public channel | d17

[anti_nonsense]

[ With the Ringmaster cutting off the kidnappee’s radios, it seems as good a time as any to use them again -- particularly since some particularly concerning developments have come to light. ]

As you’ve probably heard, some of our people got kidnapped at CY-Ren’s concert. [ If Lambert sounds incredibly reluctant to talk about this, it’s because he is. ] She’s also apparently managed to turn some -- maybe all of them -- into Harbingers like her.

[ Rita, on the other hand, shows no hesitation as she barrels ahead into an explanation. ]

For those not aware, Guardians and Harbingers both draw power from something called a 'Spark'... a physical manifestation of one's greatest passion or desire. For Harbingers, that passion has been inverted and twisted to serve the purpose of the Void... to destroy all living things. In other words, they've been brainwashed, and with their Sparks awakened, they're also incredibly powerful.

And now they’re using those powers to… [ Lambert pauses again. This is the part that sounds really stupid to him: ] … cause trouble around the city. Funny thing is, can’t say we’ve seen CY-Ren around at all. Can’t be a coincidence.

...Right. I don't know what their goal is, but maybe they can tell us, if we manage to recapture them. There has to be a way to get them back to normal, too.

As they are now, they're too strong to take down with normal means, but we have one new tool at our disposal. Through some sort of awakening, some among us are now able to manifest our own Sparks and fight back using the power of Creation. This should give us the edge we need to beat the Harbingers... and CY-Ren.

[ ‘Some sort’ of awakening is one way to put it. To wrap it up before this goes on too long, Lambert finishes: ]

But first we need to know how many of us there actually are. So speak up. That goes for anyone who’s run into the Harbingers too -- if we can figure out their movements or catch one of them, maybe we can figure out what this next ‘concert’ of hers is going to do this time.

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

You 'know your place'...?

[If she sounds weirded out, that's because she is.]

What's with you, anyway?

[periphrasing]

I already did 'test it'. Nothing happened.

[And she could not possibly sound more bitter about that. Usually Peridot is fairly chipper and friendly talking as a boss to her employees, sometimes annoyingly so, even. But there's none of that attitude present right here and now. Screw professional courtesy! She's having an unimaginably terrible week.]

Who did you run into, then?

[stompadour]

What do you mean it doesn't matter? You would have run into him just the same except you wouldn't have gotten away!

[hippocarnival]

This. [Yuya waves the wand to make a big, green bubble between them. It explodes into sparkles.] I can make them have different effects if I think about it. I got Steven's fruit animals to calm down this way.

[To say nothing of how Steven himself proceeded to thoroughly with the one-sided fight.]

[hippocarnival]

[It is weird, like some cartoon, which is just distracting enough that he doesn't get any more unhappy about the scrutiny he's undergoing.]

Anyway, even if they're brainwashed I don't want to hurt them. [He pauses.] If we bring them back to the Ringmaster, can't she fix it?

[anti_nonsense]

A few different Harbingers, starting with that skeleton freak. [Right, there are two skeletons.] Uh, Papyrus. [She knows their names, she just doesn't use them often.]

[criticallyfucked]

[Rita is lucky she's asking this today and not two days ago.]

Why are you so interested?

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita steps back cautiously when it bursts, but the sparkles just leave her looking confused.]

It can calm things down...? [She looks uncertain. For a superpower, it doesn't seem very powerful.] What other effects can you make?

[hippocarnival]

I can make light with it, and... uh, I'm still figuring out what else. [It's a work in progress.] Maybe it'll come easier if we're both coming up with ideas?

[anti_nonsense]

That's true...

[Rita sighs. She knows this all too well. Building and fixing things... that's what she does. It's hard work, and usually, all it takes is an idiot or two to set her back or straight-up ruin things.]

What kind of powers did you get, anyway? Something to help you fight? [Her gaze drifts to the pony. He said his horse turned into a talking bike...!?]

[anti_nonsense]

I-I'm not! You're just weird, that's all.

[anti_nonsense]

Mm... yeah. There must be something useful you can do.

[Sorry Yuya, your powers sound lame so far.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya deflates immediately, looking genuinely hurt at the way she says it. So much for her confidence in him--even if he knows he should be confident in himself, the lack of validation after his rocky start leaves him sore.] I... if it picked me, there has to be something I can do!

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita, unbothered by his reaction, cracks a small smirk.]

Care to test that?

Of the techniques I've discovered, most of them came to me because they were needed... either to fight, or to solve some kind of problem. Maybe a little sparring will give you the inspiration you need.

[hippocarnival]

Are you going to throw more fireballs at me? [He's not sure if he's totally down for that this time.]

[anti_nonsense]

Hmm... [Rita cups her chin with one hand while holding the book in the other. For its large size, she doesn't seem to have any trouble with its weight.]

I wouldn't rule it out. But doing the same thing again and again would be boring, wouldn't it?

[hippocarnival]

Yeah... [Spontaneity and being able to wow your audience are key to performances, of course! But this isn't a performance, this is Yuya getting his butt beat for a third time.

But really, does he has any better ideas?] I guess if you think that's the best way, I'm ready?

[periphrasing]

[Jasper's also probably right about that! And Peridot absolutely hates it! She's trying to come up some logical response, something witty to say back at her, but instead she just grits her teeth and makes a horrible growling noise, all that rage building up until she's literally screaming into her radio:]

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S SUCH A BAD THING FOR ME TO WANT TO MAKE MYSELF USEFUL!?

[stompadour]

[There is a pause, during which Jasper just stares in bewilderment at her radio??]

What are you talking about. Of course you're useful.

[It is important to make it clear here that the tone in which Jasper says this is not that of a person seeking to reassure someone else about their perceived inadequacies, but that of a person stating the blatantly obvious to someone who she is beginning to believe has gone completely mad.]

[periphrasing]

[Fortunately, in a conversation between two Homeworld gems, the connotations are quite clear. Peridot doesn't dare assume for a second that Jasper is trying to be nice or comforting to her.]

Not in the ways that I WANT to be! Or need to be, in order to help my friends!

[periphrasing]

[Skeleton freak? Yikes. Peridot was not aware of animosity between Rita and the skelebros but now hardly seems like the right time to try and unpack that.]

Wh... Papyrus is a Harbinger?

[She knew that he'd been taken, since Sans had told her as much, but.]

[stompadour]

This is ridiculous. You keep talking about this like you should have been chosen because you'd be better at it somehow, [preposterous???] but really all it comes down to is that you want to -- even though if it had been you, you'd have gotten yourself taken out of this entire situation already. It's pathetic.

[moonfang]

So, what...? Those of us not chosen just get ta sit around with our thumbs up our asses? How powerful are we talkin'?

[periphrasing]

Me-- I'M pathetic!?! [You can pretty much hear the sneer in her voice.] I'm pathetic, for just wanting to contribute, right, OKAY! What about you!? What makes you so special!? what do ANY of you have, that I don't, that makes you more worthy of these stupid powers!?

[stompadour]

I know how to use them. What do you think makes you worthy of them?