What has occurred so far:
Alastair has shifted himself and Adra back in time, to the moment where Niccolò stole Alastair's name. Alastair has killed Niccolò's family, and set the home ablaze. Upon seeing the house, Niccolò immediately pushes himself to be in control of his own body, panics, and begs Adra to help him save his family. After hesitation and consideration of potential consequences, Adra agrees under the condition that Niccolò bring his family back with him to the present.
Thus, both she and Niccolò salvage his family's bodies, as well as the original body of Alastair, and places them in a special pocket dimension that she has crafted from her alchemy, the door being one that can grow and shrink from the size of a cell phone to a normal size.
After saving the family, Niccolò embraces Adra and tells her that he will never forget her kindness. The pair catch their breaths, and Niccolò lets Alastair have control again. Adra gives him a stone that will feed him energy to help fuel his time travel, though Alastair decides to not use it yet. After a small conversation, Alastair and Adra decide that it would be best to spend the night in town, as Alastair recuperates.
Alastair has shifted himself and Adra back in time, to the moment where Niccolò stole Alastair's name. Alastair has killed Niccolò's family, and set the home ablaze. Upon seeing the house, Niccolò immediately pushes himself to be in control of his own body, panics, and begs Adra to help him save his family. After hesitation and consideration of potential consequences, Adra agrees under the condition that Niccolò bring his family back with him to the present.
Thus, both she and Niccolò salvage his family's bodies, as well as the original body of Alastair, and places them in a special pocket dimension that she has crafted from her alchemy, the door being one that can grow and shrink from the size of a cell phone to a normal size.
After saving the family, Niccolò embraces Adra and tells her that he will never forget her kindness. The pair catch their breaths, and Niccolò lets Alastair have control again. Adra gives him a stone that will feed him energy to help fuel his time travel, though Alastair decides to not use it yet. After a small conversation, Alastair and Adra decide that it would be best to spend the night in town, as Alastair recuperates.
1,451 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1201 – 1400 of 1451 Newer› Newest»((I love economical XD))
((Economical is great :-) .))
((I think Ari won't be back for a bit- sorry, Fabi!!))
((I may just solo a little more, if that is okay..?))
*Adra will enjoy her relaxing bath, and gently pops little pieces of chocolate covered strawberries into her mouth, and will slowly, rhythmically, wash her hair in the warm water* *It's long enough that she always has to shampoo and conditioner twice, before she puts in the oils* *She makes sure that every part of her is devoid of unnecessary hair, and applies a cool mask of cream to her face*
*She will sit for a while longer, before washing the face mask off, and climbing from her small slice of heaven*
*Splits her hair into three sections, braiding each one, so she is left with a braid on either side, then the back* *All of them are long and, with the whisk of a hand, she uses her husband's magic to dry them* *If it's her last evening having access to this kind of power, she might as well abuse it as much as possible* *Applies a few other fragrances and washes to her hair before taking it from the braid, where it is then beautifully kept in waves*
*The way she likes it*
*Decides to wear just her undergarments to bed, and snuggles in under the black satin sheets, on her husband's side* *Curls her arms around his pillow, relaxing to his scent*
That does sound interesting. But may I ask- and please understand I do appreciate you being here- does it bother you, working for a government, if you don't care for political corruption?
*he will also send a message to his wife through their link* Adra, my love, would you like me to come join you in a bit?
*Smiles a little at his soothing voice, and her reply is drifting..* should you so wish, then of course.
*after he has wrapped up his conversation, he will head upstairs to join Adra* *steps over to the bed, and kisses her hair* Hello, my love.
[Savvy shrugs]
If I avoided everything I don't care for, where would I be in life?
[Economical walks through the halls, checking on various rooms to make sure everything is where it should be]
[Savvy joins the other Sensitives in discussion]
*Mumbles, and scoots over, releasing his pillow* *At this point, she has decided that she's just not going to wear anything to bed- it's too warm*
*Still is curled up, though*
*Noelle is walking around, and looking at all of the bodies too*
*Alastair will remove most of his clothes, as well, leaving his undergarments, and tucks into his side of the bed, sliding his arm around her waist* *cools his body slightly for her*
*Adra gently nestles her head against him, her fingers going over his arm* *Her voice is very soft* Are you happy?
...I don't know. *he wants to be happy- he really does- but he is afraid* *but, in this moment- having the privelage of Adra beside him, speaking softly to him, in love with him- now he is happy* Yes.
*Stretches, catlike, and will prop herself on an elbow* Talk to me. *Reaches up with deft fingers, stroking his lower lip* What are you afraid will happen?
*closes his eyes, enjoying her touch* *takes a slow breath, and kisses her fingers* My dearest Adra... I mentioned to you once before that I am not the same person I was before I was stolen. I haven't been that person since I was stolen. So the person you fell in love with... Is not who I will be tomorrow. *pauses* I hardly even remember who I was back then. I'm not sure I could remember my birthday, or half of the things that I made. I'm afraid... That I'll be too different from the person you fell in love with.
*Smiles gently* Your birthday is October 23rd. *Reaches up and gently strokes his hair*
Oh, my Alastair, when will you ever learn?
You told me that it was impossible to be separated from the other names. You told me that you would never be able to care for people. You told me that you wouldn't be a good father. You have told me so many things before, and thankfully, you have been so, terribly, wrong. You have no idea if the man I revive tomorrow will be different than he who lays beside me. You don't- because we are about to do something that has never been done before.
*As she continues, she will lean forward and gently kiss the scars that mar his sculptures body*
I love you, my Alastair- the sun rises and sets with you. Your very being scorches my soul. So when I say that you're wrong, so shall it be. *Gently strokes his side* You are my husband, that will never change.
*slides a little closer, and curls against her* *she's right- he has always been wrong before, and she has always been right about him* Thank you, ever so much, my Adra... *takes one of her hands, and kisses it* You're so much more than I deserve, and so much more than I had ever hoped for.
*Adra will hold her husband, cradling his head against her as she strokes his hair* Hush.. Sleep. *Places a kiss on his forehead*
*smiles against her skin, and kisses her neck* I'll try.
Are you happy?
*Softly, she trails her hand to his shoulder, and kneads at his muscles, ever-taut from 500 years of strain* Of course, darling.. There is nothing more that I desire in this world than to see you free from this burden. *She taps his forehead, indicating his mind, then turns her head a bit more, and places a kiss in the middle of his forehead again*
*he doesn't know what he ever did to be so loved* Thank you, my love... I'm glad that you're happy. And I am excited to finally have that freedom.
*Smiles softly* I could fill your head with the promises of everything we will do when you have recovered, but- for now- please, sleep. You need your rest, my little duckling. *She blushes a bit, loving her nickname for him, as she rubs his shoulders comfortingly* *Whispers softly* Or else.
*smiles, and presses a kiss against her haurline* What will you do if I don't sleep?
*Smiles gently* I will tie you up in your favorite way, and then leave the room, so you would be forced to spend the night without your warm and loving wife to snuggle with.
Oh. I think I'll try to sleep, then. *kisses her nose, and settles in, closing his eyes* *it's been harder for him to sleep every night, but tomorrow he can sleep for days if he wants* I adore you.
*Of course* *She will watch over him as he sleeps, and help soothe his dreams*
*The next morning, she won't have gotten a lot of sleep, but when he wakes up, she'll be in a chair by their bed, sipping coffee*
*he will have also slept fitfully, but appreciates her help* *stretches out a bit, and looks over at her* Good morning, love.
*Smiles, and nods* *She's a little nervous* *Her arms are also covered in a dark blue color, in swirling designs that begin at her palms, as wind up her arms to her spine, and down her back to her legs, as well as up to her skull* *Many symbols* *Holds the small cup out for him to drink*
*he will accept it, and take a few sips before handing it back* What are all of these for, my love?
I know you and Niccolò have taught me a lot.. But these are my contribution. When I'm going to be piecing apart the names, these symbols will help me be stronger, for longer, and it will also connect me directly to the room in which the body I move the name is inside. Since there is a lot of rooms, I have lines that go down the hallways like a grid- and it will be just as if that person is there beside us, as I move their name back, instead of risking bringing them into the room unattended
*smiles proudly* You're so clever, my darling wife. *steps closer to her, and kisses her hair* We couldn't be in better hands.
*Smiles, and will gently brush her hand along his arm* i hope so.. *She will stand, then, and nuzzle his very comfortably warm skin*
*wraps his arms around her, hugging her gently*
*Sheeill relax against him for a moment* When we are finished... I really hope you can give me something in return. *Her fingers gently trickle down his side*
*Presses a kiss on a scar on his chest as she retrieves his trousers for him, and a white button-down shirt* *She will let him deal with his trousers, but she wants to do the buttons on his shirt*
Thank you, love. *he will put his trousers on, and slide the shirt on as well, but will let her button it* *he thinks it's an interesting choice- he doesn't usually wear white*
*Hears his question* If you get hurt, for whatever reason, I'll want to know. *Gently strokes his arm* Blood doesn't show up on a red shirt.
*Will take his hand, then moves to the dressed, feeling through the drawer, her hands landing I something that she is all too familiar with- and she pulls out a black blindfold*
*Pauses*
Before we do this, will you fix my eyes?!
*pauses for a moment, surprised* Of course, my love. Are you sure...?
No, but- *She pulls the blindfold u land over her eyes* I want the first thing I see to be you, in your own body.
*up and
Oh... *he doesn't know how he got this life* *she is just- too, too good for him* *kisses her hand once, softly* Thank you, my darling. *he will trigger her sight to return* *then he shifts into a bird, and perches on her shoulder to let her carry him down, if she is alright with that* *being a crow occasionally is one of the things he will miss*
*Smiles, and pets his feathery head *Takes them down to the room where it all happens*
*rubs his head into her hand, and preens her hair a bit, before he flies off and shifts into Niccolò* Alright. Are you ready?
*Takes a deep, deep, breath, and slowly will ink to the floor, to her knees* As I will ever be.. *Leans forward a little, to brace herself on the floor* *Behind the blindfold, her eyes turn black* Ok... Ok.
*She will stop being in his head- slthe presence of their link will snap completely, making her recoil, but she manages not to move. Absorbing the surprise*
*And then she begins to work on Aretha*
*the moment the link breaks, Niccolò struggles to stay in control of himself* *but he can manage- he can manage, while she does this* *once Aretha's name splits off from his, he will collapse, motionless, in a state like death- but the philosopher's stone in his pocket keeps his body working, and he starts breathing again almost immediately*
*Adra doesn't move, but keeps working onthe name before that, struggling to move as quickly and quietly as possible* *Alastair always said that the names were like mixed paint, but she is finding that they are more like colored sand in a jar, and their names are constantly moving* *She is reaching out, collecting bits and pieces, and depositing them into the body*
*The girl from the club- she tries to gather as much of her name as possible and, in one fell swoop, pushes it all back to her*
*Aretha Tesla will have sent out a message to her Sanctuary partners once her name returned- the evaluations may begin at their convenience*
*Niccolò, for his part, just stays down, drifting in between life and death* I'm impressed, Adra. You're doing splendidly...
[Economical dutifully takes notes for anyone who needs note-taking]
[Savvy is with the other sensitives]
*She's trying, so hard* *She so desparately wants him to be okay* *She refuses to fail* *Bites down a son as she steers through his mind m, searching adamantly for Ren, and gathering quickly* *She knows that there are some names that would be less than pleased to have her doing this- and so she makes small, quick, jabs, picking up the pieces*
*She feels a familiar brush of one name in particular- and is reminded of sandy hair and ocean eyes, and-*
*-Concentrate*
*Feels a tug in her stomach as she heaves Ren's name, the colors on her arms beginning to pulse, as a light travels down and up the hallway*
Adra- if you need to rest- you can stop. It's alright. You have to keep your strength.
*the names all react differently to being returned to their hosts- Ari is more or less okay, but the girl from the club would have screamed, and is still screaming now* *her mind is tormented by the feeling of herself committing so many violent actions, and the mental torture she was put through to keep her down, as well as just being in a brain that is so, so crowded*
*Adra can hear the scream- crisp, from down the hall* *No* *No more* *Pushes Ren aside and, in the space of twenty minutes, clears through the Programmer, Terri, Chelsea, and Wave*
*And then*
*Her*
*Her fingers unknowingly dig through the stone beneath her, it coming apart in her hands* *This is not going to be pleasant*
*Niccolò doesn't have the breath to ask her to slow down*
*the programmer wakes up shaking and crying, while Wave wakes up more or less unharmed- he doesn't know what happened to him- but he is very confused*
*Even if he did, she would ignore him* *She would only slow down if he was being hurt- and he isn't*
*She begins to swat at Aretha's name, grasping for whatever she can of her, trying to get all of the pieces together that are in the mix*
*Aretha will be difficult- she has done her best to make herself unreachable*
*The Adra will keep digging* *She will shove whomever aside to reach Aretha, and will go as deep as possible* *This woman has caused a lot of problems for her and her husband, and at a time where it matters most- where she is completely vulnerable, she is not going to hide forever* *It takes a number of minutes to trace her- so much is happening**Follows the scent, and eventually reaches the largest mass of Aretha's name, and grabs her, dragging her back to the surface, none too gently* *Searches for any remains and, then, pushes her back into her body, where she belongs*
*Adra's nose begins to bleed- a tiny trickle*
*And then she chases for the air, the one who makes the copies, the waves- swimming around in what feels like a swarm of bees, all itching around her* *It's suffocating* *She can't imagine 500 years of it* *And in another hour, they have all been returned, as well*
*And she reaches out again, this time for him* *She is expecting him to try to wiggle out, but Zicora and Somadina are here, and they will look after him* *And she dives in again, feeling as if her head is exploding- her insides feel like they're being torn in ten different directions, and her head feels like it is submerged miles beneath the sea- there is so much pressure all around her that her ears pop, and a headache sinks in further* *A steady stream of blood now, comes from her nose*
*Niccolò is unconscious, by this point, from the strain of living when he should be dead so many times* *but Ari will speak up* Adra- Andra, please, slow down. Niccolò is exhausted, and you're exhausted. If you keep up at this rate, you won't be able to get all of them in one go, and you'll both take much longer to recover.
*Her eyes water* Please- let me just- this one more, please- I want him out of there.. *And she will go under again, desparately searching for War's name* *She will spin and spin and spin and spin and dive- he is really quite good at hiding*
*But there is a very limited space, and- when she does catch him, she hauls him up, nonetheless gentler than with Aretha* *All of him- and she will lock him in his own body, far away, where he can't hurt them*
*Her arms will give out, and her face hits the floor* *The symbol still glows, and her eyes are still black- but she doesn't dig* *She just wants her husband*
Thank you... Just take a break for a while, ok? Could someone bring her some water and food? *one of the least occupied officials will go to get her some water and snacks*
*War will just get up and stand there, emotionless, silent* *he will accept what has happened to him* *even if he doesn't have all of that power anymore- he can do it himself*
*Oh, that poor thing...*
*Adra will stretch one arm out, then, until her fingers grasp the edge of Niccolò's jacket, and she clutches at it* *Whimpers- that was only twelve of fifty* *Or was it?* *She doesn't know anymore*
*Noelle will come and stand outside War's cell, and watch him, expressionless*
*actually, more like fifteen* *but it is quite a lot* *Niccolò doesn't wake, but she is always welcome to his coat*
*War will stare back at Noelle, his gaze fiery and aggressive* *the rest of him betrays no emotion*
*She just wants that little connection- that physical touch that reminds her what she is pushing herself for* *A bubble rises in her throat, and she coughs, blood splattering across the ground* *Groans a little, but is a little too tired to give a shit* fuck..
*Noelle pulls out a flower- it is really quite beautiful- and it is a deep red that has orange and yellow tips, like a flame* *She thought he may like it* *The colors are very reminiscent of his home country* *When the flower is crushed, or cut, it releases a nice aroma* *She will place it in a little hatch, and it opens on the other side, in the cell*
Do you prefer your given name still, or your taken name? Because your friends are here. And do you want them to call you by which name?
Adra... You should wait for Niccolò to wake up and heal you a bit before you keep going.
*he won't answer her*
No.. No, we tried it before, but it won't heal. It's fine- I just haven't used this much magic in a while. *Her fingers gently brush the outside of Niccolò's coat* *The two biggest fears of hers are gone, now*
*Noelle will look back, and then write on her pad of paper-* Mouse. Good, I like that one too. *Pauses, and looks at her paper* *She isn't taking notes on him- she is just playing mad libs* What is your favorite color?
*what were they?*
*he blinks, just a bit confused* *but still doesn't answer*
*Aretha and War*
*Still looks at him* I'm waiting, little mouse. Color.
*oh, I see*
*he still won't answer her* *but perhaps his stare has softened a little bit*
*Adra will close her eyes- just a little bit, and gently removed from a chan, a second philosopher's stone, and then a stone that she gave to her husband long ago* *This particular philosopher's stone heals, whilst the other rock- it's a flame color- revitalizes* *Drags herself forward, on sheer will, and will place them both in Niccolò's hand, where they both glow*
*Noelle looks a little disappointed* Are you hungry, then? May I fetch you some food? *Pause* I don't know what you like to eat.
*then he will wake in a few moments, and reaches out for Adra, to give the stones back* Adra, thank you- but you need these more than I do...
*Zicora will answer her* He likes vegetables. Thank you...
*War still says nothing*
*Opens one eye, to give him a piercing look- a "if you hand these back to me, I will have your head on a platter" kind of look* *She won't take it from him*!
*Noelle will go to the kitchen, and get some carrots, and zucchini- and then she decides to make some jollof rice, efo riro, with a little bowl of chin chin for dessert* *She spent the last night preparing and researching Nigerian cuisine* *Brings a platter, actually- it is about lunch time, and it takes her maybe fifteen minutes to hear it all up* *Will give a plate to War, Zicora, and Somadina* *She also brings a glass of water and a glass of refreshing zobo for them all, too*
*Gently places one of the plates and two of the glasses in the hatch, and they slide through to a table on the other side* *There are plastic utensils, too*
Please. All I need is to be kept alive- I'm not hurt. But you need to keep yourself as strong and safe as you can.
*oh* *Zicora and Somadina are incredibly impressed* *War is just a little more surprised* Why?
*Well- as piercing as it can be through a blindfold* *But she imagines that a droll stare can surpass even cloth* I am. That's why I'm resting for a moment.
You asked for vegetables.. And I thought that maybe you all missed home, maybe.. I just wanted to make you feel welcome
*hesitates for a moment, then nods, and keeps the stones* *he'll give them back when she resumes her work* Thank you. Is there anything I can do to help you?
*War's friends are just beaming, and Zicora, if she allows it, will give Noelle a big hug* Thank you...
*War himself doesn't react much more than he has, but does sit down to eat it*
I'm fine. *Her voice is a little curt* *But, then it does shift a little, gentler* How does your head feel?
*Noelle nods a little* I'll leave you three to your space, then. *Backs up a little, meek, and then disappears around the corner*
*She goes to where Adra and Niccolò are, and places a little plate in front of Niccolò- it has quinoa, nuts, and other things high in protein* *Energy* *Also a slice of bread* *Very softly* Do you need to be fed?
...Better. Thank you.
*glances up at Noelle, and the plate* And thank you, as well... I do so appreciate it. *pushes himself up, so he's sitting* I'll be alright, I think. Have you had something to eat, yourself?
*She pales* *tiny squeak* yes
*Gets a plate of the same things for Adra, who sits up too, to eat*
*Noelle scampers away again*
*as Noelle scampers away Trip steps out from the shadows, as he is wont to do. He falls into step with her*
That was a really good thing you did back there.
*he calls after her* Thank you, Noelle. *and he will begin to eat*
*Makes a really big "eeeep" sound, and ducks into a tiny ball, like a rolly poly*
*Trip sighs and leans against the wall*
You aren't afraid of me as well, are you?
*Peeks up* I don't know who you are. I also don't know how to fight. Becoming a little ball is my only option
*he smirks*
Well, I suppose that's marginally preferable.
*he holds out a hand to offer her help up*
I'm fairly sure anyone who wanted to hurt you would have died trying to get in here.
*takes his hand* I'm Noelle.. Um. Yeah.
*he's not actually very strong and offers little help in lifting her. If anything she pulls him down a little*
I know. I'm Trip. I, uh, *he indicates to the air around them* spend a lot of time in shadow. Hear stuff.
*Thinks that's funny* *He seems like someone who tries very much to be enigmatic* Do you want something to eat too?
*pauses, while he is eating* Adra? May I ask you something?
*Adra looks up a little* *She has been using her tongue to scoop food off her plate from where she is laying, sideways* Hmm?
*he's actually really hungry. Eating only enough to go unnoticed means you eat very little*
Eh, sure. Never enough food, right?
How does it feel, moving the names?
*Will take him to the kitchen* What do you like to eat?
*Breathes out slowly* it's.. Different. They're so dark, and when I have a hold of them, I can feel them- who they are- and there's so many.. But imagine it's not much different than moving fish from one bucket to another
Have you got any of that food you gave to war left?
*Nods* Yeah- I have enough to feed everyone. Have you had Nigerian before?
I once had it in South Africa, but I don't know how representative that was.
Ah.. I see. I don't know if his is very representative either, but I think it tastes fine
*he serves some onto a plate*
Works for me.
So, what's you bringing food to War, then?
*he smiles just faintly at the mental image of that* You learned so quickly, and you're doing very well.
*Shrugs* I think.. He makes many people nervous, here. But I also think that he has the same capacity to be good as Alastair.
*Adra smiles a little at the praise* Thank you...
(trip, I wrote something yesterday. Would you care to read?))
(I would indeed))
Hm. *he begins to eat with some rapidity*
I'd like for that to be true.
*he returns to eating*
*Gets herself a little Capri Sun pouch of apple juice* I think it can happen. I have faith....
I'm also smart
*a brief, cynical laugh escapes Trip. He finishes his plate and walks back to get more*
Trust me, smart people make mistakes. Especially when they have faith.
*Noelle takes one sip, then doesn't touch it anymore* But you don't know me..
You're quite welcome. You are better at this than I ever was.
*Smiles softly, and her fingers brush his hand* It's okay.. *Finishes eating, and pushes her plate the side* Is it as bad? The noise?
That's true enough. *he begins eating again*
Good luck to you. If you succeed, look me up. I might just have a job for you.
*he takes a moment to finish his food*
You're leaving?
Today? Never. But you seem to be doing good, wouldn't want to get in the way.
:/
Um.
Okay..
*Doesn't know what to say* I think there might be some more names that need help.
*Noelle pauses*
I
I have an idea. May I tell you it? Something we may have to enact later, but it's an experiment.
*Trips begins to wash up his plate*
Go on
Can I
Go on a dangerous adventure wth you sometime
Hm. *he turns back to her, energy tendrils drying and putting the plate back*
That depends. Because dangerous adventures are often really weird, people don't always react well to that.
Oh-
Okay..
*Pause*
Just because I haven't really ever talked to anyone else here and- *Pauses to flush* I like Niccolò, but I don't think he would approve
*he chuckles, smiling at the thought of Niccolo. He hasn't seen him in over a year*
No. No I don't think he would. *he smiles* He always was very responsible.
I know.. He knows how to be fun. I just- well, we shall see. Maybe the threat of the names being eliminated will be good for him.
*he begin to sort through the cupboards, looking for a glass and some beer. He hasn't touched alcohol in a long time*
*he grunts in agreement* For me, too.
No. It gets better every time. *offers her a small smile*
*There would be beer in the fridge* *Noelle doesn't drink* *Just sits with her pouch, looking down at her fingers*
*Adra nods* Alright, well... May I continue?
*he finds it. He sorts through a few brands before he finds one worthy of him*
*He turns on his heels, a tendril removing the bottlecap. He pours himself a glass*
So, what brings you here, today. War? Curiosity?
*Blinks* I met Adra about a year ago. I guess she thought I would be useful, and I've been staying with them to help out with this process.
If you feel rested enough. But if you are going to resume, please, take your stones back. You can give them back to me on your next break.
*he looks down at the beer*
Oh, sweet!
Were they, sort of, perilous circumstances? I love a good perilous circumstance.
*Shakes her head, and points to the drawings on her arms* I have energy- plenty of it. And- *taps her wedding ring* I have a stone.
*She smiles, and sits up again, sore, but will, before Niccolò can try to convince her otherwise, slip into the maelstrom again* *The next girl is- well, she knows that Noelle has had a bad experience with her before* *So she will swim through the names and, after wrestling for a number of minutes, pulls her out of the masses* *Her skin becomes blue and glows, as she sends Witch back to her body*
*Shakes her head* No, not at all like that. I was just out for a run and ran into her. Literally.
*Trip feels more raw power, he puts on a smile*
*He laughs.* Wow. Looks like fate still moves funnily.
*he looks down at the beer again, then proffers the bottle to Noelle, an offer*
*Blanches* No, I don't drink. *Pauses* Is that wise? Especially if something back there goes wrong.. Is being inebriated good for defense?
*he chuckles* It'd take a lot more than this, let me assure you.
*he puts the bottle down*
Okay... *Shifts in her seat* I'd better go back and check on everyone, again..
Good idea. *he smiles*
Go on ahead. I'll... be in the shadows. *he looks at her, 'deadly serious'*
*Thinks that he is being silly* *She will grab a little plate of food, and goes to the newest name to have emerged- Witch*
*Doesn't like her* *She scares her* *Puts the food through anyway*
*He walks over to the sink and empties the bottle away*
Oh beer, sweet beer. One day we'll be reunited. *He empties the glass away, too*
The girl's right, though.
*the moment Witch is returned to her body, she makes a feral sound, and tries to attack the door* *she will take the food, however, and eats ravenously*
*The door will fade the moment she gets close- as with all of them*
*Noelle takes a step back, frightened* *Ambles back over to where War and his friends are* Is anyone finished..?
*Adra continues to work, taking slow, deep breaths as she does* *The next three don't put up as much of a fight- the teleporter, the very meek and subdued John Smith, and the Necromancer* *She tries to, however, as she puts both the teleporter and the Necromancer back into their bodies, thank them- it sounds bad no matter how she does it, but their abilities saved them numerous times* *But she is mostly relieved that everyone is back*
*She goes to Celine- whom, if she is correct, she thinks Trip met after-*
*no, Adra, stop thinking about that- concentrate*
*after putting everything back where it was Trip leaves the room. Except for the beer you could be fooled into thinking he were never there*
*Except he was*
*he totally was*
[Economical would not be fooled, but he won't enter that room, so it's all good]
*And he still has to deliver a certain package eventually...*
[Also, there are other people he'd blame for the details like missing food, so he still probably wouldn't realize Trip was there.]
*Adra's just going to continue, then, with the name that has the ability to project images, and then Silas- and Weather, and Arisbel, and the one that ejects the energy shield*
*It is becoming progressively easier for her to take the names and, in fact, she finds it kind of fun to do* *She can understand why her husband enjoyed taking him- though their reasons were different* *Their names, as it is beginning to show, aren't as much like paint* *They are mixed, of course, and it's hard to pull them away from each other, but they are, by an large, in once piece* *A few of the names are shattered, but most of them are just bent out of shape* *The smarter ones- the ones who like the power- tend to be better at hiding, and take longer to free, but they are powerless against her- they have nothing to hold on to to resist her pull*
*It is giving her a lot of satisfaction, to be doing this- so many of these names are unkind people*
*Adra then dives in again- ignoring the blood that has begun to drip from her nose again* *Her blouse is matted with blood, but she could care less, and so she goes after the Shunter* *This particular name was of use to them, at a few times, and Adra remembers that, had Alastair not had this name, it is likely that a lot less damage would have been done- and certainly, they would not have found Queen Aretha in the first place*
*This one is fractured, undoubtedly from the abuse it has suffered, and so she is more ginger with it- it is difficult to hold and to pull away, but it is more like a tooth- one good tug, and it is free*
*She feels a ripple of energy curl around her spine as she feels along the line for the room that the Shunter's body is in* *With that connection in mind, she will move along it, passing the name along* *And as she bears, the body seems to be calling for it- it's something she has noticed in most of the names* *Like a magnet, two pieces call for one another, and she lets the name fall back into place*
*And she is back into herself again, sweating, beads rolling down her skin, as she searches for Añuli*
*Trip watches Adra, uncertain of how to proceed. Etiquette at rituals tends to change depending on the cult, but at least they tend to have some sort of guidebook*
*She is not part of a cult*
*Gasps, leaning forward a little as she coughs up a bubble of blood into her arm* *Grits her teeth- no, she is not going to stop* *She won't let her...disability hinder her*
*cults of one are always the worst. Always going on about how they're not a cult and getting out dictionaries and things.*
*Regardless of etiquette, Adra dying midway through the ritual would rather defeat the point of the whole endeavour*
*Also he likes her or whatever... Baka*
Adra. Adra slow down.
*Oh, screw you*
*Growls a little, breathing slowly* I'm fine..
Adra, the last time I saw someone with so much blood on their shirt I'd just stabbed them.
I'll admit, I didn't manage to follow all of your research, what with all the safes and such, but this ritual doesn't have a time limit. Give yourself time.
*both Arisbel and Celine will be gone- faded- and Arisbel did so by her own request, so a piece of her will be in each other name* *so Adra may save Celine, if she takes that amount of time and effort, but Arisbel prefers to be left as she is*
*Niccolò cannot participate in the conversation because he is too busy nearly-dying*
*Closes her eyes, and grits her teeth- she doesn't remove herself from her state, but she does stop* Trip, I need to get through everyone else to get to my husband and to Niccolò. I have no other choice
*Adra breathes out*
*She will leave the two women, then, if it was their request*
*But if it isn't Celine's fault that she faded...*
*Regardless, she will pass over them for now*
*Celine would be happy to be saved- Arisbel was the only one who wanted it* *but Adra may, of course, go at her own pace and make her own decisions*
*he takes off his jacket, seeing where this is headed*
What will be the point if you die?
*drawing his sword he begins to cut strips. All sorts of things begin to tumble out*
There is always another choice, Adra.
*He knows she won't stop, but he always felt her plans involved far too much personal risk. Or at least, he does right know*
*Oh*
*Then she will do just that*
*Breathes out slowly* Let me do this first.. Then we will break.
*Takes a deep breath, and begins to go inward again, and sees what Alastair once said- there is a little bit of them in everyone*
*She finds Celine, and gently picks her off of Alastair's name, gently sliding her away* *She picks through the remaining names, finding the Celine in them and removing her- sometimes picking, sometimes tearing, her off* *And so she takes all of the pieces and begins to put them together again, like a puzzle*
*There is a faint ripple, and she begins to swim through the lines in the hallways, taking a little breath as she goes into everyone whom she has already put back, and gently will try to- as unobtrusively as possible- remove Celine from them* *It is undoubtedly painful, but Adra tries her hardest to be quick* *She's sorry*
*There are a lot of names, and it's hard- She doesn't know how to steal a name, just... Sort- and it feels as if, to her, she is stealing a part of them, and she doesn't know how to do it properly* *But she is managing*
*Sheisnt going to die*
*He doesn't understand* *She won't die*
*Adra begins with the pieces, ignoring Trip, and begins to roll them into one piece again* *And as she places them close to one another, like droplets of water, they become whole again*
*And so she gingerly places Celine back into her body*
*Trip begins to apply his makeshift bandages. Adra may not have any cuts, but being on the floor for this long can't be good for the skin. He tries his hardest to tidy up the blood with the remaining cloth*
*She will let him dab at her* You can't heal it, Trip..
*Celine is, perhaps, the most peaceful when she wakes- she had already accepted her fate, and is just happy to be given a second chance at life*
*Noelle is actually in the room, now, with Celine* *And gently will sit beside her* Are you okay?
I can't heal anything, I've always found it much easier to cause the injuries.
*he stops and takes a look at the ruined fabric around him*
What can I do?
I mean- what's wrong- it refuses to heal. I tried. It just.. Needs time.
*Swallows hard, feeling around for her glass of water*
*she blinks, and nods* I... Think I am. Are you Noelle?
*he grabs it and wraps her fingers around it.*
Well, I've got time in abundance. Time cop and all.
*he grins a little. Suddenly he's scrabbling through the detritus from his pockets*
*Noelle nods* I am. Are you hungry? Can I fetch you something to eat or drink? Here- *Turns around and takes a blanket off a shelf, and brings it around Celine*
*Will lift the cup to her lips, and gently sips* *Her mouth tastes of blood*
*Ugh, she has so much hair* Do you know how to braid hair? Could you braid mine? It keeps getting in my way.
I have a a basic understanding, but bear in mind: I'm a magician, not a hairdresser.
*he finds what he's looking for and then spends a couple more seconds hunting down a hair band. He goes to kneel beside her, putting his time cop badge in her other hand*
*he gets to work on her hair. She isn't wrong, you could lose your hands in it*
*Her hair goes to her waist- there is enough to make probably four wigs* *It's pretty and wavy, but it's just hot* *Feels the badge, and closes her eyes, removing the blindfold as he works* *She will put it back on once he has finished*
*badge is probably a stretch, considering it's just some A4 paper with some crayon on it*
*Trip is quite a lot better at braiding than advertised and is done in no time at all*
*Oh*
Thank you. *Hands his paper back to him* Here...?
*closes her hand around it* Hold onto it. Cara would want you to have it right now.
Of course, I'll need it back. It's important for exerting my authority.
*Stifles a giggle, trying to push the blindfold onto her head* She's two. I really doubt she even understands time travel.
*his fingers slide it down over her eyes. He laughs*
Listen, I don't know about you, but a flower screams 'Authority Over Time' to me.
*Appreciates the gesture*
Well, if you insist...
*She suddenly misses her daughter*
Do you need a new shirt, or a pillow, or something?
*Rolls her shoulders a bit- she has been like this for a few hours* No, I'm going to start bleeding again. I just want to get this done..
Fair enough, fair enough.
*he sits back, hands and forearms bloody a very bad surgeon's*
*She will wait until she thinks that Niccolò had recovered adequately, then will continue with Añuli* *Doesnt really know a lot about this name in particular, but notices how she has a difficult time finding rhem*
*She then moves forward to the mind-stealer, then Antony, Sherpa, and Samantha*
*Jesus Christ, there is a lot of them*
*Trip wonders if Adra mightt benefit from an iv. She looks busy, he doesn't bring it up*
*Likely not* *IV is for nourishment- and she has been eating*
*She will continue to concentrate, however* *These names are wily*
*Celine offers a warm smile, and pulls the blanket closer around her* Thank you. If it's not too much trouble, I might like some water and just a light snack.
*Noelle nods, and will go just outside the door* *Comes back with water, a half sandwich, fruit snacks, and an apple* Here..
*Adra is so close*
*She is so, so close*
*And so she pushes herself- hard*
*She all but barrels through them- the name that dematerializes, Jynx, the name that specializes in magic flow, the sensitive, and-*
*Even Justin Blue*
*These last few are increasingly more difficult- these names are older than the newer ones, regardless of if they are weak or not, the bond and the force that keeps them there is a lot stronger than that which held the others* *Adra is panting, her skin slick, and her nose is bleeding again* *She coughs once, twice, three times, and blood just falls everywhere* *So much blood, and her hands are in a pool of it* *The symbols on her back are hot to the touch- should anyone touch them, their fingers would burn, like touching a hot stove- there has been such a cosmic energy flow through her body, and she has been in the so-called "name state" all day, that she is running on fumes* *She has enough, but the symbols one her skin are the only ones that are keeping her body from completely shutting down*
*It's like playing tug of war with names- and even with Justin, it feels as if he is superglued to Niccolò and Alastair* *He is much, much harder to detach from the remaining two, and she is sure that the rip apart is going to cause a bruise*
*She's crying*
*A sob passes her lips as then, there are just two left*
*Her boys*
*Her body aches so terribly, and she feels like she is about to crumble- she knows that the moment she does this, the moment her husband is safe, then she is just going to desintegrate* *With a subdued touch, she reaches one last time into the dark for him*
*His name is so soft- she brushed it once, earlier today, but it is so delicate to touch, and it radiates warmth* *As gently as possible, she will pry the two apart* *It's difficult- more than half a millennium together, and the two names are all but one, they are so close, and stuck* *But she will just keep pulling, and tugging, and pulling, and tugging, trying her best to unwrap them from around each other*
*The gentleness isn't working- and so she tries to wiggle herself between them- and pushes her entire self apart, and they tear into two* *She'll steal away with her husband's name, so, so careful, and the heat follows down from where her cranium meets her spine, down her arms and legs and into the floor, where it follows to the very end of the line- the room that her husband is in*
*She feels so exhausted*
*Adra places his name back into his own body*
*And silence rained down on her*
*She can feel the thump of his beating heart from along the energetic lines, and the sound is deafening, but- knowing that he is safe, her body curls, and she falls into a coughing fit of blood that pours from her, and, writhing, her body gives out, depositing her on the ground in the puddle*
*the moment Niccolò recovers from that almost-death, he presses all of his stones into her hand* *gives her some of his energy, as well, and tries to heal her, just in case it could help*
*It's alright* *She's fine- just so exhausted* *Like an overheated bulb or fried wire* *Her lip trembles, and she just-* Did it work?
*nods, breathlessly* Yes...
*Alastair will have rushed towards the door, to get to her- but then the door melts away, so he takes a few steps back* Adra, I'm here... *the silence- the lack of connection- the lack of constant attacks- it is deafening*
*Adra's lip trembles gently, and she is just so overcome that she just begins to cry, hiding her head as, uncontrollably, she shakes from her sobs*
*Noele will gently come forward, and press something outside- but the door will appear for Alastair again*
*he isn't supposed to leave* *he leaves* *whispers a thank-you to Noelle, and then he runs out to hold his Adra* *the moment he reaches her, a cleaver will have their blade against his neck- Ari tells them to stand down unless Alastair does something harmful or leaves the hall, and so they will give Aladra their space*
*She can't stop trembling, but she is silently willing him to come closer, to come to her*
*Energy sapped, yet she forces herself to move, trying to hold him, but she can't get up on her own* *She does, however, manage to push up the blindfold and*
Alastair..
*Covers her mouth with a cupped hand, trying to hold back the terrible cry that has risen and gotten caught*
Adra, my darling... *slides to the ground beside her, brushing his fingers over her face- trembling just slightly* My Adra...
*Bites her lip hard, and she just watches him with fresh eyes* *He's fine he's fine he's fine* *She can't move* *Despatately wants him to hold and kiss her*
*curls one hand into her hair, and kisses her, intensely* *gently gathers her into his lap, holding her close against him*
*Her hand curls around his forearm, and she will kiss him back, with abandon* *She needs him*
*he won't pull away unless she does* *it is such a relief- he can hardly imagine- to finally have the names gone* *and he will never cease to be grateful for the freedom that she gave him* *but at the same time, having his name completely alone for the first time in centuries- torn from the others and torn from his connection with Adra- feels incredibly isolating* *and so he clings to her*
*She doesn't need a connection to him to know that- she knows* *She knows* *Gently does pull from the kiss, but tucks her head under his chin, her fingers gently stroking his arm*
*Noelle comes in with a blankie, and goes over to Niccolò, putting the blankie around him* Can you walk? You need to rest.
*rests his head over hers, and just clings* Adra, are you alright...?
*Niccolò can hardly speak- he is so shocked at finally bring alone* *at having his worst mistake reversed for him* T-thank you, Noelle
*His wife nods the barest of nods* *Just so damn tired*
*Gently will take the back of his head, and help him drink some water*
You can sleep, if you like- *pauses* I can't leave the hall, but you can sleep.
*oh* *he appreciates it*
*Good* *Adra passes out, then* *It is entirely possible that someone may come in with a mop, now, to clear the blood*
*Alastair will lift her gently, and carry her to set her down on the bed in his room- he can't just leave her on the floor, but he also can't leave* *brushes a bit of hair out of her face, and wets some cloth from the mini-powder room in the back, to begin to clean the blood off of her*
*Modt of her hair is still in the braid, but it is messy* *He may redo it, if he likes* *She will be unconscious for an hour or so, before her body drags itself awake- it knows that she doesn't want to rest long; she wants to speak with her husband*
*Noelle will gently help Niccolò into a wheelchair, in case he is just really tired, and will take him to a room of his own* *This one is a little nicer- she knows that no one blames Niccy*
*Blushes, realizing she called him that*
*Will take him in, and help him lay down* You should rest. I, um, brought you some food. *Points to the bedside table* There's some more quinoa, a 5 oz chicken, some mashed potatoes, green beans, rice, a fruit kebab, and- *Places a small package on his table* Some chocolates. There's a few water bottles, as well, and Adra taught me how to make a symbol that keeps the plate and the food warm, so you shouldn't worry.
*then he will clean her up, and re-braid her hair- maybe more than once* *he is running out of things to do when she wakes*
*Niccolò isn't quite that tired, but will still let Noelle move him if she wishes- his mind is out of focus, in a sense* Thank you again... *he does very much appreciate her help*
She will have been watching him when he looks up again* *She is absentmindedly biting her lip* You're hot.
*Nods* You should rest, anyway. You have 500 years of catching up to do. *She will tuck him in* if you need me, press the call button on your lamp. All of the rooms have one- and I'll come. *Nods* *So if any of the names need something, she will get a notification*
*blinks, then catches her eyes, and smiles faintly* I am glad you think so.
You're very kind, Noelle. Thank you.
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