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 Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 6:43 pm
As Yvoire spoke, Reims felt his brows furrow. Confusion at first, but they pressed tighter together as pieces seemed to come together.
“You think Ellis was crowned as King?” he asked before he could stop himself. And it wasn’t because he thought it was crazy, but because it would make sense. Why would Yvoire have a memory like that? In a place where coronations took place? He had no idea what happened in the history of Ganymede but--
For a few moments, Reims froze. They were no longer alone in the cathedral. He jumped as the organ sounded and a somber but regal tune began to play. The rows of pews were filled, but he didn’t recognize any faces. They didn’t seem important.
His eyes were instead on what looked like a young man walking down the aisle to his seat near the front. He was being ushered by others, and looked like he had the weight of worlds on his shoulders. A strange twisting in his chest had Reims pressing a hand over his heart--
And then everything went silent again, and he was looking at Yvoire instead of the young man whose eyes met his for just a moment before disappearing.
Reims made a face. Not at Yvoire, but he realized he might think it was at him, so he quickly turned away, looking up at the silent organ instead.
“Why is your blood unlocking doors and breaking magic seals if you’ve got memories? Shouldn’t it be, I don’t know, bloodlines that make things like that possible? Do you think you might have magic royal blood?” It didn’t sound as strange as he thought it would.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:03 pm
“I don’t know,” Yvoire said for a third time—quieter now, like he was ashamed of knowing nothing.
And he was ashamed of it, in a way. He had become Yvoire almost two years ago, but he was only now beginning to catch glimpses of the past. He and Reims had become Squires together. Now Reims was a Knight and Yvoire was not. Was it something he’d done? Was it something he hadn’t done? Was he supposed to learn something? Or achieve something? Or unlock something before the rest of his power could be unlocked within him?
Reims had become a Knight protecting him. Reims has found his summon within Yvoire, kept there for safe keeping—or perhaps to keep Yvoire safe.
Now and in the past, Reims had cared for and shielded him.
“Even if I have memories, if I am what I am because of my starseed, there could have been people back then who—” Uncertain again, Yvoire struggled to understand any of it. He licked his lips nervously, thrown off by the sudden tension in Reims. “If people could travel back then—Ganymede could get to Jupiter so it’s not like all these worlds were isolated. Maybe… somehow… someone with Ellis’ blood—Not from him directly, maybe, but from his family—If they ended up on Earth…”
Had it come to him through Daddy? Was that why he’d died, because he had the blood of Knights and Senshi and Kings?
“It sounds crazy,” Yvoire said, nearly whispering, like even here, in private, it was better to keep secret.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:45 pm
“It doesn’t sound crazy,” Reims countered, not unkindly. He seemed distracted, though. Clearly thinking about whatever image he just saw. Maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him, since Yvoire didn’t react to the organ playing anything, and certainly not to the people who filled the rows.
“What’s crazy is a grove of blood trees, or whatever they are, under the cathedral. And Ganymede not knowing about it. Maybe she was never meant to know about Ellis, either,” he suggested, looking back at Yvoire and feeling his own shoulders sag a bit as he saw how uncertain and lost he looked.
“It’s actually kind of cool, if you do have magic blood,” he admitted, hoping it didn’t sound creepy to say. “And it wasn’t until after you gave me your blood that I had that weird dream about my lion. I just mean… crazier things have happened.”
He paused, feeling a little awkward about it, but decided to risk it.
“If you need help with your Wonder. Uh… it doesn’t have to be weird, if you need help. I’m pretty good with picking up heavy things. I mean, I know you’re stronger too, but. Some things are easier with two.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:04 pm
Yvoire hadn’t thought of that—Reims having a vision of his lion after receiving some of Yvoire’s blood. Or maybe he had thought about it but hadn’t wanted to, because the memory of why was horrific, so he hadn’t let himself consider things too carefully. Reims had found something of his own at Yvoire because of it, and instead of cherishing the connection like he would have before Yvoire had gotten defensive. He’d pulled away.
He was here now.
Reims’ offer was met by further uncertainty. Yvoire wanted to be able to talk. He wanted something of what they’d had before, though he knew it would likely never be the same. He wanted that sense of calm and safety and understanding. When horrible things happened and Yvoire inevitably became upset by them, he wanted to be able to look at Reims and for Reims to know why without Yvoire having to say a word, because words often failed him anyway.
“Maybe—Not now, but… After the world-eater stuff—If there’s still an Earth to go back to—Maybe then…”
Yvoire shifted from foot to foot. His hands curled and uncurled. He licked his lips. Teal eyes darted around, from the pews to the altar to the splotches of color on the floor.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was angry. I’m still angry, and I don’t know what to do about it, but… I’m trying. And maybe it’s not fair for me to ask you to be patient, but—If we could just… try. A little at a time.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:18 pm
For a moment, Reims wasn’t sure what he was hearing. Yvoire looked nervous, like he wasn’t sure he knew what to say. Or like he was trying, desperately.
“There will be an Earth,” he decided, because what was the point of everything if they couldn’t come back? “Whatever is going on, we’ll be able to beat it. Who cares if no one has done all this before. Since when was the last time everyone has been working together before?”
Not like this. Not when most Senshi and Knights had been separated in the past. They all had their separate Worlds and Wonders, but now? They were all on Earth.
They didn’t have everything together yet, but if what the Code said was true…
“A little at a time sounds good. You’re allowed to be angry. I did a shitty thing. So, I’ll be patient,” he quietly agreed, still rubbing awkwardly at his arm. “There’s a place that we might be able to get to. A place that’s safe for all of us. The Code mentioned it to me once, and I know Elliot has been looking into it. A place where us knights can go when we need a place and, uh… I wanted to make sure you knew you’d be welcomed there. Whenever we did find it.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:58 pm
Yvoire wasn’t as confident about the Earth’s chances. He’d lost enough. He didn’t want to lose more, but he often felt like the universe had it out for him. Maybe he was too dramatic. Why him, after all? In a world of billions, why would something as expansive as the universe single him out? Before he’d become Yvoire, there hadn’t been anything special about him at all.
Sometimes he wished there wasn’t anything special about him now. It had been easier not knowing.
How Riker could be so confident after what he’d been through with his own family, Yvoire would never know.
Yvoire didn’t try to smile. He didn’t offer his hand. He didn’t step closer like he would have months ago, but he did look Reims in the eye. Brilliant red, without a single trace of centuries old blue, Reims’ eyes were warm but guarded.
Maybe Yvoire could forgive him.
Maybe Yvoire could learn to trust him again.
“Okay,” he said. And then, quiet as a whisper, “Thank you.”
Safety seemed like such an impossible concept under the circumstances, but Yvoire wanted to be there if they ever found it.
For now, all there was to do was live.
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