Welcome to Gaia! ::

Once the room filled with more and more trolls, the anticipation just mounted. Rianon knew she had little to offer as far as the bomb went, so she let herself drift to the wayside, Crowma hunched over in the hall.
The greenblood watched the tealblood, the first one to burst through, go at the wires. She felt her stomach in her throat for a second before everything...stopped. She finally let out a breath of relief as the rest of the trolls congratulated each other and celebrated. She recognized a few like, the Perore girl, and the older greenblood, both of which she tagged along with for a while. She still felt very much on the peripheries, but that wasn't new. She just smiled in relief, watching the camaraderie fill the room.
"Akkira?" Ri called down the hall, having thought she'd heard the redblood's voice. "Everyone's up here, think it's finally over," she leaned against the door frame.

Akkira could barely tell what was going on around her. There was a lot of noise that didn't tell her anything about the situation at hand. She just wanted to find Ri and make sure she was alright. Out of everyone, this entire venture was probably slightly better with the slightly colder troll around. But as she looked she was hit by a pungent smell and a shout of a familiar voice which made her shot nerves a little less frazzled.

She moved closer to that awful, but familiar smell. "So that's it? we won?" her voice was nowhere near as boisterous as it had been, even tired and definitely out of breath. But she just scoffed and reached into her Haori after a time or two, pulling out her sunglasses and swinging them so that the arms would unfold before bringing them to her face. "I knew we could do it---gehk" and she poked herself in the eye with one of the arms on her sunglasses. Letting out a very slight whine before closing her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. Were they tears of relief? pain from stabbing herself in the eye? well who would know, those sunglasses were back on and she was posing proudly. "He wrecking ball" she gave Sascha a tap with a fist. "Glad to smell ya, didn't think you'd make it out of that robot pit in one piece,"

and then she just sorta left to follow the voice of the troll she'd been searching for in the first place. She followed her voice and threw herself on Ri in a great big hug. "We saved the day and won big time...." Akkira then stuck out her tongue and licked the coolerblood's cheek. Ah, friendship, what an experience

Hemera stared at the box for a good long minute after the bomb ceased. That's all there was to it. It just...died. Quiet, but definite. Absolute. The color code killed the bomb, just like that. Mera found herself left with many questions, but she knew this much: the trial was over. Panili's vision wouldn't come to pass. The future wasn't set in stone, and they proved it. She proved it.

"It's over," she whispered, disbelieving, barely hearing Leeroi's question that prompted her answer.

The tealblood had to sit back on her haunches. In the meantime, trolls started to cheer. Sascha, Koko, Leeroi... Others, more quietly. It's over.

Yet her hands continued to shake. Her pumpbiscuit still felt like it would explode. Her head was fuzzy. Was that how it was supposed to feel? Hemera pulled herself to her feet, barely, painfully, still off-balance. She stumbled. She was dizzy. Did she just diffuse a bomb?

Hemera wobbled to the hallway, step by step, thoughts a whirl, gaze spotty, until she was a few steps far enough that, quietly enough, she started to retch where no one would see. It might have been disgusting and worth detail if she hadn't used all of the energy and moisture to survive this hell. As it was, it was mostly dry and cathartic.

Honestly, she just wanted to curl into a ball right then and there. This was, frankly, too much. But she had to keep up some dignity. There were trolls to impress. Or, at least, keep from making fun of her.

Holding onto her side, Mera pushed herself back into the room. For a moment she just leaned on the wall, watching everyone else. The relief was satisfying enough. No one had to die. If only Eridia could see...

After she caught her breath, Hemera returned to Leeroi. She kept looking over at Sascha during the short but somewhat grueling journey. Apparently she wasn't the only one who looked like utter s**t.

"Furore." she looked at the blueblood. "When your arm is available, can I borrow your bandages?"

Poe followed Mahmud to the room with the bomb, as he met up with Rastin and someone else. He inadvertently clung to Mahmud, keeping their hands entwined. He didn't want to let go just yet, when he had made a friend. He still needed to explain... maybe he would understand? Maybe he could say it without mentioning the Initiative and endangering them.

He waved shyly to the others surrounding Mahmud, not sure what else to do. He didn't have any jokes. Poe felt weirdly anxious, even though, from everyone's cheers and murmurs, the bomb had already been defused. He let out a slow breath, and turned toward his lusus, who limped behind him quietly. She would need medical care before he went back to the swamp. At least... it seemed like now he would be able to simply walk into a supply store to get what he needed.

"We did it..." he said. He laughed. They did it!

It was silent. It fell over him like an eerie shadow and he didn't like it.

'Seems like it should've happened by now.' The bots across the room had stopped moving every time someone passed through. Did that mean it was over? Someone must've made it to the bomb in time to shut it down. The boy wondered how close he had come. He supposed it didn't matter how close you were to victory if you didn't actually grasp it though.

Enough time had passed that he was able to sit up without feeling sick. Pulling himself upright, Cerpin glanced down to Blossmom, still unconscious on the ground. His lusus had given his all to protect them, ferrying two children and a giant turtle through a minefield of dangerous obstacles. It made the purpleblood ashamed to think of how much he relied on his father. None of what had happened tonight had been achieved on his own.

He talked a big talk while riding the coattails of others, didn't he?

"She probably left behind the dead weight, huh?" Tevini had vanished without a word or trace in the corridors. Maybe she'd finally gotten tired of wiping his a** for him. Their entire partnership hinged on the fact that he needed something from her. In return, she wasn't really getting much. So far he'd only managed to drag her into a handful of forced obligations and dangerous attacks on her life. What the ******** was wrong with him?

"Gog, is she still alive even?" Cerpin groaned, a hand running through his bangs miserably. With all the crap they'd gone through, it wasn't too crazy to think that her fuse had run out. She was such an idiot to trust him. He had no idea what he was doing. And what was up with that? He knew clearly where he wanted to be. His meltdown had earlier flashed the images before his eyes. So why the hell wasn't he there yet? What was he missing that the others had? He bit his lip, looking at the door that the rest had disappeared through. What was it that drove others to succeed where he had failed?

"Cause they actually get stuff ******** done, dumbass." He grumbled to himself. Everything he'd accomplished so far had been by relying on others to either motivate him or do the tasks for him. He talked about traveling through space and wandering the galaxy with his team of bright eyed individuals with a spark of something special in them. But he didn't deserve to be on that ship as captain if he couldn't contribute anything beyond beetles. In space, they wouldn't even need the damn things. Alien planets had their own races and cultures. His material goods and currencies would be completely useless.

He flinched at the word. Why did it bother him so much? Her words had cut through his proud bravado so deeply and it seemed like he couldn't escape them repeating in his head.

Everywhere he went, he was a problem. His presence in Salamire polarized the community into those who didn't trust him or want him in the Initiative and those who fiercely protected him. Returning home to the crown wasn't an option either with the drones watching his skyscraper for a chance to nab a Rebel to interrogate.

"It's not like I can do anything about it."

... could he?

"I've tried before."

Had he?

Shifting on the floor uncomfortably, he struggled with his tangled emotions. Deep down, he knew what was missing. Effort. It was was kept him back from achieving all the things he dreamed of. It kept him grounded in the dusty dirty underground hive he'd found with Tevini instead of putting them high above like he'd promised. It kept him moody and alone in his dark room instead of living a life packed full of friends that were desperate to see him. All because he never really tried to do anything and half-assed his way through life. Here he was again, completely aware of the problem and certain he couldn't change anything about it because he was afraid to put effort into it and <******** that guy. Cerpin winced and pulled himself to his feet. That guy was a loser, a complete and utter joke of a troll. He wasn't going to be that person anymore. If he wanted people to like him or depend on him, he had to do something to earn that. All his life, he'd relied on the hemospectrum to demand respect towards him. But he wanted to be important for more than just the color in his veins!

"Wake up, old man. C'mon." Something warm coursed through him, igniting a rush of energy inside. Leaning towards Blossmom, he helped the lusus to his feet and the two of them wrapped an arm and a wing around each other to walk. This time, they would support each other. He could contribute and pull his own weight if he tried.

He was going places, just watch. First stop, making his way to the control room to find his runaway partner. Next stop, opening the nightclub he'd been waffling on. Lastly, outer space! He just needed to come up with plans and follow through on them. Why worry about past failures when he could focus on the present and what he could be doing now? He would no longer be shackled by what had happened to him or what he used to be and want. The boy began to walk, passing through the corridors.

From now on, he was Cerpin Sugall, purpleblood of the Pheonix Initiative and captain of Team Space. No longer would he call himself a highblood and sit on his a** while his privilege did all the work. He'd pledged himself to the cause of abolishing the hemospectrum before but he needed to start with himself first instead of trying to change others. He needed to show other highbloods that it could be done and it should be done.

There was so much to be done and he couldn't wait to get started.

"Where is she?" He stood taller as he entered the control room, "Vee, you better not have died. We've got so much work to do!"

He'd see it head on this time. Useless, that was something to be determined over the rest of his life, wasn't it? Cerpin smirked. He'd find ways to prove her wrong.

He didn't think she'd mind losing this one.

While Forera definitely felt strange watching the group near her know what to do almost immediately, she couldn't help but feel like it wasn't her buisness in the first place-- they were rebels, and being a rebel in any group seemed to always bring trouble. Her thoughts wandered, eyes growing distant as her mind slipped into her own memories, thoughts wandering into a dark place. She’d taken rehab for that, hadn’t she? She’d thought she’d get better, after…

The war.

Forera pursed her lips.

The battle for Old Hemisect ended up becoming one of her biggest regrets. How, she didn’t know, but that was her first experience with reality and society at it’s finest, her first time realizing she was more than just a weapon. More than just a mindless troll, actually able to hurt the people she cared about. She’d tried so hard for the empire, simply because she felt she needed to prove herself somehow, to get somewhere in life. It was something she’d learned since hatching-- Join the military, leave the planet, conquer. All hail the Queen. She’d had vague dreams of becoming besties with the Queen, somehow, helping her out earnestly, simply because she seemed cool. It was something she allowed herself to imagine to make herself feel better. But between Luxara, Vulpin, and Etsali, all of whom had dubious affiliations… She learned better. The tealblood swallowed, remembering Luxara, sobbing in her arms as they shared a moment of pain and betrayal. She knew now neither she or Luxara were in the wrong. They’d simply been jaded.

But now she knew better.

Seeing Ganyma in the center changed that.

Even at her current age, she didn’t understand how she’d been feeling in those moments. After Ganyma yelled at her and ran, she’d felt anger, betrayal on the highest degree, not once, but twice. She’d had to hear from his friend that he was a rebel, had to hear from others that he’d done this and that. She’d wanted to be his friend, and while she knew she’d been a bit of a strange child and basically pushed herself into his life unannounced, she still felt like she deserved something for trying. Something more than a yell to push her even more into confusion. The tealblood sighed, watching the others move toward the bomb wearily, wanting to say something in response-- That trying wouldn't get them anywhere, that the bomb would go off no matter what. However, Etsali arrived soon after, forcing a small smile to spread on her face as she relaxed at the sight of her friend.

Forera shook her head in response, trying to place a little faith in her tealblooded companion. She seemed like the serious type. “Icy wouldn’t do somethin’ dumb.” Though after some thought, Forera inched closer to the brownblood. “Though if y’see somethin’s up, run.” She murmured, pulling back before offering her a smile. Etsali had always been there, hadn’t she? She’d been a royalist with her, before, and defected over. When and where she’d done so, Forera hadn’t known, but it pleased her to see she didn’t have to suffer through what the rest of them had to.

Etsali hadn’t even known what’d happened to her until recently.

How she and Vulpin had been caught, persecuted. Questioned. Hunted. Forera had felt terrible. The brownblood had always been there for her when around, and Forera had no reason to keep it from her except that they’d hadn’t caught up with each other’s lives. Forera had told her everything after their training battle, figuring if someone was willing to take that much damage to comfort the other, it must’ve been because they cared about them. She’d explained her problem with Luxara, briefly mentioning what happened with Aerona and telling her all her frustrations before promptly getting emotional and hearing Etsali’s own stories of the past few months-- She’d been apart of a new team, friends who sounded rather fun, and sneaky, just like her. She dimly remembered a few friendly faces-- The sparky yellowblood with an electric personality, the stoic redblood with intense under-eye bags, and… She hadn’t quite met that last guy. But he had to be chill, too, right?

Anyhow, she’d taken it rather well, and even understood her reasons for doing so. But Forera couldn’t let herself forget, nor could she let herself remember. Forgetting meant going back to the way she used to be. Ignorant, clueless, unable to be taken seriously. Remembering meant becoming someone completely new. Angry, grumpy... Her life for the past sweep. The silence she received from Ganyma, Vulpin’s murmur lost in the wind in the leaves… She honestly should’ve expected it, especially after selling him out. She didn’t know why it’d hit her so hard. The realization that she was actually a monster was something she should’ve known the moment she’d looked at herself in the mirror, back in the rehab center. Surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) she’d been with them both.

The strong tealblood slowly pulled out her ring, inspecting it. Oh, Vulpin. Her pump biscuit squeezed. It’d been so long. Too long. Every glance at them made her chest ooze with emotion, and she was glad to have seen them again. She was so thankful for those precious moments of togetherness, and even more to have a purpose in life, again. Before, that was… her twin.

She almost felt bad for leaving Anguis alone for so long.

Then again, if she’d known he’d go off somewhere to “find himself” for so long, she might as well’ve dropped him. A shred of anger pulsed in her veins-- She’d gone back for him, after everything, she’d found him and helped him and he’d left her when she needed him most. Some friend he was. Some twin he was. Had he pretended to have fun, when younger? Or was she just… Imagining things? She might’ve been, at this point. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe he just hated her for imposing the way she did as a kid. She did tease him a lot… However, she’d been sure he knew it was all in good fun. Had he known? Luxara hadn’t. And she’d noticed this.

Oh s**t, Luxara.

Speak of the devil. After a quick shoulder squeeze to Etsali, the tealblood offered the greenblood raised eyebrows and a chuckle with hands tucked deep into her jumpsuit pockets. They all looked like utter crap. But then again, Luxara had seen her through worse. She’d seen her at her lowest of lows, had accepted her even after her thoughtlessness in the forest. And in turn, Forera had helped her in the forest, not out of obligation, but because she was her friend. Forera missed Luxara. She’d become a permanent fixture in her life since they’d met, always surprisingly being in the same situation, same team, same area. They foiled each other, and even… Even though the greenblood had stabbed her right in the back, she supposed she deserved that. Kursha… he’d done ******** her up good. Luxara was a nice person. She didn't want to hurt anyone, she understood that life was s**t and any sort of help was appreciated. And for him to mess that up…? It was almost like he wanted set himself up for ruin.

Then again, he’d messed everything up.

The rebels, Ganyma, Luxara… He’d indirectly ******** with all aspects of her life. He deserved nothing more than a large <******** you to the face and a hard kick in the screw. Death was too good for him. And it’d taken her sweeps to notice that, when it was right in front of her face. Then again, she’d never talked to him privately. They’d only ever been around the same people, indirect… acquaintances. Why hadn’t she realized that one night in the ice cream shop was going to doom their future? Why hadn't she prevented it, somehow? Why was life so <******** up?

Before she could answer her own question, she was suddenly pulled into an excited and filling embrace. Forera, shell-shocked, simply allowed herself to be hugged, squeezed hard by her slightly taller, older friend. All she could think of was-- How? How could she stay so happy after everything that’d happened to her? How could she still have so much energy, after Kursha, Ganyma, and even her own doings? She asked herself this, but even after she’d asked herself this, she’d known the answer.

Hope.

Luxara still had hope in her. Even after everything-- Even after their squabbles, after their anger and betrayal. She’d been there for her, and tried to fix their friendship. Forera had kept pushing her away. Over and over again. It’d been so long already. She… she could chance it. With just as much flourish as Luxara had, Forera pulled the greenblood into a massive hug, pulling Etsali into it even if she was in pain. Just in time too-- It seemed Hemera had managed to disassemble the bomb, leaving everything in quiet darkness. Forera laughed mightily, lifting both her friends and shaking them with the last of her strength.

It’d been so long since she’d let herself go like this. She’d simply laughed, uncaring for the trolls around her, if someone remembered her cackle, her laugh, somehow. Forera didn’t care. She’d cared so much. So much that the wish she’d made at the Cinderglow Festival was to not ******** things up, among other things. So much that she released her frustrations and anger on Cerpin, her little cute purple buddy. Cerpin had his own problems, with Tevini, but their relationship, his apology to her, it showed her that even if things didn’t work out, then, they’d work out in the future. Rasali helped her chill out, and even Aerona and Kursha taught her something-- Not to trust trolls at a first glance. Not to wear her pump biscuit on her sleeve. Not to let trolls in so easily, unless proven to be loyal. Like her crew.

In that moment, all was clear. She released both her friends, still grinning widely, feeling almost like her old self, except, a little different, a tad more… mature. Surprisingly.

“When're we droppin’ this joint?” Forera said with her hands on her hips, expectant, head motioning to the door. They'd won already, there was no reason to stay. They had to move on.

And now, she wouldn’t ******** it up. If she did, she’d just keep on trying. Hoping.

And keeping her head up high.

In other scenarios, she might blanch. Trying be discrete, for even one person to hear her anyway? Very hard to recover from. But as it stood, she could barely find herself caring enough to do more than raise her eyebrows at Leeroi's comment. Maybe if she wasn't exhausted, or aching, or trying to digest the fact that they all just survived a bomb threat after a defense system threw them all through the ringer. As it was, she just sighed and received the bandages.

"No, thank you." she said, rolling her eyes briefly. He got that much out of her at least. "There wasn't anything to start with, honestly. But if you have any breath mints, I'd prefer not having to worry about the smell on top of everything else."