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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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 Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:54 pm
Nembus had been just about to bolt when the chain the knight held suddenly disappeared.
Like an agent's weapon in that way, she supposed.
Nembus' form didn't relax, but she didn't zap herself away, either, listening to the other as she talked. Nothing forcing her to stay. She needed to make her own decisions, and that was that. She made it sound so easy. She also reminded her of someone else. Someone else who had taken the leap, really, after discovering why neither of them had their memories, why they were lost and confused as if they had just been born a year ago despite the status of their bodies.
There was at least one thing Nembus could say, there, she supposed.
"I can confirm that," she murmured, and her voice was still light and shaky. She still wanted to leave. Perhaps she should before the other woman decided to reappear that chain again. "Worst at the force corruption. I can't remember anything beyond, uh," she sighed, lightly. "Eight months ago. This is really all I know. The people here are all I know."
That wasn't really true, was it? She knew Eurydike, Genbu, and Seiryuu. She knew Stillwaterite, who was now Sedna.
How was Sedna?
"I," she swallowed hard, "I can't make that kind of decision right now."
She couldn't. She didn't have enough information. She didn't have enough assurance. Nembus felt herself swimming through a dark sea, but all she saw on the other side was even more darkness.
"It's too much. I just," by now, she was fairly sure she had twisted her own hands so much they had turned raw, "I just don't want to fight."
Please leave her alone.
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:13 pm
Themiscyra only gave a short nod, not remotely surprised by this bit of information. Assuming it was true, and this senshi wasn't just a damn good actress. "Makes it easy to become whatever they need you to be, and eliminate whatever made you fight against the corruption in the first place. Purifications are a choice. They seem to keep most memories, from what cases I know." Kairatos had maintained a wealth of information about how the Negaverse worked from his time there. It'd amazed her to no end.
"It's a choice. Not one you need to make right now, or tomorrow, or in a week. But it is made, one way or another. You take the jump back, or you remain. But if it's the fighting you want to avoid..." Something passed over her features then. Briefly, swiftly, but it was there. Sympathy. Understanding. Few people wanted to be in this war, but here they were. "The Negaverse knows who you are as a civilian, don't they? Knows where you live, what connections you have, so on? Even if they allow a leave of absence, you can't hide from them and the fighting forever. They'd likely just go after you." Themiscyra gave a shrug of her shoulders, let out a small sigh. "...I ran away for half a year. No one could force me back. No one could threaten my family or friends. No one could hound my workplace or school or anything. If you want to run away, hide and leave it all behind? It's possible to do that, when you don't have the Negaverse breathing down your neck.
"My name is Themiscyra, I'm a Squire of Mars," she added suddenly, taking steps back from the senshi. Her eyes never left her, though, in case this proved to be a facade. "If we cross paths again, I won't attack you, unless I see you taking a starseed. All bets are off at that point. Otherwise... if you want a way out, I can do what I can to help." There were ways. There were people. It wasn't impossible to get the resources for all that. Cats seemed to do a damn good job helping to formulate a new identity for people who did purify.
"And if you see an agent that... that used to be Eleusis of Cosmos..." Her voice faded, and Themiscyra's gaze flickered away. The stone facade fractured, and her pain slid through before she pushed it back again. "...pass along that I'm sorry, if you can."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:28 pm
She was talking more now, not just immediately jumping to yelling and screaming and flailing at her with that chain. Nembus could deal with that. Maybe. For the moment.
Nembus looked down where her fingers were visible.
She should stop rubbing her hands so much.
It sounded similar to what Stillwaterite had said, too. The idea of purification, the option of jumping to the other side, being one she was pursuing because she had to. It was a decision she had to make because it was a decision that was hers. It was a choice she had to make. She wanted the chance to make that choice for herself.
At the idea of her being known as a civilian, where she lived, what connections she had, there was a soft, bitter chuckle. If there's someone around you, Nembus, who is very involved with your progress and integration... It was all by design, there was no real escaping it. She lived with her general. Nembus was functionally on a leash. And while she was allowed to keep her focus on the civilian side of her life due to her position, she was still working at a media organization entrenched in the Negaverse.
There was no way she could really hide, but then, she didn't know what she would do if she did.
... She was offering to help her get out.
That, too, was familiar.
...if you ever want something else...
"Okay, Themiscyra," murmured Nembus, and finally, her form actually relaxed. She felt that there was no further threat, here. At least, for now. At least, unless she ever felt the need to reach into someone's chest and--
Eleusis?
Was this someone else who had been force corrupted like her? Nembus' eyes briefly lit up at the thought, but likely not for the reason Themiscyra was hoping. It was too bad it was not a light of recognition. "If I see her, I will," promised Nembus, with a nod of her head. "I can," was that why Themiscyra was so mad? "...Tell it's important."
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:41 pm
Later, Danika would immensely question why she didn't feel bad about the way she'd freaked out the other girl. She did feel sympathy for the other--the small chuckle held no mirth, and Themiscyra's eyes softened faintly. Assuming from her response that she was, unfortunately, right about what the Negaverse had access to.
She'd not missed the way the other girl lit up, either, and it caused something painful to spring up in her chest. Did she know her? The name? She didn't confirm it or deny it. A corner of her lips turned up. A smile that held no delight or laughter or anything other than an empty movement. "Thank you," was all she said on the matter.
More steps were taken to put distance between them. It didn't take much for her to hop up onto a short enough roof. "Watch yourself, Sparky," she called on way of farewell, the nickname brought on by both the blinding magic, and her uniform. Which... "And I did mean what I said on the uniform being pretty. It is very cute. Congrats on your luck with that cosmic tailor."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:59 pm
"No problem."
If it meant someone else who might understand--
Sparky? At that nickname, Nembus giggled. Something about it rang familiar. She wasn't sure what it was. Perhaps it was best not to question it for now. "Nembus," she called back, after a moment. "My name, I mean. It's Nembus."
But she didn't mind the nickname.
"And thank you." She beamed at the compliment to her uniform. "Hopefully next time it won't have to be so blurry."
And maybe next time, she would be just a little less alone.
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:06 pm
Nembus? Not a bad name. A slight bit more of a smile broke through, and Themiscyra lifted a hand in a small salute. "Till then, Nembus," she called, the confirmation she got the name. Even if she sort of thought Sparky was more fun.
Or Storm, if she went back to her old habit of naming people after superheroes.
The knight took her leave though, quickly heading back to the rooftops higher up. She'd not... expected a talk. The something in her that burned still didn't like it, and she knew she'd be at it for a while longer looking for more youma to dust. But it was... a silver lining. Something she'd not experienced in a long time amidst this war.
[Fin~]
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