Video + action | User ID error, unknown sender

[callada]

[The video begins pointed at what looks to be a stone slab of some sort with an unusual symbol carved into it.]

Anyone know what this is? Or where? The SmartSnail location isn't working down here.

[That's not entirely the fault of where he's at; it's intentional on his behalf. But the question still stands. Rosinante backs away from the symbol to reveal that it's on a large stone door, then slowly rotates around his current location to show it in the video feed. He seems to be in some sort of interior - a cave, or a collapsed ruin perhaps, given how the stone surfaces look worked but worn. It's lit dimly by bioluminescence that grows on the walls themselves, twinkling and pale blue-green, and in that illumination the edges of a statue at one end of the cave is visible - a warrior, holding a chalice raised to the sky while winged people encircle him. The passageways look to continue in at least two directions and a faint buzzing is heard. Interference in the video? Or insects? Who knows, as the video ends there.]

---

[While awaiting any replies, or guidance of any sort, he stays near the door and the statue for now. The buzzing hasn't stopped, even with the snail tucked away in his pocket. It's pretty down here, but he'd like to leave. Or maybe find someone else stuck down here so at least he has someone to talk to.]

Comments

[big_top_boss]

Apple brandy! It's some fancy stuff, guess they only make this type in one kingdom. Got it as a gift. Talk about a flashy present! But I'm worth it, haha! [And he put some rare and impossibly special celebratory alcohol in a flask to take with him, because that's just how Buggy does things. Why put cheap swill in when he can get drink overly expensive fancy gift booze instead?

But honestly, Buggy will drink anything if it comes down to it. If the level of stress or need requires it, the worst drink will still suffice. Chugged, but hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

ooh, that looks painful. At this point, he knows better than to really fuss too much. Rosinante is just... that way it seems. Regardless of what version. And if he's gonna get back up and get to it, Buggy will just sigh and follow.]

[callada]

Sure sounds special. What kingdom?

[And if they're from different worlds, what are the chances he's even heard of it? Maybe he'll find out.

They come up to the edge, where the hallway drops off into rushing water. It's pretty far down, but with a little effort he could probably climb in and out. Or Buggy could fly down there. Seriously, what a talent.]

Hm. Dumb question, what can we put water in?

[Should have thought this through sooner but he's not really used to the whole suddenly-appearing-elsewhere thing and how it keeps making him leave stuff behind if he's not holding it.]

[big_top_boss]

Don't remember! I was already drunk when he was telling me about it. Guess it wasn't the best time to get a lesson about regional goods!

[He can't even remember the drink's specific name, it's got it's own fancy title, but it's lost to him right now. Between booze and excitement the fine details of that night are pretty much missing from his mind. Oh well, he made it out not only alive but well, so it's fine to not remember the little things...

He needs to start having someone just write shit down when he's drinking.

Buggy stops and stares at Rosinante's next comment, and sighs again.]

...Shit. I have something, but we're gonna have to enjoy some apple brandy first.

[callada]

No, no, I don't want to drink your special gift!

[That would just be cruel, when he had sounded so pleased by it! Exotic brandy? Something that should be savored, not gulped down just to open a door. Well. And potentially escape and not have to die down here, admittedly, but if they get to that point they might as well enjoy for the sake of sanity in their last moments.

But that's way too dark and he has another idea.]

You keep that. I can just, uh. Soak my hat and squeeze the water out, or something. Shirt, if I have to. Clothes hold a lot of water.

[What was it he'd been taught in his survival course? Something about how much a soaked shirt holds, simply as proof that you need to hydrate when sweating. A lot, that's more important than the number, but it's funny how things come back to him at times like this. That instructor would laugh if he saw how Rosinante was choosing to use the information now.]

I just gotta get down there.

[big_top_boss]

It's not that special! Really. But suit yourself.

[He's not sure how effective getting his hat and or coat wet is going to be, and won't that be harder to transport back? But whatever, it's still there if they need it, and he doesn't mind sharing with an old and dear friend. Or a new version of an old and dear friend, whatever.]

You think you can get down there safe? [He peers down, and raises an eyebrow. Careful not to get too close, he's falling into one too many dark places already and doesn't want to make this a repeat performance.]

[callada]

Save it in case the answer is wine. Maybe brandy's close enough.

[Always thinking ahead, if he can. In the meantime, he takes a step closer to the edge, then paces along it, looking for a good way down. Maybe these rocks over here... They're just within reach of a step. A little wet, though. Might be slippery. But if he lived in fear of his own clumsiness he'd never get anything done.]

Yeah, probably. Looks like there's lots of handholds.

[He shrugs off his feathered coat before he heads down, though. That can stay up top here, he doesn't really want it to get wet. Or lost somewhere in that fast-moving water.]

[big_top_boss]

Brandy is better than wine anyway! Maybe it'll even work better!

[He really hopes it's not necessary, that it's mud as the answer and they can go about their merry ways and not have go deal with the sacrifice of the other things it might be.

But for now, he's just hoping that Rosinante actually survives this. And he'll sit and fret every step of the way, because Rosi might not live in fear of his clumsiness, but it still gives Buggy what feels like a multitude of heart attacks.]

[callada]

[Counter to what should be expected, Rosinante seemingly has no trouble climbing his way down. Maybe it's pure luck; maybe he actually does have some skill at this. The latter, of course, is true while the former isn't typically the case at all.

Once at the water's edge he frowns, then dunks his poor hat but takes special care to hold onto it solidly. This hat has been through a hell of a lot and rather than a symbol of Doffy's bullshit he wears it as a sort of badge of having endured those years. Besides, Law loves it. The kid calls it dumb and he knows what that really means. He gets it good and soaked, then hefts it, trying to picture how much water could be squeezed out based on the weight. The answer, he decides, isn't much. If they have to fill that cup, he's going to need a lot more than this.

So with a resigned frown, he sets the hat down on the rocks behind him and hesitates briefly, then pulls his shirt off over his head to get it good and wet also.]

That better be enough, I don't want to have to come back down here. Can you reach these?

[He holds the soaked clothing up so he'll have free hands to ascend. Buggy might have to fly a few feet to reach them.]

[big_top_boss]

Yeah, I got it.

[Impressed with the fact that Rosinante actually managed to get down there safely, Buggy is more than willing to retrieve the wet stuff for him so his companion can get back up without fuss.

Besides, while he won't fuss over Rosinante's clumsiness unless it's bad, he's also not going to make him climb up holding things that would make the way slippery. Best not to test fate, after all. Since fate seems to like Rosi flat on his back.]

[callada]

[Fate is about to get what it wants. Rosinante makes it about halfway up with only minimal struggles before he puts his weight on a rock that just isn't there, completely fails his desperate grab at a handhold when he misjudges the distance his arm can reach, and falls backwards off the rock face. He reacts quickly when he hits the ground after a short drop, and grapples his arms around a boulder before he can fully run into the rushing river. It is cold and strong and judging by the sharp pain in his back he's got a couple of new scars he's likely to add to the maze of marks across his skin, but right now he's more focused on just surviving the climb out of this place.]

I'm fine!

[He calls up, because this is not one of those falls he really expects a person to just ignore. He crawls forward until he's out of the water, and then sits down on a wet boulder and looks up at the wall, trying to evaluate a better way up.]

[big_top_boss]

[Fate has it out for his friend, and while Buggy makes his best attempt to help him before he hits it's just not meant to be. Even his hands can't reach him in time, no matter how fast he shoots them out to try grab ahold. And that looks painful.

He's pretty relieved when he hears Rosinante call to him, he was starting to fret over this. He's the flashy friend that has all the advice about men, gay bars, and questionable life choices. He's not used to being the helpful, responsible friend, this is new territory to him.]

Good! That was one hell of a drop! [A pause comes. And he continues speaking at a volume just below hollering.] Okay, I know you're fine. You're always fine. You make falls flashy, you get up fast, whatever. But are you needing medical attention fine?

[callada]

Nothing feels broken, if that's what you mean.

[And darkly, he thinks that if the cup needs blood after all, hey, they're in luck! Because he can feel that wet heat across his back mixing in with the cold water that hasn't quite run off yet. He just needs a moment to sit and let the shock of the fall wear off.

But then he's back on his feet, and he scrambles over the rocks for a different take on the collapsed wall. Over here will be better, right?]

[big_top_boss]

That's good enough for me!

[When he sees Rosinante heading towards the rocks again, he's done. Sorry buddy, but this is a hard no without some assistance.] HEY! WAIT! [He's not going to let him fall again, next time Rosi might not get off so easily. He floats above the area Rosinante is at, and fiddles through his pockets and coat until he comes up with a rope. Which he lowers down to his companion.

See, piracy has it's perks. He's usually prepared for things. And if they need some bombs to get out? He's got tons of those too.] See if this makes it easy! Can't hurt, right?

[callada]

[Oh shit, that's useful. Thank goodness Buggy had his gear on him when he got taken here. Honestly, thank goodness Buggy is here at all because there's a distinct chance that with his typical fortune, Rosinante would never have made it out of here on his own once he had climbed down. He gratefully takes hold of the rope, and gives it a tug.]

Thanks! This is perfect. You think you can hold onto it? Maybe you can anchor it to something back there.

[big_top_boss]

I got it! Seriously, it's secure! I'm not going anywhere and neither is your way up! So get climbing!

[Okay this is actually making him feel better. He's got a good grip on the rope, and although there's not a great handhold nearby, he thinks he can take this weight just fine. If nothing else, it's not like he'll be bearing the burden of his enormous buddy's weight for long.]

[callada]

[Rosinante absolutely wants to believe him but someone Buggy's size being able to hold his several hundred pounds of weight while he's climbing seems... Unbelievable. but he's already fallen once so if it happens again then so be it. Wouldn't be the first time.]

All right. Let me know if you need a break and I can hold onto the rocks.

[And with that he takes hold of the rope and hefts himself upward, then coils it between his feet so he can shimmy his way up it one pull at a time. It hurts like hell because of the gashes across his back, but he doesn't so much as wince. Just gotta do it.]

[big_top_boss]

[Shit, how can someone that pretty weight so damn much? Probably the height, it's not gonna come without some weight too. And he'd expected him to use both ropes and rocks to get up. Shit shit shit.

But he manages okay at first at least, visibly straining, even his feet are twitching, but he's okay. Just barely, but he's okay. It's the position, the way he's holding the rope that makes this painful though. And while he thinks he can just power through he's not sure that it's a good idea to keep this up.] Shit, Rosi can you use the rocks too so I don't drop you? Hold onto the rope, and use it for support. I think I can still do this, but I'm worried that my arms are gonna fall off, and that's not flashy! Can we try a mix of both?

[callada]

Oh. Sure.

[He just trusts that rope a lot more than the rocks right now, but he's really not surprised it was too much for Buggy to handle. Ropes aren't wet, they don't cause him to slip to his certain doom. They're reliable. Just gotta have a good anchor.

Since he doesn't, he keeps a solid grip with his feet as he reaches for the rock wall and braces himself against it with a decent handhold, then uses it to pull himself closer to the rock and gingerly swings both feet to the cliff face. Thankfully he doesn't have a whole lot farther to go now after that start.]

This feels stable. Rest your arms and I'll keep going when you're ready.

[Since even if not all of his weight ends up on the rope this way, it will still be a lot of it.]

[big_top_boss]

[Buggy takes a minute to just rest, but it's hard to deal with just having him waiting there when he's so klutzy in general. He's worried that if he goes too long without actively helping him that Rosinante will fall again. And he's not immortal, one of these days that fate that likes him so much on his back will decide to keep him for good. And he's not gonna be a part of that happening today.

After a couple more minutes, Buggy braces himself for a flashy rescue.] Yeah, get back to it! Time to climb flashily!

[callada]

I'll settle for just climbing successfully. I'll work on flashy later.

[Priorities, man. Like not getting injured worse. Law will already be ticked at him for doing something so risky.

Not much farther to go, though, he keeps reminding himself. Hand over hand, slowly, as he tries to find rocks to plant his feet on, and although he slips now and then, his hands are firmly around that rope. As he makes his way up to Buggy he finally finds himself with his feet on solid, horizontal ground at the top, and makes a grab for his coat to drape around himself, more concerned about his companion staring at old scars and new injuries than his own comfort.]

All right. Let's see if we can get this to work.

[big_top_boss]

One step at a time, I guess.

[Buggy is happy for successful climbing, or happy enough to not have him back down on his back again at least. And he doesn't bother looking staring, scars happen. Rosinante has his share of them, sure. But that's not important, they have a cup to fill.] Yeah! Onward, to victory! We're gonna make a flashy escape! [And hopefully with lots of treasure to make up for the waste of time.]

[callada]

I sure hope so.

[But he smiles even though he doesn't sound so sure. Buggy's enthusiasm is infectious. He wants to feel that sort of enthusiasm. He picks up his wet clothes from where they were left, shivering slightly at the feel of the cold water, then heads down the passageway toward where they had left the statue and its door. It's not a long walk and soon they stand before it once again.]

Gonna need your help again since you can reach up there. Just stick a handful of dirt in, I guess, and squeeze the water out of these. I really hope that's all it takes.

[big_top_boss]

Yeah, got it. Feel special, 'cause I don't go to this kinda effort for just anyone!

[He grabs a handful of dirt up, and that he sprinkles it in with flair. Why? Because he's Buggy, that's why. And he doesn't miss a chance for a good show if he can help it, no matter how disinterested the audience might be. And then he wrings out water into it, and waits.

Please work, please work, don't let the cup need his expensive booze. Or worse, blood.]

[callada]

[The showy display makes him laugh a little, as he briefly forgets the pain of his rock-slashed back and watches the impromptu magic show. And there is, in fact, a reaction - a dim glow of the chalice itself, just barely visible in the ambient light, but it quickly dies.]

Shit. Did you see that? It almost did something. Kind of looked like it wasn't strong enough though.

[big_top_boss]

Yeah, that's something. Think we need more mud? [He's not sure how much more would do it, or if it's just responding to being filled with anything.]