Beach City, Wednesday Early Morning, Fandom Time

[studyingfear]

Rufus hadn't bothered to inform anyone that he was leaving the island—for good, as far as he was concerned. Tseng would find out shortly, he surmised. There had been no roommate for him to alert and the other blonde, while he didn't care for her, wasn't entirely incompetent. She could handle the bookstore.

And if she couldn't… well, he didn't particularly care. Rufus had bigger ambitions than that.

His first stop wasn't his world, though. Indeed, at first blush, it looked much like the world he'd left behind. It was early, so there weren't many people out and about for Dark Nation's appearance to cause a stir—that was the one thing he'd been uncertain of—and it took him little time to get to where he wanted to be.

Rufus looked down.

"You," he said, "come with me."

Dark Nation's tail wagged.

[For the bathtubbed one!]

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[era_two_triangle]

A drip from the bathtub's faucet hung above her face for a few seconds, and then fell with a soft plip down to hit Peridot's gem.

She cracked open one eye and peered up at Rufus. Pumpkin was already stirring, looking up and barking in excitement that Peridot couldn't entirely muster as the little gourd put its feet up on the edge of the tub, vine waggling behind it.

"Where?"

Peridot managed that, at least?

[studyingfear]

Rufus surveyed her, near expressionlessly.

"My world," he said, after a moment. "There's work to be done and your assistance would be of great value to me."

That was the closest Peridot was getting to an 'I missed you' from Rufus.

He nodded at Pumpkin. "Your dog may come."

[era_two_triangle]

Another drip hit Peridot's gem. She remained right where she was for a long moment.

"Well," she said, at length, "I guess I have nothing here to stay for."

Sorry, Rufus. Your Peridot was a bit of a drama queen on a good day. But she was sitting up, water dribbling down over her face, and reaching to collect Pumpkin in her arms.

[studyingfear]

"You're accomplishing great things, rotting away in a bathtub," Rufus noted dryly.

[era_two_triangle]

There was another long pause from Peridot.

And then she stuck her little blue tongue out at Rufus and started to climb her way out of the tub.

"You better have lots for me to do there."

She kind of needed it. This funk she'd fallen into was a deep one.

[studyingfear]

Rufus… smiled.

It was slight, but it was there.

"I will," he said easily, stepping away from the tub, tugging Dark Nation with him. "After all, I'm taking over the world."

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot stared up at him thoughtfully.

And then she broke into a slow, pleased grin.

"Plenty to do," she agreed. "Perfect."

Hey, Rufus would be so much better for his world than the Diamonds were for any world. She could get behind that.

[studyingfear]

"We won't be going to Midgar right away," Rufus continued, as Dark Nation laid down at his feet. Well. On his feet.

Sigh, dog.

"Our base of operations will temporarily be where no one will look for us. It will give me time to get several projects up to speed and you'll be recreating your limb enhancers firstly."

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot blinked up at him.

"I will?"

Be still, her little solid-light heart...

[studyingfear]

"Of course," Rufus said, like it didn't matter at all.

It did, but well, it wasn't supposed to matter.

"For one, it would be an irritant to have to restructure every lab to your height. For another, Dark Nation will need someone to play with."

Yes. Yes, this was all about his dog and his penchant for finger stealing.

Honest.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot blinked. And then looked down at Pumpkin. And squinted a little as she looked up at Rufus again.

"Pumpkin is a sufficient playmate!"

She had to stand up for her dog, okay?

[studyingfear]

"Yes, but he likes you better," Rufus countered.

Which was absolutely ludicrous, but shush.

[era_two_triangle]

This really was a good way to get her to engage again, anyway.

"He just hasn't had a chance to get to know her yet!" A pause. "Pumpkin is a hero, you know!"

[studyingfear]

He'd take it.

"A hero?" Rufus looked skeptically at the gourd. "Are you quite certain your time in the bathtub hasn't addled you?"

[era_two_triangle]

"I was addled plenty already when the barn flew away," Peridot muttered, clinging to Pumpkin a little tighter. "But she ran in and risked life and limb to save the island when it was overrun with slugs. She's the best."

She was pretty grateful that Pumpkin had stuck around when Lapis had flown off. What would she have, otherwise?

[studyingfear]

"She sounds very brave," Rufus said, which was rather diplomatic for him. "Why weren't you in the barn when it flew away?"

Instead of being tossed out with the trash.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot looked down at her feet.

"Because I didn't want to go."

It had been... a time. But flying away to go hide in space somewhere wasn't a great life choice for her. So... Lapis got the home, and Peridot got the dog.

[studyingfear]

"Do you want to stay here?"

And Rufus asked like it didn't matter but, well, the thing was: he asked.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot looked up at Rufus quietly for a few seconds.

And then looked back at the tub.

And then she set down Pumpkin, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Rufus' leg.

She'd had a really hard time, Rufus. Don't you dare leave her behind, too.

[studyingfear]

"Ah."

Hrm. Well. This was…

He stood really still. Dark Nation licked at Peridot, since she was right there.

"That's settled then," he said, sounding a bit nonplussed.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot didn't say anything. She just kind of continued to cling for a moment more, nodding. Right up until Dark Nation started licking her, anyway. At that point, she kind of just made a 'pbbth' sound, and then quietly let go so that she could pick up Pumpkin again, looking up at Rufus expectantly.

[studyingfear]

"Our portal will be here in three minutes," he told her, with a glance at his PHS. "I was uncertain how long it might take you to pack."

So he'd given her a few minutes leeway.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot shifted her weight a little, almost awkwardly. Looked down at Pumpkin, and then looked back up at Rufus.

"I mean..."

She shrugged.

"I guess I'm packed now."

Everything she owned was sort of on the moon.

[studyingfear]

He inclined his head.

"Let me know what you'll need and I'll see to it," he said, since the first step in having loyal minions was in giving them reasons to stay loyal.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot stood there silently for a few seconds, considering that.

"I'll need a good workshop with decent tools," she replied. "Anything after that, I'll figure out myself."

[studyingfear]

Of course," Rufus said, since that was… honestly, that was easy. That was what he'd been planning to give her anyway.

The portal popped into existence, a bright swirl of freedom.

And mayhem, once Tseng realized what he'd done.

"Coming?"

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot nodded, squared her shoulders, tightened her grip on Pumpkin a little bit more still.

And then hit that portal running.

[studyingfear]

Rufus and Dark Nation followed after, not bothering to run, but not falling behind either. (Sorry, Peridot, but you were tiny.)

The portal was a direct line to their destination—no bothersome stopovers for him; though the pathing would certainly look that way when Tseng went to find him—and the first thing about that destination to hit would be the sound.

The Golden Saucer was always loud. Even in the morning, where sun set the place afire with light that left him slightly dazzled.

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot pretty much skidded to a stop once she was through the portal, her eyes going wide, her grip on Pumpkin tightening slightly. The sounds were an immediate jarring change of pace after being alone with the sound of a leaky tap for so long. The lights were almost reminiscent of Homeworld, bright and almost haphazard, in spite of how clearly deliberately placed they were.

... Somebody wandered by dressed as a large bird.

She squinted.

And then looked over her shoulder at Rufus, trying to discern whether this was some sort of joke.

[studyingfear]

Rufus looked… faintly amused.

Which was practically him laughing out loud, really.

"No one will look for us here at first," he explained. "It's perfect."

[era_two_triangle]

"It's... a Funland?"

Beach City had an amusement park, aptly named Beach City Funland. This was the rubric she was judging by.

Peridot didn't do amusement parks much, no.

Besides, she was too short for any of the good rides.

[studyingfear]

All the more reason for her to get to work on her limb enhancers right away!

"Something like that," he said, getting his bearings with a glance. "We call it The Gold Saucer."

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot squinted.

"... Why is it called that?"

That didn't sound fun at all.

[studyingfear]

"Because of the shape and colour of it," he said simply. "Come, I'll show you our lodgings and then you can see more of this place."

[era_two_triangle]

Peridot peered around curiously, and then looked up at Rufus and nodded.

"Very well," she replied. "Yes, let's do that."

Better to get an idea of what it was she was expected to work with, around here.