[Day 304] I want to feel the sun shine [OPEN]

[grandiflora]

Who: Rose Quartz, OPEN
Open: Open
When: 304
Where: The Rippling Walls
What: Being the leader of a rebellion isn't enough to prepare you for suddenly being in a destroyed world.
Format: action
Warnings: N/A

[Warm sun, calm beaches, the crashing of waves... Rose had woken to such things more than once in her long, long life. Sleep wasn't needed for a Gem, but even Rose could understand Amethyst's enjoyment of such a thing especially when those nights that turned in to days were spent with Greg.

This time waking came with an unexpected side effect - a pain in her head that was entirely unfamiliar - as well as a sight she wasn't expecting to see. The sky was no longer blue, but a hazy, dirty yellow with a distinct smell of dirt in the air.

Rising, Rose pressed thick fingers to her temple. The pain ebbed enough that she was able to focus her gaze on her surroundings.

... this was not the beach.

This... this was the rubble of something else entirely. Fortress? Castle? The stone used was obviously strong and meant to protect, but it was crumbling.

As was the ground around her.

In fact she wasn't even completely on ground, she was floating in the air! Her, the slab of earth she was laying on and the very walls that surrounded her! This... couldn't be Earth. There wasn't even a sign of a Warp Pad anywhere near her.

But if she was here...]

... Greg... ? ... Pearl?!

[Somewhere in the distance, a bird cried out. The only response to her worried cries.

Oh... oh. Oh, this was not good...]

Comments

[polariity]

[Half of the reason why only a bird is calling back to her is because the sole other sentient being around can't talk.]

[Funny how luck works like that.]

[In contrast to how Rose is large and towering, the Helmsman just seems like even more of a waif in comparison, still carrying the effects of not having eaten for many centuries on his body. His mismatched eyes seem all the larger in those hollow sockets as he hovers a relatively short distance away, still a few other floating rocks between them. He's cautious, still evaluating her, but noticeable enough considering his appearance.]

[grandiflora]

[She is equally cautious. There is a figure in the distance, but it's hardly familiar. Even if it has much the same build as a certain Gem she is frantically worried about, she can tell from where she stands that it is most certainly not Pearl.

And that has her on high alert.

Her sword is nowhere to be seen in the area she arrived in, so all she has is her shield, summoned a few seconds after spotting the person in the distance.

She doesn't want to fight, but if she must...]

[polariity]

[When the shield comes out, he immediately jerks back defensively- not exactly the most aggressive of actions, more reactionary than anything.]

[grandiflora]

[She keeps it somewhat loose, at her side rather than protecting her body from the front.]

Hello... ?

[Might as well see if they're friendly.]

[polariity]

[There's another pause before he starts to tentatively move closer. Gesturing his his throat, he gives a shake of his head.]

[Sorry, words aren't a thing for him.]

[grandiflora]

[Oh...

Well then.

At least he doesn't seem hostile?

She let the shield return to her gem, crouching down and launching herself in to the air.

One would expect with her size that landing in front of him would cause the hanging ground to rattle, but instead her feet touched down gracefully with barely a sound.]

Can you help me?

[polariity]

[Holy shit, that is a giant woman launching towards him.]

[The Helmsman backs up just out of reflex, wide eyed, and doesn't seem to notice the quiet landing. Considering he's floating, that might be part of the reason why.]

[At the question, he makes a vague shake of his hand. Hopefully the universal gesture for 'maybe' is still universal.]

[disciplewhomsignlessloves]

[The Emissary had gone missing out on the skyway, days ago now, but the Disciple hadn't quite given up hope she would return. She could be out here, hurt and alone, unable to get help. She could be anywhere really.

She prefers the open plains to the crumbling walls, but it seemed more like Emissary's thing. Hopping down from one section to the next, she skids and scrambles for purchase on the edge of a fallen tower. Once she climbs back up and settles to catch her breath, she peers down from her pile of rubble. This brings her right into the view of a tall woman with the brightest hair she had ever seen. The largest too, fluffier than her own. An old instinct wanted her to bury in the hair but she wasn't three sweeps anymore.

Besides, pink was something to be wary of.]

Pearl? I haven't heard of a pearl.

[grandiflora]

[Sudden voices that weren't at all familiar were plenty startling, and more so in a place so... alien. Rose didn't cry out, but there was an audible gasp as she turned to face the speaker. A hand shifted to her belly, the shining gem there a familiar comfort beneath her fingers.

Her sword was missing, but her shield was still something she could bring out if need be.]

I need to find her. I need to find my friends.

[disciplewhomsignlessloves]

[Her face softens at her explanation. The Disciple could understand that, even if she was still wary of this woman. She shifted, sitting with legs apparently dangling, but testing the stone for points to press her feet into. She needed to be able to move quickly if things went south. ]

You'll want Bastion for that. But I'm sorry to say they might be gone. There's no use in coddling you.

[grandiflora]

["Might be gone"? Rose's full lips pressed tightly together at that. No, coddling wasn't necessary, but it still hurt to consider.

She was alone in a world she had never encountered before. Nothing in her long existence could have prepared her for this.]

Y... yes. Of course. Thank you. Where is this Bastion?

[disciplewhomsignlessloves]

[The Disciple nods back over her shoulder in the general direction and decides this woman hasn't exactly been rude to her. Or threatening. She gives the pink another look and notes it's the wrong shade anyways.]

I can take you, if you like... Perhaps someone you know is there and we just haven't met?

[She hops down with relative ease, landing in a crouch] Are you hungry? I keep some oranges in my pack.

[grandiflora]

[Rose didn't really have it in her to be purposefully rude. Accidentally by way of social awkwardness, certainly, but not on purpose.

And she was being given a direction to start in. Even if it didn't result in the people she wanted to be there, it was better than being aimless and lost.]

Oh... no, thank you. The sooner I can get there, the better.

[She didn't need to eat anyway.]

[spiria]

[ Kohaku did happen to be out today, out and not exactly looking for lost souls, really, but ... looking for whatever she could find, she supposed. That worked in her favor today, though, because she did happen to find a lost soul.

... And it broke her heart, to hear someone calling out for people she may never find here. She had to help her to the Bastion. ]

H-Hey! Hey, Ma'am! Over here!

[ She waved over at the woman. ]

[oursomalink]

[ And needless to say, there's another person running after her. Kohaku, what are you doing. Are you trying to get yourself killed out on the Skyway, this is a terrible idea.

So here Shing is, going after her and trying to keep her from getting in over her head. ]

Oy--! Kohaku, what are you doing!? You can't just go out onto the Skyway alone...!

[grandiflora]

[Voices in this place, desolate as it was, were startling to say the least. More so when they were unfamiliar. Rose turned towards the girl calling out to her with a start.

She didn't seem hostile... but she also wasn't alone, and as much as Rose wanted answers she also wanted to keep herself safe long enough to find answers.

So she didn't answer, just watching the two of them quietly.]

[spiria]

[ She looked to Shing, glad to see him, but also worried about the woman over there. ]

Shing! Shing, look, I found someone!

[ She turned back to Rose. ]

Ma'am, it's not safe out here! We need to bring you back to the Bastion!

[oursomalink]

[ . . . oh. That explains a lot, doesn't it.

Shing blinks in surprise, approaching Rose with a determined nod - and then also held up his hands, too, motioning for Kohaku to do the same since he recognized her unease at their sudden appearance. ]

Please... come with us! We won't hurt you, promise.

We'll explain everything as best as we can once we're back on safer ground.

[grandiflora]

[So they are friendly. That was good. She would have offered a smile to them, if not for how worried she was regarding her situation and the status of her friends and Greg.

Clasping her hands together worriedly.]

I understand, but please. I need to know if my friends are here somewhere.

[cyan_maid]

[There really was no end to the strangeness of the Skyway, was there? If Jane hadn't entrenched herself in the cannery so often, she'd be here more, exploring the ruins with her curiosity running wild. There were so many strange things to see out here that it might be impossible to explore it all, but darn if she wouldn't try!

Or at least, she would, had she not sworn she heard a voice. She peers around a wall, ready at any moment to fight with her trident, but she doesn't see a monster. She sees a woman.

A giant woman.

With massive pink hair.

Holy cow.]

Oh...!

[grandiflora]

[Yeaaaah she's. Certainly got a presence about her, doesn't she?

But that noise in this desolate place is plenty startling on it's own, and Rose jumps herself, wheeling around to face whoever it was that caused it.]

[cyan_maid]

[Oops.]

Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, ma'am! Are - are you alright?

[grandiflora]

Yes, yes... I'm fine. Thank you...

[It was a good thing she didn't have to breathe, either, given that being startled that bad was enough to wind a person.]

Do you know what this place is?

[cyan_maid]

[Jane comes out a little more, putting her trident back in her sylladex. Don't want to scare anyone, now.]

This exact place? No, I'm not sure. But the entire thing is called the Skyway.

[grandiflora]

The Skyway?

[Nope. Not familiar to her at all.]

I don't suppose there's a Warp Pad anywhere near by?