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 Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:24 pm
On the third night of going to meet Adria, Kibirev seemed like a whole new person. She had purpose…she was going out for a reason and not just to…go out. She was meeting someone. Talking with someone who was important to her.
And she had thought long and hard about it…and wondered if maybe he would help her contribute to her court a little. It would be nice if he could.
She brought snacks again, healthy ones this time, some fruit and some bottles of chocolate milk.
This was the night where she was going to ask Adria for a favor and she wasn’t quite sure how she was going to be able to get it out…there was a lot of trust involved with asking someone if you could drain their energy.
Quietly, she drew in a breath and bit her lip, swinging her legs against the fountain as she waited for the other senshi to show up again. There were no doubts in Kibirev’s mind that he would show up…she just hoped that he wouldn’t be angry or afraid when she asked what she was about to ask of him. She hoped that their friendship wouldn’t be ruined because of it.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:25 pm
Adria showed up right on time, but with an apology already on his lips. "I'm sorry I'm late! I was trying to get out of the house but my brother decided he wanted to play the 'twenty million questions' game." He rolled his eyes, exasperated.
"I'm sure he means well, but sometimes I wish he would just trust me."
It wasn't a complete lie; he'd dropped by to drop off something for Cambria; she and Evan had been out working the food truck so he'd wound up talking to his brother for a while. Things had gotten much better since...
Well. Since how they used to be, but it didn't mean that things were always still easy, and sometimes his brother had a tendency to just come on so strong about everything.
It was strange, that his brother might be coming off as protective. Or, more likely, he was just a control freak.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long, I got here as fast as I could!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:26 pm
At the now familiar voice, Kibirev grinned. “Adriaaaaa!” She waved at him and then wrapped her arms around him quickly, snuggling close. “It’s okay, I have an older brother too and he worries about me too! I think that’s just their job, to make sure we’re safe…and if he’s worrying about you, that just means he’s doing his job, right?”
She drew away, a grin on her face the size of a small country. “I’m glad you’re here! I brought snacks again and…Well…”
The grin faded slightly and Kibirev drew in a deep breath. “I was wondering if you might be willing to help me out with…some of my duties for the court? We have to collect energy but…I’m really not…I can’t just steal people’s energy, that seems so wrong…but if I could borrow some of yours, that would be amazing, and I brought the snacks so you could get it back a lot more quickly.”
She was beginning to talk too fast again and she swallowed, drawing in another breath. “I don’t think it hurts? But, if it does, I’d stop at once, I hope you know…”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:27 pm
Adria just laughed at the embrace; he was becoming far more comfortable around her and didn't even flinch when she came close. As soon as her smile faded, he became guarded, worried--and then relaxed.
"Oh."
For a few seconds, he debated; he moved to take a seat on the edge of the fountain, contemplative expression firm on his face. "...I don't think I've ever had my energy taken. I've given blood, but not ever energy. I appreciate that you're asking instead of taking. Do you--before I say yes--what do you...what do you do with the energy you collect? You don't use it to hurt people--right?"
He sounded like he was convinced that she didn't, but he needed to hear the words all the same.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:28 pm
She blinked at his question and flopped on the edge of the fountain next to him, seeming thoughtful. “Um…Well. That’s a really good question. I don’t know…honestly? I think it just…fuels Mirrorspace and maybe the places I was telling you about last time? I’m not completely sure though, but I know I don’t ever do it and I wonder if people would like me more if I did…”
Not that it really even mattered now. People liked her just fine and…she hadn’t ever taken energy. “I guess. I just want to be more helpful. I have friends in my court and…I don’t want to keep being the dead weight traitor…if that makes sense to you.”
Kibirev looked at him with an almost worried expression. “I’m sorry that I don’t know much…if that wasn’t a good enough answer, I could find out before I take any! We don’t have to do it tonight, it was just a thought I had! It’s no big deal, honest.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:30 pm
He nodded. "No, that's not a bad answer," he insisted. "I was just curious. If you use it to sustain your world, I--I get that. I have a world. But. I'm afraid to go, to be honest. I don't know what I'll find there. But I've heard that...they can be in really bad shape. I'm afraid to....go to mine and see that maybe I've...done something wrong. That...I'm a bad Senshi. But I don't know what I could do to help it, to repair it. If it is...you know. In bad shape."
He shrugged easily and laced his fingers together, resting his elbows on his knees. "...But I get wanting to do what you could to help your own world. So--I mean," he took a few seconds and exhaled when he settled on his decision. "Yeah. I mean. If it didn't hurt, if my energy comes back, if you're not using it for anything bad...what's the harm? I can do it."
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:31 pm
Biting her lip, Kibirev couldn’t quite help but look a little excited. “Oh…thank you so much, Adria…I won’t take much, I promise. Just a little bit, and then we can have our snacks, okay? I won’t hurt you at all.” She inched forwards a little and reached into the small pouch under her bracer, drawing out one of the small shards of mirror and summoning one of her wraiths, watching it for a moment as it floated there, and then gently made a pass through Adria.
“…If it starts to hurt or feel weird or anything…just let me know okay? I can get it to stop…”
The wraith made another pass back through the senshi, taking more energy as it did so, and Kibirev watched, a little fascinated by the whole process.
“…Does it feel strange? I’ve never…I don’t know…”
The more she spoke, the stupider she felt.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:31 pm
Adria was quiet, contemplative. "It feels weird," he admitted. "...But not...bad? Kind of like...splashing cold water on your face but nothing's there. I--Oh, I feel it now. It kind of just hit me. I'm getting a little sleepy. Not a lot," he admitted. "...But like you're in the middle of class, in a lesson you already know. Bored."
For a few seconds longer he debated, eyes trying to find the wraith. "But it's not bad. You can keep going. What is that thing? --I can't see it, not really. Can you?"
He wasn't sure if he was afraid of it or not; the fact that he couldn't see it was unnerving, but it also made it feel like there wasn't really anything even there.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:32 pm
She nodded and continued to allow the thing to drift slowly in and out of the senshi. “It’s my wraith…I have two of them now…and they…get more solid the more energy they take, from what I remember.” Quietly she reached over and took one of Aria’s hands, stroking it lightly with her own.
“I think it’s getting that way. It’s…kind of neat. I’m not really sure how they figured out how to do this…but it’s a super interesting system.”
Kibirev reached over and drew one of the bottles of chocolate milk out of her bag and handed it to Adria. “Here, why don’t you drink this, it should help you feel a little better if you’re feeling sleepier.” This was easy. And she felt a slight thrill as she realized that she was actually doing what she was supposed to do for once. She was collecting energy for the court…and Acubens and Elsa and her brother would all be proud of her and… Nothing could go wrong right now. Not anything at all.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:34 pm
Adria nodded gratefully; he accepted the chocolate milk and chugged it, despite the fact that his hand was trembling. "It's not so bad," he promised, taking another sip. He seemed like there might have been more to say but there was a sudden surge of energy--strong, and order. He lowered the drink to his side, immediately alarmed. He could see the wraith darting still, but his eyes weren't on it--they were on the newcomer.
A knight, purple clad and with a scowl on his face came storming towards the two, hands clenched into fists and wielding a long, threatening clock hand. "What the hell is going on here?" he said, voice low and menacing. He shifted positions; as he stomped towards them he raised the weapon, as if he were intending to strike.
"Oh," Adria said; he tensed. "No, no, no. You--you should send your thing away," he said quietly to Kibirev. He stood too quickly and wavered on his feet; lightheaded, he nearly stumbled to the ground.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:34 pm
Kibirev had stiffened at the new aura, and when she saw the intimidating figure she began to tremble nearly as much as Adria was, though not from energy loss. “…Oh…”
Quickly she withdrew the wraith into her mirror shard and stood as well, arm snaking around Adria to support him. “Do…do you have to run? Should I get us out of here, Adria? I can…There’s a mirror really close to here and I can get the both of us through it and out of here…”
Her eyes remained on the new threat, wondering just what she had to do in order to protect her friend…Adria was weakened and it was her fault…maybe she should…break the shard and give him the energy back? Or just try to carry him and run?
“I’ll protect you…I promise…I’m so sorry, Adria…I should have been paying attention…” Kibirev silently cursed herself for being so foolish. Perhaps next time…she would do this inside mirrorspace. Where it was safer.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:40 pm
"No," Adria said quickly. "No, it's okay, just--your magic, can you--can you use it on him? He's just--he's kind of an a**, he could use a minute to calm down."
He tried to wobble just slightly in front of her; now that he was on his feet he moved like he meant to protect her. "He's not a bad guy, he's just hot headed and acts before he's thinking."
"Adria, get away from her," the Knight snapped, crossing too much distance between them too quickly.
Adria didn't comply though--instead, he said, "You cast your magic and I'll cast mine, okay? --It'll be okay, I promise. And it'll buy you time to get out of here. I've got this," he said, even managing a small smile. "Just trust me. We can meet up again tomorrow? Same time, same place?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:42 pm
She swallowed and gave a small nod. “If you’re sure…I don’t want him to hurt you though…” Kibirev was doing as she was asked though, holding her fingers up and giving a shaking, quiet, “Tranquil F-foxglove.” Before blowing the attack towards the charging knight, and then hiding her face for a moment in Adria’s shoulder. “I’m so, so sorry…”
Drawing away, Kibirev quickly began to move towards the mirror, going around the fountain to get away from the frightening figure. “Adria are you sure…we can go together…”
It was a final plea, and she stared for a moment, one foot in the mirror, so afraid for her friend’s well being.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:44 pm
"It's okay," Adria offered her a quick smile. "That's just my brother."
Michel was huffing, sputtering, and then slowly he seemed to recede into a more docile creature. His shoulders slumped and the weapon lowered; he let out a heavy sigh that almost even sounded complacent.
"It's fine," Adria continued, but when Michel took a step back he faltered and then raised a hand to shoo her. "Go, go. It's fine. I'm just--" he drew in a breath and cast his own magic; he felt a little guilty, watching as Michel's expression twisted into something of confusion--and then he just seemed like he couldn't take his eyes of the setting golden sun that Adria had summoned.
Relieved for a few seconds, Adria threw his head over his shoulder.
"It's okay. He's just really angry all the time. He's not going to hurt me. But--ah--I'll catch you later," he promised. "I'll fill him in. Thank you, I had a good night!"
Michel didn't even seem to register Kibirev anymore; he was so distracted by the setting sun--so emotionally complacent--that he moved to sit down. He seemed almost like a child whose mind had wandered; he flopped down onto the ground, weapon falling limply at his side. He leaned back and watched with half lidded eyes, soft smile on his face like he didn't have a care in the world.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:48 pm
His brother!
At least now Kibirev could try to excuse the male’s anger and tell herself that it was nothing more than fear over his brother getting his energy drained. That wasn’t too difficult to think of. She knew that Arnica would be upset if he ever found her in a similar situation…but she was sure that her brother would at least stop to try to understand the situation… Maybe.
She watched as the knight suddenly seemed to be too tired to stand and a soft smile graced her face. Well…he wouldn’t be able to hurt Adria now…or herself…which was…or should have been the most important thing. With one last wave, she slipped through the mirror, taking a moment in mirrorspace to catch her breath and calm her racing heart. At any rate…this evening had been exciting…and she had actually helped out the court! That was something to be proud of.
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