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

[badsunrising]

[Is more curious about the pictures of the age progression and passing through them carefully... Is regarding the other set with a much darker expression and pointedly keeping his distance]

[freearcadia]

It's okay - I just need to be somewhere that I could be heard clear, I'm sure that's it.

[The youngest looks like they're about a little younger than Mayu, the skinner boy hanging upside down from a branch while the one with glasses is struggling to get up, another around the same time of the two sleeping on a balcony next to a telescope.

At one point the two were the same height, but Harlock quickly shot up like a weed in his teens while the other boy stayed the same height, leading to a lot of awkward kneeling or the latter being picked up to get them both in the shot. The last of the ones before Harlock lost his eye showed them both in what looked to be military uniforms]

[briarliar]

[ to Nikkolaus ]

Do you think we can find some place high up so she can play the tune? One that isn't dangerous to climb?

[badsunrising]

I was going to suggest the tree actually since I didn't see any other high options around. If one of use got up there, the other should be able to just pass her up to them without her needing to do anything.

[turns to Maya:]

Unless you know of a place.

[freearcadia]

That could work!

[She's willing to try anything]

[briarliar]

As long as it's this cherry tree and not the one we...

[ cut down Harlock's ancestor down from ]

...left behind. Miss Mayu, would it be all right if I picked up up? Then Mr. Nikkolaus could take you to the top of the tree.

[badsunrising]

[Nods]

If she's all right with it.

[freearcadia]

Of course! I'm sure you can easily pick me up.

[She held her arms out.]

[briarliar]

Th-that's not what I was worried about... but, yes, thank you!

[ but very gingerly picking up Mayo and looking to Nikkolaus if they can arrange a handoff where she can lift her up to wherever he's waiting up in the tree ]

[badsunrising]

[Making his way up the tree and then, once he's situated on a sturdy branch, extending his arms for Mayu]

[freearcadia]

[Mayu holds still as Yor held her up, and grasps for Nikkolaus' arms once she's able to reach, making a smooth transition]

[briarliar]

B-be careful, please, Mr. Nikkolaus!

[ Yor doesn't mean to fret so much but she does, and stands positioned underneath just in case she needs to catch someone. ]

[badsunrising]

I know what I'm doing.

[Holding Mayu carefully so she can play her ocarina]

You good?

[freearcadia]

Uh-huh, Thanks for helping me up.

[Mayu beams before she starts playing, the melody much clearer now, the vault walls around them starts falling away, crashing to the ground - they may vaguely hear a cowboy yelp in alarm from a little ways away.

The distant spaceship slowly starts to move]

[briarliar]

Oh! Sorry Mr. Harlock Jr.!

Please keep playing, Miss Mayu! I think it's working! A-and you're doing a very lovely job!

[badsunrising]

[Might be glancing in the direction of that yelp... But then the moving spaceship steals his attention]

[freearcadia]

[Franklin looks more nonplussed than harmed, as the Arcadia starts turning towards their direction - it seems oddly sluggish in it's flight as Mayu continues to play]

[briarliar]

It's coming around. That's good, isn't it?

[badsunrising]

Keep playing! It can hear you.

[freearcadia]

[She glances at the two to signal she heard them, still playing as the ship continues on its path, slowly descending.

Franklin gives the group a look as he hides behind one of the vault walls.]

[briarliar]

[ catches that hiding, but if Harlock is guiding the ship then they need some way to get to it. and she knows they wouldn't let any harm come to Mayu. ]

Just a little more. Although if you're tired, please rest. I think they've noticed us now...

[badsunrising]

[Attention is once more on Franklin and suspicious]

[freearcadia]

[Franklin mouths something to him, though it's hard to tell what he's saying, but given one of his hand was around his neck, where that cable was.

The ship slowly descends about about a hundred or so feet away, again giving the impression that it is oddly sluggish - almost exhausted.

Then, and only then does Mayu stop, gasping for air]

[briarliar]

You did wonderfully, Miss Mayu! Please rest a little.

[ reaching her arms out to let Nikkolaus know she can take her back down ]

[badsunrising]

[Gives a confused look at Franklin before turning back to Mayu]

Yeah, you did great. Now catch your breath so we can see about finding your father on that ship.

[Handing her down to Yor]