We Are Our Avatars IX: Act V: The Sabotage of the Scandolous Saurian Scoundrels (Open)

[Random berk]

For when Joanna respawns:

Before long, the group had the fire blazing next to where Joanna had fallen, and whoever chose to hang about around the bonfire would not have long to wait. Some of the wisps of grey smoke, instead of curling into the sky, billowed around the fire itself, sinking down in defiance of the laws of physics. More and more of it drifted down, and anyone around the fire would have to move back to avoidd choking on the acrid fumes. Some of it began to coalesce into a single lumpen mass on the ground. This mass began to fill out, elongate, and take the shape of a human figure. As it gained more shape and detail, it began to look like a slender female, thickly swaddled in a cloak. Finally, Joanna's body was left on the ground, face down and fully formed amongst the dispersing smoke.

Groaning, she began to rise, and anyone who heard her would hear that her voice sounded a little hoarser than it was before. She made it to her knees, her long, wine red hair hanging down and obscuring her face. Then she stopped, and began to shiver. Without looking up at those around her, she suddenly drew her deep cowl up over her face and straightened up. Drawing her cloak tight, she bowed her head and began to walk away from the bonfire, clearly rushing, and trying to make it past the others before they could stop her to express their amazement at her survival.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I have to get away from here." She would mumble to anyone who tried to approach her, in the same hoarse voice as before.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Kenna was too stunned by the flashy resurrection to stop Joanna. Samus, drained from the fight and figuring she needed some time alone, let her be.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

After cooling off, Joel got up and walked out of the carrier. [color=003399]"What's going on out here?"[/color] he asked, spotting Joanna running away from a small bonfire that hadn't been there a minute ago.

 

[Slenn]

The sisters moved away and covered their mouths as the smoke built up.

<color=brown>Much like a phoenix. She rose from her ashes.

Although Sara was amazed at the revival, the other three didn't know what to think. Winona looked over at Joel.
<color=green>"You could say it was Joanna's revival. She turned into ash, we built her a fire, and then the smoke from the fire made her alive."
"Do you think we should go after her?"
<color=purple>"Yes, we absolutely should. There's still robots inside the base." And Gwen hastily walked towards Joanna. <color=purple>"Now I know you probably can pull off that revival thing again, but there's still robots around here. They're inside the base."

<color=brown>"Oh dear! We should assist the others inside." Sara exclaimed with a worried look on her face. The other three sisters ran for the nearest entrance to the hideout.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

[color=003399]"Huh. That's new."[/color] Joel said, before sitting down.

 

[Kirke]

The two robots attacking from the front (the most loud ones by far) fell from Matilda's bullets. However, from her side, two more appeared out of nothing and lunged at her, trying to stab her in the back. If this direct assault was not enough to distract the two from other things, they would perhaps notice the dull and low sound of the two final robots crawling in the airducts.

 

[Random berk]

Joanna didn't stop for Gwen, or anyone else who would call out to her for that matter. She hurried straight to the ship, keeping her head down. (assuming the ship is near. Otherwise she'd ensconse herself in one of the wrecked carriers.) Upon finding a spot where she could be isolated, she dropped her bag and started to rummage furiously through it.

"Yeah. Unfortunately, yeah, it is." Steve nodded wistfully. "Hey... I know it's not likely to be much consolation... but at least the men responsible were brought to justice? There's got to be some closure in that." He chuckled dryly, more a mirthless gasp than anythnig. "What am I saying? There's nothing that can just wipe the slate clean and make you feel better about it. Nothing but time, and your own ability to heal if you can."

 

[Demonjazz]

I walked towards the base to kill the last of the robots. I stopped and reloaded my revolver. That's when I saw one of those freaks in our group just sitting down. I went over towards him and said
"You have to be the most relaxed man, I've ever seen get attacked by giant robots."

 

[Outisakanobody]

"It hurts, even now, but I know it would be worse if they hadn't been caught. So I guess it is a consolation." Seras said, trying very hard to smile. "Can we talk about you again?" she asked, trying to sound a bit more jovial.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus, needing to rest and repair, also headed back to the ship. Heading to her room, she passed Joanna on the way. She stopped for a second, thinking over whether she should bother the woman, but ultimately decided it was bes to at least check on her. "Are you well?" she asked tentatively.

 

[Random berk]

Samus would find herself talking to a closed and locked door on the ship. Behind the door she could hear the odd clatter as Joanna frenziedly turned out her bag.
"Where is it, where is it... yes, I am well! I just... I need to be alone, I need to... gods damn it, where is it?!

Inside, Joanna reached the bottom of her bag, and her fingers scraped across what felt like splintered twigs. She froze, and then scooped out the final contents. What she found may have been a small piece of wickerwork at one point, but it had obviously become caught under a heavier object and been completely staved in, it's full form lost to memory and pieces scattered across the bag's interior. She began to tremble as she let the ruined artefact fall to the floor.

Previously:
"Well... I guess so. Don't really know what else to talk about, to tell the truth. Is there anything you had in mind?"

 

[Outisakanobody]

"Well...Tell me, what do you want in a girlfriend? If you think about that, then think if anyone you know fits that description at all, you might have an easier time coming up with a...good candidate?" Seras said, wanting to be helpful and hoping she wasn't seeming intrusive.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus put her hand on the door, overhearing Joanna's frantic search. She knocked on it. "Joanna?" She sounded a bit concerned.

 

[Random berk]

Previously:
Steve glanced at Seras and regarded her for a time, and wondered if he should directly ask what she was getting at. He suspected it was obvious, but it might also seem arrogant to just openly say that he knew she was interested.
"I... suppose I would want to spend time with her, get to know her and see if anything clicked." He said, deciding to keep things diplomatic. "I think if I set on a list of traits, I'd always be looking for that, and either always see flaws, or seem too pointed and turn away a girl who would be worth it." He regarded her quietly for a moment to watch her response, then shrugged and smiled. "I guess if I had to put down some ground rules, she'd have to be honest, compassionate, and have some bit of humour. And I guess it'd help if she was a looker too."

Samus would hear no response for a while, and then when Joanna did response, her voice was small, shaking, and still hoarse.
"Samus, I... Please. I do not want to be seen like this."

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus was quiet for a second. "..if you insist, but if you want to talk..." She was somewhat awkward, not really used to talking out her problems, but she sounded sincere.

 

[Outisakanobody]

Seras nodded, thinking Steve was being quite intelligent about the subject, despite his lack of actual experience with romance. As she found herself thinking he would probably make for a rather good significant other, she started to smile a little. "That all makes sense." she said, trying to sound both wise and encouraging.

OOC: Oh what a darling little misunderstanding this will be.

 

[Random berk]

Joanna rose sluggishly to her feet and trudged towards the door. Already she knew that she was going to have to come out eventually, but she couldn't bring herself to press the button that would open the door, and rested her forehead against the cool metal, eyes closed in her misery.
"What can I talk about? The others already know of the curse that I bear. Some of them already openly distrust me. If they saw me now... people like me were chased from their homes by those that they once loved. They were cut down, or burned at the stake to try and cleanse them from the lives of pure men and women. They would have destroyed us all if they could. How can any of you be any different. I... I am a monster. A ghoul."

Previously:
"I guess it's as good a way to see it as any." Steve replied. "And you?"

 

[Slenn]

Gwen watched as Joanna ran off to the ship.
<color=purple>"As long as she's in the ship with others, I think she'll be alright. Let's go inside the base and root out anything else that's in there." She said. The others agreed and proceeded inside the base.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Matilda heard the sound of the Spy-bots uncloaking, and quickly moved away from the source of the noise. As she moved, Matilda turned to fire at the Spy-bots.

 

[Outisakanobody]

Previously:

Seras stopped and thought for some time. "I'd like him to be kind and caring. And honest. Most of the same things you said actually." she said as she tapped at her chin and looked off into the distance. "I guess we both have good taste." she said cheerfully.

Now Times:

Faro decided to walk into the ship to see what was up with Joanna. He silently walked over as she and Samus talked.