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

[theskyaccepts]

[It is something that Tsuna hasn't had to deal with yet, thankfully. Even if it has come close a few times. And inevitably, some older version of Tsuna has or will have to deal with it. But for now, he'll focus on the positives.

Tsuna nods and consults his map, muttering to himself as he also consults notes about which team is where.]


Yeah, I think so. This area out to the west.

You're not going alone.

[It's one of those sentences that is part question, part statement.]

[laserguy]

[Not that he wasn't serious before, but there's definitely a more focused look to Scott as he listens to Tsuna, watching the way he examines the map and clearly thinking of the route that he's going to take. At least it's nice to know that his friend trusts him with the search, it's definitely no small thing.]

Don't worry, I'm not going alone. [He isn't in the business of heading straight into danger without support. Kotone would kick his ass anyway--] I'm not big about putting my life or other's into unnecessary danger.

[theskyaccepts]

[There is so much relief showing on Tsuna's face as Scott says that. He knows far too many reckless people (and can unfortunately put himself on that list. Not that he'd admit to it.)]

Good. Who's going with you?

[laserguy]

Kotone, but I wouldn't mind having a couple of people tagging along with us. Let's just say I'm working on my own leadership skills too.

[Especially after the Tower, after facing those Sentinels with Kotone. Learning that he's supposed to be some great mutant leader in another timeline, he... he sort of wants to live up to that. At least, he wants to be able to lead his friends, it felt kind of nice. Maybe natural?? Even if that responsibility is a little scary, it was important to him too. Sort of hard to explain, although maybe Tsuna would understand.

He nods, mostly to himself, like he's reaffirming his thoughts.]

Really realized how important that stuff is.

[theskyaccepts]

I can see who's free and wants to go.

[He's got another list, but it might not be up to date so it might also involve going out and seeing who is around and up for a scouting mission.]

Yeah. [He laughs quietly. He gets it.]

It's not easy, but it's important.

[laserguy]

[Tsuna laughs, but... he really understands, huh? Or guess it's more like he gets where his friend is coming from. After all, Tsuna is the main leader in this mission, the one with the most weight on his shoulders.]

...It's a lot having that kind of responsibility. [He smiles for a moment, hands sliding in to the pockets of his jeans. His posture is easy, but he's still pretty serious about their conversation.] But guess someone has to bear it, right?

[theskyaccepts]

Mm.

[Tsuna nods. It's still a little tough for Tsuna to find the right words.]

That's what my tutor would say, if he were here. It's the Boss's job to lead everyone. And make the big decisions.

Of course, he'd also be looking for ways to make it harder for me...

[laserguy]

[His tutor has a point, but also geez, he really sounds like a pain in the ass. At least they don't have to worry about him here, although Scott wonders if Tsuna would prefer his assistance still. Well, either way, he can't really say anything and so the mutant hums, thinking a little before tilting his head at his friend.]

Can't imagine anyone here giving you extra grief, right? Tell them that you have it handled if you do, even if you feel like you have doubts and stuff.

[theskyaccepts]

[That is an apt description of Reborn. If Reborn could be here, it would be a help to Tsuna, even if it was just the vaguely moral support that Reborn provides. But he's not, so Tsuna has to set that aside. He often wonders if this is how his future self felt.]

Honestly, everyone's actually been really helpful! I've been surprised.

I was expecting things to be a lot worse. But I got a lot of reminders and that really helped.

I felt like I was actually able to take it in stride.

[laserguy]

[That gets Scott to smile again. Yeah, for the most part, he's found that people here have been really supportive. Like incredibly so?? It's how he's been able to break out of his own shell from the withdrawn and angry teenager that initially arrived in this world. He can see the growing confidence in Tsuna and... it's nice to see.

Kind of nice to help contribute to that. Tsuna's a good friend and everything.]

Heh, good. Well, you do look more confident now. [Besides all the worrying earlier, but that's understandable.]

[theskyaccepts]

I'm glad. I think I'm actually kinda feeling that way to?

I mean, we actually all got here.

And so far everyone's been in one piece.

[And he really hopes it will stay that way.]

Kinda feels like I've proved something, at least to myself.

[laserguy]

Hey, don't discount that. It really is important that there's been no causalities, let alone any major injuries. This place really sucked the last time we were here.

[Scott's smile fades a little at the mention of that, but he does his best to press on. Tsuna doesn't need his dumb feelings about that, especially when he's feeling good about this. He has his crap handled and at worst, he can just turn to Kotone about it.]

Just keep doing what you're doing. I'll tell you if something seems off, deal?

[theskyaccepts]

Right? I am glad that it's going well. And I need to remember that.

[He needs this to go well. He's not sure if it is part of his sentencing if it does or not, but on a personal level, it's what he wants. Anything less feels...wrong.]

Deal. I'm counting on you, Scott.