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Caedus watched as the senshi and knights made their decision; his gaze was intent and constant, as though he were afraid that if he looked away he would lose control over the portal.

He had not moved once while the group made their decision, though when there were only a few stragglers, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He moved, slowly, to relocate himself nearer to the single boulder on the ground. At first, he simply sat on it, and his whole form seemed tired.

It was only then that he risked looking away from the portal.

"…You remained," he prompted, observing each of their faces. It was not hostile, but curious. It was as if he were trying to read their minds from where he sat. His gaze returned to the portal a few seconds later.

Solemnly, he inquired, "Was it truly out of concern for my well-being, or are you here to make sure I follow through on my end of the deal?"

Scylla

Scylla had remained with Caedus. It had been a hard decision for her to make, but in the end... "I made the decision to trust you, Caedus. And I just watched a large number of my compatriots vanish into your portal. I'm not an aggressor, not anymore. Could I be? Should I be? Varying opinions. But you're holding open that portal. If the Negaverse finds you, kills you, and closes that portal..."

Jada shrugged, and bared her teeth in a feral smile. "They're coming through me. I may not hold them long, but I promised to get you home, and I want as many of those who went through to come home as possible. I'll do what I have to."

Moving to where she had dropped the takeout, she picked up the bag and brought it over to him, dropping it down next to him. "Let me know what you need to keep your energy up." Irkalla had asked a valid question about distractions. But since Caedus had initiated the conversation, Scylla was inclined to think a little chatter would be okay. Still, they would see what he said.

He sat on the grass with Denebola and Corvus, Celsus's legs drawn up so that his arms were wrapped around his knees. His gaze was focused elsewhere, however, looking somewhere to the distance, towards the portal, as though trying to figure out whether or not it was real.

But Caedus' voice drew him back to the present, at least it seemed to. Celsus turned his head slowly to rest on the figure.

"The latter," he said tonelessly, and silently he spread his fingers through the grass, an idle, absentminded gesture. "I told you I wished I could trust you, but I'm sorry, I don't."

A breath eased out of him, shaking slightly.

"I see no good to come out of this."

Caedus nodded as he listened to the answers; he seemed strained, but had a forced calm about him. When the Scylla presented him the bag, his stomach growled; he was so focused on the portal that he didn't even seem to be able to afford embarrassment.

"Thank you," he said to her, and held the bag close. "I am fortunate to have someone like you so invested in my well being. I can talk," he added, glancing to Irkalla. "I just cannot afford to let my mind wander too far. To maintain the portal requires focus, but I used to do this very often. I am rusty, but this feels…natural."

He relaxed, almost immediately; Celsus was the only one who seemed to outright voice his distrust, but he trusted Celsus. At least, trusted him enough not to worry that he was in danger.

Caedus seemed like he wanted to pick at the food she had brought him, but he forced himself to stay attentive. He was still mulling over Eros' words when he asked, "If something should come through that portal…something from the Negaverse. Are you comfortable with stopping it?"

Eternal Scylla
His stomach rumbled, but he didn't seem inclined to open the bag, just hold it. Scylla reached out for it, letting him see her hand coming, holding it out towards him. "There are some eggrolls in there. You can munch without having to worry about anything complicated." She'd made him a promise, and she intended to keep it.

Scylla recognized Corvus, and she had recognized others, but the majority here were alien to her. She'd been out of the 'loop' for so long, that the Senshi were growing and changing around her and she could hardly keep up.

Her brow furrowed, and she looked at him curiously. "What do you mean it feels natural?"

The question was less important when he asked if she was comfortable stopping whatever might come out of the portal. "I'm a senshi." she said simply. "I was part of the Blood Moon Court. I may not start the fight, but if something comes out of that portal that wants to eat someone's face, that isn't Castor on a bad day, you better believe I'd stop it. Starseeds, limbs, and as much blood or blood-like substance as possible is staying attached to and inside the bodies of everyone present."

She was tired of people dying in this relentless fight. Why hadn't she gone through the portal, to help them end it? It wasn't fear; Jada wasn't afraid to die, if it would deal a blow. But she could still feel the blood on her hands from when she had murdered a Lieutenant to protect... It didn't matter now. Her hands shook, and she curled them into fists. perhaps it was fear. But it wouldn't stop her. She wouldn't let it.

Sailor Altais

Altais was all up and about during the hubaloo and when he caught the order signatures, he came like a moth to the flame! It was no surprise that he immediately latched eyes on a certain redhead before coming over and taking a seat with the small group.

His smile was wide, and he didn't seem troubled by the air around the group and the man. In fact, he seemed quite oblivious to just the whole seriousness.

"What's that?" He asked Denebola, elbowing her gently, "Who are they? Is something going on?"

Eternal Corvus

Overhearing Scylla mention the words Blood Moon Court made the scowl that had never fully left her face after talking to Castor darken. She remembered enough of them, enough of what they had become, to not like anything about this situation even more. What if Dark Mirror scouts that Scylla knew came through the portal? Would she be able to stop them?

Corvus glanced down to her phone again, scanning the text before shooting another one off.

[ Text to Denebola: Chronos + Virgo still on this side of black hole. Zodiacs good at holding lines. ]

She didn't include in the text how relieved she had been for the moment that Castor had confirmed that Chronos was still well, easing a bit of her worry that perhaps Celsus's state had come from losing his Princess.

The last question of Denebola's was answered out loud, partially in response to the question Caedus had asked as well. "We will do what needs to be done, Caedus. You just worry about keeping that portal open until they come home to us."

Then, to the senshi that had joined the Corner of Distrust, "I'm Corvus, he's Celsus, that over there," she gestured to the robed man before waving a hand in the direction of the rest who remained, "is Caedus and the gang. We're just hanging around until something terrible happens."

Celliwig, Page of Earth

"I brought my crys-- tal..." Celliwig sprang into the clearing, puffing softly as though she had run the entire way from wherever she had been to the park when she had gotten the summons (she had). She was late, as usual. Little burrs and brambles were sticking to her skirt from where she had cut through some overgrown brush in an attempt to take a shortcut and her hair was tumbled and tousled from the breeze.

Violet eyes went wide as she glanced around before tucking the crystal away, dusting herself off and making her way over to browned haired young woman wearing the smart dress. Slits. Why couldn't her dress have had slits?

"... What did I miss?" Her voice was soft and somewhat sheepish. "Celliwig of Earth."