come_sailaway | JUNE EVENT: CAMP

JUNE EVENT: CAMP

early on June 10th, Friday's morning announcements end with a request for everyone going on the latest excursion to meet her in the atrium. she seems in noticeably better spirits than she had been last time, and she leads them cheerfully to the tender. once they are all aboard, and the door is securely shut, the interior fills with gas, and, perhaps, their last thought before they slip into unconsciousness is "oh shit, not again."

passengers wake up on a rickety old school bus, driving down a dirt road surrounded by woods. what is it that they notice first? that, no matter what they were wearing before, they are now wearing a camp t-shirt and legitimately horrifyingly short shorts? the overstuffed backpack between their knees? the words "take one down and pass it around" dying on their lips? the fact that Friday is absolutely driving the bus?

or, maybe the fact that it's already slowing down, pulling up in front of a massive wooden sign, saying:

CAMP AION

when they get out of the bus, Friday is the one to divide them up into their cabin groups, and she is the one to give the counselors their very official-looking clipboards and whistles. she explains that they are in charge, and that she will be back to pick them up in a week, and... very little else. she responds to nothing outside of whatever is on her unseen little script, and she gets back on the bus shortly after, leaving them there.

welcome to camp. let's make some summer memories!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Venti and I — ( you know how sometimes you just open your mouth and the worst, situationally careless thing flops out? that's more or less the feeling that breaks across clarke like a wave against rocks. that's the moment she's suddenly living in, just long enough to flinch and flush and furtively drag her gaze to somewhere over mizuki's ear.

but they're pretending everything's fine, right? that's what he said? before she can even parse out how much of a mistake it could be to keep going, clarke's tongue catches up with her thoughts and she pushes on. )

— were talking about what might work against his smoke form. Skulduggery Pleasant is suggesting more research into the way he uses magic before we try anything brash as a full on assault. Natsuno took more pictures, but they all turned out the same, and some new kid thinks he's never ridden a skateboard so, I guess if we need to bet our lives on something, it can be a skateboarding exhibition.

[ Honestly, it's the brief pause that ends up drawing attention to it more than anything. Mizuki wouldn't have questioned it none. He continues to smile at her like it's okay, but during her internal upset, his camouflage does glitch out a bit as he, too, momentarily wishes he could disappear. He's alright, though! Everything is fine. ]

I see! Natsuno did send those pictures to me. The video he sent actually busted my speakers — I had to get a new phone. So, you know, if you want to play a prank on someone, I highly recommend you send them that video too~. Ehehe.

Anyway, you're so diligent! Working with so many people to get ideas. I know I'm not smart enough for the thinky parts of stuff, but you'll let me know if you need my help with anything else, won't you?

( ah of course, it's her own hesitance that serves to underscore and aggressively bold the awkwardness here. that's pretty classic, but! mizuki doesn't point it out. he seems committed to everything being just peachy keen, and clarke let's out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

you're plenty smart, is on the tip of her tongue, that blind reassurance that ignores his lack of decision making skills and independence of thought. but it's never seemed to register with him before, so clarke swallows the sentiment and leans further into action. )

Actually, there is something I could use your help with.

[ Oh? Mizuki straightens up immediately at that, actually, and his eyes seem to widen with… excitement, maybe? It's hard to tell with Mizuki, actually. Knowing him, there's either an innocent urge to be helpful and very enthusiastic to be such, or something a little more soldier-like. A little more Seaborn-like. He doesn't seem to think it's a problem. ]

Of course. Anything.

( one can't shake a stick at enthusiasm, and even less of a stick at soldier ready. still, clarke doesn't quite breathe easily. )

How much do you know about Ebalon's magic?

Learning new things about it every time we talk, actually. Is there something specific you wanna know?

[ There's some things Ebalon told him to keep secret, but… it's Clarke! Surely it's okay if she knows. ]

Well, we all saw him drop the moon. And ( — no matter how you looked at it — ) that was very impressive. I get there are different kinds of magic, different ways it's harnessed and used.

I've seen blastias and fonic artes, and elemental gods, and necromancy. And those I understand but — how does he do it? Sigils?

Some of it is sigils. But, the way he talks about it, there's sort of... um... big magical energy sources, and they're all different, and um... some people, I think, have natural connections to those sources? [ He makes a vague hand gesture in the air that says "I don't have all the details". ] I definitely recall him saying that people have natural ability to use magic based on those sources, so I imagine it's a "you're either born with it or you're not" sort of deal. So I think all the healing and moon stuff you've seen is just his natural ability?

[ … ]

That said, and while I'm happy to tell you all this, you could also just... ask him. I know you're still upset with him, but he really is getting a lot better about things. He even gave Miss Friday a break to introduce that last batch of folks. A-and I don't even think he knows you're mad at him.

( a natural power source, or the ability to channel that one was born with. that bit tracks along with what she's heard from other magic users, though in sharp contrast to mizuki's take — pirate jenny and skulduggery pleasant both insist anyone can use sigils. so the fact ebalon does in fact utilize a few sigils amidst whatever natural powers he possesses is a plus, a moment in the conversation that clarke lights up over. but the suggestion to ask him personally...

ew. that's the opposite of what she'd wanted to do.

in fact there's a moment where clarke looks physically pained at the prospect of approaching ebalon herself, but. diplomacy and usefulness wins out. )

I guess I could.

( she's had worse allies. and a chat with minimal hostility didn't mean she had to stop loathing him. )

[ Mizuki doesn't really pick up on her expression that well, but he knows Clarke well enough by now to know she's not thrilled by the aspect. He shuffles in his spot, nervously dropping his eyes to his shoes and pulling at the hem of his shirt. It already covered those gross short shorts as it were, but… ]

Or, I guess I could just... ask him whatever you want to know? Or maybe come with you or... whatever makes you most comfortable.

( sigh.

she doesn't want to use mizuki like that, except she also very much does. but she'd been hoping to regain some level of trust that he insists isn't missing, or at least put a little more distance between their unpleasant confrontation (also these terribly awkward cabin arrangements) and more demands on her end before trying to pull on his heartstrings and see what comes out.

but the fact remains: even if ebalon doesn't know she hates him, he likes mizuki. enough to promise to do better, and that's a level of trust and intimacy that breaks down personal barriers and spills secrets across pillows. )

It's nothing I need to know immediately. How about you just let me know whatever you hear from Ebalon in the meantime. Then when I go to him with questions, I'll at least have a better idea what I'm trying to ask, you know?

[ It's a little more than "likes" at this point, but to call it love might also be an insult. They're weird and gross, do not look at the eldritch horrors. ]

Um... [ Again, he's not opposed to bringing information to Clarke about this. He's used to giving reports to the Doctor back home, but they were always very summarized and plain. To do something like this, where he has to be more in detail, when there's simultaneously so much and so little to tell? He's at a bit of a loss to what's important for her to know and what isn't. ]

So, you just want to know the stuff that's about how it works? I'm fine with that, of course, but... if I could get a more specific directive, I might be able to help a little more. "Whatever I hear" from Ebalon is quite a lot, after all.

( there's the temptation of whatever and everything, because she knows from experience that the smallest detail may end up breaking the case and saving the world. but, boil this request down to it's barest bones?

all she really wants is the wards. and maybe what they mean. the rest could be figured out, her questions spread across the other magic users on board. so for specific directives — )

If he ever shows you sigils or even if you just see them in his room, could you bring them to me? Or just like, take a picture and send it my way? That's all I'm curious about right now, what those little symbols look like and what they mean.

[ Well, that's easy enough. Ebalon shouldn't give him much resistance if he goes asking about those, especially since he's expressed interest himself in trying them. ]

Sure. That shouldn't be a problem. Am I keeping this conversation between us? [ Or, more accurately, "Am I not allowed to tell him you asked?" ]

( HRNK.... )

...I'm not going to ask you to keep anything from your boyfriend, Mizuki.

( but like, use ya brain babe. if he's more likely to answer those questions just for you, there's no need to share who else is after them, right? )

[ Moon jellyfish don't have brains, actually. Besides, once again, Ebalon has no idea Clarke is even mad at him! Mizuki is almost positive he'd be fine sharing most of his sigil magic with her?! He'll bring it up himself and honestly whatever happens in the conversation, happens. Especially if Clarke is going to be so wishy-washy on her orders! ]

Well, no, but secrets are secrets. You are also quite important to me. I wouldn't want to keep anything from-... [ … ]

Oh!!! Clarke! That reminds me! I... um. Maybe this isn't the best time to talk about it, actually. But, uh... wh-whenever you're free, there is something I need to talk to you about...

( what an ominous conversational transition but UH. OKAY. )

I'm free right now.

( honestly the title of camp counselor is a joke, there's very little for her to do here except sate her own furious need to explore, collect, fortify, and make sure the people she cares for are safe. and mizuki's one of those people, so... )

What's wrong?

Oh, I... [ Like RIGHT NOW? Geez, Clarke! Yes, it's on Mizuki for bringing it up at all, but he's known to just sort of spit out whatever it on his mind without any filter. ] It's... not a fun conversation. I wouldn't wanna sour the mood or nothing. 'Specially not with things being so tense here.

[ Referring to the excursion in general, which he expresses with a gesture to the scenery around them. ]

( YES RIGHT NOW nobody likes being hit with the "we need to talk" and then strung along on an anxiety leash. at least this time she has the fair warning it's an unfun conversation, and a scant few seconds to take a deep breath and steel her feelings away. absolutely, 100% expecting this to be a follow-up confrontation.

she loves the friendship bracelets, will likely never take the blue and white one around her wrist off unless necessary, but. all in all, clarke's not having a very fun time at camp. what could potentially sour the fear of dying at any given moment? )

I don't imagine things getting less tense when we're back on the boat. It's alright, Mizuki, what's going on?

[ His eyes go to the floor, his smile not quite disappearing, but definitely a lot more somber. ]

It's... um... it's about me. Some things I found out recently and why I'm, uh... [ Unsettling? Obsessive? Very violent? Unhealthily dependent? ] …not right, I suppose.

( oh.

look, it would be absolutely stupid not to acknowledge the fact mizuki was different than most people she'd met. not on the basis of being a cannibalistic jellyfish (terrifying, not healthy, but still one of the less prevalent parts of his personality). but clarke had admittedly chalked a lot of that up to childhood trauma and becoming a weird hand puppet for the fabled doctor he'd talked about so much. she'd met people indoctrinated into a specific way of thinking, or set upon a specific path by someone else. ontari had murdered a room full of children and forcibly taken over a throne after the ice queen had been killed, at least mizuki wasn't on a baby killing rampage...

but there was still a disconnect between them. some things about one another they'd never completely agree upon. some moments where mizuki's antics have gotten so far under her skin that she's outright sent him away...

but not right? that doesn't sound incredibly accurate. )

...Are you sick?

[ He shakes his head. Realistically, it's not something he wants to talk about, like, at all. Mizuki has always thought himself to be a good person. Maybe a little misunderstood, and maybe a little immature, but a good person. Not a hero, because he'll never be able to make decisions like Clarke. But that's the thing, isn't it? That he can't make decisions. That being presented with things that need an observant, rational mind makes Mizuki just shut down. He has that urge to listen to the valiant and brave, and ignore whatever is rumbling around in his own head because none of it made any sense.

He inhales slowly through his nose, then out through his mouth. But now? He has to admit that he's not a good person. No, quite the opposite, he's in fact part of the very vile people he detests so much. Those monsters that deserve to be eaten and rid of from the world. And he'd be lying if he said he wasn't hungry for it, even now. But he has people around to keep him from doing anything drastic. For now, anyway. ]

No. I'm just... [ … ] Can I tell you a little bit about my world, before I get into it?

( there really is quite the buildup to the entirety of this reveal, and clarke's absolutely looking at mizuki like he's about to fall over or vomit. concern etches her features, maybe a hint of alarm, but at least for now no horror or disgust. curiosity is there too, in the purse of her lips and the way she crowds forward like she means to put a hand on his arm and squeeze — before remembering that, yanno. she still felt like shit. )

Sure. Tell me anything, but — should we sit?

[ He goes to say he's okay, but vaguely stops himself to nod instead. Actually, it's better they do. Even if Clarke wants to leave afterwards and shove their relationship off a moving train after this, he'd… be devasted, sure, but it's understandable. It's not like something like this should be hidden from someone he cares so much about.

But he doesn't actually move all that far from where they currently are, just finding something to lean up against and sitting on the ground like an idiot and looking up at Clarke so she'll join him. ]

( faintly, she desires a table here. like when they'd sat near but diagonally separated from each other in the buffet, stuffing their faces with undercooked or excessively greasy meat and discussing the finer points of cannibalism, society, and god killing. but actively acknowledging she misses life on the ship feels like a primal sort of betrayal to her own standards, and thus clarke will make the best out of sitting on the ground.

mizuki chooses to slot his back against some sort of structure, let's say it's the outside of their cabin, and she considers leaning against the rough wood paneling beside him, but ultimately sits down on her knees directly in front of him. folds her hands in her bare lap, but ready to reach out to mizuki if the mood took a steep emotional dive off a cliff. )

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