[Open] She's never tailed anyone before but is pretty sure it can't be that hard

[diediediediediedie]

[The big question hanging over everything for Peridot was "now what?"

She was stuck in a big human city, ordered to destroy shadow monsters who may or may not pop out at any time with hypothetical powers she has no idea how to use. Most of her own Gem abilities are gone, she has no need of most of the services in the city, and she can't go anywhere.

So what was she meant to do now?

Her training tells her that if she has no idea AT ALL what to do, then she should gather information...but what would that look like? Tracking someone in the hopes that THEY'LL have a clue?

...Yes, apparently. Well, shards.

Perhaps she could tail a likely looking suspect and watch what they do. See if she can catch them working out their powers. It's just a matter of waiting for someone to come by and follow them for a distance.

Of course, that all depends on someone magic walking by...]

Comments

[mechanacet]

[Daniel is limping through the city streets at a snail's pace. On this particular shopping trip, he is hunting for an electronics shop from which he can buy components for his project.

It's been nearing completion recently, despite the set back of Daniel breaking his foot. Largely because while Daniel is close to immobilized, he has very little else to do. This does mean that he needs to go and get components more regularly, which means either scavenging or buying the stuff he needs. Unfortunately, the bit he's currently after are the types of things that you wouldn't normally find amidst some salvage. Hence the trip into the city.

Cam is on his usual perch, keeping an eye on everyone around the conspicuous pair so that Daniel doesn't have to.]

[diediediediediedie]

[Oh yeah, it would figure that the first likely subject to come by is walking at a snail's pace. Perhaps he's heading to some kind of human parts shop to replace his bad limp?

What Peridot is far more interested in is the robot on the human's shoulder. She's fairly sure it's not appropriated Gem tech, and it's too advanced looking to be human tech. She needs a closer look at it, but it will be difficult to get close without getting spotted. Maybe if she tries to sneak up on tiptoe...]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel limps on, oblivious to Peridot sneaking up behind him. Cam however, is not, as she quickly finds out when the camera in place of the small robot's head swivels around to look at her.

Cam regards Peridot for a few moments, before deciding that she isn't immediately dangerous and going back to his regular surveillance of their surroundings. Little does she know, however, that Cam has engaged the magnets in his feet, essentially fixing themself to the metal plate contained in the shoulder pad of Daniel's coat. If Peridot tries to pick Cam up, she will not succeed, unless she's strong enough to pick up Daniel at the same time.]

[diediediediediedie]

[Peridot startles the moment the robot looks at her. The moment is tense, she freezes in place. She has no idea what it could do. Shoot lasers? Electrocute her?

...Completely ignore her and turn away? She's almost insulted before she double-checks herself. It's a good thing that she's being disregarded. It allows her to get close enough to the robot to inspect it. Of course, she isn't going to grab it until she's absolutely certain it won't blow up in her face.]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel remains oblivious. Unless Peridot makes a noise or steps in front of him he is unlikely to notice her. He's too busy looking for an electronics shop.

Cam doesn't look like they're going to notify Him either, the tiny robot is continuing their watch, paying peridot more attention than none at all, but merely keeping an eye on her. More attention is paid to the alleyways between the various buildings. Who knows what is lurking there after all.]

[diediediediediedie]

[Peridot moves ever so slowly, keeping pace with him and gingerly reaching for the robot. She's more or less inorganic herself, so she should be able to at least communicate with the thing.

She slowly puts her hands on Cam and slowly lifts, up and up, until she's close to lifting Daniel off the floor. How was she to know that the magnet would be that strong?]

[mechanacet]

Please unhand me.

[Cam's voice is surprisingly deep for such a tiny robot and they fix Peridot with the equivalent of a tiny robot glare.

Daniel jumps at the sudden sound of Cam's voice and attempts to twist around to see who his friend is addressing] What the..? Who the hell are you?!?

[panspermia]

[It's been a tiresome few weeks, but Greg's rib is finally just about healed up, which means there's one less aching pain giving him trouble. He may as well take advantage and get some work done in the streets.

Greg's been doing his best to keep himself busy with small, menial jobs around the city, as much for the little bit of cash as the distraction. Picking up litter is far from a glamorous use of time, which is fitting, because this is the person who's about as far from glamor as you can get. Indeed, there's probably plenty of locals to Freesia who look more magical than this guy, but he does, at least, bear a striking resemblance to someone...]

[diediediediediedie]

[Look at what the hairy one is doing. Picking up the trash of other humans. It's pathetic. She can't imagine being that lowly, that disrespected...it's what technology is for! It disgusts her to even look at him. What on earth about them was so worth betraying the Gems for?!

And yet somehow, she can't take her eyes off him. There's something about him that's strangely...familiar?

It's insane. All humans more or less look the same to her, and yet she can't shake the feeling that there's something, somehow, more than human about him? It's worth investigating, and worth dispensing with the stealth.]

Why do you do that?

[panspermia]

Well, someone's got to, right? Heh...

[He'd been leaning down to pick up an old chip bag, so it was a moment before he straightened to see the owner of this new voice. The sight of her faded his casual posture and good natured grin, in favor of staring.

There was a stone on her forehead. A gemstone. She was--he shouldn't assume, all sorts of people and creatures seemed to end up here. But she sure looked like... and if she was one, and not one he knew, then she'd be from--

After his thoughts scrambled for a few seconds, he got the grin back, though it was considerably less at ease.]

Y-you know, helps the streets look a little nicer, earn a little extra cash, where's the downside, right?

[diediediediediedie]

[Crossed arms and raised eyebrow. This human is making no sense at all.]

Did this city bring us here to clean up it's trash or fight monsters? Surely the other humans look down upon you for such menial work. [Like she is doing, right now? If she did this the other Gems would think she was completely cracked.

It did not escape her notice that he responded to her presence in a way that suggested he knew what she was. Not that she could be sure of that, but it was a vital piece of the puzzle.]

Whatever you need the money for, this city should be providing.

[panspermia]

Well... sure they are, I guess. [But he's used to that.] But it seems like everyone's looking down on us from the start, aren't they? May as well do my best to clean up the place we're wrecking.

[He deposits the garbage into a large plastic bag, shrugging. He doesn't want to keep staring, but he sure doesn't feel comfortable taking his eyes off her, either.]

Oh yeah, all the basics're taken care of, they're good on that. I'm trying to save up for a little something extra, though, y'know? It's the extra stuff that keeps you going, after all. A hot dog's no fun without some condiments.

[diediediediediedie]

But why would you cultivate that attitude? Not that I think this would be beneath you, but surely there are other clods around here lower than you who would pick up the garbage! Why take on the task willingly?

[He keeps staring at her, which she thinks might be something humans aren't supposed to do? She has no idea, really, but he seems uncomfortable which is a fair hint.]

I don't know what a "hot dog" is, but it seems to me they should be rewarding those of us who fight us by providing everything we require!

I think we need this mess

[explodokills]

[ Katsuki had considerably calmed down since he realized his quirk simply was not coming back. He'd been messing around with the possibilities of other quirks rising, but he'd yet to notice anything stand out. He spent a lot of time trying to just remember the quirks of everyone in his classroom to go down the list of things to consider, but one thought pervaded another and soon it became a mess in his head.

Trash cans had met the business end of Katsuki's feet on more than one occasion, today included.

What're more is he's annoyed because he's almost positive someone is following him and it's pissing him off. ]

FUCK!

[ Down goes another can in an alley. ]

We clearly do

[diediediediediedie]

[Well, yes, she's following him, but from a safe distance. This one is clearly unstable. She's moved up to the rooftops because of it, actually. He's a possible threat. Perhaps one to be eliminated but that remains to be seen.

Her fingers are not soundless when they helicopter, and if he were to quit screaming and kicking things for a few minutes he might hear her passing from rooftop to rooftop.]

[explodokills]

[ It seemed like he wasn't going to scare off whoever it was so they were at least intent on watching him. Gotta give them some credit. He glanced up at only a blip of a noise but he didn't catch a visual.

You fuckin' -

He approached the can he knocked over, picking up the steel lid and giving it a moment to feel the weight of it. Good enough.

So he flung it toward where he suspected the noise had gone, letting the wind (and perhaps a little something extra) carry it up. ]

[diediediediediedie]

[She touched down on the rooftop, flexed her fingers, and then was beaned in the back of the head by a trash can. The impact caused her to lose her balance and topple forwards with shriek and a thud.

Oh, she was going to hurt him.

She wobbled to her feet, picked up the trash can in a wobbly manner, and wobbled over to the edge of the roof to throw it back at him.]

[explodokills]

[ YEAH HE THOUGHT SO

He moved just enough to swing his forearm as it approached him and slammed it to the ground. The impact sounded worse than it was, but as he felt the heat swelling under his skin, he remembered how much he used to use his quirk to really added to the impact and alleviate it from his bones. Ah well. ]

You gonna come down now, you annoying-ass fly?

[diediediediediedie]

[Peridot's dizziness is going away quickly, but she hardly notices. The little human on the ground made -admittedly- quite an impressive block. He must be less fragile than the others around her, but unfortunately he's still as stupid. She has all the advantages up on the roof.]

Of course not, you clod! If you want me, you'll have to come up here!

[defactodefector]

[While Peridot's looking around for more people to bother, she might notice a few crashes and loud booms. Obviously something interesting and worth checking out, right?

The source of the sounds, was Rose Quartz, somewhere near the mine, as it seems to be a nice, empty expanse of rocks and dirt that she can use for practice with her new powers. The crashes are large rocks being sent flying into other large rocks, and being smashed into even smaller rocks. It's a rather impressive display really, if you don't know that Rose is actually trying to practice NOT putting so much power into it. It'd be nice to be able to just take a walk down the street without leaving craters everywhere she steps, after all.

On the bright side, the constant sounds of rock smashing would make her rather easy for someone else to spy on her for a bit.]

[diediediediediedie]

[Peridot has meant to inspect the mines since she learned about them. She's not quite sure she understands, but it sounds to her like a proto-Kindergarten. Respectable intention to imitate a superior species, if nothing else.

She had picked up an earth fem that seemed to be inert, and analyzing it while sitting somewhat out of the way. She felt the weight of it, moved it in the light, tested it with her tongue...

And then nearly bit it in half when the ground shook.

Of course she was going to need to have it out with the person doing it, marching around the corner with determination]

Do you-!

[She bolted back around the corner and frantically dove behind an outcropping to hide.

It was-

No.

It was Rose-

NO.

It was Rose Quartz-

NO NO NO why was SHE here? Why was she HERE? HOW was she here? If she was alive then what was all that business with the Steven?! What had she lost her ship, her escort, and her informant for? WHY WAS SHE STUCK ON THIS STUPID PLANET?

Was Rose coming around the corner?! Had she seen Peridot!? Was she hidden enough?! What, why, what-?]

[defactodefector]

[The answer to most of those questions is because of magical forces pulling them here, of course, though Peridot would have to actually ask Rose to find out herself- and it's doubtful that she would be very compliant. Being face to face with the leader of a rebel faction that continually messes with your stuff probably isn't a situation that Peridot wants to be in right now, even less than being stuck here.

On the bright side at least, Rose Quartz doesn't seem to have noticed the other Gem. She's too busy practicing, trying to get some level of subtlety and control with her powers. Right now, she's trying to get the hang of something that might come in handy- immobilizing something without hurting it. Making two walls of stone rise up on either side of an object, and press it between them. Unfortunately, every time she tries, the two walls just smash together, and crush whatever object she's trying to keep still.

Rose misses when she didn't destroy everything she touched.]

[diediediediediedie]

[Maybe Peridot hadn't seen what she thought she saw. Maybe the stress of the new environment was getting to her. Maybe if she poked her head around the corner, she's see a totally different giant pink-haired lady. Maybe if she looks again she'll see...

Rose violently smashing things between giant rock walls.

Peridot had been briefed on Rose before she began her tasks on earth. There was no question that she was dangerous: she'd coerced so many Gems to fight and die for such an insignificant planet, she'd upended every plan they had for the planet, set back their progress in every single way.

There was no way she hadn't seen Peridot. This was a message. A warning. Rose was toying with her. Don't interfere or you'll get smashed. How much clearer could she make it?

Peridot couldn't help the little shriek as she shrunk behind the log. Hr only hope was that Rose was going to keep it a warning for now.]

[defactodefector]

[While that's certainly a message Rose would like to convey to Peridot, it wasn't intentional. This time, at least.

She does hear that shriek though, stopping her practice and looking curiously over towards the source. It doesn't look like anyone's there, but...]

If you can hear me, I recommend you leave! There's a very good chance I'll kill you otherwise!

[There! Now if she wasn't imagining it, then whatever poor human happened across her will know how dangerous it is to be here while she's messing with her powers like this! She points back towards the city, and- whoops, she forgot to get her magic back under control and launched a rock in the direction she pointed, near where the source of the voice came from.]

[diediediediediedie]

[She's truly a MONSTER!

It had all been a trick, a manipulation, a ruse to catch her off guard! The sweet tone and kind words might have lead a lesser creature to take a bolder to the gem, but fortunately Peridot was too smart for that. She was a little too close to the impact, however, to avoid having to duck and cover.

When the dust settled, Rose could hear the sound of a mad scramble. Peridot had never heard that Rose had rock powers, but apparently she was a natural deceiver. The only hope now was that Peridot could get away without being seen and chased.

Rose had to be stopped. That was as clear as the gem on Peridot's forehead. She didn't know how, she didn't know when, but she knew there was no one else who understood the danger. They would likely all fall for Rose's tricks.]