Welcome to Gaia! ::

Listening as Ako spoke he could see that something had happened and it didn’t seem like they were in the best place of doing things. As if they were stuck similar to how he had been in the past before Liam except they didn’t seem to be drowning themselves with substances. Running his thumb over the inside bit of his engagement ring, he knew if things ended with Liam he would be lost again. It wasn’t something he could forget, none of the things that had happened to him could easily be forgotten but… he had an idea as he watched her.

“What if I could offer you a way to forget, to give up those painful memories and start fresh without that hanging over you? A chance to pick yourself up and begin anew?” Speaking with delicate care in his voice, the right amount of concern and charm to make them feel that he wanted to help them. Speaking as if he was already a friend or at least a bystander who hated to see those suffering. It wasn’t far off from the truth but he wouldn’t deny that pulling one from order was a huge strategic victory for him and for the Negaverse. One less order senshi to fight against and one more corrupt to help the Negaverse remain strong.

“It is far from dumb Ako, I have lost people, and been left behind by others, yet here I am after a decade. I can help and I am sure Voce would enjoy having your company more often.” Listening as his youma agreed with his statement, he knew the bird had picked up on his intention because they were playing the comforting creature to the senshi as he spoke and offered a helping hand to pull them forward.

“I cannot do it myself but I can bring you to someone who can.” It would have to be Axinite, someone with a bit more delicate of a hand. Laurelite was far too busy for this with her position as Queen even if she had gathered them all recently for a meeting.

“It is something that you have to be sure of if you need to gather things or need time to think.” Pulling a card from his breast-pocket, he handed it to Ako. The embossed black business card only had two things on it, a phone number and a gilded musical note. The number went to that burner phone of his that Desiree had set up so he could contact members of order without the line getting crossed. Anything to keep his curiosity from effecting his safe and quiet civilian life with Liam.

“Things you want to bring, want to start with, or anything important. For example, if you need glasses I would recommend writing your prescription down.” Medical records would be nice but that was an odd thing to figure out. But at the same time, there were resources to figure that out with the Negaverse, even if he didn’t personally use them.

“I want to help, I hate seeing people suffering.” And it was obvious that was what was going on, even if he wasn’t completely truthful about his intentions. Offering the card and his hand, he went to stand up. “You can always reach me through that number if you need time to think and gather things. I can help with things if you need it.” It would be nice to have someone house-sit his home in the city since he’d moved out towards the edge of the area where it was quiet and much safer in his opinion.

“Of course, ask any that you like and I will do my best to answer them. If you think of anymore after tonight you can text me at that number and I can respond as well.” Dusting off a bit from where he’d been sitting on the ground, he reached down to let Voce hop up and onto his shoulder.

It was promising that things seemed to be going smoothly, even if they did change their mind after tonight, it wasn’t as if they’d be able to find him as a civilian. Without teleporting the odds of her finding him again were slim to none as well. It would be something to bring up tonight, to both Desiree and Liam, when he got home.

“Do you need a hand up Ako?” Offering his hand, he smiled warmly at her.

The normal sort of questions, direct in essence but hard to answer clearly. Thinking for a moment as he pulled her up, he decided to go for as truthful as he could manage based on experience.

“The amount depends, if you are willing it can take large chunks but if you are unwilling… well you would not remember that you had no choice in the matter. But you can be expected to lose things regardless. Some memories permanently, others flickering echoes.” Thinking back to what he had heard from Lorcan regarding the corrupt Miyamoto and how they had no civilian memories even though they had come willingly.

The next question he had more of an answer for even if his own experience had been less than pleasant. “It does hurt but only for a moment and only the one time. As a senshi you have a bit of mercy available when it comes to things after that as you progress.” A hand in their chest wouldn’t be required if they grew stronger and were offered more chaos in the future. It meant something he could directly manage and work with between Desiree and Axinite in time.

Thinking for a moment over the last question, he reached up to scratch beneath Voce’s beak as he thought. “Access to a network of people who can and will support you and make sure your health and wellbeing are taken care of, the ability to help support something bigger than yourself, and a path away from memories that bring you harm.” His tone focused especially on that last part as he stood there, there were many more things he could say about the side he had chosen, the correct side of things, but even if he was currently hidden as a captain it didn’t mean he wasn’t free of being interrupted by another member of order. It just meant he was less likely to be considered a threat and dog piled on.

Nodding as he laughed just a bit as well, it did probably seem off that such a thing existed when order viewed the Negaverse as villains or evil. “Yes, doctors and facilities to assist with things as well as housing to help those transition. Though there are options available for any situation.” He appreciated the meticulousness to it, the thought to cover as many bases as possible.

“That is correct and you may write things down but some things will feel foreign if they align with what is lost. Names of people you were connected with, your current name, may feel like something foreign. Photos you can bring but the subjects will feel uncanny depending on what you lose. As I have not personally experienced it I cannot give a full account but I can introduce you to someone who went through the same experience.”

Thinking of Miyamoto again, he did wonder if the icy senshi was friendly enough for a meeting. He didn’t know them quite well outside of the one meeting months back and the occasional talk about him as a patient from Lorcan during his own respiratory visits.

“As for powers, sometimes it can make them more… potent, yes that would best describe things, but that is even more nuanced as powers between senshi are already so varied.” He had thousands of pages on the various effects and senshi he had seen over the years, the ways he’d witnessed and experienced how magic worked and effected the senshi and those around them. Maybe it hadn’t been his intention originally but it became necessary to survive as long as he had during all this.

“You may or may not but regardless you cannot use your civilian name, it would be unsafe, to say the least.” Similar to witness protection he supposed but much less mundane. The whole inner workings of it all were one of the reasons he was so certain of his place in things even if he hadn’t had the best experience in his start with things.

To lose his name, his money, and Liam, no that wasn’t something he would even remotely risk. But for this senshi and some others, he could see how it was a way to move on and he was certain he could help. “Of course, I can help you with things and connect you with others as we go. Since I am not a senshi I have no magic but I know a few corrupts that can help or talk with you as I said.”

He’d keep an eye on things either way but this seemed to be going well, he could hear that tinge of realization to his motives even if it wasn’t exactly in-depth, but he had nothing to lose by offering and he would gain quite a bit from this. “Of course and thank you for being kind to Voce, they are a curious little bird and I always worry they might get into trouble while they explore.” Much as he had in the past, curious and always looking into things before getting caught up in the consequences of his curiosity. At least now he had Liam to back him up and a few other tricks up his own sleeve.

“I will wait for your message and feel free to let me know if you want me to prepare anything on my end for you, I want you to feel comfortable as you step into a new life.”