HOW DOES A RAGTAG VOLUNTEER ARMY IN NEED OF A SHOWER...

[maskormods]

WHO: Kidnapped imPorts and their rescuers!
WHERE: A submarine off the coast of Antarctica.
WHEN: January 29th.
WHAT: Kidnapped imPorts have their powers turned on as LACKEY is rendered defunct, and take control of their own fate! In the meantime, their rescue crew is hot on their tail, ready to free them from their underwater prison.
WARNINGS: Mentions of gore and cannibalism; probable violence and death. Please let us know if this needs to be changed! Got any questions? Ask them HERE!



It is January 29th, DAY NINE of the imPorts' kidnappings. Conditions remain mostly the same, but it would not be any surprise if it were to seem worse to the kidnapped imPorts, particularly if their spirits have begun to flag. Their accommodations are just as cramped as they started out as, and without any access to outside life or common luxuries, being stir crazy is the least of their worries. Any food that was not shoved through the slot on the door has been left out in the heat of their bodies to rot, and their washroom circumstances certainly haven't improved over the week.

And to make matters worse, there has been a cannibal -- one or more -- within their midst. Some kidnapped imPorts may have noticed body parts being unceremoniously shoved through the food slot, only to be devoured by Ken Kaneki. Needless to say, these aren't circumstances that anyone wishes to prolong.

Luckily for the imPorts, they'll notice something odd. LACKEY's voice, no matter who it was talking to, will suddenly begin to sputter unnaturally to a halt... and in a sudden surge, each and every imPort will find their powers returning. Just beyond their door are 45 guards inside of the submarine they are trapped in, but with over fifty powered imPorts more than capable of simply ripping the door off of its frames, it's a much less daunting prospect. What will you do from here? Will you kill them, or will you attempt to salvage their lives, though they made no attempts to salvage yours?

Regardless of your actions, help is on the way! The intrepid RESCUERS are en route to the imPorts' location, and not long after their powers have been turned on, they will be reunited, taken care of, and will finally see the sun once more.

Remember, you may play out out all stages of the direct rescue process in this log, including before and after freedom has been achieved!

Once the imPorts have been brought back to the Antarctic Base, they will be instructed to wait for American planes stocked with medical professionals to touch down on Antarctic soil. ImPorts' wounds will be tended to, and they will be flown directly back to their homes, where they will be given further medical care as needed. If they are in possession - or are friends with those in possession of - teleportation or transportation powers, they are free to make their own way home as well! The planes are simply there out of consideration for everyone who will need a more traditional way home.

Comments

[khajidont]

[Of all times for Kaneda to meet Jaime this is, arguably, one of the worst in terms of first impressions. His nose is crooked, facial hair patchy and overgrown, his hair is greasy and his face is pale, with pronounced circles underneath his eyes from too much time spent in captivity. It's not a good look on him, and, skinny and lanky as he is, he doesn't exactly look like someone Ken ought to speak so highly of.

But Jaime's not feeling too self-conscious about his looks right now. Even exhausted, duty comes first, so he shoved tissues up his nostrils to staunch the bleeding and got to work, helping the medics as they touched down on the icy ground, helping them haul out their blankets and supplies as they attended to the mass of tired, wounded imPorts. They offered to tend to him, but their offers were half hearted for good reason; a broken nose isn't nearly so dire as the injuries others have accrued.

Jaime's no nurse, so he tends to the tired and only mildly injured instead. He's carrying a first-aid kit hooked around his wrist, with a bag of energy drinks hanging from his fingers once he spots Kaneda, looking beat beyond belief.]

Hey, [he says, fishing out one of the drinks.] You look like you could use one of these.

[Just enough to keep him upright until they all get piled on that plane together.]

[rassera]

[Kaneda doesn't look so hot himself. The bags under his eyes are pretty apparent, his skin numb from the cold and his body looking ready to collapse at any given moment. Hell, Jaime looks the norm right now--or as normal as one can be who just survived a week of imprisonment on a submarine.

So he's not surprised to see Jaime's state-of-being when he approaches, tissues shoved up his nose, looking way worse for the wear, sweaty hair and overall griminess. ...Eh, he's seen Joker look worse.

But what does catch him by surprise is the apparent-hostage offering HIM something. It's as if he missed the memo that he was the one who was in need of more care right now. Eyes wide, a hand mechanically extends out to take the energy drink, inspecting it like Jaime had just given him a life snake.]

You sure you don't want it?

[A squint at the writing on the can--because what is this.]

Doubt those assholes gave you guys anything down there that wasn't space food or...mackencheese.

[Or space mac'n'cheese. Probably the worst.]

[khajidont]

Yeah, I'm sure. I mean, they didn't really give us anything but mush, but I figure the guys who spent the last few days fighting instead of lying around could use it more than me.

[Jaime sets the first-aid kit on the ground in front of him to free up his hands so he can shove them into his pockets, hunching his shoulders against the chill. He's a Texas boy through and through, and this kind of chill is utterly foreign to him, but even if he's uncomfortable, he's grateful for it. Anything's better than the stale, rancid air they'd had to breathe for the past nine days, and if it takes below-zero temperatures to get some fresh air, he'll take it gladly.]

Don't get me wrong, once we get back home, I'm gonna have... oh, I dunno. A burger. Maybe some coffee.

[God, coffee. He hadn't realized how caffeine dependent he'd gotten until he was forced away from it, and quietly contemplated that he probably shouldn't be getting headaches from caffeine withdrawal.

The solution to this problem is to drink more coffee. That'll make the headache go away. He smiles, and it's crooked, a little sad, but genuine nevertheless.]

Drink it. It's gonna be a while 'til they load all of us on the plane.

[rassera]

[Well, he's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth or whatever, so he pops the tab on that energy drink and holds it, rocking on his heels. From the windburned redness on his face, he can relate to Jaime's body language--not even Nonah was this fucking cold.

But anything's probably better than that sub...]

I think there's a place that sells both. Pies too.

Apple's better than cherry--

[It's just then that he takes a sip of the energy drink, and the reaction in itself is a prize in itself. If he were a dog, his ears would have flopped all over, shaking away the carbonation of the damn thing like it exploded in his mouth. Eyes widen immediately, trying to read what's on the can.

He can't, of course. Not without the comm turned on.

BUT HELL.]

Oi, what IS this???

[khajidont]

Of course apple's better than cherry! Who out there actually wants to eat cherry pie over apple?

[Evidently spouting off the virtues of apple over cherry are Jaime's main priority at the moment from how he seems like he's about to explain exactly why that's the case, but he gets completely taken off guard by Kaneda's strange reaction to the energy drink, and he winds up giving him a slightly mystified look.]

Uh, an energy drink? You've never had one before?

[Jaime's not taking his hands from out of his pockets, so he just winds up gesturing towards it with his elbows, which looks about as odd as it sounds.]

It's to help keep you awake, 'cause it's got as much caffeine as coffee in there. More, actually.

[rassera]

The guys at the counter always try and shove em off on me just because I'm buying 15 apple. I'm buying 15 apple for a reason!

[Clearly this frustration has been building.

But the answer to the energy drink question takes over, giving it a sniff and peeking back inside it.]

It tastes like liquid American candy...

[khajidont]

Yeah, it's literally just, like, sugar and caffeine. It's super bad for your teeth, but hey, it'll keep you going forever. I usually drink 'em on all-nighters.

[Sorry, Kaneda. He wants to be a dentist when he grows up, and worked at a dentist's office for about a year. His impulse to nag people to remember to floss hasn't quite worn off yet.

He runs his tongue over his teeth, and all of a sudden, his expression grows in alarm.]

I didn't get to brush my teeth for a whole week! Ugh, that's so gross.

[rassera]

Haha! Where was this 24 hours ago?! I would've knocked out those Russians in two hours on this stuff!!

[That sounds like a well paying job with benefits and that means he has no idea what you're talking about.

No wonder you're a mom.]

Ehhhh once you get past day four it's not so bad.

[khajidont]

...please don't tell me that you go more than four days at a time without brushing your teeth when you're not, y'know, actively invading enemy territory.

[Kaneda, that's gross. That is, in fact, actively revolting. Does he need to show you what happens to people who don't brush regularly? He has instructive pictures!]

[rassera]

Well, not anymore. Think Ken--my roommate--would pop that vein in his forehead if we did. You should see it sometime, when he's mad. He'll get really silent andgive this sigh. Tell me I'm too old to be skipping out on that stuff... He's like a 40-year-old trapped in a kids body.

I wonder if his mental age goes up as he gets older....


--Anyway, that was more of a back-home thing.

[khajidont]

Good. If you didn't, I think I'd have to give you a toothbrush myself. It's not being old inside, it's just having common sense!

[Yeah, he's not moving anywhere. Jaime decides to just sprawl out on the cold, hard ground, but that's still preferable to standing around as they wait for the plane to be cleared for setting off again.]

You don't need to tell me about Ken, though. I knew him before any of you guys moved in.

[He shifts his weight onto one hand so he can stick his other out in Kaneda's direction for a handshake.]

I'm Jaime, by the way. S'nice to meet you.

1/??

[rassera]

[He's about to shake that hand, switching the energy drink from his dominant one to the other, holding it out when--]

2/??

[rassera]

[Wait.]

3/??

[rassera]

4/??

[rassera]

[Jaime.]

5/7

[rassera]

[Jaime.]

6/7

[rassera]

[JAIME?!


JAIME-SAN?! THE GUY KEN KEEPS TALKING ABOUT BUT HE NEVER ACTUALLY SEES?



HE EXISTS?


AND HE'S NOT SOME IMAGINARY FRIEND?!]

7/7 I'm so sorry

[rassera]

[Kaneda ignores that hand, grabbing Jaime by the shoulders and leaning in, squinting and putting his hand to that face.

Just...covering it completely. Making sure he's not talking to some ghost or illusion.

HI JAIME IS THIS HOW YOU WANTED TO MEET KANEDA?]

You're REAL?!

[khajidont]

[Oh god what is happening]

[khajidont]

[His personal space is being violated, and there's a hand pushing onto his face, broken nose and all. It's not hard, but it sure isn't comfortable. Why wouldn't he be real? What the heck is going on?]

[khajidont]

What is in that energy drink?

[Because that, of course, is the only easy explanation.]

[khajidont]

[Then, voice very quiet, but very firm:]

Please take your hand off my face. I'll be real whether you're touching me or not.

[rassera]

[At that, Kaneda's fingers slide down slightly, at least letting Jaime's eyes see the light of day again. They're met with Kaneda's own, squinting in curiosity as he continues to stare.]

...


Oh! Ah...whoops.

[Just...taking that hand off now.]

Sorry, just kinda thought...you know. You were Ken's imaginary friend.


Thought you'd be taller. [Even though he just said 'imaginary'.]

[khajidont]

Why would I be taller if I'm imaginary?

[Jaime asks, sounding a little plaintive. He's told plenty of times that he ought to be taller, but being told that he should be taller as an imaginary friend and not as a superhero is a first. Man, he's going to have to invest in lifts at this rate. He bet he can put them right in the suit...

Maybe another time. Instead, he's busy giving Kaneda an incredulous look, not entirely certain what to do with him.]

Wait, scratch that. Why would you think I'm imaginary in the first place?

[rassera]

I imagined Ken's imaginary friend was taller.

[As if that was like..the obvious answer. C'MON Jaime, get with the program.]

Nah but...Ken talked about you a lot, you know? And I...never saw you.


I've been here six months.