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 Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 5:57 pm
Zirconia sat at her post with a heavy sigh. Her limbs were aching from exhaustion and she was sporting a few bruises from a punch out drag out fight with Ellie. She wasn't sleeping, and instead was either here at her post hoping for visitors or looking for shards.
She had claimed this picnic table in the park. It was her table. It was the same place every night she went fishing, throwing her aura out for visitors to come. With no way to communicate with the four factions, it was her best bet for being found, especially when she wanted to be found.
She wasn't sure how many people Ash's broadcast had reached, but she was still desperate for help. Someone who knew something or saw something, or even just someone to whine to.
She wasn't doing well mentally or physically at all and she was hoping this was the 'worse' before the 'better'. She sat on her table and held her chin in her hands, just waiting.
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 6:44 pm
He knew the park was a common place to find people of various factions in this war, it had long been such a place, and it wasn't common for him to come here and yet here he was. Stepping foot on the parks grass as he arrived suddenly from where there had moments ago been nothing, he'd teleported in right after powering up.
His senses always on alert, he didn't care for the idea of being jumped by who knows who, he felt that signature he'd felt once before. it wasn't just a cat but one in human form. The signature was strong and he headed toward it even as he wondered if it would be the same one he'd encountered in the park once before; how long ago had it been? before the nightmares and the memories that weren't completely memories. Maybe she would have a clue about them? If it was her who was here.
Shaking his head, fingers combing through his ashen hair, he headed toward the signature and even called out into the darkness, as stupid a move as it may be.
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:22 pm
She heard his call, she felt the signature, and the Mauvian followed.
She rose to her feet and cautiously moved across the grass, holding her overlay skirt as she walked, until she came across the familiar general. She still moved gingerly from a recent fight that let her looking battered on top of exhausted and sickly, but she dropped her skirt layers and folded her hands politely in front of her, offering him a weak smile.
"Hello, Benitoite."
Their last meeting had soured due to his sympathy for the Dark Mirror court and Remarque, something she had found hurtful due to the pain their existence caused her. But there had been brighter spots in their conversation, and right now in the face of greater threats and fears, his face was a comfort tonight.
"I'm glad to see you again. What are you looking for?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:37 pm
He had felt bad for the soured talk, but he couldn't help but feel for those he had formed bonds with, he had left still wanting to consider this person - this guardian cat and human a friend. She was more than a fount of information but also someone he could speak with who he couldn't place on a side, not in his own mind anyway.
So seeing her walking toward him, heard her greeting time, he took in her appearance and moved swiftly. Unclasping his cape he moved to offer her the warmth it might give to her. "You should sit, you look tired." And he figured maybe cold, he'd heard once that the more tired a person was the colder they might feel or easier they became cold; he couldn't remember which it was.
"And a good evening to you as well." Back tracking to what he'd forgotten, even as he motioned her to the bench she'd just left. He wished, and not for the first time, that he could bring someone to a safe, warm, place to talk - somewhere neutral where they could relax and talk. But he didn't know of a place that would fit these things.
"Answers, information, nothing new really although I did have some interesting dreams recently - very interesting. Did you have any as well or know of anyone who did?" he questioned as he tried to hide just how curious and needy he was for an answer, for information on this.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:07 am
"Oh..." She released a small exhale and brushed her fingers on the cape as it went around her shoulders before she clutched it tightly around her with an appreciative grin spreading on her face.
She sat, and seemed to be more enamored in the fact he had offered her something rather than clutching it for warmth, repeatedly running her fingers over the cloth with awe as if it was very precious to her.
"They weren't dreams so much as... visions. Well, that's a lie, there have been visions too. So far several others have talked about seeing something similar, a version of the future."
She rocked where she sat, fiddling with the hem of Benitoite's cape and hummed a bit to herself. "Some dreams have been unrelated, some have been worse than others. Probably... due to a small issue I'm having..." She pulled a small, velvet box from subspace. The sort of thing one generally bought jewelry in. And she had, but the earrings it once house had been replaced by a chunk of precious yellow crystal, damaged from its original shape, and the few splintered fragments she had collected so far. Its tiny, resonating energy resonated freely when she opened the box to show him.
"The Pyrite Crystal, parallel twin to Earth's Golden Crystal. Its ties to the nightmare world of Tartaros and Oblivion have been a bit problematic, I think. But I've found the portal home. Once I collect its pieces I can give it to the Prince's sister for safekeeping and containment. Hopefully..." She paused. The lies were hard to keep straight. Was she Zirconia or Zia pretending these days? Who had she been with Beni?
"If she is satisfied with her brother's royal crystal, I can use her assistance to finally go home."
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:50 am
Watching her, as he sat himself down, run her fingers over his cape he smiled gently. Well, it seemed she liked it; that was good. He was glad he had something, even if only his cape, which he could offer to others who looked in need of some added warmth, and fabric.
"So I was right in thinking that it wasn't a normal dream." He whispered, no doubt she'd hear him. He didn't like what he'd seen, he hadn't made it a secret when talking with Bischofite, and had already made his mind up on the matter - he wouldn't permit it to come to pass. He would devote whatever he could to preventing it from happening. "It's not just me..." Biting his lip he cast his slate eyes skyward as he spoke next. "I hope that no one remembers my position in the future. Should someone on my side remember that...I don't doubt for a moment that I'll wind up dead at some point." Making his position in the future clear without saying the words. He'd turned on the Negaverse in the future.
As she had continued to speak he found his eyes drawn back down to her ,away from the night sky, and stared at her with mild concern etching itself across his features. "Small issue? Can I inquire as to this issue and offer my help perhaps?" He questioned gently. His attention was drawn to the box, wondering what sort of jewelry she had in it, and then it was opened and it wasn't jewelry inside the box. It was something else - something else entirely. "I've never heard of Earth's Golden Crystal much less this one..." So this was a crystal...something a royal would have - right? "So you need the rest of it's pieces and you can return home...and leave this nightmare." He whispered while gloved fingers reached out gently. Not touching but ghosting over the air just above the pieces of the crystal.
Looking up, away from the pieces, he met the others eyes. "I'll help if I can. I'll look for the pieces as well and bring any I find back to you. If it'll help you return home and escape this war." It wasn't her war after all. This wasn't her place and her home sounded much better than this one. He wanted to ask about Tartaros and Oblivion but he didn't, this was more important. "Though....they could be anywhere and are very small." It would take forever and be so difficult to find them.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:53 pm
His murmurs and mumbles and whispers on the dreams of the future made her lean forward with a touch of wide eyed concern. "Are you going to be in any danger?"
There was a sudden rise in awkwardness that made her withdraw and tighten her grip on the cape she had around her shoulders.
"I remember an officer I trusted cut me. And I spent much of my time immobile. I'm not sure... what became of me... But it was not a future I look forward to. It won't, though. Not if I can complete the crystal."
She nodded firmly, feeling self assured about this fact. And she would force everyone else to buy it too, if she had to. "Really? You've never heard of it? With all they've told you about the Moon Queen and the prince?" She tapped her lower lip. "The golden crystal is possessed by, what I imagine is your prince as the Pyrite Crystal was possessed by Prince Alexandros. It is the ultimate royal power. I glimpsed it, in Elysion, before Helios vanished with it."
She delicately ran her fingers over over the crystal facets.
"Alexandros had to die, sacrifice... so that the people trapped in the sleeping sickness of 2010 could wake up and live. That is why his crystal is so damaged. I'm amazed it survived at all..."
Her shoulders sunk.
"The Earth is never going to forgive me for letting him go," She mumbled. But his optimistic way of speaking about her escape from war as if going home would solve all the bad things made her twitch awkwardly.
"I brought the mirror back from the moon..." She started cautiously. "Would... you like to look into it?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:41 pm
"It's hard to say. If the wrong people remember what I did in the future - yes. I betray my side, was killed by my own side - side by side with senshi and knights. I chose to die rather than pledge my loyalty again." Of any remembered he was a traitor, that he would become one, it wouldn't be safe for him but he had to try and go on and get over it. he couldn't stay locked up in his own, however much he might like to and however safe it may...or may not be. They knew where he lived, it was on file. They even knew where he worked and attended college.
"Perhaps it's good you spent time immobile. One battle lost and then a last ditch effort and that was lost as well...and those captured alive were put to death, or corrupted, in front of an audience and it was broadcast." He stated, distaste clear in his voice. he hadn't liked that, that it was broadcast. he'd worried about his parents seeing it and finding out that way about him. He had asked that Kazenite bring his body to his parents, that she find them, and tell them what had happened to him. It was better to learn from another person than the tv.
"No, we've heard the love story and all but never about a golden crystal, or at least I never heard of it." He stated after a moment, speaking slowly. He nodded to her words. To sacrifice yourself for others...it was what he risked now and what he'd done in the future, though not on such a grand scale, hadn't he? He didn't say as much though even as he bobbed his head again and whispered. "That was good of him...to kill himself for others to survive." Had his own spy work helped in the end? or had everyone in the future he'd saved died anyway? Did it matter though? That wasn't going to happen! None of it would!
"I'm sure they will...if you explain it perhaps. But aren't senshi and knights reborn? So won't he be reborn in time?" He questioned. "I know the senshi and knights are reborn here...and some of us become Negaverse agents even." He'd once been a knight, or come from one, but had know memories of it. What planet had he been a knight of? Startled from his thoughts he stared at her.
"Mirror? What does it do?" He asked openly curious about this mirror.
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:30 pm
She withdrew a bit, mouth twisting at the mention of her lack of ability in the future. It had been a frustratingly mundane life that went against everything she believed in, and in the end it didn't help her stay alive anyway. She betrayed all of her friends and buckled to the system, and died quietly in the night.
It was easier to focus on him, and what he said generated visible pity for him. The Negaverse couldn't be trusted, she already knew that. But sending soldiers out to fight in a war when they weren't even familiar with their own source of power seemed especially blasphemous. "I would think... It is especially unfair to keep such a vital part of your world hidden. A symbol of power for the planet you're trying to defend."
She rested a light hand on his shoulder and did her best to smile optimistically. "Please don't put yourself in danger, Benitoite. There are always options."
The conversation of Alexandros killing himself made a strange look pass across her face and quickly fade back to a mask. Nehelenia had smothered him in his hospital bed, but she wouldn't tell that to Cassandra and she certainly wasn't going to tell it to Benitoite. It was a nicer story, to say he had sacrificed himself. In reality, they both had. There was no reason to tarnish that story.
"Everyone is reborn," She said with a wistful sigh. "As long as their starseed remains intact. Everyone will get a second chance. At least that's what I think," Her hand on his shoulder moved to brushed against his chest where his starseed was, giving no mind to the invasion of his personal space. "But this isn't our universe, and it's not our cauldron. I think for us... with our damaged and foreign souls... we'll just turn to stardust. That was the theory. At least."
She looked down and shrugged. "I suppose not that the mirror portal is found, if their starseeds were located they could be pushed through to the other side. Then they could go to the proper cauldron and restart their proper rebirth cycle. I hope that when the crystal is done and the bridge is complete they'll be able to find their way home. Or, I could do this, find them I mean. If I fail the crystal and don't get a full bridge to go home. Souls are easier to send than whole people. But when I die, there... won't be anyone to take my starseed home," She said with a small 'hm'.
"Oh!" She would much rather answer questions about the mirror. " It's Nehelenia's last mirror. I thought it had been taken to mirrorspace and corrupted, but it's here and it's... well it's damaged but you see, Helen's mirrors... they are the only mirrors that can transcend universes. It's not whole, so no one can walk in or out, but it can open, and we can talk... To the Black Earth."
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:28 pm
"Well, we are defending the people of this planet. But we do not, at least I do not, know of the crystal that belonged to this planet. It's not something we've encountered or had to deal with." So it didn't matter too much in the grand scheme of things though it would be nice to know about it, just to hold more knowledge. Knowledge was power and power could tip the scales in favor of the person with it, he would be soon putting his knowledge to use and whatever knowledge he could gain that would be useful.
"I cannot promise that. betraying my side as I do in the future, as I plan to now, will put me at risk if I'm caught like I was in the future." Though he had no idea what punishment, or torture, would be bestowed upon him in this time if he were caught. He wasn't sure he even wished to entertain the idea, it wasn't like it would keep him from going forward with his plans. It wouldn't stop him from seeking to dismantle things, whatever things would lead to that future, from the inside out. "What options are there?" He didn't see any, not for what he wished to do. The hand on his shoulder was a welcome comfort, it showed someone cared for him, and he placed one of his own gloved hands over hers.
Her hand brushing against his chest, his hand left now on his own shoulder, might be an invasion of personal space but so had her hand on his shoulder and that hadn't bothered him - this didn't either. She wasn't a danger to him, not here and now as they sat and talked, and he felt relaxed enough to ignore her touching and how very close she was.
"That would be good...for them to go home and be reborn. But what about the other crystal? The other persons?" Was there any idea what had happened to it? Was there a clue where it was or if it could be found? "if you don't get the bridge done and you die...If I could I'd make sure it got across." Even if he had to find someone who could do it for him he'd try and help. She belonged back in her time where it wasn't this...chaotic. This wasn't her time and place, it wasn't her issue to deal with.
"W-wait..you can talk to the black earth, now? Using that mirror?" He questioned her with a look of surprise clear upon his face. This was news and it was surprising. Could she talk to her time and while it was broken it could still do something, it could contact others. "I'm glad it wasn't corrupted and that you can use it, that it's still, well mostly, intact."
"I'll help you, in whatever way that I can."
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:31 am
"I disagree. The physical form of this planet's power seems like something you are, by extension, defending," She responded in a huff. With the way the Negaverse swarmed Elysion, the General Kings and Queens were definitely after it. Her indignation was rising out of a sudden, perceived sense of exploitation of the determined general.
She pet his hair with a restrained smile. "I've always had a soft spot for traitor's, Benitoite. My assistance is yours always."
The other crystal question made her stop and bite on her lower lip before looking up at the stars. "Nehelenia wasn't in Tartaros when she died," She said after a moment. "Her crystal is likely somewhere in this universe, but I don't know where to begin looking. It's not what Cassandra wants, she doesn't care about the moon queen but... Once the bridge is finished, it is something I wish was possible to find. I raised her, you know. After her father died. It'd mean a lot to me to locate her crystal, but I don't know if locating it would ever be feasible."
She pulled away from him, although her smile still seemed present and she shifted down to her fully feline form. "However, there is a way to find the pyrite crystals that is much more simple!"
With a small flip, the way other cats conjured items they created like henshin pens, Zirconia's own creation landed on the bench and she shifted back up to her cat-girl form to hand him the small gem lens.
"Looking through this should let you hone in on their auras from great distances, and allow you to sense them," She announced proudly, nudging his arm with it and urging him to take it.
"Would you still like to come with me, to look though the mirror and see Black Earth for yourself?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:59 am
"This planets power and it's physical form?...defending? Maybe. All I know if that what I saw is to come - I cannot allow to happen, at least not without trying to prevent it."He wasn't exactly sure what she was talking about, and he knew it came out in his voice. He could fail in his endeavor, he knew that, but he would try to prevent it. He would try and defend the people, as he had for some time now. This hadn't been about his own personal freedom, and that alone, in a very long time. Biting on his bottom lip he smiled at her as she pet his hair gently.
"I don't think of myself as a traitor, though I suppose I am. I joined to defend and protect peoples freedom, namely mine in the beginning. The idea that in the future we take the peoples freedom away and become big brother...they betray me." That hurt, knowing he had done so much and for a cause he'd believed in and now to find this out. Finding out hurt and angered him but it fueled him to set a course in another direction and do something - something big. He didn't know how for sure but he would start down that path, had already in fact by just thinking about it and deciding upon it. "I'll keep it in mind. I might wind up needing your help some time, though I hope if I ever have need of your help it doesn't put you at risk." Though it likely would if he needed help. He didn't want to bring more people into this, risk more people, than he absolutely had to.
Shifting to stare at her he nodded his head. "Perhaps when all is said and done you can seek out her crystal. If you get to...hopefully you will. If you do get the chance, if somehow you remain here, I'll be willing to help whenever and however I can." Though it might not be much, depending on what he was busy with, he had no idea what he was going to do just yet, the future was up in the air. He would have pulled her feline form into his lap if not for her bit of acrobatics and the sudden appearance of an item, some sort of lens. Picking it up and inspecting it he nodded as she spoke. "So if I can use this as people used to use a monoocale I should be able to assist you then." Nodding his head once, firmly, more to himself than her. He'd put the lens to good use and try to assist the female.
"I can see it? See what you left and what...what I wish we had here, from the sound of it?" He questioned staring at her even as he pocketed the lens, for now. He'd put it to use later once he left the females presence. "I'd like that, very much so." What would others say, or do, if they saw or more importantly heard the two of them here tonight? He was sure his own side would not be pleased but what of the other side? He did wonder. He knew many of the senshi and knights he'd met didn't care for him, not one bit, and likely wouldn't hesitate in starting something though how many would be shocked or surprised first?
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:42 pm
Zirconia grimaced, just a bit. "I am not so sure what you'd see would be so much better. There's not nearly as much Chaos there, but..."
She paused and tried to figure out a gentle way to say what she meant. "My relationship with the user of the mirror on the other side is complicated. You may still look through it." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, doing her best to smile. "Consider it a sign of trust. I have faith you wouldn't betray me, Benitoite, so I'd like to let you see, if that is what you want to look at."
The mirror's location wasn't far. The basement storage of a tall building that overlooked the park, and Zirconia seemed to know all of the back doors to slip through. She was more than familiar with the place, since she lives in the penthouse area above. There was no need to share that, and there was no name on the ledger for the storage room they crept in the shadows to get to, but she considered still to be a great sign of faith. The mirror could be corrupted if the wrong people knew about it, and it would be the end of all efforts.
"Here," She said, pulling the sheet down once they had managed to creep their way in. She tapped a hand to the glass and the reflective surface rippled and changed. It became almost like a glass window, looking in on somewhere regal and warmly lit. A window, far off, was lined with flower planters and looked out on an indigo dark night sky dotted with clear stars. Ornate tapestries, flickering candles, it was a story book scene from head to tow.
"The inner sanctum of the Black Earth's palace," Zirconia said, placing on hand on the barrier, "Cassandra doesn't appear to be tending it tonight, maybe we won't have to speak with her..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:45 am
"There may be less chaos...but if it isn't all out war like here, as dark as it can be at times, than I think I can like whatever the mirror would show." he stated with a light smile before returning the hand squeeze. "I'm honored to have your trust. I know it's not easy to give it, not in this city with a war going on and not when we are on different sides." He stated gently. He knew that getting trust from those on the other side was not something which would ever be easy, even with some on his own side.
Standing slowly he let Zirconia lead him to this mirror. "I'm sorry to hear that your relationship with the user of the mirror is less than peaceful."
As she lead him through the building, down halls and through back doors, he kept silent as possible. The whisper of layers of fabric and the light sound of his boots the only sounds he made.
At first he thought it was a simple mirror, as he did see his own reflection, but as she tapped it the image changed and startled him for a moment. "I really shouldn't let things surprise me anymore. I mean I've been to space and turned into a cat." He stated with a shake of his head. When would he stop letting his surprise and shock show? So many laws and rules of science destroyed by this war.
Looking through with wonder in his slate eyes he was silent for some moments. "it's lovely." He said finally, turning to Zirconia as he spoke. "It's regal and ornate but not overly so. I wonder if that's what the palace here would have looked like if it were still around....and the plants, they are ones still found here - correct?" He questioned unable to tell from this distance just which type of flower they were. Turning back to look out into the room he wondered if anyone would walk by. "Is anyone there that may walk by? Aside from this Cassandra person?" He asked curiously as he reached out to touch the mirrors surface, finger tips just touching it in a feather light manner.
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