acknowledge you - even if the girl doesn't look at you - once she speaks up with: ]

.. even if this is fake, it's crazy. [ It.. is fake, right? ]

( 3. message )

[ It's not long after the text arrives on everyone's tablets that Ange is already getting Nosy.

So regardless of whether or not she even knows you, Ange will definitely approach you, if not just to ask-- ]

Did you see the message too?

[ Get ready to INVESTIGATE!! ]

3

[theskyaccepts]

Yeah! Yeah, I did!

[It's something of a relief, for Tsuna. He knew there was something out here, and this just proves it. It was worth braving the desert and the sandstorm.]

[entreats]

I thought it was old, but it can't be if we've been here and it's only appearing now.

[ It means that even if it would have been old and triggered automatically upon arriving in the desert, it should have appeared earlier than this, right? It only appearing now is highly suspicious.

It must mean it's new. ]

.. though you kind of have to wonder if it's a trap, if it's just saying 'find me.'

[theskyaccepts]

It's still something, and it's worth checking out.

[It's what he came out here to find after all.]

Who would be trying to trap us though? Aren't we already kind of trapped?

[entreats]

[ Ange huffs. ]

I mean a more direct trap. You know.

[ There's a pause in her speech that she uses to make a vague hand gesture. One hand moving down, as if someone is falling, and then smacking her other hand on top of that one. ]

Like in those movies where people go investigate old ruins? I don't mean traps meant to confine us, I mean traps meant to kill us. [ It sure wouldn't surprise her in this place!

.. though Ange is perhaps using slightly too calm of a tone to talk about deadly traps, but then again.. it is Ange. She often talks like this, huh. ]

1.

[melnik]

[ To some level, Miller expected that this expedition would result in people splitting off into their own groups. Granted, it is not his responsibility to wonder if the ones splitting off have the wherewithal to handle themselves, but the thought of trying to account for who's missing and who's just straggling behind when they reach their destination is still a concern heavy on his mind.

Which is why he's trying to provide rear support—but the onset of the sandstorm really throws an even bigger wrench into this effort than he could have expected. He immediately loses sight of the people in front of him, but luckily, he's come prepared. Throwing his gasmask on, he calls out for the others. He listens for any sign that they're close.

But the response he gets isn't calling out to him in return. Someone is in danger.

Miller sees the shadow of some great creature first and squares up, before setting eyes on Ange fallen in the sand. ]

Ange!

[ The firing of his rail gun produces a deep explosive sound with each round, aiming steadily for the monster obscuring itself from their view. ]

[entreats]

[ Ange was trying to get out from underneath the monster, but it really wasn't an easy task with all this sand everywhere. It feels like she's somehow only managing to dig herself into it when she's trying to slide herself across it.

But when she hears that sound, she knows better than to get up. There's the vague sound of someone calling her name, and she isn't sure who it is. But if they know her, it's clearly someone who isn't intending on hitting her with what sounds like some sort of shot, so it's better for her to stay down and out of range.

Even though it's deeply uncomfortable to stay down here on the sand with the sound of that monster roaring above her in pain at the hits. She tries sliding backwards from it a little, but it's hard, and her heart hammers a little bit more in her throat than she'd like to admit to. ]

I'm fine! [ She calls out, doing her best to raise her voice enough to be audible over the sandstorm, yet not keeping her mouth open for long enough to get too much sand into it. ] Just-- Just focus on getting rid of that thing!

[melnik]

[ This creature, while obscured in the flying sand, is unlike any that Miller has come to know. Yet this is no new phenomenon. One becomes too used to acting first and thinking later when forced to accept that as the norm. So, she doesn't need to tell him twice. The beast reels with the shots that manage to connect—but appears far from incapacitated. On the contrary, its roar distorted by pain is also vengeful, and it flings its huge body forward toward him, further displacing the sand around Ange.

But now Miller can see his target—its body is segmented, covered in exoskeleton damaged by blows from his weapon. Like some massive, ancient insect. The monster is surprisingly fast and he barely recoils in time to avoid it as it lashes out with its many sharp legs. Not that this seems to dissuade Miller any. ]

Come and get it, you ugly bastard!

[ He runs, trying to kite the thing into continuing after him so that Ange might find her footing. Waiting for it to try to strike him again, he slams the electrified barrel of his gun into its head. ]

[entreats]

[ Even if she's getting copious amounts of sand thrown at her at this point, Ange can at least feel that the creature is moving away from her - which is for the better, because she wasn't exactly in any position to defend herself against with it how close it had gotten to her.

But judging by the sounds she's hearing, she can also tell that it's only gone from hovering right above her because it's now going for Miller instead. And sure, she has faith in him to not start a battle with a monster unless he was confident he could handle it, but-- Well, this thing is big. Can you blame a girl for worrying about him anyway?

She tries to get up now she's got the space to do so, wiping sand off her clothes as she glances in the direction she thinks she can hear the monster now from as it follows the man. Ange takes a few quick steps through the sand in that direction, though she's smart enough to keep a bit of a distance and not waste the help he's giving her. ]

Come, arise, and forgive the sin. [ She mutters to herself, glad that it's so inaudible over the sound of the sandstorm that surely the creature will keep its attention on Miller. ] Lucifer of Pride, Satan of Wrath!

[ Miller may not be able to hear or see Ange anymore in the storm, but what he will be able to notice is the monster letting out a screech as it stops chasing him for a moment and freezes in pain - mostly because two stake-like objects have drilled its way into the creature's flesh through the spots where Miller managed to knock off some of the exoskeleton. ]

1

[bulleting]

[Of course Caitlyn took any opportunity that came her way to investigate in this place. She jumped at the chance to search for the desert ruins again, and she jumped at the offer to scout ahead.

The only downside to the desert, though, was the sandstorms. She couldn't see shit, and for a normal sharpshooter, that would be a problem. Most would be worthless without a line of sight.

But Caitlyn had a secret in her pocket, and plenty of hours spent being taught by Toph that allowed her control without needing to see.

She hears the screams coming from Ange, and while she may can only see vague shapes through all the wind and sand, it's enough. She closed her eyes, letting a bullet loose from her rifle, and focusing on its path. She forces it to move through the gusts that try to alter its direction, and makes sure it hits the hovering beast. She can't be sure of how deadly her aim will be, given these circumstances, but at least she can say she hit it. Maybe it'll get it's focus off of Ange and onto her, now.]

[entreats]

[ The sound of a gunshot is pretty alarming under the current circumstances, where Ange truly can't tell who is even firing it or where it's coming from, but she just forces herself to lie as still as possible as she can on the sand. Getting up will only make her even more of a target while hardly anyone can see shit right now.

It's a bit of a nerve-wrecking thing while she's right underneath some sort of monster whose shape she can't even fully see in the storm, but Ange has been through scarier things. She can handle this. Just don't move. Just calmly breathe, even as the creature rears up above her, letting out an awful shriek as it's hit by the bullet. It doesn't seem like nearly enough to down it indeed, but at least Caitlyn is right in one sense.

Which is that the creature slowly climbs off Ange, instead turning in the direction where the bullet came from, staring to head towards Caitlyn instead. ]

[bulleting]

[There's two things Caitlyn can be sure of, and it's that she successfully hit the monster, and it was now coming towards her.]

Hurry! Get out of here!

[At least she can lead it away from Ange, giving the girl a chance to recover and hopefully escape. So that's exactly what she does-- she runs in the opposite direction. It's impossible to say exactly how far she goes, giving the limiting ability to see in this sandstorm, but she finally stops and turns back, ready to face the monster as it approaches. She has her knives and her rifle, and everything Toph has taught her. She isn't worried about fighting it with limited visualization, one bit.]

[entreats]

Where?! There's nowhere to go here!

[ Caitlyn might as least be able to hear those words, even in the middle of the sandstorm. Even if it's impossible to hear anything more, especially with Caitlyn moving further away, making it even more difficult for Ange's words to reach her over the howling of the wind and the sand moving around.

But what is likely obvious is that the monster indeed followed Caitlyn. Ange is nowhere to be seen anymore, but the monster does slowly emerge through the sand, roaring as it tries to swing its huge-- hands, fists, claws, it's hard to tell here in the sand - right at Caitlyn, like she's a pest that the monster is trying to swat away. ]

3

[solitarysoul]

...yeah.

[He's still studying it on his tablet. Well, has it up and was staring at it, since it doesn't say much and he doesn't know much about how tablets work anyway.]

You want to go look for them?

[He has no idea where to start something like that, but he wants to try.]

[entreats]

It's better than sitting around and doing nothing.

[ Hence why Ange is already starting to move. She figures Levi must have as little of an idea as to where to look as she does, so they might as well start to walk in a random direction. Maybe the message will change if they get close enough or something.

But even as she's already walking, Ange adds: ]

Unless it's a trap, of course. But I want to check it out anyway. Even if it's a trap, there might be a trace of who left it. [ And that information might end up being just as interesting. ]

[solitarysoul]

[He pockets his tablet and grabs his gun, following after her.]

Even if it is we might get some useful information.

sorry for the delay!! 1, obviously

[joyboys]

[ a sandstorm? does nothing to stop luffy, really, when his observation haki can sense people and monsters even with his eyes shut. and so he's already moving before ange can so much as cry out —

and he stops, for a moment, when he's made it to her side, one hand holding onto his hat so the storm won't blow it away, eyes focused on her. ] Hey, psychic girl, you okay? Just hold on a second!

[ he grins, bright and wide, just before he whirls around and yells, ]

You! Monster thing! Don't pick on my friends!!

[entreats]

[ ...

Honestly, Ange isn't too sure whether she's in a better or actually a worse situation than she was a moment ago. Yes, at least now there's a bit more of a buffer between her and the monster with Luffy standing there, but.. on the other hand, it's Luffy. He seems so light-hearted and whimsical that she isn't really sure if he's going to survive this encounter, no matter what he said the last time they spoke to each other.

And then there's an extra factor here. A factor Ange can't help but call out, the fact that they're currently stuck in the middle of a sandstorm with a monster be damned. ]

W-What do you mean, friends?!

[ The monster roars.

And yet this is Ange's priority. It's a good thing that the sandstorm is at least hiding the way her cheeks are growing red in the face of Luffy's words.. ]

[joyboys]

What do you mean, what do I mean?

[ luffy, now yelling over the monster's roar, just frowns really hard at ange. ] Friends means friends!! Come on, psychic girl, you're not dumb! [ he sounds offended at the idea that she might be.

the monster roars again. ] Hey, I told you to cut it out! [ luffy turns his head to look where the sound is coming from, and —

something happens. with nothing more or less than his full focus, luffy glares at the monster, unleashing every single drop of his willpower, the thing they call conqueror's haki in his world, the kind of aura that is so strong and overbearing it makes those with a weak will faint... or monsters back away. perhaps ange can feel it, a ripple in the air that almost feels like pressure, like she is being pushed towards the ground, like every hair on her skin is standing up.

the monster screeches. it's a sound full of fear. the sound of wings beating the air suddenly grows fainter, and fainter. ]

2

[garbagecanned]

[it looks like something he'd see in the city back home, so Yosuke starts when it happens. Inaba was a little small to have many buildings like that, but Tokyo definitely was.

not to say that that's what Ange was seeing... but it did give him a bit of pang of homesickness to see it.

it doesn't register that she speaks for a moment, and he blinks. rubs his eyes with the back of his hand.]

Definitely crazy. But that'd be pretty on par with all the stuff that goes on around here, yeah?

[they've all seen weirder.]

[entreats]

First time I've seen anything resembling my world though.

[ Rather than just a memory. Or a thing from her world. It feels like a step up from that, even though Ange definitely agrees on just filing it away as crazy and clearly fake for now.

It's only after speaking those words that she turns around to actually look at Yosuke. At least he is Japanese, or so she's assumed, so she can't help but ask: ]

Do you recognize it? This place?

[ Because it definitely is Tokyo. He may find that out as soon as he looks around. There's at least one famous landmark visible from the top of the building, considering how high up this roof seems to be. ]

[garbagecanned]

Yeah. It looks like Tokyo... if that's what it is in your world.

[he steps forward closer to her, looking around.]

I lived there before we went to Inaba.

[he still kind of misses it sometimes, even though he'd ended up satisfied in the smaller town. Tokyo was still his first home, after all...]

2

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt did happen to be near Ange when the illusion set in. Even in the desert, just the image of the night sky helps Kurt feel a little cooler. As Ange runs, Kurt's quick to follow her towards the fence.]

It can definitely both! Fake crazy... crazy fake? [He shrugs.] But man... that's a nice view!

[entreats]

[ Ange huffs a little bit.

For some reason it seems.. weirdly amused? It's not like it's a strong emotion on her, but given the way she's acted around him before, it likely stands out enough to leave that sort of impression. ]

Yeah? You like high places?

[ It's not like Ange has ever really considered what other people would think of this view - not when she originally came up to this place for entirely different reasons back home.

But rather than let this dumb place force her to open up about something that personal, it feels safer to instead ask Kurt that. ]

[digthefuzz]

[He nods along as he looks between her and the skyline.]

They can be pretty cool! It's great to look out after the city, yeah? And my powers kinda shave off some of the danger...

[He teleports to the other side of the fence, then instantly teleports right next to Ange.]

What about you? Are you afraid?

[He's often not sure what to expect from Ange, but he wonders!]