Meep Manhunt!

[highseasmods]

Who: Anyone who expressed interest in going after Meep and received a letter from Scurvey Dog.
Where: Anygrav Moon
When: August 9th-22nd
What: The mission begins! Dog asked for help rescuing Meep and it's you lot who've responded. Try to bring him back in one piece, eh?
Warnings: Possible violence...?
Style: Any!
Status: Closed to those involved!

The island is covered by a familiar mist that rolls across the ground. Fortunately for you, it's not going to bring nightmares to life this time, but it definitely lends to the general feeling of unease that fills the place. That isn't helped by the fact that though the population here was never very large, it certainly must be even smaller now.

It's the dead, lifeless husks along the beach that make that much obvious.

There's no sign of battle, and all the bodies appear unmarked. It's as though they suddenly dropped right where they were standing, as if something completely and abruptly drained them of energy.

Watch your step as you make your way inland. Wouldn't it be a shame if the same thing happened to you?

Comments

[yourotherleft]

[he's just along because he's Zoro. Also, after a year and how many months now he has to just admit that wherever the cook is, he's not too far behind.

Besides, he liked Meep well enough. Guy doesn't deserve this shit. And they all owe Dog a lot, so might as well pay her back by rescuing her favorite minion.

He doesn't have a plan either, he's just sitting on a crate watching Sanji work. Very obviously watching every movement of his hands, surely that eye can be felt.]

[serving_love]

[It definitely can, but these days it's more a comfort than anything. After a moment or two, though, Sanji lifts his head to glance across at the other man, arching an eyebrow.]

See something interesting?

[yourotherleft]

[lifts his head, maybe a little startled out of whatever he's thinking]

Nah. Just waiting for my chance to do something. You're good at getting us ready, I won't be much use until we get in there.

[serving_love]

[Quirks a small smirk at Zoro.]

Unless there's some kinda shitty temple labyrinth waiting for us. Then you won't be useful at all.

[He says, though he's the one who's about to lead them down a path to DOOM AND SPIDERS, so you know...]

[yourotherleft]

[snorts. SHUT UP MAN yeah spiders is all on you]

I'll remember you said that if there's mortal peril.

[he can't resist any longer, and gets up to wander over and lean on the cook. Things are always better with contact.]

Let's just get it over with. Whatever shriveled those corpses out there might come for us next.

[serving_love]

[Leans right back, falling quiet as he takes a moment to appreciate just having Zoro's presence there, before humming lightly under his breath. He shifts his gaze, looking out beyond the edge of the tents to where all those bodies still remain.]

Mm...yeah, really hoping we don't gotta deal with that shit. Maybe they all had some of those messed up shards or something...

[yourotherleft]

[it's like he's trying to cuddle without cuddling, draping just one arm loosely around Sanji's waist]

Maybe. Who knows? We've never been here, I don't know anything about the place.

[serving_love]

[It's a testament to how far they've come that Sanji doesn't try to shrug him off even though there are other people around. Just finishes packing the bentos into a backpack and turns into him slightly, pressing the bag against his chest for him to take.]

Don't know anyone who has been here. Kind of a pain in the ass, really. We could've used some info on the place.

[yourotherleft]

[they have come pretty far, since Zoro dared to even do it with others around. He's stopped caring entirely what others would think. is there even anyone who doesn't know?

He receives the bag in his other arm and lets go of Sanji in order to take it and swing it over his shoulder.]

What do you want to bet the only crews who stopped here are the ones who're all gone? Figures. This world is conspiring against us, I swear.

[serving_love]

[Sanji doesn't step away, even when that arm is gone. Might as well stay in nice and close until they're ready to get a move on.]

Wouldn't surprise me in the least, it's one damn thing after another here. Long as we get out alive, right?

[He shifts, turning to look towards the inverted pyramid they're meant to head into.]

Got a feeling it ain't gonna be much longer.

[yourotherleft]

Yeah...

[he can feel it, too. A general, building sense of dread.]

I talked to the captain of the Hazmats, earlier. He said Isla Empieza is covered in green fog, nobody can land there right now. It doesn't matter what anyone wants, none of us are gonna be able to just exist here, anymore. It's coming to a head against Jones, one way or another.

[serving_love]

[Sanji's brow furrows a bit.]

Can't get to Isla Empieza, that's a new one... And shitty green fog ain't ever a good thing. Wonder if the people there are okay.

[Thinks for a moment.]

Considering that's where we all showed up, it's probably the way out again, too. Bastard might be blocking it off himself.

[yourotherleft]

...oh, hell. [that hadn't occurred to him at all. But it does make sense]

Well, we figured we'd have to go through him somehow, in order to make him send us home or whatever. So that part isn't a surprise. But if he's blocking the way out, who knows what we're gonna have to do.

[serving_love]

Gotta kick his ass either way. But maybe this has got something to do with it -- maybe Meep figured something out.

[Or else Dog is just sending them on some crazy rescue mission because she's so fond of the guy. ...Not that there'd be anything wrong with that, but surely she could find someone else to run around and do shit for her if that was the case?]

[yourotherleft]

Hm. Yeah, if Jones is there and Meep is being held here...

Somebody else has their hands in this mess.

[granted, it could have been Cat, but she's dead so what's with the urgency to get Meep to safety? Sanji's right, he probably does know something]

Hope there's some fun to be hand on this island, at least.

[you know. "Fun." The kind that requires swords and kicking.]

[serving_love]

Seems pretty likely that there is. Only one way to find out, though.

[He leans in toward Zoro a bit, almost like he's going to steal a quick kiss -- but maybe that's going one step further than he's comfortable with in public, because he doesn't close the distance between them completely. Just sort of hovers there for a beat, then gives a small grin.]

Should we get a move on and find this idiot, then?

[yourotherleft]

[Ugh damn tease. Zoro doesn't flinch, his eye dropping to Sanji's lips and then narrowing when he doesn't seal the deal.]

Yeah, I guess.

[before the cook can escape, though, he reaches to gently grasp him by the wrist, maybe to pull him the rest of the way in. But no, he also hovers, or rather just gives that wrist a squeeze in the small space between them where no one can see it.]

[serving_love]

[Keeps looking at him during the wrist squeeze, just holding his gaze while his grin turns softer and more private. He slips his wrist out of Zoro's grip, but catches his hand, giving him a similar squeeze in return before nodding once and letting go.]

Alright.

[Finally takes a step back, tipping his head in the direction of the pyramids.]

Let's go, marimo.

[yourotherleft]

[huffs softly, because even after all these months getting used to it, he still can't believe it. Nor can he believe the jittery flutters in his gut when they touch like that. But he shakes it off manfully and nods, falling into step beside and behind Sanji.]

Yeah.