Welcome to Gaia! ::

“It really is.” She agreed as a comfortable silence fell between them.

Eleonora laced her fingers behind her and rocked back on her heels. “Someday I will take you there, I promise.” So long as he still had the desire to go with her, after she had a chance to make sure it was safe for him, Antisana would probably be the first person she brought along, if not him then Alcor but her sister didn’t handle heat well here on Earth. She could only imagine what it would do to her on another world.

“You know-” Her voice trailed as her attention turned from the stars to the man standing beside her.

“It’s ok to ask for help.” A do as I say not as I do kind of moment but it was something she was learning as well. “Your wonder is your sanctuary, your safe place away from the youma. What’s happening to it- I don’t think anyone has an answer as to what’s going on. But if you feel uncomfortable or uneasy going there alone, you’re more than welcome to reach out to me.” Even before their chance encounter, Eleonora had a love for going to other worlds and wonders. Rarely did she have a chance, but when offered she never turned it down.

“Or even like tonight, if you just want company-” Eleonora could feel the heat rise in her face and was glad for the dim lights that cast her features in harsh shadows rather than expose her pinkish features. “I’m rarely ever so busy in the evenings that I can’t stop what I’m doing to meet up.”

“My sister is still getting used to the idea of being more active. However, she’s still overprotective and cautions me when I go out alone. At least if I’m out here with you, she’ll have less reason to fuss.” Granted that meant that Eleonora had to lie by omission to her sister and not tell her about the youma attacks that plagued Antisana, even in civilian form, more often than anyone she’d ever met.

At the very least she’d feel like she had a purpose instead of aimless wandering hoping to find someone in need of help. Youma were at least easier to deal with and she felt no remorse for killing them; whereas agents and corrupts were another story entirely.

“It’s not a weakness to ask for help.” In her heart, she knew that he wasn’t the kind to abuse that kind of request. His care and consideration of others and their safety often left this sort of plea as a last resort. Even on his wonder, Antisana exhibited a generous amount of care for her comfort while almost reluctantly accepting help for his own injuries.

“You claim to be selfish but I think it’s more the contrary. You care about everyone else enough to not get them involved where I know that there are people out there that will run into a crowd to save themselves. However, you lead the danger away.” His request to meet out here where there would be fewer people walking around, or homeless camps nearby, was one such example as was the whole ordeal with the Pixie-like youmas. “You’re more considerate than you give yourself credit for.”

Eleonora slipped her hand through his and leaned her shoulder against his. She gave it a reassuring squeeze to emphasize her statement. “Believe me when I say you’re not a burden.”

“It defeats the purpose of having magic like mine if I don’t use it to protect people with it. Just because you’re powered as well doesn’t mean you’re exempt. Patrolling alone may be freeing, but being with someone is safer. Plus,” she lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up at him with a genuine smile. “I don’t mind going after youma. They’re more predictable than their agent counterparts.”

Feral beasts had one objective- Attack, devour, destroy. Simple-minded creatures that were easy to figure out.

A brief moment of silence lingered between them.

“You might think me weird for saying this but… sometimes I feel like song lyrics are better at articulating my feelings than when I try to explain them.” Eleonora’s gaze flitted downward to rest upon their linked hands. She hesitated for a second or two before taking a small step away and raising his arm to then duck under it so it draped across her shoulders all the while hoping he didn’t suddenly pull away.

Then- she started humming.

“♪Lean on me-” Elenora began singing quietly, completely skipping over the starting verses and going straight to the chorus. “♫When you’re not strong. And I’ll be your friend…♪” She nudged him almost playfully with her elbow. “I’ll help you carry on…♫”

“Heh- sorry. I probably just made this really awkward.” A sweep of pink rushed across her face as she turned to look away from Antisana so he couldn’t see how embarrassed she now felt. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that, I understand the dangers and it’s ok to call me for help, or if you just want company for a while.” In truth, there really doesn’t need to be a reason other than just not wanting to be alone.

“If you’re exhausted and need to rest, but can’t go to your wonder, I’m more than willing to patrol the area so you can get some sleep.” She could keep vigil either around the neighborhood or beside him; whichever he’d feel most comfortable with. Out here she had a wider sensing range than he did and while they stood around chatting she was not idle in remaining aware of anyone, or anything, that might approach them; civilians were much harder to detect but they were less of a threat to either of them.

Much like her own actions, he moved without warning, tugging her gently so that she faced him before pulling her against his chest into a hug that felt more needed than he’d openly admit. Eleonora didn’t mind, felt no need to withdraw or pull away. Instead, her head turned, nestled in the crook of his neck comfortably as her free arm came up to rest against the strap across Antisana’s chest while the other came to rest upon the opposite hip.

Warm skin beneath her fingers. His heartbeat felt erratic as her own while his arms around her made her feel genuinely safe here beside him, if not needed for the brief moment they shared.

Eleonora’s eyes flitted shut as she settled into the tender moment. Platonic as it was, she returned the embrace for as long as he needed this connection.

What he said was true. If this was a daily, or even every-other-day, occurrence there would be no way she’d be able to keep up; they did not live, or patrol, close enough for her to be able to answer every call. Perhaps if she had a teleport like Corrupts, then perhaps that might be different. But as a White Moon Senshi, her ability to get around town was limited. Even Dark Mirror Senshi had methods of fast travel.

Still, she wanted to try to be there as often as he needed. “We can plan to meet once, maybe twice, a week.” She suggested.

Breathing in the scent of him she noted the lingering spiced scent of either Old Spice or Axe, something similar to those she guessed.

“If we turn the tides and hunt them instead. Then maybe-” Eleonora paused, tilted her head up to look into his handsome slate-blue eyes that weren’t much different than her own. “Maybe they will think twice before coming after you.” That, however, might be giving youma too much credit. To think they’d have the ability to think rationally instead of through pure feral instinct. “If something happens in between our meetings then at least promise me you’ll call.” Even if she couldn’t make it, perhaps there would be someone else close who could. It would just require a bit of networking on both their parts, but it might work.

With the gentle press of his lips to her forehead, Eleonora leaned back slightly and looked up.

Her slate-grey eyes met his own for what felt like a long moment as she considered the gesture. A slight tilt to her head, gaze wandering to his lips wondering if it was something she was expected to return in kind or if it was a motion to help put her mind at ease.

In truth, she did feel comforted by it- and his arms around her as he held her close. Eleonora felt safe with him, by him- despite the youma dangers.

There were no words to describe what exactly it was she was feeling. This shy yet almost twitterpated feeling and yet an absolute calm. Time locked in a moment that might not ever have a chance to happen again and yet she pulled comfort from it for what it was. Turned her head, tucking it under his chin where she rested against his collarbone.

Eleonora’s eyes closed, breathing in deeply- memorizing this spiced scent that clung to him, the warmth and comfort with how almost natural this felt despite feeling unusually foreign at the same time. Calm in the air had settled around them and Ele was not quite ready to let go yet-

“I will hold you to that promise, Antisana.” Her tone, though quiet, carried a weight of finality and truth to it. But, rather than poke him in the side as she would have done with anyone else, she shifted in his arms, rose up on her toes just a fraction of an inch, and returned his early gesture with a brief kiss of her own against his strong jawline.

“I will have your back, that much I can promise you in return.” always being there wasn't a feasible option since their lives and homes were spent a distance apart but should he call, Eleonora would find a way to get to him.

“It’s ok if you do.” Eleonora sensed that he was rational enough to acknowledge that at the end of the day she was still human, still had a job and responsibilities. That time and distance were real for them; unlike the agents and corrupts that could teleport places with nothing more than a simple thought or an idea of where they wanted to go.

“That loneliness…” she started then abruptly fell silent for a short spell to gather her thoughts. “I think that feeling resonates a lot with others who, like us, have an identity to keep secret.” Chaos included, not that she cared if their lives were uprooted but their poor decision-making. “I don’t know the circumstances in which you were brought into this war, but the Mauvian who had awoken my sister had managed to convince her that she couldn’t trust even me."

Such an absurd idea to put into Alcor’s mind but what made it all worse was that she took the words to heart and said nothing for literally years. "For the sake of protecting me, she pulled away only to find out a couple of years later that both her ex-boyfriend and I were Senshi as well...” A true shame because the three of them could have made for a great team; not that she would ever consider replacing Athene or Liryn.

“Just my opinion. But I think it’s easier to open up and make connections with others if you’re able to meet them like how we did.” Preferably without the youma but circumstances what they were, the likelihood of their absence was slim; even now it felt like they were on borrowed time. “There’s less risk. I think- in sharing your civilian identity with someone you would feel comfortable enough to fight alongside.”