Welcome.

[trustharder]

You last remember feeling safe.

You don't know what caused that response, now that you think about it; you can't remember what you were doing before the warm, comfortable feeling came over you, a sensation somewhere between relief and the light contentment that comes with the knowledge that you're safe enough to sleep and god, are you ready to. It feels like you may have been sleeping for a while before this, even; your limbs are heavy in the memory, and you recall how difficult it was to open your eyes.

Turning your head is likewise difficult, it feels kind of like it's full of sand. Weighted-down by sleep. It's so much easier to remain still, and so you do, and before you haze out again you can vaguely hear a voice.

It's no one you recognize, and it sounds strange and vaguely distorted as you start to drift off again.

"Everything'll be fine."

There isn't an answer that you can hear; the voice speaks once more.

"...you ready?"

You don't remember what you wanted to say to that. Always, maybe. Or Ready for what? Or perhaps What's happened to me?

But none of it matters, because consciousness slips away from you too quickly for you to respond.

---

You wake up some time later; the comfortable, safe feeling from earlier certainly isn't dampened any by the bed you wake up in. Whether you like it soft as a cloud or firm enough to support the most finicky of spines, the bed you're in is nice, and it's pretty much exactly what you've been looking for in a mattress.

Shame the rest of the room is probably going to be a bit jarring when you wake up properly.

The room you're in is completely unfamiliar, all concrete and steel and almost nothing that makes it yours - but there's a trunk near the bed and there's what looks like a smartphone sitting on the trunk, and you might want to grab that before you leave the room. Trying to text or call out won't do anything for the time being, unfortunately, but it's something. A lifeline, maybe.

If you're looking to see if anyone is here with you, maybe you can find someone as you wander through the main corridor; after all, there are a few places to explore here, even if the bulk of the place is pretty much a straight shot down the center. If you're looking to gather, the dining hall is probably the best place for it, as it's large enough to accommodate all of you.

Wherever you choose to go, however, there are a set of rules posted in every room; the far wall of the dining hall, across from the entrances, also has a bulletin board with twenty-seven pictures, along with some...interesting information, posted on it. The board is large enough for all of you to look at it, but you might not want to try to get at anything posted there; just like the rules, there's glass in front of it, and it's looking to be extremely shatterproof.

Sorry about that.

There's one more thing you'll notice on your wanderings through the corridor – there are no windows, and there are no doors that can possibly lead outside.

Looks like you're trapped. Might as well get to know those that are here with you.

Comments

[spearheaded]

one.

[ panic, panic, panic— pearl does her best to keep it together, briefly thankful that she has no need to breathe — her proverbial heart would be beating too fast for her little body to handle. rushing from the room, she doesn't even notice the rules posted, all she can think is Steven, where is Steven, he's the most important thing here and nothing else mattered.

but he wasn't here, if the board of profiles was to be trusted. she regards it with malaise, hand clasped to her chest, her eyes carefully scanning the profiles once, twice, a third time. there was only her, and she wasn't sure where this information had been acquired— how anyone could know intimate details about her like this. ]

Devoted. Hm. [ there's a tiny chuckle, almost one of bemusement — whoever had captured her certainly had a sense of humor. but she couldn't be surmised in a single word, she knew that, and she expected the same of these other people. these.. humans. most of them seemed human, at least. ] This is quite the elaborate joke.

[ she'll try to play it off, but inside, there was a storm brewing — questions without answers. ]

two.

[ after making her rounds around the place (this time sufficiently less panicked), she's surmised a couple things. first: this place was designed with humans in mind. there was a kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms, of course — everything pearl didn't actually need. second: this place was sturdy, a veritable fortress — nothing would come in and nothing would go out without expressed permission, certainly.

the last place she found herself in was the library, where she chose to scan through some books, not really expecting to find anything useful in particular. she picked up a novel — the author was cited as "Yostodeskvy" — and she scoffs as she flips through it furtively. ]

Existential drivel. This didn't hold up two-hundred years ago. [ and, hearing a few steps, she turns, instinctively reaching to the gem on her forehead to pull something out — but nothing comes. right. they'd jammed her powers, somehow. 'they'. whoever. despite her shock at first, she quickly bounces back, and, in a stern tone: ] Who's there?

1.

[capyper]

[ Pearl sticks out to him mostly because they've got the same vague number for their age: 1,000+. That makes it pretty likely she's some kind of divine being too, right? He knows there are nature spirits that can take on human form... ]

More like a crappy joke, if you ask me. [ ... ] So, what's it mean by "crystal gem", anyway?

[spearheaded]

Well, they may go hand-in-hand in this case.

[ she's a bit shocked, honestly, to hear a voice coming from behind her — but right, as she looks the boy over, he looks familiar. she glances back at the board, scanning to find him — 'yato'. he looked like a normal human, but, well.. the rest of that profile was decidedly inhuman. ]

It's— complicated, and requires a lot of background information. I'm not sure if you'd be that interested, after explaining everything, but— [ a sigh. ] I'm a member of a group of other gems — my species — and we ward off potential threats to humanity. It's a bit of an oversimplification, but I think you get the picture. [ a pause. ] My name is Pearl, by the way.

[capyper]

That's not really too different from what I do, either! But another time, I guess.

[ Now certainly does not seem to be the optimal moment. ]

I'm Yato! Nice to meet you. Well, you know — relatively speaking.

[ The circumstances are sadly not all that nice right now, after all. ]

two

[prismbloom]

[ It's only natural that Aqua would gravitate toward the library. Her master has always emphasized the importance of learning all they can in an unknown situation. Honestly, the thought of Eraqus makes her feel a little sick--if only because, since she's here, she's not carrying out her duties.

That's the worst part, Aqua thinks.

She pushes the door open, stopping when she hears the voice. ]

I didn't know anyone else was in here--I'm sorry for startling you.

[spearheaded]

[ pearl loosens from her rather silly pose — it lost effect when she didn't have her spear, and having a book tucked under her arm certainly wasn't doing it any favors either. she sighs, relieved for a moment — she recognized this girl's face from the board of profiles. she supposed that made sense in spite of everything, but it was still odd — to see her face precariously posted on the board, then to see her in the flesh later. ]

It's— fine. I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone to come in here— I guess that's a little foolish, considering the situation.

[prismbloom]

[ Aqua notices the pose--it's hard not to, but honestly? She--her name is Pearl, right?--is obviously rattled. Aqua understands that: waking up in a completely strange place? It's enough to catch anyone off guard. Still, Aqua's not the type to be impolite, especially if--and she's assuming this, of course--that person's a warrior and acting out of instincts. ]

No, I understand. It's alright; I think we're all shaken up.

[ Aqua shuts the door behind her, walking over to join her. Her fingers trail along the books' spines, and there's a vaguely troubled expression on her face. ]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who had the idea to come here. Maybe we can join forces and try to figure something--anything--out?

1

[wokeupdead]

[Since everyone is gathering around these profiles Lynne will read through them as well. It's definitely weird but no one is taking credit for it yet so it's best to just keep it together until they have someone to blame.]

Thousand plus? You look pretty good for your age, huh?

[Okay, yeah. That might be lacking a bit too much tension how.]

[spearheaded]

[ well. as much as she wasn't expecting a voice to call out to her, specifically, she certainly wasn't expecting a comment on her age. pearl looks over at lynne with a glower. ]

The form I'm in is of my own construction. We don't 'age' like humans do. —Why am I explaining this, anyway?

[wokeupdead]

[Isn't this the conversation you want from your fellow captives? Also that's a pretty weird thing to claim but Lynne seems to take it in stride.]

You made your own body? Is it a robot. [Why wouldn't you explain? This is important.] Have I been abducted?

1

[cherryblooded]

Isn't it? I'm impressed that someone managed all this on short notice. Not that I'm hiding my age, or anything like that, but most people only know 'five hundred-ish' offhand, for me.

[He's smiling. Joking around makes things much simpler to deal with.

Cherryblod swishes his tail as he looks over the profiles once again.]

We match, somewhat. 'Dedicated'.

[spearheaded]

[ if anyone rivaled pearl in most inhuman appearance, it would probably be this man (she hasn't met the bird yet). she regards him for a moment before replying, marveling over his odd form. he was a crustacean? she glances back at the profiles out of the corner of her eye to the man's profile, only being illuminated to his name and that he was apparently a 'homemaker'.

interesting. ]

I can't say the same for myself, but I'm not sure even I could tell you my true age without some minor calculations. [ she never particularly kept up with it, because it never really mattered. ] Yes.. Though I don't know what significance these— these designations have.

[cherryblooded]

[The bird pretty much wins all inhuman contests, straight up.

He knows a fair number of people who haven't kept up with their own ages, so that viewpoint is one he understands pretty well.]

Not sure, either. If they were supposed to be ways of identifying each other, there'd be no reason to give us everyone's names, would there?

2

[paidinblood]

[...This lady sure does have a gem in her forehead. And she certainly was trying to... Do something? With the gem?]

What were you trying to do?

[Kamui isn't exactly a five star conversationalist, but he has enough common sense to make himself heard and give the gem lady some space, at least.]

[spearheaded]

—Nothing.

[ that's totally not suspicious, pearl. she retracts from her defensive stance, pulling out the novel she had stuffed under her arm out again. ]

I came here looking for answers, but I doubt there will be any in here. It's all fiction.

[paidinblood]

[...Well, it's obviously not nothing, but he's not going to hear about it now.]

It would be a little too easy to give us answers right away, wouldn't it?

two

[amygdalae]

Ah--sorry.

['Who' turns out to be Bruce, who had indeed returned to the library to investigate it further. He's always been good at staying quiet so he supposes its not a big surprise that he wasn't noticed at all. Still, he had rather not startle anybody in a bad way.]

I didn't mean to surprise you like that. [He says, in his neon green jumpsuit and a few books cradled in one arm, the other extended out so that he can raise his palm up in a sign of peace.] My apologies again.

[spearheaded]

[ pearl's jumpsuit happens to be a particularly vibrant shade of pink, making her and bruce look like they stepped out of a sentai show. nevertheless, she retracts from her defensive position, slowly motioning to slip the book she had stuffed under her arm and placing it back on the shelf, sliding it neatly back into its proper place. ]

It's— you're fine. I'm admittedly a bit anxious. [ a small understatement. ] I've only parsed through some of the books here, but I suspect we won't find anything of use here. It's all fiction — similar to novels I've read on Earth.

[amygdalae]

[Well, no harm done, which is the most important thing. Bruce relaxes himself, doing his best to give a reassuring smile to the other's words.]

Well, even fiction has some basis on reality. [They don't just come from nowhere, after all.] It could give us a better idea of where we could be, if anything.

[It's an extremely long shot, but still. Something is better than nothing.

Also, yes, he's noticed that she said 'Earth'. Which is odd, because Bruce is sure he's never seen anything like her before. She would have certainly stood out.]

[sleepingkogoro]

This is hardly a joke. Nobody kidnaps a person and locks them into a place like this for a mere "joke"

[Somebody has approached and commented on the first thing he heard! And yeah, he is not in good mood. It's no surprise, he has realized already this place has no exists nor way outs. His objective right now is...merely to walk around and see if anything useful is found]

[spearheaded]

I certainly am not laughing.

[ see her face. she's making a point to not laugh. sadly, pearl sees little reason to explore everything beyond acclimating herself with her environment — she figured nothing of use would be placed out in the open. this whole — whatever it is would fall apart if there was. ]

I assume no one on this list is, unless they have a particularly dark sense of humor.

1

[notjustawriter]

[He watches her for a long moment-- pink hair, a gem on her forehead... she's unique-looking, but Gabriel has always been a gentleman.]

I hope a joke is all this is.

[spearheaded]

Yes.. But you should prepare for anything. Even if it is a joke, whoever brought us here is clearly very capable and perhaps even deranged. They could be dangerous— they. No single person could do this.

[ excuse pearl while she verbally sorts out the logic of the situation in this response. she'll look contemplative, staring off. ]

1

[bloodisthicker]

...I'm thinking it might be a little too elaborate for a joke, unless the rest of you are in on it as well.

[he's a councilman, okay, he's not here to be pranked by a bunch of weird people and spirits. Speaking of spirits... well. She looks mostly human, but...]

Is... a Crystal Gem some sort of spirit, then? I hope that sort of question isn't uncalled for, but I'm less knowledgeable about the subject than I really should be.

[spearheaded]

That makes two of us on the bad end of the joke, at least.

[ she sighs. she doesn't mean to be rude, but she hates having to explain this — she realizes why it's necessary, though, and segues right into it. ]

It's a formal name for a group comprised of myself and some of my companions. We protect our planet — humans — from any possible danger. We chose the name because we are.. well, we're gems. It's the name of our species. So no, I'm not a spirit at all. I'm just as natural as you.

[ just different, of course. ]