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 Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:02 pm
Bifrost rested her chin on her knees and looked out at the Destiny City skyline. She was more Mary than Bifrost, yet she kept powered up to keep the 'power radar' active. She was nothing more than a gargoyle in a city of monsters, not moving. No one moved towards her, she moved towards nothing, and her perch atop the building stayed completely silent.
She sighed and looked up at the stars. Out there, out among the pinpricks of light sat the Surrounding and the empty wonders and outposts of the Zodiac Court and their Chronos Knights. The missing Guard of the Line.
The Cauldron seemed to be trying ot revive the Chronos knights; she'd witnessed the awakening of a new member of the family. Pharos was still alive and kicking. Yet she'd seen very few since the meetings on Olympus, and even less it seemed since she'd been awoken on the Surrounding years ago. Was it really years now? Had it really been almost four years since she'd awakened as Bifrost? It didn't seem real, in all honesty. Sitting on the rooftop, it was hard to believe it existed at all.
Yet she bore the colors and markings of Chronos, her signet ring embellished with the emblem. Her wonder found home on the Surrounding, a magical bridge that could span the full diameter of the rainbow road if necessary. Auras flickered on and off, and Bifrost hugged her legs closer to her.
If she'd just found another of their number, why did she feel so lonely?
Was it a sense of loss of purpose in the greater Cosmos? The Zodiac were gone, for all intents and purposes. Virgo was gone, Chronos herself was MIA. Who knew where Aquarius or Cancer were. It was just down to the knights, and even then... many of those were missing too. So few in number... could they really hold the line, if demanded to? Or did the Chronos knights not matter anymore, in the grand scheme of things?
Bifrost squeezed her knees tighter. Were there even enough knights anymore...?
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:09 pm
In spite of his resolve to stay in contact with all of his fellow Chronos knights, Celsus had been sorely lacking as of late, especially in terms of actually reaching out to them. He'd managed to talk to Pharos, as well as the princess herself, but other than that, his list remained woefully short. A part of him longed for the closeness that originally stemmed from being in such a group of similar-minded people, but that closeness had ebbed over the years, and now it was something of the past, a mere memory.
He disliked it; there was a cold sensation in the pit of his chest that had expanded until sometimes it felt so lonely he could have cried, except Celsus couldn't remember the last time he had actually shown any emotion other than casual banter - barring the angry spat he'd had with Tolliver, but that didn't actually count, and even then he'd just been outrageously calm the entire time, distant, cold.
He was still distant. There was not much in his life that mattered at present, except for the princess and his brother, and the latter was not speaking to him at present, the former the same as a distant memory lost to time. She was away, he knew that, but where exactly, he wasn't sure.
Celsus paced the ground, cape flaring out behind him - and a power signature reached him, flickering through the air gently. It was a little far, at first, and he took several steps forward, eyebrows drawing together as he tried to pick it out. It grew stronger as he moved, until it was strong enough that he could tell the origin - and the fact that it seemed vaguely familiar somehow. He passed by a building, stopped, and then glanced up, and within a few seconds, he was atop it, boots clicking on the roof.
And there was a figure there, sitting on the edge, staring out - a very familiar, very wonderful and welcome figure.
"Bifrost?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:33 pm
A flicker of power flared on her radar and she looked up. It was a signature of order, more powerful than hers and dripping of loose energy. A, what had Babylon called them, Transcendent then? It grew closer and closer, and then suddenly it was on her roof top, and speaking with a very familiar, very missed voice.
Celsus.
Bifrost turned, eyes wide and a large smile forming on her face. His hair was longer, and he had glowing marks on his face, but he was still the Celsus she remembered from the Surrounding and the months afterwards. Her expression softened, pushing herself to her feet.
"Celsus! Oh my gosh, Celsus!" The Squire ran over and half tackled him with a hug, squeezing him tight. The tiny lady continued to squeeze him, face buried in his tunic, for probably longer than was appropriate or necessary. Yet, she was almost scared if she let go, he'd vanish and slip through her fingers, lost to space again.
"I, I'm sorry... I'll let go soon, I just... I've missed you and worry you won't... be here if I let go," she said quietly against the fabric of his outfit, not quite looking up at him.
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:33 pm
He hadn't realized how much he'd missed seeing her until she turned around; and the familiar face, and the familiar voice washed over him like a warm, comfortable wave, easing into him, reminding him of just how much he enjoyed her company.
"Bifrost!" Celsus yelped, and his own arms came up around her in a secure hug, squeezing her against his chest. He didn't mind how long she stayed like that, a wide smile on his face as he pressed his nose into her hair affectionately, rocking a little from side to side.
"Please, don't let go just yet," he said with a laugh, and his voice softened, a hand rising to rest against the back of Bifrost's head. His other arm was tight around her waist, Celsus just as much wanting the contact as she was. He felt a strange sort of ache in his chest, a deep welled relief.
"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," he said softly, gently, and Celsus dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "Believe me, darling, I've missed you too much to let myself disappear again."
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:57 pm
One of his hands held her head, while the other tightened on her waist, and Bifrost felt him kiss her head gently. She let out a shuttering breath, clinging to him. Tension released from her shoulders for the first time in months. The Squire felt safe in his arms, feeling his heart beat under her forehead. She didn't want to let go, and simply wormed her head up to look up at him with a smile.
It was odd. She'd thought she'd had a thing for Raven, but maybe that was just a curious little crush. Hugging him like this, hearing him say how much he missed her, it made anything she may have felt for Raven seem a passing fancy. She wasn't sure what she felt beyond that she felt safe and really liked the closeness. Well, who knew! Maybe this would be a thing that happened someday! Bifrost giggled a little, cheeks tinged red, and wiggled her butt in that way she did when she was happy.
"Good, cause you're a really good hugger, and I am not letting you out of my sight again," said the tiny lady. She reached up and gently traced the transcendence tattoos on his face with her fingers. Her expression changed into one of curiosity and affection as she did so. "The tattoos suit you. They're very pretty."
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:43 am
When he'd lost himself in the throes of his own depression after Tolliver's disappearance, as well as his accident, Celsus had half drowned in his loneliness, his guilt, his shame. He'd left behind the rest of the Zodiacs, especially his own knights, and had struck out at anyone and everything that had passed his way. Chronos had helped him find the path again, as had Aurelius, but even after, Celsus had missed the closeness that had once between all of his other knights.
He ran a hand up and down Bifrost's back in a soothing gesture, Celsus still keeping his nose in her hair and just reminding himself that she was really and truly in front of him. A little grin touched his lips as he leaned back, her fingers against his face, and he lifted his hand from her head, covered her fingers and held them against his cheek to keep them there.
"Likewise," he said, and then beamed. "Thank you, darling, I'm quite pleased with them. I'm afraid that from a distance, they're not quite as visible, but I like them that way, so it all works out."
Celsus' eyes traced over her face.
"Tell me how your life has been since I have last seen you," he said. "I have missed you a great deal."
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:36 pm
It was odd how one person could make everything better. How just the confirmation of them being alive, and being there was enough to make the world seem a little brighter. Bifrost always saw the best in things, generally keeping a very optimistic view of, well, everything. She thought of herself as a little beacon of hope sometimes, the light within the dark. Yet with Celsus here, it was as though she'd been under a cloud for months now. Her cheeks flushed as he held her hand to his face and she giggled.
"It's been fairly quiet, I suppose. I live full time with my grandmother now, and am going to the community college for basic general ED stuff right now. My ancestor and I have come to terms with each other, and she's a kind soul, really. Otherwise I suppose..." Bifrost rested her cheek on his chest, looking more at his marks for a moment than his eyes.
"I've been lonely. Ever since the Surrounding it seems... the Zodiac fell apart. We fell apart. There are so few of us, and I wonder sometimes... why was I chosen for this. Was I chosen because against all odds, I'd hold the line myself if I had to? Or because I still have hope for us?" Bifrost's eyes returned to his, her face one of sadness and worry. The expression was foreign on her face, one that usually was all smiles and happiness. She attempted a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes or even her cheeks really.
Even hope succumbed to the darkness sometimes.
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 12:23 pm
He kept everyone at arm's length for a reason; Celsus could not afford to form lasting connections, especially with those of his own faction, because if something happened to them, he'd be devastated. He'd already lost focus once, when he'd thought he'd lost Tolliver, and that had been bad enough as it was. The thought of something happening to any of the Zodiac, especially the knights, whom he was closest to...
His gaze tightened, just a fraction, around Bifrost.
"You live with your grandmother?" Celsus asked, a hand lifting so he could gently smooth it down her hair in idle gestures. "But I am glad to hear that you are in school and have reconnected with your ancestor, I did the same with my own when I transcended."
I've been lonely. He knew the feeling all too well, especially now, when his own brother had abandoned him, and everyone else had too. Celsus let his fingers trail idly through Bifrost's blond strands, a little more familiar than he normally would have been, but the gesture seemed almost subconscious in nature, Celsus momentarily lost in thought.
"It has been rather quiet lately," he said, tone subdued. "It has been...hard."
He didn't want to admit that they'd fallen apart, because it hurt too much, but Bifrost saying the words aloud made him wince a little. He looked down at her, at the sadness in her expression, and it made his chest ache, Celsus easing out a breath.
His fingers trailed down her cheek and cupped it gently.
"There is still hope," said Celsus softly, smoothing a thumb below her eye. "You were chosen out of many, weren't you? You are already a Squire of Chronos, there is no doubt in my mind that you are here for a reason. I haven't been able to tell you the reason myself, because that is something you must figure out, but..."
He bent and pressed his lips briefly to her forehead before leaning back, a kind smile on his face.
"You will make the right choices, Bifrost, I know you will."
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:38 pm
She realized she must have never told him her living situation. It made her further realize she'd never actually told most anyone about her living situation, or anything really. Bifrost had friends, yes, but none quite close enough she'd opened up to before. Generally her... 'oddness' held people at arms length. Yet here, she felt none of that awkwardness and being left out. She smiled a little, nodding against his chest.
"Better than living somewhere I am not wanted, mm?" It was a kind smile, if slightly sad. He cupped her cheek, thumb gently stroking her skin. Her head tilted into the touched, eyes watching him. Heat flared in her cheeks, a tear or two hiding in the corner of her eyes, and then suddenly his mouth was pressed against her forehead. Her cheeks blossomed with red, and a few tears did spill over. In her way, she smiled through it. It was an affectionate smile, speaking volumes of subconscious feelings she wasn't aware of quite yet.
Bifrost never let herself cry in front of anyone, yet with Celsus she let the tears fall. That meant something. What it was, she didn't know.
"Thank you Celsus. It gives me comfort to hear you say that," said the squire, nuzzling his chest with a smile.
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:50 pm
The comment startled him. Celsus looked down at Bifrost with a concerned expression on his face. "Not wanted?" he repeated, sounding positively alarmed by the sentiment. "What do you mean not wanted? Why would - what happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
He did not like the idea of being forced into a place she didn't want, but he also didn't like the way that his hand was steadily becoming damp, Bifrost's cheeks wet, in spite of the smile on her face. Her crying was painful to see, and he swiped a thumb soothingly beneath her eye, trying to dispel some of the moisture.
"You will do great things, darling, you just have to wait and see," Celsus said, and smiled down at her affectionately.
"And you're welcome."
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:13 pm
Bifrost didn't mind at all, really, it was refreshing to actually talk about it with someone. Seemed sort of silly now that she thought about it, of course, but maybe it wasn't all that silly. She simply smiled, wiping her eyes with a free hand.
"I, according to my grandmother, witness my grandfather being murdered when I was about eight or nine. Ever since then, my mother says I'm a completely different person and not her daughter. My father... doesn't exactly help dissuade her. That's all, really." Bifrost shrugged, fluffing her shoulders. That was really the gist of it, honestly. She didn't remember anything of the incident, or much from before she was nine so it really didn't matter much to her.
The darling comment made her blush again, and she giggled. It was hard to tell whether Celsus was just a flirty person, or there was something more, but she was alright with that. Even if nothing came of this, at least she could count Celsus as a good friend.
That alone was enough.
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:19 pm
His mouth fell open slightly and then promptly shut again, Celsus lapsing into silence as he listened to her. It wasn't anything like the situation that he had expected, although he did recall her telling him that she had lost most of her memories as a child. It made him rather sad to even think about.
His hand moved from her cheek up to her hair again, idly smoothing down a few stray strands before it fell away again.
"I'm very sorry," Celsus said, and he meant it, his eyes troubled. He reached for both of her hands and took ahold of them, giving them a little squeeze of reassurance. "If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know, all right? Don't keep it all inside."
He let go and smiled down at her.
"And if you ever need a day away and just want to get out of the house, you can always come and spend time with me."
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 9:31 pm
"No need to apologize! What's past is past. I'm who I am now, and that's all that matters, yes?" she said, giving him one of her huge 'light up the world' smiles. She greatly appreciated the reassurance, as well as the offer to spend time with him. That was indeed something she greatly wanted to do. Bifrost wanted to show him her wonder, her grandmother's mansion, patrol, and simply sit and talk.
She felt happy around him, and did not want to see him vanish again. The Squire found one of his hands with hers and held it, still wanting some contact that he existed.
"I would very much like to spend time with you, Celsus, and not just to escape my house. I do quite enjoy your company. My grandmother actually makes wonderful pastries and would think you were darling, I'm sure." She smiled at him, shoulders fluffing again. Not exactly an "I like you" but she could work up to that, surely. "But enough about me! What have you been up to? Besides transcending, that is."
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 12:01 pm
He gave a nod, grinning. "That is exactly what matters," said Celsus determinedly, and he definitely found that smile of hers to be much more reassuring. It was the bright, cheerful one that he liked to see on her face, rather than the tremulous, uncertain one that seemed a little forced at times. This one was genuine, and he liked it.
His own smile only widened as she spoke and Celsus laughed aloud, his hand squeezing hers idly. "Pastries are always a good reason to stay anyway," he said with a playful wink. A light breeze ruffled through the air, making both his hair and his cape ripple gently, coins jingling merrily around his uniform.
"Not much, I'm afraid," said Celsus with a little rueful smile down at Bifrost. "I wish I could say I've been off having grand adventures, rescuing fair maidens and slaying dragons, but alas, I have no good stories to tell. I am immensely sorry for being so dull, my dear."
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:03 pm
She giggled, shaking her head. He was hardly dull; a handsome young man like him would be interesting to any young woman just because of his looks. Those who stayed for his witty charm and personality, of what she's seen, would never find the dull spots until they were in too deep. As for Bifrost, well she guessed she could count herself in that category, yet she was sensible about the whole thing.
It would take at least two dates or meetings for her fall for him, oh yes. The squire giggled again, mostly to herself this time, and poked his nose.
"Oh you could never be dull, my dear Celsus," she said with a smile. "Tell me how you Transcended! Unless it's too personal of a story, of course.' She was highly curious; Babylon hadn't quite told her much of his transcendence, except that he'd carried his ancestor's starseed in his chest for a month or so. Certainly that wasn't the norm for all transcendences, was it?
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