|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 6:59 pm
Quote: The Meteor Shower (3) : It wouldn’t be a star festival without a meteor shower! Right on time, a beautiful array of shooting stars graces the night sky. This time of year is unnaturally clear and it’s incredibly easy to see the stars. Most meteor fragments appear to be little white or yellow lights streaming across the sky, but if you watch closely enough you may find that some of them seem to be a whole rainbow of colors. The scientists have reported that it’s just different components burning up as they enter the atmosphere, but there’s something undeniably magical about it.
The sky was beautiful again tonight though, and the small, almost secluded hill he was laying on, gazing up at the little pinpricks of rainbow light…it almost was enough to make him feel calm. Happy, even. Thankfully, there were no auras of Pages around to ruin his peace, and he lay there…almost oblivious to the world…or…oblivious enough until the aura of a Squire came into his sensing range.
Gritting his teeth, Gismondine closed his eyes and counted to ten. Twice. Maybe they would go away. Maybe whoever it was would simply drift away, not wanting to get into a scuffle. He thought he had given himself enough distance away from everything to just…exist but.
He supposed that as long as there were people on the other side of this war…existence just wasn’t going to be easy.
The thought was enough to make him deflate slightly and he opened his eyes to look back at the sky once again, his good mood gone, and his desire to do anything gone with it. Let whoever it was come. He didn’t care. Not really, at least. If it was a fight that they wanted. So be it.
Maybe he could…take another Starseed…or something.
The thought almost made him gag.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 7:33 pm
"Oh, you."
Meninx hadn't planned on running into the Negaverse tonight but it was an inevitable side effect of his travels. And, it was what he was supposed to do, anyway.
If he had to run into anyone, at least it was this General. It was hard to see him as much of a threat when he'd seen him crying. Although, he was still trying to figure out why he appeared in Jace's office, but...
Maybe he could get some answers tonight.
"...What are you doing out here? Did you come out here to watch the meteor shower?"
...Actually, he looked a little sick. Meninx wasn't sure what to make of that but he did his best not to come across as threatening. He really wanted to know what this guy's deal was; he didn't want to chase him off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 7:46 pm
…Oh him? Gismondine looked up and scowled, trying to see who it was, and finally just scoffed. “Do we know one another? I would have remembered someone in colors like those, I'm sure.”
The fact that the Squire seemed to recognize him…honestly? Didn’t bother him as much as it should have. There were people in the Negaverse who had to look alike. Either that or he had gotten around Order after killing the girl.
…It wasn’t a good thought but.
“I did come to watch the meteor shower, yes. I was trying to enjoy it earlier and a Page got in my way. And now a Squire seems to want to do the same. I think I might be better just trying to watch it on Youtube…” If he wasn’t going to get the peace and time to do it. Well.
“What do you want? Did you just come out her to bother me while I watch the meteor shower?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:07 pm
“I’ve seen you around. Was a while ago. Not surprised that you don’t remember me.” He could have blamed it on any number of big fights that happened occasionally throughout the city but he was banking on the agent not asking questions.
He adjusted his staff, mindful not to let the purple star charm jingle too much. He didn’t want to draw attention to it, but he couldn’t help that he kept finding them. It just seemed wrong to leave them on the ground.
“I actually came out to watch the meteor shower. Nobody else is around. Who says we have to fight? You’re not going to try to pull out my starseed if I’m around, are you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:11 pm
Gismondine sat up at that, glaring at the Squire with real anger in his expression. It…wasn’t one that he normally wore, but the words had caused him to go pale, and as Gismondine curled his hand into a fist, he winced as something poked him. A crimson Star Charm lay on the ground and he picked it up, looking at it for a long moment, and then slipping it into subspace without a word.
“Who’s to say that I won’t. Maybe that’s what I’m good at. I’m a General, after all.”
His anger was still sharp, and though he forced himself to take a breath and lay down…
…there was a part of him…that he truly didn’t want to acknowledge…but. That wanted to pull this man’s Starseed. Just to see what it looked like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:14 pm
“Well, I was hoping that you’d say you wouldn’t.”
Meninx wasn’t sure if he was second guessing himself or the General in front of him. It wasn’t like him to take wild risks but the General wasn’t acting like he remembered. Usually, Meninx was good at reading people.
Now, it was just too dangerous to be wrong.
He wondered if he should just teleport up to Mars while he was calm enough to focus and then come back when he was sure the General was gone.
He’d give it a moment more.
“Why are you so defensive about it? I didn’t come here to fight. I was trying to be friendly.”
…Although, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d done a poor job of ‘making friends’. He was his mother’s son, after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2024 7:29 pm
Gismondine hummed and shook his head. “It’s my job, don’t you know.” He didn’t sound…thrilled by it. Didn’t sound pleased with himself but. That didn’t seem like it was something that he normally did. “Why did you want to be friendly? I’m your enemy.”
The note of confusion, of…something in the General’s voice was easy to hear.
I’m supposed to hunt you. To kill you. To lure you into Chaos with me. Doesn’t…that bar you from wanting to be friendly with me?”
It didn’t make much sense but. Knights were stupid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2024 7:53 pm
Meninx was quiet for a few seconds. The General was right, of course. It was foolish to try and ‘make friends’. It wasn’t even that he wanted to do that with the man in front of him.
He just wanted to know why he’d come to Jace’s office.
Now, it hardly seemed like the same guy at all.
He sounded bitter about the whole ordeal, sure, but he wasn’t saying much in any way that reassured Meninx.
The Mars Knight was stubborn, of course. His mind wasn’t so easily swayed. He had his doubts about approaching Gismondine in the first place.
Meninx was prideful, but he could admit–to himself, now–that maybe he was wrong.
Maybe this had been a bad idea. Maybe this wasn’t the man who had come to his office.
It wasn’t worth getting starseeded or attacked or any other sort of nonsense to humor his curiosity. He wasn’t here for the meteor shower.
“You won’t lure me into Chaos. I know my place.” He might not understand it, but he knew he wasn’t going to be tempted into the Negaverse. He wasn’t going to lose everything he’d worked for.
“The Negaverse isn’t for me. I guess I’d wondered if it was the place for you but I didn’t come here to offend. I don’t have any intention of causing trouble. It’s a nice night. I’ll leave you to your meteor shower.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2024 7:56 pm
Gismondine frowned slightly and glanced back over at the Squire, seeming to be thinking something over…very hard. “What do you mean? You were wondering if it’s the place for me?”
Something wasn’t really adding up, he wasn’t…understanding everything. Why would this guy just…say such a thing. They didn’t know one another. They hadn’t exchanged names, hadn’t done anything but.
This guy clearly.
“...Why would you think that of me…? Do I just…give off such a vibe?” He was confused. Truly confused, and…he didn’t want to just. Be left to the meteor shower. “You can stay. If you want.” If the Squire didn’t want to stay…he would just leave too. No point in…getting lost in thoughts he didn’t want to think about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 11:07 am
For a few seconds, Meninx didn’t move. He seemed to be contemplating things but he didn’t drag it out. He was quick and decisive when he needed to be.
So he stayed.
Because the General didn’t actually seem to know what he wanted.
“I suppose you could say that. I’m not trying to insult you. I see it a lot in my day to day things.” In the mirror, really. “Going through the motions but your heart doesn’t seem in it. Maybe I just caught you on a bad day or something. But it’s not like anyone really has the time to sit and think about things. Especially not when we’re always supposed to be fighting. I thought I’d give it a shot.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 5:27 pm
“Mm…” Gismondine shook his head after a moment and shrugged, looking…tired after he did so. “What do you want to talk about then? What interests you about me? Why…” He couldn’t quite understand why. And that…was…an issue. “You are…so sure that you don’t wish to join the Negaverse, and yet you wish to just…talk with someone of…of obviously higher strength…”
His voice trailed off and he shrugged at the thought. “You’re brave, I guess. It feels like this is bravery.”
Gismondine hesitated. “...What’s it like, being a Knight? What’s so special about it?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2024 8:53 am
Bold, maybe. Not brave. Meninx just trusted in himself. He was confident.
Did it really matter if this General was stronger when he’d see him crumble into a broken little mess?
Meninx still couldn’t figure out why he’d come to see him. In his office. It wasn’t like Jace had a lot of friends, and the ones he did have–
Well, he doubted this was a client of his. There was some sort of familiarity there, he just couldn’t put his finger on it. So he proceeded with caution.
“Freedom, I guess. To be who you want to be. It’s nice to know you can walk your own path. You seem like you’re pressed beneath someone’s thumb. And maybe I’m wrong. I’ve just seen it before. The constant pressure, like if someone applies enough force you’ll be what they want. Only, they don’t care how many cracks you get, as long as you’re cut in the image they want.” He shrugged. “I’m not trying to insult you or anything. I’m just saying, that’s what the Negaverse looks like to me. Being a Knight…I don’t do it justice trying to explain it. But I guess there’s something to be said about being trusted with a whole little corner of the universe that’s just yours. Have you ever been off of Earth?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 7:52 am
“...Off…of Earth?”
Gismondine was listening to everything that the Squire was saying, but this…this question…this…impossible question had him a little confused…and a little…well.
More than a little curious.
“I’m no…no billionaire who can just…whisk off to Space…if that’s what you’re asking?”
He…honestly wasn’t sure but.
“...Have…you been off of Earth? Are you some kind of billionaire…?” Honestly, Gismondine didn’t expect an answer but…it was worth asking, maybe? “...You…I mean…It’s…it’s not….it…I used to…I mean…I had a lot of…of support…before…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 6:45 pm
Meninx frowned and looked at him thoughtfully. “What do they teach you about Senshi and Knights in the Negaverse? I’m not mocking you,” he clarified, “I’m just a bit confused. I don’t need money or anything to get off of Earth. It’s just magic.”
He was a grown man, it sounded a little silly to say.
But then, they were standing on a hill in these strange outfits, talking. Maybe this whole thing was silly enough to be taken seriously.
“I haven’t taken many people up there.” He hadn’t gone up much himself, either. “...I go every few weeks, though. Up to my Wonder on Mars. I can’t go right now, I don’t have the energy for it. But some time in the future, maybe…”
His voice trailed off. He shrugged. “You could come see it with me. We could talk. If you wanted. No strings attached, just some quiet time away from Earth. You could tell me about the support you had ‘before’. And about what happened to it?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 6:49 pm
Huh. He hadn’t really known that, but Gismondine nodded slowly. “Yeah. If you’re o-offering I’d like…to go to space…”
It still sounded like a trick…or a trap but…it also sounded…really cool and how could he…refuse, really.
“I…I would like that. When…is good for you? We can meet here again? If that’s best?”
It seemed best.
But. Just how much was he going to dump on this…Mars Squire? He wasn’t really sure but…it was going to be a lot.
“I’m…Gismondine. By the way. General Gismondine…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
