Operation 3 | [Video/Action - Backdated to February 3rd]

[orlokbutterfly]

[That was a horrible experience, and where he woke up was equally as horrible. Hospitals were one of his least favorite places in the world, by far. It took him a few minutes to even realize he'd woken up, having to pat himself down for good measure to make sure he was even in one piece - or if this was even real. He was confused, to say the least, but... hey, if he was getting a third chance at life, he wasn't about to complain.

Gale had to check one thing important thing though. He glanced down at himself and immediately frowned at the sight; As he suspected, the veins on his body that were normally a bright blue were now a pale purple. That wasn't good. At all. That meant his lucemite levels had taken quite a hit after the encounter with that... thing. He had to find a solution to his lucemite problem, and fast.

With that now weighing on his mind, he made a pretty hasty retreat from the hospital to get back to his apartment in Nova City. When he opened the door, he was immediately getting jumped by an excited puppy, Gale catching Gunner in mid jump and carrying him over to sit on the couch. After ruffling the dog for a bit, he pulls out his device and turns on the video.]

[Video]

[When he shows on screen, he looks a little annoyed, if not a little humiliated, managing only a very slight smirk this time around. Anyone who was familiar with his appearance would possibly notice the purple lines on his neck instead of their normal blue. He lets out a quiet sigh, while a german shepherd puppy occasionally jumps into the feed.]

Well, I sure as hell screwed that up, didn't I? Hope I didn't miss anything exciting while I was gone.

So, uh. Please tell me someone got out of that Loci's Wabe place in one piece. [He pauses.]

And please tell me they've got my mask too. I kind of need that, and I really don't want to have to go back in there to retrieve it.


[Action]

[Later on, Gale decides to take a bit of a gamble, one he desperately hopes will pay off. He decided to make another trip to Fayren, in hopes of perhaps encountering a mage that would possibly help him with his current problem. His body was moving and reacting slower than normal, and he couldn't let that get any worse. He understood the potential difficulty in this endeavor- with the Hands of Decay problem, mages might not want anything to do with outsiders seeking their aid, but maybe if he displayed a little magic himself and offered to help whoever was going to lead the charge against them, he might get somewhere.

For now, he was just sticking out like a sore thumb in Fayren, looking around the area and seeming more than a little uncomfortable. He knows he's no where near Loci's Wabe, but he couldn't help but feel a little nervous about being in Fayren again so soon.]

Comments

video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

[Yugi didn't think to ask who had his puzzle. He had been dumb enough to go back though and found it wasn't there so someone must have gotten them.]

I believe someone might have picked them up. If that is possible it meant someone survive.

video;

[orlokbutterfly]

[He lets out a small sigh of relief.]

That's good, at least. So long as someone got out of that hell hole alive. Now I just need to know who so I can get my mask back.

video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

I can't help you there since I only came back...like a couple days later. I would kind of like my puzzle back.

[That was his item he left behind for if he died permanently. Just in case, just in case he came along. Although who he was, was quite a blur right now.]

So if you find out, will you let me know as well?

video;

[orlokbutterfly]

[He can't help but have a horrible feeling knowing that Yugi died in there. Someone his age shouldn't have to deal with that under any circumstances. He does nod and forces a tiny smirk to his face.]

Sure thing. I'll let you know as soon as I get the details.

Re: video;

[sizedoesntmatter]

[He nodded, figuring next to move off the subject for the time being.]

Are you glad to not be dead any more?

[Action]

[evenglass]

[Not long after his arrival at Fayren, Gale would probably sense a few presences in the shadows tailing him at the city's more residential areas. He was being watched, from the roof to every corner and alleyway, it would feel like there are things moving in the shadows and following his every step. They'll keep following him until he reaches a desolate enough street or a dead-end.

Once he does, all those movements in the shadows would cease. Only something else to replace them. The sound of heels clacking in the distance could be heard, as a figure of a woman revealed herself to Gale, appearing from a corner with her arms folded in front of her.]

Tell me, what business does a man like you have in Fayren?

[Action]

[orlokbutterfly]

[The moment he sensed the presences around him, he was immediately on guard. His eyes narrowed as they persisted, being careful about every step he took from there. He wasn't sure what it was, but in his current state, he couldn't afford to let his guard down. He didn't exactly want to die again so soon.

He eventually came across a dead end and he let out a sigh of annoyance. He needs to learn Fayren better... or get his mask back so he actually would have a visual on the place. Those thoughts would leave him when he heard the sound of heels, Gale immediately looking up towards the source and seeing the woman. While his gut reaction was 'Babe Alert,' he's still feeling pretty on edge.]

Guess you could say I'm taking a chance. But "man like me?" What is that supposed to mean?

[evenglass]

A man of flesh and metal.

[Ivina turned her self to face Gale, even walking a couple of steps closer towards him. Her glowing eye is fixated at him]

Never have I seen such an entity, let alone sense pure magic coursing through their veins.

[orlokbutterfly]

You can tell by a glance?

[He doesn't even try to hide his surprise. Granted, it's probably not hard to put two and two together given the gray synthetic flesh and the glowing marks, but the other... He narrows his eyes, instinctively putting a hand over the marks on his neck and standing his ground when she steps closer.]

Guess I shouldn't be surprised that a witch could figure that part out. [Even if it does weird him out a little.]

Who even are you?

[Video]

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun gives Gale a once-over across the video feed. He looks concerned.]

Just what exactly happened?

[Video]

[orlokbutterfly]

[He lets out an annoyed sigh, rubbing the side of his neck.]

We went to that Loci's Wabe place in Fayren to retrieve one of those shard things. Turns out whatever was waiting there had a few mental tricks up its sleeve.

From there, let's just say I learned that cyborgs can still drown.

[Video]

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun winces. That sounds awful.]

Sorry you had to experience that. Do you have any idea how things turned out?

[Video]

[orlokbutterfly]

Eh, it wasn't any worse than bein' in an alterna crash and barely living.

[Honestly, he might say that was the worse of the two.]

I'm not sure, but I'm hoping that someone got the job done. Out of six people, I don't think all of us would've screwed up.

[Video]

[watercharm]

I heard that you had died.

[There is a slight awkward pause, clearly Aqua is surprised by how much she missed him.]

How are you doing? I believe that Richard retrieved things that belonged to those who went in into Fayren.

[She's very proud of you Gale though she thinks he was reckless too.]

[Video]

[orlokbutterfly]

At this rate, I should have a tally of how many times I've died or nearly died. Might be a fun thing to do in my spare time.

[Hey, at least he's making light of it. He's bothered by it, sure, but he couldn't let himself dwell on it, especially if this place was capable of bringing him back to life. He looks a little relieved when Aqua mentioned Richard.]

I'm... fine. Ish. [His eyes trail idly down towards the purple markings before looking back at Aqua.] But Richard made it out? Was he the only one?

[Aww, Aqua, you do care. Even if 'reckless' is probably Gale's middle name.]

[Video]

[watercharm]

[He'll get a look for that first comment; dying shouldn't be funny.]

That's right. He told everyone about it but he didn't really go into specifics.

[She watches Gale curiously.]

What sort of creature was it?

[She cares about her friends though she doesn't think she's ever told Gale he's made it there.]

[Video]

[orlokbutterfly]

[He just gives a small grin in response to her disapproving look. At least it's his own death he's cracking jokes about!]

Guess I know who to talk to about my mask now then. Hopefully I threw it where he could see it.

[He falls silent then as he winces a little. If there was anything to wipe that awful grin off his face, it was thinking back to what happened.]

I don't know what it was. All I know is that it played mental tricks.

[He grit his teeth in anger.]

The damn thing had the gall to replicate Lala to lower my guard.

[youfool]

[Ted had been meaning to offer...something to the slain. He thought it probably made the six or so of them feel like chopped liver when only Richard and Koishi seemed to be thought about.]

By now you have your answers. You also have my praise as consolation for making that kind of sacrifice. Not many are willing to do that for this place; it's a rare trait.

Would you mind a personal question?

[orlokbutterfly]

[Praise... Gale had half a mind to scoff, but he'll keep it to himself.]

Dying wasn't really on the agenda, it just kinda came with the territory.

Depends on how personal the question is. I might or might not have an answer.

[youfool]

All right, here it goes. Ahem.

Apart from any merely functional or deterministic reason, why are you alive?

[orlokbutterfly]

[He blinks before raising an eyebrow.]

Iiis this a trick question?

Video;

[trueseeker]

Gale... [Richard's expression is sympathetic, and more than a little apologetic on top of it.]

...You didn't...screw it up. You did what you could. I'm...sorry I wasn't faster.

Video;

[orlokbutterfly]

[He shakes his head and gives Richard a smirk.]

Do me a favor and cut the whole 'blaming yourself' thing. It doesn't suit you. You made it out in one piece and got that shard thing, right?

[He actually has no idea the whole 'one piece' comment is probably in bad taste. He just knows what Aqua told him.]

You holdin' up alright there?

Video;

[trueseeker]

[He actually does it all the time...]

I did. [He nods.]

And...yeah. That's not what I'm concerned with. [Because you died, and now you're back, which means you're not in one piece...and you never will be again.]

Video;

[orlokbutterfly]

I'm glad someone got the job done.

[He doesn't like knowing that some of them died for the cause, but he feels oddly relieved that death wasn't a permanent thing. Even if the concept of it seemed pretty messed up.]

What's bothering you then?