an arrival | action

[cuteandquarky]

1 | Farm

[Jade isn't sure what she was expecting from the new universe, but pumpkins were not it. The underwater dome is also kind of a shock. What's bothering her more than any of that, though, is that she appears to be alone. Again.

Jade extracts herself from the pumpkin patch and begins to poke around. Things feel weird here - she can't feel out everything with her space powers like she used to, or at least not the to same extent. She can feel out most of the farm area, but beyond that... nothing. Is this what it means to be out of the Medium, finally? She begins to float around idly, taking everything in. There's a lot of different kinds of plants here, so at least she doesn't need to worry about starving. But who set all of this up?

Jade cups her hands around her mouth and calls out:]

Hello? Is anybody here? I like your plants!

2 | Base

[Eventually, Jade finds her way to the base through use of the underground tunnel and a little bit of teleportation along the way. She's a little tired after all of that, but her curiosity far outweighs any exhaustion.

Anybody who happens across her will find a teenage girl with fluffy white dog ears floating a couple of inches above the ground, her "Fun Survival Pack" clutched to her chest, mumbling and unended stream of questions to herself as she takes everything in. She may not be entirely paying attention to where she's going.]

How did all of this end up in the new universe? Is this just Sburb trying to give us a headstart in colonizing the new world? Why is there all this water here? And what happened to- oof!

[Guess who just floated into a wall. Maybe offer the new girl some help?]

Comments

1

[parodeity]

[ dave spends a lot of time at the farm. dirk built him that weeding bot and all, but it's kind of calming to be at the farm and he can use calming right now. since certain people are mia...

that said, jade's voice absolutely makes him trip over the root of one of the apple trees. they've only spoken in person a handful of times, but she's one of his best friends.

it's entirely possible he finally fell asleep or something, here. ]

...Harley?

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade's ears swivel as soon as she hears Dave's voice, and before she can even think about it, she teleports over to him. A wave of relief immediately washes over her - she's not alone again.]

Dave! You're here, too. That's great!

[She's vibrating with an odd sort of energy, not sure if she should go in for a hug or a handshake or what - in person interactions are still hard to parse for her. She holds back for now, just in case.]

I'm wondering where all of these plants came from, though. Did Sburb give them to us for free? Do you know?

[parodeity]

[ honestly, dave's used to people getting in his personal space by now. kind of. it's been about half a year since he got here, and...well, he's got the hug thing down pat enough if he and rose were never exactly huggers.

their dancestors or parents or whatever are, and they've adapted.

he's kind of not sure how to initiate it with jade, though, so he laughs a little awkwardly. ]

Actually? I kinda planted them. Then. You know, sped them up. Holy shit, this would've been so much easier with you? Like, I said that, back then - uh. About that - what's the last thing you remember? Official time player business.

2

[splasher]

[makoto is kind of staring as the girl floats her way past him, and turns his neck to look back (are those white dog ears?) just in time to see her float into a wall. he jumps in surprise, as he does, then hurries over to her.]

--are you alright?

[helps her up, careful not to jostle her] Did you get hurt?

[cuteandquarky]

[Geez, talk about embarrassing - here she is, meeting brand new people, and leaving the first impression that she runs into walls. She accepts Makoto's help up, but very superficially, making sure she does most of the work of standing herself.]

I'm fine! It was just a little bump. It takes a lot more than a wall to take me out!

[splasher]

I'm glad that it takes more than a wall...

[he still worries, as makoto is prone to do, even if her words put him at more ease of how she is post-wall collision.]

You don't feel disoriented or anything, though? Better safe than be sorry, and it sounded kind of bad...

2

[splinten]

[That is Jade Harley. Not Jade English, although her voice sounds just like the one in Jake's dreams, the unfortunate fact of memories long muddled. But this here is Jade Harley, and Dirk knows he isn't dreaming her because Dirk's dream projection is talking to Bulburtles over in the Dunes.

So that's something.]

Karkat's bet is that he got denied the Reward again. Evidence supports his griping.

[Helpful as ever out of the gate: it's Dirk Strider.]

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade's ears perk up and she turns around to see Dirk. She knows who he is, kind of, but this is the first time she's really spoken much to him. If nothing else, it's nice to have confirmation that more of their group made it through, especially with confirmation that Karkat is here too.]

Isn't the Reward just a new universe? This seems like a new universe to me. Even if it a pretty strange one.

[Still, Jade is never one to turn down the scientific process.]

What kind of evidence do you have?

[splinten]

My impression this is less 'new universe' than 'alternate universe.' There's a longstanding human presence on this planet, along with a humanity whose history vastly differs from ours.

[So that's point of evidence one. The second one, well.]

I'd still be willing to buy it if it was just us, but we've been meeting people yanked from a huge variety of universes. Sburb pulling a trick like that isn't out of the question of course. That game loves to fuck with us. But the difference between worlds and histories people are talking about seems so vast that I don't feel right trying to cover it with Paradox Space Bullshit.

[Which actually leads to Dirk in THE WORST CASE OF SMALL TALK EVER jumping onto a new subject.]

How are you doing on your powers? Some of us have been experiencing blocks on those. I've been hoping you'd show up to teleport everyone out of here but I'm wondering if that's even an option.

1

[armoured]

[Korra told him about the farm, and he can't resist coming to take a look even in the midst of trying to find a way back. The idea that something like this can exist under the water this way is absolutely astonishing to him.

He's just examining some of the fruit trees when he hears someone calling.

He pokes his head out from behind the trunk, eyes glowing brightly.]

I'm here! Though these aren't my plants, sorry.

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade perks up at the sound of another voice, though it echoes strangely, like it's contained inside of a metal can.

Upon spotting the owner of said voice, Jade realizes that's not so far from the truth. Of the things she was expecting to find here, somebody in a suit of armor was not it. Still there's no reason to be rude.]

Oh, hi there! It's nice to meet you. My name is Jade - who are you?

[armoured]

I'm Al, Alphonse Elric.

[He clanks his way out from behind the trees properly to talk to her, not wanting to be rude.]

This is the the first time I've been in the farm, I guess it's yours too?

1

[scytheology]

[this would be stranger had Ruby not been used to weird goings-on. floating dog girls are the least of her worries in terms of "out of the ordinary." her shyness does make things a little awkward, though. trying to psyche herself up and calmly reply to the newcomer, she tries to keep her tone level, but can't help but lapse back into her rambling ways.]

They're not my plants—well, I mean, I guess they technically are my plants because they're the base's plants and I'm part of the crew, but I didn't plant them, if that's what you meant...

[she trails off as she realizes she's doing it again! sheepishly, she tries to divert the topic, leading to:]

I, uh, like your ears! [she pauses for a second before wincing slightly.] That wasn't offensive or anything, was it?

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade is used to people rambling at her over text, at least, so she doesn't even bat an eye at Ruby's verbal meandering. She does cock her head to the side at that last question, though.]

No - why would it be offensive? I like them too!

[She grins and lets them wiggle a bit for demonstration.]

Anyways, who is the crew you're talking about? And the base?

[scytheology]

People can be kinda touchy about stuff like that sometimes—[her own animal-featured friends, for starters]—but I'm glad you're not!

[which is a huge relief to Ruby! whew, she didn't screw things up right off the bat with her "saying things before thinking about them" thing, awesome. she rubs her neck at the following questions, though... she's not the best at explaining things.]

If you're here, you're part of the crew now. That's what I've been getting since I wound up here. The base is our little underwater home—I dunno if there's an actual name for it or not.

2

[fistallday]

[ Dori, barely able to fit in the base due to being so damn tall, looked down at everyone. And when a fair of fluffy, cute ears caught his attention from down below, he could only think fondly of the soft, twitchy Miqo'te ears of his Eorzean home.

Only, you can't just ask someone to pet their ears. He only did it once, and that was with a very close friend, and only once - it would be rude otherwise. ]

Oh, first Miqo'te I've seen 'round 'ere!

[cuteandquarky]

[Even floating, this guy is tall enough to make Jade look up when she responds to him. His comment is even more mystifying.]

A... Mi-quot-ee? What's that?

[emblazes]

[Keith's so preoccupied, between the ears and the floating, he's -- he'd be more interested in her inquiries if he had any idea how to answer. New universe? Sburb? Hmm.]

Are you talking to yourself?

[He asks, after she's landed on her ass. Seemed like a good opportunity to take advantage.]

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade looks up at this new person with a small frown, but she rights herself before she answers.]

Yes, I was. Is that a problem?

[Her tone isn't confrontational - she sounds generally curious. She's used to talking to herself; she's less used to other people being around to hear her. Maybe that isn't as normal as she thought it was.]

2 also late forever

[potentite]

[At least his nerves can't get in the way when he notices she's running into a wall.]

Jade! Keep your eyes on the prize!

[cuteandquarky]

[Oh no! Her (sort of) reunion with her teenage grandpa and she's embarrassing herself by running into walls. Jade really needs to be more attentive.]

Gran- Jake! It's, uh, nice to see you again! How long have you been here?

2 I'M SORRY I'M NINETY YEARS LATE

[grimdeity]

[ For all Rose's Seer powers, she never can manage to foresee who will show up next at the base (or who will leave, which would be equally helpful). But that won't stop her from acting as if she's not That surprised when she sees the fluffy dog-eared Witch of Space suddenly roaming the halls of the base. Rose is smiling wider, though. ]

There's been some discussion of whether this world is our world at some stage or we were simply taken off course into another-- or perhaps another option all together. The answer is as of yet, unclear.

[ Offering a hand to help her up, ] Welcome to Iniidae. Some might say you're late, Miss Harley.

heeeey better late than never!!!

[cuteandquarky]

[Jade perks up when she sees a familiar face, thoughts of travelling worlds set aside for now. Dave had mentioned that Rose was here, so it's not surprising to see her friend here, but that doesn't mean that she isn't happy to see her.]

Rose!

[Jade is up on her feet in an instant, and she forgoes Rose's offered hand by lunging in for a hug instead.]

Sorry I'm late - if I could have gotten here any faster, I would have!

2- the latest of all is ME, dio w/starbucks!!!

[voidkatini]

[ Roxy hears the sound of someone crashing into something and makes for the sound of the noise, floating through a couple of walls before discovering Jade.

Wait. Jade? Jade!!!

She waves, still tangible and sticking out half-way through the wall. ]

Whoa there, G-ma. Don't hurt yourself?

[cuteandquarky]

[G-ma? Who would call her- oh, it's Rose's teen mom! Dave mentioned she was here. Jade floats back from the wall, relatively unscathed and gives Roxy a big grin.]

Hi, Roxy! I'm fine; don't worry about me - how are you?