DTC, The Underworld and the Nexus, Return to Life

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Chromia: *getting ready to lead a charge against a boss*

Springer: Hey, who invited the bony guy? Watch where you're going!

bone soldier: *looks at the living fighter and steps away from him slightly, but keeps the exact distance from Chromia that a good soldier keeps to his captain*

Arcee: Shut up and focus, Springer. *focused herself*

boss: *big ugly thing that roars and takes swings at anyone who gets too close*

Chromia: *loud shout* CHARGE!!!

Springer and the bone warrior: *roar and do so!*

Arcee: *shrill screech as she follows with the others*

Nexus: *hiya, Chromia!*

Chromia: *startled curse as she mis-steps and faceplants* Th' slag?!

bone warrior: *turning a slow circle as he takes in their surroundings and searches for the rest of the band he'd been fighting in, his sword and shield held at the ready*

Chromia: *grouching a bit as she gets to her feet and looks around* *frowning* Th's must be th't Nexus place Sis, Flash, 'n Tracks w're talkin' 'bout...

bone warrior: *looks at her, his attitude and posture showing the quizzicalness that his bare skull can't*

Chromia: *looking around for the rest of the louts* *frowns as she realizes it's just her and the bone warrior* Well, slag.

bone warrior: *poised, ready for action, and focused on his captain as he awaits orders*

Chromia: *to the warrior* Stand down.

bone warrior: *sword in sheath, shield on back, still ready to obey* *also now looking at his left hand as though wondering where his middle finger is*

Chromia: *silently prays that the rest of the louts have the sense to get their afts back to the tavern* *deep breath* Okay... We's gonna need t' fahnd 'un 'f th'se fanceh amulets...

bone warrior: *looks at her, and is then distracted by a flash and turns toward where a person is holding a small square of paper in their hand*

Chromia: ... Th' slag 's th't?

person: *looks over* It's a Polaroid camera. But I think it's broken, because so far I haven't seen any LOLs happen when somebody got their picture taken.

Chromia: *raised brow* LOLs?

person: *nods* Yeah, weird things that happen to people, and stick around for about a week or so. *looks at his picture again, and then shrugs and puts it in his pocket*

Chromia: Huh.... *edges closer to the Polaroid, wary of the strange magic, but curious, and half wondering if she could get it home to sell as loot*

Polaroid: *flash!* *spit out picture*

Chromia: *startles and falls on her butt*

bone soldier: *gonna KILL that flash box!*

person: Whoa!

Chromia: *getting to her feet* *surprised look as she realizes that it's suddenly easier to breathe than it has been since she last broke her nose, and that she doesn't smell like she was fighting goos anymore*

person: *shakes his head as the AV field prevents the bone soldier from smashing the Polaroid, but then blinks as the old camera flashes again... and a tall, red-haired man stands where the undead soldier had been*

Chromia: *blink blink* .... Th' slag?

soldier: *looks at his hands, and frowns at the lack of his left hand middle finger. Then looks at the rest of himself* ...I'm not in the box anymore. *looks up* ...What is this place?

Chromia: Th's place 's called th' Nexus, 'cordin' t' mah sisters 'n 'usband....

soldier: *looks at her and frowns deeply as though trying to remember something* *slowly* ...You're the commander from my last dream.

Chromia: Dream?

soldier: Yes. I've been trapped inside a box. I don't know how long I've been there, but I know that a necromancer put me there because he wanted my bones.

person: *blinks at this, and then turns and walks away*

Chromia: *frown* Y'u w're rescued bah Denthe awhahl back... 'N were follow'n 'er 'round f'r 'whal...

soldier: Rescued awhile back? But I just woke up now.

Chromia: *nods and begins recounting the tale of when Stoic went missing and how Denthe was amongst the rescue party*

soldier: *quiet rumble* Ah. Not me. My bones. So they've been out running around while I've been in that box.

Chromia: *slight shrug* Ah guess...

soldier: *looks at his hand again* ...I don't remember losing a finger.

Chromia: *quieter* Ah th'nk 't fell off 't s'me point wh'n y'ur bones w're runn'n 'bout... 'n 'un 'f th' lizardbabehs snagged 't 's a lovie...

soldier: *those piercing and oddly familiar blue eyes look up at her* Lizard babies?

Chromia: *small nod* Lizardfolk.... *yes, she notices the familiarity of the soldier's eyes... It kind of bothers her.... Enough that she'll check his scent* *quietly* D' y'u remember y'ur name?

soldier: *nods* I'm Ironhide. Lord Templar, of the Steel Empire.

Chromia: ... *just had to sit down quickly*

gIronhide: *steps forward and goes to one knee to catch her, his rugged face creased with concern* Lady?

Chromia: *quietly, very, very shocked* Y'u... Y'u're....

gIronhide: *brows draw together quizzically, those blue eyes now dark with worry for her*

Chromia: *deep breath* Y'u're mah 'usband's brothah...

gIronhide: *startles* *gasp* Ratchet's alive?

Chromia: *nods* 'N mah 'usband... *very slight quirk of a grin*

gIronhide: ...And you are? *bit of a frown, though there's no ire in it... only a protectiveness*

Chromia: Chromia, War Master, fr'm th' Mountain Kingdoms... Sister t' y'ur Name Sister...

gIronhide: *starts* Name... Sister?

Chromia: *nods, grin growing as she starts snickering. She's picturing her sister's reaction to meeting this guy*

gIronhide: *looks around* Is your home nearby?

Chromia: *headshake* We got yanked t' 'nothah plane... Ah jes' 'ope Arcee 'n th' rest 'f th' louts make 't back 'n tell Ratchet so 'e c'n c'me 'n git 'us...

piercing elven whistle: *from over there*

gIronhide: *looks up with a protective scowl*

Chromia: *looks over to the whistle, will stick her fingers in her mouth and whistle as well*

gIronhide: *startles and looks down at her*

Eruiste: *comes jogging over as Ratchet follows at a much more tired pace*

Chromia: *indicates that she can stand on her own* *wants to go over to her husband to explain things so they're not so bad of a shock*

gIronhide: *lets her go, and then crouches and uncertainly eyes that elven woman who just popped out of the crowd*

Chromia: *will hurry over to meet Eruiste and Ratchet, before she's gently fussing over her husband and softly explaining as well as she's able to about what gIronhide told her*

Ratchet: *stares at her, his hands suddenly gone limp on her shoulders as he freezes in the act of giving her a hug* ...What? What are you saying, 'Mia?

Chromia: *quietly* Th' flashbox th'n' ovah yondah brought y'ur brothah back t' lahf.

Ratchet: ...People can't be brought back to life.

Chromia: Ah saw 't wit' mah own ahs, Ratch... 'N take a good gander 't me. *eyes serious*

Ratchet: *looks into her eyes, his own dark with the old sadness that sometimes makes him cry in his sleep* *and then he startles and flinches as a deep voice calls his name*

Chromia: *soothing sounds, looks over her shoulder at gIronhide*

gIronhide: *hand on Eruiste's shoulder as the slender elf woman steps to block his way toward the couple. Eyes beseeching as he looks toward them*

Ratchet: *is afraid to look. Is still staring at his wife*

Chromia: *gives gIronhide a Look that says "Wait.", before turning her attention back to her husband* *softly* 'E's missin' th' finger th't Snarl snagged....

Ratchet: ...The skeleton warrior. *breathing deeply and shaking slightly*

Chromia: *quietly* 'E said 'e w's 'n a box... A Necromancer wanted 's bones.... 'T ain't aneh'un we know, Ah'm pretteh sure... Denthe's particular 'bout wh're she gits 'er dead th'n's...

Ratchet: ...He said he was in a box? *looks at her, shock and horror in his expression*

Chromia: *nodding, eyes serious* Y'u c'n ask 'im 'bout 't y'urself.

Ratchet: And he knows he was in the box?

Chromia: *nods* 'E mentioned a dream... 'N th't Ah w's th' commander fr'm 't...

Ratchet: *choked* He wasn't dead. *hand over mouth as he lowers his head. The hand still on Chromia's shoulder tightens*

Chromia: *will gently rub her husband's back*

Ratchet: *trembles and looks over her shoulder toward the Cavalier, and then starts to cry*

gIronhide: Ratchet. *shoves Eruiste out of the way and strides over to snag his Sworn Brother into a crushing embrace. Is crying as well*

Chromia: *moves to talk to Eruiste and ask her how Young Lumen's doing. Is giving her husband and his Sworn Brother space for the moment*

gIronhide: *it's only a moment later that Chromia will find herself gently taken by the shoulder and turned, then hugged carefully and caringly*

Ratchet: *watching as he wipes his eyes on his sleeve*

Chromia: *gonna grasp gIronhide's arm firmly but gently* *seriously, though her eyes are sparkling with amusement* Y'u're mah brotha.

gIronhide: *sucks in his breath and grasps her arm in return* You are my sister.

Chromia: *and now she'll show you just how she treats Sworn Siblings, gIronhide... Have a noogie!*

gIronhide: *startled sound and tries to grab her hands instead of trying to get away*

Chromia: *laughs and pulls gIronhide and Ratchet in for one-armed hugs* C'mon.... Le's all git 'ome...

Ratchet: *laughs, and then looks over to Eruiste as she walks up* The door's right here. *nods toward it*

Chromia: *nods and moves to guide husband, Sworn Brother, and Elven friend towards the door* Wonder who got dinner t'nahght?

Ratchet: That would be me. *sigh*

Eruiste: *snigger*

Chromia: Wh't'd y'u bag? *slight headtilt at the sigh*

Eruiste: He got in a fight with a moose, and fell down a mountain with it. Guess who landed on top!

Chromia: *wince, will gently rub Ratchet's neck with her hand*

Eruiste: Wait'll you see the sauce Kia's mixed up for Anna to put on it. *laughs and dances through the door after the others*

((written with random_xtras))