[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

[panspermia]

[SIGH. Just because he's not surprised doesn't mean he can't be exasperated.]

No. My kid. Steven.

[diediediediediedie]

...Steven? You're connected with the Steven?! Are you some kind of Big Steven?!

[It makes sense why they look so alike: They're the same species! Apparently the younger ones are called "kids," but that's simply trivia.]

[panspermia]

[...What is this.]

Yeah. I'm his father. When uh, when humans reproduce, it, uh. The new humans usually look like whoever made them.

[diediediediediedie]

But the Steven isn't a human! It had Rose Quartz's gem! Do you mean to say it wasn't just...an extremely strange regeneration?

[Human biology is as baffling as it is disgusting, even without throwing Gem anatomy into the mix. L]

[panspermia]

No, it's... it's complicated.

[He doesn't want to get into the specifics, and he's pretty darn sure she doesn't either.]

Steven's special. That's all that's important.

[diediediediediedie]

[So...Rose Quartz and the Steven are two separate entities? A lightbulb goes off in Peridot's head.]

Then...that must mean it's only the three Crystal Clods with a chance of protecting the earth...and I suppose it also explains how the Steven got out of the ship's hold.

[Everyone was confused the day they came to earth, and no, she doesn't feel especially troubled about talking like that in front of Greg.]

[panspermia]

[He can't help but grind his teeth together a little. There's a lot of buttons getting casually pushed. He sure as heck knows she shouldn't count Steven out, but he's not got any desire to egg her on bothering his son any further.]

Look, why are you even bothering with Earth? Find some other planet for whatever creepy plots you Gems are up to, where no one gives you any trouble.

[diediediediediedie]

[She throws up her eyebrows.]

That is Homeworld business! What gives the likes of you the right to question?!

[panspermia]

Because this is my homeworld! You Gems have dozens of planets under your control already. Us humans just have the one, so we'd like to keep it working!

[diediediediediedie]

[Well...that's too bad for the humans. But she supposes she should throw him a bone.]

If you must know...the first Earth debacle was costly for us. My superiors feel there is much to be learned from the aftermath...

Sorry about the late reply, I got distracted and then kept forgetting ><

[mechanacet]

What are you talking about? What flashing lights? [Daniel continues to be startled and in pain, he landed on his broken foot and jarred it, lending to his continued lack of awareness of his surroundings as he stares at his poor foot numbly. The lights around them have not started flickering or anything again either.

Cam has taken up a position between Peridot and Daniel, deactivating their magnetic feet in order to jump down. They hold their sword in an easy manner that suggests that Peridot will not have a fun time if Cam is forced to use it. That is, if Peridot is even paying attention to the small metallic centaur.]

[panspermia]

[Costly. Right. He fixes her with a very wary rise of the eyebrow. Usually, his very last instinct would be to pry further, but things don't add up.]

Learning, huh. But you took off awful fast, after landing.

[diediediediediedie]

[She groans]

Blame Jasper. Once she discovered Rose's new form she deviated from the mission without thinking to test our restraints! If she had just blasted the Crystal Gems like we planned then-

[Wait, what was she doing?]

Why am I telling you this? You know everything you should already.

[panspermia]

[His mouth twists, and he goes back to working, muttering more to himself than her.]

Yeah, sure. Learned all I need from that aftermath.

Happens! Don't worry about it

[diediediediediedie]

The ones that were just flashing! Did you not see it?

[Peridot doesn't especially notice his distress, because it is Not Her Problem. The little robot, however, is aiming to become her problem and thus must be monitored. She crushes her own all the time, and she is not above smashing this one with her foot either if it makes a move.]

[diediediediediedie]

[There goes the demandingly raised eyebrow again.]

What is THAT supposed to mean?

[mechanacet]

No! I didn't! [At this point, Daniel doesn't really care who or even what this strange green gem person is, he wants away from her before she has a chance to become properly violent.

Cam is not helping matters by being threatening. His stance just seems to scream "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough."]

[diediediediediedie]

Hmph. I should have known. Clod.

[Well, that was fruitless. And that little robot has run out of chances. Peridot lifts her foot, fully intending to crush the little robot under it.]

[mechanacet]

Attempt at assault detected. Initiating non-lethal response. [Cam hasn't been authorized to use lethal force. Yet. But this doesn't mean they can't defend themselves. In fact, one of the perks of Cam being the size they are, is that others tend to underestimate them when it comes to fighting.

If Peridot does stomp down, she'll find herself blocked by the blade of Cam's greatsword, which is currently crackling with electricity. Cam will follow this up by beating her with the flat of their blade with surprising strength.

Needless to say, Daniel is watching this with a sort of stunned expression, it's been a while since someone insulted his intelligence, and he's someone torn between being insulted, and being amused.]

[diediediediediedie]

[She's shocked to find her attempt to crush the thing blocked. Literally, shocked. It's not exactly Gem disruptor levels of pain, but it smarts. She hops back on one foot and stumbles backwards.

But she isn't exactly helpless. Gems are generally pretty strong, and while Peridot isn't at FULL strength, she only takes a couple of whacks before she grabs the sword and attempts to wrestle it out of it's hands, Daniel apparently completely forgotten.]

[mechanacet]

[Now unnoticed, Daniel has finally had a chance to take stock of the situation he and Cam are now in. The strange green lady is unsuccessfully (so far) attempting to wrestle Cam's sword away. While being electrocuted. Concentrating on the blade, he feels a sharp headache come on as he ups the voltage. Severely.

Cam is not above fighting dirty, as they take any shots that present themselves, up to, and including attempting to punch Peridot in the face. They also have the advantage of being small, allowing them to climb all over Peridot as and when they can.

Needless to say, The locals are avoiding the street-brawl. Though some are looking on with disapproval.

Daniel slowly climbs to his feet with the assistance of his cane. All he can really do at this point is watch.]

[diediediediediedie]

[OK, OK, this is much, much harder than Peridot anticipated it being. The electricity stings and she can no longer hold on. Dropping the robot and scrambling backward is her only option at this moment.

She struggles to her feet, realizing she's outmatched. The only thing she can do now is run from the scene, except it's highly likely she'll collide with Daniel with the angle she's taken off in. It pays to watch where you're going instead of what you're running from, but who knows what that thing is capable of?]

[mechanacet]

[Daniel manages to raise his head from standing up just in time to take a faceful of Peridot's foot. he gives a yelp that sounds like a cross between a cry of pain and him saying "What the hell?!?" as he falls down again, giving Peridot a clear path of escape.

As soon as Peridot is making her intention to leave the area as expeditiously as possible clear, Cam nimbly detaches themself from her and jumps down to the ground, trotting over to their once again floored companion and watching carefully as Peridot leaves. It is unclear how a small robot with a camera for a head manages to convey menace in a look, but Cam somehow manages to do so.]