revivalproject | [open] death made visible

WHO: Kuchiki Rukia, open to all!
WHERE: around Tembra
WHAT: help the newb
WHEN: January
WARNINGS: none at this time

One would have expected Rukia to have learned a lesson or two about approaching glowing orbs. Especially absent the understanding of how she came to this place to begin with — a place more sparsely populated than the endless dunes of Hueco Mundo, in spite of its endless flora, inviting in its vibrancy. Some of her closest companions might have been the type to grab at it immediately, preferring to keep any danger in their possession and grasp rather than leave it to their enemies for the taking, but Rukia isn't normally so foolish. Too many lessons learned the hard way.

Still, as her mind and pulse alike race — Where is she? Where are the others? Why can't she feel the spiritual pressure of any of her comrades? Is Ichigo safe? — Rukia blinks, suddenly finding her fingers wrapped around the smooth, cool surface of the orb.

Everything changes.

Rukia staggers away from the orb with a stuttered breath, eyes roving in every direction as her hands return to the place they belong, tight around hilt and scabbard. She's been given an explanation, knowledge settled neatly in every corner of her memory, synapses firing in new directions. But Rukia has long since learned that reality has a way of being distorted.

With a distant drip of water ringing in her ears, Rukia pulls her lower lip between her teeth, worrying at the skin as she turns to head in the direction of the nearest spiritual energy she can sense.

[ Have a handy link for Rukia's current physical appearance. Feel free to hit me up on Rukia's Permissions Page with any questions or if you want to propose something specific for her interaction with your character! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's taken some time for Rukia to grow accustomed to being visible to everyone she's encountered. In the Living World, it wasn't uncommon for animals and other creatures to be aware of a presence nearby — for dogs to bark in her direction even when their owners couldn't perceive a thing — but most of the time, she was able to go about her business undetected. In Tembas, being seen is more the rule than the exception, and Rukia has found herself a little clumsy in accommodating that fact. Her steps aren't as quiet as they could be.

She blinks, hands tightening out of instinct as she meets the man's gaze. Giving her name probably doesn't serve much purpose yet, with her being a relative unknown to most of the population. With one hand left close to her sword's hilt, Rukia holds the other up, palm open, a slight peace offering.

"Me," she replies. "New arrival, I guess."

Better to be prepared for hostiles than not. Echo understands, nodding as he stays where he is. He also lifts his hands away from the helmet so that she can see he has nothing hidden from her sight.

"It's happened to the best of us," he says with a lopsided smile. "Welcome to Temba."

With only twenty or so non-natives on the planet, it's understandable that there's a bias for kindness, every individual leaning into the group in order to stand a chance of survival. Still, Rukia can't help but marvel at how easily everyone has opened up to her so far — even a small gesture like raising one's hands requires a certain level of vulnerability that Rukia would never typically offer a stranger.

But circumstances change.

She lowers her hand away from her sword, offering a bow in return. "Thank you," she replies with a small grin of her own. "I... wish I could say that I was glad to be here? But I appreciate the welcome." A pause. "My name is Kuchiki Rukia."

"Nice to meet you, Kuchiki. I'm Echo," Echo nods in return, letting his hands settle onto the sides of his helmet. "I'm sure you've already noticed how populated this place is. Still, it's been pretty peaceful, so there isn't too much to worry about aside from the wildlife and the structural integrity of the city's existing buildings."

"Fewer than thirty individuals, as I was told," Rukia nods, expression a cross between a smile and a grimace. There are certainly times when she prefers solitude and space, but Temba's current state is another situation entirely. Numbers this small make them into more of a nomad group than an actual city.

But it could be worse, she reminds herself. They could be alone. Or they could be split amongst themselves, dividing into hostile factions. So far, Rukia hasn't encountered anyone who isn't at least neutral to the needs and whims of the broader group.

"I originally wanted to explore more beyond the city, but it never seems that I can get far," Rukia admits, glancing over her shoulder, gaze following the twist and turn of vines. "Which I assume is by design."

The clone considers. "Sounds about right. Unless I've missed anyone else, I haven't seen too many new faces in the few months I've been here."

He's sure it's a few months, give or take a week or two. Space travel and a different setting altogether threw his schedule off a while ago.

"I haven't tested that myself, but I don't think there's really much else," Echo then confirms. "It's mostly forest from what I can recall. There's also a beach a ways from here if ever you're interested in seeing the water." His brow lifts slightly as he tips his head in said direction. "Word of warning, though: stay clear of the caverns that line the shore. They seem to have strange effects on technology or anything that's metal."

Being told to stay clear of a location has the opposite effect on Rukia's interest, and she makes a note to herself to explore by the edge of the water. The warning about metal is well-heeded, Rukia's hand subconsciously pulling closer to the hilt of her sword. Judging by the repairs that Echo appears to be making, Rukia assumes he's had first-hand experience with whatever strange forces are inside of those caverns.

"Do the Agrii offer any information about such risks?" Rukia asks, approaching Echo a little more before finding her own seat on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. "Bringing us here probably wasn't trivial. I would think that they'd rather keep us safe, if we're supposed to be their means of probably inhabiting this planet again."

To be fair, being blinded by his helmet's HUD and getting constantly shocked is not fun. However, his experience is probably only a fraction of what others with supernatural abilities go through once they enter the caves.

"Maybe it would be better if more people used a buddy system," the clone muses in the meantime, trading the helmet for his right gauntlet once he sees nothing else is wrong with the former. When Rukia sits, he casts a sidelong glance her way. "I suppose they do if you ask. All I know is that they watch us and that they can't land on the planet due to the storms." Looking back down at the gauntlet, he shrugs a shoulder. "We're designated 'heroes' in their eyes and they've seen how well we can take care of ourselves for the most part, so they probably figure we'll be fine while we try to figure out the storm problem."

[open] death made visible

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject