"Interesting. So, do you share sensations as well?"
"I should get up and help," Aananda started to say before she was interrupted by Ephebe.
"Mom, magical healing is no substitute for actual rest. Which you need. So you're going to get it, at least for a few minutes. James is working on getting stuff fixed and rebuilding the infirmary. You can work on getting security systems rebooted from a comfortable location. We can all help. You have to stop pushing yourself so hard...and that's coming from me so you really know you've been overdoing it."
"Yeah. Normal healing spells didn't even do anything. I had to anti-rot her brain."
she doesn't even seem to notice how odd this sounds.
"Thank you so much for your help Tarka," Ephebe said, smiling at her student. "You're a good person and I'm glad you came here."
"Your welcome! But i swear, throwing water in her face is what solved the problem."
Reading the expressions of the people around the infirmary doesn't help the steadily rising sense of panic and sorrow in Midori. What had happenned?! Grim-kun was here, but where were Hew-kun and Zilla-chan?
As soon as she's set down by the godling, the little Aasimar rushes into the room, tears streaming down her face. "" she screams, apparently uncaring about any distruption of the ashes here. Not immediately seeing them, and knowing that they were probably dead and she did nothing to help them...
She breaks down there, sinking to her knees. Quite suddenly around the kunoichi, her metal transmutation power begins to spread across the room. Floor, dust, anything else begins to turn to steel in an ever expanding circle around her.
"Interesting. So, do you share sensations as well?"
They both look at each other. "We're not sure. We haven't tried and me having a body is a new thing. Usually I'm just in our mindscape." Zilla answers.
"No, I was outside when whatever it was happened. When I heard the lock down announcement I rushed to find you. I guess I was too late." He kept a hold of her as her spoke. As if he was afraid that she wouldn't be there if he let go. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm just so happy your ok." Finally he pulled back from hugging her. "Was Mel with you is she ok?" He asked just as worried as before."Dom, it's okay. I'm okay. It's my blood, but it's fine now. Ace healed me. It's kind of a long story, which I'll be happy to tell you, but please don't cry. I'm fine now," she said, trying to reassure him as she hugged him back. "I'm glad you're okay too. I've been trying not to worry, but they blew up the infirmary and nearly everyone inside was killed and I was so afraid that you'd been in there working," she said, completely ignoring her own advice about not crying.
"Yeah, Mel was with me when everything happened. She was okay last time I saw her. Ace went with her. She's probably helping with the repairs I would guess. But we can go check to make sure if that would help ease your mind," she said with a gentle smile, not willing to be separated from him right at this moment.
the second you start metal-izing things, you feel a slimy tail pull you back out of the room, and quickly thereafter, stop feeling much of anything.
"Sorry for that."
settro apologizes to the staff.
"Look around...what do you think?" she said a bit grimly...and then she saw where Ehos had wandered off to. Towards the victims. "I don't know exactly what this fight was about honestly...maybe they'll be able to explain better later, but for now I think it's all hands on deck trying to get things fixed."
"So I guess we just keep our eyes open and see if anyone looks suspicious. I'll come check in with you again in a bit. I just want to go check on something," she said, obviously concerned with what had drawn Ehos over to the infirmary section, but definitely taking Tryko'Sam's warnings seriously.
It didn't take much more than the first few words, or perhaps her tone, for Tryko'Sam's demeanor to sour a bit more and add a nod by the end of her comments. Both in agreement with her first part, and then the latter.
Spotting yet another person /suddenly/ appearing, brought a moment of tension-- then things vanishing-- yet more, but, the robed fellow seemed to know the Middle Eastern Princess looker, and Tryko'Sam frowned once more.
>> F%*# me, it's like everyone's paired up-- maybe this is Hell. I'm dead, I just don't realize it finally. At least some of the view is nice... <<
Needless to say, his scowl didn't go away, but a slight smirk grew.
"Hunh. Would you like to test that?"
"I...I don't.." she floundered for words. "I don't think I can have this conversation here....uh...maybe we should talk later...I mean, you were going to see if you could help and I....am starting to wonder if it's actually possible to die from embarrassment," she added covering her face with her hands. "And there's so much other stuff to worry about and...I really need to stop talking before I say any more stupid stuff," she added with a slight hint of desperation.
Ardiente stomps his foot on the ground and around them, up shoots four stone walls, which curve together and form a roof over them. A few air holes open in the stone, and Ardiente conjures a bit of flame for light. They had privacy at least, even if the method wasn't subtle in the slightest.
"Raelle, nothing you say is stupid to me, and helping you is just as important to me as helping others. So tell me: what's the matter?"
People near Midori panic as wild powers and a screaming (once) adorable Ninja Girl is suddenly rushed at by some demonic looking thing (which makes them still feel like not attacking him)-- not quite sure in their already emotionally high state of stress, what to do!
Reading the expressions of the people around the infirmary doesn't help the steadily rising sense of panic and sorrow in Midori. What had happenned?! Grim-kun was here, but where were Hew-kun and Zilla-chan?
As soon as she's set down by the godling, the little Aasimar rushes into the room, tears streaming down her face. "" she screams, apparently uncaring about any distruption of the ashes here. Not immediately seeing them, and knowing that they were probably dead and she did nothing to help them...
She breaks down there, sinking to her knees. Quite suddenly around the kunoichi, her metal transmutation power begins to spread across the room. Floor, dust, anything else begins to turn to steel in an ever expanding circle around her.
Ephebe immediately turns, drawing her Caster as she moved and shooting Midori with a calm emotions.
"James?"
"'sokay! I can use this!" her brother called out from inside the infirmary.
Ephebe shook her head.
"Midori," she said, putting a hand on the girls shoulder. "Please come with me. What you're doing now isn't helping anyone, least of all Hew and Zilla. We don't even know yet if they were among the casualties. And we need to get out of the way of those who are trying to get this place cleaned up and fixed.[/i]
"I...I don't.." she floundered for words. "I don't think I can have this conversation here....uh...maybe we should talk later...I mean, you were going to see if you could help and I....am starting to wonder if it's actually possible to die from embarrassment," she added covering her face with her hands. "And there's so much other stuff to worry about and...I really need to stop talking before I say any more stupid stuff," she added with a slight hint of desperation.Ardiente stomps his foot on the ground and around them, up shoots four stone walls, which curve together and form a roof over them. A few air holes open in the stone, and Ardiente conjures a bit of flame for light. They had privacy at least, even if the method wasn't subtle in the slightest.
"Raelle, nothing you say is stupid to me, and helping you is just as important to me as helping others. So tell me: what's the matter?"
There are numerous screams and shocked panic voices just outside the hole openings and such as Ariente earth bends walls to ensure that Raelle cannot leave his immediate presence (without effort) and he gets the privacy he wants so they can chit chat in the middles of a make shift infirmary with people in tense states of minds!
he sets her down and lets ephebe do her thing.
Lightning bullets and tails ...and one calmed Ninja Girl later, the folks near the Infirmary doors/rooms are much calmer...
Tensions are high though-- strained people not accustomed to wild insanity of this magnitude, reconsider needing to be /right here/ and slowly disperse from the hallway.
>> What the holy HELL? <<
Tryko'Sam, standing in the Cafeteria, suddenly hears rocks shift and churn and four walls fused together around where Ariente and that girl he was with, blocking the view.
He shouts out to those nearby, "Watch out!"
Apparently still standing ready though ... just in case, waiting.
Dom's worry fades from his expression. "No she's probably fine. If she's with others. We should probably help here or search for others." He responds knowing that there are many that need healing still {possibly not in this area after the army) but in the school. "I guess I could go see her while searching for others. If you would like to accompany me I would be eternally grateful." He asks wanting to see if Mel is ok but not wanting to not help.
Dom turns to see what is happening. His hands move toward his decanter but he stops before opening it. Once he sees that what ever it was is just a dome was formed. He turns back to Tami. "So much is happening I don't really know where I'm needed most. I probably should stay here and help with what ever is left. Besides some of my healing is best in large groups."
Ardiente stomps his foot on the ground and around them, up shoots four stone walls, which curve together and form a roof over them. A few air holes open in the stone, and Ardiente conjures a bit of flame for light. They had privacy at least, even if the method wasn't subtle in the slightest.
"Raelle, nothing you say is stupid to me, and helping you is just as important to me as helping others. So tell me: what's the matter?"
"I don't know!" she said, as things somehow managed to get even more awkward. "I'm confused! I....it's the stress right? From the attack? That's why I feel so confused isn't it? Because I feel more nervous than if I were taking a pop quick in alchemy and I can't even seem to put words together into sentences and I don't even know what I want anymore and the more I talk the stupider I sound! I mean, I don't always sound like the brightest, but I'm pretty sure I've never sounded stupider than I have in the last five minutes."
>> Er.. okay-- no one seems concerned. <<
Tryko'Sam looked around as, apparently, no one else took the rising earth walls to be some sort of ... 'uncommon' occurrence.
Glancing briefly around again, he returned to his 'guard duty' stance.
Ephebe immediately turns, drawing her Caster as she moved and shooting Midori with a calm emotions.
"James?"
"'sokay! I can use this!" her brother called out from inside the infirmary.
Ephebe shook her head.
"Midori," she said, putting a hand on the girls shoulder. "Please come with me. What you're doing now isn't helping anyone, least of all Hew and Zilla. We don't even know yet if they were among the casualties. And we need to get out of the way of those who are trying to get this place cleaned up and fixed.[/i]
"They were /here/, Blackscales-sensei!" Midori says, though completely emotionless - both the calm emotions spell and Settro's feasting on her negative emotions leaving her feeling nothing... and rather empty for it too. "Zilla-chan said she would come visit me when she left the infirmary! She never came, so she must have been here!"
"I let them die. I couldn't save them."
"Let go of me!!" Midori yells, trying to bat away the tail, though her shout is strangely emotion-less and deadpan, as Settro had just sucked all the negative emotion out of her. "They're dead and I didn't do anything to save them!"the second you start metal-izing things, you feel a slimy tail pull you back out of the room, and quickly thereafter, stop feeling much of anything.
"Sorry for that."
settro apologizes to the staff.
"That's enough out of you young lady," Nala snapped "Endangering rescue efforts doesn't make things better and you don't know that they're dead. There weren't many survivors, but there were a handful. I should know as I'm one of them. Did you even try using the school's location system? I do believe it is functioning again."
She relented on the severity then. "Midori, I want them to be okay as much as you do, and we are all trying to do everything we can to heal the survivors and bring back those who were victims of the attack," she said gently. "Please trust us to help. And don't blame yourself. None of us can save everyone. No matter how powerful or not we are."
"I... I am sorry, Zamarosok-sensei." she says, though she's unable to truly be contrite given the emotions spell she was under. Still, she bows her head in deference. "I... wasn't thinking clearly."
settro squirms at the emotionless midori.
"I ate too much again, didn't i... Oh dear, why aren't the emotions coming back?"
settro seems quite afraid.
It had been several long minutes of intense concentration for Vare. These spells could not normally last this long, and it was taking literally all of his concentration to maintain the links these creatures had to the Material Plane. So when Anahita suddenly appears next to him - her scent, the hand on his knee, and then her voice - his concentration strains beyond it's breaking point and snaps, and almost all of the vertible army vanishes. Fortunately, most of their healing magic had been spent already. Only the Draconal and a few scant outsiders remain.
Vare himself cries out in momentary pain at the sudden snapping of his concentration, though he opens his eyes and looks over to Anahita. A throbbing headache is his reward for the maintenance of so many summons. "Aghh... Anahita. I am very glad you are safe. You..." he pauses a moment, rubbing a temple in a vain attempt to clear the headache. "There was an attack on the school. The wards were disabled, the infirmary attacked and destroyed... and something else as well, which rocked the school with many explosions." his eyes are closed again, though the look of concentration has been replaced by one of pain.
Just Anahita's mere presence near Vare seems to add a small amount of energy to him, a faint spark of life, and while not curing the headache immediately, there is a subtle ease of pain. She doesn't seem to notice, however. Little bits of plants growing from where they were entangled in her hair from the fall, and a ladybug like creature skimmers off from some branch as well from her dark hair's thick waves.
With a few blinks, Anahita glances up and at Vare as if she hears something, then shaking her head with a slight frown mouths a silent, "No, stop that..."
Then the earth rips up and encases Ariente. She stands and assumes a ready stance, but looking over at the tall, dark haired male, she blinks again and snaps to the side as if someone were speaking to her saying, "Stop that! Shut up!"
Clearly, she realizes her blurting out aloud, and she looks from dark haired youth, back to Vare, shaking her head again. "Vare-- are you well? If you are injured... I could ease the pain, though, if it is a strain of your mind, I might not be able too." Her hand goes to his head and cups the back of it briefly in an affectionate manner.
Then she glances between both men once more, and a few others, shaking her head again as if to ward off an annoying buzzing creation-- of which, a few more flutter or buzz out of her hair.
Her eyes though, are a bit wild and alive, glancing about at everyone.
edit:
Carl notes the mains power systems in the hanger are back on line when the doors start to open on there own.
"bout time"
he heads back into the ship
"Right everyone, I'm going to park us outside the school, looks like power is back, so best your up and out from this space, ships just as good, outside"
Carl moves the ship up and out, then back down again onto the grounds, it lands with a thunk sound and sinks some way into the earth.
"Right we stay put till we gets the all clear"
Then he calls Arthur
Arthur->"Arthur, yep the hear splitting racket where me lad-e, move me ship and kids outside, let me know when its call clear to let every one back in, and don't forget I got some medical stuff for you"
"I don't know!" she said, as things somehow managed to get even more awkward. "I'm confused! I....it's the stress right? From the attack? That's why I feel so confused isn't it? Because I feel more nervous than if I were taking a pop quick in alchemy and I can't even seem to put words together into sentences and I don't even know what I want anymore and the more I talk the stupider I sound! I mean, I don't always sound like the brightest, but I'm pretty sure I've never sounded stupider than I have in the last five minutes."
Ardiente nods at that, and moves once again to hug her, trying to calm her down a bit. "That can happen. It's a form of shock. Sudden violence can make you nervous and feeling confused, especially if you aren't used to it. It's nothing to be ashamed of though Raelle, it's perfectly normal. Just take deep breaths, and I'll be here for you. How does that sound?"
settro squirms at the emotionless midori.
"I ate too much again, didn't i... Oh dear, why aren't the emotions coming back?"
settro seems quite afraid.
"No, it's alright. I hit her with a Calm Emotions. It's standard procedure for when her metal transmutation starts out of control like that. She'll be back to normal soon."
he puts his hand over (presumably) his heart.
"Oh, thank goodness..."
after a moment's silence, he says
"I'm getting too attached to these kids... It's not heathy..."
Vai had been about to go back to her business - probably even heading out to the Materials and Supplies building to check if they had any recent shipments - when the darker-skinned girl with her verdant Aura of Life arrived...
A new Champion, that couldn't be mistaken. Champion of Life... Vai wonders briefly if Life and Death are enemies... or... well. She could ask Krays... or.
Vai quickly flits across the room to where Fei was bent over, healing someone. "Fei, look. A new Champion." she says, pointing out Anahita to him.
Ardiente nods at that, and moves once again to hug her, trying to calm her down a bit. "That can happen. It's a form of shock. Sudden violence can make you nervous and feeling confused, especially if you aren't used to it. It's nothing to be ashamed of though Raelle, it's perfectly normal. Just take deep breaths, and I'll be here for you. How does that sound?"
It sounded absolutely perfect. Okay, so maybe sometimes being protected wasn't all bad....
"That sounds good," she said in a small voice, trying not to remember that half of what she was feeling nervous about was him. Which made no sense. How could you feel safe and nervous at the same time because of the same person? Stupid logic not working right and interfering with a perfectly lovely explanation. Whatever. It was the shock. That had to be right.
he puts his hand over (presumably) his heart.
"Oh, thank goodness..."
after a moment's silence, he says
"I'm getting too attached to these kids... It's not healthy..."
"Are you telling me this is something I need to be concerned about as their teacher? Or are you struggling with feeling emotional attachment to people because you're not familiar...if it's the latter that does get better with practice."
Vare shakes his head for a moment or two, enjoying how Anahita cupped his head. The headache seems less at that touch, and lessens slowly as he stays near to Anahita. His eyes do remain closed for the moment. The dreamscape was a wild enough place right now. There were /so/ many people present in the cafeteria, and the Dream Fragments were more akin to Nightmare Fragments with all the negative emotions running amok. "I've over-exerted my mind in attempt to maintain so many summons at once."
"Your presence alone is helping to ease the pain already though." He wondered briefly who she was snapping at to stop, but his doesn't open his eyes to look yet. "Is someone bothering you?"
"That I'm new to this attachment thing. See, I've had one thing drilled into my head from birth, probobly the ony advice that my mom ever gave me that was any good- I'm immortal, they aren't. If i die, i cease to exist, so i can't follow them in death. iI'm 16 years old, but 16 already seems like nothing to me, because of how i was raised, and because of my nature as an immortal creature spawned of a god."
when you talk to him calmly, he calms down virtually instantly.
It sounded absolutely perfect. Okay, so maybe sometimes being protected wasn't all bad....
"That sounds good," she said in a small voice, trying not to remember that half of what she was feeling nervous about was him. Which made no sense. How could you feel safe and nervous at the same time because of the same person? Stupid logic not working right and interfering with a perfectly lovely explanation. Whatever. It was the shock. That had to be right.
"We definitely have to start those self-defense lessons, sooner rather than later. I expect half the school will want to join in after today though." he says, pulling her close. He uses his bending to heat the air inside the dome to temperatures that were more pleasant for firebirds. "Do you want me to take the dome down now? We can stay like this as long as you like." Ardiente had put out of his mind the possibility that Raelle could think of him has more of a friend, and his hug never strayed out of what could be considered appropriate for that. Maybe close friends. Who hugged for long periods of time. Those existed, right?
"That I'm new to this attachment thing. See, I've had one thing drilled into my head from birth, probobly the ony advice that my mom ever gave me that was any good- I'm immortal, they aren't. If i die, i cease to exist, so i can't follow them in death. iI'm 16 years old, but 16 already seems like nothing to me, because of how i was raised, and because of my nature as an immortal creature spawned of a god."
when you talk to him calmly, he calms down virtually instantly.
"Yeah, demons are big on the no-attachment thing. It makes the cruelty easier. Although really, they break their own rules all the time. Look, you're not really wrong. People die. Whether you're immortal or just really long-lived, eventually you're going to lose people you care about if you let yourself care. And it's gonna hurt. A lot. Thing is, you can get through that pain. It's bad, but ....you can spend eternity lonely or you can accept that the brief times of warmth and happiness that come from actually caring about people are worth the pain when you lose them. In my opinion it is. But that's a decision you can only make for yourself," she said, sounding like she wasn't just talking about stuff in theory.
At this point, what with the shooting of adorable ninja girls, metal forming all over the place, and Grim Jr. doing a mental commune spell, most of the non-PC NPCs are clearing out from the Infirmary that had collected there...
Certainly nothing to do with talk about demons or ...anything along those lines, no.
settro freezes up for a while.
"I understand, i suppose.
You know, I've often wondered what it would be like to be normal. I've occasionally longed for it. I look at all of these people... Vampires, liches, powerful wizards... All dreaming of immortality. I wonder why they would want to bring such harm to themselves... Or are they just ignorant? I suppose, it may very well be worth it... Though, I've noticed, i seem to be getting along with the kids better then any of the teenagers."
he snickers a bit.
"I didn't mean to go on a tangent like that. Sorry. You've got to be busy."
settro freezes up for a while.
"I understand, i suppose.
You know, I've often wondered what it would be like to be normal. I've occasionally longed for it. I look at all of these people... Vampires, liches, powerful wizards... All dreaming of immortality. I wonder why they would want to bring such harm to themselves... Or are they just ignorant? I suppose, it may very well be worth it... Though, I've noticed, i seem to be getting along with the kids better then any of the teenagers."
he snickers a bit.
"I didn't mean to go on a tangent like that. Sorry. You've got to be busy."
"It's okay. Transitioning from the abyss to trying to get along with other like a civilized being can be tricky business. Been there, done that. Yeah, right now is pretty busy, but if you need to talk more later when things are calmer, I'm around."
"And if you're interested in a job in the elementary school, we can always use more chaperones."
"We definitely have to start those self-defense lessons, sooner rather than later. I expect half the school will want to join in after today though." he says, pulling her close. He uses his bending to heat the air inside the dome to temperatures that were more pleasant for firebirds. "Do you want me to take the dome down now? We can stay like this as long as you like." Ardiente had put out of his mind the possibility that Raelle could think of him has more of a friend, and his hug never strayed out of what could be considered appropriate for that. Maybe close friends. Who hugged for long periods of time. Those existed, right?
"We should probably take the dome thing down soon," she said, sounding calmer as he held her. The heated air certainly didn't hurt either. "Before we end up with detention for putting up an obstruction in an emergency zone or however it ends up getting phrased." Still, she didn't make any move to pull away from him.
Vai doesn't look overly convinced, but she nods anyway. She /knew/ it wasn't her, that she hadn't chose to be evil... but at the same time, there's still a creeping doubt at the back of her mind.
"Alright, I should get back to this. Fei wants me to catalogue any remaining healing supplies we have left. Most of them were in the infirmary, and are pretty much gone, along with material components for the more powerful healing spells."
Phaezeriel gives her a long look as she turns back to her tasks, then begins working with the injured as well, drawing upon the deep well of power that was Professor Nix in order to get as much healing done as he could.
"Hunh. Would you like to test that?"
"Um. No I think it's best not to strain our connection right now. I have little enough psychic energy right now. I think that's something we should explore once I'm at full strength." Hew responds with a wary voice.
As the object approaches rapidly, the screen flares to life once more.
APPROACHING EMERGENCY LANDING LOCATION
FIRING BRAKING RETROS
The room the screen is in shudders violently for several moments before growing still.
BRAKING RETROS FIRED
An indicator light begins flashing yellow on the observatory controls. It reads: CLOSE STELLAR ANOMALY DETECTED
In a hanger where a crew works frantically to prep the huge mechs, a sensor suddenly reports an unexpected energy signature approaching.
On the deck of the Harbinger, the energy signature of a massive rocket burn is detected very close to Agartha where no such energy should be detected.
On the pilots control console, Carl's ship reports a new object in near proximity to Agartha. Though it is close, it was only detected because it emitted a large amount of energy.
Carl looks over at the new winking crystal light on a panel,
"what on blue-bats-blazis could that be"
He flicks a switch.
"I dun-na know if any one can here me, but this is Carl Ironfist, outside in the the Hammershaft calling Avalon, me ships just picked up a something coming this way, its letting off a lot of energy, and its slowing but still coming, I'm prepped for take off with kids on board, please advise, Carl over"
He repeats it
Then calls Arthur and TinMan with the news
Lots of stuff that Yrrin would/should have reacted to
Yrrin returns from the bathroom and sees that many of the people have went somewhere else, and that the one demonic child was back
Renkai is sprinting through the hallways going up on walls, and jumping rediculously high in order to dodge obsticles....
he screams using both telepathy and his voice....
Melosdy looks about the infirmary as Jimmy explains what needs to be done. realizing she is not going to be a doctor and this is something she can do, Mel nods in agreement and gets to work.
its almost like she needs no instructions seeming to just know how it all works like she has worked with this stuff before.
then as she is working a girl starts turning things to metal but the phenomenon is ended nearly as soon as it started so she barely is distracted.
every so often Arthur could almost swear Mel was watching him, she throw a smile his way then go back to work.
suddenly she stops work grabbing her head like its in pain. Damn, why so loud
:: Kai? stop yelling, it hurts, I'm in the infirmary::
Melosdy looks about the infirmary as Jimmy explains what needs to be done. realizing she is not going to be a doctor and this is something she can do, Mel nods in agreement and gets to work.its almost like she needs no instructions seeming to just know how it all works like she has worked with this stuff before.
then as she is working a girl starts turning things to metal but the phenomenon is ended nearly as soon as it started so she barely is distracted.
every so often Arthur could almost swear Mel was watching him, she throw a smile his way then go back to work.
suddenly she stops work grabbing her head like its in pain. Damn, why so loud
:: Kai? stop yelling, it hurts, I'm in the infirmary::
:: I'm on my way::
Renkai pretty much spins in place and sprints toward the infirmary...