what's in a wonderball????

[thebarkside]

Who: Wonderducks and pals!
Broadcast: N/A!
Action: On the Wonderduck! IT'S A MINGLE
When: From now until whenever the next mingle is. :')

[ ARE YOU A WONDERDUCK? are you a friend of a wonderduck who might actually be on the wonderduck ship at any point?? then this mingle is for you! top-level and tag around, idgaf as long as it's on the bird ship. ]

Comments

[forsometimenow]

[STEVEN DARLING.

Jennifer stirs a little bit when she hears someone, but it takes a few moments before her sleeping brain registers what's going on, and her eyes open, and it takes a few more moments before her brain calibrates what's going on and remembers where she is.]

Oh... Steven, thank you. I was just coming in to make coffee... I must've fallen asleep.

[jamminshield]

[HE TRIES.

Once she wakes up, he shifts towards her in concern.]

Oh! Um, you're welcome. [He offers a smile and raises his hands to signify that everything's okay.] It's okay! Back home I feel asleep playing video games or watching tv all the time! And sometimes it was in really weird positions. [He chuckles, then looks concerned again.]

Are you alright?

[forsometimenow]

Yeah, me, too- especially when I was in school, burning the midnight oil.

[She sighed, rubbing her eyes.]

Well, I've been having trouble sleeping for a few weeks, but I have insomnia, so I'm used to it. But I've never done this before- falling asleep at random. It's a little concerning.

[jamminshield]

[He looks thoughtful as he takes that all in. Wow, he never knew that school took up a lot of oil. And he looks concerned as he hears her talking about her sleeping troubles - he doesn't quite know what insomnia means. But if it's concerning. He's definitely concerned. And he steps towards her with a frown on his face.]

Is there anything I can do to help?

[forsometimenow]

Being a friend is plenty helpful, believe me. I'm glad I've got a crew who will look out for me. [She then frowned slightly.] I may talk to one of the other doctors, though... just in case.

[jamminshield]

I'll look out for you as much as you need! Steven's on the job! [Then he gives a concerned nod.]

I- I think you should talk to one of them. Anything to make you feel better! I'm not sure if my spit would help...

[forsometimenow]

And I appreciate that a lot. [But that- that got a headtilt.] I'm sorry, your spit? Did I hear that correctly?

[jamminshield]

Yep! I got healing spit. [He says that all so casually.]

[forsometimenow]

I- what? [Well, if she wasn't awake then, she definitely was now.] That's... quite an ability, even if it means you have to lick someone. Or... spit on them.

[jamminshield]

Thanks! I guess it is kind of gross... but it doesn't always work, and I don't know it it will work on insomnia.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer had to chuckle.] Yeah, I think I'll pass. That is pretty interesting, though- is that something you were born with?

[jamminshield]

Thanks! Yep, it's one of the powers that come with being half-Gem. Because my mom had healing tears!

[forsometimenow]

Whoa... I don't even know where to start with that. Are gems living things in your world?

[jamminshield]

[Steven laughs, taking this all so casually.]

I wouldn't know either!

Yep, gems are living things. Well, there's still the non-living gems that you're probably thinking of. But the Gems I know come from their own world! They all have bodies like people, but they're just projections made by their gems. That's like their heart, but a lot harder and cooler!

[forsometimenow]

Wow... that's really interesting! [And she sounds sincere about it.] I like hearing about where other people come from. And they all have personalities like people? They hang around with us, befriend us?

[jamminshield]

Yeah, it's a lot like that! They're kind of like people but they still don't... get people. Like, they're used to living for hundreds of years. And I guess that the society they come from's real different! And they don't have to do things like eat or sleep or have babies... so there's a lot of things they don't get!

[forsometimenow]

Wow... [She listened with interest.] And I'm sure I'd find them as puzzling as they find us. Are any of them here- anybody from your world?

[jamminshield]

Yep! Pearl's here, on the Huntress! She's really nice and caring!

[forsometimenow]

Oh, I think I've spoken to her before once or twice. That's nice... to have someone you know here. It helps you feel a little less lost, I would think.

[jamminshield]

I'm glad to hear that! [He beams.]

And... It does help, a lot. I've always had the Crystal Gems looking out for me. Even though I still miss Garnet and Amethyst a whole whole lot... I feel so lucky that I still have Pearl here.

[forsometimenow]

I'm glad- when you're alone in a strange place, having a friend makes it easier. I keep selfishly hoping someone from my home will show up, even if I wouldn't wish being trapped here on my worst enemy.

[jamminshield]

I- I don't wanna wish it on people I care for either! [He says that frantically, as if he would be thought less of if he didn't clarify that. Even if he misses Garnet and Amethyst and Dad and Connie so badly.]

But I do hope you get to see your people too. W-without them being in danger! And... until then, I'll be here for you whenever you need anyone, I promise.

[forsometimenow]

I know that you will. [She resisted the urge to give this darling child a big hug, and instead stretched.]

And I hope I get to see them, too. I miss my boyfriend especially. He'd probably figure out a way to get us all home, too- he's incredibly smart.

[jamminshield]

You have a boyfriend? [He says with a happy surprise. But of course she has a boyfriend, she's so pretty!]

I'm really sorry that you're apart. Someday, you two have gotta meet again. I just know it! Maybe... he's so smart that he's already figuring something out from back at home!

[forsometimenow]

I do- his name's Rodney. We just started dating a few months ago. [She blushed a little at that.] I have no doubt that he would be- I've heard people say that no time passes back home, though. That nobody even knows we're missing.