Welcome to Gaia! ::

Desdemona quirked her head curiously to a side, but she would not press any further... yet. Some things were best left to unfold on their own, like a butterfly's wings. She hoped his insinuation would be half that interesting.

Then, though, she couldn't help but chortle. Not derisively, of course; he was a general after all, and she wasn't disrespectful. But it was too funny. "Not that I'm not grateful for the reassurance, " Desdemona purred with a sly grin. "but whether or not you'd have a use for Amphitrite isn't really my concern. It's Desdemona that usually does no one any good. If I'm keeping up the pretense of daily life, at least it's useful to someone this time around." Bar maybe Poppy and Ax - and really, Poppy could've even done without Desdemona because Chrysocolla had Amphitrite, and she fully intended to see to it that Ax would be a convert one day. Barring that and some fun bar hops, it hardly seemed worth the trouble it took to keep up a separate identity.

Then, not for the first time, she was face to face with a cat. It was nice to see one of those they had on their side, unlike Ash, too weak and afraid to reap what she'd sewn and join her senshi on the right side of things. A smile of a different kind immediately lit her face; for all she'd been through and all the bitter feelings she had about Ash, it had really done nothing to diminish her fondness for cats as a whole. "Hello. My, what a dapper little fellow you are, " Desdemona crooned, crouching before the cat and dipping her head just as politely in return. "Of course. Here." Then, without hesitation, she fished out her pen to offer the feline.

Desdemona's grin was all the answer needed for that. It was what she wanted, truth be told. She wanted power, she wanted control - just as she wanted purpose and wanted to be utilized to her full potential. A matter of looking for a leader? No, that wasn't exactly right. More like seeking out her place still, knowing that Laurelite had corrupted her for a purpose and undying grateful to her and the Negaverse for allowing her to blossom into something strong and and capable. So much more than the weak girl who'd been left to rot for weeks, forgotten and alone.

It was ironic, really; before the corruption, she'd had a vivid recollection of that future. Of the woman she'd grown to be, her family dead and desperately seeking above all else the means to protect her identity, to connect with her planet the way others had done. Failing to do that, she'd tried to connect with others, through ways physical if not emotional. In that way maybe they weren't so far removed, even if the motivations were entirely different.

Even so. The Amphitrite of that future would have been horrified to meet the Amphitrite she'd become - was still becoming.

"Amphitrite, " she provided warmly to the Mauvian. "Likewise, it's a pleasure." Then, Desdemona gave a short laugh, more sincere in the face of a cat. "Oh, of course, no trouble at all."

All it took were a few moments and a series of dazzling lights before she could show her true face, her hair billowing out wildly behind her as she knelt to offer Theodore her pen, paired with an encouraging smile, before standing straight again. She glanced back once at Chase, minding his words earlier, although the way she rocked lightly on her heels, betraying again her raw excitement. "Ready whenever you are."

It was funny, the ways in which she did and didn't feel the change. More than anything else, even as her fuku shifted and grew in length, the biggest change Amphitrite felt was a rush of raw power coursing through her. A gasp escaped her somewhere along the process, and when it was through and she looked down at herself - oh, did she SEE the change. Everything seemed longer, more flowing, more elegant. Fitting of a woman rather than the girl she'd been.

Even as she reflected on that, it took all she had not to spin in delight and watch the way her dress would pool around her legs. Not in front of Chase, anyway. But what she did do was kneel down, deliberately, pressing her fingers to her lips only to press them lightly to the tip of Theodore's nose.

"No Sailor needed, darling, " and she said it kindly, because not everyone knew - anything she could do to distance herself from the order, even in name. Then she added, sweetly and genuinely, "Thank you."

Then she stood again, running her fingers once through her hair and flashing Chase a smile. "More than that. I feel like things are, " and she powered down then, returning to the guise of Desdemona in a flood of light, "right. I've wanted this for so long."

What a cute door for such a cute boy...

The difference in Chase's demeanor was obvious. It still intrigued her, perhaps more than before - but again, there was time. She had no intention of leaving any time soon. In any case, his understanding was appreciated; even among those on her own side, it was hard to come by, sometimes.

Playing catch-up, yes - she would not turn that down any sooner than the hand offered to her, sliding slender fingers between his with a smile that might have been coy on anyone else but Desdemona. "A great many options, Chase. I do have a place lined up, but it's got little to it until the furniture arrives. Whatever you see fit, " a slight squeeze of fingers, "will be just fine by me."