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 Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:52 pm
Quote: Backdated to December 14th
Shivering he huddled deeper into the coat he wore, something long and puffy, Hedwig was just not happy with winter here, though he’d heard it had been snowing in Paris not too long ago. He’d even seen pictures, a friend had texted them to him, it was nice to still have friends who texted often and sent him pictures from home. His grandfather wasn’t letting him visit, hadn’t let him visit since he’d been sent here, he had to learn to handle himself and should be spending the time here studying and focusing on school - something he wouldn’t do if he returned home for visits.
The man wasn’t wrong, and he knew it, but that didn’t mean he was pleased with the choices being made for him. He also went along with them…he had no choice really. Like this - this lacked in choice also.
“I don’t know why so many people are out and shopping - they should be home.” Where it was warm, like he should be.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:53 pm
The cold didn’t bother Desiree, hadn’t really ever since she’d been a street cat before Aloysius had tricked her into living in his house so very long ago. She still remembered the freshly baked fish he’d put on a plate just inside his door to lure her inside after she’d been in a scuffle with a dog. He was a good human, flawed, but still her human. However, she didn’t give Hedwig the same leniency that she gave Aloysius. Small flicks of her tail as she trilled slightly in approval at their use of wraiths to drain while they walked. “People here are always out, unphased by it all. Really it’s quite something considering your experience that got you pulled into all this.”
Youma attacks on people always ended up reported as something more mundane and overall it seemed easier for the people of the city to glaze over the weirdness and continue on. She knew that there were a lot of those who knew more of what was going on but there were just as many who didn’t and ignored it. Much like Hedwig would have continued to do so and she was still considering if that would have been better or not.
“Very good of you to keep moving while the wraiths do their work, it makes it harder for someone to figure out who they’re coming from.” Bumping into his leg slightly, she felt a small order signature nearby and decided to nudge him towards the side of the street to make for a more secluded place. “Someone’s close but… not strong. We can handle them.” And even though they couldn’t star seed, she was sure that their magic would at least do something. That and she had a surprise up her sleeve that they didn’t know about either.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She wanted to go back but it wouldn’t work and that was frustrating. Aaru had mentioned communications through the ring and she’d tried it, sending just a quick question about materials and how best to transport things. After that, she decided to wander and kept her pendulum tucked into her large fur coat. It went down past her knees and covered most of her uniform, not that she minded what it looked like when everyone out right now was busy with the rush for holiday shopping and shipping.
Something popped up as she walked through the large group of people that had just come out of one of the stores, bags covering each of their arms leaving her to grumble as they knocked into her. That sour and unpleasant feeling again, much like with that black-haired guy she’d knocked in the face with her weapon, started to grow as she thought she saw a cat that talked. That was new and she thought it might mean something bad but neither the man nor cat felt sour or wrong, just this odd spectre that brushed against her and left her feeling less energetic before it continued on.
For now, she didn’t rush but decided to follow the thing as it seemed to slowly solidify and look like it was becoming more real as it passed through people. Spasskaya didn’t like it, not one bit, and she wanted to give whoever owned it a piece of her mind for taking something that wasn’t theirs.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:53 pm
“I don’t know how the people here go about their lives without realizing the danger, or caring.” It made the news here, he’d seen some things on the news since arriving here, and heard people talking as well. It really was a wonder and he almost wondered how stupid the people of this city were.
“This city is certainly something, far more than my grandfather imagined I’m certain.” Shaking his head as he spoke, his hands tucked deep into his pockets. Pausing for a moment he nodded at her words, allowing her to nudge him to the side. “Sounds good.” He might not like this, all of it, but he really had no choice. To be honest he didn’t mind the uniform and the sphere, adoration, wasn’t even bad. He could get on board with everything…right up until someone mentioned duty, war, and anything remotely sounding like responsibility. But that’s why he was here, in this city, to begin with.
“Should I summon it back?” He questioned, thinking it might be a good idea, if someone else was around, calling the wraith back would be good. He didn’t need it being stopped, if that was possible, and attacked. He also couldn’t leave it out too long and risk it becoming too solid and impossible to miss. “If I call it back they might find me…but I can’t risk it being out too long. Either way I might be damned.” Looking down to the cat for guidance, an opinion, on the matter. Both options had a good reasoning but they also had a flaw as well.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:54 pm
“Call it back, that’s why I have us heading away from the people. Less likely we’ll be surrounded and I know there’s a mirror not far from here. You’ll be alright Hedwig.” Purring slightly as she was delighted he was at least fighting him less on things.
“This is their home, would you let generations of being in this place pull you away? It’s no different than the cities with high crime rates, people still live there and work. We just work in a different way.” She knew Aloysius had moved further out of the city’s center because of the worry of safety after the scare with Liam but that didn’t mean he was going to leave completely either.
Shaking her head as she noticed that order aura getting closer, she headbutted his shin to get him to move slightly faster down the alley.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This time she was sure she saw the ghost thing as it seemed to adjust the way it was going and seemed to move towards the lone person who went down one of the side street alleyways. She had no idea where it led but she could figure that out later. For now she pulled her cap down a bit and picked up her pace, following the ghost without looking like she was following it.
Moving through the crowd, she cursed softly in Russian under her breath. How dare they just walk into her without apologizing, these poor peasants who were scrambling to find cheaply made and priced goods to throw at people. It was disgusting to see and it got her riled up to punch whoever was causing trouble.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:55 pm
Nodding his head he did as Desiree instructed, summoned his wraith back, it was good that she was thinking of the mirror nearby and having them move to avoid being seen by lots of people. “But clearly people see the unusual things and not all of it is brushed off. I heard some of the things, gargoyles attacking people, I heard that on the news. So people know some odd things are going on…but are accepting it - and staying. I don’t see why.” Not everything was written off, and how could any of it be written off really? It all seemed insane.
“I do understand having roots in a place and not wanting to leave though.” He hadn’t liked leaving France, it was familiar and it was home. His family and friends were there and the places he’d grown up going to and the streets, and shops, he knew like the back of his hand.
At the mauvians nudge he started to walk faster, not wanting to look like he was running, he headed for the mirror she knew the location of - he’d need to remember it. She did tend to keep them close to mirrors, for quick escapes if needed, and he was grateful for it at the moment. Cursing in French, because it sounded more polite and he hoped the mauvian didn’t know French, he was not pleased about being followed - not like this anyway. This was the bad kind of being followed.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:55 pm
Turning to look back, Desiree met eyes with the woman and she knew that they’d figured it out. They were following the wraith as it closed in on them. She caught a few of the words Hedwig said, something she’d picked up from the times she’d visited Alexandre and Rene’s home to work on the database of plants for them. Ears flattening as she puffed up, she glared at the woman. “Ready yourself Hedwig.”
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With a smile, she saw the ghost follow a person and a rather large cat. What was shocking though was the fact that yes the cat had spoken and it matched the voice she’d picked up on a few times while she’d been nearby.
Hearing French had her eyes narrow and moving forward quickly, pulling her pendulum out as she went to swing at him. They didn’t look like Rene, not exactly, but it was close enough that she wanted to practice what she’d do once she got the man alone in an alley much like this.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:55 pm
“s**t, I was hoping we could avoid this.” He really had been hoping to avoid a confrontation, a fight, he didn’t want any part of this s**t but he had to do some things. This was something he didn’t want any part in. Once they were far enough down the alleyway, and his wraith was gone, Hedwig turned to face the incoming knight. “I hope this magic of mine does something.”
“s**t!” Cursing again he ducked what came flying for his face. “What the hell is your issue?” He knew of course, she was a knight and he was a dark mirror, but god damn she was going right for his face! Much as he wanted to tell her to calm herself, that he wasn’t looking to fight, he had no doubt in his mind that such words would fail…and he might get hit for it.
Rather than magic he went to kick her, wanting to push her back some and gain himself some distance. “Des, you might want to keep away from her.” She was nuts, that look on her face and in her eyes…yeah - no thank you.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:56 pm
Stepping back, Desiree had no issues keeping away from the knight for the moment. Her eyes watched both of them, just in case she needed to take on a different form to help out. It would be good for them to get used to not relying on magic, something she knew would help make up for where they were still struggling. It would take time for that to get figured out, probably alongside them figuring out their place in all this.
Huffing she kept her distance as Hedwig kicked the page. “Good kick.” At least they’d dodged as well. Whatever that thing the page had looked like it would hurt if it had hit them in the face.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Va te faire foutre!” Oh, she hated speaking it but it got the point across as they cursed and dodged her. The kick had her sliding back and grinding her teeth slightly. How dare he do that?! And a talking cat? At least it had sense to keep out of things but she didn’t like how it encouraged the frenchman.
Moving in again she kicked down at their shin while swinging with her pendulum again, looking to get him in the side since going for the face had failed the first time. She swung it like a baseball bat even though she knew it wasn’t as strong or sturdy as one.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:56 pm
“Toi d’abord.” He commented, surprised she spoke French he recovered quick from that, his response had been automatic as he glared at the female. He had heard Desiree’s compliment to his kick and he would thank her; later. Right now he was dealing with the knight who was kicking at him, though she went low, and it tripped him up so the metal of the pendulum hit him in the side.
Stepping away was awkward, his feet catching on each other, he nearly fell and only just managed to catch his balance. Cursing as he shook himself off, having only just managed to keep himself off the ground, the dark haired male kicked out at her again. “Mind explaining your damn issue?”
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:57 pm
Desiree didn’t wait long as she hissed. This page wasn’t an idiot it seemed and she had an idea what they were planning. She wouldn’t act yet but soon, very soon. First, she needed something from subspace, pulling a small medallion out that hung from a leather cord. It wouldn’t do well for everyone to know where she was once she decided to take a more direct approach to this fight.
Moving forward just a bit, closer to the pair fighting, she kept just out of range of either of them for the moment as she fluffed herself up.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The hit got her in the shin, but she’d half expected it and that had kept her from falling down. It didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, something she figured might bruise up later. At least she always wore stockings or leggings so it wouldn’t draw any attention. Not that she really had to worry about it much either given the fact she worked in her own shop, alone most of the time.
“You’re vile, I’m just doing what I’m supposed to.” Far from the truth when it boiled down to it but a good enough excuse to not have others question her rather enthusiastic approach to the attack. She still wasn’t sold on the whole order versus chaos thing but taking out some of her anger in a place nobody could tie it to her was amazingly refreshing and she couldn’t complain.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:58 pm
“I’m doing what I’m supposed to as well!” How the hell could she say she was supposed to go fighting people, attacking them! And he was the vile one? He hadn’t gone stalking someone and attacking them. “At least I didn’t go stalking someone and randomly attacking them. Crazy b***h.” If he was vile than she was a crazy b***h, though maybe she’d somehow take that as a compliment, he was hoping to never run into her again.
At least he hadn’t needed to jump to using magic, he didn’t want to just yet, he wasn’t sure what it would do and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know either…though he also did sort of want to know - because adoration.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:58 pm
With the medallion at the ready, Desiree stepped forward and instead of a cat, stood a very agitated person with ears and a tail that dragged on the ground by her feet. The ground was cold beneath her feet but she didn’t mind it as she stepped between Hedwig and the page.
“I think that’s quite enough. Run along little page or I might just claw your eyes out.” Desiree dug her nails into the page’s arm as she grabbed her to stop this fight. Oh, how she wanted them to feel her signature but that wouldn’t help keep Hedwig hidden and right now she wasn’t able to keep him hidden while she was like this so the goal was to get things done fast and get through the mirror around the corner.
“No sense talking with this one, not at all.” Looking back towards the mirror senshi she was in charge off as she twisted her nails in deep to bite into their skin. Her voice was cold and left no room for arguing or disagreement from either of the two, especially with the small growl that curled at the end of her statement.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spasskaya would have said something in edgewise against the annoying Frenchman but she found herself speechless as the cat turned into a person right in front of her. She hadn’t even had time or sense to step back before they’d grabbed her. The woman was menacing, to say the least.
As much as she wanted to keep at it, alarm bells were going off as the cat woman’s nails dug in and blood started to seep through her sleeve. She made to step back because two against one was more than she knew she could handle even if she did want to grind that man’s face into the ground.
Nodding, she didn’t let go of her weapon but she did let it hang off the little spot on her belt for it as she tried to pry the woman’s hand from her other wrist.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:58 pm
“No, you can’t talk sense to crazy, or so I’ve heard.” And this one was just that - crazy. Watching Desiree, surprised by her change in appearance, he nodded his head slowly. “We should go, I’m not looking to fight her.” Not because he couldn’t win, he was sure he could if he used his magic, he just wasn’t interested in dealing with some crazy woman who had decided to chase him down an alleyway and call it duty or whatever. The only good thing, if you could even call it that, was she spoke French.
Reaching out for the mauvian turned person Hedwig gave her arm a quick tap. “Mirror near by you said, right? Let’s go.” Because leaving was the best option for them both right now, she would no doubt tell her general and the dark mirror who was with them, he was fine with both knowing about this. He figured if this one gained more power she might be a threat even to them anyway. Best they know.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 10:59 pm
With a growl, she yanked the knight down and kicked them in the side towards the dumpster before wiping her hands and looking at Hedwig. Turning slowly, she pulled Hedwig along by the wrist to hurry to the mirror. She didn’t need to worry about the page but she didn’t like the idea that Hedwig’s signature wasn’t covered right now so others might show up.
“Through the mirror to any other near where we meet.” Keeping things vague in case the page heard, she nudged the senshi forward so they could get going. Already a report floated in her head, not as detailed as Aloysius’s reports were but good enough considering the less than ideal run in it had been.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spasskaya cursed as the world shifted and she felt something wrong in her side, more than just a pulled muscle as she felt winded again. The hit into the dumpster hadn’t registered but she laid there for a bit and shook her head to clear the stars from her vision.
Home.
That’s where she needed to go for now. Maybe a hospital… That she would figure out once she got home and looked at things in the mirror. Spitting out a bit of blood onto the pavement as she stood, she rubbed her lip where she’d bitten it and cursed again. Maybe she’d talk to Aaru about how to fight better because this hadn’t gone as well and overall it seemed like this place was more dangerous than she’d expected. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t keep doing things, she just needed to be a bit better about how to approach it.
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