Colin's posts

"Well, then." Azari said.

"It seems like your actions have granted me the opportunity for payback." he told her.

"Didn't much appreciate your little stunt earlier." he went on. "Granted, it ended up nothing more than a mere temporary pain, and you only left a couple of minor burns, but still." he continued.

"Looks like you have yet to learn your place." he growled.

"They ALL break here. They always break. And you will be no different." he told her, as she saw his hands become coated with thorny vines.

"I will show you just how much pain you can endure, before you wish for death."

"Hey, you're still fun." Ryker responded.

"Don't sell yourself short. You've still got that spark in you." he told him.

"And... all right." he then said.

"I don't want Savra to have the impression I don't like them. It's not true. So if it'll help, I'll accompany you both." he continued.

"Trust me, it's cool." he said.

"We're all good."

Chris was silent as he saw this, before looking away again.

'...why?' he asked himself.

'Why does she treat that damned wood elf like that? Why not me...?' he wondered, starting to grow a little frustrated.

--

Azari, having been tended to by the medics, made his way back to where Sammy was, throwing open the door.

"Hey!" he yelled.

"You awake!?" he asked harshly.

If she wasn't, he had something to force it. He was ready.

Azari nodded in response.

"Thank you, Madam." he replied, before leaving.

As he did, Chris watched the encounter, looking away slightly afterwards.

'...she's never shown concern for me.' he thought. 'Never told me to go to the medics specifically to take care of an injury...' he continued.

"...." he was then silent, before one of the cronies got his attention.

"Is this acceptable?" they asked.

Chris looked at the set-up they'd done, and nodded.

"...yes." he replied bluntly.

"I don't know." Azari responded.

He then described to her what had happened, sparing no details, as he was sure she wanted a full explanation.

"She somehow managed that level of output." he said.

"I mean, I don't think any permanent or lasting damage was done, but it still hurts." he went on.

"...then again, those like me are quite sensitive to fire." he admitted at the end.

"....damn it." Azari growled, as Evan stood where he was. However, there was a sadness in his eyes, before he managed to turn around as she fell.

"Sammy!" he exclaimed, as a few tears shed from his eyes.

"...looks like your will was pretty strong there." Azari commented, getting to his feet again, as Evan knelt down by his sister.

"Come, kitty." the elf commanded, walking towards the door. Evan resisted for a moment, but the control over his own body and mind were stronger than on his sister, and he complied, though he was shaking as he did so.

The two of them then left, making their way to where the rune was.

"Now listen to Madam!" Azari ordered Evan, still feeling the burn from earlier.

Evan had been singed a little, but it was clear to see that even if there were burns there, they were extremely minor, and he wouldn't be feeling them at all.

The same could not be said for Azari. He howled in pain as he staggered back against the wall, his clothes charred at the front, his arms red, his face even redder, and his hair was singed now, as well.

"GAEA, DAMN IT!" he yelled, as he tried to see again, but it was briefly blurry.

"You stupid child!" he growled, as he fell to his ass, trying to recover from what had just happened.

"You WILL pay for this! I promise!" he then vowed.

"I'll see to it PERSONALLY!"

"AH, DAMN YOU!" Azari yelled, shaking his head a little, and glaring at her as best he could.

"You are SO lucky that Madam wishes you left alive!" he told her. "Otherwise, I'd kill you NOW!" he declared.

He then quickly stomped over towards her, slipping up beside her, and grabbing her by the back of her throat.

"...you little brat." he hissed, before she felt the syringe in the base of her neck, the liquid within entering her system.

"15 seconds." he told her.

"Before you collapse to the ground."

"..." the elf was silent, almost stunned that this was happening, so much so that the fireball hit him in the shoulder. He grasped at it, growling in pain for a moment, before just sighing and shaking off the pain for the moment.

"Wow." he said. "Just... wow." he repeated, clapping lightly.

"Bravo." he told her. "I'm impressed." he continued. "I didn't think you would be so desperate as to use the rune on your own brother." he went on. "Didn't even know you had it IN you to do it." he admitted.

"So. Kudos. Your defiance and persistence continue to reach new heights." he finished, before shaking his head.

"But enough of this childish tantrum. The adults have serious business to attend to." he then said condescendingly, making his way closer towards the two of them, and taking out a small case from his pocket, opening it, and removing a syringe from it.

"I was given this in the event you defied us again." he said.

"I'm through ordering you around. Let's just straight up cause you to go to sleep."

"..." he was silent, before sighing.

"All right." he said.

"Let's try this again." he said further.

"You, cat." he addressed Evan. "Come to me." he ordered him.

"...no matter what. If you're pulled down, squirm to break free. If you're held back, do whatever you can to make your way to me." he ordered him.

"Even if that means hurting yourself. Make yourself bleed. Break a bone or two. But you are to make your way to me NOW." he finished, as Evan started to wrench himself free of Sammy's grasp.

"Yes, of course." he responded.

He then left, and proceeded to make his way to where Evan and Sammy were, opening the door.

"All right." he said.

"You, cat. Up." he ordered Evan. Evan complied.

"Come on, we're ready for the rune to actually WORK this time." he growled, before looking at Sammy, to see if she would interfere.

"Disparaging or not, it needed to be said." Vincent responded.

"Thank you." he told her.

"This may be the best chance we get to find her." he finished, before sighing quietly.

'Ash and Ashley are NOT going to like this, though...' he then thought.

".......hmmm." Vincent mumbled.

"I... would need a personal belonging of hers. Or something that she once had." he said, before pausing.

"Wait." he muttered.

"I... I might have that." he realised.

"I just need to FIND it!" he said further, smacking a fist onto an open palm.

"...." Vincent was silent, before crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"I can't argue that." he said.

"I DO know Caelia better than anyone else." he admitted.

"I'm not sure if that would help, if she's under Vanessa's control, but I can certainly search my memory for anything that may help." he told her.