Don't fall down when it's time to arise.

[oceantier]

Who: Lapis Lazuli, OPEN
What: Multiple prompts
When: Early February. After ghosts.
Where: Locations different for each prompt.
Warnings: None.
Background: Lapis has gotten herself a job as a dancer for Pride Records. Shapeshifting used for a human appearance, so no blue showing.


A. Lost? - Open to anyone in Pride

The keycard is new, unscratched from passes through the machine. After exasperated explanation from the guard, she finally manages to turn it in the proper direction, checking in. It's hard to say if she really absorbs the torrent of directions that he gives her as far as where she's supposed to go for practice; she stares back at him with grave, dark eyes as he rattles them off, gives the slightest of nods, and heads off on her own, a map of the building in hand.

Thankfully, she came early, because over the next couple of hours, she can be found wandering areas of the building that are decidedly not the practice room she's been assigned to report to for her first day of work. She doesn't manage the residential areas, but it seems that she hits nearly every other hallway.

Probably a good thing she arrived early.

B. End-of-day - Open to anyone in Pride

Practices are done for the day -- at least the formal ones. The late sun slants through the windows as the city lapses towards darkness in last notes of shimmering gold.

The remaining inhabitant of one of the practice rooms hasn't bothered with the lights yet, paying little attention to the dimming of the walls around her. Music is on -- something soft, more rhythmic. She seems to have slipped into it like warm water, almost floating, letting it flow in and around her, absorbing her in its grasp. She dances, twisting, bare feet feather-light on the floor, hands and fingers tracing through the air.

The music builds; her body arches, leaps more powerfully than it should be able to manage, lands and twists into the next movement. She's paying no attention to the world around her, absorbed into the strike of her feet against the wood, the currents of air shifting against her skin. Note by note, she translates the music into physicality, each phrase given weight and meaning.

C. Ocean - Open to anyone

The beach is cold, especially this time of year and this time of day, and the tides are higher, the water thrashing against the shore. The moon is high and clear, washing the sands in silver light; the stars are bright in the darkness of the night sky.

There shouldn't be anyone out . . . but there is. A figure perches on a rock on the remaining ribbon of sand, watching the water sweep in and out.

This is the temporary home that Lapis Lazuli has found for herself. Without much need for sleep, the Gem can often be found on the shore -- or in a fairly deep indentation in the cliffs. If her skin appears blue . . . it's probably just a trick of the light, right?

D. Have another idea? Want interaction with Lapis, but none of these will work? PM or poke me on Plurk!

Comments

C.

[in_an_augustforest]

One of the best things about being in Virgo is the fact you are next to the ocean, August feels slightly out of his element here, but it's still peaceful and beautiful, even if he has to bundle up in his coat for for it. He thinks he's alone until he spots someone near the shore. It's a girl, and she's... blue?

He vaguely remembers seeing similar people around the ponds and lakes of his home... why were they blue?

[oceantier]

Without the press of people, without the foreign noises, without the constant pulse of anxiety of whether she's "human enough," Lapis yields to her element, letting the world fade around her. The silence and the steady rhythm of the water soothes, strokes away all of the rough and jagged thoughts of the day, allows her to refresh and renew.

If not for the steady pulse of the reason that she's even on this planet in the first place, she might even be happy.

Unaware as of yet that she's being watched, she slides from the rock, feather-light on the sand. The cold doesn't seem to bother her; she doesn't even have sleeves, the moonlight gleaming off her bare arms.

Without concern, she steps forward, headed toward the edge of the water.

[in_an_augustforest]

It's a lovely sight, and far too familiar to ignore. Smiling faces to welcome him to the forest everytime he came over to the riverside. Some were blue, but there were others.

"Good day August."

One of them even gave him a fish. But why does this girl remind him of those creatures?

[oceantier]

The water must be frigid this time of year. And it certainly isn't calm. But Lapis enters it up to her ankles anyway, letting the waves wash over her feet and upward, almost past her knees. One hand reaches out to them, palm up -- almost like an invitation.

And the waves only seem to get stronger. They suck outward with force, then rise, high and curling over her head, only to slap and crash into the sand beside her. Higher they rise, and higher . . . and only seem to get closer to her as they crest and plunge into the sand.

C!

[heymcfly]

He keeps getting these awful, awful nightmares. Ever since the aftermath of the ghost rescue, there's no such thing as a good night's sleep for Marty. He wakes up in the middle of the night, either screaming his head off or rolling off of the bed, or coming out of a dream so bad it feels like he ran a marathon. If he can try and drift back off to sleep, the same thing happens.

Marty's so tired of nightmares. When he wakes up this one time, he stays up.

His body calls for sleep, but he won't listen. Marty gets himself dressed, sneaking out of the penthouse and to the cold outside. The chilly wind whipping against his cheeks help to keep his eyes open, at least. The air makes his wrist hurt ten times more, and in no time he's shivering, but it's working.

He wanders over to the beach, and he's not alone it seems. There's someone standing there, glowing blue in the moonlight. It's...actually, a really pretty thing to see. Marty wanders up behind her, letting his feet shuffle in the sound loud enough so he won't startle her or anything.

"You alright?"

[oceantier]

Unfortunately, in spite of his care, he startles her anyway.

In his defense, it's not something he could have avoided. The mere fact that he's there is a cause for alarm -- the fact that he's gotten this close, even worse. Her eyes are sudden, enormous as they whisk to land on his face.

It's times like these that she's reminded of the awful reality that she can't fly -- that she's land-bound, effectively pinioned to the earth -- and the dread of it sits in her stomach like a stone.

She twists, and suddenly she's moving, darting across the sand . . . not towards the rocks, but towards the water itself with its thrashing waves.

[heymcfly]

In the light of the moon, Marty can see her expression when she turns to see him.

It's haunted, full of worry and pain that nobody should ever have to sift through. He can understand that. He can understand that perfectly. Marty blinks, and opens his mouth...but she's off. In the blink of an eye this stranger is bolting across the sand, not hesitating for one single second. She runs right to the water, where the waves are lapping harshly against the shore.

"H-hang on!" This could be bad. Really, really bad. Marty darts off after her. "I'm not gonna do anything! Hold on!"

C

[fitnessenthusiast]

Sleep is weird and the Trainer still didn't get why people did it. So she finds herself walking about the city, exploring the sights while getting in a nice job.

When she finally discovers it, she's rather fond of the beach. She's vaguely aware that the Wii Fit Center is surrounded by one of these beach things, although she'd only heard descriptions of it before. She should really be doing more for the Center, making sure people are staying fit and all that.

Which, of course, leads her to approach the figure she doesn't really recognize. "Hello there! Have you been exercising today?"

[oceantier]

This woman again.

This strange, pale woman who makes no sense, who congratulates people on their posture and applauds them for relentless pacing.

This woman she cannot fathom. Who may even possibly be dangerous.

Why is she here?

Immediately Lapis is down from the rock, backing away, eyes large and transfixed on the other woman's face.

[fitnessenthusiast]

Oh, okay, now that strange expression, that seems familiar. She attempts a bright smile and another wave with minimal results.

"Nice stretching!"

Bit of a pattern here.

B

[variaboss]

It's rare for Xanxus to be playing something other than his bass. But he's been really off lately. Ever since that had happened. Ever since he realized that he really was going slowly insane. That is the only explanation for all those memories coming back. The only way he can justify what had happened, what he had seen. What he had heard.

He was crazy.

But that just meant he could get away with doing things he normally doesn't. Like playing the piano. He's got a couple of EPs to work on after all. One with Tamara and one with Ryouta. He needs to write songs for both of those. Lyrics are easy. Melodies not so much.

He had been playing a sultry tune on the piano when she comes in. He sees her moving out of the corner of his eye. She's so graceful, so skilled. He wonders if perhaps she was some ballerina. He wants to ask but he doesn't want to stop playing for her. He doesn't want to stop his music from getting made into this beautiful form language.

His voice is warm when he starts to sing softly at her.

[oceantier]

She would never, ever have entered the room had she realized that the music was in-person and not a recording.

How she had missed him over there in the corner would be anyone's guess, including her own. She'd only enjoyed the melody, letting herself do what Sparks had recommended -- do something for the pure enjoyment of it.

But when he starts to sing . . . very abruptly she realizes the fact that she isn't alone. The realization is like a sudden jolt of electricity; she startles and whirls to the voice's source, limbs pulling inward like a turtle yanking back into its shell.

In her human guise, she's much the same -- small and reed-thin and wide-eyed. The blue is confined only to her hair, tinging the under layer near her neck, streaking in a bold note through a section of her bangs. She's found a way to have it and still keep to some measure of human fashion.

She stares, all limbs tight and close. It doesn't seem to occur to her to apologize. She says nothing at all.

Only the barely-remembered fact that she's not supposed to be suspicious keeps her from bolting.

[variaboss]

It's a shame when she stops dancing like that. She had been so lovely. So free. It makes him almost feel guilty for singing to her. But he hadn't been able to stop himself. He had wanted to see her move with his words. But now, she's not and it's a damn shame.

He stops playing, scarred calloused fingers resting on the keys of the piano. His voice when singing is that rich pure baritone. When he speaks, it's much rougher. "You didn't have to stop you know. You're an amazing dancer. But I don't think I've seen you around before." He knows the Carnies don't have backup dancers, so it's no surprise that he's not seen her around.

C

[inversekeyblade]

There's something about the sounds of waves lapping onto the dry land, lazily or not so much, that's oddly calming. It's like the rhythmic push and pull tap into a deeply closeted source of relaxation, at least for Roxas. So, it shouldn't be surprising that he's on the beach tonight, despite the chilly weather, hoping to gain some of that peace.

It isn't because he's troubled or anything. Instead, a less noble reason: he's fairly intoxicated, and in the mist of being under the influence decided this would be the best place to go. And sit. And then lay in the sand. Because.. why not.

The stars, when they're not moving and he can keep his eyes open, are beautiful. Big and bright, casting a dim light on everything beneath. It's a perfect night. Hey, is that a person over there? Maybe he's hallucinating, but he thinks he sees someone. If he could get up easily, he'd walk over there, but this sand pit he's made with his body is so comfortable. So he'll just look over, arms stretched out, body playing the part of a starfish latched to the surface beneath it. Maybe she'll see him.

[oceantier]

Time slips by like that -- him content in his sand nest, her perched on the rock. It might have gone like that the whole night . . . had she not gotten restless and decided to move.

The shape in the sand is indistinct in the shadowy evening; the moonlight so easily plays tricks, and what's washed up on the sands can be strange shapes anyway, twisted and battered by water and rock.

On such a night, a human would have been one of the last things expected.

She only realizes it is one when it's far too late, when she's almost on top of him.

[inversekeyblade]

Roxas wants to get up and see why that person - is it a person? Or a jellyfish? Or a walking starfish - is moving closer to him. Let's see, we have hair, arms, feet, a face.. definitely a person. And definitely getting closer. Wow, they must want to come up and say hi to Roxas! He should sober up a bit so he can be coherent for whoever this is.

Hey.. why aren't they stopping? Should he move? He wants to but he can't get out of his sand pit. So, instead of doing the smart thing and rolling over, he decides it's better to wave his arms around and shout, "Hey, don't step on me, I'm a person!"

D

[panspermia]

Even after what happened last time he slipped out, Greg can't bear to be cooped up in Virgo any longer. He's too worked up to play or write music, and he ends up with his thoughts spinning around in circles. He needs to get distracted, and to be somewhere else. Security is tailing him somewhere, but he isn't keeping track of them. Even with a new disguise he's feeling antsy about getting recognized.

Without any actual plan for where to go, Greg wanders, picking at a case of french fries he'd bought. As a result, he isn't paying enough attention to stop himself from knocking into Lapis.

"Oh--oh jeez, I'm sorry, that's my fault, are you okay--oh." He winces upon realizing he's mashed potato bits and ketchup all over her top. "Ohhhh gosh, I am so sorry."

[oceantier]

There's a pregnant pause of the sort that one sees in movies, where the dark-haired young woman stares down at the mess made of her front for a very long moment. Gravity pulls a fry free from her chest, sending it plopping to the ground in an ooze of ketchup.

She stares.

[panspermia]

Her silence makes it worse. Greg begins to escalate from apologetic to beseeching, fishing out the napkins from his pocket and holding them out to her.

"I'll make it up to you, I--I'll pay for... um, dry cleaning?" Do only some clothes do that? He can't tell which ones do or don't. "Seriously, whatever you need."

C

[firelotus]

Sometimes it was nice to simply take a stroll during the late hours, and when there are less people around, Lichi can be out as well. The little monkey is jumping around enjoying stretching her legs as Fon calmly wanders along the beach, when he spots a figure on a rock up ahead.

He smiles up at her when he stops by the rock. "Good evening, Miss," he greets her, not reacting even the slightest to her unusual shade of skin. But to be fair, even if he was not used to oddities, he probably saw her at least at the warehouse earlier. "Are you admiring the lovely night as well?"

[oceantier]

Only the fact that as he's come closer she can make out his face and remember him from the warehouse keeps her from fleeing. As it is, she's twisted towards him, one hand braced as though she means to leap down at any moment.

. . . Honestly, she's still not sure about being addressed this way. So calmly. Casually. Off-the-cuff. She may not have had such a conversation in several thousand years.

It's easy to forget how. If she was ever good at it at all.

"Hello?" The word is quiet. Uncertain, as though she's testing it out. Then, not fully sure what to do with the rest: "I'm . . . thinking?"

[firelotus]

To be honest, Fon is pretty much always calm and collected. There was very little that swayed his composure, and only one thing had shook him briefly since he arrived in this world. But most people would be shaken if they realized that besides the people that you had originally come to save, a person that you had cared about that died decades ago had been kidnapped as well. Seeing Luce, alive and well, had been the biggest shock that he had had in… probably since he was cursed alongside the other arcobaleno.

“Ah,” he had not intended to upset anyone, and this girl was clearly not used to interacting with people this way. He inclines his head in a slight bow before looking back up at her. “I do apologize if that means that I am interrupting.”

A; hope you don't mind a somewhat late tag??

[killerbeep]

Running into people he doesn't recognize isn't... well, it's not hugely unusual for B. But it doesn't happen super often. Which is probably why he notices Lapis enough to realize that she looks kinda lost.

He approaches with a friendly grin, waving a hand in a slight wave. "Hey! You new?"

Absolutely not! I'm just a little slow lately.

[oceantier]

She's almost honestly lost by that point, having turned around several times and finding herself back at the place she started. She's studying the map, turning it around in multiple directions, trying to decide exactly where she is in the first place when the unexpected voice interrupts her concentration. Her eyes dart up, wide, almost guilty, before she seems to do her best to settle herself, and she nods.

"I think . . . I'm supposed to be at the practice rooms in half an hour?"

[killerbeep]

"Practice rooms? Uh... lemme see."

He leans over to examine the map, his mouth twisting in thought for a moment before he points out an area. "Okay, so those are over there, and... we're about here."

He taps another spot before straightening up and looking around. "So you should probably go... that way, I think. This place can take some getting used to."