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It'd always been a tricky business, gathering energy to meet his quota. He hated that part of the job even as a measly lieutenant, and his feelings never changed the further he got up the ladder, but it was what it was and it had to get done regardless. It always left him feeling both nauseated and accomplished; such a strange combination, but he'd come to learn to deal with it.

He stared down at the limp body of that evening's victim -- third one, actually -- and dusted a bit of alley gunk off of his pants and shoulders from the struggle. She was a feisty one, he'd give her that.

"Shame," he said with a small frown. "That guy seemed genuinely interested in getting to know you, too. Kinda wish I didn't have to be the one to end your night on such a sour note."

A frown set itself across his features and he looked at her for a moment longer, then turned to leave. Staurolite didn't much enjoy his own handiwork; or at least not of this variety. He had more work to do anyway, and not much more time to get it all done.

In her hands Acrucis held her gyroscope, its rings balancing on her fingertips as she watched the various lights of color fan out before her. None really seemed more pressing than the other and so she remained upon her perch, atop one of the apartment complexes beside a roof vent, waiting for a signature to come within sensing range.

It didn't take long for him to walk within range of sensing another signature, and one he was on par with in terms of energy. Run-ins with the opposite faction were always entertaining, regardless of the outcome, he thought, so he ran toward it. He could tell who it was from two rooftops away, and his mood lifted some.

When was the last time he saw her, anyway? Seemed too long ago.

Sapphire blue eyes remained fixated on the approaching signature. Running would be useless, especially when being pursued by a general; their teleport was as deadly as the weapons they possessed.

“Staurolite.” She regarded the general with a nod of her head when he came fully into view. Her eyes left his for a moment to glance at the light from her gyroscope that pointed at the tall man before her. A faded reddish purple light she mused, a minor injury if that “You’ve been busy tonight.” she added in a more observing tone then de-summoned her personal item by merely letting it go.

He gave a lopsided smile. "Busier than I'd like to be, to be honest."

It really was dirty work of the unjustifiable sort, but, again, just the way of their world; the general could offer no more than an apologetic look for it.

He settled himself down beside her, not much caring for distance or personal space. It'd been a bit too long since their last encounter anyhow, and despite a somewhat cold greeting he felt it was...safe-ish.

"So," he started after getting comfortable. "If I promise to put off what I was about to do next, you think we can talk for a bit?"

“It will only delay the inevitable” she sighed clearly not pleased by his actions; recent past or near future. “Tell me, did you at least lay your victims in a place where someone could find them or did you at least contact someone to pick them up and take them to a hospital. Or did you just dump them in the back of an alley?”

The senshi of prayer seemed tired, exhausted. Why? Because this was a conversation that she has had many times with different individuals and in her heart she knew there would be no end to the energy drain to the theft of souls. The future had not yet been averted, the negaverse was growing stronger and the white moon senshi were still as orderless as they were when she entered senshidom so many years ago.

"Sorry."

Verbal apologies for him, at least as a general, meant that he meant it. Most of the time he could get away with a look or a shrug, less often a joke, but the tone she took on made him squirm in his seat. Unfortunately, his apology in this case it meant that he didn't do his victims any favors that night.

Except for maybe the last one since he had no plans in pursuing someone else now.

"I won't bother with my reasons since I'm sure you've heard them all."

“Don’t let the crosses on my uniform fool you, I’m no nun. You don’t need to confess anything to me. I’m not so naive to be oblivious as to how this war works.” Acrucis smirked then shoulder nudged him, however if there was one thing she knew it was by the time they were done she would have him take her to each person he had taken energy from so she may make sure they were alright and got home safely.

"Doesn't make me feel any less guilty about it, though," he said at the nudge. She somehow felt like his conscience at times like this. Maybe that's what helped keep his head on straight throughout the war; the thought crossed his mind more often than once since he met her. "So maybe the nun thing isn't too far off?"

“Hmm, you know, just because you have a quota to fill doesn’t mean you’re incapable of making a morally right choice on how you choose your targets or deal with those you leave behind.” Food for thought, but something worth considering. He had the capability to do good while still following orders. “To my knowledge your superiors aren’t the ones picking your victims are they?”

"They might…"

They didn't.

He might have added another comment about her being a nun, but just thinking it made him feel a little better. And maybe a joke right then and there might not have been a good idea. So he nodded along, still feeling pretty guilty about it all. Sort of. He did feel bad, but as always he felt he was just doing his job.

"I'll try to remember that for next time," because yes, there would be a next time whether either of them liked it or not. "Maybe not procrastinate this energy draining next time so I'm not in a rush again."

Might… another thing to ask Benitoite next time we meet.

“It seemed you had something else on your mind a few moments ago.” Before she commandeered the conversation and berated him in an oddly calm manner.

Acrucis did not offer up an apology however, instead she reached over and took his hand in her own “So tell me, what is it you want to talk about?” Warmth shared between them as their fingers touched, her grasp remained loose so if he wished he may still pull away.

The small gesture didn't escape him, and the last thing he might have done right then was pull his hand away. Instead, he turned his attention to it as if to gather his thoughts, and placed his other hand above hers. There's plenty more to say, he thought, just not many ways to say them. At least not in so many words…

"Just thought that it's been a while is all. I was starting to think you might've gotten into some trouble or something." A partial truth at best, but he did worry. "But then we've been pretty calm on our end, so I dunno. Personal trouble?"

Periwinkle strands of hair swayed as she shook her head in reply, “Nope, it’s been pretty mellow.” Even in terms of her health things have been stable, no more threats of relapses thanks to Lily and Shang. “I’ve made progress on my homeworld, the lanterns that line the streets of VaLenna are now lit. I’m still discovering more pools within the mountain.” The upper chamber was still sealed, the last room she needed access to in order to get the waters flowing once more; or so she believed.

“Peace like this does not last very long. I feel like we are in the eye of the storm and all too soon things will pick up and leave disaster in its wake.” If not by cause of either side, then from some outside force that has set its sights upon their world.

It was good to hear a bit of good news from her. Definitely better than getting reprimanded, anyway. He was in more or less the same situation, granted without the homeworld part. Family-wise things seemed good, at least. School was...okay. Hannah was...well, Hannah. Much like his own family he felt somewhat forced to keep her at a distance. Her own safety was how he liked to think of it, though how true that was in recent times he wasn't even sure anymore.

"I prefer to think of it as the sort of peace we need to make the most of, if only because, like you said, it really doesn't last very long." And he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I have it easier during these times of peace, considering what my superiors ask of me in...basically any other situation." It was a morbid thought, and one he couldn't stomach at least once before, but it was the truth.

"Compared to most I think it's a pretty dark 'bright side,' but it's a relief from that kind of stress." Staurolite gave a shrug, and then a sigh, but he still didn't let go of her hand.

“Yes, but bright sides also bring loneliness and pain as we continue to keep those we care about at a distance under the guise it is for their own protection.” That, and it leaves one open to moments like the one she had just been in prior to his arrival.

Staring out upon Destiny City, streets lined with yellow tinted street lamps haloing patches of grass the sprouted through slabs of concrete. Even in the darkest times a little light shines through. Although she had lost her best friend and sister to this war, not all hope was lost for there were still glimmers of her past self that shone through when they encountered one another while on patrol. The pain still stung like alcohol being poured over a fresh wound knowing many of Phacts memories were gone; but some still did remain… some.

“Someday I will find a way to open my homeworld to those seeking refuge from this war. It will serve as a sanctuary as it did centuries ago.” This was a promise she had made to herself, a dream… a dream for peace without constant fear.

He nodded while listening to her speak. Everything she said made sense, but that didn't make it any easier of a pill to swallow. "It helps me, too, though," he commented, thinking on his own jumbled mess of feelings about those he cared for most. It wasn't too surprising to note that none of them were Negaverse agents. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't keeping my distance for my sake, too. But then I figure loneliness comes with," and he paused and made a big, sweeping gesture, "this war and everyone involved. So what choice do we have but to suck it up."

Staurolite said this on a sigh and thinned out lips, his grip on her hand finally loosening. The night started out a lot lighter than what he was currently feeling. He had a job and set out to do it, and that was all. And he focused on that most because it helped to keep his mind off of exactly this kind of topic.

A silence passed between them then, and he nudged her on the shoulder much in the same way she did earlier. "You shouldn't have to carry that kind of burden on your own, Acrucis. If I can help at all, just let me know."

“I appreciate your concern but unfortunately it is a burden we must all carry.”

For several moments Acrucis fell silent as an evening breeze danced with stray strands of hair. The streets were devoid of evening life, at least in this neighborhood. Only a few people lingered at various bus stops or under the street lamps chatting with acquaintances or perhaps meeting with their secret lovers.

To love… what would it be like to actually love she wondered for it seemed like to open your heart to someone was also inviting suffering and pain.

Acrucis absentmindedly placed her free hand on his forearm and leaned her head sideways to rest against his shoulder. He smells nice she mused, a smile tugging the corners of her lips. “Would you…” she paused a moment to gather herself. “Would you stay with me, just for tonight?”

But no one my side really cares about all that much…

He left her sentiments to the wind, not wanting to comment and start another debate. He knew that she at least knew his side of that story, and despite mistakes being made and hands being forced he was more or less firm on his own views of the war.

Instead he kept his gaze on the streets beneath them, let his mind wander to the random passersby and become rather curious about how different these civilians' lives were compared to their own. Or anyone involved in the war, really. How much simpler or how much more complicated, in a different, perhaps less life-threatening sort of way…

Her question broke him from his thoughts, and in truth he hadn't noticed that she'd begun to lean against him, but he smiled a small smile of his own at the question and leaned slightly toward her as well.

"Of course," was his reply. "I'll stay for however long you need."