As with most trips, this one will start with a lengthy bus ride. Since the Swirling Storms Desert is a fair distance from the Academy, the bus will be going through a portal to An'Chiale, and then continuing south to the Swirling Storms. The trip is going to be long, expected to take around 12 hours, taking up much of a whole day. At 6am, the students line up to get on the bus, putting their luggage for the trip in the compartment underneath.
The "bus" is large enough to fit all the students on the trip. It's a horseless carriage that is much bigger on the inside than it seems on the outside, thanks to a few handy enchantments. The fabric on the roomy seats is brightly patterned, and there are some crystal screens hanging from the ceiling, which will occasionally be playing age-appropriate movies. Students may sit in pairs, but they are welcome to talk to anyone in the seats surrounding them. There is a toilet room at the back of the bus, but the bus will also be making occasional rest stops for food and bathroom breaks. You're in for a long trip - get comfortable!
You may roleplay the students on the bus as they take the long ride to the Desert. Feel free to discuss what you think the trip will entail, what your students already know about the archaeological structures of ancient Naga, or just simply have casual conversation. Interacting with people who may need an RP partner is greatly encouraged.
The next phase of the meta will begin in 4 days.
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 12:35 pm
Stowing most of her things in the compartment beneath the "bus", Anu swung herself up onto the first step and went in, halting at sight of the lush interior. At a nudge from behind she crept further in and went all the way to the back, the better to keep an eye on everyone. Saiya huffed and, after making a quick inspection, settled by the Grimm's side. Under no terms would they ever let Anu leave their sight. Anu smiled faintly and reached down to stroke Saiya between their ears. "It's okay... We'll have plenty of breaks so you can stretch out your legs." Trying to mask her own anxiety by "comforting" her familiar, she pulled out a sketchpad and writing crystal. She knew she couldn't fool Saiya, try as she might. So what better to keep her mind from fretting than sketching away?
AJ had been given more sets of clothes than he wanted, and his mother had even snuck in a suit, apparently. But when it came to taking his beloved familiars, he was told he could only have -one-. It was irritating, and it broke his heart to have to tell everyone else goodbye for the trip.
The boy did have some sense, however, and his beloved Vesper, Bravo, was the chosen one. Easily able to fit into his lap on the bus, he noticed that he'd made a good choice. He had to make sure to make everything up to his other familiars when he came back.
For now, he struggled with putting his luggage away, and then the most important pet; His seat! Quickly he chose the best one he could find; by a window, in good view of a screen, and about to the middle of the bus, closer to the front. The only piece of luggage he hadn't stowed away was his backpack, which now rested at his feet as Bravo took his spot on the young hybrid's lap.
Hopefully, he wouldn't have to have anyone sit near him with such a big fluffball there. But he was so wishfully thinking.
Backpack Contents: Smartphone, 3DSxl and several games, portable chargers for phone and game system, A wallet with a decent sum of money, a metal travel cup full of flavored water, his bunny plushie Mistur Fluffers, a sketchbook, variety of pens and pencils
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 12:46 pm
Odessa was anxious. This would be the first time she had been without Kara or Lazarus this long since she started at the Academy. Of course, she was an adult now and could easily make her own decisions. Still, the trip would cut into her job and could eventually stress them out even more with money problems, but Lazarus had assured her that it would be fine and that she should go, especially since his band would be gone for several days with a couple of shows they had going on.
Odessa hated coming home to an empty apartment when Lazarus was gone. So when she heard about the trip that the Academy was doing, she thought it was a good idea to go along since the Academy had done so many things for her. It hadn't stopped her anxiousness and excitement, however, especially now that she was boarding the carriage. She stepped into the aisle, finding an empty seat that she could plop down in with her bag at her feet. She hoped that the trip was everything she was hoping it would be.
Koiasi
Shy Cat
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Koiasi
Shy Cat
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Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 12:56 pm
Kiessi was excited to take their first trip outside of the Academy. They were looking forward to bringing home stories and souvenirs to their siblings. They weren't sure what they were going to run into while there, or what to expect, but they couldn't help but bounce in their seat just a little. They were seriously happy with how plush and comfortable the seats were, maybe they'd have to find some fabric that was similar and make some plushies to remember it.
Kiessi was leaning their head back on the rest when they noticed that some people had brought along their familiars. They thought it kind of an odd choice, being that familiars might cause the carriage to have to stop more frequently, but it really wasn't their call on the matter. Not to mention, that having a familiar face might help a lot of people calm down during such an excursion.
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 12:56 pm
- - - - He didn't WANT to go.
It was only though the insistence of his sister Sei that he even started packing at all. Shion had asked for help with packing what he needed, but in the end, he was mostly left to pack the very bare necessities. It was not going to be nearly enough for the amount of time that he'd be gone. But, with his family as apathetic as ever, and his recently re-connected father away on a trip of his own, he had no one to ask. And he wasn't going to bother strangers.
His luggage put away, Shion made his way to the back of the bus. As far back as he could, next to a window, and without a real good view of any of the screens. It was far too late, now, for him to realize he hadn't packed anything else; No books, no coloring pages, and he hadn't even grabbed his homework to work on.
With a sigh, he waited for someone to set themselves next to him. Maybe.
Cass desperately needed out of the house. He still couldn't get used to all the people being around after he and his sister were adopted. It was all too much. People that were practically strangers treating him like he was family. It made him irritated. He wanted nothing more to get away and try to make sense of all the things he was feeling, even if that meant leaving his sister behind.
Cass found an empty seat and sat down. His eyes moved toward the window, trying to imagine how far away the Swirling Sands were and what they'd do when they were there. Hopefully, it'd help him work out all the things in his head, and if not, at least it'd be fun, right?
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 1:09 pm
Suhail sucked in a breath as he watched the students and fellow chaperones board the bus. While he was looking forward to the opportunity to look after some Academy kiddos, he did still feel a bit nervous about the whole affair. Still, he stowed his luggage in the proper compartment and boarded the bus.
He found himself flowing towards the back of the bus; he'd be able to see what kids had decided to illegally stand up in their seats from there, and besides, he didn't want to accidentally take a seat from someone's friend. As he went further back, he caught a glimpse of yellow, striped ears with a familiar shape. He stopped by that seat section and looked at the girl sitting there. Fluffy arms with clawed fingers... furry legs, paws, no shoes... the resemblance was, in a way, uncanny. Was she a Grimm too? Even with the resemblance in front of him, he felt a bit uncertain.
"Excuse me," he said to the girl in the seat (though he spared a wary glance for her familiar). "I hope you don't mind if I sit here? It'll be a bit hard to get back in front." A small smile played at his lips as he looked at her. The notion of another person like him right here, on this very trip, made his heart thump.
"Hmm..?" Anu looked up from her attempt to draw Saiya to do a double-take at the sight that greeted her gaze. Another Grimm..? She didn't really spot one of her own race too often (though she almost always had her nose in a book so it's possible she just wasn't looking hard enough). "Fine by me. You'd have to ask Saiya though." A little quirk of her mouth betrayed the humor in her words as the familiar in question got up to coldly stare down the "intruder". "I've yet to see them bite anyone, if that helps." Stowing her things in her messenger bag, Anu tried to get Saiya to move out of the way. Unfortunately, it didn't look like that was going to be an easy task. With a sigh, she flopped back in her seat and pulled out a history book. "Good luck with that. The little stinker won't budge on their own. Unless you find some way to win them over..."
Sami-Fire
He's too presh lol~ heart
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 1:28 pm
Ophelia had been eager to sign up for this trip, it sounded so exciting! She'd always been in love with learning anything she could get her hands on and the Naga and Bakenekos had fascinated her when they emerged from the desert. And now she could go see it for herself!? SHE WAS SO THERE.
And now, as she stood in line to get on the bus (at 6am! No one in their right mind was up this early, she was certain), she began to wonder how many Nightmares would bump into her giant wings. She wasn't like the Fallen who could tuck their feathery wings in against their bodies. Nope. She was Fey. And as much as she loved being Fey, loved her wings and the thorny flower she bore, it could get...irritating for them to be bumped into.
But she would endure it, she knew. This trip promised to be enlightening and she was looking forward to it. She would just have to keep a careful eye out for the proximity of others.
Annie couldn't wait to take this trip. He'd heard that they were going to the desert, where an abundance of life that he hadn't yet met waited. Raleka, his mother, had even bought him a little pleather journal to take along. The Fey made his way onto the bus, careful to not whack his wings against any of the seats, and settled comfortably in a seat towards the middle. It was pretty relieving, that he was one of the first on, and would be able to pick his own seat. He'd worn a hoodie today, hoping to be as comfortable as possible on the bus ride, even though he still wore a pair of cargo shorts. He peeked into his little carry-on bag, his real suitcase stashed safely beneath the bus. In it was that journal, a crystal-powered gaming device, a library book with pictures and names of desert creatures, and - of course - the inseparable shoulder familiar, a green flitterat named Mavis.
Annie murmured to the rat, lifting her up onto his lap, where she began to scrabble up his arm. Releasing a sigh, the Fey looked out the window at the Academy they'd soon be leaving behind for a few days. Ever since he'd moved here, it had felt more and more like home every day. He tried to visit as often as he could to see his mom and the twins, but the Academy was where all of his familiars were, where he had raised them and cared for them. One day, he hoped to have acres of that.
He looked expectantly towards the front of the bus, hoping to see a familiar face come on board and choose to sit next to him.
Yushika
take your time bb!
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 1:39 pm
Nyrili felt a little silly coming on the trip and the overly sensitive part of her wondered how many of the others were thinking it was stupid for a Naga to come on the trip to the desert. She winced at her own thoughts and kept her eyes lowered as she waited to board the bus. In truth she had only signed up because she noticed Ophelia, the Fey she had a crush on, had signed up. Not that she'd ever talked to the pretty Fey with the big wings, but maybe during the trip they would. Or maybe not. Nyrili was ridiculously shy, and leaving notes in the Fey's locker during Hunter's Jubilee had been way out of her comfort zone.
But she was also interested in learning more about her own history, and seeing the ruins. She'd never been interested as a freshling and had never been to the ruins even though she'd lived in the desert they were going to. If they had any downtime during the trip, she wondered if she would have a moment to go and visit her family, but if not she could always write them and plan a visit for later.
Sprite arrived in a jovial mood, they'd been preparing for this since they first got wind of any sort of trip happening. It had taken them some self-control to not pack ten suitcases full of books and games, but thankfully, in the end, they managed to keep it down to two suitcases and a knapsack shaped like a nezubat.
Entering the bus after putting their luggage away, Sprite stood next to the entrance, adjusting their glasses and giving a smile and a wave to each new student that boarded. Although barely old enough to be in university themself, Sprite took this 'Chaperone' job VERY seriously, ready to help, guide, and protect! They'd take whatever seat was left, even though they really...really...really wanted a window seat.
Already the bus was filled with a nice variety of students, from a pair of Grimm, to a little, well-dressed hybrid who...wow. He was certainly something, wasn't he? Having to squeeze themself against the wall to avoid a pair of huge fey wings got a chuckle, and they couldn't help but be amused at those who had decided to bring familiars along.
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Note! Sprite is okay with she/her and he/him pronouns along with their preferred 'they'!
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 1:51 pm
Medication...check... tons of sunscreen check. Things to do on the bus check. Well he had everything he needed. He had said good bye to the parental units. Everything was as good as he was going to get. It was a bit nerve wracking going on a trip where he knew absolutely no one but it was such a fun opptunity that he just had to go.
Still as he stepped onto the horseless carriage, he couldn't help have a small twinge of nervousness. There was already a good chunk of people and Leto didn't know any of them. Perhaps as the trip went on he would get over his shoulder shyness but right now it was getting to the overwhelming stage, so Leto just grabbed his bag, clutching it closer to his side and took an empty seat. He could do this.
After all it wasn't like he wasn't used to walking into a room or vechile where he wasn't close to anyone. Besides it was always that first moment before you got used to everything that was the hard part... he did however cast his gaze out to the rest of the bus.
"Hmm." Suhail dug around in his pocket and pulled out a package of little vanilla cookies. He opened it up and held one cookie out to Saiya. "Would you like one?" He hoped that seeing it come straight from the package would be enough to convince both familiar and owner that there wasn't anything strange in the cookies. They were supposed to sate his munchies if his stomach started complaining between rest stops, but he was fine with sharing. He shifted his gaze from Saiya to Anukhet briefly as he said, "You can have some too, if they're willing to leave you any." He really hoped that the familiar would let him through, or he might just get stuck standing on the bus.
Stowing most of her things in the compartment beneath the "bus", Anu swung herself up onto the first step and went in, halting at sight of the lush interior. At a nudge from behind she crept further in and went all the way to the back, the better to keep an eye on everyone. Saiya huffed and, after making a quick inspection, settled by the Grimm's side. Under no terms would they ever let Anu leave their sight.
Medication...check... tons of sunscreen check. Things to do on the bus check. Well he had everything he needed. He had said good bye to the parental units. Everything was as good as he was going to get. It was a bit nerve wracking going on a trip where he knew absolutely no one but it was such a fun opptunity that he just had to go. 
