first entrance

[a_conversation]

Garnet walks into the bar.

She (she will do, as a pronoun, though it doesn’t mean quite what it does for humans) is tall and dark and impassive. She is bemused—what is this weirdly ordinary-looking place, and how has it supervened upon the Crystal Gems’ portal? She is concerned—is there someone or something at work on their portal, perhaps some technology from Homeworld? She is, perhaps, a little entertained, especially when she looks at the welcome brochure.

None of these feelings show on her face, as she walks in with Pearl.

Pearl, a step behind, is a study in contrasts: fluttering along, visibly and vocally concerned. "Did it work? Do you see it? Oh! It worked! We're here! You see, just like I told you!"

"I see," is all Garnet says.

There's a fireplace, filled with fish. Garnet and Pearl gravitate there. It's good a place to stand and view the bar--and also the fish.

[ooc: tag in for Garnet, and for the occasional Pearl popping in at will, since Pearl-mun is away for a bit!]

Comments

[ownerless]

"I've done my best to put together some kind of tracking device, so we can at least know if anyone is trying to come through our door," Pearl goes on. "But of course it's difficult to know if it works..."

[a_conversation]

Garnet nods.

A silent moment passes, then another. "You said you met people here. You said they were...friendly."

It's a question, though the tone may not sound like it to a human. But Pearl is not a human.

[ownerless]

"Friendly! Yes! Not very concerned about the prospect of interdimensional portals that can override other doors at will, though," she adds.

[a_conversation]

Another nod. "Their own doors aren't at risk?"

[ownerless]

"Maybe," Pearl says skeptically. "Mostly I think they're just... human."

Which Garnet can take to mean a number of things, including: incapable of understanding the enormity of potential intergalactic threats; poor planners; possessed of really short attention spans; lacking attention to detail.

[a_conversation]

All of those things, and also possessed of imagination, willfulness, and a capacity for growth that was the flip side of their unfortunate squishiness.

"I don't see any gems here except us. Unless we suppose the Landlord or the Bar is a gem, and interested in spying on us or sabotaging us."

Garnet casts an eye at the bar. It does not look gemlike.

[ownerless]

"Well-- nooo," Pearl concedes. "I've seen no evidence of any gem presence at all. Their technology is more advanced than Earth in some respects, but it's nothing like Homeworld.

...Garnet's going to think she was overreacting isn't she. "But if a door were to open somewhere else, and others were to get through...!"

[so_many_crystals]

Here's a patron!

Uh.

Among his possessions are: sharp talons on all four limbs; a long and muscular tail; an Igloo container (strapped to his back); a duffle bag (likewise); sharp teeth (numerous); a cunning gleam in his narrowed eyes.

He's lurking behind a tank full of trilobites, also people-watching. Presumably.

[a_conversation]

The trilobites catch Garnet's eye first. She has seen those before.

The thing behind the tank, though--Steven had a book with something like it once. She peers at it, though her gaze is not obvious, since it's hidden behind shades.

[so_many_crystals]

It peers back.

Well, mostly it's peering around the room. But the big tall square person with shiny mad science goggles* does catch the attention.

*well, plausibly

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Talk to the mammal, attempt to devour the mammal, steal the mammal's shiny goggles? Choices, choices.

[a_conversation]

Oh, it's looking at her.

Garnet raises a hand in a stiff wave.

[so_many_crystals]

Hmm. The square mammal is waving.

And Doctor Dinosaur isn't dressed as a perfectly normal scientist/businessman/barista/etc today, so it can't be the success of his disguise. (Which would be a genius disguise! If he were wearing one, which he isn't.)

But waaaaaiiiiiit. Wait a minute. Is that a crystal in her hand?!?

He doesn't wave back. Instead, he stalks over.

He moves kind of like a very large, very taloned long-tailed chicken.

Because he's an amazing conversationalist, he doesn't bother with a greeting, just starts craning his long neck around to try to get a good look at her hand-crystal.

[a_conversation]

Garnet holds up a hand again. (Her left, with the Ruby).

"You can look," she says. "But don't try to touch."

[so_many_crystals]

"Bah! I will touch if I want to. Your mammal strictures do not encompass the reptilian genius of Doctor Dinosaur!"

He doesn't try yet, though. He just peeeeeeeers at it, possibly from uncomfortably close.

It really is an excellent specimen of facet-cut corundum. Hmmmmm. Imagine the gadgetry he could power with that! (He is, in fact, imagining it. The only reason he doesn't have literal starry eyes is that he's not drawn in that kind of genre.)

[merryeccentricities]

Oh, it's someone Joly knows! He's already heading over to say hello when he sees that Pearl is with someone (another...probably?...woman? Gem? how do Gems arrange these things). That only serves to make him more obviously cheerful.

"Hello! I see you found your way back." People don't always! "And you can bring people in!" It's sort of a question; as far as Joly knows, people with doors can bring in anyone, but he rarely sees it happen. But it did this time! He bows politely to Pearl's very tall friend. " I'm Joly; welcome to Mililways."

[a_conversation]

"Hello, Joly." A pause.

"Thank you." That's what you say, right? Right. Hello and thank you, small human.

[merryeccentricities]

It's sort of right! Most people would introduce themselves too, but Joly is at least somewhat aware that Pearl isn't exactly human, so...different rules? Anyway, he's not offended. Or, perhaps unfortunately, discouraged from talking yet.

"Have you been here long, or did you just get in? I'm sure Pearl's told you the rules already." It's just a feeling he has about Pearl. For some reason. "Has she shown you the Library?" It's the best Library!

[a_conversation]

A chatty, effervescent, Greg-and-Steven-like human. How nice.

"I just got here. Pearl told me about the rules, though. And the Library, but I haven't visited it yet."

A pause, while she remembers something. Oh, yeah: "I'm Garnet."

[venerable_ibis]

Oh! It's his order-and-organization buddy Pearl! With another friend! Presumably another gem? Djehuty makes his way over and offers a polite little bow.

[a_conversation]

Oh, a...bird-person? A bird-human fusion? :D?

Garnet approximates a rigid, answering little bow.

[venerable_ibis]

Pearl has presumably stepped off to Do Something Handwavey until her mun is back online, so Djehuty will introduce himself. "You are a companion to Pearl? We met here once before." He thought Pearl was great. "Please, let me welcome you to Milliways! I am Djehuty, the Scribe of Ma'at, a guest here myself."

[a_conversation]

"Yes, Pearl and I are companions. Friends." A pause, and a not-un-smile-like expression. "I'm Garnet." Another pause. "Who is Ma'at? Is that a person?"

[venerable_ibis]

"Ma'at is a goddess. She is the embodiment of justice, of order, of truth; of all rightness in the cosmos."

There's a sort of crooning happiness to his voice.

[a_conversation]

Garnet likes the sound of this just as much as Pearl did, for overlapping but slightly different reasons.

"Justice," she repeats. "Truth."

Those are excellent things. Garnet gives a brief, bright, lightning-flash of a smile.

"What does a scribe of justice and truth do?"

[venerable_ibis]

"Justice and truth." Djehuty nods firmly. They are good things. They are the important things.

And oh! A good question. "I record the judgments of the dead souls; in that I am a scribe. But in a greater sense, I strive to enact the principles of Ma'at among gods and humans."