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 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 5:49 pm
Once the two girls were far enough away that Sabine felt safe enough to do so, she jumped them down to the ground in the darkness of an alley, slipping the tactical backpack off her shoulder and placing it against the wall before powering down, revealing an unassuming girl of 16 in comfortable jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt and grey hoodie, her hair done up into a ponytail. She moved back over to the tactical backpack and slipped it back up onto her shoulders with a shrug. "Power down," She said gentle as she did so. "He's probably still trying to pin-point us, but if we can drop off his radar he'll give up and go molest some drug-dealers instead." She adjusted the straps on her backpack before giving the other girl a warm smile. "My name's Mercy, by the way. Mercy Haynes - also Super Sailor Sabine of Tactics, it's nice to meet you!" One does not generally curtsy in jeans, but somehow the girl managed.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 5:58 pm
Cheom followed Sabine, though there was a moment's hesitation at the top of the last jump... But she forced herself to follow the other girl. Better to be safe than sorry, as they say, and she knew she could make the jump, scary as it was... It was less scary than the man who had been talking to her. "Right... alright..." She whispered at the command to power down. She shuddered, but did so, revealing a pale-faced young woman in a black skirt over black leggings, a celestial-themed t-shirt, and a black cardigan with a silver star embroidered over one pocket, her extremely long hair pulled back into a braid. "Seren... Seren Young, Cheomseongdae, Page of Cosmos. A pleasure to meet you as well." The curtsy made her blink, but she returned it, figuring it would be polite. "Thank you for saving me. I was just... patrolling, trying to learn the area, and... well, deal with my fear of heights via forced face on experience... And he appeared in front of me. No one told me they can teleport!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:19 pm
Oh she was very new then! Sabine wasn't 100% on how knights came into being, but whoever had shown her the ropes - if anyone had - had not done any favors. She clicked her tongue darkly. There had to be a way to help out the newer people before they could get scooped up by the Negaverse - they were always on the lookout for easy targets and... She shook her head, something to worry about later. "They can - well - those of Captain rank or higher it seems, that guy back there was a general - and he's bad news on a good day," She said with a low his. "Luckily he seems to be alone, he's got a... team for lack of a better word - all of them are awful. One of them gave me this scar here..." She turned her back to the other woman, lifting up the hoodie and shirt to reveal a long, pale scar right above the hem of her jeans, a perfectly straight line across her spine. "You see him again, you just run," She said with a nod. "You zig and you zag and you make it toward somewhere public, he seems to avoid attacking folks where normal people can see. That spear of his looks scary but he can also fight pretty tough hand-to-hand from what I've seen. So yeah - just... avoid him if you can." She gave the other girl a weak smile. "You know this is starting to sound really kind of depressing, wanna get some coffee? My treat?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 8:10 pm
Seren blinked at the tongue clicking, and the head shake... Had she offended her new acquaintance somehow, said something wrong? She had to control the urge to let her shoulders droop, but it was hard. The girl in front of her, though, had saved her life... Seren owed her. "Great. I attracted the attention of a ********' General..." She paused, blushed, and said "Sorry, didn't mean to swear at you, just... not been the best night." She blinked and looked at the other girl's scar... Her paleness, which had been abating, came back, and her hand slid to touch her own back, in a strange sort of gesture. "That looks like it was very painful. If... you ever have any large wounds that are likely to scar, there are creams out there, to help lessen the severity of them. I've used them..." she paused, then "a... time or two..." "If I can avoid him, I will. I'm... currently pretty damn useless in this war. I have not really learned to fight to well. Working on it, but... Yeah. And my Weapon is damn close to useless, at least at present." Coffee? Seren checked her watch. "I'd love to join you, but I hope you don't mind if I stick to green tea... Anything higher in caffeine, and I'll be hopped up til four AM, and I have classes tomorrow."
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 8:27 pm
"Oh, that's fine," Mercy said with a small smile. "I don't mind swearing," She waved the curse off like it was nothing. "And you would have sooner or later, later is always preferred, but they're like rats, they're always popping up where they are least wanted." She made a face and then shrugged. "Like I said, for you, the best tactic is to get the heck outta dodge while you can." As for the scar... "I might have to get the name of some of those from you," She said, her cheeks flushing a bit. "Kind of don't want my boyfriend to worry too much about it." She said meekly. "What with him knowing about my senshi form and what not. Which is another point actually..." She sighed, motioning for the other girl to follow her out of the alley, but falling in beside her and placing a hand on her back very lightly. "If you have people you care about - be careful about what they know," She said with a small nod. "My boyfriend has been captured by that... for lack of better word - b*****d - twice now..." She made a sour face. "And he doesn't have magic, he's just a civilian, so you can imagine how that turned out..." She nudged the other girl's hip with her own in a sign of solidarity. "My magic doesn't work if I'm not in a group of people, so I can relate," She said with a huff and a puff of her cheeks. "So I learned to fight - was all I could do. I suggest you start training when you can." She pulled her own phone out of her pocket and eyed the time. "Hmmm... I've got like, maybe an hour or two before lights out at the Dorms - so I think tea is probably advisable over coffee, should be a 24 hour cafe around here somewhere if we're in the right place..." She pulled up the map app on her phone and started to fiddle with it as they walked. "Sooooo... College?" She looked up at the older woman, raising her brow slightly. "I'm currently attending Crystal myself."
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 9:28 pm
"Oh, good... I try to keep my language polite, but when stressed, I tend to forget and speak the way I was raised." She did not comment on the fact that the swearing was generally at her. "Good to know, I suppose, even if it seems I still have a lot to learn. I keep asking questions, and the answers always just seem to lead to more questions, or leave me half confused and half understanding." "I... can I contact you with this?" She gestured at her Ring. "If not, you can give me your email or something, and I'll give you the info when I get home. I use the store brand, so it's one of those 'Topical LONG CHEMICAL NAME HERE' type of things, and I don't have the spelling memorized." A boyfriend... Her mind flashed to someone, someone she was beginning to grow close to, and hoped to grow closer still to. At least her brother, her only living immediate family, was in Massachusetts, at Harvard. He should be safe there, she rather thought. "That is... That is good to know about, horrible as it is. Is he... ok?" Her eyes were soft with her concern for the other girl. She laughed and sighed. "Magic. I don't even have that. Yet, I think, from the... dribs and drabs of information I've been extracting from the people I've met." She gave a dry laugh. "I've only met one Knight so far, and just my luck... he was drunk. I hope to have a chance to talk to him sober, because he was informative. Just. Drunk, so his information was disjointed." "Living in dorms? Must be challenging, dealing with curfews and all, while also doing..." She made a vague gesture up at the roofs. "All of that. But the Cafe sounds good. Let's go." She followed Mercy, quietly, then suddenly popped up with "Sabine, huh? The dwarf planetoid? Interesting..." "Yeah. DCU, myself. Senior year." She blinked at the school name. "Crystal, hmmm? Interesting. Well, if you ever need any tutoring, just... let me know. It's what I do."
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:28 pm
"I have a lot of older friends, and my uncle swears like a sailor, it's fine," Mercy said with a shrug. "I personally try to refrain myself, as it's unladylike, but sometimes - well," She motioned back behind them. "Some people really don't give you an option and their best descriptors are often the most obscene." "Oh, I'll give you both my numbers," She said with a smile. "And both emails - I don't mind being contacted on either, really, I like meeting new people, I just wish we'd been able to meet on better circumstances." She added with a small bow of her head. "He's fine, a little shaken about it I think, but he's gotten to see my homeworld and...." Her cheeks flushed. "I think I've made up for it other ways. I just have to be mindful about it when he's around - I would hate for the general to figure anything out. Because, the really scary thing, is that you don't know who anyone is in this war." "While we're in our civilians forms, we're just... us," She continued. "It seems like some sort of magic protects that identity from others - I had to power down on my wonder just to even get my boyfriend to recognize me." She said with a small nod. "So just - be super careful who you talk shop with. They could be the enemy and you'd never know. Better, to get to know folks powered forms first and then once you are comfortable power down in a safe place." She shot the other girl a smile. "But, seeing as you were in trouble, I kind of broke my own rule - but it really doesn't matter as much, we're on the same side after all." She gave her a sage nod. "Knights have magic?" The question raised one of her brows. "I only know a couple and even then, I haven't asked them about magic - I just assumed that was a senshi thing, well - the more you know!" She giggled a little and shook her head. "I haven't met any drunk knights yet - but I guess it takes all kinds. Though your outfit reminds me of Meteora - she's married to a Mars knight named Kairatos, she works for NASA and is AWESOME." "It can be sometimes, but I know a few ways to sneak in and out so I haven't really been busted yet - and even if I did I'd just apologize and say I forgot what time it was," She shrugged a bit. "Unless you get really badly injured you're pretty much covered..." She sighed and rubbed her back. "Then it gets a bit complicated. But otherwise, lots of coffee and naps when you can get them." "Yep! The very same," She said with a nod. "It's pretty cool, I've been there a few times. It's got a lot of abandoned industrial and military buildings... From what memories I've - well remembered - they were something of a... Minor military power?" "I would LOVE some tutoring - please tell me you're good at math, I'm absolutely fail at math," Sabine laughed a bit. "Polynomials make my brain hurt."
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 1:32 pm
"Ladylike... Huh." Seren sounded like it was a concept that would never have occurred to her, to be concerned with being Ladylike. Well, it wasn't like anyone had ever encouraged her down that path before, really, so it wasn't something that really would have crossed her mind. "Never thought about whether swearing was or wasn't, before." "Ah! Excellent. Thank you, I'll make sure to get you that information as soon as I get home." She paused, then added "I'm not sure how numbers work with my... communication device, honestly." She tapped her signet, her brows thoughtfully confused. "Now I'm fascinated... How does cross-faction communication actually WORK? I mean, since... you guys get cellphones, right?" She licked her lips a little, listening, and nodded, slowly. "I have... not told anyone who I did not meet while..." A pause to find a good word for it... "Working, who wasn't also working for the same employer, shall we say? And I think... Yes, you're the first I have powered down near. I will... be very careful." And careful to do everything she could to protect her... dear friend. "I wondered about that, actually... Why we look so different, but that makes sense, I suppose." She paused, and then gave her a smile. "Thank you for rescuing me. I honestly thought I was utterly doomed." "I... Someone told me that they do, that it might be a thing as I get further along? I don't know enough about it, really, to know for sure." She sighed a little, and rubbed her forehead, expression tired. "Far as I can tell, 'training' and 'instruction' on what all this is about, for a knight, is left to chance. You either find someone who knows this stuff, and will tell you, or you don't and you're left floundering. And even if you find someone, what you get might be... Left up to the fates and asking the right questions." The mention of Meteora made her eyes go huge and light up. "Oh my gods, she works for NASA? That... That's my DREAM employer. I am so envious. Can... can you introduce me sometime, maybe?" "Well... as long as you don't get in trouble, I guess? Just... be careful. You're still growin', and all that. You need your rest and all." She might be a little over protective of those younger than her, sometimes, but she couldn't totally help it. And then she grinned, a little proud of herself. "Glad I got it right. I'm an Astrophysics student, and Space is kind of my THING. If that makes sense." She blinked, though, at what Mercy said. "Huuuuuuuuh. Interesting. I wonder if there's magic, covering all of that, so our NASA scientists don't see that stuff with the satellites that are examining the planets, and all. How interesting. But what do you mean, remembered? Is this connected to the... past life stuff... I was told about by the knight I met?" The acceptance of tutoring got another grin. This time, there was a hint of relief in it... Seren felt a debt to the other girl, so being able to at least repay her a little with helping her at the Maths. "I am VERY good at Math. I need it, for my degree. I can definitely help you. What are you currently taking?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:46 pm
"Yeah, cellphones, it lets us do a bunch of things like visit our homeworld and stuff, it's actually pretty nifty," Mercy said with a nod. "Not sure exactly how it works between knights and the like - but then I've never really had to think about it?" She added with a small shrug. "I think I could probably set something ups - as civs first - would probably be easiest," She added with a nod. "If nothing else it'll help give you an idea on what you need to look into for job applications." "I can rest when I'm dead," She half joked, though her eyes were tired far beyond her years. "Besides, when you've done this long enough sleep's not the refuge it used to be." "I think that about sums it up though, magic, there's a lot of it being flung around and it covers a lot of bases," She said with a nod. There was a long pause, like she was going to skip over the entire subject of past lives when she finally said, her eyes dropping toward the ground. 'Yeah, as you get stronger, memories might start coming back," Mercy said, keeping her voice low, but still easily heard in the night air. "Some of them are pretty neat but..." she sucked in a breath, and she violently shook her head, bringing her hands to her chest to hug herself a bit. "Some aren't so... great." At the question of what she was taking math wise, Mercy perked up a little. "Uhm... Alegbra II, the one with the weird a squared, 2X cubed stuff..."
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:36 pm
"Man that sounds really freakin' useful. I need to read some of the messages I've gotten, some seem to be about 'upgrading' my ring. How you upgrade a ring I do not know..." She was careful about saying the things that might give hints in an undertone, so that only Mercy could hear her. "But so weird." "That... Would be awesome. The job apps part... and telling me what it's really like to work for NASA, especially as a fellow woman." She wasn't an idiot, the science sector was always harder on women, unfortunately. Seren looked at her, eyes sad to think that another young life had to be experienced beyond her time. "Sleep has never been a refuge, if you ask me, it's just a necessity." One that sometimes she did not want to leave, but her words were said with a heavy truth to it, as if she too had things that showed experiences someone in her early twenties shouldn't have. "Well, it seems useful, at least. I don't know what, if any, I might end up with, but I hope... I really hope it helps." Her brows came together, during the pause, an expression of '******** did I touch on a horrible subject?' on her face. But when Mercy started speaking again, her face relaxed a little. "Ah. Gotcha. Well, I can probably cope with the worst, should it come." She said that easily enough. Memories were awful but... Memories couldn't touch her, physically harm her. She had enough horrible memories already, what were another life's worth to add to it? She held the door open to the cafe, once they got there, and laughed. "Oh yeah, I can help you with that, no problem. That stuff's simple, compared to some of the stuff I am doing lately. I'm just glad it's not Stat. I can DO Stat, I tutor it plenty and all, I just find it irritating."
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:20 pm
Once they were inside the building, Mercy slid the backpack off and dropped it into one of the empty booths near the back corner of the building - it was slow, and the wait staff seemed not to be expecting too much business, which was good enough for Mercy. She slid the bag all the way to the wall and sat down, relaxing against the bench as she reached up to rub her eyes with the heels of both her hands. "I hope yours are better than mine, the memories, I mean," Mercy finally said in a low, soft voice so that it wouldn't carry beyond the booth. "Mine hit hard - and strong - and..." She let out a shaky breath. "Oh, it was a beautiful world in it's own way, when it was vibrant and alive... but that's all gone now, it's all gone and it was my fault. So if anything - I hope you don't have to deal with that." "I plan to rebuild it, or at least some of it... There's one particular foundry that keeps drawing me to it every time I'm there - I keep seeing an old man, he was important to me... Not a father but... a father figure I think - a dear friend. I know he's gone and it guts me." She sniffed a bit, wiping at tears that had formed unbidden. "There are other memories - the longer I'm there the more they sink in... it's weird," She said with a small laugh. "Have you been to your wonder yet?" She assumed she had but it was a valid question all the same. She paused then, her hand coming to her chest and making a single, noticeable motion, something akin to tactical hand signal for stop, before her face changed to a bored, somewhat vapid expression complete with smile as she linked up at the server who had just wandered over to the table. 'I'll have a green tea, please, and some pancakes," Mercy said with a nod of her head, then looked over to Seren with a smile.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:59 pm
Seren followed her to the booth and slid into the seat opposite her new compatriot. She sighed a little, then looked with concern at the younger woman, because she looked tired, from the way she rubbed her eyes. "I have enough... unpleasant memories of my own..." She did not want to go into that, so she just sort of left it there, her tone flat as she said that. "So I hope the memories are generally pleasant, or at least not horrible." When she saw the girl looking like she was starting to cry, Seren got out a napkin and slid it over to her, before putting her hand on the girl's, in a comforting sort of gesture. "I can't imagine having memories of people that an ancient version of you once loved and cared for is easy. Maybe... he's out here, too, somewhere? Reborn but without the memories?" All she could offer was hope, in the end, on that. She knew so little, really. She was about to answer, when the expression and all changed. Seren paused, and blinked, then realized why as the server showed up. "Green tea as well, and just some cinnamon toast?" She wasn't super hungry, not after the earlier incident. Simple comfort food would be best. She waited for the server to move out of hearing, then replied. "Ah, yes! Twice. Once alone, once with a Mauvian who wanted information. It appears to be an immense observatory. It's... perfectly preserved, so long as I don't... touch anything that's made of, like... fabric." She winced as she said that. "I tried to touch a pillow, you see. It was beautiful... and as soon as I touched it, it disintegrated..." Torvil OMG I am so sorry for the slow response... I never got the quote, for some reason! I was so surprised when you hadn't (as far as I could tell) replied.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 2:07 pm
"I can only hope - about being reborn I mean - for all of them," Mercy said with a small sigh. "So many loyal souls who died to defend Sabine - the planet... and me I think... In the end it seems to have been mostly in vain." Well, she was here on earth now - so maybe not entirely in vain - but some nights it sure felt that way. "They like to do that, disitegrate I mean," Mercy said with a knowing nod. "I was pulled into a large building on my first visit, made it most of the way up a flight of really tall stairs to one of the upper levels before they went out from under me, I was barely able to teleport back to Earth before I fell." Which would have probably left her with injuries beyond counting or dead on her homeworld then - so she was grateful for that. "Only one of my close friends and my boyfriend have been to my homeworld - but if you're interested I would love for another pair of eyes to see it," She offered with a smile. "And I'd love to see this observatory of yours - it sounds awesome!" Aria Starstone No worries! Quotes have been HELLA wonky
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:41 pm
"I have no idea what the past was like for whoever came before... I was told it might not have been me, it might be an ancestor? I have not yet been giving any kind of... clues on that subject." She sighed, a little morosely, because she really felt this Knight business needed more clear direction and less vague guesswork and hoping someone would explain things to her. "But I hope so for their sake... And I hope it's not actually in vain." "I am... glad that the flooring and all seems to be intact, at the Observatory. I need to explore it more, and I am hoping my Mauvian friend will be able to connect me with people or information about how to preserve all of it, if it's possible. There are ancient books there, and so many other things. I have only explored the first floor and the top so far, but what I have seen amazes me. I wonder, truly, how all of it was made." Her offer of a visit to the homeworld got Seren's eyes opening wide and she nodded eagerly. "Oh that would be... It would be EVERYTHING. I'm an Astrophysics major... I love space and the stars! And I would be happy to take you at some point, though I think I need to wait a bit before I can go again. I... really am not sure how often I can go..." Torvil Never got the quote, again, and I figured out why! Gotta make sure there are quotation marks around the SN or Gaia won't notify people. And I am SO sorry for not checking sooner and seeing you replied... The past six months have had my brain super tired/drained.
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