epidemiology | (no subject)

CHARACTERS: Peridot, Pearl, and OPEN!

DATE: After Oska-sim, before the Team-Bonding tasks event

WARNINGS: Robotic dismemberment, maybe.

SUMMARY: Robot fights??? Robot fights.

• BEFORE THE FIGHT •

[Now that Oska has been "fixed"… it's about time to mess it up again. At least in a contained way that doesn't involve any "false realities." Two large, pilot-able robots stand opposite each other in a large ring, circled off with linked rope and poles.

One robot is a bright green color, diamond shaped with claw-like hands, and shorter than the other robot. The second robot is tall, smoother looking, with longer "legs" and pastel colored.

Both are unoccupied… for now, but outside of the ring is a crudely, and almost lazily painted sign with the words: ]

BUY TICKETS HERE

[…Someone's selling tickets to this??

Maybe someone else is nearby who can answer some questions… Or maybe also has no idea what's about to happen, but hey, feel free to look around anyway. ]

• THE FIGHT •

[A. - Closed to Peridot and Pearl]

[~~Now that the tickets have been sold~~, both Gems arrive at the arena.

After inspecting the area marked for their fight, and then inspecting her own robot to make sure Pearl hadn't tried to CHEAT while she was away, Peridot climbs into her own robot, testing the controls. It works just as well as it did when she first assembled it, so everything seems fine. As Pearl climbs into her own robot, Peridot calls out a taunt.]

I HOPE YOU'RE READY TO PRACTICE BOWING AGAIN, RENEGADE SCUM!!

[B. - Open To All]

[Oh, so that's why those giant robots were there. An old fashioned showdown, This Town Isn't Big Enough For The Both Of Us-style... But no guns and quick drawing, and with robots instead? Seems like it. Feel free to watch, and maybe wind up dodging some torn up dirt as the fight processes.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Peridot, still remaining in her robot, looks down at Pearl.]

I knew you wouldn't actually follow through with what we agreed on. Any respectable Gem would acknowledge defeat when they lost. Once a rebel, always a rebel...

But you did prove to me, at the very least, you're an... abnormal Pearl.

So I'll let your completely graceless disregard for our earlier rules slide.

[Pearl feels her shoulders deflate, brows furrowing. Hands flop to her sides uselessly. Really? That was it? She looks Peridot and her robot up and down before she crosses her arms over her chest.]

I'll take "abnormal" over "just".

[The Gem closes her eyes with a soft sigh, lowering it slightly.]

And I will admit. Your robot was far better than I expected. Your craftsmanship is impeccable to say the least. I was... impressed.

...

[ Was this...

The first compliment Pearl paid to her? And admitting that she was impressed, as well?? ]

Well I am a technician-class Gem. It'd be pathetic if I couldn't build something decent.

I am reluctant to admit... although it had a lot of obvious weak points, had this been a race or something that required speed above strength, you would have won. But for a Pearl-

...

Yours wasn't bad either.

[She lifts her head at the recognition of her robot from Peridot. They knew each others strengths and weaknesses. Pearl knew her heart was in the right place, but sometimes it was too soft. And it made her vulnerable. Peridot wasn't afraid to make a statement. To tell it like it is.

Pearl loosely curls her fingers into fists, letting them hang at her sides before she lifts her head with a small smile.]

However. You won fair and square when it came to robots vs. robot.

Congratulations, Peridot.

[ And now, a congratulations??? Peridot looks around, realizing now that they aren't quite alone for this. That's embarrassing. ]

D... Don't think this means anything different between us! This is... a truce, at best!

A truce.

[She considers it for a moment as she starts to feel the pain from being thrashed around like that finally set in. She steps around some debris, wincing.]

Fine. A truce. Just as long as you don't use that robot of yours for any sort of destruction, a truce will be.. ngh, in order.

I don't cause pointless destruction.

[ Chaos, maybe. Destruction, not... intentionally. ]

...

[ Peridot finally leaps out of her robot, looking it over, the dents, scratches... but overall, it still held up well. ]

Maybe if you... ask nicely, I'll repair yours.

[Pearl follows her gaze towards the mess before them before a small smile tugs at her lips. She looks back at the other Gem before she nods.]

I'd like that. Maybe I could learn a few pointers about robot construction.

[After all, Pearl had been away from Homeworld for thousands of years. She's sure to have missed out on plenty of technological advances. Don't even get her started on human technology. Pearl's still trying to catch up there even.

She nudges one of the torn arms with a foot, sighing heavily.]

I'll take care of the mess.

I think that might be negotiable.

[ She couldn't teach a total beginner, she wouldn't have the patience for that. But Pearl... somehow, had decent engineering knowledge. In fact, wasn't it Pearl who had taken control of her warship once before? And then her escape pod after that?

...Hm.

But that's for another time. Peridot rubs at her arm, looking at the "audience" they had, and... oh. Steven's there. He is looking pretty worried, too. ]

I'm going to go talk to Steven.

[Oh right. They had quite the audience didn't they? She glances over at them and furrows her brow, seeing a few familiar faces and... oh no, Steven.

She purses her lips awkwardly and glances back at Peridot.]

Let him know I'm okay. I've been through reasonably worse. I'll talk to him in a while myself.

[ ...And then another glance, to Ran, and Gilgamesh. ]

You know. Maybe you should go over there first.

[ Because while she does want to talk to Steven, he might feel better if Pearl talks to him first. ...And she can tell, Ran looks like she wants to do one of those squeezing death-grips again. No thanks. ]

I ah.. alright.

[She offers her a small smile before turning to Peridot once more.]

Nice match, Peridot. We should try it again sometime.

[And with that, she turns to jog towards Steven. Last thing she needs his him worrying.]