video

[aspearation]

[ Undyne had said she wanted more guidance from ALASTAIR. Here she is, with more guidance, and she doesn’t know if she likes it. Looking more ragged than ever, she’s standing with Pearl, with the volcano Nalalona in the background. ]

Alright chumps, listen up, it’s time for some teamwork! ALASTAIR has some ideas about what we can do to get the volcano going again, so everyone can get their powers back. ...it’s going to involve a bomb.

[Pearl clears her throat, despite the fact her body is flickering in and out of view at some points during the video. The Gem stands tall as she gestures back to the volcano.]

This is correct. ALASTAIR has entrusted us with schematics of creating a bomb and a catapult. It’s up to us to gather the necessary supplies and assemble them.

They have observed a high level of tectonic plate activity here, near the Nalalona volcano. With enough force -- the bomb in this case -- we can possibly trigger an eruption and restore the natives’ Gifts, along with our own magical abilities. The volcano’s opening is large enough for us to hit our mark with the bomb. It’s up to us to put it all together.

We can’t afford to not try. Look around you, half our team relies on magic just to exist. This isn’t just about helping the natives use magic anymore, this about saving ourselves. If you don’t use magic, good for you, but if you have a heart, you’ll understand why this is important, and why if I catch anyone slacking off, they’ll be answering to my spear about why they don't think it's important. Got it?!

[Pearl glances to Undyne and offers her a weak smile. The situation they were all facing was quite dire. She faces the feed again.]

I know we have the ability to make this work. And we will, if we all work together on this. Every little bit helps!

[ OOC note: There will be a mod-posted mass log on the 16th for gathering/construction/etc. Pearl and Undyne will be around, and feel free to use this post to chat among each other as well! ]

[ OOC edit: The NPCs Crowley and Cherenkov speak! ]

Comments

un: pearl

[beyourrock]

They have done their research, they have tested the bomb themselves. People here are suffering. We need to do something in order to get magic back to these islands. It's either we do this, or we have no other leads.

video | username: NAILS

[nichocolatine]

[ sorry to suddenly jump in here, but this is pretty much what he'd been wondering about since the beginning— ]

—Are they, though?

[ the redhead stares blankly into the screen, looking more curious than concerned at the moment, but admittedly it's rather easy to look pretty neutral when you only got one eye to emote with. ]

Suffering, I mean. I mean — yeah, shit sucks right now, but it ain't gonna be tok much of a trial to learn new skills, 'specially when they got plenty of us willing to help out.

[ there's an object that he's rolling between his fingers, a single cigarette stick that he seems to be contemplating. he's down to thirteen now. it ain't a number he's comfortable with. ]

If we jumpstart their volcano and give 'em back their powers that way, won't that still leave 'em god-less?

Worse — won't it just prove they never needed her in the first place?

[beyourrock]

Jump starting their powers may give them a morale boost. Perhaps their government would be much more cooperative.

We need to be at peak performance ourselves as well. If we aren't, how can we possibly defend ourselves and the natives from another storm?

[Pearl's figure flickers out from view, leaving just the gem in her forehead. She takes in a deep breath, trying to settle her flickering body.]

It could prove that, yes. Who knows at this point.

[nichocolatine]

[ a single brow is arched at that particular display. "display", his mind is quick to say, as if she'd meant at to do that at all in the first place.

quietly, he lifts the cigarette to his lips, but he makes no move to light it just yet. as if the weight against his lip were comfort enough in the moment. ]

Y'sure you're gonna be up for all this?

[beyourrock]

I know people aren't fond of this idea, but yes, I am.

[She nods in affirmation, pale blue eyes determined.]

If they're offering assistance, it'd be silly to turn it down. Especially when it could help all of us one way or another.

[nichocolatine]

[ her gaze bores right into him, and he finds himself the first to break eye contact. he never did quite know what to do in the face of such blatant and naive determination.

he starts fussing around with the pockets of his coat, the garish purple one of the alastair brand. the shirt he wears beneath it isn't of standard uniform fare, though — a plain white button up with poorly-washed remnants of blood stains along the right side. ]

Guess it is pretty nice of 'em to finally lend us a hand, [ he comments neutrally, finally finding what he was looking for — a box of matches. ]

That mean if this all goes belly up, we can lay the blame on them? Not that that'd really matter, though... They ain't the ones here.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl watches him carefully, seeing the box of matches, but she redirects her gaze back to the man, clearing her throat.

Another flicker.]

We can. I wouldn't exactly blame them. They're offering a solution to the ALASTAIR recruits in which require magic in order to survive. I don't think they'd want their valuable 'assets' withering away here. They're busy with other missions after all.

[nichocolatine]

[ the matches aren't actually his, but rather a souvenir from his brief time in oska before finding himself here. while he's not big on stealing, he comforts himself with the fact he ain't exactly big on being coerced into an indefinite time of servitude either, so. he drags a single match across the carton with perhaps more satisfaction than one might in such a menial task. ]

Sounds like poor planning t'me. Ain't exactly all that great for the morale...

[ he holds the tiny flame up to the end of his cigarette, takes in a deep, comforting breath. ahh, sweet poison. ]

But anyway. What d'ya want me t'do?

[beyourrock]

[It might be poor planning, but it's all they have to work of off for now. Pearl sighs heavily as her Gem flickers, a long list of schematics being shown in hologram form. Most of it is complicated equations and the like, and it scrolls through pretty fast.]

I know some people can handle the schematic side of things, but we will need some materials in order to make the catapult and the bomb. We hope to assemble all who are interested in a few days to get these supplies together. They consist of metal, wood, rare red flowers with black stems, fish hearts, coconuts, and sea urchins.

The list seems strange, but the make up of these items react differently than what we assume them to be. A coconut here may not be the same as the ones we're familiar with from our homes.

[nichocolatine]

...Let's hope not, considering I just ate one not too long ago.

[ idly, he puts a hand over his stomach. he doesn't feel like he's at risk of combustion any time soon, but how does one really know when it comes to that stuff anyway? ]

[beyourrock]

[Pearl blinks before she lights up, for once, with a small laugh. She places her hands together, just under her chin with a small shake of her head.]

I think you'll be fine! I believe it reacts more... 'violently' when the other ingredients are involved. I don't think humans can ingest metal and wood.

[She shudders at the idea of ingestion and.. man, humans were strange with their digestive systems.]

I don't believe I caught your name! I'm Pearl.

[nichocolatine]

[ it's a little comforting, for sure, but he still makes a mental note to be a bit more discriminatory with what he actually ingests while on these alien planets...

at least when he introduces himself in turn, he has the courtesy to pluck the cigarette from his lips before doing so. ]

Badou. Nails.

[ which probably just sounds like a bunch of words randomly thrown at her, but it's a legitimate name, he swears. at the mention of hers, of course, his eye flickers towards the gem nestled rather blatantly on her forehead — but it's a split-second, tops. ]

Ya been with ALASTAIR a while, Pearl?

[beyourrock]

A pleasure to meet you Mr. Nails. Granted I wish it was under better better circumstances.

[When she isn't near poofing back to her original form, which is the Gem in her forehead. But she fights to keep her body stable.]

Most people would say it's been a while. [Pearl taps the side of her chin.]

Approximately six months, I've been with them.

1/2

[nichocolatine]

[ his expression seems to stall for a moment, lips parting just enough that a small exhalation elicits enough smoke to cloud up his vision. ]

2/2

[nichocolatine]

[ a second later he is grinning, albeit wryly. ]

Six months, huh...?

[ well. he's waited over a decade already for his answers... a couple of months shouldn't be too hard.

still. what a bummer. he heaves a heavy, over-dramatic sigh. ]

I'm definitely gonna need more cigarettes, then.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl frowns a little. Oh she knew of cigarettes. Often wrinkled her nose at them. They were so smelly and... eugh.]

Have you thought about kicking the habit? I mean, you could start weening yourself off it.

[dishearten]

Change is not the same as suffering. They are learning to live in a new way. Perhaps a more sustainable way. If this happens again, who is going to trebuchet explosives into the volcano next time? Are we really sure it'll be safe when the natives of Nalawi try and organize it themselves?

Testing only gets you so far. There's no such thing as foolproof, especially with things so destructive. There's got to be another way, this should be a last ditch effort. We haven't been long enough to resort to those.

( pretty big words for a man fading away without magic to sustain him, but his need for magic isn't the same as it being the right choice in this mission. )

[beyourrock]

I'm not talking about just the natives.

There are a lot of questions that I have as well, but ALASTAIR has already given us information they think is adequate to know of. It's something, and right now we have nothing to really work with, unless you have any ideas?

[dishearten]

I am. We're here to protect the natives of Nalawi, not ourselves. I realize it's difficult, but we can't let it cloud our judgement.

( that can come off as condescending but he's suffering from the lack of magic, too. it's easy to panic when one feels weakened, and he's trying to avoid that gut reaction. )

I don't have a perfect solution, no. That doesn't mean there aren't other options. Causing an artificial eruption sounds incredibly dangerous and I don't think it should be our first option. I'm not sure I believe it's a good idea even as a last ditch option.

[beyourrock]

How can we protect them if some of us are nearly on the verge of death, due to be being mostly made of magic?

If there any possible solutions, please let us know. As far as I can see, ALASTAIR has done their research and are offering some assistance in this.

[dishearten]

As far as you can see. This is based on what, exactly? They keep our methods secret from us and expect trust that they have yet to earn. They ask us to do something dangerous and foolhardy instead of informing us that we will be weakened in a place without magic before we are dumped here, and providing means to the people that need it to exist in a world with limited magic.

( it never adds up with these people, and he's not ever going to be okay with throwing a bomb at a volcano because it might help. that's a ridiculous idea. )

I think instead of lobbing explosives into a live volcano, we should pursue other options. If ALISTAIR does not intend to lose half its workforce, one it claims to be too valuable to lose, they'll think of a way to help those that need it. Even if ALISTAIR refuses to aid the individuals weakened by their forced employment, we are choosing our lives over those of the natives here. We can't put all these people in danger for the sake of a few.

( well, they can. and probably will. but he's not going to let it happen without saying something about it. )

[beyourrock]

As far as we know, the volcano has not erupted in quite some time. And how were they supposed to know about the weakening of magic? They may have assumed it affected the natives, but didn't think it would affect us as well, being from different worlds and universes. Honestly, would anyone have guessed that?

We can evacuate what natives are on the island to the south. They will be safe in that area of the island. It's the only option they're offering us. If you wish to try out a different venue, by all means do so.

[dishearten]

Magical abilities have been disappearing here, it is not a leap to think ALISTAIR should have been concerned to send us here. Even if you're right and they didn't consider it, the appropriate action should not be wildly throwing explosives, it should be bringing those that need magic back to safety. This course of action is more for us than it is for the natives of this land.

If someone tells you to do something ill-advised or downright dangerous, you have the option to not do it. That is my point.

( seems like it's too late for that, though. everyone invites him to find the solution on his own without conceding to the fact they might not be thinking things through. )

[beyourrock]

Exactly. You have the option not to do it.

[She levels her gaze with the feed, her lips in a thin line.]

I know it's bad. Trust me, I do. But there's nothing else to work off of. And they give evidence that there is some kind of activity going on here near this volcano.

You may do as you wish, and think what you will of anyone who follows through with it. But we're running out of time.

[dishearten]

We are running out of time. And instead of questioning the individuals that brought us here, that could send us back to a place we'd be safe, you're taking their guidance and choosing to do something dangerous and ill-informed, no matter how you look at it.

It's not wrong to be afraid, nor to want a solution. But this isn't the way, and I wish more people would question those responsible for us being in danger instead of blindly following their instructions.

( he shakes his head. his battery is absolutely on empty, now, and it does not seem it was a prudent use of energy in the first place. )

Do as you will. I hope that it doesn't end up as destructively as it could.