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

[freearcadia]

[He gave a sharp barking laugh at Yor's question, before grimly nodding at Nikkolaus]

It went black and changed shape, only the Sterncastle's really the same - there's where the Captain's Quarters is usually located by-the-by - think somebody hijacked it. Only thing it didn't try to level is that vault eastward yonder and the-

[As he explains, disembodied, mocking giggles fill the air]

Well - you'll get to see 'em real soon, be ready.

[briarliar]

Who would hijack a pirate's ship? Isn't that a little...?

[ like trying to hijack a hijacker? ]

It didn't destroy this tree either. Is there anything else that's here we might be able to use?

[badsunrising]

Sounds like the Sterncastle is what we're looking for. How do we access the ship?

[Hand reflexively goes the amulet on his neck as the giggles sound]

[freearcadia]

[The sands shifts as dozens strange figures rose up looking rather like tree-shaped people, shambling towards the group - the giggling only getting louder and more cacophonic]

Can either of you shoot a gun? if not - y'all can dig, there should be some weapons buried here.

[briarliar]

[ a brief dismayed look at Nikkolaus suggests that, no, Yor is not very gun savvy. but she kneels down at puts her hand into the sand just in case. ]

Can't we talk to them? I...m-maybe being possessed by a tree means they won't see me as a threat?

[badsunrising]

I don't use guns.

[Instead he rips off his necklace, which instantly manifests a bastard sword that glows orange-yellow with power

He holds it at bay though, upon hearing Yor's reaction]

What do you mean talk to them? They're nightmares. You can't reason with a nightmare.

[briarliar]

Sometimes you can. If someone's afraid of something in the dark, you come back with light to show them there's nothing there. And if we have a nightmare about walking tree monsters...t-then it's already pretty unreasonable! Why is asking someone possessed by a tree to try talking to them any sillier?

[freearcadia]

You're welcome to try - don't think it'll do you much good.

[And that seems to be the only reason he hasn't fired the pistols he unholstered]

These are 'em plant-people that's tryin' to take over Earth, don't think they care much for people.

[badsunrising]

[ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?]

[briarliar]

[ ...oh great they're not even normal plant people, they're fascist colonizer plant people. well, Yor said she would try it so she takes a few steps forward. ]

U-um! Hello! We aren't here to fight you! We only want to find our friend or, um, future friend because Mr. Nikkolaus hasn't met him yet...

The point is we would like to pass by peacefully! S-so would you grant us that courtesy from one tree to another?

[ this is a bad time to point out that Yor has never in any capacity managed to converse with her possession. ]

[badsunrising]

[Excuse you, I did not sign up for future friendship!

Also, wow you are bad at this.

Going to maybe tighten grip on sword at his side. You know, just in case.]

[freearcadia]

[There's a momentary pause, as if the horde of seem confounded by Yor's address - or rather expecting something, before they lunge towards the group with shrieks.

Franklin immediately starts shooting - each one he hits bursts into flames with an eerie high-pitched keen]

1/2

[briarliar]

[ I was really hoping that would work! ]

[briarliar]

[ oh well it's time to go digging for a weapon I guess?? she kneels down to see if she can find anything in the sand that's sharp or bludgeon-y ]

[badsunrising]

Looks like they don't care about tree solidarity.

[Time to launch solar blasts at tree people]

[freearcadia]

[Yor would... dig up two halves of a broken propeller, they feel like they'll be good at making things hurt.

The solar blasts have an effect - while plants do like sun, this is far too much solar. Franklin has an almost gleeful, maniacal grin on his face as he kept firing as the attackers kept trying to close in with almost mindless abandon]

[briarliar]

[ they're unwieldy but she is still a fan of anything that can cut well. she pulls them both up, but since her failed attempt at diplomacy means they're almost bearing down on her, she opts for a more...flashy method of disposal? which looks like this:

oh if only Ostania had sign twirling as an occupation. ]

[badsunrising]

[That's... actually impressive.

But he's also feeling the bloodlust that Franklin's got going on, as he continues to use his magic. Though he is notably NOT trying to slice at the trees.]

[freearcadia]

[Sometimes the apple falls, far, far from the tree. The cowboy pauses in his barrage to let out a low, impressed whistle. Many more of the attackers fell with that eerie shriek - those damaged by piercing or slashing attacks burning like paper, but more arose from the wasteland]

Looks like we ain't gettin' rid of them all - if you see an opening to break for it, do it.

[briarliar]

[ momentarily pausing her kneecaping a nearby tree attacker ]

Aren't you coming with us?

[badsunrising]

Yeah, you know this place better than either of us.

[freearcadia]

[He shoots them both an incredulous look]

Hell no, I am not a last stand fellow, we may not live long, but I ain't the roll over and die sort.

[He squeezes the trigger]

Now git while the gittin' good, I'll cover the rear.

[briarliar]

[ Yor casts Nikkolaus another silent glance before picking up one propeller and throwing it boomerang style so it hits three of the oncoming tree people in its arc before embedding in another dune. she then picks up the remaining one and starts retreating, probably not as fast as she would like because heels + sand = suffering. ]

Maybe there's something in the other direction we can use to find Mr. Harlock!

[badsunrising]

[HOLY SHIT LADY

To Franklin:]

Don't do anything stupid!

But he's using the pathway Yor made and racing out of there, hanging to the back to pick off anything that might dog them.]

We need to get on that ship.

[freearcadia]

Tch -! I'm the one that tells people that!

[The winds start returning to it's alternating desert and arctic extremes, as gunfire fades - because Franklin is booking it once the two are out of range.

The faint melody becomes more distinct the closer they get, as the wind kicks up sand, trying to obscure the black obelisk-looking vault]