Harlock's Palace - The Endless Orbit of Loneliness Deux

[freearcadia]

Who: Yor, Nikkolaus
When
What: Palace time
Content Warnings: same as the first.

In the same ruin-filled wasteland, Yor and Nikkolaus would find themselves some distance away from where the other group had landed, the darkness that momentarily blinded and tried to choke them them receding.

The featureless void is not so featureless now, as the dimmest of stars struggle to make themselves known, still and not twinkling as stars should - the spaceship Arcadia hovering, unmoving on the northernmost horizon.

The winds still howled, alternating between the blistering heat and arctic chill, carrying a faint melody in the air from the east and a vague shape surrounded by a localized sandstorm, and low groans from the west with what looks to be a withered tree in the distance.

The ground shakes as the Arcadia fires - debris and dust flying up as it attacked something too far away to see - hopefully no one got hurt.

Comments

[briarliar]

Maybe it would be polite if we knocked...

[ although she's also worried knocking might just give away their surprise if something is hostile on the other side of the door ]

[badsunrising]

It would at least announce our intentions.

[freearcadia]

[Mayu stays close to the pair - if they knock or just grab the handles, the doors will swing inwards, to a room dimly light by an overhead chandelier and tiny, tiny specks of stars gleaming through the lattice-laced windows that took up the majority of the far wall.

Clearly there's no intent on anyone confusing it for anything but a pirate captain's quarters - the single bed, chairs around a small standing table and desk are all capped with the skull and crossbones. All the furniture were knocked a skewed, and there are scattered papers and empty bottles as if it there had been a struggle - or it got ransacked]

...Harlock?

[briarliar]

[ knocked very politely before trying the doors, keeping herself in front of Mayu. when she sees the room she makes a dismayed face. Harlock is messy but not this bad, surely. after two goes at this palace running she has learned enough to inspect the scattered letters, trying to make it sound like a game for Mayu. ]

Ah, let's help clean up a little, Miss Mayu. I'm sure Mr. Harlock will appreciate a tidy room when we find him. Right, Mr. Nikolaus?

[badsunrising]

[Looking around the room darkly but nods when he sees Yor going to inspect the letters]

... Yeah, then he won't have to worry.

[Going to start picking up some bottles...]

[freearcadia]

[Mayu nods quickly, though there's a brief look on her face that betrays that she isn't fooled by Yor's attempts to calm her down, though one gets a sense she appreciates the attempt.

The bottle Nikkolaus picks up declares it to be a bourbon... with a ABV percentage high enough that it feel like he would get tipsy by just looking at it. The discarded papers at first looks like utter nonsense, and still does - but they sort themselves out in a fashion - Captain's logs mostly grousing about being stuck in the prison from the looks of it.]

...He drinks a lot, but he doesn't do it around me.

[briarliar]

That's very responsible of him. Besides, it's better to enjoy your company with tea or juice.

[ says Yor, the absolute lightweight ]

This looks to be a more, um, recent area for his memories. Judging by these papers...

[badsunrising]

[Gaze grows somber, as he stares at the bottle]

I can never understand why people drink in the first place. It just makes them act like idiots.

[Anyway, he's going to start poking around the furniture to see if there's anything else of note hidden behind things]

[freearcadia]

[As he pokes around, he'd find another ocarina under the bed, it's clearly made for someone with far bigger hands than Mayu, and it's surface had slight bevels and dents, and had the polished sheen of something that's been handled countless times.]

...He told me it's something I shouldn't try even when I'm old - Eek!

[The cognitive of Mayu interrupted herself with a slight squeal as the lights chandelier suddenly blinks off, leaving the room in a deep gloom]

[briarliar]

[ Yor was quietly listening to them, but when the room goes dark she's completely soundless as she crouches down over Mayu, touching her shoulder to signal "stay down, stay quiet" as she listens for danger, a stiletto sliding from her sleeve. ]

[badsunrising]

[Grips the ocarina in one hand, as his other one goes for his amulet again]

[freearcadia]

[Mayu instantly understood Yor's gesture - immediately curling up and covering her head.

The gloom deepens, and from the hallways the dark ichor and soot-like dark smudges drips off and slithers towards the Captain's room, gathering near the heavy desk, rising up into a human-like form.

[briarliar]

[ between Mayu and the figure, her hand at the ready but she won't throw until she senses malicious intent from it. ]

[badsunrising]

[Growls under his breath and manifests his sword, which attempts to glow in the darkness of the room]

[freearcadia]

[As the sword lights up, the figure starts and hisses - bounding over the desk as the darkness jumps to it, forming a long cloak.

A yellow eye glare out from under the mess of dark hair, his form seem overall of smoke and liquid, barely solid enough to say there is someone standing here.]

Of course - intruders. Couldn't leave well enough alone.

[Yor would definitely recognize that voice]

[briarliar]

Mr. Harlock? W-we aren't intruders, we're visitors! And maybe also babysitters!

Don't you recognize us--me? I forget, you haven't met Mr. Nikkolaus yet, but he's been very kind to try and help you!

[badsunrising]

This is Harlock?

[freearcadia]

Baby-?

[Whatever he was expecting, it's certainly not that, his eye looking around, falling upon Mayu. His already ashen face went stark white]

My... darling girl - Why.

Why did you bring her here?

Please listen, they're not here to hurt you!

[briarliar]

Because something happened back in the prison! Something is making it so you, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. Inui fade away and your monsters are the only things left in your body. We're trying to keep that from happening. Please listen to us, if you don't wake up you'll never get to see Miss Mayu again!

[badsunrising]

[Oh. I guess we're not stabbing this guy yet.]

We needed to find you so you don't disappear and leave her.

[freearcadia]

[Yet is probably the operative word here.

The edges of his being flickers and trails off into wisps, as he held himself gingerly - as if he's been through some fierce fighting before showing up. He finally speaks, his face shrouded in unnatural shadow]

She... she is likely better off without my presence.

How many times has she been put in harm's way because of me...?

[briarliar]

[ please don't make me stab a family figure in front of their child for the second time today :/ ]

You told me you don't let her stay on the Arcadia all the time to keep her safe. You do all that you can to keep her out of harm's way, even if...even if it makes you sad because you can't always stay with her!

[badsunrising]

[Hard gaze wavers at that...]

... you think she'll be happy with you making that decision for her? She hasn't told you that she wants you to leave.

[freearcadia]

I don't want you to disappear-

...She's my memories of her. Those don't hold with reality.

[briarliar]

You don't think your memories of her are important? You're just content to let them fade with you, and not even think about making new ones?!