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Sailor Methone, Eternal Transcendent of Aurora Borealis

Methone was so angry. SO ANGRY. Not only had Lorne disappeared, but so had Auguste and she got some cryptic bullshit text from Colin about doing something STUPID which she knew would only be the stupid crystal s**t from the hooded man. Even ASH WAS MISSING. and Ash only went missing when serious s**t happened.

She didn't have to look far to see a few other order agents spread out outside what looked like a portal and she made her way over to them, crossing her arms under the shawl.

"What's the deal with communication with them on the other side...?" She asked the nearest person to her which happened to be a colorful senshi with pretty hair and eyes.

"I'm not after killing myself." Methone said ambivalently. She caught admiring look and actually smiling, her arms uncrossing. "Late is better then never, it feels like." She winked.

Then she nodded to the super.

"I'm Methone, of Aurora Borealis. Nice to meet you."

Esquiline, Venus Page

Esquiline found herself leaning forward, listening to Hvergelmir with careful attention. A sworn non-combatant? So she really chose to not fight, no matter what? But what if sh was attacked? What if her friends were in danger? Did she really not help?

She couldn't leave it alone. The page was far too curious. So she sidled over shyly, until she was within speaking distance of Hvergelmir.

"Um, excuse me." she all but mumbled to the woman. "I'm sorry I was evesdropping..but I have to ask. You swore that you wouldn't fight? No matter what?"

Celsus Knight of Chronos


His gaze turned, rather sharply, to face Caedus again.

"Are you telling me that you expect something will come through the portal?" Celsus asked, and his voice wavered slightly, galling him. His face was still pale and drawn, his entire body held with a rigid sort of tension that was not entirely from the situation at hand.

A whisper went through his mind, a soft hiss of a voice.

As if you could do anything to stop it, the Code mocked.

"Do you expect us to fight for you?" Celsus asked quietly, trying to ignore it. "To defend you? We have no reason to do so, not yet. You seem to be content in sitting back and letting everyone else do your bidding for you, while you rest on your laurels and expect the outcome you do not deserve."

It was said not, with heated anger, exactly, but a frustration that was deeply settled. Celsus lifted his shaking fingers, pressed them into his hair and gripped tightly, trying to alleviate some of the nausea that was rising thickly in his throat. Denebola and Corvus were still beside him, and another man had joined them, but Celsus did not raise his head, instead just focused on Caedus.

"You have given us - me, I cannot speak for others - " (Alone, alone, alone, taunted his head) " - no reason to trust that this is not all just some enormous trap where we are entirely in your mercy."

Hvergelmir regarded Teide uneasily. Her own face was drawn with tiredness and worry, but gentle, for all that. Not judging. "Retaliation is never justified," she corrected softly. "Revenge is never noble. When we act in anger -- or when we fail to act, when we abandon others in their time of need as a form of vengeance for disappointing us -- we are acting from the least part of ourselves. Believe in yourself," she suggested, "and in the good you can do."

Hvergelmir tapped her signet ring to activate its holo interface, to show Teide she was willing to open up a private communication, as she'd suggested. Hvergelmir didn't think that letting Teide's fear bleed into frustrated anger would help the situation -- but she didn't want to make the other knight feel discouraged or distrusted, either.

Talk to me, she typed in.

Aloud, she cleared her scratchy throat and said, "I'm afraid too. But my fears will not govern my actions -- my convictions will. That's what I choose. Choosing that makes me feel strong."

She held the pink-haired knight's gaze for a while, before averting her eyes to let Teide key in her reply with her signet ring.

Hvergelmir regarded the Venus page who'd spoken to them with interest. "I swore an oath not to knowingly raise arms against a Negaverse agent while they fight in defense of the Earth from alien conquest. The cause they fight for is false -- but pure. Many of them are good people. Someday they'll see the truth -- but until then, I'd rather not kill someone for having the misfortune of being lied to."

Caedus seemed a bit surprised and turned his gaze away from the portal for a second to look at Celsus. "No," he said after a second. "Neither do I anticipate something will come from this portal, nor do I expect you to defend me. If it comes to that, I will defend myself and this area. I survived alone for a thousand years. I think I can manage another hour. I was concerned for you."

He seemed wary, and disappointed; he slumped a bit, as if retreating into himself.

"I asked for no more than what you were willing to give," he said quietly. "I did not force anyone to collect energy. I did not force anyone to enter my portal. I made an offer. I did not think anyone would help me if I did not provide an exchange. I thought attacking your enemy, who I admit is my own, might be a step in the right direction. I do not criticize any of you for not trusting me. I do not criticize you for not wanting to join. Or even for staying to ensure I do not betray you. This, I understand. But I intend to hold this portal open, until your friends escape. Hopefully with success."

He seemed reluctant to eat anything, though nodded to Scylla gratefully. He seemed on edge, and did not want to allow himself any luxuries when there were such emotions in the group.

He answered Esquiline softly, "I cannot choose who comes in or out. It is a door and anyone may walk through it. If something comes through, I will do my best to keep the portal open. And if it meant I needed to fight it alone, I would. If something comes through and is not an ally, I do not ask you to fight. You may leave. Or watch. Or chastise me for opening a portal for the comrades of yours that wanted to strike."

He seemed almost distant, now; he was not oblivious to the conversation between Hvergelmir and Teide, but if he was not looking at them.

He did not seem to hold ill will against them, or Eros or Denebola or Corvus, but he seemed to have withdrawn significantly. He sat, hunched, eyes locked onto the portal. He would have seemed entirely statuesque if he did not occasionally blink—and if he did not say, "If you do not wish to be here, I do not ask you to stay. Just as I do not command your allies, I do not command you, nor do I have any desire to. You are all free to do as you please. But I do not think of you as tools. I will take care of this, and I will take care of myself. Thank you."

Irkalla, Page of Cosmos

She had been surreptitiously watching the two individuals who bore colorful outfits similar to her own. Inadvertently they had given off a "do not disturb" aura to the page. Irkalla had been holding out for a chance to maybe ask a few small questions but it seemed as if she would have to wait for another night when the situation was not as dire.

Uncertainty aside, the Cosmos page was trying to take everything in. This whole event was quite a learning experience for one who was new to being a protector of Earth. That didn't quite sound right but Irkalla would stick with it for now.

Eyeing Caedus once more Irkalla sighed. Her gaze traveled around to each individual whom had stayed behind. Was it folly to continue waiting for something to happen? The idea of going through the portal this late in the game didn't appeal to her and nothing would surely come of it. Her hand came up to tuck her hair behind her ears as she found herself pacing back and forth around the clearing. What kept her rooted to this place?