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]

[ 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]

[briarliar]

[ Yor is trying to keep the sand from blinding her, slowing down so Nikkolaus can stay in her sight. ]

That sounds like something Mr. Harlock would play!

[badsunrising]

[Also trying to block some sand with his sword since it's all he's got]

I guess it's our only lead right now.

... you have some real skill.

[briarliar]

I do?! B-but they still attacked us...

[badsunrising]

Not everybody can talk their way out of a situation.

[Says it flippantly, then immediately goes quiet again]

[briarliar]

[ Yor abhors silence because she worries he might just be thinking over how weird she was. ]

Y-you were very impressive as well, Mr. Nikkolaus! I imagine those bright flashes were magic?

[badsunrising]

[Back to his sullen state so he shrugs]

It's not important. We need to focus on tracking this music. Does it sound like the ocarina you mentioned?

[freearcadia]

[The sand is annoying and irritating, but basic cover should be enough. The vault looks incredibly sturdy as if meant to withstand an apocalypse. It's towering doors are heavy and thick, sealed shut by some kind of lock that seem to correspond to a music scale.

Franklin is oddly keeping his distance, guns holstered.]

[briarliar]

A little...? I'm not someone who knows much about music, but it sounds like the same range of notes.

[ Yor approaches the door and tries to see if she can pull them open even with the lock there. ]

[badsunrising]

... We need to make music. That much is obvious. Not that I have any idea how to do that without an instrument.

[briarliar]

We could sing? A-although Miss Horse would be better for that...

[badsunrising]

... I don't sing.

[freearcadia]

[the vault doors don't budge, but it attracted the attention of whoever or whatever might be inside, as the music momentarily stops, and there's the sound of shuffling]

[briarliar]

Um, hello?

[ she calls not too loudly because of her failed persuasion attempt just moments before ]

[badsunrising]

[Getting ready to fight again. Because it's what he does.]

[freearcadia]

[There's a muffled voice, trying to speak, but it's too soft to make the words out too clearly]

[briarliar]

[ pressing her ear against the door ]

Could you speak a little louder?

[badsunrising]

... maybe try getting closer to the door.

[freearcadia]

[The voice tries, it's that of a young child]

...are - ...safe out...?

[briarliar]

[ to Nikkolaus ]

How can I get closer to the door?

[ but then she hears the girl's voice and Yor's face brightens with the possible identity behind it, shouting louder and excitedly this time ]

We're very safe people! We're looking for Mr. Harlock! Can you help us find him?