This is the beginning

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[A small object suddenly emerges from behind the horizon and blazes through the sky, followed by a comet-like trail. It crashes aboard the White Chalice's deck, revealing itself to be... a pair of humans clad in armor. The armor being Black Cloud and the Great Pretender, to be precise.]

I promised... to return...

1.
[Reactions for witnessing the crash come here. Devon and Laura's armors disappear almost immediately, and they lie down on the deck without strength to even get up. Exhausted, wounded and even somewhat singed they may look... but they are definitely alive and conscious.]

2.

[Some time later, once someone mercifully dragged Devon along to the medical bay - she'll be busy lying in bed and recuperating from the recent hell she went through. Still, the bandaged Shifter is good enough for visits.]

3.

[Same as #2, but for Laura. Just as Devon, she is worn out and injured, but the medical staff predicts she will make a full recovery soon enough. Although she has an eyepatch on.]

4.

[Locked to Cheng, and happening BEFORE prompt #2.

The Shifter still had some unfinished business before she could collapse. Mustering what little remains of her strength, she stumbled in a zombie-like gait to wherever her husband was at the time.

And once she makes it there, she just stands in the doorway. And stares.]

Comments

4)

[vjockey.livejournal.com]

[Cheng was still in the brig, sitting with his back to the wall and knees brought up to his face. He makes no indication of having noticed that he isn't alone aside from a slight shift of his body.]

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Husband?

[Devon walks in closer. It may be the tiredness, but her tone of voice and expression seem so innocent.]

3

[curseu-reflexes.livejournal.com]

Laura!

[Yeah, when she sees her friend she can hardly believe it, and Julia almost immediately moves to hug her, to confirm whether or not this actually is happening.]

I thought you were dead!

[emorangerpink]

[Laura winces at the contact, and when she tries to hug Julia back the most she can manage is to shuffle her arms more or less around the other girl, no strength in it. She does manage to smile weakly, though.]

Not... quite.

Missed you.

3

[chases-aliens.livejournal.com]

Laaaaurrraaaaaa! [Have a charging Dita who comes up short and hugs her gently.]

You're okay!

[emorangerpink]

Just about.

[Gentle is good. Bruised and battered as she is, Laura does her best to reciprocate. In her case she puts all the strength she has in to it and "gentle" would still be an overstatement.]

...Did it.

1

[saikyocivrobo]

[Werter is just chilling out at the deck with a book and a bag of popcorn he bought at the Rider City.]

You two are really something, aren't you.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[Said with face down, staring at the deck's floor. Devon doesn't really have power to do much else at the moment.]

3

[minorbeat]

(Seiren's eyes are wide as she looks at Laura in disbelief. Tears start to flow and her eyes hold a whirlpool of emotion as she looks at Laura.)

...L-Laura?! This isn't a dream is it? You're really back?

[emorangerpink]

Seiren...

'm sorry. Scared you...

3

[mecha_eihwaz]

Laura...

[Thought you had enough hugs? Well, here's another one.]

I knew you'd return. Welcome back.

[emorangerpink]

Lily...

[Lacking much strength to return the hug, Laura just nestles in to Lily's embrace.]

Wasn't so sure. Glad you were right.

...Glad to be back.

1, Laura

[chozo_girl]

[So Cheng is helping Devon, but who will help Laura get to medical? The answer to that is Samus - who seems entirely unsurprised to see them, must be added. In any case, she kneels next to Laura and lifts her, easily as if she weighed less than a feather, and sets course towards medical]

Did you succeed?

[Not a lot in the way of greetings here, Laura, I'm afraid]

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's still stunned at first. It takes a few moments and some feeble squirming in Samus' arms to realize what's going on. One eye focuses on the Hunter - the other is stuck shut with half-dried blood.]

Yes.

[For all that she lacks the energy to say more than that, the word carries a considerable weight of satisfaction.]

2.

[2good4thegundam.livejournal.com]

[Sayla's there, flipping a page in her magazine. She seems pretty bored.]

...You wouldn't die even if someone killed you, huh...

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, being bored is the correct course of action with Devon around. Unless you enjoy her ramblings.]

Things that tether me to life... are too strong to let go of.

I have people for whose sake I cannot die. Cliche as it sounds.

2

[saikyocivrobo]

Hey. Feeling any better now?

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Yes. There is no serious injury, but I was instructed to remain in bed.

Just this one time, I can afford to listen.

1

[change-getta-1.livejournal.com]

[Ryouma's going to approach the two of you, staring for a moment. Before his scowl turns into a grin.]

I'm impressed, the both of you. Pilot the Getter - even if it's a fake one, kill that sunuvabitch, do something incredibly stupid, then come back.

People like that die hard. I should know - I've done it myself.

Re: 1

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Haa... All in a day's work.

3

[aceshighhealer.livejournal.com]

...!

(Yoshika had heard the crash, but hadn't gotten there in time before Laura had been brought onboard. It seemed like that was always the case lately.

Once she was given the okay to enter, she stood at the foot of Laura's bed, barely holding back her tears while staring at the other girl.)

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's drifting in and out of sleep. It's a few minutes before she stirs.]

Nnnn...

...Yoshika?

3

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana isn't going to cry, she isn't going to cry... oh, darn it, there she goes... but she's happy to see you, Laura.]

You're okay, Laura... y-you're back...

[emorangerpink]

Hi, Hana.

Sorry... seems like I caused a lot of worry.

3

[an-alpha-wolf.livejournal.com]

[Resnick is a large enough presence in the doorframe to almost block out the light from the hallway. He gives her a small, sardonic smile.]

I am doing far too much of this lately. Welcome back, Laura Ericks. I heard of your deed. You acted bravely and honorably.

[Which is close to the highest compliment a clanner can give.]

[emorangerpink]

Star Captain Resnick. [Laura does her best to respond in kind. The words may be oddly chosen, but the sentiment is clear enough...]

Thank you. Wasn't... just me, though. Devon... and the whole Chalice behind us.

2

[getter-class.livejournal.com]

I didn't think you were the type to die that easily.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Too many things were waiting for me. I have decided not to leave them behind.

Ever.

2

[thestrayhawk.livejournal.com]

[Haha the situation is finally reversed for the first time in months. He just ran into the medical bay.]

Devon!

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Ichitaka.

I have returned.

1) Both, or either, dun care!

[2hell-weride.livejournal.com]

H-HOLY FUCK!


YOU'RE BACK!

[emorangerpink]

Yep.

[MarKus may have the energy for astonished yelling, but Laura can't even turn her head toward him. She does have a faint smile on her face, though.]

1

[aprimeanswer.livejournal.com]

[PRIME looks over the two girls, peeking into their crater, making sure they're still breathing. His face breaks into a wide grin as he confirms it.]

You two. You're late.

[And he's already on the radio to the infirmary to send people up.]

[emorangerpink]

No clocks.

How long...?

2, Devon

[howling-alone.livejournal.com]

[Alexei knocks before walking into the infirmary. He doesn't wait for acknowledgement, he just strolls in, wearing his best regalia. He turns and salutes, looking down at Devon.]

I've heard we have visitors. Welcome back, Devon Kwan.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[Pretty laidback attitude there, considering Alexei's demeanor. Of course, Devon IS still recuperating.]

It's good to be back.

2 & 3

[subject-0057.livejournal.com]

2) Allelujah has found his way to the medical bay. He hovers wordlessly for a time above Devon's bed: whether he chooses not to speak or simply cannot remember words is uncertain. His eyes are glazed over in a mix of shock, relief, and a hint of smoldering anger - but at whom?

Finally, he breaks his silence. "I was afraid you wouldn't make it back. It's good to see you alive."


3) After his exchange with Devon, the young man finds himself drawn to Laura's bedside. After another short silence, he clears his throat and tries to meet her gaze, if she's willing.

"I know you aren't... terribly fond of me. But I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're alive. I'm... probably being presumptuous, but if you'll allow it, I'd like to try and start from scratch." His face is impassive, but his voice broke a few times, heavy with emotion.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Allelujah.

[Devon, on the other hand, is calm and composed.]

I promised to return alive. And so, here I am.

1

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

[Kamille's standing over you, and he seems amused.]

No eye-faces I see. [what.] You guys came earlier than I thought you would, I had you pegged to return at least three months from now, two at the least, but this works too.

[emorangerblack.livejournal.com]

Hospitality was lacking. We left... early.

[Sarcasm? Why never.]

3

[aceshighsniper.livejournal.com]

[Lynette Bishop does not cry. She did not cry when she heard of the likely death of the pair.

But she brings over tea. A reminder of the things never to leave from the world.]

Welcome back, Laura.

[emorangerpink]

[Hugs are great and all, but a proper cup of tea is hard to beat.]

Lynne... I'm glad to be back.

Hope Tsukasa didn't work you all too hard while I was gone...

3

[sunshine_maiden]

[Tap, tap at the door, before a very tense Sora admits herself.] Laura...? [She spends a moment taking in Laura's appearance, before running closer, stopping herself before she got too close; it was apparent Laura wasn't physically ready for contact with people. A tear does come to her eye, as she smiles, though.]

I... I was so worried... I thought... [She can't bring herself to finish her sentence, so she trails off.]

[emorangerpink]

[Laura stirs from where she'd been dozing. Physically ready or not, it seems contact has been had and she's at least survived it, if the plush Space Needle and oversized wolf puppy framing her on the bed are anything to go by. Her uncovered eye takes a moment to focus.]

Sora. Hey...

'm sorry.