Take Initiative.

[trustharder]

It seems things have been resolved - peacefully, if more than a little awkwardly for most parties involved. However, there's still work to do here, isn't there? Ryuunosuke shrugs after a long moment; tips his head up a bit. "Hey, Glory? Let everyone up." And apparently that's all it takes, though what that actually does isn't something that happens all at once - rather, panels slide out from the wall, forming a staircase up to that balcony they've been standing on. Mettaton doesn't really wait for the others to join them; he just leaves back through that section of wall they entered from, calling something back over his shoulder. "We've got another room to work from back here, darlings, this shouldn't take too long to work out." >Follow?

Comments

[amygdalae]

[It's all too sudden, it seems - one moment they're all in the room, and the next--

Suddenly everything changes and Bruce wakes up with a gasp. His limbs feel incredibly sluggish but that's something he can probably shake off in time; its not like there has ever been much that could take down a Hulk for long.

He coughs at first as oxygen floods through his body, awakening everything back up, and at the back of his head he feels an old presence he hadn't felt at all in the last two months. Which, considering everything, is not a surprise - the Hulk probably wouldn't have been able to process the VR environment, anyway. Or maybe it was something in this system. Who knows.

Right now, he's just more ready to get out of this thing.

His exit isn't exactly the most graceful of things - one limb after another Bruce forces them to move, and eventually he manages to clamber out of the chamber, still coughing and gasping a little. It takes him a moment to realize that he's still wearing one of those godawful jumpsuits. Some things just don't seem to want to leave him.

Once he's properly out Bruce more or less collapses in a mess of exhausted limbs at the side of the chamber he had been in, taking several deep breaths in succession as he recovers from what had been very possibly the most exhausting two months of his life. Jesus Christ.



...and much (much) later, once Bruce can feel his limbs again he'll be walking around to stretch his limbs and seek out certain other people who he hopes managed to get out or else there'll be words.]

[prismbloom]

Bruce.

[ It's a lot more different, seeing him face-to-face like this. She'd admittedly wanted to speak with him--during a seance, as questionably successful as those were--but Aqua knows he's been through... hell is putting it lightly. ]

Here. [ She reaches out to steady him, her movements somewhat careful. ]

[amygdalae]

[It's a bit of a shock, hearing her voice again, even though he knows it would happen. Slowly he raises his head, squinting a little because hello, lack of glasses which makes things a bit awkward, but hey.

He lets her help him, doing his best to not put his weight onto her because that would be rude. Her hands are warm and gentle and kind, everything he remembers about her, and now that its real its only made it all the more... its better. A lot better.]

--thanks. [He manages it once he's more settled with her help.]

[prismbloom]

[ It sure is a thing, isn't it? Hearing him again. Being able to talk with him like this, but Aqua missed it so much. She's no stranger to losing people--in this case, she was the lost one, of course--but it's never any different.

She's just so happy to see him. ]

You're welcome. Do you need anything? [ He looks like he's been through hell... but, they all have, really. ]

[amygdalae]

[They have all suffered - and just because it 'wasn't real' doesn't mean their experiences are invalidated. They laughed, cried, lived and died. It was all still real, in there.

Except now it's just... more.]

I, ah. [Quietly and sounding rather unsure right now. Bruce glances down, almost seemingly embarrassed, a brief pause before he finally responds properly.] Just sit with me for a bit.

[prismbloom]

[ This is a different sort of hell. Aqua's been through more than someone her age probably should... but.

"Resilient." Funny, how spot-on that title was. ]

Of course.

[ And she helps him over to a quieter place, one with enough room for them to sit. ]

[amygdalae]

[You are a saint, Aqua.

Bruce lets her lead him over to this nice quiet spot, which is also nice because this means he doesn't have to see Mettaton and... the other person with him. Bruce really isn't up for either of them at the moment. Maybe later. Who knows.

Once they're both settled Bruce lets out a long, shaky exhale. His limbs are still pretty uncooperative but its just a matter of time - at least his head is already clearing up.]

...thanks again.

[prismbloom]

[ She just does what she can for a dear friend. ]

You're welcome, again. [ She stretches out her legs, letting out a sigh at the feeling of it. It's funny--she feels even worse than after her old training sessions. ]

It's strange, isn't it? Being together again.

[amygdalae]

It almost feels like a dream in any other situation.

[But this is real. He has to remind himself that. What is in here now, this is more real than anything else. They're real, and they're alive despite it all. It's the best he could have hoped for.]

[goodforsomething]

[After a little while longer, Stan will stagger over and collapse, rather more slowly, nearby.]

...ow, okay. That was a mistake. [He may need a hand back up later. Or he'll just live here.] How're you feelin'?

[amygdalae]

[Don't worry Stan, he'll help you out once he can move himself... which shouldn't take too long, hopefully.]

Like I've been trapped in hell for two months. [So very dryly.] I'll live, though.

[goodforsomething]

Ha. Yeah, best we can hope for.

[Stan removes his glasses again, this time carefully touching the dents at the sides of his head. Those had better go away.]

I can hardly believe we all got outta that alive.

[amygdalae]

Unless we're in another VR simulation.

[But no, he knows this is the real world. He can feel the Other Guy rumbling at the back of his head. Its almost comforting in its weird way, though it'll be a while for him to get used to it again.

He coughs again and stares up at the ceiling above them, processing everything that happened. Two terrible months, but at least nobody died. He supposes that's the best he can ask for, considering.]

[goodforsomething]

Yeesh, don't say that.

[Stan grimaces, glancing reflexively over towards Mettaton and Ryuunosuke.]

This had already been way more computers than I ever wanted in my life.

[amygdalae]

[A weak laugh comes from Bruce at that, head still tilted up to look at the ceiling, though if Stan can see it Bruce closes his eyes after he laughs, his body sagging a little.]

I can agree with that.

[Definitely... no computers for him for a while. Possibly.]

[goodforsomething]

Yeah...

[Stan sighs, and is silent for a few moments.]

I remember some more stuff about home now. Guess the dreams just decided to stop on their own. [.....] You up for Ford comin' along on the whole vault thing?

[amygdalae]

[He remembered more stuff? That was surprising. Bruce himself has none, but he supposes its not too much of a mystery, considering that he was on a crashing Quinjet. Glory probably took him while he was still unconscious.]

I don't mind people helping out. [Since it does make things easier, but--] As long as he knows what he's getting into.

[captainobnoxious]

[... Well, even if Sigrun wasn't someone Bruce is searching out, she's searching him out because she's got a little issue with her arm.]

Doctor! Hey!

[Wave wave. Like, she can move it and shit just fine, obviously, but she's got her jacket off already for a reason.]

Remember how I came into that place with my arm stitched up?

[amygdalae]

[Bruce is vaguely surprised when Sigrun is actually calling for him, although it quickly clicks at her next words. The injury--yes.]

Yes. [He returns mildly, only a brief pause between that and his next words.] Do you need me to look at it again?

[captainobnoxious]

Yeah. I mean, we've been sitting here for two months, so...

[... She'll roll up her sleeve. Her wounds are all healed up, but obviously the thread's still there. The ugly stitches, Bruce. Your neat ones were so much nicer. She's definitely having a few scars from this.]

I figure I'd ask you to do something about it than trying to take them out myself. With my teeth.

[amygdalae]

[He's pretty sure you're not going to be bothered about a few badass scars, Sigrun.

Either way, he gives a nod and manages to not make a face about the part about teeth. Really now, Sigrun, you should know better at this know.]

I'll try to find a first-aid kit around this place and see what I can do.

[captainobnoxious]

[Oh, she's not, she's actually happy about that part, but Bruce's stitches were so nice... It was nice to have someone capable around to medic. That's all!!]

You are the best, doc! I knew I could count on you! I just hope it doesn't start bleeding again.

[... Working on her arm would probably be a good time for her to either apologize for butting heads with him (though she's not entirely sorry about it, seeing as it worked out in the end this time, it was still a risk to trust either of them especially the one who'd already betrayed them twice now) or to just sit there and say "I told you so" but you know what. Yeah. Let's go find a first-aid kit.]

[amygdalae]

It shouldn't, considering it had two months to heal. [And he hopes the chambers were at least sterilized, because contamination would not end well.

But anyway.

He gestures for her to sit down and wait as he takes a couple of minutes to go hunt around this building they are in for that first-aid kit. It's going to take a while, hope you have something to occupy yourself in the meantime.]

[captainobnoxious]

[... Well, she can either sit there and think about her life choices, what she's gonna say, things like that...

Or she could take her new found freedom and just lay down instead, hesitating a moment before shaking her thoughts away and seeing if she can't doze off.

She won't blow up. That'd been a rule in the VR place. But it's still a little nervewracking to get into the mindset that she can afford a quick nap and there won't be blood and guts anywhere. Naps are important in her line of work though. She needs to get back to that.]

[amygdalae]

[Take all the time you want, Sigrun, because Bruce ends up taking a near half an hour before he actually does return with said first aid kit.

(This place is going to need some serious reorganizing if they're going to get anything started.)

When he returns he's quick to notice the fact that Sigrun has apparently dozed off in the meantime. Bruce doesn't exactly want to disturb her (frankly well-needed) rest, but he does have to look at her wound before it gets worse.]

Captain Eide. [He starts, voice quiet as he reaches over and gently taps her uninjured shoulder.]