The Beginning
A notice appears from Tama on all coms connected to General-King Faustite's Team:
’Please meet me on the edge of Destiny City. Follow my coordinates. No time to explain.’
Tama
No one had seen Tama since the incident at the museum. He had shut himself in MauvianHQ and not a word had been heard from him since. Rumor has it that he was working on some sort of device day and night with hardly a break for rest.
And whatever it was he was working on, not even another Mauvian could have told you.
The coordinates led to a street on the city’s lesser maintained ends. It’s an old drag that seems like it isn’t used very often. Old shops line the way — once vibrant, but now in decay.
On the ground, in front of what looks to be an old cafe or bar or other such establishment, is the Mauvian’s tablet pen, abandoned.
Eternal Albite
Albite teleported halfway, ran the rest, enjoying the way the stale breeze caught his dreads and made the metal tips that studded the ends of them jingle when they collided with something solid, or tangled together amongst themselves. There was something eerily beautiful about the way that particular sound echoed across all the concrete, the empty streets, the cracked, faded facades of semi-abandoned shop-fronts.
He skidded to a stop on thick heels atop one of the lower slung rooftops that held an awning streaked in pigeon s**t; red and white slashed shading hanging along the ledge, protecting the ground below from rays that had just begun to crest in the early morning.
He looked out—
The lack of an aura nagged the edges of his senses, auburn eyes flashing over untrimmed walkways and windows filled with closed signs. Looking for fun, fur, a cat-tastic good time!
Seeing ********…” but maybe the ‘here’ he thought he was supposed to be at wasn’t quite ‘there’ enough? So he tucked himself up like a gargoyle and waited; for better ears, or better eyes, or a sign of life. Could always be this was just a bit of hide n seek?! A surprise Tama hadn’t wanted to ruin with long winded explanations?! Had to be!
Basic Ilmari
Ilmari had been out late on this patrol, mostly due to just……not wanting to go home. Which was, he could admit to himself, weird and unnecessary. He lived alone. Part of what he’d wanted in sweet-talking his parents and Aunt Mina into renting the townhouse for him was the ability to live alone, to not get kicked out of his room at random hours because his roommate wanted to have sex. Even if anyone else had moved into the townhouse, the way that Baz’s parents kept nagging him about, they at least would’ve had separate rooms and the capacity for privacy.
So, why did all the “Have you been talking to your friends? Have you been looking for anyone who might need a new roommate?” nonsense out of his parents make him feel so ill-at-ease about being at home? You know, the place where he didn’t need to feel that way?
No matter tonight, though. Getting a ping on his tablet to convene with Tama, one of the team’s Mauvian advisors, was exactly what Ilmari needed. His patrol had, conveniently, placed him very near the correct part of town, too. Fewer people were likely to cause problems about draining energy around here, he thought. Order senshi and their Knights, he’d noticed, tended to stick to city parks, brightly lit streets near the areas of town where people lived like Destiny City’s strange monsters and mystery comas could never touch them, or maybe the slightly darker alleys just off from those places. Breaking off from the rounds of gathering energy to go help someone else on the team felt like……just what one did.
Plus, running across rooftops and leaping around like a superhero made Ilmari feel Very Cool.
Thankfully, Albite was already at Tama’s coordinates when Ilmari showed up……even though they seemed otherwise alone.… And even though Eternal Albite had, inexplicably, apparently decided to perch on the awning of a rundown shop like a questionable Batman cosplayer.
“Boss,” Ilmari said, staring up at him bemusedly. “Please be careful up there? We can’t exactly help Tama if you break your neck before he shows up.”
Also, it seemed unlikely that General-King Faustite would like that happening, but Ilmari assumed that Albite knew that.
In the meantime, there was something very strange glittering on the sidewalk in front of the shop right next to the one Albite had decided to perch on. Crouching down, Ilmari picked up the tablet pen. “Boss, did you drop your tablet pen?”
Haymitch
“I’m worried…” said Haymitch as he perched on Mizuki’s shoulder as the pair moved towards the coordinates. He flicked his tail back and forth with his anxiety. He hadn’t seen Tama lately, and hadn’t even been able to access where he’d been closed off inside the HQ. Tama was the cat for the team; yes Haymitch was there too, but he was Albite’s cat specifically. He also didn’t do like… anything that Tama did and maybe that was why he’d shut himself away?
Did Tama not like him? Or think him immature for being a laze? Or a waste of space? (All these things were kinda true, to be honest, Haymitch just wished Tama would say something about it instead of hiding away.)
The pair rounded a corner and Haymitch bounded off of Mizuki’s shoulder to trot over to Ilmari and the tablet pen. He jumped up and sniffed it, looking up at Albite on the roof once he’d landed.
“It’s Tama’s… but why is it here?”
Super Mizuki
Mizuki had teleported as close as she could, fluffy black cat in tow, and then covered the rest of the distance at a light jog. It was never a good sign when you got nothing but a set of coordinates and a cryptic message. It felt worse coming from one of their Mauvians. When her dad was turning into a youma, at least he talked to his team. Tama had gone pretty much radio silent without a word of warning.
“I know, Haybaby, I know,” she said to the cat on her shoulder, scratching him behind the ear to reassure him. Mizuki wasn’t… worried, per say. She didn’t really feel doubt or worry or the like these days, but she was… concerned. Tama was an integral part of the team, and to go no contact like this…
Mizuki winced as Haymitch launched himself forward to trot up to Albite. No matter how much they tripped his claws, Chaos Mauvians just had sharp little spears on their paws. She waved at Ilmari and Albite, glancing around for any signs of Tama or anyone else.
Super Cryolite
Syrus awoke in a hell of a mood, feeling every ounce the vibe of ‘******** queen, friends, and country’ alike. The incessant beeping that had him prying his sleep crusted eyes open on his *one* day off! Though he supposed it wouldn’tve mattered if it’d been a whole week of ‘days off’, would it? Not if he actively scrutinized the last year from behind his own eyelids – oh, no, – the last *month*, especially. And if he did so with any kind of a focal lens? Then every day was now an off day, even if he wasn’t off from it. Better to not fall into the trap of introspection over that, at least not now, the need to avoid doing so made it a tad bit easier to dig the damn pen out from the bland, white end table topped with an even blander, whiter lamp…
And what he’d expected to find shining back at him over the coms— Truthfully? He didn’t know what he should’ve been expecting at this point. But it wasn’t this. A singular, short, worrisome note from Tama. The cat had always been succinct, but never so short that he couldn’t elaborate when asked to. Syrus remembered that. Coming to Tama with no end of questions, and Tama having no end of answers for him, offering them up with such ease.
Honestly, if it’d been anyone else? He might have simply thrown the damn device out his front door and been done with it.
But it wasn’t just anyone else—
It was Tama. Tama, who had been nothing but kind from minute one; cordial, wise, wonderful to hug. Tama, who he certainly felt he owed more than just a passing glance and bland affect. Syrus was suddenly very awake, very dressed, deep breathing himself through the motions of gearing up again to go out into – Gods, he didn’t even know what to prepare for? An invasion? A monstrous hoard? An entire city block fallen into the depths of some otherworldly plane of existence. So he braced himself for the worst to come, before making his way to the coordinates in the pre-dawn light, quiet as a mist and stern as an early frost.
He expected ooze as he arrived, or bodies, or fire, or Tama—
At the very least he expected Tama to be there. But as he slowly approached the still growing mass of their teammates coming together, he realized Tama was perhaps the only one not present. Not so much as a silvery hair or a hint of an aura…
Not a single look on any of the others' faces settled the nervousness that sat like a dragged nail down the length of his spine. The invasive dig of a thought as he wondered why on earth the Mauvian would summon them all there before he’d arrived. None of it sat right – soured into fear laden bile instantly – as Haymitch’s words caught his ears softly.
‘Tama would’ve never left his pen…’
General / General-King Faustite
He had taken a short leave. Just a day or two, he had said. Just to get some perspective. Remember why he committed himself to this. He knew what he had back at home – a count of husbands, subordinates, medals, books, friends, responsibilities. But with his departure had, however slowly, come the knowledge that perhaps he put too much pressure on himself for the role that he was given.
This was supposed to be something of a short vacation. Time away to recuperate. Time away to see his team, his husbands, perhaps have a little fun for the city at large. But when he returned, he found an ominous note awaiting him on his communicator. Once Headache read it over for him, Faustite motioned for the youma to accompany him.
Faustite knew the area. It was but a thought to teleport there.
Then there were two Faustites, both General by look. The others were there – Mizuki, Haymitch, Albite, Cryolite, and the newest of their lot. Faustite marched up to them, his double in tow, and laid his left hand upon Albite's shoulder as he caught up with the lot.
"Looks like an ambush," said the double behind him. Then, as his aura grew heavy and oppressive over the area, Faustite's right hand gripped the shotel. After a scrambling of light, his double was his exact image.
"Imagine he was captured," Headache mused, but there was no warmth for the Mauvian in its shell of Faustite's voice.
Super Pax
Pax did not, typically, respond to all-calls. Most of the time the situations those were involved with were crowded, filled with irritating people and noise and situations that could've been easily solved if people weren't so worried about looking bad -- if their continued absence from those kinds of situations was a problem, nobody had told them.
It wasn't impossible someone had insinuated it and Pax had missed it, but if that was the truth, then that was that other person's fault for not giving them a clear and concise direction.
Normally they didn't respond to all-calls, no. But they did like Tama, for whatever it was worth, given it felt a lot of the time like half the stupid team was filled with people who'd die if they ever shut their mouths. Tama was easier to get along with and to tolerate, so - for that, if nothing else! - Pax opted into making an appearance.
They'd taken enough time to think over it, and enough time to navigate to the exact coordinates, that they seemed to have gotten there late. Fine with them. Standing around awkwardly because they'd gotten there early was never fun.But with this many people, it meant they didn't have to say anything immediately -- which was also fine with them. They took a position next to Ilmari, one hand's fingers curling and scraping over the outer shell of their headphones, and didn't make a noise outside of their footsteps.
Where was Tama, anyway? Not here. But wouldn't there have been blood, or fur, or something, if there'd been an ambush or whatever?
Eternal Hestia
The maid senshi showed up a minute late with Starbucks. Or rather, a large tray bearing her own skillfully brewed, steeped, and frothed series of drinks. Each cup was the result of months worth of observation, information gathering, and gentle stalking in order to figure out the perfect drink for each of her teammates. Of course, she'd rather show off the results of efforts in a more...comfortable situation, but an urgent team gathering in one of Destiny City's more destitute areas might also be improved with a nice drink.
Each cup bore the name of its intended recipient in her tidy script, and of course, was branded with a logo featuring a cartoon Faustite, shouting, "CAUTION! IT'S HOT!" Except for the few iced drinks, which had a hand written, "NOT" to correct her lack of foresight when ordering this first batch.
Hestia was about to offer up the drinks before they went inside and did something either very cool, very nefarious, or possibly both - when she heard her leader mention the possibility of an abduction. The maid couldn't help but feel a little thrill at the possibility of rescuing someone. The fact that she liked Tama made it even more exciting.
Captain Borax
To say Borax was a bit grouchy was … well, it wouldn't be entirely inaccurate. He wasn't tired, per se. He did have a very specific morning routine on weekdays, though, and it certainly didn't include abductions or being urgently called to meet people in the middle of destitute alleyways. No, right now, he should be finishing up his reps while watching the rest of his stock morning news updates to plan his plays for the day.
Not … this.
That may have been why he teleported in and leaned to stare at all these senshi with an almost miserable roll of his eyes. Seeing Faustite did cause his back to straighten as he disappeared his burner phone, realizing that there was someone there he should try a little harder to impress. However, there was only so much fighting the fact that he was disappointed that he wasn't sure if this was a good day to play another buy of one of those current meme stocks or not…
Hestia received a grunted, “Thanks,” For the after exercise smoothie that she handed him. He wasn't certain this had the right blend of nutrients that he needed for this particular day, but it wasn't like he was going to get what he needed today anyway. Whatever the ******** this all-call was cut off everything anyway.
“To call us here at such an asinine time of day, and to leave all of this behind?” Borax's voice came out surprisingly strong considering the indeed asinine time of day , perhaps a sign of how long he had already been awake. “Seems right for an ambush.”
Maybe he could spear someone for this s**t of dragging him away from his morning routine–
Magnus
Having utilized the teleporter to Romanos and putting out an SoS for a pick up over the communicator. The team didn’t let him down as he was swiftly picked up and escorted to the site of the meeting place.
In feline nature, he walked up to the tablet and pen, sniffing it as if making sure that the obvious suspicions could be true. The articles were certainly Tama’s, but there wasn’t anything odd smelling about them. He sat in front of the devices, tail curling around his feet. “I think they’re in for a surprise if that’s what is planned.” He remarked in response to Faustite as blue eye’s glanced up at the team.
Tama was a well loved member, and someone who had done a lot for the team as a whole. Magnus certainly found the white mauvian to be extremely helpful, especially when Magnus had first been brought into the team. “I highly doubt they expected you to be here.” He said as he looked to Faustite and the nasty shotel that was clenched in the General-King’s hands. Not to mention, if there was one thing Magnus was learning about Order, was that they didn’t tend to coordinate large scale attacks very well or often. Now, there had certainly been times they’d been successful, but outside help was usually had. At least, that’s what he had gathered from looking at old data.
“I am sure Tama will be fine.” He said with confidence. He had faith in his mentor.
Eternal Heliodor
A cryptic message from Tama had resulted in frantic calls and voicemails as Aelius attempted to re-arrange a scheduled photo shoot for the day. It wasn’t a fast process and slowed him down in ways that made him anxious and jittery. Tama was one of those teammates that had wiggled his fluffy white a** into Helio’s heart. A commanding but gentle presence that the corrupt had come to enjoy spending time with. Not to mention the mauvian was just over all important to the team as a whole. So the cryptic message was more than enough to trigger a full on cancellation to the day's plans.
Of course, when he powered up, he was greeted by the little wisp that had taken a liking to him. He had no time for it now though and waved hand to shoo it away for the time being. Whether it followed him or not wasn’t important. As he rushed to the site, teleporting himself as close as he dared, he was hit with a plethora of auras. The team had assembled as expected and… Is that Faustite?? No. It was impossible to tell who the strong aura was and it made no sense that their leader would be back without any forewarning to anyone. Likely it was someone else. Was this more serious than he had imagined? A burst of speed had him zipping over the rooftops as fast as he could.
As he joined the group his eyes focused first on Albite who stood near a tablet and pen left laying on the ground before slipping to the half-youma General King standing at his side, a duplicate of him, Headache presumably, standing at attention with them. The shock and surprise was evident on the Eternal’s face before he could school his expression into something that was a little less emotionally charged. It didn’t wipe away the gambit of emotions that flashed in his eyes upon seeing Faustite again.
“Sorry I am late.” He croaked out, clearing his throat and tearing his look from the fiery General King. He instead focused on Albite, using the man as an anchor against his internal storm. “I had to take care of some things before I could come.”
His eyes shifted to Hestia who looked like she came prepared to cater everyone on the team with drinks as if this was nothing more than a morning staff meeting. Such an odd woman. Though, if the shock of a certain someone’s appearance hadn’t woken him, the caffeine certainly would have been a siren’s call right now. His own coffee still sat on the kitchen counter with only a few sips having been taken from it.
He had missed all of the chatter and exchanging of words before his arrival. “Where’s Tama?” He looked around for the mauvian they had all come searching for and was noticeably absent. The discarded tablet and pen on the ground was quickly becoming a bad omen. Concern began to sit heavy in his gut. This was unlike Tama.
Basic Ilmari
Ms. Eternal Hestia showing up with a tray of drinks for everyone left Ilmari in something of a quandary. On one hand, one of her cups had his name on it. He may not have known what was in it, but if Ms. Hestia put as much work into learning the team’s drink orders as she put into everything else, then she probably wouldn’t have needed to expend much effort on figuring out Ilmari’s. (Green tea, hot and neat, matcha powder strongly preferred, but regular tea leaves were fine in a pinch.)
On the other hand, Ilmari couldn’t be entirely certain of what was in the cup, beyond trusting that Ms. Hestia cared enough for the team’s wellbeing—and if not that, then her own safety—to not do something completely asinine like trying to literally poison them. But she might have done something like add milk, which would have thrown all the benefits of the tea straight into the trash. Would not taking the drink be read as some kind of callous rejection, though? Would it hurt Ms. Hestia’s feelings and risk falling out of any potential favor with her? But would taking the drink look like he didn’t take the threat of an ambush seriously?
In Ilmari’s head, he ran over several “what if”s and potential factors, mostly amounting to mental white noise instead of an actual assessment of the risks vs. the potential rewards. Ultimately, though, he rose from crouching and did take the cup with his name on it, with a small smile and a proper “Thank you, Ms. Hestia.” The caffeine would be a helpful justification for doing so, if necessary.
And then he felt something……off.
“Sir,” Ilmari said, trying to catch General-King Faustite’s attention. Hoping not to give the game away to the person on the other end of the White Moon aura that he felt, though, Ilmari didn’t outright say “White Moon aura, super or Squire-level, across the street, in the alley at my nine o’clock.” Instead, he arched his eyebrows and nodded his head toward the spot in question.
Super Murikabushi (White Moon Trollop)
Feeling a lot of Negaverse auras all gathering nearby was almost assuredly not a good thing. When it had only been a single Eternal’s aura, Murikabushi had started heading in that direction. Maybe it wasn’t the best use of a day off from the café. Maybe Yuki wouldn’t entirely be happy about it when he got home. And yes, there was a distinct chance of Muri burning through the rest of his allotment of powered-up time for the week……but there was also a chance of running into Albite, ******** you, okay? Muri missed his friend. Getting lucky about running into Albite had been dicey enough when Muri had still been with the Court, and it felt even harder to swing, now that he wasn’t.
Unfortunately, as he’d gotten closer, more Negaverse auras had appeared. At first, just a basic senshi or Lieutenant. Then, a super-or-Captain and a Mauvian. Three more super senshi or Captains. Three more Eternal or General auras. Another Mauvian. By this point, Murikabushi strongly considered powering down and eavesdropping—but he’d also gotten close enough to see that one of the Eternal auras did, indeed, belong to Albite.
Another, in turn, belonged to Faustite. Soon enough, another also belonged to Heliodor. Powering down to eavesdrop wasn’t something he could do to those three and still pretend to like himself in the morning. Regardless of factional allegiances, they’d never wronged him (not in any way that Murikabushi didn’t consider long since put behind them), and he didn’t want to pay any of their trust and vulnerability with him back in treachery and deceit.
Aside from those three and Abbey Roadkill (Pax), looking pretty fierce in their new super senshi digs, Murikabushi didn’t recognize any of the others. Maybe he’d seen Sailor Ayuzawa Misaki (Hestia) and Captain Bargain Bin b*****d Boyfriend Love-Interest (Borax) up at the space museum before high-tailing it to a side-room? But he admittedly hadn’t hung around to see very much, and the rest of them were totally unknown quantities to Muri.
The danger of this current position was not lost on Murikabushi. Waiting in the shadows of an alley opposite the scene, he seriously considered leaving. One of him, with several others stacked against him? He’d walked out of one situation like this intact, but he’d still been with the Court at the time. Nobody had been allowed to kill him. No longer having that protection, Murikabushi couldn’t count on being cute, sassy, and now perfectly in control of his magic to save him.
Faustite busting out the full General-King effect made that feel like an even better idea. As much as Muri appreciated the view, he still splayed a hand over his brooch and chest-bow, feeling his heart skip a beat at the threat that Faustite could decide to not respect Muri’s need for the freedom to make his own decisions. Muri wasn’t some cool, badass senshi like Kerberos and Ida, somebody fierce enough to unlock that Transcendence bond with his home-world. He was still losing his entire gay mind about finding those black-and-pink butterflies in the bushes. Maybe he should’ve just left, no matter how much he wanted to stay and help (which he really, really did, especially considering that something had apparently happened to Tama-sensei).
Except that damned little blonde one had to go and say “Sir” while looking up at Faustite. Then, he had to nod his head in the direction of Muri’s hiding place. Trying to retreat now would probably look like he was part of the alleged ambush (which, if it was happening for real, must have involved a lot of people hiding out in their civvies, so that felt a little bit less than likely at the moment). Better to own his choice and the aura that came with it, with his back straight and his head held high.
Heading out into the light, Murikabushi held his hands up too, just in case anybody needed proof that he wasn’t here to fight them.
“Hey, Murikabushi of Hunger here, and I’d apologize for gate-crashing but my grandmother raised me not to open with such an obvious lie.” Did Murikabushi consider not going with the sassy commentary right out the gate? Did he think that he might have done better to open more earnestly? Yes, but he didn’t owe that to anyone he didn’t feel like giving it to, and the fresh meat in Faustite’s cadre needed to know that Muri wouldn’t be intimidated by them. Keeping the same nerve, Murikabushi looked up to Faustite. “I’m here alone and of my own accord. I felt an aura, thought I might find Albite. I only wanted to catch up with a friend. But since there’s a situation and a b***h is already here, I want to help.”
Briefly, Murikabushi considered adding a promise that he’d clear out if Faustite wanted him to, or clarifying for any of the others who doubted him that he didn’t care about factions as much as the people in them, or making it clear that Tama had helped him personally before and he wanted to do right by Tama as thanks, or saying that he was glad to see Faustite (as dangerous a prospect as that currently happened to be, the sentiment was true). But—well.
Time was likely of the essence, and Muri probably wouldn’t prove that he was here in good faith by talking everyone’s ears off for an hour-and-a-half. He was probably already pushing the limits of his allotted talking time without giving himself a chance to make a b***h (himself) go on and on. The primadonna tendencies needed to get curbed, lest Tama or anybody else wind up getting hurt unnecessarily.
Eternal Albite
‘Ambush, ambush, amb-ooohhhhh—-‘ and maybe it was the warmth of Faustite’s sure, clawed hand seeping into the meat of his shoulder, or the first gentle scald of Hestia's perfectly made caramel-soaked macchiato running over his tongue; staining his upper lip in such a way that he had to lick it clean. But hearing the word once, twice, three times now? Watching Haymitch worry his little paws as everyone else confirmed what could be a worse case scenario.
It all finally clicked.
Not that *Tama* had been ambushed, not right out here in the open streets for all of the stars to see, but that maybe all of this was a trap for them specifically? And everyone who had finally arrived had their own points — and his beloved had that war-minded, battle tested perspective — and —-
“Muri—“ and the Senshis name came out as a ******** purr in spite of his surprise for the Super strutting into their midst like a cat into a dog pile; soaked in white and Order aura. The way the new style raised his hackles as Ilmari so rightly raised the alarm. And yet? Some deeply distant part of him was nothing but pleased to have the others' presence amongst them—
Right where he always should’ve been, truly. Even if it had to be like this.
“S’okay Mari…he’s more tramp than trap. Right, Firebrand?” showing a rare bit of deference in tone. Albite knew the decision was ultimately up to Faustite. His gaze stayed firm on Muris form, sharp as it was winingly warm. Whatever happened next? Happened. Though he supposed that if they ended up needing to barter for Tamas life after all? Having Muri around might not be too bad an ace to cary up their sleeves—
Tama
The pen does not respond to it being picked up. It doesn’t seem to want to open either. Both Haymitch and Magnus can smell the other cat on the pen.
It is indeed Tama’s.
As you investigate the scene, you notice two things:
To the left, there is a trail of footprints leading down an alleyway. They are shaped like paw prints, but are too large to be a regular cat’s.
To the right, there is a light coming from one of the buildings. It is bright, but seems to be diffused like it is shining through something.
It is not until Faustite arrives that the pen activates.
‘General-Soverign aura detected. Override initiated.’
Tama’s pen opens to tablet mode.
Do you follow the paw prints? Do you investigate the light? Do you search through Tama’s files for more information?
General-King Faustite
Action: taking option one.
Faustite signed to Headache, who soon replied to Borax. "It's staging," It enunciated in Faustite's voice. Its attention remained on its bonded as if expectant for more communication. When more came, Headache pushed on while watching Faustite's hands at work. "Bag the cat wherever. Ditch his tablet pen after making him send a message. Would be pointless for the enemy to hold onto it, and it's real enough to draw our focus. Anyone looking down at a tablet won't be looking up at their surroundings."
To Magnus's comments, Faustite blew a smoky sigh through his nose. It was both a reminder that he'd been long away from here, and an opportunity to catch off-guard an enemy that had grown accustomed to that absence. But he wasn't inclined to share Magnus's optimism considering the months of experiences that now lay behind him.
While Hestia's drinks were a nominal distraction, and certainly an opportunity to unnerve an enemy with his austere anatomy, what comfort could be drawn from such service was immediately evaporated by Heliodor's entrance. On the tip of his tongue was a command for Heliodor to disappear, thrumming in his hand was the urge to banish him wholesale, but he bit those words into an ugly sneer of silence. Flame eyes lingered on him balefully before flickering to candidates more worthy of his attention.
(He had yet to notice the cartoon chicanery on Hestia's cups).
He let Heliodor come to the realization on his own that Tama was Schrödinger's cat right now. While the boy had been slow on the uptake in the past, he expected more of him now that he was Eternal. Unless, of course, he was next in line of the team to defect to the enemy.
The bloom of a White Moon Eternal was then palpable, and none of the team would need Ilmari's tip-off that they had a lone intruder. The gesture, while demonstrating his greenness, showed his want to participate. That was a welcome change given the backdrop of past officers and senshi. At worst, it was something with which the team could work. He examined Ilmsri, briefly, before his attention was again drawn to another speaker.
Faustite raised his shotel in the air, its arc catching the gleam of the moon like its menacing counterfeit.With it, magic could be broken to their will. Incantations could be silenced. Defiance could be cut down to obeisance.
But it was Murikabushi. In white.
His grip tightened on the shotel. Veins reminiscent of fresh lava stood out on his hand, his exposed forearm. That weapon nearly left his hand in a bleeding arc, stayed only by Muri's assertion that he was alone and simply looking for Albite. This sounded like the painful honesty he came to expect from the boy, but his discourse was woefully short compared to his Dark Mirror version. Perhaps he was not entirely immune to White Moon propaganda.
The shotel was lowered — reluctantly — and Faustite signed a terse message to Headache.
Headache, as Faustite, stepped into clear view of the White Moon senshi that boiled its black, congealed blood. "Prove your innocence, then," it began, shifting from Faustite's form to Tama's familiar white feline body, complete with his haughty demeanor. "Help find him."
Snorting, Faustite signed an aside to Albite: He looks terrible in those ******** rags.
The reclaimed tablet pen went off, deploying itself under the premise that one of the Negaverse's General-Sovereigns was there. To him, it meant nothing — it meant that the tablet pen was likely behaving as intended for the purposes of distracting the group. Faustite did not care for leaving himself vulnerable; he turned his back to the device. His aura stretched broadly; if anyone was so inclined to check into it, then he could wander quite far before that thing shut itself up again. And should they come into danger, it took only a thought to summon them to his location.
The light in the distance meant nothing to him. Could've been a TV coming on for all he knew.
His attention lingered on the paw prints on the muddied ground. They didn't look much like Tama's; they were more reminiscent of a youma. A youma would prove a reliable ally, of course, though it could also imply that it consumed Tama if the cat was out on his own with no Captain or better to babysit him. Either option made it worth checking, even though following the prints meant passing close to Murikabushi.
Keeping his shotel firmly in his grasp, he started down the path with the paw prints. To Headache, he issued a quick order, and the youma promptly announced it to the group.
"Split up," it said in Tama's voice. "Keep your pens on you. Stay in pairs or more. Give regular status updates. Call out trouble."
Eternal Heliodor
Action: Checking out the light
Helio’s brain didn’t jump in the direction Faustites did. Capture and trap wasn’t first and foremost on his mind, but it was clearly obvious something was not right here. And that something not right possibly meant that their dear mauvian friend was likely in some sort of trouble. While he wanted to focus on that problem another presented itself dressed in white and baying a need to visit an old friend.
It was still a shock, hearing that voice and seeing Muri dressed in the white of order. While they hadn’t necessarily been ‘friends’ per say, they’d certainly shared some moments together and the fact Muri had stepped away from Chaos and embraced Order was frustrating and complicated.
Lips tight, and arms crossed, Heliodor watched as Muri practically sauntered his way in. Bowing down with words as he faced the team. “Surely you figured out sooner than later that it was more than Albite here.” After all, Faustite’s aura alone would be easy enough to detect. Golden eyes shifted to said General King again who barely acknowledged Helio’s arrival. The nasty shotel gripped in those delicate but powerful black-stained hands eventually dropped as he threw out the challenge to the order senshi. That all-too-familiar stab of jealousy roused within Helio. Nostril’s flared as he took in a deep breath of frustration.
There wasn’t really an expectation of a response from Muri. Not with Faustite giving his approval to the super.
An order was issued. Fingers tightened on his biceps as he watched Faustite turn to the most obvious of clues. The paw prints were like a siren’s call to hopefully find their lost team member at the other end. One Helio was drawn to himself, but whatever it was, frustration, jealousy, obstinance, or some deep seated need to protect himself Heliodor turned on heel and walked in a different direction. All the while aching to turn and follow the fiery boy he just couldn’t seem to shake. Didn’t want to.
Like a beacon to a moth, the corrupt focused on the sole light burning in the darkness. Hands clenched tight, hidden beneath the voluminous sleeves of his fuku.
Super Cryolite
Option C: Staying with the Tablet
Cryolite straightened up as Faustites order cracked over his head like a whip— and the eeriness of it falling out of what he could only now recognize as Headaches form, mimicking Tama no less, was not lost on him.
“I think I’ll stay back with the Tablet, and whoevers more tech-minded? If this is a case of them trying to split us off into easy, distracted marks…” Cryolite hummed, ignoring the growing tension, the amassing of new auras, the vision of an Order Senshi in their midst — such a stark and startling contrast that he only barely managed to suppress a flinch for the surprise of it all — and oh the ways it made him wonder, marvel, blink over Murikabushi striding up like he owned the place. With names in his pretty painted mouth. All of this unfolding before him so vividly, and he couldn’t imagine who ever would be fool enough to try and so much as even *slight* anyone on this particular team.
Some people have death wishes though, don’t they? Maybe pissing Faustite off is someone's interesting kink—
His gaze lingered on the nasty, curved weapon in Faustites hand, the way it made him think of the last time he’d truly seen the man that resembled a youma now more than ever before. Faustite hadn’t looked like this, given off an aura that felt like laying within the jaws of a threat while looking poised to be one— Wherever he’d been, whatever he’d been doing? Syrus thought it’d done him some kind of good, maybe.
“Then I can at least have their backs while portraying a very ‘bait-like’ image.” He shrugged as he finally, gingerly, with appreciation in his eyes, took the iced nitro brew with cold foam from Hestia's carrier. Eased by the chance to distract himself and wake himself up all at once. The little image so lovingly pasted across the cup made him smile privately—
Hestia certainly had an appreciable flair for coffee art-forms and caricatures.
Eternal Albite
Option A: Pawprints Aplenty
‘Be nice, Husband–’ with a quick flash of fingers and a sly, almost agreeing smile as he watched Faustites swift, black clawed fingers with rapt attention. Because Albite had only learned so many words to make with his own hands and ‘husband’ was by far the easiest of them, but also because what he really wanted to say? Those words didn’t belong in polite company. They were private things he surely meant to unload on Faustites ears and Fasutite’s ears alone — later, later, later! Because in the moment, watching the rest of the team stir to attention, gather their bearings. Watching with an auburn flicker as Helio snapped off tightly in a direction decidedly away from them…
Which was fine. Super directional, very orderly!
Albite could even say he was proud of the other man, if he was being truly honest. This little impromptu hiccough of a team get-together could’ve gone far worse than ‘save a cat’ duty!
“If someone can handle that? Ohana style, please… “ murmured with a cheery little head tilt in Helio’s direction as he subconsciously reached for Haymitch. Like the cat had called to him and he was happy to be both perch, ramp, and springboard. Like he needed his bestest-little bonded furboy close– What with all the cat-napping going around! Albite thought it’d also help to have the Mau with the bestest nose around, his favorite little tracking cat, right along with him! Just, nice n readily at hand. To drag Haymitch into the mixed up middle of it–
‘N’just let some d**k-crust dare to try n take my Mau out from right in front of me.’
“I’m on your six, Firebrand! N’imma take this ham-sandwich for the road! Heard that the best thing to take on a dangerous quest is a boss-cat, right, Haybits?” cheerily purred as he fell in line with a bounce in his stride and not another blink. Because they had this, he knew, bone deep n chest-fulla-fuzzies happiness for it! He’d seen them run together so many times, knew better n’to doubt, or question, or hedge even a second guess as to whether or not they had their s**t together.
Magnus
Action: Staying with the tablet
He could join a group going to inspect other areas, but Magnus was much more interested in the tablet that had granted them access at Faustite’s arrival. That was an interesting and smart fail safe, and something Magnus was going to make sure to implement into his own tech. Tech was only good if it could be utilize, and blocking out an entire team from possible information was not at all helpful.
So, with little fanfare or to-do, the feline walked up to Ilmari, who was now holding said tablet and pen of interest, and leapt upwards on their shoulders. It took a bit of fumbling and adjusting to get his balance perfect, but he managed it without shredding the corrupt’s fuku or digging claws into the sensitive flesh below. “How about we see what Tama has stored on here, hm?” He said jovially, eyes focus on the tablet. It became clear he fully expected Ilmari to be his hands though as he made no effort to reach down to the device. “Knowing Tama, there’s quite a bit of useful things in here.”
Super Murikabushi (Order Skank)
Action: sassing Helio, then taking Option A and checking out the paw prints.
Not that he particularly expected a warm reception—unless by “warm” someone had meant “actively on fire”—but Murikabushi couldn’t help meeting one particular member of Faustite’s team (Heliodor) with the exhausted, skeptical, and slightly bemused expression of a b***h who could not believe what he was hearing right now. It wasn’t the open negativity about Muri’s bleached out aura and new fuku; that much made perfect sense and Heliodor had every right to feel however he felt. Considering the whole “He got forcibly corrupted and no one from the Order side even looked for him” part of the boy’s backstory, the negativity was fine and entirely to be expected. Honestly, it might’ve even been toned down from what Heliodor could have given.
But insinuating that Murikabushi was lying with such a ridiculous point? That part, he couldn’t let stand unanswered.
“It’s called ‘tactics,’ Heliodor,” he pointed out, tone weary in the “Why does this need to be explained” sort of fashion and trying to be kind about it, but still, knowing that Heliodor was smarter than this and expecting him to act like it, please and thank you, especially considering the gravity of the situation. “You all teleported in pretty fast, and then started talking, rightfully so, about how the scene here looked like a trap. If you expect an ambush and feel a White Moon aura on the retreat, you’d have to be either stupid or delusional to not consider that they might be somehow involved.
“So, if I try to back off and you catch me, I look undeniably guilty. Nobody’s going to listen to me if I say otherwise, because ‘Stop, wait, I’m innocent’ is exactly what a guilty person would say when getting caught by Faustite and most of his team. But if I get away in that scenario, it looks like I ran to let people involved in the alleged trap know. With that in mind, you’d have all the justification you need to do almost anything in order to find saboteurs who, as far as I know, don’t exist—at least, not right now. So, innocent people might get hurt, some of you might get hurt as well, and Tama might not get help in time. I want to help Tama, and I hope to minimize unnecessary hurt to everybody. Coming forward and owning my presence was the best choice for doing both of those things.”
In his own gay little brain, Murikabushi was serving some straight up Elim Garak c**t.
In that same gay little brain, he knew that giving attitude wasn’t really the same thing as fully embodying that kind of tea, and that Garak would have rightfully called him out for having all the right knowledge to be cynical and efficient, but choosing to be idealistic and to believe that people could be better than their choices anyway. But the attitude still came correct, so Muri could live with not being entirely on-point in his own choices.
And in this specific moment, with his piece said and Faustite’s permission/order given through the conduit of Headache (who didn’t get any odd looks, even as it changed shape from some Faustite doppelgänger into a passable copy of Tama), Murikabushi shrugged at Heliodor as if there wasn’t anything else he needed to say. (There was, or at least there could’ve been, if Heliodor ever wanted to hear it. But they didn’t have that kind of time right now.)
Of the three bitches here whom Muri knew well enough to respect beyond extending them the bare minimum of interpersonal decency, one of them was on his nerves and two were heading toward the strange pawprints—which seemed like the most reasonable thing to investigate in the first place, honestly. If they didn’t belong to a youma, then they likely belonged to some other messed up Destiny City cryptid, and if Tama had gotten caught dealing with one of those on his own? He probably could’ve held his own, but still might’ve wound up in a Situation, italicized for emphasis, with a capital-S to let you know it’s serious.
He didn’t keep his hands raised in surrender while following Albite, Faustite, and some Mauvian Muri hadn’t met before (Haymitch) into the alley where the trail of pawprints led.
Basic Ilmari
Action: Option C: digging through Tama’s files with Magnus and Cryolite (also, being judgy about the Order senshi who invited himself along)
Still so green that he didn’t really know most Order senshi from a hole in the wall, never mind this one specifically, Ilmari mostly kept his mouth shut and his eyes trained on the tablet that had sprung to life in his hands. Something about the presence of a General-Sovereign overriding it or whatever? That was an interesting quirk of the Negaverse tablets, and Ilmari mentally filed it away in case it became important later. He didn’t think that it would, but one never knew with magical situations.
Hearing a name out of the interloper in question did trip a memory-wire, though, one that Ilmari remembered reading whilst studying the intel database. And it made some pieces of the story fall more into place. Only some of them, but the name Murikabushi and the magical sphere of hunger had definitely belonged to a Dark Mirror senshi in the reports that Ilmari remembered reading from Albite, Faustite, and a certain Andesine who wasn’t on their team. So, the tramp in the white (mentally referring to him with a word that Albite had chosen was probably fine as long as Ilmari didn’t say it out loud, right?)—the tramp in the white had once been with the Negaverse’s tenuous allies in Chaos, but now stood before them, all dressed up in the white of Order.
Several holes still remained in the story. Questions like “Why,” and “Huh,” and “Dear god, did this boy have no self-respect whatsoever? Why would anyone willingly choose the messy, ugly, thankless life of an Order senshi? Like, for real?”
“I’ll work with Cryolite on digging through the tablet and keeping an eye out for trouble, Boss,” Ilmari said to Albite as he and Haymitch passed, heading into the alley where a mysterious trail of pawprints led. To that end, Ilmari sat his tea down on the recessed sill of a window. It had probably looked very nice, once, when this old café was actually functional and hosted customers. But right now, it mostly looked like a convenient place for Ilmari to set his drink so he had a hand freed up for scrolling through Tama’s files. Not a moment too soon, either, as Magnus jumped onto Ilmari’s shoulder soon after he’d set down the cup.
“Hopefully, Tama will have something helpful in here,” Ilmari said, lowering his voice somewhat (but not so much that some people couldn’t hear while they passed by en route to the alley with the mysterious pawprints). Didn’t need to go attracting too much attention that wasn’t already pointed this way. “Whatever notes we can find, I’m certain they’ll be far better help than we could get from an Order senshi—even one with the confidence to strut like that in a fuku that completely washes out his skin-tone.”
Super Murikabushi (Delusional White Moon Slut)
Action: a brief pause for a clap-back.
Hearing the obvious (and honestly, kinda pathetic) attempt at throwing high school mean girls shade his way, Murikabushi paused. He turned back and arched an eyebrow at the skinny little blonde one who’d called out his presence before (who had been joined by another lithe blonde one—though this one’s hair looked a bit more golden blonde than silvery-blonde—and one of the team’s Mauvians, all fluffy and gray, with whorl patterns in his fur). Maybe letting it go would have been the better option.
But on the other hand, if somebody didn’t take the time to gather this little boy, he was all too likely to continue making the rest of his team look bad.
“Sweetie,” Muri told him, all patience and compassion and a distinct edge of <******** around with me, little boy, and I will damn well make you find out” that dared the skinny one with the tablet to try him, “if you want to read a b***h so badly, you need to do way better. For starters, speak with your damn chest. Say what you feel right to some b***h’s busted face. You’re working with some of the best in the Negaverse; that ‘smiles in your face, stabs you in the back’ s**t from high school is beneath you now, and you need to act like it.
“Next, please be serious. If you’re gonna pick on something as obvious as white looking bad on me, you can’t just tell me that white looks bad on me. That’s not a read; that’s just a fact. Dorian Corey did not die and keep some man mummified in her house for years, just to have you to disrespect her by ignoring the golden rule of ‘I don’t tell you you’re ugly, but I don’t have to because you know you’re ugly.’ If you want to read somebody, go deeper. Take more care to notice their flaws and be creative in how you exaggerate them.”
By way of demonstrating, Muri gave the offending twink another once-over—pretty, skinny, eager to please, tightly wound, had the unmistakable (to Muri) air of a perfectionist—and told him, “Finally, somebody your age should really be more adventurous. Playing it safe is fine, you’re just a baby after all. But you won’t make it anywhere in this war if all you do to prove yourself is follow your teammates like a lost puppy and state the perfectly obvious. I’m just telling you as a sister: challenging yourself might be good for you.”
His piece said, Muri went the rest of the way into the alley with the pawprints. Let the little twink think about his life and his choices in (relative) peace for a while.
Haymitch
Action: Jumping up on Albite and following the paw prints
He shuddered a little as Faustite and Headache came into the area. Haymitch would never say it, but Headache weirded him the heck out. Not only could the youma speak, but it could change into just about… anyone, and one Haymitch was enough for him thank you very much!
He felt the gentle subconscious pull of Albite on the bond, and bounded his way up onto the senshi’s shoulders. If it had a been an ambush or a kidnapping, as they were suggesting, they’d have to go through Albite and the rest of the team first. He narrowed his eyes at Muri a little. White really wasn’t the senshi’s color, but he also wasn’t… attacking them. More importantly, Faustite wasn’t attacking Muri. If their General King was tolerating his presence, then so would Haymitch.
At least he wouldn’t try to scratch out his eyes right now.
“If he was kidnapped… wouldn’t they have just picked him up like the football and run off? There wouldn’t be tracks to follow…” he said to Albite, licking his cheek out of a need for comfort
Super Mizuki
Action: Eyeing Muri with distrust and then going towards the light
Her father’s arrival brought Mizuki to attention. She gave a wave at Faustite, and then one to Headache as it shifted itself into a duplicate of Faustite. With him here, she felt more focused and safer; not that Mizuki could not handle herself. Or that the others couldn’t handle themselves. Just, that having a General Sovereign tended to scare people off… for the most part.
She bared her teeth as Muri appeared, fingers poised to send petals of lilacs at him. He was white, blindingly so. The tension pulled taut, Faustite raising his weapon, and Mizuki’s magic was on the tip of her tongue.
Then her father lowered his weapon.
A silent signal to stand down. She frowned, glancing between them, before letting out a sigh. She didn’t trust Muri, but she did trust Faustite with her life. If her General King was allowing his presence, then she would too. Well. She’d not try to outright murder him at the moment.
Later? Later was a different story. They had a cat to find though, and a cat they would find.
Hopefully.
Eternal Hestia
option 2: go towards the light
Watching the rest of the team gather, Hestia's excitement leveled off into a more proper calm-but-ready. If it was a trap or a mystery to be solved, she was absolutely prepared to kick, punch, or deduce as needed! And was Heliodor now an Eternal? How wonderful!
Before she could give her congratulations, the words along with her smile died at the approach of an Order signature. Senshi. Tense and solemn, Hestia turned her attention away from the nearing power signature, and focused instead on Faustite. Even as an energetic and confident voice introduced themselves as Murikabushi and announced their desire to help, the corrupt maid didn't look away from her general king, awaiting whatever command or attitude that would determine this person's fate. In this life, and possibly the lack of a next one.
He wasn't happy about this. But he was...accepting. Oddly so, in Hestia's opinion. Even going so far as to accept the senshi's offer of help at a time where the team, or at least one furry member of it, was likely to be vulnerable. There must be more to this situation to merit enough trust to ask the other to prove their intent. Well, no matter the reason, it seemed the senshi would be okay for the time being. Hestia sighed and let go of some of that tension, that lowkey thrum of worry for another threshold she'd yet to cross, inevitable as it likely was.
Setting the remaining drinks down on a bench, Hestia looked around the area for something to inspect and someone to inspect it with, given the Faustite-mandated buddy system was in play. Albite helped decide for her as he made a request and gesture toward...a lit window? Well, it looked like Helio was already on it! With a small salute to Mr. Albite, who looked extremely resplendent in the play of light and shadow against the current backdrop of grimy squalor, the small maid trotted to catch up with Helio. From her hair came a small series of squeaks that began to oddly echo the voice of Murikabushi in the growing distance.
"Are they an informant? Murikabushi?" The name really did seem familiar. Likely from a database, Order or Negaverse...maybe both? It would explain the general king's attitude, the senshi's confidence, and well...they seemed to have quite a lot to say. There was a brief pause behind them, and then that voice began again, far enough now that it was just a steady stream of vocalizations.
"It looks very nice on you, by the way." She beamed up at Helio, and this time the small bat emerged fully from her hair to give him an inspection. "Your new uniform." The bat squeaked in either confirmation or dismissal, then puffed up like a furry balloon. Its tiny wings began to flex, slowly floating it closer to the window.
Captain Borax
Action: Option A: Follow the paw prints
“Agreed,” said Borax, making sure to turn enough so both Headache and Faustite could tell what he said. It did seem like a convenient distraction. If the plan was to ambush them, distracting them by pulling them all in with the cat's stuff and then pull the cat somewhere else sounded like a convenient way to do so. But in that case, where the ******** did they dump the bag with the cat in it?
And had a cat done so? He didn't miss the pawprints, either, and he saw the way General-Sovereign Faustite headed after them. He took a few moments to observe where everyone else was going. Best to keep the divisions roughly even in strength and body, correct? Best for tactical advantage.
Perhaps someone needed to keep an eye on the obvious disadvantages, too. They had an enemy in their mist, as much as he was claiming he would help. Lovely.
To Cryolite, Ilmari, and Magnus, who were staying with the tablet, he announced, “Keep your wits about you. If you're too deep in the tablet, may not notice the trouble inbound as Faustite pointed out.” He then headed off after the pawprints with the general-sovereign, Albite, and… Murikabushi. That White Mooner. The apparent informant.
Was he still an informant now, or was that shattered by him swapping sides? Borax didn't trust him innately. His sense was annoyingly ******** bright, and he was already taking time to get distracted by snapping at other members of their team. He should be proving his ******** worth by actually helping them find Tama.
Or at least breaking up the impending ambush.
Super Pax
Pax didn’t even make any particular attempt to disguise their laughter at Ilmari getting read to hell and back by Murikabushi, besides bringing one hand to their mouth in a way that only half-covered their grin. At least that was interesting, and none of that irritating backhanded-compliments stuff, either, just a very direct teardown. (And nobody had attacked this new one, so that was the team's opinion on him, probably? That was vaguely committed to memory. They were entitled to their own opinion, sure, but they also didn’t think they really cared all that much.)
It probably could’ve been interpreted as mean of them. It might’ve even actually been. But they didn’t actually care how they came off, and it wasn’t like half the team wasn’t just as bad anyway--
As far as ‘not too bad’ went, Hestia was reasonably far up there, so that wasn’t too difficult of a decision to make to follow her towards the light at a delay, trailing behind Mizuki.
