Colin's posts

It was at that point, James perked up, and started sniffing the air.

"...wait." he said.

"I'm pickin' up scents." he told them.

"...how many?" Jun asked.

James responded by lifting a finger up, and narrowing his eyes a little.

"...5." he said. "It's the rest of the troupe!" he declared, before looking at Kaia and smirking.

"And yes, I can smell Zae as well." he assured her.

"Heh, I'll bet Zaeva will be happy to see Kaia again." Jun chuckled.

Before anyone could say anything, Vaeri's assumption was proven, as James stepped into the room about 15 seconds later.

"..." he was silent, before seeing Jun.

"Jun! You're back!" he said.

"Vaeri!" he exclaimed further.

"Looks like people are coming back." Hal commented. "Straight up coming back." he went on.

"Seems Ash is doing it."

"Yuki..." Jun responded, returning the hug and holding her close.

"I'm so thankful you're alive, and all right." he told her.

"She was spared being stuck in that realm." Hal informed him. "I was able to get her and Kaia out of the building before the void dweller claimed them for their energies." he said further.

"Thank the heavens for THAT, at least." Jun responded, before they heard James' voice.

"...yo! Kaia, Yuki, you around!?" he asked.

"I can smell ya, but my sense of direction's a bit wonky!"

Hal responded to the text, as Jun sat down next to Vaeri, as she calmed him slightly.

That can be done later. he sent.

Whether it be you, or Miss Yuki, or someone else. We'll deal with your property returning to the theatre after everyone is here and accounted for. he sent further, before putting the phone away.

"So are you starting to feel all right, sir?" he asked Jun.

"Surprisingly, yes." Jun responded. "The scars and memories of that horrid place are... starting to become like a distant nightmare..." he admitted.

Hal looked over towards her and nodded.

"Yes." he replied.

"Here." he said, taking a small coin out of his pocket and holding it in his fist, imbuing it with his mana.

"Use this." he told her.

"It'll be good for a round trip to the Unit and back." he said further.

"Go get your friend and bring her here." he went on. "It'll land you right in this room, where you're standing."

Hal nodded.

"I'll help explain if need be." he said.

"Vaeri!?" Jun called back, as he followed the voice, unsteady on his feet... before he saw Kaia approaching.

"Kaia!" he exclaimed.

"Kaia, is Yuki all right? Is everyone all right?" he asked her when she got closer.

It was at that point, they heard a voice call out. A male voice.

"Hello!?" they exclaimed.

"Yuki!? Kaia!? Someone!?" they yelled further.

"Seems like someone is fully back." Hal commented.

Vaeri and Kaia recognised the voice all too well. And also, the fact that he had called out for Yuki first was another big indicator. It was the man that had taken in Yuki so long ago.

His name was Jun, and it seemed like he was the first to come 'home'.

"I see." Hal responded.

"Well, you certainly sound better than before." he said.

"More... grounded." he said further.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Do you still feel like you're teetering between the realms?"

Ash nodded.

"All right." he said.

"Later, people!" he declared, taking the pendant and disappearing before their very eyes.

"...well, all we do now is wait." Hal commented.

"As for how long... no idea. We'll just need to have faith that Ash can-" he started to say further, before they Vaeri suddenly felt herself become more... permanent. She felt like she was more solid, and almost fell to her knees as a result.

"Are you all right?" Hal asked her, allowing her to use him for support.

"...that's a little messed up." Ash muttered.

"Yeah, let's get this done ASAP." he agreed.

With that, they all gathered near Hal, with Vaeri and Kaia each taking a hand, and Ash putting a hand on his shoulder. They all vanished from where they were, and appeared directly in the theatre this time.

And as soon as they did, Ash could FEEL the presence of the Void dweller.

'...shit...' he thought.

"I chose directly inside, because we don't need a passerby seeing Miss Vaeri flicker, potentially." Hal reasoned.

"I will go." Hal said.

"I can work quickly, and get those that might need medical attention back here, stat." he reasoned.

"All right then." Ash then said, cracking his knuckles.

"Looks like it's us four." he commented.

"I'm good to go." he told them.

"I am ready to leave as well." Hal said. "If you two are, then I'll take us right there." he finished.

"Yeah, that would make sense." Ash responded, as they reached the office. They stepped inside, and Ash and Hal nodded to each other.

"I've been given the gist of it." Ash said. "Now I just need the fine details." he said further.

They were given to him, and after all was said and done, Ash shook his head.

"All right, I'll do it." he told them.

"Are you sure?" Hal asked. "You're under no obligation to." he said.

"I am sure." Ash confirmed.

"Are we all going to the theatre?" he then asked. "Or, who all is going with me?" he clarified. "Kaia and the remainder of the company, or what?"

"Yeah, no." Ash replied quickly.

"None of the Remmingtons need to get involved with this." he told her.

"I assume this has all been... discussed?" he asked.

"With the dweller, that is." he specified.

"Or, rather, has communication been established?" he asked her further.

"Or is this all conjecture?"

Ash faltered when he heard that, but continued on.

"...I see." he said.

"Well, then. I'm curious to find out how my mana is going to be handy here." he commented.

Though he already had SOME ideas. He wasn't going to say anything, though.

He wasn't going to make any assumptions here.