Mission: Building the Future in Pagoda

[lucetimods]

Who: Anyone who volunteered
What: A very special mission that will fill you with a youthly sense of purpose. Or something.
When: July 20th - July 24th
Where: The enclosure of Pagoda
Summary: Mission detailed here. There are survivors to help and buildings to repair, and plenty more to keep the volunteers on their toes.
Rating: PG-13 for reasons

Direct further questions here!

Comments

All Days

[ribbonbon]

[Part of her had wanted to go back to Zompania, if only because she thought it might help her remember what happened in those last minutes before her death. However, her lingering fear wins out and she chooses to go to Pagoda. As scared as she is, she can't just do nothing, right?

When the volunteers arrive in Pagoda, Pilouette has to take a second to really take it all in. Even with the Pagodans trying to move on, there's still an air of gloom hanging over the village. However, there's no time to sit around and just gawk. After all, there's work to do. She does whatever is asked of her, though she spends most of her time tending to injuries or distributing supplies, while listening to whoever wants to talk. Occasionally, usually while treating younger kids, she'll be quietly offering a bit of candy or some other sweet out of her bag; for once, her tendency to carry around snacks all the time is useful. Though she's been wearing a pair of tight gloves and a thin jacket while she works to try and cover a bit for her penalty, she still manages to get a few scrapes and cuts on her skin that she doesn't seem to see right away...

In the evenings, one can find her taking a break, sometimes taking inventory of what she has in her bag and first aid kit. After all, she won't be much use if she doesn't know what she does and doesn't have on her.]

Day 2, evening

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[Ginia catches Pilouette as she's taking inventory of her bag and offers a smile as she holds up a thermos and takes a seat. With the low lighting, Ginia takes out her phone and types out a quick message, letting the phone read it.]

Want some hot chocolate?

Day 2, evening

[ribbonbon]

[Having been putting so much effort into organizing her supplies, Pilouette is only too glad to take a break. A tired smile crosses her face and she nods.]

Y-Yeah, hot chocolate sounds pretty good right now, thanks.

[She puts her bag aside for the time being, letting out a quiet sigh. She's doing her best to keep her spirits up, as the people of Pagoda are trying to do the same after what they've been through, but it's hard. ]

Day 2, evening

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[Ginia takes a seat next to her, unscrews the cap, and pours out a hot cup of hot chocolate. It's a bit watery, could use marshmallow, but you get what you can. There's no being choosy at a time and place like this.]

Welcome. How are you doing?

[She wears a smile, though nothing new, but it's a bit tired. It's hard work out in Pagoda and it's a bit mentally draining. There's already been a few deaths and every one is felt a bit more.]

Day 2, evening

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette gratefully accepts the cup and takes a sip. She can't feel the heat of it, but the sweet taste is enough to make her feel a bit better...even if it is a little watery.]

I'm doing okay, I guess. Like, considering. It's a lot to deal with, though.

[She can't help but feel bad for saying that. The people of Pagoda have been dealing with it. Not to mention that she at least gets to go back to their own enclosure. The Pagodans are stuck here.]

I, uh, I guess I really don't have room to complain, though, huh?

Day 2, evening

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

I think it's tiring for everyone in different ways.

[The physical work is tiring and though everyone's trying to their best to keep their spirits up, there's still an underlying tone of sadness. It's too empty in the village, too much space with not enough people to fill it.]

It'd be nice if we could come back here later, keep helping out and keeping in touch with people.

Day 2, evening

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette nods. These people will probably need help for a while. She still can't get it out of her head that Luceti could have ended up the same way, torn apart with people dying every day.]

Yeah, it would. I wonder if they would even let us, though. There's just so much to do and so many people that need help and just like...four days just totally isn't long enough.

Day 2, evening

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

The Commandant mentioned changes to the mission system in her announcement, maybe that's a sign we can get more involved. I'd love to know more about the world as a whole and the people in it.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette nods, recalling the Commandant's message and takes another sip of her hot chocolate.]

Me, too. If we could learn more about this world maybe we could figure out why exactly people get dragged here in the first place.

[And in doing that, finally figure out how to send people home at will.]

But, I wonder if they decided to change the mission system because we wanted to do more or because they needed us to do more...

23rd

[frost_jewel]

[Mia was surprised to see Pilouette in Pagoda; immediately after that she was pleased and worried in equal measure. Hypocritical measure, as it turns out, because the thing Mia worries most about is her friend facing some of these things so soon after Zompania and dying. She checks on Pilouette multiple times on the first two days, just in case.

After that, things get busy and unstable, with more lingering injuries and, somehow, more death than they had at the start. It has been a particularly trying few hours just before Mia finds Pilouette organizing her supplies. Coming up beside her, Mia picks up a dropped roll of gauze and offers it back.]

Here. You dropped this one. [Gentle, not meant to startle, almost a whisper.]

23rd

[ribbonbon]

[She jumps a bit, having been so absorbed in maintaining her supplies that she didn't notice Mia until she spoke. For just a moment, she just kind of stares at the roll of gauze in her hand, as if unable to figure out what to make of it. After all, she hasn't slept too terribly much, and a tired haze has settled over her mind. She gives her head a little shake as if to clear it, before offering Mia a fatigued smile and takes the gauze from her.]

O-Oh, um, thanks. I can't afford to lose any supplies...after all, I'll need whatever I can get. Lots of...stuff keeps happening.

[Accidents. Shifts. People dying out of nowhere. At least once, she's come to find that someone she had treated just days before had seemingly died out of nowhere with no warning whatsoever. It's getting to her.]

23rd

[frost_jewel]

More stuff than we bargained for, isn't it?

[It's impolite to tell someone they look tired. Fatigue is everywhere in the conversation, in Pilouette's smile and her shoulders and the drag between sight and recognition; Mia's sure she looks just as bad.]

You haven't been getting enough rest. [Although if she phrases it as an observation, it can edge around politeness.] I can't make you sleep, but I can refresh you a little, with your permission.

23rd

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette exhales quietly, trying her best to keep smiling. Any kind of relief would be welcome at this point. However, she knows that this is pretty tough on everyone and Mia is no exception. She's sure Mia has been making use of all her skills given the situation but she's got no idea what kind of effect using magic and synergy have on her.]

That would be great. But...It won't take too much out of you, will it? I-I mean, I can probably get enough rest just sitting here for a little bit.

[Somehow the monotony of going through her supplies was kind of calming.]

23rd

[frost_jewel]

[Unlike the situation in Zompania, Mia has a firm hold on herself and her limits, and she's smiling and shaking her head.]

It doesn't take much of me at all. [All her years of practice and building up the stamina for this make it so.] Thank you for worrying.

23rd

[ribbonbon]

W-Well, friends like, can't help worrying about each other sometimes, right?

[Not that she liked worrying or liked it when people worried about her, but it's only natural to be concerned. Still, it's good to know that Mia wouldn't be expending too much energy on her when there are so many more people who needed help.]

Then, I guess a little refresher would help...

23rd

[frost_jewel]

Oh, I worry about my friends all the time. [Moving behind Pilouette, Mia puts her hands on her friend's shoulders.] Hold still a minute.

[Restore is a quick spell, a tiny one that's meant to restore Psynergy to other Adepts; Mia learned well before she knew what an Adept was that she could give some energy and strength back to anyone at all. It is refreshing like cold water after a tiring day. She might have used it on Pilouette once or twice before, come to think of it.]

How does that feel?

23rd

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette lets out a sigh as she feels energy flowing into her. The mental fatigue is still there but, it almost feels as if she had gotten a decent amount of sleep. Pilouette looks back over her shoulder at Mia, fiddling with her gloves a little.]

It's nice, thank you. I feel a lot better now. Um, i-is there anything I can do to help you out?

[After all, she would like to do something for her friend in return.]

[rashness]

[ You know who else was trying to work with the handing out food and supplies and maybe caring for the kids during a bit if relative downtime for him? This guy. You know what got him in trouble? He was trying to play a little bit of soccer with a group of "kids" ranging in age from about 9 to about 14. And one of the older ones has accused him of using his "super Luceti powers" to cheat his goal into their makeshift goal. Rin, of course, is a bastion of maturity ]

It's not cheatin' if it's a power that you have yourself! Come on, I saw Izuma over there glow a little!

[ And he points at some random 10 year old boy over there, who recoils at the attention.

... This might be close to the medical area.

This is legit ]

[ribbonbon]

[Hearing the commotion, and Rin's voice among it, Pilouette can't help but take a step away from her work to take a look. Since things are quiet at the moment, Pilouette steps outside the medical center...to find Rin arguing with a group of kids.

She wanders over, calling out to Rin as she approaches.]

Hey! Um, is everything okay? Like, what's going on over here?

[rashness]

[ Rin turns at the older and more understanding (clearly) sort of voice to see- Pilouette. He should be embarrassed to be arguing with a kid young enough to still have a bit of downy-ness to his feathers, but instead, he leap on the moment to gain the upper hand, and with a cunning plan: ]

He started it!

[ "He started it!"

Sadly, Rin and the kid both said it in unison and both pointed at each other ]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette looks back and forth between the two of them as she reaches up to tug on her hair.]

Wait, start what exactly...?

[She supposes it's nice of Rin to hang out with these younger kids. Maybe it'll get their spirits up. However, she's not sure getting into arguments with them is the best idea, especially so close to the medical center.]

[rashness]

[ "This guys cheating, he can use his weird Luceti-powers to hit the ball harder than any of us!" ]

I'm not even trying to!

[ribbonbon]

[She frowns a little, crossing her arms and tilting her head thoughtfully as she looks at the younger boy.]

He doesn't have "Luceti Powers," you know. Just like...not-Luceti powers. Like, I'm from Luceti and I don't have any powers, you know? [That was probably the least helpful thing she could have said. She leans toward Rin a little.] You could probably stand to back off a little bit, though, you know? Like, just to even it out a little or something.

[rashness]

But... but it'd be uneven then!

[ The boy seems to consider that... he was pretty sure all Luceti people were super and that's why they were called to help them out. But if that's true, then he points at Pilouette, and.

"Yeah it would, so why don't you take his spot!" ]

Hey-!

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette is about to tell Rin that he just needs to back off a tiny bit, just enough to give the youngest of the group a chance when the boy interrupts. She stares at him for a moment as she comprehends what's just been asked of her before raising her hands defensively as a nervous smile forms on her face.]

H-Hey, wait a minute...! Like, um, I'm not really good at sports so you wouldn't have much fun playing with me, you know?

[She glances over at Rin in an attempt to ask for back up on this.]