exploration mingle: CAPTIVITY

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: exploration mingle: rescue mission!
when: June 15 - August 15
where: The River Structure
warnings: violence and/or torture; please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

captivity

One of the major and most highly-valued cultural concepts in Riverview is that of exploration, expansion. Especially now that, with the recent influx of new arrivals, as the portal kicks into high gear for reasons not entirely known, the Inhabited City, already comfortably full, is rapidly becoming overpopulated. With all the refugees from other worlds pouring in from day to day, the city's safe space and resources are being taxed to their breaking point.

Right now, exploration and expansion is key, and each month, the government has decided to focus on a particular objective, in order to unite citizens in expanding, securing, and supplying the city for everyone's benefit.

the story so far

Exploration & Expansion Progress Report ● The Guardians of the Deep ● What Lies Beneath ● Plotting & Questions

After some serious flooding at the banks of the river, the cause was discovered to be the Guardians of the Deep, creatures protecting a circular labyrinthine structure underneath the river. Residents of the city explored and mapped the structure, and dealt with a good portion of the traps and other dangers, until they found a little piece of history in the Central Chamber of the structure, revealing that it was inhabited by the first people to live on the moon.

While this news has been exciting scholars and historians in the city, something a little more pressing has been bothering the average citizen - an ever-increasing number of missing persons. People have simply been disappearing all over the city, and only now are residents starting to realize why...

how it works

● Phases: Each prompt is a different phase of the operation. Characters may partake in whichever part of the operation they choose, whether it is a large and prominent part, or a more of a backseat or support role. Characters may participate in as many phases as they wish.

● Completion: When next month's exploration mingle goes up, the mission featured on this exploration mingle will be considered complete, and game canon, providing the entry has 200+ comments on it.

● Entry Reward: The reward for completion of this month's exploration objective will be...well, the safe return of everyone who was kidnapped. And some sweet hurt/comfort.

● IMPORTANT NOTE: Having observed how the pacing of exploration mingles has been going and how they are tagged, I have noticed that posting one exploration mingle each month has been a little hectic, both plotwise and for me as a mod (writing three mingles a month has been tough!). I have decided to space them out a bit further, and post an exploration mingle once every two months, starting with this one - the next exploration mingle will be posted in August!

phase i: the abducted

People don't simply go missing, they don't disappear into thin air, they have to be somewhere. And while those who are missing people keep frantically searching, those who have been kidnapped are the only ones besides the kidnappers who do know where they are.

Abducted by a group who have taken up residence in the structure under the city after last month's exploration died down, the missing are trapped in the Central Chamber, in fear of the kidnappers. Their abductors are a group of people that is starting to slowly take on cultist tendencies, believing that the remaining spirits of the First People still live in the structure, that it is a temple, and that those First People need offerings of host bodies to inhabit so they can return and bring their wisdom and magic back to the moon. Things are getting a little hairy - there's no agreement among the kidnappers as to how 'intact' the host bodies have to be and whether or not the sacrifice is in the form of alive or dead captives. Even worse, some of the kidnappers are only with the group to enjoy having power over others and using it to hurt them.

Captives are held in the Central Chamber of the structure, with next to no amenities. Blankets, food, water, and other necessities are in short supply, and they are kept huddled together, constantly guarded and either restrained, wearing or in the presence of a power suppressor to keep them subdued. But the captives haven't lost hope - they are working on getting a message out, finding a way to contact the outside world so their loved ones can rescue them...

This prompt is to play out interactions among the captives before they are rescued, and may include violence or other character suffering. It is also to enact plotted plans for the abductees to find connections with the outside world to summon help.

phase ii: distraction and infiltration

Once would-be rescuers become aware of where the captives are being held, they start making plans to rescue them - whether someone they love has been taken, they're just a good person, or they just want to feel like a big damn hero, there are lots of people willing to take the plunge and jump into the rescue. But the cult group has been in control of the structure for a while now, they definitely have the home team advantage. They know the lay of the land and where the traps are, and have used some of them to their own advantage.

It's not going to be as easy as storming the castle.

There are two parts to this phase of the rescue: a distraction and an infiltration. Distractions are planned to draw as many of the kidnappers away from the hostages being held in the Central Chamber as possible, while those who are stealthily infiltrating will try to find another entrance into the chamber so they can surprise and surround the remaining kidnappers.

This prompt is to play out any plans for distraction and infiltration. If you have plotted something out on the plotting post, feel free to post up a header for specific groups for threading rather than an individual character top-level.

phase iii: the brawl and after

Distractions only last so long, unfortunately, and so eventually the whole thing is going to break down into a big fight. Rescuers versus kidnappers, on the kidnappers' home turf, and surrounded by traps left over from the First People, while pieces of stationary tech throw out auras and waves of power suppression. It's going to be a doozy of a fight, so prepare for an epic throwdown!

And once the dust settles, there's going to be a lot of injuries to tend to, a lot of people traumatized and hurt and frightened. A lot of hungry, suffering people will need to be transported out, given medical care, and brought supplies.

This prompt is to play out the final fight between the kidnapping cult and the rescuers, as well as anything in the aftermath of the fight.

phase iv: wildcard

Have an idea for a mission-adjacent plot, or want to make up an unexpected plot twist or problem and solve it with your character? Just write up a starter, and don't forget to give yourself props by submitting it for the Progress Report.

navigation
[Asterion - Environment Art: Ariadne's Forest by Nicolas Mendoza]

Comments

[winscenario]

[ Jim would agree, it's a skill that everyone should have. Granted, he was an asshole more than just sassy, but point is he never really knew when to shut his mouth. To this day he doesn't regret any of it, even if he pushed too far at times, and it earned him some well-aimed (and well-deserved) blows.

He has to appreciate it on Billy. The grin gets a smile out of him, amused despite the circumstances. ] I'll take that as a compliment.

[ Not that it means much, because he takes everything as a compliment. Or tries to, anyway. ]

I can't take both of you in one go, but— how about I get you out first, then I come back here and look for him?

[wiccant]

( jim kirk voted prettiest fever dream by witches everywhere. he doesn't want to leave here with others still stuck, but--the collar makes him near-useless, he's not doing anything to help, and his presence isn't assisting anyone. )

It's--definitely a compliment. ( another breath in, steadying, and billy tries to get shaking legs under him. it--doesn't work well for him. ) If we can get this thing off, 'll find him.

[winscenario]

[ Jim can't fault Billy for that. In his place, he wouldn't want to leave while others were still stuck down here. But they have to start somewhere, and Jim has no intentions of leaving everyone else down here. He'll keep coming back until everyone is freed.

Luckily for Billy, his reflexes are sharp, so when he wobbles while trying to get to his feet, Jim catches his weight. ] I can— I have someone here with me who can take it off, I mean. Just... not really sure where he went off to.

[ They split up in hopes of getting people out faster, even though Jim knew it'd be a risk to be walking around on his own, without the protection of Loki's illusions. ]

[wiccant]

( it's times like these when he misses being able to magically fix almost everything with the flick of his fingers. there's also the lovely distraction of this is captain jim kirk and man were all of loki's comments about him being pretty entirely accurate. like, billy's seen him but not this up close and that's such a better thing to focus his attention on than death and despair and watching people slowly fade into nothing and the warden that's haunted nightmares for years but hasn't felt this close in forever.

his weight presses down against kirk, taking a breath. )

I trust you. ( to take him to get this thing off, get him out of here, for space adventures, you know. ) Which way's out?

[winscenario]

[ If focusing on him and how pretty he is helps Billy stay calm and focused in the present, then Jim certainly doesn't mind being the focus of his attention. It really won't help things along if Billy starts panicking about their current predicament. ]

Thank you. [ He doesn't even know him, as far as he knows. But Jim feels confident that he can be trusted, so. ] It's a bit of a stretch— and we'll have to lurk around a little, to avoid anyone seeing us. [ With Loki's illusions, it was easier to move around. As it is, they'll have to make do on their own. ] Come on, I'll carry you.

[ With that, he carefully lifts Billy's weight up, one arm curled around his shoulders while the other hooks underneath his legs. ]

[wiccant]

( if you can't trust a space captain who can you trust. billy is more than used to being picked up and lugged around, so he adjusts easily enough when jim picks him up, an arm wrapping around a neck just in case.

but he settles easily enough. tilts the non-bruised side of his face into a shoulder with a soft, pained hiss. )

I swear I'm not usually this useless, ( it's whispered soft, keeping his voice down to avoid anyone looking at them weird, but staying quiet is also just a little too hard. ) if it wasn't for this stupid--collar we wouldn't be stuck down here.

( teleportation comes in handy, the ability to fuck shit up is even better. god, even without the collar, he's not--sure if he'd have the mind to after everything. )

[winscenario]

[ His main concern had been hurting Billy somehow, or making an injury worse. So it helps that he settles in as comfortably as he can manage, and Jim adjusts to whatever position seems to work best for him. ]

It's alright. [ Jim reassures him. He doesn't mind doing the carrying, and it's not like Billy's particularly heavy. And Jim may not have Vulcan strength or anything, but he does pack some muscle. ] Those collars are the reason why they've managed to bring so many of you down here.

[ And even without the collars, there seem to be power suppressors set up all around the compound. Jim's guessing they're not as effective as the collars, though. Maybe something to do with proximity.

He hears footsteps coming down the hallway, and he quickly looks around, finding a dark nook for them to hide in. It's a tight fit but he manages to hide them both in the shadow. He hopes so, anyway. ]

[wiccant]

( bruised ribs are a pain especially when cradled but it's--fine. billy's dealt with worse, he can handle that. he's scrawny for his size, doesn't weigh much at all. being the team's mage comes with advantages and disadvantages; he's smaller, doesn't need the muscle, but doesn't have much of it either.

being carried by captain jim kirk is basically living a dream anyway. that helps block out all the gross, terrifying shit that's happened lately. and when they tuck into a nook he curls in closer, tries to huddle up as best as he can to keep from being seen.

his whispers are soft, trying to keep from being heard. )

Loki told me he was an honorary member of your crew. ( smalltalk is easy. keeps from letting the quiet settle too deep. ) Don't suppose you're looking for crewmates down here.

[winscenario]

[ Jim holds in his breath without even realizing it as a pair of guards walk past their hiding place. Billy ends up being the one breaking the silence, and he breathes out in relief once the guards turn another corner and are out of sight.

He raises an eyebrow and looks down at Billy, smiling a bit. ] Loki's told you about me? [ A beat, ] You a fan, too?

[ Once the hallway's cleared, Jim steps out of the shadow and resumes their path towards the exit. He takes each turn slowly and quietly, making sure no one's in the way. ]

[wiccant]

More than I'm ever going to admit out loud. ( if he was less exhausted even that would be a bit Too Much to say directly to jim's face, but. with all the weariness seeping in and how long it's been since he ate he doesn't really give a shit what comes out of his mouth right now.

later maybe he will. ) He. . uh, offered you a room a while ago, in the Sanctum. The room he offered was mine. I--don't use it often anyway so I didn't mind.

[winscenario]

I think you just did. [ Sorry to break it to you, man. But for what it's worth, Jim loves having fans. He doesn't make too big a deal out of it, but it doesn't bother him in the slightest, and he doesn't think it's silly or embarrassing. It's kinda cute, actually. ]

Huh. [ He nods, glancing down briefly as they walk across an empty area. ] You're Billy.

[wiccant]

( what rumors has loki been spreading about him he's not too sure he wants to hear them, actually. those sound dangerous. he's already approximately 75% embarrassed, raising his free hand to cover his face and being careful not to press too hard against the banged up side. )

Most days. ( some days he's not very himself at all. right now he wishes he wasn't. at least having his attention shifted onto being an embarrassment to society definitely took it off of. the whole trying to escape an underground tunnel bit. )

[winscenario]

[ Actually Loki hasn't said much about him, so that's— good?? At least Jim will be building his own impartial opinion. Although knowing he's close to Loki is already good enough to paint Billy in a good light in his eyes. ]

Know how you feel. [ He hums. Some days he's not really sure who he is, or who he's supposed to be. Here, not so much. Back in his world, though, it was hard at times, telling apart which parts of him weren't seen under his father's shadow.

But chitchat can wait, until Jim gets Billy to safety, and everyone else is out of here, the captors dealt with. Jim stops at the start of a dark tunnel, listening carefully for voices or footsteps. Satisfied that they won't run into anyone, he heads down that way. ]

[wiccant]

( not so sure if the impartial opinion without loki's influence is much better, honestly. billy's good enough at making a fool of himself without any assistance. and getting princess carried out of a cave probably isn't the best way to get introduced to one of your tv heroes, but being princess carried by jim kirk is still pretty great. even if he's an anxiety-filled mess, at least that helps a bit.

he's quiet when they're waiting around corners, brows furrowed as he listens in to try and scope out any danger. this would--be so much easier without the collar, without the area suppressors. the tunnels themselves are fucking terrifying considering all the shit he's seen down here, been through. a cheek presses into jim's shoulder, letting silence fall for a moment before he gives a: )

You're, like, even more prettier up close which is really weird.

[winscenario]

[ In the current situation, what Jim thinks of him, or having to carry him like this, really should be the least of his worries. But for what it's worth, Jim thinks it's only normal. The fact that Billy's this aware and responsive is already impressive enough, considering how some people have been treated down here. ]

You choose very inopportune times to hit on me, you know. [ Okay, he's teasing back a little. Seems to keep Billy pretty distracted though, that's a good thing. ] Why's it weird?

[wiccant]

( he's been tortured, before. driven to the brink of himself, where he almost fell off and became something else. something much, much more terrifying. but billy's entire Thing depends on being able to remain as close to of sound mind as is possible regardless of how shit a situation is. without being able to keep hold of himself, he'd be--much, much more dangerous.

wanda's only proof of the kind of shit he could pull if he didn't keep a good grip on himself. )

Bad timing's one of my many skills. ( tone a little dry; he's being sarcastic, keeping an eye up on jim. ) Usually you see a guy from a distance and think "woah, that's one amazingly hot guy" but up close? A giant zit on their nose. Or something. . Not with you.

[winscenario]

[ It is pretty impressive, then, that he can stay this calm. The people he's carried out before were either passed out or panicking in his arms, about the kidnapping, their powers being suppressed, or a mix of both. Billy's almost mellow by comparison. ]

Not wrong about that. [ What. It is bad timing. ] I've never had a zit in my life. Sported a few bruises and broken noses before, so there's that.

[ The corridor is darker the further in they go, and Jim slows down when he nearly scrapes Billy's leg against the wall. ] Think you can hold up my flashlight? It's in my back pocket. I— can't see where we're going.

[wiccant]

I'm jealous. My face's been--like this enough, but it also had the really inconvenient bouts of acne. ( why is he talking about skin problems with captain jim kirk. today is really just not his day.

the question earns a soft hum--he can. figure that out. legs curl in a little closer when his shoe hits against the wall, one hand leaving jim's neck to slide down and grab onto the flashlight. )

No broken fingers, they'll definitely regret that later.

[winscenario]

Don't say that. You're cute. I'm sure a bit of acne didn't ruin that. [ What an old concept, though. Acne's not an issue that has plagued human teens for a while now, in his world.

He adjusts Billy's weight as he moves, an eyebrow raising as the light shines on the pathway and he manages to see where he's going. ]

What can you do with your fingers? [ That would probably be wildly suggestive if not for context. ]

[wiccant]

Aw, thanks. ( this is the most amazing way to counteract trauma, honestly. getting called cute by captain kirk and being carried out of tunnels in his arms. one day he'll definitely brag to loki about this--stupid overly heavy asgardians who weigh like half ton and are definitely too much to carry. that's what he gets.

eyes close as they make their way, trying to will himself into relaxing a bit more. )

Magic. I--do the same kind of stuff Loki does, ( is probably the easiest way to explain, chaos magic wielders and all. ) just with less finesse.

[winscenario]

[ If Billy really wants to go that route, then he needs to prepare himself, because when it comes to Jim Kirk, Loki has a pretty big list of things he can brag about. They've been friends for a while, now. Loki even owns one of his old sweaters. (Still smells like him, probably.) ]

No one can really match Loki's finesse, [ He says with an amused huff and a grin. ]

[wiccant]

Yeah. ( at least this is easier to talk about. they're not talking about what's happening around them, what happened, the amount of people who still need a ride out down below. after the nonsense that happened with loki, it's--weird he's the safe topic. )

Especially his finesse with bending reality around his fingers. I'm a little jealous, really.

[winscenario]

Don't tell him that. He will preen. [ Jim snorts, his tone teasing, clearly all too familiar with how Loki works. ] You're not so bad, either. Don't you let it get to your head. Besides, he's got thousands of years and several lifetimes of practice. Bit unfair to compare yourself to that.

[ The tunnel starts to open up, some light filtering through from up ahead. Jim can feel the cool breeze of the night air, and he sighs in relief. ] We're almost there. [ He just hopes there are no cultists guarding the entrance. ]

[wiccant]

And I've got--what, four imprisonments now on my record? ( four times he's been caught, this makes thrice he's been depowered. four times? maybe his count's off. it's--not looking good for him regardless. billy hasn't been able to keep himself up and--sure, loki's got a few of those under is belt, but nonesomuch as billy has in his two years of being out on the hero stage.

none of that's important right now. ) Thanks. For this. For--getting me out of here.

[winscenario]

You're keeping count? [ There's a trace of amusement and surprise in his tone. Jim doesn't even keep track. Some situations can't quite be called 'imprisonment' either, but point is, he's no stranger to them. Happens sometimes, in his line of work. What can you do. ]

Don't mention it. [ A pause, ] Or buy me a drink later. Whichever.

[ Right now he just wants to make it through the door. Figurative door. He stops near the last corner, taking a peek around it. There are three cultists there, chatting and fairly distracted while they keep guard. He motions for Billy to be quiet, and he sets him down so he can grab his phaser and knock them out without hopefully raising any alarms. ]