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 Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:19 pm
They'd been in the park, in the light of the setting sun, in the middle of Michel throwing a tantrum and Ammersee trying to intervene while Evan protested and tried to stay close to Cavansite.
It was loud and chaotic, and everything had happened so quickly.
The park was gone, replaced now with a completely new world.
They were on a patch of land on a dark planet, as black waters lapped at the water's shore. A battered castle was at the end of a long path that seemed like it was ready to disappear under the lake at any moment. Dead, twisted trees lined the shore and the air was cold.
Michel stiffened and seemed strained, but his presence didn't lessen. His breathing was suddenly labored and he was a few shades paler. It made the obviously fresh scrape--a small cut, and puffy, red patch of bruising skin on his cheek--all the more obvious. He didn't draw away from the Neptune Squire, but he did draw Evan close to him, into his arms, and away from Cavansite. He held his weapon loosely, and it was clear he was startled--but doing his best to maintain his composure.
Evan, however, was wide-eyed and struggling to breathe with the sudden change of lighting, the sudden temperature drop--and the sudden fighting. He'd had such faith, and now he was stumbling over words, trying to calm his heart, trying to think.
The Neptune Squire hissed, off balance but fine. This wasn't his world they'd teleported to. He shot Michel half a glare but took the opportunity to shove himself between Michel and Cavansite to make sure no one got hurt.
Up close, there was something obviously familiar about him--the same face as a Negaverse Agent she used to know. Or, at least, close enough to make the connection.
His hair was longer now. He looked happier now--despite the split lip and the fresh blood smeared from where he kept wiping it. His eyes met hers and he said, loudly--partly for her and partly for Michel. "I'm sorry about that. He's just worked up. We just got ambushed a few minutes ago and were worried about Evan. Are you okay?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:35 pm
Cavansite had wanted to say something, wanted to protest, hell, she would have powered down again if she had the chance, but suddenly Evan was ripped from her and she was somewhere dark, after he had just said how he hated the dark. Her eyes flickered around, worry visible in them and they landed on Evan and she reached out for him, but paused as the Neptune Squire pushed his way between her and the Saturn Knight.
The Saturn Knight who seemed somewhat familiar, and the way that he treated Evan…
Her mind was trying to make a connection, something that was just out of reach, but then her eyes roamed over the Squire who was talking to her, her mouth falling open in surprise. “...A-Amesite?”
Cavansite’s heart stuttered and she reached a trembling hand up, pressing it against the male’s cheek, confusion sweeping through him, causing her to tremble, to blink away sudden tears. “...You’re...not dead?” All other thoughts were forgotten in that moment. She couldn’t think of Yu, or Evan. Of Sterling or purification.
This…had to be Amesite. “...You...purified?”
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 5:56 pm
Ammersee stiffened, because he knew that name, even if he couldn't remember using it. He was visibly alarmed, eyes darting from her face, to Evan.
Michel's eyes narrowed but he didn't move and just held firmly onto Evan, protectively; he didn't show how much he was leaning on him as he tried to catch his breath, tried to restore his strength after he felt so winded.
"Cavansite," he said though, knowing. He had written about one Agent.
Just one.
She was the only one worth remembering, and even when the memories had been stripped of him, he had a letter to tell him about her.
"...I'm not dead, no. I'm here." There was a lump in his throat and he just seemed astounded to see her--a face he knew, but didn't know. "...I don't remember you. Not really. I'm sorry," he said, and then tried to explain, "You lose a part of you when you purify. Like your starseed can't handle the change and tries to shave off as much as it can to make room for a fresh start. It's not bad. I left myself notes. I needed time to adjust. I thought it was better to be dead than to be hunted down. I couldn't put..."
He swallowed. "I couldn't put them in danger. There were good people who helped me. Family. You're really going to purify, you're serious?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:41 pm
The sound of her name almost broke her and Cavansite hesitated, her fingers running down his cheek and then moving to her own, wiping away the tears that had sprung up. Ah. He didn’t remember her...that...might be for the best, but she couldn’t...think. There had been so much time for her mourning, and now...he was here. Here on this…
Finally, the General looked around, frowning and wiping at her eyes again. “...What is this place...I...am feeling quite overwhelmed right now...why didn't we just speak at the fountain? Evan doesn’t like the dark.”
Whatever she was saying was being said with no thought. She couldn’t afford to think right now, honestly she might explode. If this was someone’s homeworld...she didn’t like it. Ein’s was much better. Much better. Hell, even Tanais’s was better than this. Much more friendly.
Her eyes slid back to Amesite’s face. Amesite or whatever he was called now. “...What’s your name now, Amesite? Are you happy? I...I mean, I don’t. I had wanted too before, honestly. It’s why I was punished...why I failed you…” God. She could have left with him if she hadn’t been so stupid...
After a moment, her brain made a strange leap. “...Gale got over you far too quickly, you know...I...don’t talk to her much because of it…”
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:48 pm
"Evan's fine," Michel said, and though Evan looked shaken, he seemed to have relaxed a bit in the Knight's arms now that no one was attacking Cavansite.
"I'm okay," Evan confirmed, in case Michel's declaration wasn't enough for her. Under his breath, he asked, "Is this your wonder?"
"I ********' guess," Michel muttered, not seeming impressed. "...This place sucks." Louder, to address Cavansite, "I figured if it was an ambush, I wasn't going to give you a chance to spring your trap. But..."
Here, they were safe. It was eerie, and dark, but it was safe, away from everyone else. Away from everyone who could hurt them, or stop them.
The Neptune Squire glanced at Michel and Evan, and then back to Cavansite. "I'm Ammersee, now. I'm sorry you got punished. You didn't fail. I was at the end of my rope, I was going through a lot. I'd lost so much. If I'd kept going on...I'd have lost everyone, everything."
He swallowed, though.
He had never forgotten Gale. He had never left Gale. But how did Cavansite...
"How do you know Gale?" he asked slowly, uncertainly.
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:49 pm
Cavansite glanced to Evan again, managing the smallest of smiles. “...I’m sure you’re safe, Evan...even if it is dark. There are three pairs of arms to keep you safe.” Her voice was soft, glad to have a reason to think through what Amesi--Ammersee was saying. “I wish...you would have told me. Or, rather...I wish I had been in a position where you could have felt safe enough to tell me...I would have come with you.”
The General wiped her eyes again and rubbed the bridge of her nose, giving a long, slow sigh. “Gale is my sister. You had been dating her, and she was really happy with you. With Laurence...the...ah. Who you...who you were. She got with some new guy so quickly though and...I don’t understand it. I’m sorry that she turned out to be such a floozy...I…”
Closing her eyes, Cavansite shrugged, rubbing the bridge of her nose a little harder. “...I haven’t really. Left my office much recently. I hardly ever power down. I’m sure she thinks I hate her regardless, and as much as I wish it wasn’t...untrue...I’m still very put out with her. You...were perfect. I was so excited to have you as a brother in law...I’m sure whoever she’s with is. God I just.”
She looked up and scowled. “I talk about you all the time. The Captain I have now, I’ve been working so hard to support him, to be good for him like I tried to be for you. I’ve tried to support all of them since I lost you...and she can’t even have the decency to mourn you for more than three weeks? It’s insane.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:04 pm
"I left a note. It was vague," he tried to explain. "...I was afraid of it falling into the wrong hands. I had hoped you'd find it, I had hoped...it would give you hope enough that maybe my death wasn't so black and white. But...I feel a relief that it was convincing. I put a lot of effort into it. But...I had a lot of help, too."
He cleared his throat. "...Your sister isn't a floozy, though. She is worried about you, she's said it a few times. She thinks you're just working too hard. She loves you. She always wants to invite you over but is afraid you'll say no. And I mean. She knows you disapprove of her boyfriend. And, why wouldn't you? Laurence, Loren. Who can keep up with who she's dating."
Except, he could, because it was him. It had been him, the whole time.
He was outing himself by saying it, he knew--but she'd just done the same for herself.
He knew Karone. He had seen pictures. Gale talked about her.
"I remember Gale. I remember almost everything--outside of my time serving the Negaverse. It's like, when I powered up, all of that was lost. But I remembered Gale." He reached out a gentle hand to rub her cheek in the same gentle gesture shed' been showing him.
"She was willing to romance me all over again, if I forgot. I didn't, though. So we didn't have to start from scratch. I still love Gale. And she still loves me. She's still with me. She just did what she had to do to keep me safe, too. And I'm sorry I dragged her into it. I didn't know what was going to happen. But I knew I had her. I knew she'd take care of me. And...she did. So, don't be hard on Gale. She never gave up on me, she never moved on. And--for me? I'm okay. I'm good, great, even. And...I don't remember the Negaverse, but I remember the sensation of being free. Of making my own decisions. I'm with my family, now. And...we'll get you out of the Negaverse, Karone. Cavansite. You'll be free to be you, again. No risk of starseeding anyone important to you. You, and your Captain. I know they'll be welcome."
He wrapped his arms around her, gently drawing her to him. "...You'll come home. And we'll protect you. All of us. No one will ever use you again. You'll be safe, and loved. I'm sorry I don't remember everything. I'm sorry I hurt you. But." He squeezed her gently in his arms. "...I can breathe again. Just tell me what I can do for you and I'll do it. I'll help you with this, we all will. We'll make this work. You'll be okay. Soon--real soon. As soon as you and him are ready..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:53 pm
“It was very convincing...I…” All of this was proving to be far too much. He was still dating her sister, Gale hadn’t been a floozy...Laurence was Loren...She was on some strange wonder, and she had outed herself to at least two people. She was going to leave the Negaverse behind, and then she was in his arms. Amesite--Ammersee, whoever he was. He was holding her, and she was sobbing, broken, ugly sobbing and clinging to him as though he were the only real thing in the world.
Cavansite wasn’t happy that Sterling had gotten hurt, that Yu was hurting and afraid, she wasn’t pleased by being backed in a corner like this but...was it really a corner? She could have easily lied to Parisite. Told him that corruption was the only way. She didn’t have to say that she would help him...it wouldn’t have been difficult to go to Axinite and have Yu fitted with a youmaglia, have Sterling corrupted before any of this came to pass...it…
Any of those decisions wouldn’t have allowed her to be here right now though. Being embraced by someone she loved. Someone she had thought was dead. And dead in such a horrible way. “...I’m...Evan said I can come to his wedding.” Cavansite gasped out between sobs, hiccuping. “...You’ll really help us? Both of us? God, Yu will love all of you, I bet...he’s so great...he’s...I really, really adore him...Ammersee...I’m…” Her voice fell and she hid her face in his chest. “...I’m afraid.”
It wasn’t something she wanted the Saturn Knight to hear. It was a confession that was hard to force out. But it was the truth.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:35 am
Ammersee drew her closer, protectively; he shielded her with his arms, protected her as best he could. He gave her what privacy she could to just let go of her emotions. He tucked her head under his chin and laced his fingers together behind her back.
"It's scary," he said softly. "But you're brave. You're strong. And you're not alone. I'll tell you what I did, how I managed. It wasn't so bad, not after I settled in. And Gale was there to hold me, to help me. You'll have her too. And me, and Evan. And my brother, he's here too. I don't know what sort of hodgepodge family we'll make, but you're welcome to it. I wanted you to come with me but I was afraid you'd say no. I was afraid you'd stop me. I couldn't go on like that anymore. I know that much about it."
He stroked her back, trying to soothe her.
Michel was granting her some privacy; he was looking into the distance, and the eerie castle that stood, cold, against the darkness.
Evan's eyes were downcast; he was there, for her, if she needed him--but he wasn't pushing himself in. She had Ammersee, by stroke of luck, and all the time she needed to process that. He'd be there for her if she needed him, and the fact that he hadn't moved despite Michel's occasional tugging said that he intended to be firm in that.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:11 pm
Cavansite relaxed with his words. With his comforting touches. She felt safe, here on this creepy wonder, surrounded by a Knight and a Squire. She shouldn't have felt safe but, she really, truly did at this moment. Finally, the tears slowed and she was able to draw in a deep, shuddering breath. “Thank you. I...didn’t expect to...to ever see you again. I apologize for being so emotional...you’re right, I would have had to turn you in...I don’t think I would have had any kind of a choice...but…”
The General looked up at him and then drew away slightly. “Now I’m going to leave. Parasite and I will be able to live better lives with...with our friends. He…” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, frizzing it up slightly out of pure stress. “...He’s been having a lot of issues. There’s a senshi who keeps trying to kill him. Some guy with cinnamon. I’ve heard about him twice now. I won’t lie, I’m afraid for him a lot...but I know that I can’t mother hen him forever…”
Cavansite swallowed. “...I’m really glad that he came to me though. I can’t wait for you all to meet him…” Her eyes flickered to Michel and she hesitated. “...Well...You and Evan, at least...I don’t think Mr. Blonde likes me so much…”
Though, considering who she thought he might have been...it made perfect sense.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:20 pm
"He doesn't like anyone," Evan muttered, and Ammersee didn't disagree. Michel didn't either; he simply scowled and kept his grip on Evan. He seemed to have recuperated from whatever hidden strain he was hiding from them, and stood up a little taller.
Ammersee frowned slightly; he was still considering her words. "You're the second person to mention trouble from a cinnamon senshi. I found one choking out a Negaverse agent a few months back, mid October, I think. Grabbed him and ran, because, well."
He was quiet for a moment.
"I don't want someone to die. And it was an unfair fight, too. Senshi was Eternal, Agent was only a lieutenant. And didn't look like he was any good at fights, he had a couple scars on his face. So," he shrugged. "...Haven't seen that Senshi since, but it makes me worry if he's preying on newer agents."
...Might be better to pick them off before they could turn into stronger monsters, but Ammersee couldn't help but feel a pang of dread at the idea that someone could have killed him before he'd had the chance to take a better path.
"...I can't say he'll be any safer, facing off against the Negaverse, but at least he'll have a team of us to look after him. And you, too." He squeezed her. "...Just about everyone I know seems to be a Senshi or a Knight. So we look after each other."
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 3:51 pm
Cavansite hesitated, remembering back to when she helped Parisite after he had first been attacked. A dude in teal saved my a**. I don’t think he was supposed to.. She drew in a sharp breath and drew away, looking the Squire up and down, her eyes catching sight of the Neptune symbols on the outfit. “...I think. I’m quite sure that you saved him, Ammersee. Yu...ah, Parasite told me that someone wearing teal saved him and...well.”
Gesturing to his uniform, she couldn’t hide her smile. “...You fit the bill quite well, if I do say so myself.”
Her eyes roamed around the wonder and she shook her head, wrinkling her nose. “...I...think I prefer the other wonders that I’ve been to much more than this...it’s creepy here...ah…” Her mind was racing a mile a minute and she drew in a deep, calming breath. “Thank you for saving him, Ammersee, and you...blondie, thank you for...thank you for bringing me here to talk, and Evan…” Cavansite’s smile grew as she looked at the boy. “...Thank you for being you. You’re...quite outstanding, in case you didn’t know that. An amazing cook, and an even better person. I’m...excited to see what kind of a friend you’ll be. I do hope you like Parisite too...He could use more good people in his life. He...thinks pretty low of himself…”
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 4:19 pm
Ammersee blinked, obviously surprised. "Well--no, he would have mentioned it was the Knight who gave him a good tossing a few days earlier, I'm sure." But...Cavansite would know better than him, and he found himself just sort of nervously squirming. "I broke up a fight between him and a Cosmos Knight and forgot how strong I was. I felt a little bad about it, when I saw him getting the life squeezed out of him..."
He shrugged, because it was self explanatory.
Michel just scoffed, like it was a wasted effort, but Evan wasn't so sure he wouldn't have done the same and squinted up at him.
"Michel," he muttered.
"Mont Saint Michel," he corrected, still watching Cavansite.
"You can let go, she's not gonna turn me into a youma again," Evan muttered, almost too soft to hear; he wriggled in Michel's arms like a toddler who was tired of so much affection.
Michel didn't relent, though, and held fast.
Evan gave up faster than he did and just slumped, looking up at Cavansite again. He was ignoring the spooky castle in the distance, trying to focus on their faces, on the people there. "I'll be his friend."
"Evan, don't say that. You haven't even met him."
"I don't have to," he persisted, eyes still on the General. "I said I'll be his friend, so tell him that. That I want to meet him."
"You're being overdramatic," Michel nagged, pinching at his arm. "You're just showing off because she said nice things about you."
"I meant it," he said, the hint of a temper flaring, because he was tired of having to repeat himself. To Cavansite, his tone was only determined, "I want to meet him. I don't care if he made mistakes. Lots of people do. And mostly I'm only good for cooking, or--" he shrugged, huffed, and forced himself to stand taller. "When are you going to see him again? Let me go back to my truck. I'll make him dinner. And a care package, and you can give him my number. I'll make you dinner too. We can figure out a plan for all of this. And if you need a place to stay after--"
"Don't," Michel warned, but Evan interrupted, "I don't care if I have to give you my room, Tobias and I can sleep on the couch.
Michel gave him a look.
"Cambria will say yes," Evan justified. "--The girl you saw earlier, Cavansite. My friend. She likes to help people. So we'll help you. Please let us. You two aren't alone."
Ammersee glanced between them but nodded, he was still holding Cavansite gently and it was clear whose side he was going to be on in the matter. He had to consider her, and Gale.
He would keep their family together if they could.
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:56 pm
“He would like you, Evan. He works at a restaurant too. He cooks. That’s what...that’s what drew me to him...he was bringing home leftovers...and I was hungry. He made garlic chicken and...it was really good. I love when he cooks for me.” Cavansite hesitated and gave a little grin. “I promise I won’t use you for food, Not just for food, at least, but...the idea of you two cooking together, and Sterling, he....he’s the knight, I guess. One of his boyfriends. He bakes. He…”
She gave a happy sigh. “He bakes wonderful things. And it seems like he’s always baking. Get you three together and I’ll eat enough to hibernate for the rest of the winter.”
The offer to stay with them was so kind, and Cavansite swallowed, though paused. “...To...tobias?” Her eyes slid to Ammersee, hope rising in them. “...Like…your Tobias? Your brother?”
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:28 pm
Ammersee hesitated and his eyes shot up, like he was surprised she'd caught that. He managed a little smile, almost sheepish. "Ah, you got me. Yeah. It's him. He got to keep his first name, I had to get a little creative. We had this whole plan worked out. It wasn't easy, and it was kind of a pain, but...we made it work. Typical him, though. Leave all the heavy lifting to someone else. But." He glanced at Evan.
"He fell in love. So ultimately, we're all doing better now than we were in the Negaverse." He didn't look at Michel, who had since gone back to looking at the castle in the distance. Evan was firm in his grip, but neither was fussing at the moment.
"He has multiple boyfriends?" Evan asked, looking up again. "They're not in the Negaverse too, are they? ...It won't make any difference if he purifies but one of them just drags him back into it. But...he should tell them, before he does it. So they know what to expect. So he has a support system. When he purifies, he wont look the same. If he doesn't tell them, they might not recognize him. And...I don't know how anyone could do this without knowing anyone," he said softly. "It'll be a hard conversation, but...it's one he should have. And--and you should let us know if there's anything we can do, Cavansite."
Ammersee nodded. "I wrote notes to myself. I know others who did too." He didn't out Michel, who had turned his attention back to the conversation once it had been mentioned.
"It was enough to give me an understanding of what happened, in case I forgot too much. And the people around me, people I loved and trusted, they helped me understand that it was real, helped me process what had happened. The more people you can tell, the more people you can trust to know...the better chance you have of coming out okay right off the bat."]
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