Dark Empire [Closed (Morion, Swan, Carbide and Mr O.)]

[stabbycat]

"...Seriously, O?" Swan's voice turned incredulous, aggravated even. This wasn't a game, and he wasn't doing this for show or entertainment. Yes, he was willing to die trying to save this gem, but he wasn't going to do it if he had other options before him. Did none of these gems really connect with the victim? Perhaps they simply haven't quite taken to the kinship of humans like Swan had. It...bothered him, how they didn't see things the way he did...maybe he should use that social human tactic 'empathy'.

"...Don't either of you have people you want to protect? Like, O, you have Agate, right? He sounds really important to you, much that you easily get flustered over him. And Carbide, I'm sure you have someone you have someone you're trying to keep safe, right?" He looked down to the gemstone that was embedded in the palm of his gauntlet, drawing a comforting thumb over the luster of its service. "What if this was their gemstone? Sure, you could argue that it isn't, and it doesn't matter, but if it was, you'd fight for them, right?"

He turned his visor to the sky, the moonlight catch his alabaster plating with a glowing aura of pure white, his arms gesturing around himself. "We all share this world, whether we like it or not. We're all neighbors on this giant rock, and we can't just ignore gems being assaulted whether they're connected to us or not! Maybe this gem isn't your lover, your friend, or even your acquaintance. But she might be someone else's love. Their friend. Someone who offered them even something as little a wave and a passing smile. A life brimming with hope and potential, with thousands of years still ahead of them. So many experiences that have yet to even happen. All in one person."

Swan looked back down to the gem, giving it one last gentle swipe of his thumb before letting his armor absorb it back into the chest piece, his visor gazing back to his friends. "Isn't that something worth protecting?"

[~Panzerschurke~]

Carbide huffs and crosses her arms, things were getting more complicated by the minuet, turns out she had met both these gems before, Morion, the smokey quartz, she ran into on the beach, and this Swan character was the alter ego of her tavern owner friend Aragon. So here she was, the bull headed renegade heavy scout prototype, trying to step in and play peace maker politician, when the gem with over 10000 years experience dealing with the politics and governance of the gem empire was standing beside her saying... oh maybe we should just let them duke it out and shower the victor in good-puppy points!...Carbide was getting a little steamed when she realized that it was unlike her to let a situation get under her skin so easily, something else must be at play here. "Rrf.. No Opalite, my friend, I think I am QUITE comfortable up here, on my feet, Morion here has the kneeling part covered quite.. adequately, but don't let it go to your noggin. Something is up though, the energy coming off someone feels so strange.. let me focus a sec.."

She closes her eyes and mentally focuses on blocking out input from extraneous sources, to home in on what is making her so anxious, and it is then that her empath skills lock in on a literal vortex of confusion and aggressive feelings, all of seeming different origins, swirling around inside the Quartz assassin before her.

He certainly seemed agitated, not just at the group but at some unseen assailants tormenting him.

~"Isn't that something worth protecting?"~

Swan had wrapped up his impassioned speech, somewhat idealistic, but the core of it was true, and she nods to the armored vigilante.. "You're right Swan, I'm not condoning any harsh action until we learn more about who this gem you're holding is, and what her past and relations are, If she is just trying to live here, and doing so peacefully, I would say that she is helping along inter planetary/ inter species relations simply by doing so. Word about our kind is starting to spread among the humans, and the last thing we need is to drag ship yard lynch mob tactics into a situation where we are trying to exist here for who knows how long, without stirring up a hornet's nest."

Now she needed to address the other problem.. what was this strange confused set of emotions that were figuratively dripping off Morion? Her heels emit a soft tap-clak as she strides forward a few paces, following Morion's zealous out burst, it had seemed to be he was angry at all those around him.. but to a gem with a bit of an empath sense, it felt like he was in more of an argument with himself.. "You there, Quartz of the Blue Court, tell me, for the good of all those around and yourself, are you alright? You do not .. feel.. well. Not to me at least. If there is something wrong, you cannot in good conscience serve your Diamond, if you are compromised with regards to your judgment and regulating your impulses.. You claim to be the eyes and ears of her court, but it almost feels like your senses are more consumed by something that the rest of us can neither see nor hear, than they are with the waking world in which we stand! Its alright to ask for help."

She normally was a bit more casual with her speech, but she could tell that that this Gem respected structure and authority, so while she did not expect to be treated like a superior to be answered to, she hoped the could come across as an equal in some way. Her gaze is focused while her stance remains elegant but stern, the moonlight creating a sheen on the dark navy velvet of her gown, and shimmering off her stole her ballistic cudgel rests nestled underneath her arm, not threateningly held but visible.

[Grand Inquisitor, Mr. O]

"Ok! Ok, ok, ok, ok....." repeated the Inquisitor. While he would rather had leave these two to their own devices, Carbide wanted to settle this. As Swan began to speak of of things that he should care about he sat silent for a few seconds, "Hmmmm...." Was all that came from the towering gem.. it wasn't hard to tell he was doing a bit of thinking... the outcomes of what he could say or do. He was also still paying attention to what was going on around him as to not miss any information.

He lets the gems around him speak, giving everyone the time they needed, he was many things... rude was not one of them! (Kinda..) He had come to a conclusion once all had grown quiet. Opalite turned to Morion and holding out his clothed hand to help him back to his feet, "You are not well.... something is wrong and you CANT hide it from me darling! Im far from saying that you are unable to do your duty! Just that with the current company we must doing this another way... I will take the gem... and question her once she takes her form back." His voices spoke clearly and with a rather smooth tone, so very sure of this idea it seems.

He turns to Swan, that almost sinister smile still plastered across his smug face. He takes a few steps growing a bit closer to the well armored gem, "Now.... give me the gem, yes?! I will handle this matter. I feel like there are more things to be done here then a fight over some unknown gem. I will take just peachy care of the pebble don't you worry your little armored head! Its my DUTY after all to question things!" His over all demeanor had turned quite cheery, no doubt still coming down from all that wonderful time at the show. 

[Morion]

The Smoky Quartz silver eyes watched the scout, Carbide, as she walked closer
Listened her words

"Insolent little brat! Misrable forgotten, abandoned Experiment! You should teach this... stone a lesson! A hard one... decorate your home with her shards!

The Voice hissed in his head, her ghostly form manifested, but only Morion could see her. Her long, clawed fingers caressed Carbide's Gem, if she could, she would tear it out
The Beast manifested too, the big black alien panther sniffed Carbide, but it was clear to Morion, his bestial self didn't consider Carbide a threat... or enemy
The Hunger? The Hunger was in the shadows... watched... silently. Stalked Opalite, watched Swan. Didn't paid attention to the scout
Morion shook his head

"I am right Carbide... but thank you for your concern. My senses are... fine. Even if I had any problem, It would be a grave mistake to admit before a Rebel. But I promise you... if I ever need any help, I will ask. Possibly from you. Tho that little grey Gem on the beach was some kind of doctor I think... what happened with her?

The words of Opalite were painful. They were true.

"Your Eminence... I..."

Morion swallowed a little; it was true. Nobody could hide anything from the Grand Inquisitor... but nodded

"...I am fully capable to do my duty, as you said your excellency."

Then stepped back a little, the rest was not his concern. There will be no fight, that was evident, he captured a Rebel, possibly two (but he doubt Swan will recive any punishment form Opalite or Carbide^^) and all was well, Opalite was in charge and took the matter in his own hand, as it sould be

[stabbycat]

"...Compromise." Swan spoke, handing the gemstone off to Carbide. "I'm giving it to Carbide. The gem needs a friendly face to reform to, not an Inquisitor. Sorry O', but uh...you have a tendency to be a bit unnerving, and for good reason too. I just want to make sure that she doesn't do that when she comes to, it'll make getting information from her much easier."

He placed the gemstone into Carbide's hand, squeezing it into her palm a little as he let her take it. As much as he trusted Carbide, he still found himself uneasy as he let go of the poofed gem. He desparately wanted to do the brunt of the work himself, but it seems he was caught in a give or take situation now that his friends were involved.

[~Panzerschurke~]

Hoo boy! There was nothing like getting put on the spot, say nothing of being put right in the middle of something... literally. Guess this is what you get when you try and break up a fight between Super Heroes and Super Villains...headache..

Carbide looks for a moment at Swan and then at the gem core in her hand with an expression somewhat akin to one she had seen humans bear when a baby the have no idea how to hold is thrust into their arms by the proud genetic progenitors of said squealing, leaking, smearing bubbling offspring... but Swan's logic was somewhat sound. Off the top of her head she couldnt really think of anyone except maybe... Her.. who could re form in front of the Grand Inquisitor and not feel rather... domineered by the whole experience. Whats a gem to do?

She nods and closes her hand about the gem and holds it against her chest, then backs away a pace or two, resuming her place beside the Inquisitor. ..."Well my dear Opalite.. if I wanted to be gloriously coy and witty..I would say I have a very safe place I could keep this gem, if one were to reference a little ambush in the woods we had a few months back... er.. no, I really shouldn't do that with the core of some poor gem I don't know."  She really shouldn't have bugged him about that, but it kinda just slipped out.

Her gaze flickered back and forth under her stylish plum spectacles, between Opalite to Morion who stood a few good strides away. "What do you say O Smokey Specter? If Opalite needs me, he certainly knows how to find me."

She pivots and cocks her hip slightly.."Now what about you two? Are you going to continue tearing up the docks? I think that we are all pressing our luck here tonight, and we should all be making ourselves somewhat... scarce.. if you take my meaning, just in case any of this was seen by the humans, we will have those noisy cars with the blue and red lights around here soon, and I for one, do not wish to have to shape shift into a shipping crate until they go away."

[Grand Inquisitor, Mr. O]

"Hmph..." O said with this unsatisfied tone. Who wouldn't want to wake up to see the Inquisitors wonderful face?! Part of him understood.... these wasn't really a Home World issue so, while he had the right to pull rank he didn't want to cause any ruin this lovely night. "Fine, fine.... it will be your fault when she comes back and has to see a lesser face." He said turning about to look out over the city.

Quickly spinning on his heels as Carbide makes her comment, "Worse things could accrue my dear, worse things!" he flung his cane under his arm, tucking it away safely. "I don't think these two will fight anymore.... I mean if they do whats the worse that could happen!" He said looking at the two combat gems before him, "Iv had my fill of fighting for the night, yes? I think its time for a trip to the local cantina!" Without waiting to hear anything from anyone he turns around and begins to walk off towards a not too far bar.

[Morion]

"I've had my fill of fighting for the night, yes? I think its time for a trip to the local cantina!"

The Smoky Quartz nodded

"Yes Your Eminence... we are done here. Me at least. Good night m'lord... Lady Carbide. It was a pleasure"

Morion bowed, then shapeshifted in to his favorite alien panther form, and quickly left the scene
But Starlight Swan was a Rebel "hero" so... just to be sure, he emitted smoke to cover his retreat
It was a bad night, but not the worst
Any night when he could see Her Majesty's, White Diamond's Grand Inquisitor, his excellency, the exalted Opalite is a good night actually^^
The Assassin Gem disappeared in the darkness of Empire City