Through the Living Hope

Forest Clearing Aventine laid back in the flower field. "You can't hear me, but I need you guys to wake me up." She laughed and put her hands on her face. "I'm insane. I'm actually insane. Why am I talking to someone who can't hear me?" Med Wing Aventine's eyes stared at the ceiling. "I was always searching, and I was never there..." Right Outside the Med Wing DG Ash had followed the map to the medical wing and sat respectfully outside on a bench.

He... can't hear me. I just have to wait for them to wake me up. She let out a light sigh. If only I could think of some way to talk with them... But I guess this is what the voice meant. I have to trust them to get me out of this.

She heard his voice, but it was quiet. "I... I'm here."

Forest Clearing (Vision/Hallucination/Dream/etc) Aventine lied in a field, the song she mumbled in reality rustling through the leaves in the wind. The plants were green, just like in the clinic. It made her wish Scadrial had green plants, as well. And the flowers - she'd read descriptions, seen artists' renderings on what they believed flowers would look like. (She didn't know this, but they were mostly evening primroses, coreopsis, and blanket flowers.) The sky was blue, which suited it much better than red did. The grass itched her skin, but in a good way. It was a nice contrast against the soft petals of the flowers. Reading about these things didn't even begin to compare to the true thing. Ava. Aventine's eyebrows wrinkled. She assumed it was supposed to be referring to her, but no one had called her Ava before. Jar Man had called her Ave once or twice, but... Ava. She sat up. "Why are you calling me that?" she asked no one. Because you wanted me to. "I... wanted you to? What do you mean? Who are you?" The voice chuckled. So many questions... Aventine blinked, shaking her head. I must be going insane if I'm hearing voices... Aventine is the name of a hill on another world. It was one of the hills on which an ancient empire called Rome was built. Ava has more... meaning to it, I believe. "Meaning? I don't understand..." Names have meanings, dear. They can say quite a lot about the one who wears them. Ava has multiple meanings - for instance, desired, life, beauty, bird, and voice. And I would say that each of those meanings pertain to you. Aventine stood. "You're quite cryptic, aren't you..." You're in pain, my dear. "Well, yeah. A lot, actually, in the real world." Emotional and physical... And who are you to say this isn't real? "This is... this is all just in my head. I'm making this up - I'm probably dying." No, you are not going to die yet. You may crave a release, but it will not be presented in death. You still have much to do in life, Ava. "Why are you calling me Ava? And who are you?" I am calling you Ava, because to me that is who you are. You are loved and desired, full of life and beauty. You are free from your past, like a bird in the air, but because of your past, your voice has the power to potentially change that for others. And as to who I am... well, I suppose you must find that for yourself. Aventine's mouth tightened. "You're some form of deity, aren't you?" When the voice didn't respond, she knew she'd hit the mark. "If you really knew who I am, you'd know that I don't trust any kind of deity - self proclaimed or otherwise." Well then... I suppose you will have to learn to trust me in time. Aventine laughed, but not out of humor. "I don't even know that this is real. You asked me if I could say this was real or not but..." If I were to give you a way to prove this was real, would you trust me? Aventine thought for a moment before admitting, "I would be a little more open to it." Pick one of those flowers. When you awaken, it will remain with you. "And... how will I wake?" Rely on those who are not here. The medic, your friend... they will do whatever it takes to ensure you live. The voice laughed again. You will live regardless of their actions, but they do not know that. They will treat you until you are ready and able to awaken. You will know when the time has arrived. Aventine opened her mouth, but she doubted the voice would respond - she could no longer feel its presence. She looked at the flowers at her feet. She knelt down, and the white dress she wore in this vision brushed against the grass and petals. It did not stain or smear. She plucked one of the flowers from the ground - one of the blanket flowers. So now... "I guess I wait." @TheRavenHasLanded @InfiniteInsanity

@TheRavenHasLanded

Aventine's mouth hung slightly open, and her eyes were glazed over. While a large part of her cognition had suffered from the concussion, the life-support parts of her brain were still fully active. She was able to slowly burn the pewter, the only metal she had on her after the Inquisitor had given her aluminum.

@InfiniteInsanity @TheRavenHasLanded

DG Ash looked up at Ash and paused for a moment. There’s no time for this. “She fought a Steel Inquisitor and she’s badly injured - to what extent, I’m not sure. Jar Man is giving her pewter to help with the pain, but she’s getting delirious.” @TheRavenHasLanded

DG Ash held open Aventine's mouth, and she still mumble-sung.

"Okay!" She searched Aventine for another vial - but didn't find any. "She doesn't have any on her! Find something, quick!"

"Wha- you mean pewter?" DG Ash yelled. "I don't even know if she can burn metals subconsciously! It's worth a shot, but-" When the song ended, Aventine started over. "I'm really going to miss..." Without realizing, she was singing to Waylen. While her mouth sung, her mind relived the night she ran away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm leaving, Waylen." "Pardon me, Mistress?" Aventine had gotten rid of her dress not long ago, and now wore basic skaa clothing - a dark brown jacket, a black shirt and pants, and black boots with wooden buckles. Her wavy, dark brown hair was tied back more informally than it had ever been, but it was still somewhat formal. The scars on her arm and back were completely hidden under both her jacket and shirt. "I can't stay anymore - I don't feel safe." Waylen didn't protest. "Of course. If you will, Mistress..." He held out a small box. She took the box with no skepticism. "What's this?" "A gift, Mistress. It will be practical to you, I hope. And should you use as much as you can, there is a choice presented to you, as well." Aventine put the box into an inner pocket of the jacket. "Thank you, Wa-" Two Pewterarms burst into the room. "Go, Mistress!" Waylen commanded. Aventine went to the rope she'd thrown from her window before. She turned back, only to see his neck turn the wrong way from a strike of the Pewterarm. His body crumpled to the floor, and she yelled. The Pewterarms turned to her. Eyes wide, she lept out the window and slid down the rope, burning her hands badly. She dropped the rope a couple meters above the ground and fell the rest of the way. Her ankles nearly gave out, but there was still some strength in them. She ran.

In the entrance (@InfiniteInsanity and @Edema Rue when Tal is free), DG Ash began dragging Aventine toward where she presumed the medical wing would be. Aventine's head injury was starting to get worse. She was losing her touch on reality, and began to sing under her breath. I'm really going to miss our potentiality Most of all the days we never got to live They are so real to me I guess we must have fooled time when we Made it through to this side of our memories Time is all we have, but time is nothing real That makes us a little lost here It makes existence itself a little hard to believe But just have faith, my dear I'm sorry if I made you think that all will be just fine I hate to break that we must die I left you all alone, a ghoul I don't even think I know you And you don't know who I am You never had a chance to Cause I was always searching and I was never there Was busy leaving you So dream of me as if I'm a little spark Shooting off of a campfire Swirling with a smokened up ego Perhaps towards the night sky And you will see the after glow But sometime pretty soon I'll be out of sight Out of sight And you will see the afterglow, But I'll be out of sight I'm really going to miss our potentiality Most of all the days we never got to live They are so real to me And I will keep on fooling time Also from the other side of our memories When all that's left is memories When all that's left is memories...

@InfiniteInsanity

@Edema Rue

“Yes,” DG Ash said. “Can one of you help me get her there?”

@Aetherbound ”Not now,” DG Ash responded, somewhat forcefully. “I need to get her to the infirmary an hour ago, she’s lost a lot of blood.”

"Yeah," DG Ash said. "In my multiverse's Luthadel." Aetherbound looked like he was about to ask a question. "There's no time to explain it," she told him. "Keep Elariel. If you're going to help-" "Go fast," Aventine finished, interrupting DG Ash. "They need as much help as they can get." She grimaced, putting a hand to her ribs. Blood covered the right side of her head.

DG Ash touched Aventine and concentrated. The two popped into existence at the entry of the clinic. @Edema Rue @The Halcyon Girl @The Wandering Wizard @InfiniteInsanity @Aeoryi (Pisces)

"That's concerning," DG Ash said. "Full agreement here," Aventine concurred.

Aventine jabbed a tired finger at him. "No." "Go to the keep on foot and help where you can," DG Ash ordered.

"I can't, for multiple reasons. One, cooldown's still there. Two, major head injury and some broken ribs," Aventine said. "I'll take you," DG Ash said. "I'm able to teleport, as well, and while it should take a bit more effort to go between dimensions... it's possible, at least theoretically." She waited for Aventine to protest, but she did not.