except it isn't day right now, it's in fact the middle of the night, nearing the wee early hours of the next day, but here keith and lance are, trudging through the swampier parts of olympia's grasslands to try and document a native life-form that only (supposedly) shows up at night... there's no real evidence this creature exists; they're just going off of word-of-mouth, but it's apparently spread far enough that it warrants some actual investigating.
basically they're cryptid-hunting.
but in the midst of this, they come across a bunch of other animals. one of such happens to flutter over right towards them in the middle of their trek, a delicate-looking thing generating its own lime-green luminescence. it flutters past keith, who leads the way, and flutters towards lance, who perks up at the sight of it. ]
Keith... Keith, look! [ he lets out a giddy sound that definitely isn't a giggle, frantically trying to flag keith down with some flapping of his hands. he's standing super still, staring down at the tip of his nose, where the alien fire-fly has settled. ] I think it likes me!
[Red/white boots have been replaced by tall black versions of something similar. Waterproof, perfect for swamping along. Lately, his entire wardrobe has consisted of black on black -- which is great since it's work-appropriate too, if not monotonous and goth. So he's wading, walking like a crane through the dubious wetlands when Lance calls to him. He's got a small, cheap-looking flashlight on him no bigger than his thumb (which is, btw, fucking bad for finding cryptids in the dark) that's turned over in his palm and directed at Lance.
Uselessly, he finds. There's a light sitting at the end of Lance's nose and he's immediately concerned by it. Back home on earth, he'd liken the bulb to fireflies. Here? He's auto-assuming it's a transparent thing filled with methane, capable of blowing his nose off (or a nostril).
He shakes his head to spite of himself, swallows a word of caution and carefully makes his way a bit closer to his companion.
Just, for one reason or another, wanting to believe in that expressed delight. So far, they haven't really encountered any animals that wanted to outright blow them into bits. The giant spiders were awful, yeah, but that's been the worst of it. Plus, this thing's tinier than the nail on his pinky.]
[ lance hasn't moved since the little bug decided to make a landing pad of his nose, so he's stuck mid-step, strangely squatted with his hands outstretched. you know the one. ]
Don't be jealous just because this little guy has excellent taste. [ yeah, remember how it totally bypassed you and chose him? yeah.
cautiously, he slips out his phone from his pocket, holding it out for the other. ]
[God, Lance, if your dank breath hasn't chased it of, fixing your posture should be fine. It's more amusing for Keith that Lance retains that pose, however. Feigning irritation (you know, because Lance is digressing from the mission) he'll take the phone (though he could have just done this with his phone...) from Lance and tap the camera icon as required...
He goes to aim, but the stupid thing's in selfie mode? Lance?]
...Hang on.
[He has to fumble around with it because he never takes selfies himself????]
[ LMAO IT WOULD BE IN SELFIE MODE god... thanks for that.
does that mean he's gonna go through his photo album later and come across a random keith selfie? gross he probably accidentally took like twenty by now... ]
Hang on, what do you mean hang on? We gotta document this marvel of nature!
[ he's talking about himself, of course.
he reaches out, starting to tap keith on the arm because that'll, you know, definitely speed things along. ]
[He probably took at least one...at least. By accident.]
I mean, you have it on the inside camera.
[Or whatever. It takes a bit of prodding, but he manages to activate Regular Camera Mode just in time for Lance to start prodding him. He motions like that one part of the chicken dance -- flapping his arm to signal that's enough.
Just after, without warning, he'll snap the photo and very casually hand the phone back. Lance was probably in mid-blink, but you get what you pay for.]
Did you do it? [ he pauses when the camera's handed back to him. he blinks a couple of more times and finally straightens out, turning the phone over in his hand to look it through and — yep, there's definitely an accidental keith selfie in here, gdi. he'll just delete it later... if he goes back too far he'll stumble upon his topless bathroom selfies or something probalby.
anyway he's looking over the photo now and keith why do you suck at everything you do. not even a snapchat filter could save this. seeing it just makes him wrinkle his nose which, sadly, prompts the little fire bug to flutter on away. there goes his chance to take a better photo... this is obviously keith's fault. ]
That's.. good enough, I guess.
[ he sighs, but just as he's about to slip the phone back into his pocket, he arches a brow at the other. ]
[He'll watch Lance check his work, but, is distracted soon enough in watching the lightbug flutter away. So it was innocent after all -- as far as they know.
It isn't hostile, at the very least.]
What? [Back to the present.] I haven't had a lot of reasons to raid a swamp before.
[If Lance thinks he's gonna start criticizing his swamp expedition, he's totally gonna get grilled for this selfie timewaster stuff.]
[Please stop using complicated references on him....and asking him to do dumb things, for that matter. With that, he'll start back to his position from before Lance decided to call him back, heading closer to the marshy marsh marsh.]
[ almost instinctively: ] He's this ship captain from a book who was like. Super obsessed with catching this huge white whale that everyone was like 80% convinced wasn't real. [ or something. did the garrison even do regular schooling? who even knows. ]
Anyway, we don't even really know that much about this thing... half the stories are just about how it only shows up at night. How could we have put up traps for that?
[ besides knowing their luck they'd probably run into all of them... ]
[Just for...the record. He knows they're not hunting whales, right? There's an uncertain look tossed over a shoulder, but he's primarily focused ahead -- ahead and down, because his feet are starting to stick to gross wetlands with each step...]
Just an idea. It probably won't hang around as long as we're here.
[But he's trying to be optimistic. The more they try, the more they'll...learn. That's how it worked with the Dyatlov expedition.
I know that. [ he sighs, then picks up his feet a little higher so he can catch up to keith. ] But it's kinda the same, you know? We're running around, trying to catch this thing that's mostly lived in local myths! It's fun.
[ enjoy this ok... lance is saying being out here in all this gross swamp goop is fun.
with you. ]
Maybe we can just do a stake-out or something. Lay low. Let it come to us. What'd the fish guy say he saw this thing eating?
[ lance doesn't immediately realize what keith is referring to (the fire bug hovers overhead, just a little out of his peripheral) but when he follows keith's line of sight and spots the creature, he cannot help but look extremely ecstatic. like some kind of discount disney princess. ]
Hey, little buddy, back so soon?
[ gone seems to be the apprehension and tentativeness he'd had just minutes earlier, now boldly reaching up to cup his hands out for the bug to settle into. he doesn't even look surprised when it decides to do just that!
he perks up suddenly, looking to keith. ]
You think he's here to help us out?
[ ...well. at least he isn't suggesting they knit it a sweater. ]
[ lance wilts a little, though most of his enthusiasm hasn't been abated just yet. fear not, fire bug, he's got your back... ]
We don't know that. What if this kind of bug like... can read minds? Or understand us? [ this is alien planet land, after all. WHO KNOWS WHAT'S OUT THERE. looking down at billy (yes, he has named it), he tentatively tries to cup his hands together, gently encasing the bug between his palms. the bright lime-green light just peeks out from the cracks between his fingers now. ]
What if I hide him? [ it's.. not really hiding, but. ] He can still join us, right?
[ without even waiting for an answer (mostly because he knows it'll be a 'no') he presses on forward, slogging through the marsh past keith. ]
[Interesting theory, and while they're stranded on a planet with a wild (literally) array of alien animals capable of who-knows-what (his mind always strays toward violence...) he's finding it difficult to imagine this thing much more capable of doing anything but hovering around and taking away from their objective...]
Yeah right, if anything it's probably trying to keep us busy while his buddy (the cryptid) sneaks around.
[Which has him looking over either shoulder in a moment of realization -- or paranoia. You say potato I say tomato.]
Why are you bringing -- you should keep your hands free.
[Similarly, he's aware Lance won't heed his advice, and he's left trudging after him....]
My hands'll be free if we need 'em to be free, quit worrying so much.
[ haven't you ever heard of enjoying the moment, keith? sure, technically they're out here for a job, but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy their time there while they can! they haven't devolved into petty squabbling just yet, either — that's gotta be something to be happy about. looks like having separate "rooms" helped after all...
in any case, he's so preoccupied with making sure billy is safe and comfortable in his hands, he almost doesn't notice the large shadow that suddenly crosses their path, about twenty feet ahead. the water sloshes loudly around his legs when he suddenly comes to a halting stop, meaning if keith happened to be following along close enough, he'd walk right into him. lance leans back slightly, whispering over his shoulder. ]
[It's not worrying, it's planning ahead. He'll just glare at the back of Lance's head for the time being, which naturally places that giant shadow somewhere in his peripheral. Peripheral becomes the focal point, though it's difficult to discern anything through the darkness -- including Lance's full stop. His own steps slowed some, but he only idles upon nearly walking into his company.
There's some urgency to slap a hand over Lance's mouth, as he's prone to screaming and shrieking like a woman in labor for no reason. He does not, having gone completely still -- just barely offering a nod in turn.
Which Lance wouldn't be able to see, uh.]
Yeah, be quiet...
[Wild glances here and there. The water up ahead's too shallow for what they're looking for, so that was clearly an axe murderer of some kind.]
[ he'd reassert that he knows to be quiet but that's kind of. counter-productive. and also proves himself wrong so... he just keeps shut for once, giving keith a slow nod in understanding. he makes a quick glance to his hands, relieved to find billy still safe and sound in the cup of his hands. his light is still shining, at the very least which, okay, is probably totally giving them away right now but whatever...
he takes a slow half-step back, just so he can pivot slightly and look to keith better. he's not gonna say he's spooked but...
he's pretty spooked. this is the crazy killer castle-ship all over again... ]
Now's probably a good time to take out one of your twelve knives you stash somewhere on your body.
[This is, in fact, a spooky situation, but they put themselves into it! It's fine! Cryptid hunting at ass o'clock on an alien planet isn't supposed to be safe. Expect the unexpected -- anticipate the unexpected....]
What good is that gonna be when we only saw its shadow?!
[Close combat isn't even an issue; he's thrown knives with pinpoint accuracy in the past.]
Just, stay here with your friend.
[Pretending the situation's that simple is just as good as...if...it were. Anyway, the lone wolf of the apocalypse is now suggesting they split up while he goes to properly hunt the giant creature. Nevermind the sinking feeling that they're actively being hunted themselves.
Nevertheless, he's stepping forward, moving beyond Lance to investigate the shadowlands.]
[ he gets about two steps before his intent fully hits lance, and hastily he's reaching out with a hand (hastily shifting billy to the other — sorry, billy, hang on!) to grasp as keith's arm, yanking him back. ]
Are you crazy?! [ he isn't yelling, which is a point in his favor tbh. but he's definitely hissing this close to keith's face... ] Splitting up's a big no-no! That's what the crazy axe-murderer [ why is that their first thought in this situation ] wants us to do so he can pick us off one-by-one! We can't let him win!
[ there now comes a low, half-groaning half-buzzing sound coming from somewhere to their right, heightening this spooky experience up another level. ]
Shh! [ nvm that he's the only one talking here. he shuffles a little closer to keith, glancing in the general direction of where the sound came from. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action | time is a construct ok...
except it isn't day right now, it's in fact the middle of the night, nearing the wee early hours of the next day, but here keith and lance are, trudging through the swampier parts of olympia's grasslands to try and document a native life-form that only (supposedly) shows up at night... there's no real evidence this creature exists; they're just going off of word-of-mouth, but it's apparently spread far enough that it warrants some actual investigating.
basically they're cryptid-hunting.
but in the midst of this, they come across a bunch of other animals. one of such happens to flutter over right towards them in the middle of their trek, a delicate-looking thing generating its own lime-green luminescence. it flutters past keith, who leads the way, and flutters towards lance, who perks up at the sight of it. ]
Keith... Keith, look! [ he lets out a giddy sound that definitely isn't a giggle, frantically trying to flag keith down with some flapping of his hands. he's standing super still, staring down at the tip of his nose, where the alien fire-fly has settled. ] I think it likes me!
whoa...you did it
Uselessly, he finds. There's a light sitting at the end of Lance's nose and he's immediately concerned by it. Back home on earth, he'd liken the bulb to fireflies. Here? He's auto-assuming it's a transparent thing filled with methane, capable of blowing his nose off (or a nostril).
He shakes his head to spite of himself, swallows a word of caution and carefully makes his way a bit closer to his companion.
Just, for one reason or another, wanting to believe in that expressed delight. So far, they haven't really encountered any animals that wanted to outright blow them into bits. The giant spiders were awful, yeah, but that's been the worst of it. Plus, this thing's tinier than the nail on his pinky.]
Or it likes whatever you use to moisturize with.
[That's what he does, right? Moisturize...]
i did it out of guilt...
Don't be jealous just because this little guy has excellent taste. [ yeah, remember how it totally bypassed you and chose him? yeah.
cautiously, he slips out his phone from his pocket, holding it out for the other. ]
Quick, quick — take a picture.
me too
He goes to aim, but the stupid thing's in selfie mode? Lance?]
...Hang on.
[He has to fumble around with it because he never takes selfies himself????]
meant2be
does that mean he's gonna go through his photo album later and come across a random keith selfie? gross he probably accidentally took like twenty by now... ]
Hang on, what do you mean hang on? We gotta document this marvel of nature!
[ he's talking about himself, of course.
he reaches out, starting to tap keith on the arm because that'll, you know, definitely speed things along. ]
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I mean, you have it on the inside camera.
[Or whatever. It takes a bit of prodding, but he manages to activate Regular Camera Mode just in time for Lance to start prodding him. He motions like that one part of the chicken dance -- flapping his arm to signal that's enough.
Just after, without warning, he'll snap the photo and very casually hand the phone back. Lance was probably in mid-blink, but you get what you pay for.]
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Did you do it? [ he pauses when the camera's handed back to him. he blinks a couple of more times and finally straightens out, turning the phone over in his hand to look it through and — yep, there's definitely an accidental keith selfie in here, gdi. he'll just delete it later... if he goes back too far he'll stumble upon his topless bathroom selfies or something probalby.
anyway he's looking over the photo now and keith why do you suck at everything you do. not even a snapchat filter could save this. seeing it just makes him wrinkle his nose which, sadly, prompts the little fire bug to flutter on away. there goes his chance to take a better photo... this is obviously keith's fault. ]
That's.. good enough, I guess.
[ he sighs, but just as he's about to slip the phone back into his pocket, he arches a brow at the other. ]
You've never done this before, have you.
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[He'll watch Lance check his work, but, is distracted soon enough in watching the lightbug flutter away. So it was innocent after all -- as far as they know.
It isn't hostile, at the very least.]
What? [Back to the present.] I haven't had a lot of reasons to raid a swamp before.
[If Lance thinks he's gonna start criticizing his swamp expedition, he's totally gonna get grilled for this selfie timewaster stuff.]
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I meant with the camera.
[ honestly why does he talk to you. ]
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[Not necessarily to take pictures of other people though. Mostly for important things.
That's to say, it's a rare occurrence.]
Can we get back to what we were doing before?
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or just never ask him for that particulad favor again. whichever one comes first.
anyway he slips the phone away for now, motioning with his hand for keith to proceed. ]
After you, Captain Ishmael.
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Ishmael?
[Please stop using complicated references on him....and asking him to do dumb things, for that matter. With that, he'll start back to his position from before Lance decided to call him back, heading closer to the marshy marsh marsh.]
We probably should have set up traps...
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Anyway, we don't even really know that much about this thing... half the stories are just about how it only shows up at night. How could we have put up traps for that?
[ besides knowing their luck they'd probably run into all of them... ]
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[Just for...the record. He knows they're not hunting whales, right? There's an uncertain look tossed over a shoulder, but he's primarily focused ahead -- ahead and down, because his feet are starting to stick to gross wetlands with each step...]
Just an idea. It probably won't hang around as long as we're here.
[But he's trying to be optimistic. The more they try, the more they'll...learn. That's how it worked with the Dyatlov expedition.
Right????????]
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[ enjoy this ok... lance is saying being out here in all this gross swamp goop is fun.
with you. ]
Maybe we can just do a stake-out or something. Lay low. Let it come to us. What'd the fish guy say he saw this thing eating?
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We would need bait for that.
[He'll pause under the cover of some thick, high-reaching cattail looking plants, pausing, since Lance seems to wanna plan something...
Or at least talk.]
It was a lizard.
[Of course, the guy didn't call it a lizard. He's going by description -- easier to remember. Envision. So on and so forth.]
A big one, something like--
[Distraction; that glowbug's hovering just over Lance's head.]
Your friend's giving away our position.
[None too impressed. Maybe lowkey a little impressed. How did he already tame a bug? Why's that possible?]
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Hey, little buddy, back so soon?
[ gone seems to be the apprehension and tentativeness he'd had just minutes earlier, now boldly reaching up to cup his hands out for the bug to settle into. he doesn't even look surprised when it decides to do just that!
he perks up suddenly, looking to keith. ]
You think he's here to help us out?
[ ...well. at least he isn't suggesting they knit it a sweater. ]
no subject
He's willing to accept that the bug likes Lance, for one reason or another (might be his smell), but he can't fathom how it could help us.
He's got a shitty flashlight, for example. Begone weird bug.]
No, I think it's giving us away.
[Firmly reiterated, though Lance's excitement is somewhat endearing? Gross.]
That thing doesn't even know what we're trying to do.
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We don't know that. What if this kind of bug like... can read minds? Or understand us? [ this is alien planet land, after all. WHO KNOWS WHAT'S OUT THERE. looking down at billy (yes, he has named it), he tentatively tries to cup his hands together, gently encasing the bug between his palms. the bright lime-green light just peeks out from the cracks between his fingers now. ]
What if I hide him? [ it's.. not really hiding, but. ] He can still join us, right?
[ without even waiting for an answer (mostly because he knows it'll be a 'no') he presses on forward, slogging through the marsh past keith. ]
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Yeah right, if anything it's probably trying to keep us busy while his buddy (the cryptid) sneaks around.
[Which has him looking over either shoulder in a moment of realization -- or paranoia. You say potato I say tomato.]
Why are you bringing -- you should keep your hands free.
[Similarly, he's aware Lance won't heed his advice, and he's left trudging after him....]
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[ haven't you ever heard of enjoying the moment, keith? sure, technically they're out here for a job, but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy their time there while they can! they haven't devolved into petty squabbling just yet, either — that's gotta be something to be happy about. looks like having separate "rooms" helped after all...
in any case, he's so preoccupied with making sure billy is safe and comfortable in his hands, he almost doesn't notice the large shadow that suddenly crosses their path, about twenty feet ahead. the water sloshes loudly around his legs when he suddenly comes to a halting stop, meaning if keith happened to be following along close enough, he'd walk right into him. lance leans back slightly, whispering over his shoulder. ]
Hey — did you see that?
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There's some urgency to slap a hand over Lance's mouth, as he's prone to screaming and shrieking like a woman in labor for no reason. He does not, having gone completely still -- just barely offering a nod in turn.
Which Lance wouldn't be able to see, uh.]
Yeah, be quiet...
[Wild glances here and there. The water up ahead's too shallow for what they're looking for, so that was clearly an axe murderer of some kind.]
no subject
he takes a slow half-step back, just so he can pivot slightly and look to keith better. he's not gonna say he's spooked but...
he's pretty spooked. this is the crazy killer castle-ship all over again... ]
Now's probably a good time to take out one of your twelve knives you stash somewhere on your body.
no subject
What good is that gonna be when we only saw its shadow?!
[Close combat isn't even an issue; he's thrown knives with pinpoint accuracy in the past.]
Just, stay here with your friend.
[Pretending the situation's that simple is just as good as...if...it were. Anyway, the lone wolf of the apocalypse is now suggesting they split up while he goes to properly hunt the giant creature. Nevermind the sinking feeling that they're actively being hunted themselves.
Nevertheless, he's stepping forward, moving beyond Lance to investigate the shadowlands.]
no subject
Are you crazy?! [ he isn't yelling, which is a point in his favor tbh. but he's definitely hissing this close to keith's face... ] Splitting up's a big no-no! That's what the crazy axe-murderer [ why is that their first thought in this situation ] wants us to do so he can pick us off one-by-one! We can't let him win!
[ there now comes a low, half-groaning half-buzzing sound coming from somewhere to their right, heightening this spooky experience up another level. ]
Shh! [ nvm that he's the only one talking here. he shuffles a little closer to keith, glancing in the general direction of where the sound came from. ]
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1/2
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i keep dropping the f word cus of that link
i can't believe you'd bring that up here... right in front of my salad
YOU LITERALLY MADE IT WORSE
yes this is my revenge
youre a bad man
lock me up
go away
fine
no
no????
no (i hope the moths are recurring friends in the future)
they'll visit keith as he's sleeping... glowing from the window
no thank you
too late
no, its not,
yes it's in the queue
i'll delete it
i'll delete you...
try it
right clicks you
delete your account
puts in trash
watch out for raccoons
you're the only pest here...
8^<
gross get that out of here
thats my face uh
yeah go on
https://i.gyazo.com/4ed4f6b343c1ac1a87b2b8bc2e6de516.png
who's lena she sounds needy
shes the woist
cut her loose
i plan on it
✂
snip ya balls off
my blueballs
away they go
bye...
oyasumi
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