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 Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:00 pm
Nicolae followed Zia as she lead him to…well. Wherever she was leading him. He was excited, and nervous. A good mixture of both of the two feelings that kind of made him feel like he was going to projectile vomit everywhere, but hey. What else was he supposed to think? This was seriously a life changing situation, and he just wasn’t sure how to feel about all of it.
“Hey, Zia…where are we going? You really know where Camelot is?” He hoped she wasn’t leading him into a trap. What if she really was part of the Negaverse…why did he get himself into this? Why didn’t he just leave well enough alone and flirt with her and leave like always?
But she had hugged him, and seemed pretty happy that he was going to do this…and if…if this ended up going well.
He just didn’t know. “…You’re sure he’ll be there? What if he isn’t?” And why was he suddenly so afraid of everything right now? It felt like the world was spinning out of control and there was really nothing he could do to stop it.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:08 pm
"We are going to the library, duh," Zia chirped, her manicured nails keeping an iron grip on his arm flesh to make doubly sure he wasn't going to flee her grasp.
Nope, you are property of crazy experiment times. While part of her was still shell shocked Nico had been a Negaverse agent all this time there was another part that had an interest in this whole thing. Mostly the part that wanted to see a purification physically happen out of scientific curiosity.
And partially safety because if it was going to actually make his starseed explode and kill him it'd be nice to give Realgar a heads up.
But it would be okay! Because even if Nico was a nega he was going to purify and be good now and even though he'd have to start all over that would be fine because she would love him and take care of him and explain everything to Noah so he didn't snap his neck or anything, and on top of it all her morbid curiosity of the dirty details of purification would be sated with her own two eyes. It was gonna be great.
"Tony?!" She half screeched into the night air. "Camelot? Helloooooooo?! anyone home?"
Because clearly he lived at the library.
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:35 pm
Tony was in his office, just behind the front desks. He did not often work in the room, preferring the front desk and his computer there. He technically had two desks, and this was just for when he needed to take private phone calls or do more focus oriented work that required him to escape noise and interruptions.
Or, in this case, when he wanted to take a nap.
He was resting on the sofa in his office, with a few books sitting on his chest. A baby at home and an active patrol schedule, he had a hard time finding quiet time for simple, necessary things like sleeping. Naps at work were becoming a bit more frequent than he would have liked, but he supposed it was fine once the place was closed, or close to it, and he had nothing else to worry about.
He snorted awake when he heard voices outside, his window open enough to hear it. Was someone calling for him?
Also, were they calling him by his real name AND his powered up name? He grunted awake and looked around, wondering if it had been a dream. He heard the voice again, though, and that was enough to prompt him to power up and walk to the front door. Awkwardly, he unlocked the double doors and stepped out onto the front landing of the library, spotting Zia and someone he did not actually recognize. Now he wondered if he had made a mistake, powering up before opening the doors. He stared for a long moment, then offered a shaky, awkward smile.
"Ah. Hello. Wh... what's wrong, Zia? Is something the matter?" He didn't feel any other auras in the area, at least, so he hoped she wasn't being chased by another enraged Negaverser that was now in hiding. "Who... ah... is your friend?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 7:25 am
Why was she yelling like that? Did she think calling for Camelot would really even work? What if it drew in other people to them. He was really considering just running and reached over to put his hand on the one holding her arm, not sure if he was going to struggle against it or if he just wanted to hold her hand.
He didn’t think that Camelot was going to show up and had started to gently tug at her hand for a moment when that great silly old man finally showed up.
Nicolae stared at him for a good long moment and sighed. “I’m your friend too, Cameltoe…”
The blonde pulled away from Zia’s grip, feeling a lot more relaxed upon seeing the Templar in person. He closed his eyes and a moment later was Mariposite standing there, looking rather amused, but at the same time a little nervous.
“Zia brought me to you…because I’m ready to try and purify, if you’re ready to try to…do it to me…If that makes any bit of sense at all to you?”
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:07 am
Camelot was greeted with a wide wave before she loosened her grip on Nicolae's arm to prevent any damage from her mildly possessive gesture. She crossed her arms and tried not to look nervous when he powered up, because there was still a bit of tugging paranoia he hadn't been sincere, that this had been too easy, and that he could teleport away at any second now.
The fact it was 'Nicky' had to be a mantra, because at least Nicky was part of the family, in a weird way, even if Mariposite was a complete stranger.
"You said you think the crystal sword could do it. I thought maybe you'd like to try it out," She told Camelot, but the intended joking tone she'd meant to project into that sentence fell flat.
"...He's my brother's dishwasher."
This was going to take so much explaining to Noah later.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:59 am
Camelot looked at Zia, then at the friend she had brought with her, looking surprised as he powered up into a much more familiar form. It was always strange, watching someone power up for the first time, and feeling that kick in the back of his head when he suddenly started to wonder why he had not recognized them before. The magic that protected their identities was strong, to say the least.
It often made his head hurt, just trying to suss out how it worked.
"Mariposite! I didn't expect... you're here to purify? And you... oh! Oh, you want me to do it. Yes, of course. I believe I can do that now because I am, ah. Well. This." He frowned. He always babbled when he was feeling uncomfortable, overwhelmed, excited or embarrassed. At the moment, any one of those could be the reason, and he was no more aware of the true source of his brainless rambling than anyone else.
He cleared his throat, offering the duo a warm smile. Despite his bumbling, he was a man who was thoroughly dedicated to his cause, and this was it. His first chance to make good on all the promises he made, to help someone come back from Chaos. He felt honor burning in his chest, and he was proud to be asked to be a part of this moment.
"Your brother's... huh." He was half listening to Zia's explanation, though that part of it caught his attention and drew him back to the moment at hand.
"Ah, well. I would be honored to help you, Mariposite. Are you ready for what is to come with purifying?" He was not sure if, sometimes, those that wanted to switch sides were aware of what they could lose by doing so. Memories, even parts of themselves that they would never know were gone. It was a big risk, sometimes, and he would hate to think he did not do his part to make sure the other was prepared.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 8:45 am
Mariposite nodded and looked back at Zia, hesitating for a moment before putting a hand on her shoulder and giving a light squeeze. She looked rather uncomfortable, much like he had felt before Camelot showed up. Giving a little smile, he winked at her, then looked to the Templar. “Yes, I am here to purify. I’ve been putting it off long enough and…and I don’t know.”
He shrugged, dropping his hands back to his sides and sighing. “I guess it was seeing Zia and having her talk to me as though I was a stranger…She’s pretty you know, and I know her brother might kill me for saying that, but you know I like the ladies…and if it’s a lady that wishes me to purify, well. That’s the last push I guess…”
The captain nodded once again, trying to solidify everything in his mind. “I know that some thing’s will get jumbled, so I uh. Well. My lease is up at the end of this month anyway, and I have my bank accounts emptied…besides, I think you two can…well, you’ll help me out with anything right? Right, Cameltoe?” Mariposite gave a little grin and shrugged. “I’m more than ready to get this stupid chaos out of me. It’s time to live my own life and uh…be the man I should have been.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:27 pm
"Yeah. That's why he's going to kill you," Zia muttered sarcastically under her breath and then forced an awkward laugh to cover it up.
There really wasn't a non awkward way to tell him two of his coworkers, one of which was his boss, were both knights and he was playing a stupidly dangerous game powering up in front if the diner. He was just lucky she found him and not someone who was going to pick a dangerous fight.
"Can you like, please use a different nickname?" She asked with a slight eye roll and grimace before patting the hand he'd put on her. She was still glad he hadn't teleported away or anything.
"Anyway, Nicky's kind of a creeper and he's a little entitled and spoiled but apparently he's been working this out for a while and doesn't have much of a choice now that his little secret's out," She chirped, meant only in the most loving way, of course. But if Nicolae made it through all this time suffering Noah's affection which came with nicknames like 'dickbreath' and dirty dishrags catapulted at your face in highschool style antics, if anything it was a sign he'd practically been adopted.
"So let's try that sword thing!" She announced, patting a hand on Mariposite's back to shove him at the templar. "How do you think it works? I hope you don't have to stab him with it or anything."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 1:39 pm
Camelot chuckled, shaking his head. It was not his favorite nickname in the world, but it also wasn't the worst he had ever been called. And he could hardly be mad at the Negaverse soldier for using it, when he was also here asking to be purified. It was more than fair, and Camelot would gladly take the silly nickname, considering. It meant that they were friends, in its way, and he much preferred that to enemies throwing real insults at him.
Clearing his throat, he called his sword to his hand, the beautiful crystal shimmering as he turned the sword over.
"Ah, maybe we should go into the library, just in case anyone wanders by and wonders what the crazy people in costumes are doing with a sword." He motioned to the doors behind him, then moved into the library. It was dark and quiet, empty, and he always felt the most at home in it when it was like this. He loved his job, and all the people that came in and out of the building during the day, but this place was more than just his place of work now.
He looked down at his sword and did not feel as nervous as he thought he might. He had never done this before, of course, but something in him seemed to know more about it than he did. The power that came with his rank worked just like it always had, really. He had never been told how to use his shield magic, or how to use his rainbow crystal, or even what his name was, when he first powered up. They were just things that came with the magic.
He looked back at the duo, his expression soft, still warm, but serious.
"Kneel, Captain Mariposite."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:14 pm
Mariposite scoffed and opened his mouth to tell Zia that no, he wasn’t going to stop using the nickname, when Camelot mentioned they were moving into the library, and he followed, going quiet once again. The sword in the Templar’s hand was honestly bugging him a little more than he thought it would, and Zia’s words about stabbing him kept going through his head.
Was he going to get stabbed? What if this didn’t end up working? What if something went wrong and he turned into a pile of dust?
What if it all worked and all of his worrying was just stupid and…
Camelot was telling him to kneel. This was really it. There was absolutely no turning back now. Mariposite drew in a deep, steadying breath and walked over to Camelot, kneeling before him, head bowed. “I’m ready for this, Camelot. And thank you for being willing to help me. I appreciate it.”
He took a moment to glance at Zia. “And seriously, if this kills me, I’m going to come back as a ghost and haunt the crap out of you.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:57 pm
Camelot stood tall and shook his head slowly at Mariposite's words to Zia. He knew without knowing that he would come through this, though he had no proof and he knew how dangerous and iffy changing sides could be. Still, the most damage he saw to someone came when they turned to chaos, and he believed that the process to reverse it was not as volatile as corruption itself.
Camelot was not forcing anything into his starseed, but rather pushing someone out and cleaning it, restoring it, to what it could have been before it was forced to serve the Negaverse.
"There won't be any need to haunt anyone," he said, and his tone was gentle. He had a very calming air about him, and carried himself like a Knight of his age should. His rank seemed to have finally have caught up with him, and now his age was not the only thing he had to rely on when he was being reassuring and sagely. Something, somewhere, had decided he was worthy of this power, and he believed in it as much as he did his ability to wield it. And share it.
He moved his sword up to one side of Mariposite's head, touching the blade gently against his shoulder. The crystal hummed and glowed to life, resonating with power and warmth. He watched the Nega carefully, though his expression was very calm and in control.
"It would be my honor to serve with you under the White Moon. It is also my honor to now welcome you back from Chaos. When you rise, you will be a knight."
He moved the sword up and over Mariposite's head, touching it against his other shoulder. It was an ancient and symbolic ceremony, the relatively simple process of knighting someone, but here the implication was very literal. Mariposite would feel his starseed responding to the magic that the sword, and Camelot, possessed. It was not a pain free process, as the Chaos was being removed from his starseed, just as corrupting had not been painless. But as the pain faded and the Chaos was burned away, the Negaverse Captain, too, disappeared.
And in his stead, a new young Squire.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 4:21 pm
Mariposite stayed as still as possible, lest the sword in Camelot’s hand really make the wrong move and take his head off…or his hair. Both were pretty darn important to him. When he felt the crystal blade first touch his shoulder, there was a strange, almost happy feeling inside of him, but then it was wiped out by an overwhelming amount of pain. Pain enough that it almost blinded him for a moment.
But it was good, for he knew what the pain was, and in a way it was a good pain. A cleansing pain. Pain that was relieving him of all traces of the chaos within…
A moment later though, when the pain cleared, the new knight blinked, looking around with a very confused expression on his face.
He stared up at Camelot and gave a very confused look. “Who are you?” And why did the guy have a sword? What was going on here? How had he gotten here? He remembered leaving work tonight and…and he had been on his way home?
Shaking, the new squire stood up and looked around, eyes finally landing on Zia. Ah! There was a familiar face. He walked rather quickly over to her. “Zia, what’s going on? Who is that guy, and why does he have a sword? Has the ren faire come early or something? Or is this some horror movie? Did he hit me with it or something?”
The blonde rubbed his head. “I have a massive headache…have I been drinking?”
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 4:41 pm
The entire ritual was clearly very important and the whole act of purification had a certain sense of galactic importance. Importance Zia knew she shouldn't interrupt with requests to take pictures or awkward, squeaking honks of excitement so for the whole knighting thing she ended up stopping herself with both hands clasped over her mouth and an undignified, wide eyed stare.
The squire that replaced the Nega ended up making her throw both hands in the air with glee that it had been both successful and non-fatal, but his question made her arms drop to the side like lead.
Well at the very least he remembered her, but there was some heartbreaking irony that he seemed to have entirely forgotten the templar who had just expended great effort to purify him.
"I- I-... Um..." She looked a little lost and ended her stammering with glancing to Camelot for guidance. Reintroduction was one thing but if he'd forgotten all about Destiny City's war, and here he was just standing here ad a squire.
"No, it's fine, you're fine," She said more like she was assuring herself as she reached out to touch his cheek. "...Polaris, huh?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:35 pm
Camelot watched and smiled gently, trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes. He knew that the young man would lose one side of himself, but it seemed as though he lost his powered memories. He did not know Camelot, but knew Zia from his personal life. He spoke to her as he would if they were powered down.
But he had survived, and he was free of Chaos. That, Camelot knew, would be the most important thing in the long run. He could build new memories for himself now, as his own man, as a Knight or as a civilian. He was not under anything's control, and he would not grow further corrupted with time.
Tired, Camelot let his sword vanish, his hand trembling before he closed it into a fist and hid it at his side, standing tall and then moving to put his hand on the knew Squire's shoulder lightly.
"My name is Camelot. You've just awakened as a Knight, like I am, and I'm here to help you with that a bit. You might not be able to remember it, but some memories should come to you soon. Your name, in this form, perhaps?" He wouldn't push the Squire yet. He was not sure what kind of a state he was in, or how much more he could take. Camelot himself was feeling tired, and realized now that it took a lot of energy out of him to purify someone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:18 pm
The squire gave Zia a look, raising a brow. “What’s got you so upset? You look like someone you know just died or something.” He reached out and booped her on the nose, grinning in that oh so Nicolae like way. When he glanced at his arm though he blinked.
“The heck am I wearing?” It was a purple tail coat with furry boots and blue pants and.
And there was Zia touching his cheek. He blinked and made a face. Polaris? What on earth was Polaris?
And why did the word make him feel happy inside? And…
And why was the old guy dressed as a knight touching him. Zia was one thing, but come on. Seriously? The blonde looked up at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…Camelot? That’s an interesting name and I don’t…”
He listened to the rest of what the man had to say, and finally shook his head. “I think you might be a bit crazy, my name in what form? I’m not in any form…I’m just me. Just…Just me, Nicolae. Right?”
Something was tugging at his mind though. Saying that he wasn’t just who he thought he was. That he was something more. And that being something more was the reason that the slightly creepy man that was touching his shoulder felt like something more.
He was missing something. He could tell that. There was an empty void where he sought to find the answers and he gave helpless little look to Zia. What on earth was going on. And…hold on. Polaris. She had said Polaris and he had felt something…so maybe…if he thought about the word Polaris…
The blonde closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, trying to figure out just what was going on…and a name finally did come to him, or rather what he assumed was a name? “Whisler? That’s in my head. Whisler. It’s a strange little word…but hey. Maybe that’s what you’re talking about?” He really had no idea at all.
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