march catch-all!

[unghost]

WHO: Cairngorm + quest partners
WHERE: all around!
WHEN: march
WHAT: questing; remembering past friends, harbor pushing
WARNINGS: gem dismemberment/body horror?! classic hnk stuff

starters in the comments! feel free to contact me at ishimarus if you'd like to do a quest!

Comments

QUEST 50

[unghost]

LUPIN

[unghost]

[ Another boring day in Chroma!! But that’s nothing particularly new. There’s only so many days the two of them can just walk around the same places they always do, or go to each others houses. But the two of them don’t actually frequent the harbor all that often, given that they’ve only been seeing each other regularly like this since winter, so the weather isn't exactly amicable for him. It’s warmer today than it has been, but even then, the chill in the air and the breeze is enough to bite.

Even so, the new addition of color to the sea foam does draw their attention, so the two of them naturally go to look at it, you know, like responsible (and bored) Chroma citizens. Both of them have actually expressed interest in the harbor waters before, individually; they’ve just never talked about it together. So here they are, right at the start of the sands of the beach, the strange bright white of the sea foam at the shoreline a stark contrast to the dingy gray of the unmoving waters beyond it. The usual rickety wooden piers intermittent between the boat houses look about as dismal as ever, too. But Cairngorm's eyes remain on the still monochrome, pale eyes set far out to the horizon. ]

Weren’t you saying a while ago that you wanted to sail out there?

[heartsteals]

[ bored is right. It's still too cold and snowy for Lupin to really start on any big boating plans, and with the turnover of people, he's lost a few of his candidates to help him build it, too; for the time being, he's benched those plans. This is nothing but a romantic stroll on the beach. Romantic!

It would be more romantic if they could actually, like, go out on the water, but he's yet to come up with a suitably genius way of getting Cairngorm on a boat without sinking it, so the two of them are strictly limited to strolling. ]

That's right. I still do, actually. When it comes to places we haven't really explored here, the sea is number one. The only problem is that it's probably even more dangerous than the forest.

[unghost]

[ They hum, folding their arms loosely. ]

Well...maybe. When Phos and I went down there... [ There's a slightly awkward beat after the mention of the other gem, ] We didn't run into anything that dangerous. Just mutated fish, among other strange things. And we walked pretty far out.

[ Of course, they're not going to deny that there probably are similar sinister beings in the sea as there are in the forest. They don't want to encourage him to go out there, after all. ]

Is there really that much you can tell from above water?

[heartsteals]

[ his eyes dart over to them at them at the mention of the other gem, a little concerned, but he doesn't press them on the matter - they tend not to like when he probes them on emotional matters. They'll tell him if they want to tell him; they know he's there to listen. He hopes they know, at least. ]

Not if you're trying to look below. But I was imagining that we might find more land - an island, maybe, or another shore.

[ he laughs a little to himself. ]

If the answers are actually in the lake, you'll probably be our best bet, Cairngorm.

[unghost]

No way. I'm not going down there again, at least not by myself... it's creepy.

[ Not to mention them and Phos kind of destroyed some things down there, so they're not sure if there's really anything left to see. A secret they didn't really share with the town, because it's not like it makes a difference in their lives up here - and plus, everyone would basically have to take their word for it, because, like he says, they're probably the only one in town that can actually go down there.

Cairngorm would personally prefer not to get too close to the open water - no, they lead the both of them along the beach instead, even if it means they have to cross these kind of shoddy bridges every once in a while over the canals leading out of Bluo. They elect to just let his concerned glance pass, unsure of how they would even breach the topic if they actually wanted to bring it up. Instead, while they take a step onto one of the bridges: ]

That island from before, during the sirens— that's the kind of thing you're looking for?

[heartsteals]

[ Lupin, smart as he is, doesn't even think about the shoddy bridges in relation to Cairngorm. Probably because he's with Cairngorm at the moment, and therefore, most of his thoughts are currently Cairngorm-related. Never let it be said that he isn't devoted. ]

Not quite like that, no, [ he answers with a small laugh. ] I'd prefer it if there were more than monsters and salt-blasted rocks on my island, for one thing. What I'm really hoping for is another coast. Right now, it's like we're in our own isolated world out here.

[ with a light step, he hops up onto the bridge, too, taking a few easy strides ahead of them before turning around to face them again (and walking backwards at the same time.) ]

Anyway, you won't have to go alone. I'm sure someone here could enchant me to go with you -- something like that. I'd be way too worried about you down at the ocean floor on your lonesome.

[unghost]

[ They make a face at his suggestion, obviously disapproving. ]

I'm not the one who needs to be w—

[ It's a lucky day for Lupin; they get cut off before they can tell him that they don't want him going underwater or near any danger at all on the account of his fragility. The unlucky part is that their heel breaks clean through the semi-rotted wood of the bridge, producing a huge crack through the whole structure and throwing them off balance. Suddenly, it's very obvious that the whole thing will collapse - and will take both of them with it.

Cairngorm is a very cautious gem (normally). That's actually something the two of them have in common. They generally try to think through crises rationally, or at least, in a way that seems rational to them - as soon as they start to lose their balance, they reach out to clutch at the front of his shirt, mirroring what a human would do to try to regain stability. However, it becomes quickly clear that that isn't their intention at all; they use the remaining leverage they have to fling him over the bridge, probably with more strength than was absolutely necessary.

It had only been their intention to throw him away from the bridge, so that he wouldn't get impaled on a stray piece of wood or land under them somehow. He always lands on his feet so easily after all! But the impulsiveness of their idea led them to some miscalculations, as he's much closer to landing in the water of the harbor than anywhere near the land. It also seems that even without his weight on the bridge, it still can't hold, and Cairngorm falls through with a loud squawk and an even louder splash into the canal. ]

QUEST 51

[unghost]

MAYA

[unghost]

[ Most people around town think of Chroma as being pretty small and as having very few inhabitants, but even almost a year later, Cairngorm still thinks of it as a pretty big place with relatively lots of people. At home, there’s only 28 gems, after all, and the island they live on is much smaller than this city. So, not catching up with Maya for a bit doesn’t seem all that strange, but they’re glad to see she’s survived another month nonetheless, and more glad to see that there isn’t a quest in sight that they think she could possibly dole out any shenanigans onto them.

Except that harbor one. Maybe. But they probably don’t have to worry about it, given that they’re a super heavy rock!! Anyway, they caught her on their way out of the library in Bluo, and now they’re taking a walk along the canals, sort of aimlessly, just chatting. Normally Cairngorm wouldn’t partake in this sort of friendly and casual type of chatting, but truthfully, they’ve been sort of out of it ever since Phos's sudden departure, and being around someone so lively helps not only to distract them, but also to remind them of what they're missing. But even with that intent, they’re still spacing out, oddly enough. ]

… What were you saying? You’re talking too fast.

[ Which is a blatant lie, given that the two of them can’t have been talking about anything complicated enough to warrant the usual serious, no-nonsense, focused Cairngorm to have such a poor attention span. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ It's not hard to notice that something's... particularly off about Cairngorm. It's not necessarily bad, Maya thinks, but it's unusual and enough to catch her attention that they're willing to engage her in meaningless rambling conversation and then not quite stay engaged.

She pauses now, thinking back to what she'd just said. Had that really been too fast? ]

I was just saying... I wonder what it is that has some of us stay here for so long but then there are other people who just-- disappear.

[unghost]

[ With their attention directed fully back to her, they actually listen to what she says this time. For a beat, they almost wish they had pretended to be listening so they didn't have to delve further into the topic, but, well, it's a little late for that. They sigh. ]

Who knows. It's not like there's any way for us to find out... [ That they can tell? If there's some sort of pattern, they definitely don't know what the mechanism is. They've never been the type to try and solve mysteries, anyway. ] It just seems so random.

[ There's a hint of frustration underlying their tone, like the matter is a little more personal. ]

I doubt there's any deeper meaning to it. If there was, there'd be some sort of sign.

[scooptimistic]

I know what you mean... it'd be nice to have some kind of way to predict it, though.

... At least get a chance to say goodbye, you know?

[ Instead, here they are, missing people. Even Cairngorm sounds frustrated enough that it's kind of a next natural step to assume they might have lost someone fairly recently. ]

[unghost]

[ They raise their brow, glancing over at her. ]

For people we won't see again, you mean?

[ From other worlds, or those who are dead, that sort of thing. Is she referring to someone specific...? ]

[scooptimistic]

Yeah. [ With a swift nod, even. ]

There are definitely people I met here that became important to me... but I never even thought about saying any proper kind of goodbye while I had the chance-- I just didn't think about them not being here.

Until they just... weren't.

LOTTIE

[unghost]

[ Phos is gone. Cairngorm and Lottie were of course the first to notice - how could they not? Their annoying (but charming, alluring, familiar) presence had been a part of what made this house what it is. Cairn’s heart weighs heavy with the information Phos had given them before they mysteriously disappeared, and it weighs even heavier with each passing day that the fact of the matter goes unspoken between themself and Lottie. Neither of them have brought it up, though both have noticed.

Then, that remembering quest gets posted to the forum. And they start to go through Phos’s things - probably noticeably, to Lottie.

Dusk has fallen over Chroma on the third day of the month, the two of them having settled in for the night - dressed comfortably, no plans for any visitors to come over, or anything like that. They’re not one to talk openly about their feelings. But they do wonder how Lottie is feeling about it; she always treated both them and Phos pretty nicely, always enjoyed dressing the two of them up. Rather than hole themself up in their room, they’re in the living room for a change, sitting down at Lottie’s table with something familiar to the both of them in front of them - it’s Phos’s encyclopedia. But it’s unopened. When Lottie pads into the room, they look up, meeting her eyes quietly for a long moment. Then, suddenly: ]

Do... do you think we should keep this?

[ It’s always beating around the bush with Cairngorm - they’d rather gauge her reaction to the question than yank open the gates of a potentially emotional situation. ]

[oomfies]

[ Seeing Cairngorm like this definitely throws Lottie for a loop - among other things. Things like Phos being mysteriously gone, just like Ghost Quartz. And, depressingly enough, all other mutual friends they've made here. She only came out because she wanted to check on them, because while she's virtually a stranger to everyone here, at least they had someone they knew.

So when faced with the question of what to do with the book - Phos' dictionary - she hesitates. What would someone smart do? What do they want her to say? ] Well.. [ She chews at her lip, staring down at the cover. Zelda would know what to do in this situation! But sadly, Lottie isn't Zelda. She's a super hot, tall, and emotionally inept adult kidnapped and is now trying to emotionally console a sentient rock. ]

There's enough room here to keep it? We don't have to get rid of it.

[unghost]

[ At that, they give a hum. That was about what they thought she'd say. (And maybe hoped she'd say.) It'd be the sensible thing to take this to the library, but this was Phos's, and besides, they have more use for it than anyone else in town. ]

I thought if they disappeared, this might disappear with them... but it seems all their belongings are still here. Other than the ones they came with.

[ They move their gaze back to the encyclopedia. ]

You didn't see them before they disappeared, did you?

backdated event stuff! | shiho | cw for gem dismemberment

[unghost]

[ Usually, being an immortal crystal has it's perks! But when there's dragons around, that sort of make a habit of hoarding shiny, glittery things? It's not so convenient anymore. They learned the hard way that dragons are strong enough to simply lift them away if so desired, despite their heavy weight.

This particular dragon, huge and armored in purple scales, had gotten them by the left arm and tried to take them away - obviously, they resisted, and the dragon didn't like that. The aftermath is as follows: Cairngorm fought metaphorical tooth and nail to get out of the dragons hold, which only angered it, causing it to thrash them against the ground like a ragdoll. There's an assortment of pieces of their body strewn about this open field in Flavo, most of the shards of black crystal unrecognizable as belonging to a humanoid being, other than the one shoe with their foot still inside, and the piece of their head containing one of their eyes.

In the end, they cleaved their saw between the eyes of the dragon, killing it, though the final crunch of it's jaws still snap their arm off, causing them to fall to the ground with a heavy thud. With only half of one leg, one functioning arm and eye, there's no way for them to soften their fall, so they're only able to push themselves up shakily to take stock of the situation. The dragon doesn't seem to be moving, given how their arm dangles limply from it's mouth with no evidence of breath, but they're also not an expert on living things, and can't be certain. Just as they're about to try and look for the other half of their face, they see Shiho out of the corner of their remaining eye. It's unclear to them whether she's moving to intervene, or is merely passing by, but either way, they respond instinctually: ]

Agh— don't come over here!!

[ If the dragon is somehow still alive, they don't want to be responsible for her getting eaten or torched or et cetera... ]

[good_ideas]

[It's the hulking mess of a dragon that draws Shiho's eye first but there's no hesitation in her step as she makes her way over, determined that if this thing wasn't dead she'd probably have to do something about it.

She sees the light glinting off the shards of crystal first as she nears, her gaze darting from the nearest piece by her foot to... part of a very recognizable face. The only thing that stops her from turning right back around to get Kaoru and raze the dragon habitat to the ground is their voice. Admittedly she knows little about gems but.... how are they still able to talk while in pieces? Is that normal? She frowns... but then first turns towards the dragon, aiming with psychometry-fueled precision to shoot a tranquilizer dart where she sees the clean break in the scales where Cairngorm had managed to hit it with their saw. Is that overkill? Probably but she's both not taking chances as well as just very angry.]

What, are you going to stop me with only one arm, half a leg and an eye?

[unghost]

[ Their brow twitches when she fires that little dart, clearly not knowing what it's meant for. The dragon remains motionless, but they don't let their guard down at all, dragging their body as upright as they can make it. For now, since the dragon seems dormant, they give her their gaze, the movement of their body and head letting the sunlight catch on the exposed, solid black crystal that makes up the interior of their body and head. ]

I was being serious. [ Despite her concern, they seem to be functioning just fine, and don't look to be in any pain - no, just the same, tired and annoyed tone like usual from Cairngorm. ] I can survive getting thrashed around like that, but you can't.

[ Sure, she has psychic abilities (which they don't understand fully), but they're certain no regular human could survive the physical traumas they just did. Which is why they don't want her anywhere near this thing, or even out here in the open where another one might come out, attracted by the glittering shards of crystal strewn across the opening. ]

Why are you even out here? You're fighting them?

[ Maybe that mysterious dart has to do something with it...? ]

[good_ideas]

[Shiho doesn't let her guard down either until she's certain the dart has been given enough time to start working, until she's certain she doesn't see a single twitch from that dragon.

Only then does she take a step forward to Cairngorm then to the scattered black crystal everywhere.]

Surviving and liking it are two different things, aren't they? [They certainly don't look like they enjoyed it at all.]

And I don't fight. I'm just stopping them when I find them. [Which, thankfully for the dragons really hasn't been that many.]

[unghost]

Obviously I don't like it.

[ They huff out, turning back to the dragon now that they're both pretty certain it isn't going to be moving again. Sitting up right on the ground, they use their remaining arm to drag their body closer to the dragon's jaws, where their left arm still hangs limply between it's teeth. ]

It's going to take forever to collect this all, for one. [ "Stopping them" - they're not exactly sure what she means by that, but they suppose there might be some medicine (or magic) in that little vial that is helpful against the dragons. Not their top priority to learn about, at the current time. ] If you don't fight, I would suggest that you get back inside.

[good_ideas]

Then don't do it and make other people worry. [Not..... that she's worried. Of course not.

As Cairngorm drags themselves over to the dragon, she's reaching down to scoop up a handful of black crystal shards, letting the dirt sift through her fingers before transferring the chips to her other hand.]

And it might take forever but it's not like there's anything else to do anyway. I'll leave when I want to leave, you're not the boss of me.

[With that said, she reaches down for that piece of their face.]

[unghost]

[ Big... leer. It seems that two can play the don't worry others game - a game they know all too well, since they never stop lecturing others on it. With a sigh, they keep their back to her, hesitating slightly while they try to get their hand between the dragon's lip and teeth to pull it's jaw open. ]

I didn't choose to do this. And something like this is not really worth worrying about for my kind...

[ ...At least when they're at home. It is going to be a challenge to put all these pieces back together. They won't say anything that's going to incite further worry or pity, however. ]

Those are going to get heavy for you after a few pieces, you know.