bakerstreet | Camping Meme

Camping Meme

Camping Meme

MLP Tent Set Up

Family fun, a weekend retreat, or maybe something a little more... unplanned. SOmetimes it's good to just get away from the distractions of the modern world. Leave the cellphone in the car, disconnect from the digital world and step back into good old Mother Nature.

How To:

Post your character's name & canon in the subject line.
Others go to RNG, then comment on your post!
???
Profit!

Options:

Setting Up Camp - Why the hell are there so many pieces to this tent and wait what? no no that's not how you start a fire are you trying to burn the forest down?!
Roughing it- Okay there's camping and then there's stranding yourself out in the woods with nothing but a backpack, a piece of flint, and a compass. Or maybe it wasn't you're idea and you're in need of rescuing.
Campfire Food- There's nothing like food cooked over a campfire. Or maybe you're content with just stabbing a hotdog with a stick and trying not to get it too burnt?
Fireside Tales- Something about being in the woods at night demands spooky stories told by the fire. And maybe you can wrangle someone else into helping you scare the crap out of everyone!
Great Outdoors- Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the wonder of being outside where light pollution is minimal, the forest sounds replace the noise of the city, and you can see the stars. Or maybe you just want to complain about all these bugs.
Hiking Trails-On foot, on horseback, or on mountain bike, these are the best way to see what there is to see. Just make sure you stay on the path.
Plant Identification-No, those berries are totally safe to eat... right? And... hold on... is that poison ivy?
The Rich Life-Now this is camping. An RV that costs almost as much as your house, running water, TV, AC... what do you mean that's not really camping?
Wildlife Encounters- What was that? Did you just see a fox? Or was that a bear you heard? Or maybe you're looking for something a bit easier to roast like rabbits or fish. Just watch out for snakes.
Inclement Weather-How are you supposed to set up a tent when it's pouring? Did you bring enough layers for the chill? Or maybe it's just unseasonably hot and you need to go jump in the river before you pass out.
The Unknown- Maybe it was all the scary stories or maybe it's just the unknown sounds that come from the forest at night but you're freaked. Or maybe... Maybe it's a Wendigo.
Wild card- Mix and match or make up your own~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Canon.]

[There's someone in his forest. It's one thing for it to be a regular old human - but this one... It felt like there was something more, there.

Considering all he had to look out for - it was important to investigate this intruder, and considering the delicate position of his kind, it was best to send someone who was not a complete moron. I.E., himself.

Umbrael, lizard king, lord of shadows, etc, etc, is stalking his own forests tonight, with an order to those lesser than him to stay indoors while daddy checks things out.

So. Who's camping out in his territory tonight?]

[Strictly speaking, Meja doesn't sleep. Valkyrie don't need to, though it was a hard new reality to square after being re-awakened. Instead, some chose to meditate every so often. Or to simply close their eyes and let their senses wander. It wasn't the same — there were no dreams — but it was close enough. Sometimes you just needed to zone out.

This evening, wandering a forest that Meja hasn't encountered before, she knows that there will be less and less for her to do as the light dies down. Nearly everything else sleeps. Eloise is handling the troops on another more important task. Her search for other information has led her here, of all places.

It's peaceful enough, though. And pleasant. Growing up somewhere without trees, you appreciate them more. Meja finds a spot against a fallen log to sit and take in the sounds of the forest around her, taking a deep breath.]

[Everything else sleeps? But there were so many things that came out to play at night. The world never slept, and if Meja stopped to listen before she breathed out, she could hear it for herself: There were bugs chirping, crawling, gnawing on wood and detritus; something quietly fluttering through the branches overhead; little furry things crawling and hunting on the forest floor; twigs snapping under the foot of a giant reptile...

Well, he was plenty stealthy, for a being of his size and stature, but he might have gotten admittedly lax, having been used to dealing with mortal, earthly things. Was it sloppy on his part to slip up while looking for a potentially powerful intruder? No, shut up, he knows what he's doing, okay.

It doesn't matter if she hears him - because it's likely she won't be lucky enough to see him. It's dark, this far into the forest - even moonlight had trouble reaching past the leaves, and all before Umbrael... helped it, a little.

Shrouded by his element, he spots her. And, he breaks another twig, stepping closer, but who cares? This is his domain. He's in charge.]

[It isn't very often that Meja is allowed to be by herself, like this. So much so that she often forgets about the sounds of the night, and the creatures who scurry under it. Most of the time, her thought is of the creatures who scurry there who want to put a dagger through her back.

She hopes no Dökkálfar are here, because she's really not in the mood to deal with Dark Elves. But even if they are, they have a habit of underestimating her; she's not terribly worried.

Meja hears a twig or two snap, but doesn't open her eyes just yet. Her energy is quiet, peaceful, relaxed. It's the twigs that she's losing her senses in. And the rustling of the leaves, and the sound of the wind through branches. As a mortal, she couldn't afford to be this lax. But she can hear that this forest has a great deal of life to it, and she doesn't want to disturb any of it with movement. Not unless she has to.]

[He can catch her scent. She looks human - but there's more than that. He may not be exactly familiar with the styles and trends of humanity, but he can at least see that her outfit is on the warrior side of things. There's a smell similar to the air before lightning strikes - something elemental, he's sure. ~~It makes him think of Aerael.~~

There's only so much information he can glean from watching, though, in his opinion. And while she is not human, he is confident that if his shadows fail to hide him (and he's certain they won't), they will be able to defend him.]

Who are you?

[His voice is a hiss, as much showmanship as it is side-effect of speaking human words through an inhuman mouth. The source may be hard to pinpoint - he keeps his head moving under the cover of darkness, but in general it comes from her left.]

[Meja opens her eyes again, not moving — but her eyes scan what's in front of her. She's cautious, not wanting to make any rash decisions about who may be talking about her. It's not a voice that she recognizes. If Fenrir were in the forest, he would have made his presence known by now. And his voice is more of a growl.]

My name is Meja.

[She pauses. There are swords strapped to her back, and it's easy for others to be on the defensive when they see her like that.]

I mean you no harm.

[He chuckles, as he starts to circle her, walking around her back.]

I've heard that one, before.

[He stops again. The humour is gone, but not the skepticism.]

What are you doing here, Meja? You've gone out of your way just to take a nap.

[She's heard it, too, but her voice is earnest, at least. Meja takes a long, calming breath before she answers. It's hard to say what she's being stalked by.]

I'm only moving through. And not napping. I don't sleep. Or hurt anyone, unless I'm forced to — to defend myself, or others.

[Maybe she should hold that sleeping one back, because that's not normal at all. But you can interpret it several different ways, at least.]

With whom am I speaking?

[Perhaps it is open to interpretation, but combined with that scent, he's got some theories already, let's say. Well. One: Not human. Maybe he should be more interested in that (he can hear his brother nagging him about it already), but he doesn't need to know what she is, beyond whatever's related to her motivation.]

And that's not the first time I heard that, either. It's meaningless until I know what you think others need defending from.

[You may be aware that 'dragons' don't often have happy endings in the northern legends. Well, in whichever ones survived.

Which brings us to Meja's next question:]

I happen to be a very powerful, very old spirit. And you happen to be armed and 'moving through' my kingdom, so I ask again: why are you here?

[Meja wonders, vaguely, if she's found the burrow of a very hissy lawyer. She'd always suspected that they crawled out from under rocks. Still, the person she's conversing with has a very real concern, she supposes. Meja isn't a creature to be messed with, if riled — though it takes quite a bit to rile her, and she really prefers violence as a last resort.

On the other hand, pulling out the very powerful and very old card doesn't get you any ground with her. She's been dealing with such creatures even when she was mortal. The gods like to pull it out, in particular, and she can't stand it when they do.

But she keeps her tone neutral, and calm.]

I'm resting. If you're looking for a more nefarious purpose, I'm afraid you'll not find one, spirit. But if I've disturbed you, and you wish me to leave, I will do so. It was not my intention to bother anyone.

[She pauses.]

My weapons are only for my own protection. Given the questions you're asking me, I'm sure you understand.

[If you can't stand it when people pull out the 'old and powerful' card, then boy you are going to love Umbrael!

But being unbothered and sounding calm is a good way to go against Umbrael - it gives him less to get obnoxious about. Plus, the more they keep to business, the faster this will be over.]

[He's quiet, at first, but he eventually huffs. Her reaction to the 'old and powerful' title is a little troubling - she's either overconfident, or familiar with old and powerful things. He starts walking again.]

Fair enough. I'll give you that for the swords.

[The thing is: his kind are in a very precarious place right now. While she sounds earnest and calm and neutral and so on, he's not feeling as generous with his territory borders as he was a few thousand years ago.

On the other hand, he doesn't want to draw more attention to his kind than necessary. Whether that means easing up and letting Meja pass without difficulty, or going through the effort of turning her away depends on something else.]

I'm a little curious about where they're from, though.

[And by extension, where she's from.]

[He's stopped in front of her. While he's still in the shadows - if there's the light for it, the glint of his red eyes may be visible through them.]

[The Valkyrie peers carefully in front of her, trying to make sense of what she's seeing. A Draugr, who could easily turn itself to smoke, wouldn't stop to have a chat; it would be attacking her. Especially Meja, who can deal with Draugr in a way most others can't. But this... doesn't look like it was once human. Things old enough usually aren't.

It gives his words credence, at least, and her calm tone remains.]

My swords were made in the Realm called Asgard. They're rune blades.

[There's a bit of a pause as Umbrael chases down his memories on what Asgard is and everything with it. He gets it, and his eyelids droop to a 'really?' kind of expression.]

Asgard.

[Said flatly. He rolls his eyes, and his tone of voice is suddenly a lot less controlled and even.]

Fantastic. You can't swing a stick without hitting human mythos, can you?

[He shakes his head, and lowers it enough so his eyes are level with Meja's.]

To have otherworldly weapons, you must either be a very special human, or something else.

[Have we ruled out the former yet? His tone might suggest he has - oh wait, nevermind, he doesn't care. It shouldn't matter where she's from... But considering the last few things that had come out of Asgard and associated realms, you'll forgive him for his... reaction. Right?]

Humans have very little to do with Asgard.

[Meja points it out a touch wryly, but she doesn't really mind. The Aesir and perhaps even the Vanir would object to be compared to humans, or for someone to accuse them of being invented by them somehow. But Meja thinks they're a bunch of petulant children who don't know how to share — with a few exceptions.

Not that she can say this aloud. Not to Umbrael, at least. Technically, very technically, she serves the King of Asgard. It doesn't look good to insult your King.]

But yes, I was once human. I died in battle, and was remade as you see me now — as a Valkyrie.

[Normally she might say that she was human "a long time ago," but only to a human. If Umbrael is as old as he says, than 700 years might just be a hop and skip.]

["Petulant children who don't know how to share", once again, you have nailed the behaviour of the gods, Meja!

To demonstrate this further - Umbrael bursts out laughing.]

Little? Are you trying to tell me that your - Æsir is it? Or other magical 'non-humans' up there have no interest in humans?

[He leans in again, this time enough that some of his scales manage to catch the light, and maybe the little spikes over his eyes, too.]

Obviously, there must be a bit of interest, Valkyrie.

[Soldier? Scout? Or is it too early or late in the game for paranoia? He hadn't actually caught her doing more than relaxing, but the 'other realm' thing is putting him on edge.

(In fairness to Meja, 700 years was long, even for the mortals of his kind. But, well, not to him.)]

Edited 2013-10-21 05:06 (UTC)

[She's been around — noticed a few things. Dealt with more than her fair share of gods.]

The Aesir? No, not really. They're not all that fond of humans. They delegate dealing with Midgard to other parties. Namely, myself.

[Which suits Meja fine, since she likes most people and she used to be one. She's just a touch more qualified than an Aesir. Any Valkyrie is.]

And by dealing with it, I mostly mean... watching.

[Or gathering information on possible threats to it, which is what she was attempting to do here. Obviously this is a bit of forest that's much more remarkable than it seemed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Camping Meme

Meja » OC » OTA

11 kind of (though technically 9, too, since he's wildlife)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject