Day 276 [Action, Open]

[cyan_maid]

Who: Jane Crocker and YOU!
Open: Open
When: Day 276, in the morning
Where: Around the Monument
What: How exactly does this Skyway thing work? Jane wants to know!
Format: Action
Warnings: None

[Donut trees, entire buildings, chocolate jerky cows...it was entirely ridiculous, and yet all of it Jane had seen with her own eyes. Their existence and the powers of the shards had bothered her more with every new thing she came across, and now she wanted to test it out for herself...but to do that, she'd need her own shards.

From the Skyway.

Though she'd come from there, just like everyone had, it was safe to say that she was hesitant to return for any amount of time. She knew there were supposedly monsters, and that the amulet she'd been given would help make paths for her to walk on, but that wasn't much to go on. If Jane was going back into that place, she wanted to be prepared, and where better to find folks who frequented the Skyway than the Monument that turned their shards into things? So that's where she is, approaching all who pass by to ask,]

Excuse me, but what do folks usually bring along with them to the Skyway if they want to look for shards?

Comments

[notachickenhawk]

<No, that's a different one, called an Andalite.>

[... Like Betty Crocker? But he doesn't say that. Even though he really wants to.]

<It's okay.>

[cyan_maid]

[Yeah you might not be ready for the can of worms that is Betty Crocker and Jane, Tobias. It's a mighty strange can of worms.]

Huh! How many aliens do you happen to have met before? I've only met one kind in person, even counting the Bastion, but I did communicate with another.

[notachickenhawk]

[It is just not worth the trouble.]

<A lot. The Yeerks - that's the slugs - relied on host bodies, and Earth wasn't exactly the first planet they tried to conquer.>

[cyan_maid]

[Maybe some other time.]

Slug aliens? Er...I don't think I want to know how they got their host bodies if they're slugs.

[notachickenhawk]

<Oh. Yeah. The Andalite gave us the ability to morph to fight back against them. And they crawl into the ears of their hosts. Apparently it doesn't hurt but I don't exactly want to find out.>

[cyan_maid]

[Jane wrinkles her nose and shivers as she rubs at one of her ears. Eugh. Nope, definitely not down for that.]

I would definitely have to agree with you there. Golly, I'm glad I've never had to meet anything like that.

[notachickenhawk]

<Yeah. It's... easier here.>

[Though there's still a lot of people he wishes were here too.]

[cyan_maid]

[She hums, frowning a little.] I...suppose it is. I mean, no one has to go out and fight unless they want to.

[It'd be nice if there were more people Jane knew here, too.]

[notachickenhawk]

<Yeah. I mean, it's not perfect... but we're all trying to help each other, at least.>

[cyan_maid]

In this sort of situation, I don't see why we shouldn't.

[A pause.] Say...have you been in the Bastion very long?

[notachickenhawk]

<... A while. Why?>

[cyan_maid]

Just wondering.

...Does it get easier? To, um, to be here, I mean?

[notachickenhawk]

<In some ways. Sometimes you wake up and you think things are normal. Sometimes you wake up and... wonder where other people are. It's easier to distract yourself, but... I won't say you stop wondering about the people you haven't found yet. ... Who might not have made it.>

[cyan_maid]

[A sigh. Jane folds her arms in front of her.] I see.

Sorry, that was an odd question to ask, wasn't it? Especially when you've only just met someone.

[notachickenhawk]

<No, it's not. It's an understandable question. Don't beat yourself up over it.>

[cyan_maid]

[She frowns and hums.] If you insist.

[notachickenhawk]

<It's okay.>

[He spreads his wings and floats down towards her, landing in the grass in front of her.]

<Were you heading out today, or waiting for a while?>

[cyan_maid]

I was...but maybe I'm not quite prepared to go yet, from the sound of things.

[notachickenhawk]

<If you want, we could just go out a little ways. Just so you get a sense of it. Not anywhere that we can't see the Bastion.>

[cyan_maid]

[Jane's quiet for a second, her mouth hanging open in surprise.]

Oh - oh, wow, you mean it? I'd really appreciate that, if you don't mind!

[notachickenhawk]

<Sure. How are you going to get comfortable with it if you don't try it out?>

[He lets out an amused little squawk. He wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it.]

[cyan_maid]

Hoo, that's true! Alright, then, let's do it!

[She's always got to check, though. This place is still a little unbelievable around the edges.]

[notachickenhawk]

[Tobias flaps to gain a little altitude, and wheels around a bit as they head towards the Skyway.]

<I'll let you know if I see anything coming, but it's usually just Squirts that get close.>

[cyan_maid]

[Yes! Onward to the Skyway!]

What are Squirts, exactly?

[notachickenhawk]

<They're kind of comma shaped. They're baby versions of the Gasfellas, which are younger versions of Windbags. They'll run into you - they won't hurt that much, but they're annoying in swarms. There's Peckers, too, which are basically just birds.>