shinsha time

[globs]

WHO: Cinnabar and YOU...?!
WHAT: Haunting prompts for Zuko and Wataru, and a general prompt for everyone else...!! Jewel thievery is happening(?).
WHEN: july... somewhere
WHERE: Lighting store / various corner jewelry stores in the mall like J*red's
WARNINGS: none!



[ Despite sticking out like a sore thumb, Cinnabar is remarkably hard to pin down in the mall; they spend most of their time hiding away, and when they're not hiding away, they're actively trying to avoid running into anyone. The repeated explanations are stressful, the stares are stressful, everything is stressful. Back at home, they were only barely beginning to connect with the other gems; now, faced with a bizarre world full of even more bizarre creatures they'd only heard about in legends, they feel like they're back at square one. They continue to tell themself that they just need some time. Time to think; time to rationally consider all their options, and make an educated and informed decision about how to move forward from here.

But it's hard to be rational and think when you're so afraid.

They try to focus on things that are familiar to them, though there are few of them. Lights. Insects. Wooden tables and cotton brushes. They poke through the stores, looking for comfort and answers in equal measure. The jewelry store has neither. It's a graveyard - a bizarre morgue of confusing and depressing fragments - and it makes them wonder more than anything if the Lunarians really are involved, because who else would do something like this? But they strengthen their resolve; they have to do something about this, as a gem. Even if Diamond left, they didn't deserve this...

Cinnabar can be found with what looks like an empty bag of flour in one hand, crunching over the broken glass inside of one of the jewelry stores and peering with a mournful gaze into the display cases. There's not much left in there, but what is left is gently picked up with a gloved hand and put into the bag. Rings, necklaces, brooches - all of it is getting burgled right out there in plain sight. They can even be seen crouching down and looking through the glass on the floor for jewels sometimes, apparently not worried about getting cuut. ]

Comments

zuko

[globs]

[ it's only natural that Cinnabar would be attracted to the home decor store - they're a photosynthetic being, and the less-than-reliable light sources in the mall have left them feeling more drained than usual. When they spotted the brightened interior, their reasons for investigating it were twofold: one, it's suspicious, and two, their inclusions need the light.

Now that they're in there, though... they seem to not be moving. They're standing stock-still in front of one of the mirrors, the brightly-lit store sending a kaleidoscope of refracted red light all around them as it passes through their crystal hair. There's a handful of weird, metallic silver blobs of liquid that are floating above their head, separating and reforming in an almost idle-looking fashion, but if Cinnabar is aware of them, they're not showing it - their eyes are firmly locked on their reflection, to the point that they don't notice they have company. ]

who wants starbucks!!!

[fireglowup]

[It's a spirit.

Zuko guesses, anyway. He hasn't seen many--just the time at the North Pole that he'd rather not think about, really--and Uncle never spoke in detail of his experiences. This one doesn't look anything like what he's familiar with, but it's the only thing he can think of for why they look like... that.

What he does know is that spirits are probably what is to blame for going on in this place, and if one is appearing now it must be for a reason. What he doesn't know is how you're supposed to address spirits, but he's been defaulting to What Would Uncle Do in unfamiliar situations and it hasn't let him down yet. And what Uncle would do is... be polite, probably?

Can't hurt, anyway.]

Excuse me, Mr. Spirit, sir? [Wait, maybe it's a lady?] Or, uh, ma'am? Can I ask you some questions about what's going on here? [There. Can't get offended by that, right?]

can i get a hot cocoa

[globs]

[ good thing Cinnabar has absolutely no concept of gender so they don't get offended by that. Their instinct is, at once, to back away and put some healthy distance between them and this stranger for his own good (if not their own peace of mind), but when they try, they find their body not quite behaving. The best they can do is sort of stiffly stand up a little straighter, as they turn to look at him, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Wait, what...? What's going on? Their inclusions should be perfectly active in a place this bright... ]

Um... I guess...

[ they want to tell him to stay away, but they can't quite form the words. ]

[fireglowup]

[--Oh! Huh. Somehow he hadn't actually expected that to work--he'd always imagined spirits as being mercurial and whimsical and such. Which is why he asked despite not actually having any questions ready.]

Well--

[His brain is lagging and his mouth plows forward of its own accord. And straight to the point!]

Is it your doing? All of us being here? [Off to a great start...]

[globs]

Huh?

[ they're offended enough by the suggestion to momentarily forget their mini-crisis over their body not quite working the way they want it to. ]

Where did you get that idea?

[ really, they should just walk away now... but, again, they find their feet not obeying their wishes. The mercury floating around them seems to come to a serene stop slightly above their head, although they don't notice it. ]

watarun★

[globs]

Don't go in there.

[ hello, Wataru! Were you, perhaps, about to make a bad decision? It's pure chance that Cinnabar happened to be nearby - they're hiding out in a long-unused overturned planter at the moment, hoping the soil will absorb some of their poison. It's a better alternative to dripping it everywhere, like usual. The only problem is that it's near that home decor store.

On the bright side, it means they do see him first. They look extremely hesitant calling out to him, but they do it, anyway. He was annoying, but he didn't deserve to suffer or get hurt just for that... Unlike the first time he met them, he'll see that their skin is now an opaque white, and they probably smell slightly like... bread? ]

[regale]

[ Watarun here is always making decisions; most of them good, but sometimes very bad. When you put an idol near mirrors, it's only to be expected that they'll want to go look... . . . wouldn't it be nice to be able to see his hair as he puts it up for once...!

But from where he is, in the middle of striking a pose, he's turning on his heel in the direction the voice came from. As he spins, the turquoise ends of his hair are reflected in a bunch of the mirrors set further into the store. ]

—oh, it's you, Cinnamon! Hello! It's so lovely to see you again! Is that makeup?

[ That's your nickname now, Cinnabar. ]

[globs]

[ why is he posing... more importantly, why is he calling them that. They stay where they are, crouched in the dirt like a beautiful lawn gnome, giving him an annoyed look. ]

Cinnabar.

[ their name isn't even very complicated for a gem!! it takes them a second to get what he's referring to; they shake their head. ]

It's "flour."

[regale]

[ He's looking Cinnamon (unfortunately, names stick like this, especially if you don't like them and tell him as much) over and bursting out into a big smile. ]

Fufufu... then this situation is truly a flour by any other name.... ♪

[ Kill me he's really proud of his pun. ]

[globs]

[ LOOK OF DISGUST... ]

What is that even supposed to mean...

[ ... no, they shouldn't honor that horrible joke with an explanation. at least it distracts them from the not-so-mild discomfort of being looked over. Cinnabar curls in on themself a little more, hugging their knees to their chest. ]

Nevermind. I can already tell you're the type who won't listen.

[glorification]

[You normally expect to see jewels when you look into a jewelry store, but there's something so surprising about seeing this— a stunning figure like a gem itself, quietly shoveling jewelry into an empty flour bag? They look so sad about it, though, which is odd.

Eichi dares a step closer, folding his arms behind his back. He looks ridiculous himself, dressed in a shirt torn in spots that says plainly on the front "boss elf," and sweat pants that are definitely like three sizes too large for him and filled with moth holes. Despite that, he walks so confidently and speaks as gently as ever.]

Are you intending to make a necklace of some sort?

[globs]

[ let's face it: no one is looking great fashion-wise here, and Cinnabar's not a gem that cares particularly about how anyone's dressed. They have brothers that worry enough about those things - one of whom they're currently picking up the pieces of. Fortunately, Eichi doesn't get the drop on Cinnabar; they hear him coming first, turning halfway to look at him while cradling the bag to their chest protectively. ]

... I'd never do something so disgusting.

[ they're not like whoever did this. ]

[glorification]

Disgusting?

[Eichi looks genuinely surprised by that sort of response, tilting his head slightly. He won't approach any closer with them looking defensive like that, but he's still trying to see what they're doing.]

I'm not sure I understand. Do you have a problem with necklaces?

[globs]

[ they sigh through their nose, quiet and exasperated, narrowed eyes glaring at him judgmentally. ]

Would you make a necklace out of the pieces of a human?

[ They're well aware that the people here don't know what they are; still, they feel the reason for their displeasure is obvious enough, so they don't offer him any leniency. ]

[glorification]

[Eichi brings a hand to his chin like he's genuinely considering this question, out of nowhere. That's because he is. Is this a riddle? He's used to people throwing riddles out of nowhere, so.]

I have heard that there are those who might wear the ashes of a passed loved one on a necklace. There are also old findings of necklaces made of human and animal bones... Though I'm not sure I understand why you're asking?

[Tell him, sparkly person. He's slow on some things.]

[iblistriggered]

[the jewelry stores are the last thing on Silver's mind when it comes to survival... but he realizes there may be something useful for starting fires there -- a magnifying glass. There he sees one of the humans he's seen before elsewhere in the mall, but never spoken to... one that doesn't exactly look like a human, with their shiny hair and the globs of mercury around them. But Silver isn't sure what else they could be]

I'm afraid they aren't worth much, now... but they're still very pretty.

[HE DOESN'T MEAN TO BE HORRIBLY OFFENSIVE but he probably just was]

[globs]

[ he definitely just was, judging by the way Cinnabar's expression curls into disgust - once they're over the initial surprise of seeing him. What is that thing...? They've never seen anything like it. ]

Don't talk like that about Diamond. You don't know anything.

[ they might be a traitor, but they didn't deserve this. ]

[iblistriggered]

Eh..?

[what a strange reaction. Silver looks surprised, then a bit regretful]

I don't get it... they're just gems...? Ah... I definitely don't understand. So... can we start over? What are you up to?

[globs]

[ Start over...? How immature, they think to themself - it sounds like something one of the younger gems might say to them after saying something mean. Cinnabar narrows their eyes at him, then turns away, crouching down to sift through the glass shards on the floor.

bluntly: ] We can't start over. I won't forget what you said.

[iblistriggered]

[Silver deflates, quills and ears drooping. Well, he probably deserved that...

He hoists himself up on one of the glass display cases]

Then I'll just say I'm sorry I hurt your feelings with my thoughtless words. Is there anything I can do to help?

[oomfies]

[ This isn't a sight that's entirely foreign to Lottie - seeing other people loot and steal for survival. Although her excuses for being in the local jewelry store, or what remains of it, isn't so pure.. That doesn't mean people are free from her criticism come strolling up to the open gates. ]

Hey, leave some for the rest of us! Not cool.

[ She has her own backpack swung in front of her, zipping open the front so she can have an easy place to hold all her fancy goods. Lottie strolls past the shiny person in the abandoned store, immediately roaming towards the earrings (or at least, what remains of it). She even picks up a pair with her hands, bends down to a look at herself in a broken mirror with them held up to her ear - unabashedly checking herself out. ]

[globs]

[ WOW!! Cinnabar is about to snap at her, but they're so aghast at the sight of someone posing with Diamond's pieces that they lose the ability to speak for a second. But only for a second. Then they're marching over, the sound of glass crumbling under their feet making their approach loud and clear, and hold out a (gloved) hand, coming closer than they'd usually dare. ]

Give them back.

[ they sound stern. ]

[oomfies]

[ Lottie hears them approach, and sees them through the shards of the mirror she stares at. She straightens herself up, diamond earrings still in her hand as she stares down at Cinnabar. Why do they sound like that? There's another pair (thrashed, but still very shiny) just over in the case opposite. ]

Why?

[ She does at least bother to glance down at their hand, a curious pinch to her brow before adjusting her footing in an attempt to look - you know, not intimidated. ]

I found it.

[globs]

Those are pieces of... my friend.

[ is Diamond really Cinnabar's friend, at this point? It's a complicated question. Were Cinnabar to meet them again, they're not sure how they would face them -- but in this moment, it doesn't matter. Diamond is kin in a place where they're otherwise alone. ]

[oomfies]

[ Is this a crazy person? Is this crazy person trying to tell her that the earrings in her hand is.. A person? A pair of meat-rings? She's confused, and considerably less intimidated by the look in their eyes by the time she speaks up. ]

Nooo.. [ Are they talking about that saying? 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend'?? It's metaphorical! ] It's jewelry?