[Nexus] Inside 43

[Gullara]

[Park]

*decides that I typed way too much info in the last post and will progress things differently but the same now*

Rein is still managing to hold onto Arel at least. She may be being a zombie, but she's no stronger than she was before. Thankfully that isn't very strong.

Of course, the vine that just creeped up from the neckline of her dress and is now reaching over her shoulder to wrap around Rein's head might be more of a concern.

[Reinholdt]

[Park]

"How long does the ritual ta-" Reinholdt expects it doesn't matter. It's too late. Arel will have to be killed and... and...

Well the fact that someone else groaned is distracting enough. I think the vines wrapping around Rein's head might confirm some of his suspicions though. It certainly cut off whatever he was going to say. Rein instinctively lets go of Arel to try and tug at the vines with his hands.

[Rebonack]

[Park]

The fact that Arel is showing no signs of getting better at all may end up proving hazerdious to her health. If she can snap out of it here pretty soon that would be swell since the Templar just drew his Relic and he looks to be aiming to lop off that vine that's grabbing at Rein.

*SHLUNK!* would be the sound it makes should it strike true.

"Is these 'people' are a danger to the population of the city then they must be purged," Gregoire insists. "We can not allow this infection to spread further."

That seems like a pretty reasonable stance to hold, all things considered.

Fredrick bites his lip as he tries to come up with some kind of non-lethal solution.

Hmm...

Well.

For now he'll just cut down the other girl as well. Maybe the healing magic will work on her?

[Halae]

[Park]

The girl is cut down and will land heavily on the ground - she was seeded earlier than Arel, so the vines are already starting to sprout from her back. If healing magic is attempted on her, her coloration will go back to reasonably normal and many of the plant-like growths will fall off her, much like what happened to Arel. she's still unconscious however.

[Shadowcaller]

[Park]

Astrana got no objections to purging this infection. Elshar were filled with critters like this, you got to do what you had to do.

"I could set off a pact bound here once everyone is outside the park." The tiefling suggests before that vine suddenly pops up and the templar attacks it.

Yeah... she didn't really see any other solution to this then either killing Arel or contacting something far more powerful then them. This wasn't working out.

[Mindfreak]

She nods excitedly.

Red Zone - Alley
Dave summons his motorcycle and gets on it, beckoning for her to get into the sidecar while offering a helmet with glitter and unicorn stickers on it with th name: DAVE on it.

[Gullara]

[Park]

Chopping off the vine? Probably takes a couple feet off the top at the moment. That probably hurts. In fact, in response, though oddly delayed for just a second, Arel screams in pain. She drops to her knees and tears start flowing over her cheeks. What's happening? It hurts.

The vines don't stop growing, however. There are six in total and another two are poking out of her clothing a bit. There's very little room for them to move however. One could hear the stitching tearing if Arel weren't crying. She looks equal parts terrified, confused, and in pain. It strikes a sharp contrast to her blank expression earlier.

[Reinholdt]

[Park]

Reinholdt falls to the ground and coughs. Cough cough.

He's equal parts concerned and horrified. Horrified wins for now though and he scurries a few feet away from Arel. She was about to turn him into one of them!

[Beans]

Red Zone - Alley
Dave summons his motorcycle and gets on it, beckoning for her to get into the sidecar while offering a helmet with glitter and unicorn stickers on it with th name: DAVE on it.

She pops the helmet on and sits in the sidecar, looking quite happy.

[Mindfreak]

She pops the helmet on and sits in the sidecar, looking quite happy.

Red Zone -> Library
Dave puts on a similar helmet and revs the engine and off they should go to the library!

[FireFox]

[Erin's Emporium]

Ally walks inside and looks around. She has no use for or great like of weapons, but she heard a rumor that she could get some gear at this store.

[The Bushranger]

[Erin's Emporium]

The store has been cleaned up and repaired, but is still somehow...empty, compared to how it once was. DRDs are buzzing around, and Aeryn is behind the counter!

She looks up as Ally enters, and gives a quick 'one moment' signal.
It seems she's on the phone, with a small black notebook on the counter in front of her.

[FireFox]

[EE]

Ally wanders closer to the counter, looking at the merchandise in awe. She is specifically interested in plasma cutters, x-ray imagers, devices to overcome electronic locks, and anything else a thief may find useful in technologically advanced areas.

[The Bushranger]

[EE]

Plasma cutters are found in quantities. There's even a Leatherman-esque tool with a miniature lightsabre blade on it!

Thieves tools are on an aisle nearby. Scramblers, lockpickers, and enough toys to both break the bank and the theif's brian in pleasure from the sheer amount of items...

...and of course, she might also overhear Aeryn telling a supplier of a change in delivery address for blasters.

[FireFox]

[EE]

The young redhead checks the prices--she's still fairly poor and probably needs to pull off a good job before buying anything here--and moves in closer to listen.

[The Bushranger]

[EE]

Aeryn, as it happens, is now arranging for the delivery of a shipment of lightsaber crystals.

If Ally listens hard, she might be able to pick up the voice on the other end of the phone. Speaking in Shyriiwook.

...the prices, as it happens, are remarkably reasonable.

75% off even!

[FireFox]

[EE]

Ally looks around the store again, then takes a closer look at Erin and her book. The owner, presumably the woman behind the counter, was clearly wealthy. She could see how lots of weapons would be in high demand here in the Nexus. And where there was a rich businessperson, there was an opportunity for a street rat with quick hands.

[The Bushranger]

[EE]

The book...well, it's hard to read anything written in it, the way Aeryn is holding it.
And flipping through pages.
Dialing another number.
...quickly arranging a delivery of zat'nik'tels to Mallside.

...then closing the book and going to hang up!

[Rebonack]

[Park]

Sadly the guy with the healing magic is a bit occupied at the moment. Mostly by standing over Arel with his weapon drawn and pointed at her, ready to strike her down should she make any sudden violent movements. Better not try to suck anyone's brains out plant-Arel! Otherwise that whole retribution thing would probably start up.

"And how might you suggest we move her when she attacks anyone nearby?" the Templar inquires, a dangerous edge to his words.

Fredrick, meanwhile, prods at the other woman with his pruning shears. Poke poke! The poor kid doesn't seem to have a very good head for this sort of thing. Everyone knows that such silly actions will result in vines attacking him.

And yet he's doing it anyway!

[Shadowcaller]

[Park]

Astrana clenches her fists, this would be so much easier if she hadn't let Arel burrowed her chains. But thankfully she got more pactbounds which dealt with more human-ish enemies and it looked like Arel wasn't a zombie anymore. She was probably something far worse now. But the important thing was that she now probably was more sensitive to mental effects. Zombies were mostly immune to it as far as she knew.

Of course, you should waste pact bounds when there were much easier options. "Rein, calm her down so we can move her or I will, just don't kill her, okay? I can do this." She says, glancing at the templar.

The tiefling then let's her tail reach into her bag picking up what appears to be a tiny hourglass filled with a strange sand-like substance which shines brightly. She throws it into the air and then catches it with her hand in the same movement.

"Just give the word." Astrana says before strategically retreating away a bit from the vines and the zombies. Close combat was for suckers.

She don't pay that much attention to that other girl though, she didn't even know her.

[Gullara]

[Park]

"Reinholdt? What's happening?" Arel has no idea what's going on. Or why she's hurting in a body part she's certain she doesn't have. She looks over her shoulder, sees the vine, and screams, throwing herself forward.

[Halae]

[Park]

The red head remains unconscious, but grunts and groans as she is prodded, and apparently trying to get more comfortable on the ground.

[Reinholdt]

[Park]

"Arel?" Just hearing her say something gives Rein a lot of hope that wasn't there moments ago.

"Arel, it'll be ok. I'm here. Just... it'll be ok, ok?" I don't think he's very good at this.
Rein does scoot back towards her though, reaching for her.

[Rebonack]

[Park]

The Templar breaths a sigh of relief. The woman doesn't seem to have lost her mind. Maybe the prayer worked after all? Just didn't remove the plant. Still seems to be attached to her though. Curious... almost as if-

"Templar Gregoire!" Fredrick calls out from the other groaning lady. "There's another here. Maybe you can pray for her as well so this weed doesn't melt all her organs?"

Wouldn't that be swell?

The Templar nods before hurrying to pray over the as yet unnamed red-head.

Probably going to sprinkle some holy water on her too.

Y'know.

Just for good measure.

[Shadowcaller]

[Park]

Ah, maybe she didn't need to use the pact bound after all. She still got it aimed towards Arel however, waiting to see if Rein manage to calm her down. Otherwise it was that other woman who apparently was important now. Maybe she needed to calm down?

[Gullara]

[Park]

Arel looks up at Rein. Realization is finally dawning on her. The sharp sound of the zipper giving way interrupts her thoughts for a moment. Four of the six vines burst out while the remaining two remain hopelessly tangled in her dress. Arel just looks back blankly at the plants growing out of her body.

[Halae]

[Park]

The plant life falls off the redhead, but she retains a few vines still coming out under her shirt... much the same way that Arel has. her skin is starting to return to a healthy color rather quickly though, despite still being slightly yellow.

She'll still be unconscious, but maybe can be woken up now.

[Reinholdt]

[Park]

"It's umm... it's ok Arel. Look at me. Look at me, don't look at them. Just look at me." Reinholdt says, going to turn her head gently towards him. About the only thing keeping him from panicking and fainting is the fact that he's got to keep Arel from panicking.

[Rebonack]

[Park]

Woken up?

How should one go about doing that?

Oh!

Seems Fredrick has an idea!

He sloshes some water out of a canteen at the apparently unconscious girl's head. The water isn't holy or anything. Just water. From a canteen.

But everyone knows that throwing water on someone is the best way to wake them up AND make them damp at the same time.

Seems like a win-win situation.

[Halae]

[Park]

Well, that honestly gets her to bolt upright, wiping at her face, "Augh, what the hell, man!? Why are you dumping water on me?" She looks up at frederick with furious green eyes as she sits up. it seems the hasn't actually noticed the vines in her back yet.