[00:09:45] A pair of artificial eyes opened. A steel blue tinge resonated inside of the false pupils.

He blinked. Once, twice. Three times. Was he.. dreaming? He could not recall his latest memory, aside from the pain that came with being burned alive. It hit him all at once. So much so that everything else seemed to become miniscule in comparison. The figures around him were blurs, silhouettes with minor details of which he could not yet discern. The burned undead tried opening his mouth to scream in agony—but couldn’t. He was frozen in place, bound to the table as his soul struggled to assimilate itself with a broken and scarred vessel.

The body lie in place. Stagnant and unresponsive aside from a blink every now and then. Soon enough, however a single finger began to twitch. Before long, a hand. An arm. It took some time, but before long his soul had familiarized itself with his body entirely.

Propping himself forwards and onto his bottom, Adrian glanced around the room. His face did not move. There was no visible expression aside from the flickering of his artificial eyes. It was random, spontaneous. Inconsistent like a candle that had been burning for far too long. Instinctively, his attention was first drawn towards the one who had anchored his soul. His head slowly turned to the side to face Drew. Then, gradually he shifted his head to take note of the others in the room.

They seemed foreign. Unfamiliar, unrecognizable.
He raised a single hand and placed it in front of his face. It appeared as if he was examining it, confused by the intricacies of the scar tissue. One by one, his memories began to come back to him at in rapid succession. It would likely take a few more moments for him to grow truly accustomed to such a drastic change of pace.
(Adrian Montbell)
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[00:12:33] Penelope is quiet. She knows he is going to need some time - she had already given him all of the time in the world. She could wait a few minutes longer.

She reaches into her bag, and she retrieves a piece of clothing snatched from his wardrobe. Penelope rotates around the table, behind Adrian, and she gently drapes the black coat over his shoulders.

It wouldn't really matter to be gentle. He couldn't feel much, anyway.
(Penelope)
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[00:13:04] Melli says, "... wonderful..."
[00:13:13] Rilla records the scene in words, taking notes for her continued research and practice in necromancy
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[00:13:20] Melli says, "... so this is what it's..."
[00:13:49] The Drakanite couldn't help but smile at Adrian's resurrection. Besides Zahrir, this was the only other time where Ausar had witnessed a resurrection happen before his eyes.

Yet... he felt somewhat sad for the resurrected scholar. The poor guy looked as if he was readjusting to a foreign world akin to a child who was born. A confused, broken shell of his former glory. Shells can be repaired with time though! And time was what the undead Montbell needed.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, friend..." It was hard for Ausar to picture such a scarred and disfigured man as the Adrian he once knew. The Adrian who was Ausar's first friend on this continent. "Take your time... don't rush things too fast and get acquainted with your new self. This is a new chapter to your life."
(Ausar Kesandri)
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[00:14:00] Melli only began to slowly push herself up, wandering closer, trying to peer with extreme difficult as she got no further than the table- bracing slight and bracing careful, hardly even breathing.
(Melli)
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[00:14:30] Quentin was careful in his observations as Adrian awakened.

All of the symptoms that he had shown, all of the gestures, his movement, his expression and body language - it suggested confusion, inability to comprehend what yet is going on. That was understandable, you don't really get pulled back from the dead everyday.

'Huh... he actually awakened, even with such damage. Impressive.

But Quentin spoke no words. It was everyone else's moment - Penelope's, Drew's and that of Ceres. The rest were spectators, just like he was.

'I wonder how long it's going for him to come to his senses.

Considering it was not a master at work, but rather someone who didn't have all too much experience in the art, that might take a while indeed.
(Quentin Morwen)
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[00:17:18] Melli whispers something.
[00:17:21] Melli whispers something.
[00:17:35] The woman watched in silence as she knew the disorientation from being revived, a feeling of confusion and nothingness for the long moments of being "conscious". She stayed completely still and motionless as she watched Adrian, eyes staying locked with the replacements that she had given the man as time passed.

Ceres was waiting for his memories to return, waiting for him to understand his position. The others were allowed to speak, her hands resting on her hips before she would walk forward.

A lean forward, and then a big smile given to Adrian as she tilted her head a bit.

"Yes, welcome home..We've all missed you, Adrian Montbell...As you know, you died." A slow voice as she confirmed it for him, knowing he may already know this. Informing him on his situation was the best step onto a road to recovery, however.

She stood up straight as she stepped back away from the table to give the man room now as she continued to speak.

"As the Necromancer in this event, Drew Idd, the young soldier from before has revived you...Once you are well, preparations will be made and we'll begin repairing your body...For now just be patient with us."

A bright smile, the woman speaking to him as she would have before before she would look to Penelope, and back to Adrian.

"You do recognize us...Yes?.."
(Ceres Deadwood)
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[00:43:46] Adrian was still looking at his hand as Penelope draped his coat over his shoulders. He slowly stood up. Artificial eyes were pressed to the ground as he moved his hands to each button. Once he had finished, the undead dusted off one side of his chest.

"Yes, I remember it quite clearly. I was drinking a bottle of wine, discussing a rather interesting subject with a young man named Samael. Then a group of masked men barged down my doors and murdered me in my own home." His voice sounded slightly more troubled and gruff. He sat back down onto the table, crossing his legs.

"It would be appropriate for me to say I've missed you all as well, but frankly, the concept of time disappears entirely when you are dead." Adrian feels the side of his face with a single hand with a certain degree of.. nonchalance laced with a venomous sass. He was back alright.

Tapping his fingers against the table, he slowly sweeping his gaze across the room once more.The burned man smiles at Drew, nodding his head ever so slightly.

"You've become a necromancer? Paint me surprised, mister Idd. I never would have guessed you to venture into such a practice. Alas, I am eternally grateful all the same."

Then, towards Lizzy. He blinked and moved on because he thought her appearance was utterly repulsive, visibly grimacing with a judgmental click of the tongue.

A very similar response is made upon noticing Rilla's presence.

His gaze shifts beyond the room towards Ausar.

"Ausar, my friend! It is good to see you, though I'd argue the circumstances are rather.. somber, yes? I am glad that you were able to come and bear witness to this new chapter."

A smile was offered towards Ceres.

"However! While Drew was a musician, and I the instrument, you, dear Ceres, are the composer of this fine ballad. There is no string of words that could properly articulate mygratitude. For you, Champion, have given me the opportunity to ensure I can continue researching. But more importantly.. "

Adrian stands up, his body somewhat stiff as he takes a few steps towards Penelope. He holds both of her hands with his own.

"Your combined efforts have granted me the opportunity to experience this strange, unexplainable phenomena known as love once again." He looks at Penelope, and then turns to face the ground for a moment. "I am sorry that I had to return to you in such a state of decay, Penelope. I am sorry that I ever died in the first place."
(Adrian Montbell)
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[00:50:09] "you'll be happy to know each and every one of the Crows that had assassinated you have been ground into dust...Danbur quite literally in his case." She says with a small cough." A small amount of good news for Adrian, along with a second chance at life and a myriad of projects for him to finish.

She started to clean up the tools left over from the procedure and placed them back in respective holdings for the time being. "I mean I helped as well." She muttered under her breathe. Rebecca seemed to be a bit greedy with praise.

She then tosses the man a set of clothes. "Cover your shame, /PLEASE/." Once again, always a prude.
(Rebecca Ravenseer)
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[00:51:00] Alas, Quentin knew very little about Adrian. It was not his place to speak as if they were old friends with reunion past death.

But he could be at least a bearer of good news.

"The masked men were Crows, people like Gareth, Danbur, Tasim and... more."

The young Rampart exclaimed. Not that he'd likely catch Adrian's attention with such words right away, but it could be still something pleasant for him to hear next words.

"All of them are dead. Your death was avenged."

But for now, Quentin's observations for necromancy were done. Surely he learnt a thing or two from all of this, and that alone was beneficial.

And to have Adrian back as researcher would surely help the dire state of Valmasian colony too, with what's been happening and whatnot.

"It's good to have you back, Adrian. Take your time to recover, familiarize yourself with changes, and--"

"Meet the people thatmissed you dearly."

Quentin decided to not speak about all of the job they had yet to do, especially with Adrian back. There's time for everything, and he could surely get his own moment first.

On that note, he walked towards the door. Time to let the walking dead man be welcomed back.
(Quentin Morwen)
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[00:52:02] Ausar chuckled softly at Adrian's words. Even after years of death, the man still retained his sass and cocky nature. It was as if he never left in the first place.

"Well a lot has happened in the time you've died, lad. Aesperus an' I actually divorced, my control over magma grows evermore, and tensions across the continent are rising faster than a wildfire spreads through a forest."

He waved a dismissive hand towards Adrian when he mentioned about their rejoice being somber. "Nonsence! It's anything but. We're so glad to have you back in the land of the living."
(Ausar Kesandri)
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[00:52:43] Penelope had steeled herself only moments before. Her expression had been frozen, still, composed with a level professionalism that was almost unnatural for even Penelope.

If she kept herself distant, he wouldn't have to see her cry, right?

But then his voice strikes her ears for the first time in three years, and she shatters. By the time Adrian addresses her, she's sputtering tears, nearly blubbering.

Her hands fall naturally into his. Although they're burnt beyond recognition, they're still his. They're not as soft, they're not as deft and beautiful - but these hands still belong to Adrian Montbell.

And that's all that mattered to her.

"I love you, Adrian. I love you. I love you."

Her hands grasp at his, and she starts to reel herself close, as if the man she were trying to embrace weren't some twisted, burnt abomination. Nothing in the world could convince her to let go. Not now. Not after so long.

Penelope has changed. She's put on weight, and while her skin has garnered a healthy glow, it's worn with lines from stress. There are dark circles underneath her eyes, but she's well groomed, composed, taken care of.

She was standing on her own, it seemed. Now, she had someone to stand with her.
(Penelope)
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[00:52:58] Rilla ignored Adrians look of disgust. She personally didn't care, and wasn't going to do anything about it right now
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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[01:00:01] Okay. Lizzy for her part had found herself...she had found herself getting sucked up into this all. A grin crossing her face excitement filling her at the happiness of the people around her. Of Penelope and the joy they clearly felt.

It felt good to be here. It felt good despite how she was not participating that much. Moving over a small laugh leaving her lips.

Her eyes flickering across Adrian at Rebecca's comment in curiosity. She really needed some honest education. Because truthfully well...Lizzy was clueless on quite a bit of things.

Sure she heard a few jokes and a few remarks. But she was left not entirely getting it. But either way her voice came out...matching a warm tone trying to be comforting. The voice she liked when she heard Rebecca's own what she had enjoyed waking up to.

"Hey Adrian...nice to see your back."

Admittedly she was at a loss for real words. She was giving something simple something inoffensive.
(Lizzy)
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[01:01:50] Drew would simply cross his arms. "Only been training to do so since Morgan was still Champion." Drew would reply a slight grin on his face. Before he would take a step back, letting the two have their moment.
(Drew Idd)
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[01:03:31] Melli continued to lean in, and then, and then, and then... everything was normal, or as normal as could be. She slowly lifted herself back to the flats of her feet, and took her palms from the table, only clapping at the sight quietly-

It was all she could do, and after the brief applause, she rubs again at her mask- and blood seeps down to the jaw. She touches it gingerly, and then rises her fingers to before her eyes, waving them shortly as if just to recognize them.

Then- then- she lets them have their moment. She sinks back to the kitchen, she puts on tea with significant clumsiness, she leaves cups wafting soon enough, and she takes her own in time-

Meandering back out slow and steady, stopping at the door brief after feeling it out- "Great work, all-sorts."

- and exiting, bumping a shoulder on the doorframe on the way out.
(Melli)
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[01:04:26] Rilla seeing as how they were simply celebrating the return now, Rilla would turn to take her leave. There was nothing else to be learned from this
(Rilla Lithia-Brubeck)
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