Public Channel - Day 59

[pipers_son]

[He really didn't want this to happen, but...]

I think it's time we start keeping a list of those who's disappeared, been taken, or is otherwise indisposed.

I'll start.

Lauren has been buried in the ground, somewhere, and Steven Universe has been taken by the Rose Queen.

[He says all of this blankly, matter of factly, and there's only the sound of a shaky breath at the very end.]

Comments

[soft_focus]

Steven and Lauren are gone..?

[NO BUT THEY WERE BOTH PLANTY FRIENDS WHO LIKED ANIMALS-]

[pipers_son]

[UGH WHY DID THE SMALL CHILD HAVE TO RESPOND FIRST- Joker hesitates a moment before speaking again, forcing his voice to be soft.]

Yeah. They're gone, just for now, alright, Reira?

[They have to get them back. Steven, at the very least.]

[soft_focus]

So...they're not dead then.

[Important Questions.] ...But how do you get buried without being dead..?

[flashover]

The Rose Queen got Steven?!

[things he remembers from Portland; that this is bad]

[pipers_son]

Yes.

[He doesn't really want to go into the details right now, because he knows he'd get pissed if he did.]

[flashover]

... That means the Rose Queen is here, too!! CRAP! And she has Steven now...! This is bad, this is very bad!

[dontpokethat]

[Shit. Shit this is bad - it's bad enough that people are getting taken by fae to begin with obviously, but the Rose Queen getting Steven...]

How long ago was this?

[pipers_son]

Only some minutes ago.

[Ginko. It's good to hear Ginko.]

How's things back at the carnival....?

[dontpokethat]

[Okay, that's... good, probably. Maybe it means there's a better chance of getting them back quickly. ...He hopes it does.]

...Safe. None of the fae have shown up. Carly's making sure we stay put.

[Which is, doubtless, for the best. For one thing, it simplifies Ginko's own internal struggle on whether to try to go help despite his better judgment. Now there are more ways in which that would be stupid and pointless.]

[prazerbutterfly]

I want to make it very clear that things would've gotten a lot smoother had Lauren not attacked the fae without any provocation to do so. I haven't been here nearly as long as most and I know that attacking a fae is a rather stupid idea.

[He sounds very sour, annoyed, and irritated. Low on cigarettes and without any comforts or vices, he's in a bad mood.]

If you attack a fae without any reason to do so, you sign your own death warrant. Joker is not to blame.

not on the radio

[wild_magic]

[At first, Susan didn't even bother dropping his spell. The badger wanted to dig, and that was what he wanted to do, so it was easy. It was easier to try and get away, back to Lauren, if he had claws and sharp teeth. But as they kept moving, farther away from where they'd been, Susan finally dropped the spell, and had been silent since, until now.]

Stop it.

[anti_nonsense]

This can't be happening... Steven, too?

It's... it's all just like before, damn it!

[pipers_son]

[He's in no mood to be reassuring, but, hell, someone has to, so Joker takes a deep breath and schools his voice to the proper tone.]

And what happened before, Rita? Do ya remember?

[steadydollypegs]

Joker... Please take care of yerself, all this is makin' me worry y'aren' gonna think straight.

[pipers_son]

[Fffffffffffffffffffffffu-]

Hey, I'm fine enough ta be on the radio, aren't I? [Gotta sound light for a moment here. He just has to.] Besides, I'm thinkin' fine! Or else I'd be with that fae, ha.

[spaghettimonster]

I'm leaving a trail of bones behind, so we know where to look for him... when she leaves.

[If she leaves.]

[pipers_son]

[Papyrus, you're, like.... You're right next to him, practically, so Joker is just going to shut his radio off for a second. While he's been blank over the radio, he sounds a little exhausted- looks it too- when he speaks to the skeleton.]

Thanks, Papyrus.

[haides]

Tis exciting, isn't it? (No, just for you, Hades.) Think of the stories they will have to tell. We mustn't hurry them on their journey.

[pipers_son]

[For fucks sake-]

The opposite.

[sunflowerfields]

It's not your fault.

...

I don't think she'll hurt them.

[pipers_son]

[Let him just... turn his radio off, since there's no need with her right there.]

Still my responsibility regardless. Guess ya couldn't convince 'em ta just keep runnin'?

[Hinawa seems responsible enough.]

~IN PERSON~

[betheman]

[When Gongenzaka first began coming out of the door-way, he would have been slow, anxious, and glancing back. He then would have abruptly yelped, scrambled backward with the most awkward shimmy possible, and a few moments later come belting back as fast as he could squash himself (and a tightly vine-held Yuuya) back.

For all that he did something extra- and perhaps Joker had caught a glimpse before he went through, from when Gongenzaka's aura flared a visible and glowing blue beneath his leaves- the entire situation comes crushing down as his paws and hooves meet the ground. The first order of business- the radios. He tells Joker he will be contacting Security, and adds being unsure about the public channel.

'...Many have already rushed into danger due to this. ...Steven was...'

...He was among those who rushed out, after all.

But after his own announcement is over, and after Joker's is done, perhaps the latter notices the uncharacteristic 'slump' Gongenzaka takes from there. As if his arms, metal and otherwise, are filled with condensed lead, he sits more collapsed than anything else. They 'rest' at his front palms open, radio limply resting in the other while his head is bowed.

He doesn't move. Not except to quietly set the radio between his forepaws before letting his arms go weak and limp once again.]

[pipers_son]

[Frankly, Gongenzaka is like an open book. Some people are just like that, Joker's found, although most don't announce their thoughts or actions with their name, and a title. Yet even when he's not as loud and boisterous, well... It's hard to miss the body language of a guy taller than two people put together.]

[Joker tries to give him a little bit of time to himself. The radio is plenty busy, after all, so at least he has an excuse. After a while, however...]

Zaka. How are ya doin' over there?

In person

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya lingers at the back immediately after the escape, occupying himself with watching the exit and his injuries as Joker and Gongenzaka call on the radio. As such, he's not very attentive of the conversations happening on it. When his attention is brought back, it's to check on Gongenzaka. They linger back, talking between themselves and embracing before they catch up.

Yuya's much less stormy after that, but there's still a barely contained energy to his posture. He's trying to focus it productively, though, eyes alert on their surroundings as they try to navigate if not to the carnival, then at least to safety.]

[pipers_son]

[Honestly, even with energy used up and time to calm down as best any of them can, Joker has to admit he's still a bit annoyed at Yuya... but that doesn't mean he's going to ignore the boy forever. After a while, as they're still making their way through shadows, he calls back to him.]

How are we doin', Yuya?