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 Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:27 am
'The Queen' meant next to nothing to Nataniel. His gaze flicked briefly to December, wondering for little more than an instant if it was something the other boy knew about, something Nat didn't have enough information on. ...But in the end, it was irrelevant. Queen or not, she was only a person, and Nataniel couldn't be bothered to care for anyone he didn't know. Even the supposed vouching of a queen meant nothing to him.
"I don't know you." Nat's voice was low, but pointed, impatient as he stared at Winter. "I don't know your story. I don't care to. It matters nothing to me. The options I have for what I want are extremely minimal. I spoke to Mali about the Negaverse, not about December. For that, for this, I have spoken only to you because I barely have a choice in the matter. My concerns are that I have no reason to trust you, but few options are available to me." He wanted December's protection, and even if he didn't dislike the Senshi he'd met, it seemed unwise to put too much faith in someone openly despising the faction.
"When we make a deal, the only thing you are buying is my compliance. Much like your ranking, my respect and trust must be earned, and you have yet to earn them."
Even that, though, was irrelevant, given the situation they were already in. There wasn't a potential to back out now. They'd met. Nataniel had told this man of his concerns. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, reaching to idly coil his fingers through the ends of December's fluffy white hair.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 1:49 pm
"When my brother and sister broke trust with the Negaverse, they were killed.... I remember, starseeds pulled, crushed under their feet. Why would they forgive you but not them...?" December was already paying for their sins, it made no sense to him
"Then you gotta already know that not all generals think alike. Not all are patient and kind, not all of the generals would be willing to put up with me... So... I just... I don't know if I can take your help because then, what if my General thinks me a traitor for going against his will...?" He couldn't help it, he wrung his hands, the nerves and worries getting to him the longer they sat there. If Nat didn't trust this man, why was he expected to?
Perhaps in the wrong way, Nat's hand on the back of his hair empowered him, just a wee, tiny bit, and he sat up a little straighter.
"You must have read our information on our Data pads right? You have been around so long, you must know it from top to bottom, inside and out... So then you know, there's no escaping whatever it is my General wants. He can punish me however he wants to, and order me around all he wants... As long as I follow his orders, he won't kill me." No matter the fact he had bruises around his neck, down his body from where the general beat him, he was still Alive, and that was much more than what he could say for May and October.
"... I've not broken any rules, I'm not causing any problems... I don't know how you could help me, I'm sorry... Maybe.... You shouldn't have come..."
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 2:21 pm
"Fair. I don't expect it anyways." He said somewhat dismissively.
"I don't have an answer for what happened to your siblings. I don't know the story and wasn't there. I only know mine and the reasons that lead for me to still be alive. There are many things that those in power, even our former leaders, have done that I have personally questioned. As it stands, I am in no position to take on the rulings of General Sovergns and those above. I simply work with what I have at my disposal and know they are capable of taking away anything without a moment's notice."
His attention settled on December. "If a General works in a way that allows you to continue your duties and if the punishment does not get so excessive that it makes you unable to protect yourself or continue your work, then yes. They can do whatever they feel. Even going so far as breaking bone can be dismissed as rough sparring in some cases. I know that much from visits to the infirmary. Working with another officer is not a punishable act and is encouraged as standard protocol. Your general should have no reason to be concerned and even more so, I can play the part as humble youma servant. It's a common misconception among officers."
"What can happen is working under his radar until you rise up enough in rank to no longer need a general and be under their power. Injuries you incur can be passed on to me. If your general makes a outrageous demand for a quota, tell me and I'll get it. We go on patrol and I guard you. Unless protection isn't the only issue that you want someone to help with?" He crossed his arms as he watched him, growing irritable at the push the pair was giving him.
"What do you loose in seeking my assistance?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:37 pm
'Complicated' was something of an outrageous understatement, wasn't it? Nataniel's limited understanding of both December's and Winter's situation made itself consistently known. There was always something more, beyond his scope of knowledge. Something he hadn't known to ask an answer for, something he hadn't even known to question. It didn't matter what he could coerce December into telling him when he still didn't have the source material or the whole picture.
His fingers pinched tightly in the back of December's hair, not so much to be painful, but a warning just the same at the younger man's nervous fidgeting and muttering.
Nothing any of them came up with would be ideal, Nataniel understood that. There was not a solution that completely satisfied everyone's needs. But December's answer to his own problem was to simply wait for it to go away. To do nothing and expect- What, exactly? Nataniel had no idea. He could continue to claim that it wasn't his business what anyone else did to December's body, but it was not an uncommon occurrence that they were together, now, and Nat had little patience for the types of pitiful displays December put on after meeting with his general.
"What a peculiar question from someone who spent the majority of our last meeting threatening me..." Nataniel murmured softly, dark gaze intent on the boy across from him.
But it mattered little when there were no available alternatives. Nat didn't have the resources to prevent harm to December, himself, and the only ones he knew in this organization were this dog boy and a belligerent senshi. His fingers tightened further in December's hair, and he used the grip to twist the younger man's focus off of Winter and back to him. "You will do this," Nat hissed quietly at December. "Winter will protect you when he is able and treat you when he fails. You will let him train you and do what he asks of you. Do you understand." The words were pointed and clear, and Nataniel twisted to glower at Winter as if asking the same of him.
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:31 pm
December tried his best to keep his thoughts to himself, the fingers in his hair becoming tighter and tugging in a way he felt was nothing short of a warning...
He still did not understand what he would be getting out of this relationship they were proposing. Just his pain put on someone else, which didn't sound like something any of them should want.
And yet they were pushing for it pretty hard, near demanding it if Nataniel's tone meant anything.
".. I think, during my outings, I'll be alright... I've not been too terribly hurt coming back from missions, except from the one overseas, but... That had been a very strange situation." The bleeding had long stopped, the wound healed, but it wasn't as if the cartilage of his ear would ever grow back. "When I'm hurt, It's always after going to see my general... I tend to go straight to the barracks to clean up before being dropped off in the city. If you'd really like to help me, I could see you then, but I really, really don't want to inconvenience anyone."
He paused, looking at the hands that he held in his own lap, trying to put more of his thoughts to words in a way that wouldn't have Nat looking to punish him... Nat wouldn't do that though, would he? No, even the fingers that tugged his hair wasn't painful just an anchor to know he had no choice.
... That was fine though, he was never any good at making choices anyway.
"If you wanna help, I don't feel like it's right to just make Nat pay for it. If I can help you out in any way, please let me know... I'm not the most experienced at anything, but I'll try to return whatever help you give me, somehow."
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:55 pm
"Taking your injuries would give me an idea of their frequency and their magnitude. I don't have to make up lies and take time off from school or work like you and Nat would to continue your lives up here. I also have enough scars that any one more wouldn't even be worth my notice. Being powered also means I heal faster. It will be fine." He assured the nervous man.
He pulls his hair like a lead. What a odd way to handle someone. Winter thought as he looked at them both. It was possessive. Controlling.
"You can help by doing what Nat has proposed. Keep your wits about you. Train with me. Don't think you are so much of a burden that you do not come to me with concerns or to get help. Keep me updated." He stated and rose up from his seat.
"Are we in agreement then?" He looked to them both.
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Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:42 pm
Nataniel didn't care anything about the degree of inconvenience this arrangement would inflict on someone else. The only thing that mattered was that he make the most out of the very few options available to him. No situation was perfect. There wasn't an alternative where he could simply prevent December's injuries, prevent the bruises that littered his mocha skin, marks left by some other man Nataniel knew very little about, prevent the trauma or take back what had already happened.
Not yet.
Not when his only reliable link to any power that could dissuade December's general was currently December, himself. A frightened boy that lacked any initiative and had no sense of logic and forethought. December played a short game where his concerns were only what happened at present. Nataniel did not. He wanted answers to problems, even if they would only come to him 'eventually.'
But they would come eventually, so long as something was set in motion. He tried to relax, releasing his tight hold on December's hair and sliding his fingers through the strands in a motion that more resembled petting. It was strange that the younger man had had so much backtalk in him, really...
"And what do you expect from the arrangement, then?" Nataniel prompted, dark red eyes shifting from December to Winter.
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Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:32 pm
"I want you both to be successful officers. You might not be thrilled to be in the Negaverse, Nat, but I'd like if you could get to a general's rank. I'll be training you and now whenever you have a question, I can answer them without issue. My expectations are the same of any officer who serves. Do you duties. Patrol. Collect energy. Find a specialization. Train. Listen to my advice though I feel that one might be hard for you."
"Did you expect me to want more than that?" He asked.
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Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:42 am
Nataniel's lip twitched upward in distaste. It was probably obvious that there were very few things that distinctly thrilled him, so the comment shouldn't offend him personally. But Winter didn't know him, at least not to the extent to understand that Nat didn't make these choices lightly. The boy had erringly called him reckless at least once during earlier meetings. This had nothing to do with what 'thrilled' him, so much as it was a means to an end. He twisted to touch a kiss to December's shoulder.
There was nothing to gain from half-assing it. There was no point to doing anything less than what he was capable of. It would be a waste of his time, effort, and freedom if he did.
"I have no trouble listening," Nataniel retorted. "I simply expect I will be just as capable of reasoning out my actions as you, if not more so, since I am familiar with who I am and my limitations." And he still had no reason to trust anything Winter did or said. Why should he? "And it is because of how little I know of you that it would have be difficult to justify any expectations for what you want that I may have had."
It wasn't like he wasted anything from the question, and it served to ensure that they were all on the same page to having it out in the open. Admittedly, he didn't like the inclusion of 'both' of them. Nat didn't want Winter expecting almost anything of December, at all. But there was probably no helping that.
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Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:08 pm
Each tug and pull and kiss and touch deeply confused December. was he being scolded or no? Was Nat happy with him? Was he upset? Dessy would be the first to admit that he had no idea how to read people, so when the kiss to his shoulder came, he just wasn't sure what it meant, so kept quiet about it.
Over and over it sounded like Nat was doing this for his sake and no one elses. To give up your freedom as a civilian and join the Negaverse was just so much to do... Something that he never imagined anyone ever doing for him.
And yet he did. Why, he wasn't sure. But here he was, fussing back and forth with Winter and being obstinate, yet totally serious about what he was doing.
"So... Um... Does this mean it's all have been decided? Is there anything else I need to do or maybe sign something...? Is it like a contract?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:39 pm
"Unless there are more questions then I have no questions. We don't need a physical contract. It's a dangerous thing to have our names listed on anything physical. This is all in place out of faith and a promise we will all do our part of the deal. If you don't think I can do what I say I can do then there really isn't anything I can do to convince you. I'd have to earn that through action." He said and regarded them both to make their decision if this meeting was done.
"If we discuss this for too long, I will have to cut this short. My glamour does not last all day." He informed them both.
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Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:20 am
It was true, though. Nataniel had already made his decision well before this meeting, and the only service having Winter in his home did was to allow December to meet him. He might have preferred that December's attitude was a little better, but at the same time, he had no more reason to trust Winter than Nat did, and the whole thing had been sprung on him practically without warning.
He leaned, touching his lips in a light kiss to his companion's jaw and murmured, "We will discuss it later," after Winter left and they could resume something a little more casual.
But in the meantime, "I won't keep you, then." He stood from his chair and moved back toward the door. He did only barely believe that Wolframite could do anything for December, but at least another set of eyes wouldn't go amiss. ...So long as he could be trusted. "I will have December message you with his data pad if we need anything or have other concerns. Otherwise, there is nothing else for me to say. You know I've made up my mind."
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Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 2:06 pm
"I understand, thank you for your time, I won't let you down." Before he knew it, Winter was gone, and he was left sitting alone on the couch, trying to figure out what exactly was going on.
It was hard to say whether or not he truly understood what was going to happen, or if he felt reassured by what seemed like a grave situation but... When Nat turned back to him, he only smiled.
All he did know was that they said they'd help, and they would make the pain go away. Hopefully, that would be the case, and for the first time in a long time, December felt a little spark of hope in his chest.
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:18 am
Winter rose, feeling more tired then when he arrived. There was one hour of his glamour gone. He could possibly salvage the rest of it with a few errands before he had to go back.
"See that you do. I'll see you both later then." He said as he went to the door and with that, left them to it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:45 am
It was strange having people in his home, Nataniel noted as he shut the door after Winter's exit. December was one thing. Even if new in his continued presence, it wasn't a new Nataniel took offense to. He did enjoy the younger man's companionship, even if he could do without the initial panic the meeting had brought him.
And for what? Dog boy hadn't hardly done anything to them, and the connection could only be beneficial to Nat and December both. To the extent that having connections inside these various factions could be, anyway. And this, new and treacherous though it may be, was simply how things would have to work now so that they could become more convenient in the future.
The long game often wasn't quite so convenient in the present.
But eventually, eventually...
He moved back to December's side, dipping down to touch a kiss to the top of his head as he curled an arm beneath the younger man's legs, the other steady at his back, and lifted him into his arms, content for the moment to carry him back to bed.
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