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The ogres’ rotten smell wafted up from where their bodies lay under the rubble. A sudden whiff of it turned Jamie’s stomach, and she had to squeeze her nostrils shut with both her fingers to keep it from making her vomit up what she didn’t even have in her stomach. Why did they have to be kidnapped [i]today[/i], of all days? [color=Goldenrod][i]This villain needs to learn some manners,[/i][/color] she thought sourly. Jamie never went on missions while hungover unless she absolutely had to. All the noise and the smell and the sunlight were only exacerbating her pounding headache. With reluctance, she moved aside the rocks covering the ogres’ bodies with one hand, noting with satisfaction that they were dead as a doornail. She fist-pumped, grinning. 

A voice sounded from near her. She nearly sent out a shockwave, but then realized it was Joseph. The smile stayed on her face as she turned to her friend, bouncing on her feet. [color=Goldenrod] “Jojo, don’t sneak up on me like that! I could’ve crushed you, jeez…”[/color] she said, sounding a little more sour than usual. At his question, she examined her arms. There was that subtle, familiar ache to them- not quite her muscles, but her [i]bones[/i], warning her that they would fracture if she over-exerted herself. But Jamie had enough experience with her power to know that this wasn’t her limit. Far from it, actually. [color=Goldenrod] “No, I think I’m alright for now. Might not wanna take down too many more buildings and stuff, but they just hurt a little. Are [i]you[/i] okay, though? You look kinda messed up…”[/color] She reached her hand out to him in concern before she heard another, louder noise and whirled around.

The ogres were standing around them, hooting and beating at their chests. [color=Goldenrod]“UGH!”[/color] Jamie held up her hands, ready to blast them. She knew it wouldn’t hurt them, but if she tried hard enough… well, maybe it would? Either way, she was annoyed. Couldn’t they just go away already? She was about to let loose a blast when the temperature in the forum suddenly increased. Left confused for a moment, she eventually turned to Blake, the only person she knew there who could control heat. As the heat grew, she put down her hands and stepped away from him. Then, she started to speedwalk backwards. The heat was borderline oppressive, and she was sure it would cook her if she stood by it for long enough.

True to form, Blake killed all the ogres simultaneously with a bang. The sudden light made her headache flare, but Jamie watched the phoenix with awe written on her face. [color=Goldenrod][i]Awesome.[/i][/color] It plowed down the ogres with a dramatic flourish even she might not have been able to pull off. After all the ogres were gone, she moved toward Blake, clapping and ready to congratulate him.

[color=Goldenrod]“Dude, that was so awesome! I didn’t know you could create animals-”[/color] she started, but was unable to finish as he fell to the ground, unconscious. Jamie looked at him, open-mouthed. [color=Goldenrod] “Oh my God, is he DEAD?! Noooooo!”[/color] Of course, being Jamie, she didn’t think to check his pulse or anything. Oh well.

[@Rabidporcupine]

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Patricia followed Sam’s cues and stayed close, her heart pumping with fear at the sight of just how close the ogres were. She had thought they would be out of the forum by now, away from the ogres- she was utterly useless while fighting them. Even if she wouldn’t admit it willingly. The fact of the matter was, her power was weak unless she was fighting humans. It worked with emotions and commands. A lullaby or maybe even a death song might affect them, but she couldn’t do that with everybody else here. 

An ogre approached, and her heart must’ve started going at a mile a minute. She glanced to Sam nervously, only barely managing to conceal her fear. But he killed it like she had thought he would, and she let out a sigh of relief. But that was before five more came charging at them. Oh God, Sam couldn’t fight these things. Maybe Jamie or Blake or Tom could, but… Patricia had noticed the building collapsing out of the side of her eye. That was probably where they all were. Shit, shit shit…

She glanced at Sam out of the side of her eye at his question. [color=MediumOrchid][i]How is that relevant?[/i][/color] But she quickly caught on. IF they were sensitive to light, would they be sensitive to sound, too? Interesting. Sam was smart, she decided then and there. Smarter than most everyone else, at least. [color=MediumOrchid]“Pretty high. I’m a soprano, and my power… it doesn’t matter. Pretty high. Should I…?”[/color]

Patricia didn’t get a chance to actually start singing. She felt the heat before she noticed anything was happening. Her gaze, along with that of the ogres, flicked to the fiery-haired figure that was Blake across the forum. What was he [i]doing[/i]? The air got hotter and hotter, making Patricia sweat. And then… the phoenix appeared. She stared in awe for a moment, hazel eyes reflecting the light. [color=MediumOrchid]“Woh,”[/color] she whispered. It chased all the ogres away, obliterating the ones nearest her. She had to cover her eyes because of how bright it was. And then, after it had done that, it disappeared. That… was probably the coolest thing she had ever seen Blake do. Sparing a glance for Sam and angling her head towards Blake, she walked over to him, ready to congratulate him. 

She didn’t make it there before he passed out, but she [i]did[/i] manage to overhear the part about the elevator. That enthusiasm about finding a place to get in overridden the concern she had for Blake, although she did spare him a concerned glance. [color=MediumOrchid] “He’ll be fine,”[/color] she told Jamie dismissively, before walking into the basilica and finding the elevator. She ran her hands along it, narrowing her eyes. [color=MediumOrchid]“It’s locked!”[/color] she shouted. [color=MediumOrchid]“UGH! But where’s the key?! God, I hate this... We need to find it!”[/color]

[@DClassified]