maskormenacelogs | [OPEN] And all of the wishes unasked for, all of needs unfed -

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[OPEN] And all of the wishes unasked for, all of needs unfed -

WHO: Peridot

slapfight and YOU
WHERE: Heropa House 007, general Heropa, and a De Chima shopping mall
WHEN: The first half of October
WHAT: Peridot frustrates her roommates, experiments with her glamour, terrorizes customers at her job, and experiences SHOPPING.
WARNINGS: None

I. ~~BARN~~ ROOM MATES

Peridot is an eccentric roommate, to be quite clear. She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep, has the barest idea of what chores are, and she has a Pumpkin for a pet (who mercifully doesn't do any of the gross things normal pets do).

She does spend a great deal of time by herself, which is good. The problem is she's more accustomed to using a bathroom as her room. Luckily, there's more than one bathroom this isn't a problem, but it's still a little weird to go looking for her and find her bedroom a mess of collected treasures and various "art projects" while she, herself, is holed up in the tub with her tablet, watching whatever the universe equivalent to Hulu is.

Despite her tablet being her preferred way of consuming media, she can also be found in front of the TV, and this seems to be where she's most eager to engage her fellow roommates, trying to get them invested in whatever the hell she's watching, whether it be soap operas, teen dramas, movies, or, in some cases, an infomercial. She keeps odd hours too, so sometimes you'll come down for a snack and she'll be glued to the television.

But sometimes she's at work or at Darin's Forge, but if she's not there or running around the other Porter cities, she's here and being weird.

(ooc: this option serves as a wildcard for any of her roommates to engage her! Don't feel limited to these options.)

II. GLAMOUR SHOTS (HEROPA)

Peridot has figured out the extent of her new ability- it doesn't extend just to Pumpkin. She can use it to mask herself as well. It's not shapeshifting- just an illusion. An illusion that makes her seem about a foot taller than her meager under four feet height (though anyone who tried to touch her head would find their hand just pass right through it), but also makes her look human.

It's strange, to say the least, but at least it doesn't come with all the other awful side effects of humanity.

So there's a short teenage girl on a sidewalk in Heropa, staring at her reflection in a mirror and pulling faces, while a chubby corgi stands beside her, wagging her little stub tail. This is fine and normal.

III. DIAMONDS ARE(N'T) A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND (HEROPA)

While Peridot does spend a lot of time at the Forge working on new inventions and keeping her mind and skills sharp, she has learned the value of Earth money and how useful it is, which means sticking to her paying job until she figures out that she can sell her inventions.

The problem isn't that Peridot isn't good at her job as a Jewelry Appraiser- the problem is that once she got over the initial squick of it, she's too good at it.

So you're walking down a street in Heropa, minding your own damn business when suddenly a scornful woman bursts out of the jewelry store, nearly knocking you down. Peridot emerges a few moments later, all green and boasting a gem on her forehead that makes her look a little too on the nose for a shop girl in this particular place.

"YOU'RE WELCOME," she shouts at the retreating woman, before turning to the person her customer nearly mowed down. In the tone of someone who has had to have this argument many times and wants to preempt it, she says, "I didn't do anything to her!"

IV. SHOPPING MONTAGE (DE CHIMA)

So Peridot understands Earth money now.

This will go down in history as a regrettable thing. She has no need for food, her housing is paid for by the government, and thus all of her income is disposable. And boy does she dispose of it.

While a significant portion of her money goes into materials for her side projects, a lot of it is spent on clothing. Not because she needs it, mind you- and she's very proud of her new Crystal Gem appearance modifiers and wouldn't want to cover him all the time- but because there's a certain inexplicable thrill to the whole thing. Also clothes are nice.

She's currently laden down with bags and staring with rapt attention at a Halloween store. Pumpkin is at her side wagging her tail-like vine as she stares at a friendly looking jack-o-lantern in the window.

"Look at them all, Pumpkin," Peridot says reverently. "They're so..."

She doesn't even have a word for all of those costumes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Temperatures in this place apparently have a habit of rising and falling, and now seems to be the time when De Chima gets chilly again, so Catra finds herself spending more and more time in warmer Heropa.

She's just going her way down the street when her path is crossed by a huffing and puffing women, and after her calls a voice that has Catra's ears twitching. She's heard that voice before -- and yep, a turn of the head confirms she's also seen this person before. She raises a skeptical eyebrow. ]

You sure about that?

[Peridot scowls and crosses her arms over her chest. Oh it's her.]

Absolutely. I gave her the precise value of the zircon she brought in, but apparently that clod thought it was a diamond. [She snorts.] Imagine. Mistaking a white zircon for a diamond.

Ohhh. [ Beat. ] Why does it matter, though? What's so special about diamonds?

Edited 2019-10-09 19:39 (UTC)

[A year ago, Peridot's answer to that would be a shocked gasp.]

Well, to us Gems they're no better than any of us, even if they are our leaders. [It feels so good to say that.] But apparently humans prefer diamonds. They're more valuable.

Wait. You're a gem? How does that work? [ She actually looks curious now. ] I know animal people, obviously, but fancy rock people? Is that what this is?

That is a highly simplified version of what "this" is. [Said in the most sardonic deadpan ever conceived.] We're created by our Diamonds by injecting a mixture of their essence and a mineral serum into the ground. The Gem grows in the ground and then pops out when she's ready.

[ grumblegrumble ]

Really did not need that much information.

[Of course you did.] It's useful. Honestly, I ought to be educating everyone who comes into this shop about the differences, but unfortunately, my "manager" thinks that will intimidate the customers.

Well, no one wants to hear that their precious rock isn't that precious, do they.

Unfortunately, if they're trying to sell it, I can't exactly lie about its value. I merely gave her an estimate for the cost of a zircon according to the documentation I've been reading.

[She pauses and leans forward, grinning.] Apparently, Peridots are actually really precious. It's unnerving and amazing.

So, here's the thing. Pumpkin is delicious food normally, but even with the glamour it has the appearance of... a friend. A short, stubby, slightly overweight friend.

Archie's Mightyena is another friend, who has decided that Pumpkin is his new friend. Dog logic.

The big wolfhound sized Pokémon trots over to Pumpkin as she stands next to Peridot and leans down, snuffing at the fake-Corgi, tail high and wagging slowly. He doesn't seem too bothered by Peridot herself-- why would he? Just a random human. Who cares about those, not when there's a dog present, am I right?

Peridot catches sight of the LARGE DOG sneaking into her space in the reflection of the window and goes momentarily rigid. She is unfamiliar with dogs that big, but the teeth are terrifying and all she can think is those are definitely pumpkin-chomping teeth.

Pumpkin, on the other hand, is very curious. She barks and tries to boop the larger creature with her corgi nose- therein lies the problem. Pumpkin doesn't have a corgi nose. She doesn't even really have a nose. So where there should be a cold snoot, Mightyena feels nothing at all.

"Pumpkin..." Peridot grits her teeth, still not moving. It can probably sense movement. "I am your superior and as your superior I am requesting you step away from those teeth."

SHE'S BEING VERY POLITE, PUMPKIN. PLEASE LISTEN. (Pumpkin is not listening.)

Edited 2019-10-07 20:30 (UTC)

It is a honestly very sensible reaction to Mightyena, especially with the knowledge that her own companion is... food-based. It seems that is indeed what Mightyena smelled about this curious new friend as he leans a bit closer, then... disappears in a beam of red light.

Let's be thankful he knew not to eat the mutant Gourgeist before then.

"Ah-- shit, sorry! Sorry, lass." Enter Archie, a little disheveled. "He don't usually wander off like that, he didn't cause ya any trouble, did he?"

Peridot snatches up the pumpkin before anything further can happen- or her elaborate cover can be blown- and places her behind her, straightening up so she can keep her glamour from faltering.

Now what would a human teenager do?

"Um no. Not at all! I was just concerned that his large size meant he would consider a smaller creature to be, erm... Appetizing?"

Nailed it.

Edited 2019-10-09 20:01 (UTC)

"...That's fair," Archie says with a shrug, leaning forward to say hello to Pumpkin, naturally assuming it's... you know.

Actually a dog.

"He's perfectly safe, don't worry. I just figured not everyone wants a big-ass dog around 'em. Can I pet?"

Pumpkin licks his hand and rather than getting dog slobber, he gets a liberal coating of pumpkin guts.

"Um..." Well, Pumpkin's already blown her cover unless Earth dogs often produce orange slobber, but never let it anyone say she's not dedicated to going as far as she can with a bit without just coming out with it. "Sure. I should warn you though... She's not exactly what you're expecting."

She sounds a little theatrical about it, too. She's gonna spin this into a fake magic trick, just watch her.

Fortunately, the orange slobber doesn't seem to bother Archie at all. He just raises his eyebrows, running his hand over Pumpkin's head.

"Really? Well, I'm just an idiot that barely knows what a dog is. Can you elaborate?"

The moment of shock she was expecting never comes and she's left gaping. "Oh erm... Well, she isn't as soft as she looks! You'll note her texture isn't the same as your animal." She sort of hesitantly holds her hand out to Mightyena in kind, only to realize something she hadn't picked up on before in her fear and focus on maintaining her illusion.

It's gone.

"...Wait. Where did it go?"

Edited 2019-10-16 16:42 (UTC)

He holds up the Pokéball with a smirk, crouching to give Pumpkin some proper pats.

"In here. It's a party trick."

She leans closer to the ball, while Pumpkin rolls over on her back and sticks her stubby legs in the air. She doesn't seem to care about the limits of her glamour and Peridot has moved on with her life.

"How does it work?" She has a theory, but she wants to make sure it's not as simple as 'it shrank.' She's seen those little plastic things Steven gets his Guys and Gals in.

Edited 2019-10-18 00:01 (UTC)

He's used to this by now. Archie tosses the Pokéball to Peridot and crouches down to give Pumpkin some more attention.

"Light conversion and all that. Try see if you can open it, huh?"

"Light conversion. Oooh." She tries to pry it open to no avail, and when that fails, she tries to to just hit the button. "This isn't technology I expected humans to be capable of. First the warps and now this."

Guess who forgot she's still disguised as a human.

It's her.

Naturally, he had absolutely no idea Peridot is a non-human. Archie's not particularly shaken when she reveals it, though. Mightyena pops out the Pokéball with another flash of light and barks happily, delighted to be back with present company.

"Humans, eh?" he asks, a little smugly. Despite his smugness having absolutely no basis, seeing as he wasn't trying to imply or do anything.

Peridot yelps as Mightyena just pops out of the ball and nearly drops it, only managing to catch it with her metal powers before it hits the ground. These events in rapid succession cause both her and Pumpkin's glamours to just vanish, leaving a barely four foot tall green child(??) and a pumpkin standing in their places.

She looks up, still holding a Poke Ball suspended in mid-air, a look of utmost awkwardness on her face, and then lifts her arms in a kind of ta-daaaa gesture. "Ha! Fooled you. I make a pretty convincing human, don't I?"

"Whu--!?"

Archie covers his mouth, shook. Looks between Peridot, the floating Pokéball and his Mightyena, who is just wagging its tail.

"You're not a human?! I've never-- there are other races out there?!"

This is only half put on.

She doesn't get even the half that isn't. She just stares at him like he's a dolt, and then twirls the Poke Ball around in mid-air as she tries to get a better look at it. Technology doesn't give her a headache. Technology is good. "I've documented at least a dozen different classifications of being on this Earth alone."

Said in the key of is your scarf on too tight??

"I am a very stupid human," Archie says, with a shrug. "I've only noticed, uh... half a dozen. I think. Maybe less."

"Well. At least you can admit it." Despite being frightened of Mightyena earlier, she paces around it, tentatively touching its fur and then pulling back before it can retaliate. "So is this creature just a hard light manifestation? It's so lifelike."

Then again, so is she, but there's reasons for that. This creature doesn't have any sort of external power source like a gem does.

A shadow falls over this short teenage girl. That shadow belongs to six feet and nearly three hundred pounds of shining blue metal. The humanoid machine tilts her head ever so slightly in a convincing mimicry of the same human gesture, demonstrating her curiosity at this display as she looms over Peridot.

When she speaks, her voice is clear and crisp, echoing ever so slightly as if coming from a hollow place.

"What are you doing?"

Even at a foot taller than her typical form, Peridot stands under five feet tall, and that extra foot has never felt more like an illusion than it does when that shadow falls over her, turning her series of madcap expressions comically grave. The glamour, as it turns out, cannot sweat, but it can look terrified.

Look, she's never seen a giant metal person, and panic tends to make her forget that she's a quote-unquote 'master of metal.'

"I- I was just examining my form." Is that how humans say that? Oh, mudballs. That isn't it, is it? She's not doing great at this stealth thing.

She's used to that kind of reaction - she does tend to make a certain kind of first impression, and maybe on purpose too. Certainly, she's rather intimidating, standing there all tall and armored, her expression utterly unchanging as she stares down at Peridot without so much as blinking.

After a moment, she slowly lowers herself into a crouch, bringing them more to eye level.

"'Your form?'" Her metallic voice has the lilt of curiosity to it. "Is there something unusual about it that calls for examination?"

Peridot shifts from one foot to the other. "It's, uh... More expressive than I expected"

She demonstrates one such face- it is a look of someone smiling a bit too wide out of fear. "I mean how many humans- like myself- actually take the time to evaluate our facial, uh... Erm..."

What is the word for those things organics have over their bones???

[Georgia, who wouldn't really care if she didn't just have to deal with a stranger touching her, frowns sharply beneath her sunglasses.]

She clearly thought otherwise.

She didn't know the difference between a diamond and a zircon. [Peridot's expression is flat and deeply judgmental.] How can you not tell the difference?! The cut was completely wrong for a diamond, and don't even get me started on the facets. Ugh. Why are humans so unobservant?

Zircon's cheaper and less likely to have been mined in a war zone and used to fund bloodshed.

[That's the difference Georgia cares about, anyway.]

Personally, I think they're both a waste of money, but I don't have much use for jewelry.

[Peridot just blinks at her, and crosses her arms over her chest.] The fact that people actually pay money for them is fairly insulting, if you ask me. Imagine. Cutting up gems to wear. Even if they're just rocks compared to Gemkind, it's still so... Ergh. Unnerving.

So why are you still working here? Seems like a bad fit.

Actually, it's a good fit. I get to do what I was made to do, even if it's uncomfortable, and they pay me for it.

[She sounds so excited about the word "pay."] And there's all sorts of things I can do with that payment! That makes even the annoying parts worth it.

The trouble with hitting a growth spurt is how often you need to go clothes shopping. The colder weather clothing Norman bought last year is out of the question this year, and so here he is, carrying a bag full of new sweaters.

He pauses, when he sees a figure (and a pumpkin) he recognizes from the network. After a moment of hesitation, he comes up beside them, looking up at the costumes himself. "It's a funny holiday, isn't it?"

"It's... Fascinating." She's still completely dazed by the sight of all the costumes and decorations. "I've never seen so much of this in one place before."

It's just not a significant holiday in Beach City. Beach City doesn't really... make a big deal out of holidays in general, honestly. A side effect of being an alternate universe tourist town, probably.

While she's watching, someone inside notices and sets off one of the displays to start laughing maniacally, startling her and making all 3'9 of her stumble back and grab Norman by the arm as she recovers from her sudden surprise.

"They get really into holidays here."

Any warning about what to expect at Christmas is cut off by the display. He stumbles back himself as Peridot grabs him, not braced to expect it. (Actually, that'd probably happen even if he'd been braced.) "Are you alright?"

"It moved on its own," she says, very gravely, and still sort of cowering. Ah, yes. The savior of Homeworld, everyone. "Is it a real ghost they've trapped in that building to sell merchandise??"

At least she's heard ghost stories before, even if she doesn't quite know where ghosts would appear traditionally. Bound to an eternity of selling cheap holiday merch seems legit to her.

It's a little funny, seeing the gravity she assesses the decoration with, but it's hard not to feel a bit of sympathy as well. Her Earth must be different. There's a lot to get used to here, so much to encounter for the first time.

And if you have a sentient pumpkin, it's probably not a stretch to think there are actual ghosts involved in things like this. "It's electronic, actually. There's a machine that makes it move and play a recording when someone turns it on."

...He's pretty certain, at least. He can't really guarantee nothing else is going on, given the kinds of things that do happen. But it's not like they're in Jeopardy.

"...Oh."

That's exceedingly simple to the point where she's a little embarrassed by her reaction. Slowly, she unfolds herself from where she was cowering and walks back up to the window, hemming and hawing as she examines it.

"I see. It's a device used to frighten people." Nailed it. She pulls a face. "Well, it's good to see that it does well with its intended function."

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[OPEN] And all of the wishes unasked for, all of needs unfed -

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