[open] Salvage and squeeing on the shore

[birdlady]

Who: EVERYBODY IT'S A LAKE PARTY
What: Clean-up! Chao rescue service! Other stuff! Open log!
Where: The lake
When: March 9-15
Warnings: Let's hope the lake Gyarados isn't pissed off about the spaceship that landed in its house...

Just as she said, Melia was at the shore of the lake in the early afternoon, already directing her bodyguards around the scattered, remaining pieces of the Egg Carrier littering the ground. What she really wanted to do, though, was find those Chao. It was a bit selfish of her, she thought, to be more concerned about finding the cute critters than cleaning up the lake, but she did have a good reason. She had to make sure they were all right in the aftermath.

And she wanted to pet one. Or all of them.

((This is a catch-all 'do stuff at the lake' log! Go nuts!))

Comments

All of the days

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Connor remembered these creatures, he had seen them when he was newer in this town. Now that he was here for now more than two, Connor had actually wondered where these had been. On the Egg Carrier, no doubt, or so he figured.

This was his favorite spot, where he could be alone with his thoughts. Where he felt like he was most in his own habitat. Now it was littered with the dirty pieces of Eggman's filthy machine. Since he had responsibility for this, and because it was his job naturally, he was here cleaning up the lake of parts.

Come to think, he was surprised there were other people here. Some merely took care of the Chao, others cleaned. Most did both things. Even Connor himself was seen with the Chao sometimes. In all of the days, he was either very meticulous about the cleaning, rescuing or reassuring Chao, or even cleaning with one or more Chao hanging out on his broad shoulders; and he was perfectly okay with that.

You decide what you saw.

[alouest]

What Clear saw was something related, but quite a bit... different. Among cleaning efforts and teamwork from facility and students alike across the board did something stand out, marked aqua against tender browns. With a jolt from his spot — attempting to carry off a buried hunk of aluminum, natch — he'd stopped the figure with urgency.

"Ah, sir, watch out!" He pointed right for his back, where one little creature, its mood sphere shaped into a pleased heart, clung to his clothing. There was no telling if it was going to let go, like... ever.

"On your back! The Chao-san is on your back!" It was drooling all over his top. Gross.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

This was probably the twentieth Chao who decided to latch on to him as he worked today. His ears perked when he realized someone was yelling at him. It was the strange man over yonder, one who was kind enough to help. Hello, there, and yeah he noticed the Chao hanging out on his back. To which Connor calmly responded by holding his hand up.

"It is fine," Connor said. "It is not doing anything wrong."

He was so chill about them hanging around.

[alouest]

"Eh? Really?" He was okay with that? Granted, he agreed — he's had Chao hanging off of him day in and day out — but he hadn't the idea that everyone else took so kindly to them. In a way, it had all worked out, even in the midst of Clear's brief moment of panic.

"Well, then! That is very good! Yes, very good!" An enthusiastic clap of his hands later, he added, "Though, I don't know if it will be easy to clean with him on your back or not. We must be careful not to hurt the Chao-san!"

Insistently, Clear began to peer over in front of him, seeking any scattered debris. "Please don't worry, sir. I will help you!"

[mohawk_tomahawk]

"They are fairly light," Connor insisted, lifting a hand in protest. "Really it is fine, they are harmless. I have gotten used to it."

One of the Chao just then crawled onto his head, cozy. Yeah, they seemed to be fine.

Used to Chao? Yeah. However, he also had a hoppy and energetic bird on his shoulder too. He was used to working around with things hanging around. But this weird man insisted on help. Well, this was a lot of work.

A lot of students were surprisingly helpful and it was one of the few times in which he was openly accepting the trouble.

"If it is no trouble...thank you. There is a lot of damage."

[alouest]

"Yes, yes!" Quickly had Clear concurred in his usually exuberant fashion. With frantic nodding, he added, "And what if the Chao-san are still under the rubble? That would be awful! Any one of them could have been hurt! Or— Or maybe, some of the Pokemon have been hurt, too?" Perish the very thought!

"We must work quickly!" Determined as could be, he returned to hefting a large piece of the carrier's hull over his shoulder. "Not just for them, but... I don't think the trees will be very happy about the mess, too. Trees can't clean up either. Grandpa told me that trees are alive, you know. They live and breathe and eat like we do."

With a sudden pause had he jolted out of his little reverie, the beady lenses of his gas mask facing Connor once more. "Oh! Also, my name is Clear, sir! Please excuse me. It's just, this is all very scary, and I've only just arrived myself..."

Even his meteor ride hadn't caused this much damage...

[mohawk_tomahawk]

What a strange man, a man who was right but he still acted rather eccentric. At least to Connor, anyway. Maybe it was just how he handled himself and his actual demeanor. He decided that maybe it was best not to remark on the bit about the trees. Because, well, he thought everyone knew that trees were alive. But then again, maybe he didn't. Maybe he was from a world without trees. What a cruel world, but who really knew?

"It will be better for everyone the sooner we clean this up," Connor replied. "I have not seen any under any rubble, but with extra help, we can scout the area to make sure."

Ah, and the name. Clear, like clear water. Okay then, that was a thing too.

"Clear, nice to meet you," Connor said with a pause, how to phrase things best with this one? "...Welcome to the Academy."

[alouest]

"Thank you, sir!" With a cheery pipe of his voice did Clear whirl around and face him properly, not even teetering with the hefty amount of debris in his arms. Why, the chunk was larger than he himself was, yet he was able to handle it with care and ease. Hoisting it over his head, he seemed to be in peril, for its weight would have surely crushed him at any moment, but he seemed perfectly capable of holding it.

"A-hup!" He dropped it onto a little pile — ahem, a large pile — that he'd been gathering. He'd take the rest of this pile all at once when he was done, bringing it to Garbodor Landfill to get everything properly disposed of. ( They were Pokemon, apparently, and very kind ones, even if a bit... smelly. )

"Ah, but you haven't told me your name yet," he realized out loud, peering at him curiously from behind the mysterious mask. "You seem kind, so I think we should be friends. The Chao-san seem to like you very, very much, too!"

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Whoa, Clear. You were going far too fast for this one. Never had he met such an eager man. It wasn't a bad thing, just a bit much for someone as calm and quiet as Connor was. He honestly didn't know how to react at all, but he knew this man meant well and was kind. That automatically deserved kindness back. But really? Even the Homesteaders, who were a kind, gentle, and very welcoming bunch, weren't so outlandishly open.

Again, not a bad thing, just not something Connor knew what to say to!

That was made even more apparent when the man lifted a piece of debris much larger than he. It was official then, this man wasn't exactly human. That wasn't supposed to be a shocker anymore.

"...Sorry. Connor," he said as he watched on over a little, curious about how he even handled himself like that, with all of that strength. Meanwhile, petting a Chao that found a way to attach to Connor's strong face.

[alouest]

Outlandish hardly even began to describe Clear. Unbeknownst to Connor, his own exuberance was nigh limitless, and not once did he ever miss a beat. His eager behavior was his forté, perhaps even the coup de grace of the populace's sanity. Alas, he remained blissfully ignorant of his exhausting shortcomings.

"It is very nice to meet you, Connor-san!" With a pleasant chirp had he accepted his presence as, quite quickly, a new friend. He set down the chunk of metal before scurrying about, dutifully taking care of whatever remaining debris existed in this particular patch before he'd move onto the next.

It was then that one of the little Chao started crying.

"Heh? Oh, no! It's okay, it's okay!" Kneeling down beside it, he noted its disgruntled mood sphere having changed into a swirl. It was distressed, but why? Surely, a nice, soothing tune would have helped it relax, but it may have had adverse effects on his surrounding company. A powerful lullaby was not the norm, nor was it sure to be welcome in a setting like this, but what if it helped?

"Ah, Connor-san! I think I will be singing for the Chao-san. I hope you don't mind," he frantically added, "but it's just that they must be sleepy. Though, it might make you a little sleepy, too..."

( something important of note that clear's singing, imbued with prototype scrap, is sometimes capable of making people drowsy against their will. whether or not this affects connor is entirely up to you, though! he's gonna... try his best not to let it. (´･v･) )

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Connor just simply looked on as the strange man continued. He still kept to himself that, well, the man was really friendly. But boy, he really had no clue what to make of this. Where did he come from? What customs did he and his family share? What kind of life did this man lead.

He had to admit, in the end of the day Clear drew him in. Connor was wicked curious and he stayed right put, just to see if he did anything else. Even if it was all out of the ordinary, Connor didn't peg him as dangerous. So everything was fine?

"I...that is fine, it will make them happier, I am sure."

He continued, and still looked on.

[alouest]

What Connor questioned was what he'd likely never know, not unless he could seek beyond what metal encased in his warm, yet lonely heart. Customs and family were, beyond basic Japanese etiquette, unfamiliar or otherwise lost. What family he did have...

Oh, how he wished he could get him back.

"Okay, then, if you feel drowsy, feel free to rest. I will take care of the rest of the cleaning, I promise!" With a chipper hum, Clear sat on his calves in the grass, hands folded politely over his lap. The Chao watched curiously as he looked on with a smile, hidden beneath the gas mask he wore constantly and without fail. With a blithe sigh, his eyes slipped shut, and his song, silky as caramel and light as champagne, filled the air.

❝ Yura, yura, yurameku,
Nami no ma ni... ❞