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 Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 3:58 pm
Devyn wasn’t nocturnal, not really. He was used to the dark, and his body still seemed like it was trying to acclimate to Earth’s clear night and day. On Alastor, everything was dark, and as the–time–went on, he’d sort of forgotten when one began and the other ended.
He liked that things were clearer on Earth. He liked being able to go out in the daytime, to be able to see.
Night was a little more difficult. He’d been up for nearly an hour, but he’d at least stayed in his borrowed room. He slept with the light on, so there was really no telling if he was awake or not if he wasn’t pacing around.
Realistically, he knew that he was supposed to be sleeping right now, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. It wasn’t even hunger, he was still full from his second–third?–dinner.
It was just dark, and still.
He left the light on in his room, just to make sure the shadows didn’t creep in while he was away, and closed the door quietly behind him. He didn’t make a habit of stalking the house after dark; he didn’t want to wake up Michael or Peter. He didn’t like the darkness of the house and walked with one hand trailing against the wall. He didn’t understand exactly how Michael’s house worked, but he appreciated the way the kitchen lit up when someone came in. He wasn’t there for food, but he didn’t really spend much time in the other rooms if he didn’t have company. It wasn’t that he thought he wasn’t welcome–Peter had said he was enough times that Devyn believed it–but he couldn’t help that he still felt like he was intruding.
Maybe it was just the darkness nagging at his consciousness. He walked into the kitchen and made himself a glass of water, drank half of it, and set it back down on the counter. He could see lights out of the window, and he couldn’t help but think about what he wouldn’t have given to see lights coming out of the shadows back home.
He crossed his arms over his chest and just watched the lights of other living, breathing people, probably tucked away safe in their homes, or out living their lives without any care or worry. He didn’t move for so long that the motion activated lights shut off, and it was his own fault for letting his mind wander so far that he didn’t even notice.
He just kept watching the lights outside, waiting for them to get bigger, waiting for something to move.
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:00 pm
Something did move, and the motion detector lights flickered on underneath the cabinets. Michael paused when he saw Devyn standing there in the kitchen, wondering if maybe he should turn around and pretend that he hadn’t been there. Which would have been stupid because the light probably already alerted Devyn to his unintentional company.
“Can’t sleep?” Michael asked, figuring it was only polite to try and talk to their guest. Their guest who came from a different world and was looking for someone who had passed long ago.
“Me neither,” he forced a shrug, glad that it was still relatively dark in the kitchen, despite the lights that made it easier to see without turning everything on. He felt a little shaky, and expected his complexion to be paler than normal. His heart rate was still elevated, but usually getting up and walking around pushed any unpleasant dreams aside. For a while, at least.
“If it’s too quiet in your room, I think there’s an extra noise machine in the garage. It makes white noise that helps tone out any weird sounds you might not be used to. I think it has a rain setting too. Or babbling brook. Those kinds of things,” he explained as he went to the cabinet to fish out a glass for water for himself. He knew he was just talking to fill the silence. Maybe as a distraction for himself. Maybe for Devyn.
“It’s probably pretty weird being on Earth, isn’t it?”
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:22 pm
When the lights came on, Devyn at first thought he’d set them off. He should have been paying attention to the way the air moved around him, it would have told him that someone was approaching. He didn’t think he was losing his edge, he just wasn’t on edge around Michael. Peter, too, to a lesser degree. He didn’t quite understand it, Peter was the friendlier of the two, but there was something he understood about Michael, even without being told.
“Very strange,” Devyn agreed, quietly; Michael might have been awake, but he didn’t want to rouse Peter, too. He looked away from the lights outside to focus instead on the ones inside. Or, more accurately, the way Michael looked under their glow.
“It’s not too quiet,” he said, instead of saying he didn’t know what a noise machine was, or that he didn’t think the sound of rain or water was particularly comforting. An old scar ached on his chest, and he raised a hand to massage it.
“I can hear the city from here. It’s different from what I’m used to. Different from what my world ever sounded like, but. I don’t dislike it. Why are you up so late?”
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:27 pm
Michael was glad he had the glass of water to give himself a reasonable amount of time to stall. He could just tell Devyn that he couldn’t sleep. He didn’t need to go into details. Devyn probably wouldn’t even want to know the details. No one would.
“Too hot I guess. Woke up,” he shrugged instead. It would explain any sweat along his brow he hadn’t managed to wipe away.
“It’s a pretty good location. Not too close, but close enough to walk. This neighborhood has a lot of new houses being built, but they’ve done a pretty good job keeping the big oak trees instead of cutting them down. They help keep down the noise, too,” Michael explained, gesturing to one of the large trees in question in the front yard.
The Christmas lights were currently turned off, so as not to agitate the neighbors, but when they were on there was a projection of sparkling lights aimed up at the trunk and bare branches so it looked like it was shimmering. The rest of the house and yard had been set up with lights and decorations as well, which added a much higher level of festive cheer at great odds to what Michael was apparently capable of displaying, himself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:27 am
Devyn thought the temperature was comfortable, but he knew everyone was different so he didn’t question the validity of Michael’s explanation. “I like the oak trees,” Devyn mused, and raised his glass to his lips. He was as quiet as he could manage, and leaned against the counter.
His mind was constantly overflowing with questions, but maybe it was the hour, or how uncomfortable Michael already looked, so Devyn was careful with them now.
When he lowered the glass he continued, “I’m used to them being a little bigger. But these are cute.” He didn’t mention that they seemed perfectly climbable and he’d wondered if he could slip away for long enough to reach the top before someone went looking for him.
“Have you been to other worlds?” he asked, but–oh, he was supposed to not ask pointless questions. Well, it wasn’t pointless, just. Not important enough to keep Michael awake if he was trying to go back to sleep. He changed the subject just slightly so Michael didn’t have to get into anything and added, “I keep comparing Earth to places I know. Sometimes something here reminds me of home. Or Jupiter. I’ve spent most of my time between the two. Usually when I traveled anywhere else, I knew what I was doing there. Talks, or conferences, or politics,” he shrugged. “I don’t remember the last time I went somewhere and didn’t know what the plan was. I keep thinking I’ll miss what I’m supposed to do here.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 9:32 am
Michael tried very hard not to let his lip twitch into a smile, because of course the cute, large oak trees in the neighborhood were nothing compared to the giant oak trees of Sessrumnir and Valhalla.
“Traveling to other worlds isn’t really a luxury many have,” Michael explained, although there was nothing but patience in his voice. He didn’t mind answering Devyn’s questions. He just wasn’t going to be completely honest in the off chance that he told Devyn something best kept secret.
“Only Senshi and Knights can visit their own worlds, and sometimes can bring a guest or two. With that phone you got, you should be able to get back to yours. I’m assuming Peter already showed you how it worked?”
He didn’t know how long Devyn was going to stay, depending on what the others decided to tell him, but Michael certainly wasn’t going to be the one to break the news to him. If there were others to confirm the information, then it would be more believable.
“Don’t worry about missing what you’re supposed to do. I’m sorry you’re having to wait, but you should get some answers soon,” Michael said, hiding his frown by taking another sip of water. Being told that a loved one was actually dead was never easy. Devyn should at least be around people who can keep him company if he wanted it, and sympathize with him. Michael knew his family could be overbearing, but if Ganymede knew him in the past, then maybe she’d be able to offer more comfort than just saying it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:08 am
He nodded when asked if Peter had shown him; he’d nearly pressed the button to go back to his world if only because he wanted to take a quick peek, but he didn’t want to risk being stuck there–not without any idea on how to reach Percy, first. He’d have offered to try and take someone with him but he didn’t want to risk anyone else getting hurt.
“The waiting is a bit difficult,” he confessed, but it seemed like he considered this more of a weakness on his part than something to resent anyone else for. “I’ve never really been good at it. You don’t owe me an apology,” he insisted. “You and Peter have been kinder than I expected. I thought I was going to be on my own for this. I’m grateful for anything. Even if it’s a direction to start walking in. Percy would probably tell me to take it easy and stay in one place, anyway,” he sighed, but there was a fondness in his voice.
“I’m very good at getting lost. He’s very good at finding me.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:22 am
Michael chewed on the inside of his cheek as he considered Devyn’s words. He wasn’t really a fan of things like fate and destiny. Maybe once upon a time when he was a little less bitter about the world, but a tiny voice in the back of his head couldn’t seem to help but ask him if it still was Percy who was very good at finding Devyn.
Except Percy wasn’t there. He hadn’t been alive for maybe a thousand years or more. Just because Michael knew where Percy’s starseed ended up didn’t mean that it had anything to do with him realizing some idiot Senshi was walking around powered in the middle of the day.
But then why did his chest feel tight? It was in a similar way to how he felt when he was looking through the different items on the tables Almadel had spread out. How he’d somehow been drawn to a tiny, blackened orb that began to turn golden the moment it touched his palm.
The necklace in question was tucked under his shirt. He knew the significance of it, and part of him wanted to just give it to Devyn and be done with any connection that might be assumed was there. Because Michael wasn’t Percy. And he certainly didn’t want anyone talking about him in the kind, loving way Devyn spoke of his spouse.
“It was Peter’s idea,” he mumbled and shrugged. “I’m just here to supply the food and shelter. But try not to get lost. It can be pretty dangerous out there, especially for a Senshi.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:40 pm
Devyn laughed softly, nothing particularly zealous. It was good natured and quiet and the smile lingered on his face for a moment afterwards. “Food and shelter and clothes. Yours are starting to fit a little better already, by the way, so the food must be working.”
Peter’s idea or not, Michael hadn’t kicked him out, and Devyn was sure he wasn’t there for just providing necessities. He’d come along with them when they’d powered up to go out. Devyn had deduced that he was protective of his brother, and he wondered if that was why he went out when Oberon did–even if he couldn’t power up, he still wanted to make sure his brother was safe.
He thought it was sweet but he didn’t think he should say that part out loud.
“I hope I can find some way to repay you for all of this.”
He didn’t say it as if he thought their goodwill was a currency to be traded, and he wasn’t going to pay them back in favors just to settle a bill. Instead, he sounded like he wanted to help somehow because that felt like the right thing to do–and, maybe he wanted an excuse to be around them. Not that he would admit–or maybe didn’t even recognize–that he was lonely, but it was always good to have allies.
“I know I’m not really easy to be around,” he said, which sounded a bit like an apology. He’d been on his best behavior, of course, but the way he spoke seemed to carry a different sort of weight. It wasn’t just that he asked a lot of questions or ate a lot of food, or spent an hour in the shower, or disrupted their schedule; something in the way he said it sounded more like was used to his presence alone being difficult.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:00 pm
“Keep them. They look good on you,” Michael said with a small nod to gesture to the clothes Devyn was wearing. Not that they couldn’t just… go out and buy Devyn new clothes. Michael frowned at himself, at how easy it was for him to offer something to Devyn despite barely knowing him.
He was a Senshi from another time, in a manner of speaking. And yet there was no telling what hardships he faced. Or how long he’d been alone.
“You’re easier to be around than Peter sometimes,” Michael sighed and leaned against one of the counters, moving his hand underneath to make sure the lights didn’t turn off from no movement. “He’s not as troublesome now, but he was this tall and running around after monsters as a Chibi Senshi not too long ago,” he said, showing Devyn with his hand how tall Peter used to be. Which was pretty short when compared to how much he’d grown.
“Don’t worry about it. You’re welcome here whenever you want,” he said after a moment, because it was important that Devyn had access to safety and something to eat. Everyone did, but it was easier when they sort of knew who he was. And knew that him being out in the city on his own was more of a risk due to the nature of him being not just a Senshi but also unfamiliar with Earth.
“Well, it’s not like I’m really easy to be around either, so… I guess I should apologize for giving you a hard time before. Sorry.”
If he was willing to admit it, which he wasn’t, he was scared of what it meant that someone from the past was there on Earth now. What did that mean? Was Lyndin right in that they had no idea what was beyond the broken Surrounding?
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:49 pm
Devyn blinked twice before he spoke, and he took that time to sift through the memories he had of Michael. None of which, he noted, were unpleasant. “You gave me a hard time?”
He thought harder on it but shrugged dismissively. “I don’t think I noticed at all, sorry.”
There were probably a hundred different things he could thank Michael for, so he bundled them all up in a single, “Thank you. For everything.” The clothes weren’t what he would have picked for himself, but of course he appreciated knowing that he looked decenter wearing Michael’s; he was still trying to understand Earth fashion–but, at least Michael had good taste to get him started with.
The offer to be here whenever he wanted meant something to him that he couldn’t quite place; it wasn’t exactly an alliance, and it wasn’t quite home, but it was something. He’d take whatever he could get, but there was something beyond reassuring to know that there was a place for him here if he needed it.
“It’s probably best that you met me now and not when I was a Chibi Senshi. I was definitely more troublesome back then. And I ate twice as much,” he said, and almost even sounded sorry for it. “Peter seems like he’s turned out all right, though? He’s got a big heart.” He’d have had to, to be so concerned with protecting the animals–monsters–attacking them. His water glass was empty but he didn’t refill it. He set it down on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope he doesn’t lose that.”
He hoped it didn’t get him killed, either.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:55 pm
“I haven’t given you a hard time?” Michael asked, a little surprised at himself. He thought he could have been more forthcoming with answers. Maybe he didn’t have to tell Devyn that he didn’t trust him. Maybe he could have tried answering some of his questions instead of letting Peter do it. Or maybe he could have helped with getting Devyn to power down, instead of giving Peter a hard time.
Maybe it was Peter he should be apologizing to as well.
“I guess I’m not trying hard enough,” he said with a small, incredulous laugh. He was back to biting at his cheek, because he knew things were going to be difficult for Devyn. He knew that he thought things were real that weren’t. People coped with grief in their own ways, and Michael wondered how broken Percy’s death left Devyn. Clearly to the point where he no longer believed it happened in the first place.
“Peter is a good kid,” Michael agreed, because it was easier to talk about his brother than it was to talk about more difficult things. “You’re easy to talk to,” was not something he meant to say out loud. It had him pausing suddenly, and then he laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. “I meant…” he tried to correct, although the words had already been spoken. “I bet you were just as cute as Peter was when you were a Chibi Senshi. Troublesome or not.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 8:21 pm
Michael’s laugh eased Devyn in a way he couldn’t quite wrap his head around. Maybe it was just that it was so normal. The shadows didn’t seem so dark, and for a moment Devyn didn’t feel like the outsider he knew he was.
Michael was easy to talk to; he didn’t say it out loud but he thought it very loudly. There was something easy about him. Peter was wonderful! Peter was very enthusiastic and passionate. Michael was–
Well, Devyn couldn’t really describe that, either. He knew he’d seen Michael move his hand to keep the lights on, and he was pretty sure that Michael didn’t need to see to know where he was. Maybe he hadn’t done it for Devyn, but he’d still benefited from it. Devyn didn’t like the dark; Michael chasing away was one less thing for him to worry about.
“I’ve been told I was very cute. I don’t think it was always meant to be a compliment, though.” He seemed amused, anyway. “I didn’t have a big brother watching out for me, so it was sort of a guessing game for who was looking out for me and who was looking out for themselves. I didn’t make a lot of friends as a kid. Pretty sure I was too shy for the first year, and then I was too bratty after that. Then, I was just too busy. You didn’t really need friends when you were a Senshi, back where I come from. I think, it’s probably a good thing that’s different here.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 8:36 pm
“Your world is different from Earth,” Michael said as an observation. He knew very little about where Devyn came from. Part of him didn’t want to know. He didn’t want to get close to someone who would leave soon, once he found out the truth. Or at least part of the truth. As much as they were willing to share with him.
As much as Michael was willing to share. Maybe it was easier if Devyn didn’t know everything. If he remained blissfully unaware of just how much had changed from one lifetime to the next.
“Peter was lucky he was awakened here in Destiny City. The rest of Earth…” Michael paused and then shook his head. “It’s dangerous everywhere else. More so than here. The Negaverse has control over almost everything. But for some reason, we’ve managed to hold onto the city. Cosmos must have decided to pack as many Senshi here as possible, in the hopes of trying to take back the Earth from Chaos. It’s not working very well,” he admitted with a frown.
"We'll be able to fight them on equal ground soon enough," he said quietly, almost as an afterthought as he stared somewhere at the floor.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2022 6:04 am
Devyn followed Michael’s eyes to the floor, found nothing, and looked back up at him.
He supposed it made sense, especially because this wasn’t sending skilled warriors to battle, it was awakening them here to it. Better to give them the opportunity to awaken in a stronghold where they had the chance to learn.
But, still.
“Earth must be special,” he said, and didn’t quite sound jealous, but there was something contemplative in his tone. Something not quite happy. “I wonder why she chose here.”
He could have used some backup.
Oh. But then, maybe she thought Alastor was a lost cause.
His expression settled into something of a frown but he pushed the thought aside and asked, “Have you found some weakness of theirs? Or some weapon you can use against them?”
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