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 Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:52 am
Alya watched as the magic spread over the Dark Mirror Senshi; he seemed to be keeping a careful on him to ensure he kept breathing, that he didn't do anything stupid. He kept an impassive face, but it didn’t mean his mind wasn’t twisting around Sinope’s words.
He knew his magic was still in effect, but perhaps now was as good a time as any to say something. Sometimes it seemed like Sinope could get a little defensive if Alya said something too nice about him, but if he couldn’t care about that, now…
He walked over to the Senshi and looked at him for a second before he simply smiled and planted a light kiss on his forehead. “You are very sweet, I think. Despite whatever mask you are hiding it behind.”
He took a small step back, and asked, “Do you have anything on your mind you don’t care enough to keep secret?” he prompted, drawing back to Sinope’s questions.
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Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 2:15 pm
In spite of what he'd thought it might be like, Sinope found he didn't feel mindless. In fact, it was actually more of a relief than anything. His mind, usually plagued with worries and fears for the most part, was forced to relax as his stress levels decreased. There was no joy at this relief, nor any real recognition of the relief itself, but his body visibly eased its tension and his eyelids half closed when Alya came close to kiss his head.
The blonde senshi had asked him a question and he considered it a moment. What was the harm in answering? "I guess...not now...but usually, I'm a coward," he said. "It scares me to be close to people. But you don't seem to be. Even if you get hurt." Hazel eyes shifted to meet Alya's. "I had thought that was cool. That I wish I could be like you." It seemed even with the blanket of apathy dulling his emotions, Sinope still found he had a big mouth. "If I wasn't so scared...I'd think I'd really want to be your friend." He shrugged weakly. "At least then you'd have someone to know you."
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Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:27 pm
For a moment, Alya seemed to consider what he was saying. There was no denying that he had some greater thought pattern, some larger gears, twisting inside his mind. Only, he seemed to be working very hard to control what people saw. But, Sinope was different, at least, from everyone else that he hid from.
But then, while they were powered there was a sort of freedom. Already, he had a mask that would ensure his identity remained hidden. He waited a few seconds before answering, both to give himself time to think and to allow his magic to fade away a bit more.
“I don’t think you should be scared. Not of me, at least. So, we should be friends. What have you got to lose?”
What did he have to lose?
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 4:42 pm
The redhead's brow started to crease ever so slightly. "I don't..." he began, then faltered. "I said before that it's easier when people don't like you. That's because you don't have to worry about them or care about them. You can be selfish. Apathetic. But...when you have friends or people you care about, people who are kind to you, it becomes dangerous." The creases deepend. "Even if we mean well, we'll cause each other pain. Attachments to other people always do that. Friends worry about other friends, put their friends before themselves - sometimes even lose their own concept of self-preservation to die for their friends." He shook his head. "And even after they're dead, they'll continue to hurt the people they died for with their absence. That's why...it's better to just not care about anyone."
Sinope blinked a couple of times. "Some people are braver than I am and want to have attachments regardless. Others just don't have a choice and can't help it. I've tried to get people hate me to make them keep their distance, but...when people like you are kind anyway, it's even harder on me. I can't... You're already hurting, so I don't have the will to hurt you more just to make you stay away. I thought I could be more selfish than this and not let others' emotions affect me, but...I guess I'm just not apathetic enough toward them." He tried to force a smile to his face, but he underestimated the pain of the action. "Oh jeez; I think it's wearing off."
Then he froze, as if stung by a bee, and turned bright red. "Wait a sec, did you just kiss me?!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:53 pm
At that, Alya couldn’t help but laugh. “I did,” he said shamelessly. “Not a real kiss, but I could correct that if you like. I have been told that I am a very good kisser.”
He spoke as if it were fact, but he was enjoying himself all the same; it seemed as if he had found new pleasure in teasing the Senshi across from him.
“There is truth to some of what you say. I won’t deny that, but I also think…perhaps it is a little foolish to seal yourself off to new people altogether. But I suppose we grew up very differently. I was very, very lonely as a child.” He shook his head. “…I will never let myself feel that way again, if I can help it. I would rather be surrounded by a hundred people who know nothing about me except that I am beautiful than be in a room by myself. But I would rather be with one person who knew me, truly, and loved me for it. But,” he shrugged and smiled again, fonder now than before.
If this was a mask, it was a good one.
“I am persistent, as well. You should promise me that we’ll be friends, or else I’ll be forced to harass you until you succumb. You can stay selfish, if you like. And worry about your own self preservation. I will b selfish and take care of myself as well, so there is no danger. But never value a lack of apathy. The world is so boring when there is nothing to bring you joy. A little pain, a little risk,” he shrugged. “It is worth it in the end, I think. But then, I’ve never been afraid of a little pain.”
He winked, though, and pulled his hair over his shoulder to play with it again; his posture had changed entirely and he seemed relaxed. He’d managed to bury whatever plagued him earlier.
For now.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:29 am
In spite of all his efforts to maintain his composure, Alya's laughter followed by the offer of a 'real kiss' completely floored Sinope.
"D-don't you dare!" he managed to stammer once he was able to coax his voice box into making sounds again. "That was way more real a kiss than it should have been!" Thankfully the blonde was willing to change the subject quickly enough.
Sinope frowned at Alya's confession that he had grown up very lonely and the results of that lonely childhood. How ironic that he thought Sinope foolish for sealing himself off from people and how he thought Alya foolish for wanting to surround himself by those who didn't matter. The Dark Mirror Senshi realized from this, however, that the two sides were extremes and thus perhaps both were foolish.
It was the in-between, the gray area, that was the ideal; a balance. Maintaining that balance was tricky, but that was how tricksters, whom he admired so much, transcended dualities. Perhaps it was also why his court could maintain peace with powered beings from both the White Moon Court and the Negaverse.
Maybe he needed to start compromising, at least a little, to try to get closer to that center balance. "Okay," he conceded, sighing. "Maybe you're right about sealing myself off altogether. I've already spilled so much of my guts to you, so I might as well at least try to be friends, I guess." Sinope looked away. "Especially because you've told me so much about yourself, too, and it didn't sound like stuff you'd divulge lightly."
In the short amount of time since they'd met, they had already trusted each other with so much information about themselves that could have easily been turned around to hurt them with. How had that come to be? Sinope had thought he was more cautious than this. Was that the power of Alya's kindness at work? By having exposed his weaknesses and fears, had he managed to cajole Sinope into doing the same?
In truth, the teen felt like he was giving in to some forbidden self-indulgence by accepting the White Moon Senshi's friendship because the idea of having a real friend warmed him so much. Yes, chances were they were both going to regret it, but...at least in this moment it brought him what he could only suppose was happiness. Don't get used to it, he warned himself as he bathed in the radiance of Alya's fond smile. Otherwise it'll be that much harder to bear once it's gone.
"No need for harassment! We can be friends," he announced, trying not to think of what kind of harassment Alya had had in mind. As used to bullying and getting physically beat up as he was, he somehow doubted he would have been able to withstand whatever methods the blonde might have resorted to. "I doubt I'll be very good at it, but...I guess we can try." Rubbing the back of his neck, he finally peered back at Alya.
"But we have to be honest with each other, got it?" He held up a finger seriously. "That's the one thing I ask. You can fool whomever else you want with acting and lies, but please don't lie to me. If you're sick of me or hate me or even want to stop being friends, just say so. I don't believe in that 'little white lie' crap." The severity of his expression and tone softened. "And don't keep things to yourself, even if they're bad. No, especially if they're bad."
Alya's assurance that he would take care of himself and that Sinope could too eased the redhead's concerns somewhat. At least he could maintain that part of his sanity, or at least try to. Selfishness was the aspect of this compromise that he felt was his own. If he didn't have to concern himself with his new friend's well-being and he could preserve his selfishness, maybe he wouldn't have anything to fear after all.
"Maybe it's true that the world is boring without joy, but if you never knew joy in the first place, it might not be that bad." The same might have been said about friendship, but he'd already craved the very concept before he'd even had a real taste. "Not that we could put the theory to the test."
Bringing his forefinger and thumb up to Alya's face, Sinope attempted to lightly flick his nose. "We'll see if it's worth it in the end or not. You're brave, but bravery is a synonym for stupidity and pain is painful for a reason. If you're not afraid of it, you're ignoring the lesson not to repeat the mistake that caused it in the first place."
Though he kept his countenance schooled into an impression of indifference at Alya's wink, the ruddiness that had gradually faded from Sinope's complexion instantly returned. He sighed and ran his palm down his face. "You're going to be keeping me on my toes day and night, aren't you? Ugh...I've got my work cut out for me."
Thank goodness they had no way of carrying their friendship over into their civilian lives. If they had, Sinope was sure he'd die of stress before reaching his thirties.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:32 pm
Alya seemed surprised by a decent amount of what Sinope had said, but his smile didn’t falter. Truthfully, he seemed like he was enjoying himself, even if he was getting flicked in the nose. He laughed and leaned back as he rubbed at it. “We’ll see,” he promised. “Life is more fun when you don’t know what’s in store. But I’ve never brought anyone grief. Jealousy,” he shrugged, “Sure. But grief, no. I won’t give this friendship anything but my all. You will have to forgive me in some instances, though. Honestly is not entirely my forte. But, I’ll try. For you.”
He sounded like he meant it, and he looked like it, too.
He’d been called stupid before, but never brave, so already this was off to a decent enough start.
“We’ll have to meet up again some time. And talk. Really talk, then, I mean. I have an early day tomorrow, but I think I’d like to get to know you more. Maybe we can exchange stories. I’d like to hear about your Court sometime. I don’t have much to say about the White Moon Senshi but,” he shrugged. “Maybe I’ll learn something between now and then to make our conversation air. Deal?”
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 2:53 pm
Sinope sighed. "You've never brought anyone grief so far as you know," he countered. "You've probably broken a thousand hearts and never been the wiser." He still didn't think the older senshi knew the gravity of the situation they were getting into. But even while he felt like he himself had a better idea of it, the fact that the redhead was going along with it anyway made him the bigger fool.
Despite it all, though, he appreciated Alya's resolve. After all, Sinope knew he wasn't the only one making himself vulnerable with this attempt at friendship. To try to be honest after being so used to wearing a metaphorical mask all the time was bound to be difficult. "Thank you," he answered, truly grateful for the blonde's efforts, his tone and expression sincere.
The teen nodded slowly at the White Moon Senshi's suggestion, a small, timid smile stealing across his own lips. "I guess I can handle that. Talking is one of the few things I know how to do." Though he hoped Alya would do more of the talking than him. Aside from finding it embarrassing to share things about himself with someone else, he wanted to know more about the fine-featured young man, too. Sinope reached out to clasp Alya's hand in a firm handshake. "Deal."
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