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 Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:35 pm
August 14, 2015 (Back dating to when he was kidnapped.) After his meeting with Polaris, Benitoite had gone home, not wanting to spend the rest of his evening out patrolling. He had work to do anyway and things to think about. He had said he would work on a painting for her, while thinking he might work on a series of them, and he’d mentioned a gift for her as well. The gift would be easier to work on, less time consuming, so he would work on that first.
When he got home he had started his work by pulling what plant books he could and started on his research and looking for what he could offer to Polaris which could handle the harsh cold of her star. It wouldn’t be easy to find something and he wasn’t sure if anything he offered would even live. He did hope she’d let him study the plant he gifted her and see if it survived, and how well it did. He hoped that perhaps the magic of the planet, and it’s princess, would ensure anything he offered that was capable of handling the cold would survive, he didn’t expect something tropical to handle the cold no matter how much magic was involved.
He’d spent hours that evening going through his books and making a list and shortened it as he went, picking colors and looking for something useful as well. He had a list of plants, something for decoration only, and then those which would provide food.
By the time he’d gone to bed he had a notebook with several written on pages settled next to his bed. He had some nurseries to check and if not there than the internet might offer a solution to what he was planning to gift the senshi with. He just hoped she’d like them, as he’d at some point in the evening decided upon one plant from each of the two categories – a flower and a food providing plant.
It was over the next five days that he spent locating, and having shipped, what he wanted for the princess and finally when he had them both and night had fallen he powered up in his living room and teleported out as soon as he’d powered up. The garden where he’d first been found was where he’d arrived and the bench was approached as he left the two potted plants where they’d been when he’d arrived. The bit of ivy was tapped into place on top of the bench and a note under it, he hoped she checked for the note. It was a bit lengthy as he explained that he hoped the two plants would survive the cold of her plant, but he’d picked both because they were cold hardy plants, but given it being an alien planet he was unsure if they’d survive. Although he did pose the idea of magic helping to keep them alive and perhaps they’d even thrive there.
Turning from the bench he went and picked up the first potted plant and set it on the bench, uncaring that people sat there, and then did the same thing with the other plant. Both of the plants had an information ticket stuck in them, hand written by him, giving the basic care information on the plants and other general information she might like to know. Glancing over both plants once more he turned to go and continue on with his patrol.
The General had no idea that he was going to be kidnapped that night. Had he known he might have informed her of that. He might have done a lot of things. But he had no idea.
Quote: Polaris, I hope this note finds you well, if not than perhaps these gifts will assist in bringing up your spirits. The first is a flowering plant commonly called woodland, or meadow, sage. It is a cold hardy plant that blooms between late spring and early summer. It can handle dry or moist conditions but it needs good draining. Full sun would be good so if Polaris gets sunlight it should be planted where it will gain the most sunlight possible. I can only hope that the magic of you and your planet will see to its survival. The second plant is something I think you can use, or at least I hope you can, I know your planet doesn’t have much for life but perhaps one day it will and when that day comes I hope this can help feed that life. The second plant you have here is indeed a raspberry plant. It’s called a heritage raspberry and is known for a sweet flavor. This variety won’t fall to pieces, as some others do, and it will remained firm for a day or two after picking so you can bring some home with you to enjoy. When I bought the raspberry plant I realized it came in a pack of three plants so when you plant them you should keep them about three foot apart, so they have room to grow. They should start to bloom in early summer, so they’ve already done that, and you can harvest in mid fall or mid summer. As for sunlight they too like full sun, I really do hope that doesn’t become an issue for them. I’ve included further information on the cards with both plants. I hope you enjoy them and find a good place for the plants. Also, I did find a knight who can tell what planet I’d have been a knight for – Castor. He said Castor. I’d ask that you not tell this person, as the knight informed me that Castor is an a*****e. Not that I care to start drama, and have what was told to me spread about, but I don’t plan to have this senshi know. I thought I would however tell you, given our conversation. Additionally I did tell this knight that if he finds himself in need of anything I can perhaps help with that he can send word to me through you, I hope this doesn’t trouble you too terribly. Sincerely, Benitoite.
Word count: 1,018
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:25 pm
August 23, 2015 (Back dating to mid June, the day after Slidr's awakening.) While Aiden was in the bathroom Alexandre still sat on the bed. His legs folded and spread at his side as he sat there wondering what to do. As the phone rang once more he was glad to hear someone pick up and greet him…or well greet Aiden. “Sorry, not Aiden – Alexandre.” He said after a moment, glancing back over his shoulder toward the closed bathroom door, was it locked? Biting down on his bottom lip he turned his gaze back round to his beds headboard.
“Yeah, he spent the night. No, no, no, no.” He said shaking his head, already ruffled blond hair becoming more messed up as he did this. “Nothing like that. He was hurt and came over. No, he’s fine. He just needs a change of clothes.” He didn’t mention, wouldn’t mention, that he’d stripped Aiden down and that Aiden had slept in his bottoms. Alexandre also wasn’t about to mention in what way he’d found Aiden, on his doorstep unconscious, he didn’t want to worry the others younger sister and possibly have her rushing over here to see her brother.
With phone in hand, pressed to his ear, he laid himself out along his bed and twisted himself about atop his rumpled bedding. Pulling one of his pillows down, laying it under his chest, he listened to the girl on the other end of the line for several moments before he spoke up. “I’ll text you my address, just ring the bell when you arrive.” He said while wondering what to pull on for today. He couldn’t take the usual amount of time dressing, and he really was reluctant to even get up and dress, but he felt himself hauling himself up and swinging his feet over the side of his bed and getting up just as he was saying his goodbyes and hanging up the phone.
Leaving it on his bed he went to his walk in closet to find what he’d need in order to look good. Leaning against the door frame he let his gaze drift about the closet taking in both sides, to one side his pants and the other side was shirts. Looking over everything he finally went to the pant side first and grabbed for a pair of jeans, pants were always easier for him to pick. The shirts however was where he spent his time looking around for what to grab before deciding on a simple grayish blue button up made of some cotton blend that felt nice and cool against his skin.
Pulling the shirt on Alexandre buttoned it up while heading back into his room and to the dresser there. As he stood there he stripped off what was covering his lower half so he could grab clean bottoms and pull on his pants and a pair of short socks as well. It was when he ran his fingers through his hair that he realized how messy it was and that he was without a brush, as it was in the bathroom where Aiden was. Banging his head on his dresser he sighed and righting himself he went to the mirror he had in his room, a nice standing mirror that could be turned and was taller than he was. “I really hope it’s not that bad.” He didn’t need his hair too out of place; he had his hair bands in the bathroom too.
Groaning as he got in front of the mirror and saw his hair he shook his head. “No good.” And he’d never be able to straighten it. The only good thing was that he didn’t feel any knots in his hair when he finger combed it, in a poor attempt to straighten the hairs which stuck up and were out of place.
Figuring he looked as good as he could, given his inability to get into his bathroom, he headed downstairs to wait for Aiden’s sister. All the while he hoped Aiden didn’t decide to change and leave with her and return home. God, he had it bad and he knew it.
Word count: 681
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 2:19 am
December 1, 2015 Thanksgiving was over and now Christmas was coming up and he had shopping to do, decorating to do, and a whole slew of things. It was really a lot on his plate, black Friday had been hell for him due to work, but he’d survived and it was time to move on and prepare for the holidays and celebrating them for the first time with a boyfriend, he really hadn’t a clue how they were going to celebrate it. Would they spend Christmas eve with one family and Christmas with the other or how? It was a discussion he and Aiden needed to have, but not here – later.
Right now he was making his way across the campus grounds on the way to meet the other for lunch. There was a nice little café not far from campus and it was cold out, hot coffee, espresso in his case, would be nice and the small place served warm little things to go with their beverages like scones, the basic and not so basic grilled cheese sandwich and a few simple soups even. It was really more than a simple café but he rarely went there, just when he was on campus and needed something hot to warm himself with. This seemed like the perfect time and knowing Aiden would be getting out of class soon he was headed there to meet him.
This was something, the experience and behaving like this, which he’d never gotten to do before now; before Aiden. It was something he enjoyed and it warmed him as well. He still didn’t like public displays of affection, he doubted he ever would, but being able to meet the other between classes or spend lunch together on or off campus was just…nice. It was normal. He had enough abnormal things going on in his life that these simple things were precious and were treasured by the ashen blond. More so though were these simple moments with Aiden treasured because they were with someone he cared about in a way he hadn’t cared for another person.
Biting his lip in order to hide the smile that sought to overtake his features he hurried his pace a bit. He would have ignored the idiots making noise, they were just that after all – idiots, but when one of them with a mega phone started to shout and point him out as being privledged he stopped and turned and laughed! Yes, he laughed. When he managed to calm himself he turned his nose up into the air and smiled. “Yes and your point? If we’re going to point fingers and label people what shall I label you? A loud idiot?” He questioned the other in that belittling tone he could pull off so easily, and which infuriated people just as easily.
His hands went into the pockets of the long pea coat he wore, one hand closing about his cell phone, as he approached slowly and tilted his head to the side. Allowing his bangs to drift across his face he settled his features into something between innocent and mocking as his eyes settled on the loud mega phone totting student. “With how under privileged you make yourself out to be I’d think you should be in class, catching up to us supposed privileged people.” He stated and just as they pointed out that he’d admitted to being privileged he nodded his head. “I did, and I am. But don’t think I didn’t go to a public school and work my a** off. I’m still working my a** off, apparently harder than you are as I don’t have the luxury of time like you seem to.” Letting his eyes wander over his opponent. “I have two jobs, a full schedule of classes, and bills to manage. I don’t get to come out here and shout nonsense to people, unlike you.” His eyes narrowed some even as a smile stole across his features.
“Now, why don’t you put the toy away, go busy yourself in a classroom or library and work on betting your supposed underprivileged self. I have a lunch date with my boyfriend.” Emphasizing that last word he smiled even more, even as that smile turned soft and sincere. He didn’t mention the word boyfriend much out loud, as he didn’t see a point in outing himself to any and everyone, but it felt right to say it right now and not just to shove it up this idiots a**; as these were the sort who thought anything that wasn’t straight and white was some sort of minority. At least he was fairly certain these idiots considered gays some minority or people who needed to be coddled.
Snorting, nose up in the air once more, he headed off swiftly even as he pulled his phone from his coat pocket and unlocking the screen sent a quick message to Aiden to stay outside his classroom when class let out. He didn’t say why but he did hit the send button as he hurried his pace. Such idiots all over the country, spouting off nonsense at college campuses, and getting people to quit their jobs. He really hoped such didn’t happen here, he’d had to see this campus dissolve into sheer idiocy. Maybe it was time to power up and drain some of these idiots at night as they wandered around? Or just scare them with a youma or two? It was an idea but not one to think about right now, he had other things to focus on. Word count: 926
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:16 pm
March 23 2016 (Back dating it to when Negaverse officers still missing/kidnapped.) After working as a specialist, not that it meant much, at an occult shop for years Alexandre was finally feeling the strain. He wasn’t just working there but he was working, or rather running, two boutiques plus he was still attending University and he couldn’t forget his duties to the Negaverse - how could he? He’d been in the Negaverse for four years, five in the summer he reminded himself as he stepped back into his home and closed the front door behind himself.
Two weeks ago he’d turned in his two week notice and today was the last day at the shop. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t continue to shop there, they still made the best oil incense he’d found, now he could at least focus a bit more on everything else and feel a little less stretched and worn out. The only thing which would remain, at least for now, was the stress he was under. It almost seemed never ending, that it just had it’s ups and downs and no time where there was just - none.
Most recent there was a report he received regarding several officers that were missing and presumed kidnapped by Order - lovely. It seemed the senshi and knights had decided to steal a page out of their play book. While he might congratulate them on such a thing, on taking things a bit more seriously, that didn’t diminish the fact that officers were missing and perhaps being tortured and thus there would be no congratulations offered to them for doing such a thing. He’d been powering up every night in the hopes of running into someone on the other side that he knew, while hoping he didn’t get kidnapped, so he could try and find out what was going on with the missing officers.
The fact he kept failing, that he was running into no one had already resulted in bloodied knuckles and a new pillow as his had mysteriously been...torn apart in a fit by him the previous night upon returning home empty handed. This was his task! His job and assignment! And he was getting nothing but silence. He’d tried to contact Polaris even and nothing, he’d checked. Did he dare go out tonight? Did he try again, at the risk of being taken as well? The odds of finding out anything which he could bring to one of their General Queens was slim at best, or so he figured from the past few nights experience.
“I can’t believe I even agreed to this plan.” He said as he bent to pet Cadha’s head and scratch behind the excited terriers ears. Sighing he stood up and forced a smile onto his face. “Come on, let's get you out back.” Cadha could do his business and he’d get the dog dinner and figure out
what he was going to make himself. This was perhaps another thing he hated about his loaded down schedule, and the missing officers, he didn’t get time to spend at home much less with Aiden and he was starting to miss the other. At least they’d be spending time together soon. His birthday was in a little over two weeks and even if Aiden didn’t know it he was planning on spending time with him, just not on that day.
Slipping his shoes off he headed through the living room into the kitchen and to the back door which he opened, watching the small dog walk right past him and out into the backyard. A sigh passed his lips once more, fingers running through his hair, as he let his eyes drop closed for a moment. “What use is it to make friends on that side if they tell me nothing.” His hand, the one he hadn’t bloodied the evening before, came down hard on his counter top resulting in a flash of pain shooting up from his hand up into his elbow. Cursing under his breath he went to go get Cadha’s food and water, no need to make him wait, and than to figure out what he needed and close the back door once the little dog came trotting back in from doing his business.
Pouring out the dogs food, from a measuring cup, he poured him his water and pet his head as the little black terrier started to drink and eat with gusto. “Looks like you were hungry.” Smiling a tired, worn out, sort of smile he went to put the bag of dry dog food away, the water bottle went into the fridge labeled with Cadha’s name, and with dinner for himself already decided upon he pulled out from the fridge what he’d need.
“I hope this mission ends soon boy, it’s tiring me out.” Though maybe for the first time since starting on this mission it would pay off, maybe he’d find out something about those officers who’d been kidnapped. Then he could sit back and see some sort of results and be happy, accept the mission a little easier. It had been fine at first, he understood the need, but all he’d seen so far was Acrucis’ help on the super rare occasion. Other than that - nothing. His own conflicting and bouncing feelings, thoughts, and opinions hadn’t helped him in the slightest bit either as they tended to induce headaches and internal arguments with himself, debates even.
The rest of the time he spent cooking was done so in silence, save for the light classical music he’d gone into the living room to turn on, as he sat down at the small kitchen table eating by himself, Cadha had gone to play with a toy he’d tossed into the living room for the dog, he let his mind wander as he glanced about the empty kitchen. He really had been, the last few days, feeling a bit...lonely even when in classes or when he saw Aiden between them - it wasn’t what he needed and it wasn’t enough time.
As the dishes went into the dishwasher, along with the dish washing packet he set it to wash his dishes from the day and headed out. “Time to patrol. I’ll be back in a little while.” He wasn’t planning on staying out too late into the night, unless something drastic happened. Word count: 1,052
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:11 pm
March 23 2016 (Back dating to night of the kidnapping rescue, after the rescue.) The kidnapped officers had been found, thankfully, but not because of his little birdies - nope. One of them had been the cause of them being found but not because they’d gone to him. No, they’d been going to go to Ganymede only to be intercepted by Cinnabar. The fact Valhalla was going to go to Ganymede first before him, before helping his officers, sent a spike of red hot rage shooting through the General. He thought he and Valhalla had some form of agreement - understanding. It seemed he’d been wrong, dead wrong. Going to your partner came first - came before the lives of other people.
“How dare he claim to care about lives.“ He hissed through his teeth as he paced about his office. Papers littered the floor as his office lay in disarray as his temper had taken hold of him and the calm, collected, General was absent and in its place a rage filled little blond paced the length of the office. His coat lay discarded on his chair as well as his vest and gray shirt. All that covered his upper half was a black shirt with fluttery sleeves and the jabot he wore.
Long ashen hair was pulled back by a hair holder, his bangs left free of the elastic confines, was mussed up and messy as he kept running his gloved fingers through his bangs as his pacing and ranting continued.
“Such a waste.” The simple words were spat out by the blond as he stood still, shaking with anger in his office, his eyes glanced about quickly. Sweeping over the mess, ignoring it for now, they landed on the small table he had by his door where the files for the formerly kidnapped officers sat for him to go over. Did he really need to read them? Yes, he owed them that. He needed to but his anger right now, anger at himself and the situation - anger at those he’d thought he’d cultivated into allies was too strong right now. He wouldn’t be able to focus properly on the pages and their printed words. He knew it, maybe later...maybe tomorrow after a hot shower and some sleep.
There was also another that plagued him, worried him, and he now tilted his head, bangs scattering across his face as a smile twisted his lips and slate hued eyes looked over toward the collection of candles he used to light the dim room. “Yes...whoever that corrupted was...they were too close.” He’d felt the signature of a corrupted senshi close by, very close, when he had been with Valhalla during the rescue. He wondered if they’d seen or heard anything...but it was unlikely they’d heard anything over all the noise not to mention he’d been whispering.
“Still doesn’t look good. I didn’t have my spear wedged between his ribs.” He said while his eyes, unblinking, remained on the candles in their tall wrought iron holder in the corner of his office. Whoever it was would no doubt out themselves at some point, they’d try and do something to him, as they would surely try and confront him or get him in trouble.
“Ohhh what a surprise they will have if they try that.” His voice purred out into the dimly lit room before he broke out into laughter, deep and rich - dark. “Oh dear...what a mess that may become.” Smiling further the general ran one gloved set of fingers through his bangs, tugging his head backward some so his eyes looked up toward the ceiling of the room. “Let whatever come do so.” He was working on orders and if they thought otherwise they’d soon find out the truth - whenever they made their move and he was sure they’d try and make some move against him. He trusted a few members but not many and this mystery person was not one of them. The few he trusted would have already spoken to him, would have asked him and not kept silent about things. If not someone he trusted than someone else...someone who would likely try and use it to gain something...some measure of power or popularity.
Chuckling he shook his head and lowered his head, tilted his head to the side as well, and continued to smile - even wider now. “Oh yes...what fun this’ll be.” And his anger now passed in favor of this new feelings, just as powerful as the anger had been, had him finally glancing about his office and seeing the mess.
“What a mess…” Sighing he summoned a youma with ease and ordered it to clean things while he grabbed up the files to read, as he moved to seat himself at his desk.Word count: 788
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Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:35 pm
January 8, 2016 (Back dating to right before Christmas.) It had started out as simple Christmas shopping, something most people did every year when the holidays rolled around. It had gone well till he’d come to finding a gift for Aiden. He’d thought, going into figuring out what to get for his partner, that it would be easy but it hadn’t turned out to be. He’d gotten him a gym membership already, he’d gotten him other little things over time, but this was Christmas and it needed to be something good...something with meaning!
The idea had come when he’d been feeding Cadha, Aiden was out at the time, and he’d been talking with Katya. The idea of another pet, another dog to keep Cadha company, though Katya had some choice words to toss into the conversation as was expected of her. With the idea of a dog in mind he’d considered, for a few brief moments, a puppy from a breeder but had turned the idea down rather quickly. The holidays were coming up, only a few days away, and a shelter dog seemed more fitting and like something Aiden would appreciate more; an animal that actually needed a home.
That was what led him to checking out the local shelter where he had, after walking up and down the isles lines with kennels, found the perfect match. He’d walked down the aisles reading over their charts posted outside each kennel and asked a worker about the breeds listed he was unfamiliar with, but when he’d heard swimming and love for water he’d stopped and looked over the dog inside the kennel. A rather happy, if not a bit sad, looking dog of about a year old according to the tag hanging from the chainlinks. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever - perfect.
The dark brown, almost chocolate, colored coat and lovely eyes helped Alexandre make the final choice, as if his mind hadn’t already been made. While going back to figure out the paperwork, they put the dog down in Aiden’s name after assuring them that Aiden would show up the day before Christmas to come by and see the puppy before they closed; to make sure that they connected. He was sad, but also immensely happy, to hear that the dog had been set to be put down the same day that Aiden would be picking him up. So he was not only getting Aiden a companion, one he could swim with in the warm weather, but saving a life - it was perfect.
As it was he couldn’t bring the dog home with him today and so Alex had left the shelter giving a silent see you soon to the clueless dog residing inside. The shelter had told him that they didn’t go through the necessary precautions of fixing the animals until they knew they were being adopted, they didn’t want to waste resources and have them end up being put down. It took away from funds which could go to food and other needs for the shelter. It made sense but it meant the retriever was likely to come home with a cone on his head and would need a vets appointment set up, with his own vet, as soon as he arrived so he could get stitches removed and such. It was all good though. Word count: 550
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 8:32 pm
May 17, 2017 (Back dating a bit.) Coming up with an idea for the perfect gift for Bazzite was not easy, not when he was looking for something perfect. He knew the other liked trinkets and shiny things, how could he not? He could cheap out, like some people would, and just get him any sort of trinket that was shiny. But that was easy and that was meaningless - there was no feeling there. He wasn’t going to take the easy way out when it came to Bazzite - never.
So after scouring stores here and there around the city, hoping to find something the other would like, Benitoite was down in the Rift with Katya trying to brainstorm ideas with her. The guardian cat had even taken to helping by looking at night, during her wanderings. She knew this was important to him and so was helping as best she could, and he appreciated it.
The rift was, and always would be, a place he found somewhat comforting. He knew there were youma down here that wouldn’t even listen to him - big and powerful youma. He knew he was vulnerable here but in a sense that was part of what was relaxing. He knew here he stood down here. He also had power down here, power he didn’t have when a civilian. He could at least defend himself if need be.
He used to come down here to read by crystal light or just to think, when things got too hard in his civilian life. Bazzite had even known that if he wasn’t home and he wasn’t out patrolling in the city that he could be found down here. That was in the past though, Bazzite was no longer Bazzite...or rather he was but not the same Bazzite. He knew there were parts of the Bazzite still there, hidden inside the new Bazzite, as they made their presence known from time to time. Those small peeks of the old Bazzite, of Jonathan, were both a blessing and a horrible tease for him. Waving around who the other had been and no longer was but also little glimpses of his old friend, little bits to treasure.
“I have to find him something…” He whispered looking to Katya who was walking at his side, keeping as close as possible without being stepped on. She knew how the youma felt about her kind, something he would never understand really. She had, in a sense, repented for whatever the guardian cat she had once been had done. The same thing applied to their corrupted senshi. They were not on the other side now, they were allies and served chaos. It was best to accept tham rather than risk driving some away. But he supposed you couldn’t talk sense to them, even Bazzite didn’t like Katya but rather tolerated her since he requested it.
As he moved, walking past what had perhaps once been small homes or businesses, he let his feet do the walking as he glanced down once more to Katya. He had been glancing at her a lot, making sure she was safe, he didn’t want to find some youma grabbing her and dragging her off with some hand or tentacle over her mouth so she couldn’t scream for help. So far though she was safe, every so often brushing her tail to his leg to assure him of her safety. It was an unspoken method of dealing with being down here together.
“I wonder what this place had once looked like...before all this.” Waving a hand about to signify what he meant. “Before the moon and it’s royals got involved with Earth.” Wanting to clarify what he meant. He had once been told he’d been a Castor knight in his past life...so he figured even if he were to ever have a past life memory, again, it wouldn’t be about here. But he’d only ever had the one where he had received some sort of awards, for what he didn’t know.
Nearly tripping over some chunk of rock, how he missed it he didn’t know, the General gave pause as something pinged off his senses. A glance to Katya’s still, though alert, form told him she sensed something too. “What could that be…” It didn’t feel like a youma or an officer. So then what? There was no way a senshi or a knight had gotten down here, much less this far into the rift, so what could be giving off a signature that wasn’t pure chaos?
“We should check it out…” He didn’t like something being down here which he didn’t know the feeling of. He had been in this war long enough, felt enough signatures, that he was certain he knew all of those available. From transcended to royals from all sides he knew auras and this was not one he knew.
Moving, a bit quicker now, he headed towards the signature. The problem with signatures was the same as always, you never knew exactly where something was. You had an idea of where and how far away but it was never precise, which was annoying in all honesty. That in mind it was no surprise that the General, followed faithfully by the guardian cat, wandered about the rift for some time. He was, as far as he could tell, right on top of the signature but he couldn’t see anything which stood out.
“Could I be looking for the wrong thing...or expecting what I shouldn’t be?” A glance to Katya gave him a shrug of her shoulders and a look which told him that she was just as clueless, and he was left on his own. She agreed with him but was more intent upon focusing on everything rather than verbally answering him. He knew the signs, he knew her well enough by now, she was getting absorbed in what she was focused on - which was that signature and he wasn’t about to get her attention for more than a few seconds at best.
“Maybe inside…” Moving to check out the inside of the first ghostly remains of a building he scoured the place top to bottom, finding nothing, he moved on to the next and than the next as he looked for whatever it was which he felt. It was as he entered what had to have been a small store that he felt it, not that he hadn’t been this whole time, just a bit stronger and clearer.
“In here…” But where? Moving around the shelving and countertops he moved to a back room and continued to look about. Moving the few objects found scattered about the place.
Moving around, boots thunking on the old wooden floor, he wasn’t surprised when a few of the blanks gave out under his weight and almost sunk a leg of his. The place was, in his opinion, dangerous and clearly a risk to his health but he had to figure this out.
After crawling across the floor, in order to get his leg out from the damn hole, he managed to move back, carefully, in order to peer down into the darkness of what he assumed had been a basement perhaps? More storage for the place? Down there it looked more like..a workshop of sorts? Curious he was careful in lowering himself down, Katya jumping onto his shoulders to join him.
Landing on his feet was a bit jarring, it always would be he figured, but the glance around really told him nothing - it was damn dark down here. As he stumbled and smacked into a few things he sighed. “Katya...your sight is better than mine...please.”
Feeling, more than seeing, her head move around and feeling her ears flicker he smiled. It was good that he had brought her, her eyes were far better for this than his own. As he felt her shifting and moving he went to ask what she was doing when he felt her leap off his shoulder, or maybe she dropped down from his shoulder, either way she was on the ground and moving around.
Listening to her little paws on the floor, she seemed to be making noise on purpose for his sake, he stood where he was so he didn’t hurt himself or Katya. He didn’t want to return home injured from this and have to try and explain to Aiden, it was never easy to try and gloss over things and tell the truth while not telling him everything. Not only was it not easy, since he was terrible at lying, but it hurt to do that to Aiden - it hurt a lot. But he’d sworn he would keep him out of this war, at all cost. He didn’t want the other involved...it would be a risk and a weak spot for himself, and surely for the other as well. They would be each other's weakness...and one that was easy to exploit.
As his thoughts were continuing down that path, one which he never liked them going down, he was brought back from them as he heard something which sounded like a chain…? A thin chain nothing like a heavy bike chain or something equally large and bulky. “Katya?” Questioning her he waited and no response. “Katya?” Trying again he almost started to worry, but he could still feel her signature and she hadn’t made a sound so she couldn’t be hurt - right? Just before he could call her again he felt her against his legs. Bending down, slowly, he reached out to where he figured her head was and pet behind her ears. “What’s going on?”
As she turned around, to make another pass at rubbing against his legs, he felt something large in her mouth….metal? “Jewelry?” He questioned as he felt a chain then, thin but not too thin and definitely made of metal. Why was there jewelry down here still? Hadn’t anyone ever come down here and gone through all these places and taken everything from them? Why hadn’t some of the smarter youma? He wasn’t going to complain though - not one bit.
As he took the object from Katya’s mouth, ignoring her complaints over dust and dirt and needing to clean her mouth out, he held it in one gloved hand as he felt that feeling again. So this...this was the cause of it? It seemed harmless. “We should go…” He needed to see this and examine it - in private. He wasn’t going to bring this up to anyone until he’d looked into it on his own, well aside from Katya of course. Word count: 1,770
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Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 1:34 am
June 9, 2017 (Back dating a bit) Having left Bazzite behind with the gift, he was glad the other liked it, the General had gone to do just as he’d said he would - find the missing stone. He didn’t know if he, or Katya, would find it for sure but it was worth trying because Bazzite was worth it. Moving silently through the darkness, Katya brushing against his leg every other step, he let his pale eyes wander about the darkness.
The only reason he didn’t trip and fall was the crystals above that gave some light, like a black light one would purchase for Halloween, so he could see the deep gouges into the ground as well as the bumps, spikes of rock that jutted up, and other various anomalies that covered the ground...thus they weren’t quite so abnormal he supposed. They were rather the norm in actuality, not that he cared for any of them in the slightest bit.
Moving deeper into the Rift the ashen blonde’s gloved fingers were soon no longer gently trailing over rock and crystal but buildings long since abandoned, left to fall apart as time and the Rift would have it.
“We’re close.” He whispered into the darkness. His eyes moving down to where he felt Katya brush against him. He almost couldn’t make out her silhouette as she moved at his side like a near silent ghost, which fit with her coloring he supposed. “I hope we can find it. I wish we had noticed it sooner.” When they had first found the necklace. They could have looked then. He didn’t like giving Bazzite something incomplete…
Biting down on his lip he pushed away the feelings that brought about. He felt like it was saying that the other wasn’t worth something complete, that he should wait, that he had rushed things rather than take his time...that Bazzite just wasn’t important. He knew it was far from the truth, Bazzite surely did too, but it still felt like that. The odl guilt surfacing and twisting and distorting things so he thought like this.
“As long as this war goes on...as long as I’m alive I’m bound to him. I owe him in ways I cannot even describe. I took from him what a price tag cannot be placed upon. I felt it - I felt him changing...I felt his starseed as it shattered in my hand.” He whispered, ducking his head as if someone would see how wet his eyes were becoming. He knew his voice cracked, that Katya could hear, as he continued to walk with her at his side. “I couldn’t pull my hand free, and maybe it was my punishment for what I’d done. That I feel the damage I brought to him because of my weakness and inability to act as I should have….”
The old thoughts, the old haunting whispers that used to fill his head at night, coming back with a vengeance. They had been for a while, on and off, but nothing as they’d once been - for which he was thankful.
It had, in the past, shortly after this had happened not been uncommon for him to feel such shame and guilt that depression would eat at him as thoughts whispered through his head. It was because of those who cared for him - because of his duty that he never did something foolish to himself.
“I wondered a few times, in the past, that if it weren’t for that night if anything would have happened between us. I doubt it - he was so innocent and naive. But i did wonder, if only because of how he behaved - so clingy and even more so once he became a youma. I wondered if it wasn’t some of his human feelings coming out since there were no inhibitions like people have. I’m happy with my life, don’t think I’m not, but I couldn’t help but wonder on some nights when I was alone.” Before Aiden, back when he’d been alone in his home without his partner, without his cousin and without Katya. Back before Bischofite had moved in and turned his world into all kinds of things, sometimes chaos, sometimes peace and serenity, sometimes nothing...and sometimes just set it all on fire.
Even when the other officer had lived with him he’d had those thoughts, something he’d kept to himself, he was prone to keeping some things a secret to himself. If he thought about it he figured the other had thought him weak because he’d arrived when he’d been at his lowest. Guilt ridden and suffering from his own horrid mistake, still being punished and knowing that others knew of his shameful actions. He hadn’t been up for fighting at the time and when he was the other hadn’t even seen it. It was no wonder the other thought him weak and unfit for the Negaverse - how wrong he’d been.
Maybe that was why he’d formed such a bond to Bischofite, been so weak to him, and allowed himself to be so easily used and manipulated. Helping was one thing but he’d been used and played like a violin and he knew it now, he’d known it since the night the other had become part youma amongst all the flames and rubble crashing down.
He’d suffered some after that, who wouldn’t? But he was over it and had been for some time now. Now he was working to make things right, to do as he should and live up to his title - live up to his actions and inactions.
As his thoughts wandered his feet did their job dutifully and took him towards the structural remains of the building where he and Katya had found the necklace. When he came up, and out, of his thoughts he was just stepping over the threshold and entering the building with ease.
“I can still sense something here...I had thought, at the time, it was the necklace. It clouded my senses because it was right there the whole time. But something else is here….” But what? Maybe what they sought and maybe it wasn’t - maybe something else. They would just have to explore and find out, there was no other option and he wasn’t about to walk out of here without an answer now.
Mind made up he headed down into the basement, where he’d been the last time when he’d found the necklace, and heard Katya’s paws lightly land next to him. “Katya, I’m going to need your eyesight.” He whispered into the darkness, glancing towards where he assumed she was. He couldn’t really even see her now, as there were no crystals in this room to grant any light to aid his eyes in seeing. It really was all up to Katya and her eyesight.
Feeling her brush against his leg he smiled, glad for her letting him know where she was and which direction she was moving in. As he heard her moving about he kept still, not wanting to walk into anything and potentially injure himself. It really wouldn’t be good for him to return home all banged up, not with his cousin and his partner there. Both would question him and potentially mother him, depending on what exactly he did to himself.
As he stood there waiting, not wanting to risk injury by moving, the General could hear Katya moving around. Unsure of what she was doing he at least had a general idea of where she was.
Benitoite wasn’t sure how much time passed, as there was no way to tell, but finally Katya was brushing against him and he felt her front paws moving up his leg. Figuring she was standing on her back paws he bent to pick her up. As he moved to do so he felt something land in his hand...something that was crystal like, in that it felt like a cut gemstone would. “You found it.” He whispered, pride filling his voice, he pocketed the item before scooping Katya up and heading out the way they’d come in. They had a long walk back up to the castle so he could teleport them back to Destiny City. He was not turning the crystal over but he also wasn’t giving it to Bazzite just yet. He’d make sure it was safe...then he would gift his youma with the stone. Word count: 1,398
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 10:21 pm
August 29, 2017 (Back dating a bit) It had been over a week since he had gone out, since he’d done more than the basic things which a person needed to do. He’d been in too much pain and he had stuck to his usual method of treating it. Ground up herbs of various sorts had helped with the bruising from that bat and while his side still hurt, was still tender, the rest of the pain had subsided finally.
Deciding to take advantage of the empty house, unless one counted Katya, he had managed to get himself up stairs and into the bathroom to wash up, extra time being given to his hair, he’d dressed himself nicely and headed out with a few parting words to Katya. She would tell his cousin where he had gone, as Hudson was due home soon.
It had been awhile since he’d had some time to just relax, to just be a young adult. Today he figured was a good day for that, and for some alone time. He still was dealing with his emotions, how could he not be? But he was trying to work through it, he had to. Alexandre had more important things in his life, both civilian and powered, and needed to keep his usual level of calm - he had to. He had allowed himself once to drown in his emotions and let them control him - not this time. He was older now and had more control and a better handle on himself, he wasn’t a teenager anymore.
After some moments spent sitting in his car he did decide on where he wanted to go - the botanical gardens. Flowers had always been a source of comfort for him, since he was small and learning his way around his mother's greenhouse. The smells and the colors and the harmony - it was all peaceful. It was perhaps one reason he liked to paint nature, aside from the fact he had a strong dislike for painting people as he felt he had to be too perfect there.
The drive there was short, spent with music softly playing in the suv, his mind drifting between what had happened not all that long ago as well as other things. There were several things on his mind and he was just sorting them out mentally, though writing things down might help more.
Finding a parking spot was, as usual, easy. Who came to botanical gardens? Especially after the incident this past winter, that had really annoyed him. It wasn’t just that he’d been caught up in it, though that did annoy him, but also he didn't like the use of plants. However, he still lacked in knowledge about the event, hadn’t gone looking for it either really.
That thought, the ponderings of that event, were pushed aside as he climbed out of his car and locking it up he headed for the entrance where he would pay the small fee in order to get allowed in. It was while waiting for the couple ahead of him to pay that he rolled his sleeves up, just a bit past his elbows, so a bit of the black ink which decorated his skin could be seen. It wasn’t intentional, he didn’t show off the ink work he boasted, it was just that his shirt was a bit too warm here.
Once the couple had paid and moved on to head to one of the indoor gardens, one that was more tropical in what was housed inside, the ashen blond moved forward and went to pay for his own ticket. When he was done with that he headed outside, it was a nice enough day out and he didn’t care to sweat in a greenhouse that felt more like a sauna.
It was to the old English country garden that he headed himself. The colors were softer and the design nicer, simpler, it was more relaxing and that was what he needed right now. It wasn’t the maze of rose bushes which they had here, though he did like that area also, this was just a place he could fall asleep, if it were allowed. He knew if he ever got a large enough home, with a big backyard, he would create a garden similar to this. Some of the flowers would be different, different meanings. He doubted the botanical garden had picked the flowers for their meanings, though if they had it wasn’t a bad message, he knew his message would be different so the flowers would be as well. There would be crossover, of course, but it would be something he could enjoy.
He just needed money to get a bigger house, not the double brownstone he owned, and maybe when this war was over he would try and save for that. Something big and just outside of the city, so it was easy to get to work and enjoy city life, with a big backyard so he could fit a greenhouse as well as a garden and some sort of stone area for him and other people to gather and eat outside at night.
It was all grandiose things he wanted, at least right now they felt to be such, but they were so far away that he didn’t know if he’d ever gain them. But he wanted to...he wanted nice things once this war was over. He wanted nice things for Aiden and himself, for his cousin, he wanted to rest after the fighting and the killing. For now though he was fine with it all, fine with being a murderer who enjoyed what he did. For now he would do what he had to in order to secure the future he wanted.
Moving through the garden, slowly, the ashen blond ran his fingers through his hair as he took in the flowers all around. The smell was light in the air but it was there, like a soft perfume, something you could bottle and make into an oil to fill a house with. Sighing softly Alexandre made his way towards a grouping of flowers and settled himself onto the grass. His fingers moving as he gently moved the flowers, bending them easily, as he moved in close to smell.
He needed a garden similar to this...he needed a bigger backyard, and home, he needed a future after this war. He needed a lot of things and while most were out of reach right now there was one which wasn’t. One thing was within reach. It was something he’d never considered, though there had been a time during the winter season that he had, but the thought had vanished rather quickly. This time though the idea stuck and followed him around the English country garden as he moved from there towards the rose maze.
It was just something he had never planned for himself, never wanted, it was something he had never liked the idea of and yet he was considering it - seriously considering it.
Damn it….he was going to take what he could and he would hold on tight.Word count: 1,182
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 10:32 pm
August 29, 2017 (Back dating a bit) Earlier in the day he had gone up into the attic and brought down Jonathan's things, all of it, the boxes were heavy and filled with things, clothing and dvd’s and all manner of other things. All of it was memories, memories of a person and a time long gone - things he could never regain and a person he couldn’t recapture. It was pointless to keep them, he’d never have Johnathan back, where he could return these items to him. Whoever he was now would be someone else...likely not someone so loud or into ninjas like the old Johnathan had been. They’d be someone new...someone who wasn’t the former. The former was dead as they were no longer them but someone else.
The boxes had been loaded into his suv, filling the trunk and the back seat and the floor in the back. He’d said little in the process, just whispering to Aiden that it was Jonathan's things which he had been saving. It was time to let him go. It was time, perhaps it was long past time for this. Adding in, on another trip to his car, that talking to Aiden a few weeks back had helped. It had...it had helped a lot though not as much as losing Jonathan for good like he had.
Details weren’t needed though, they weren’t as important as the progress. Once everything was loaded up into his car he did mention, to both his cousin and Aiden, that he needed to deal with this on his own - he had to. He was going to drive them to the dump and toss them all. His voice, everything about him, he hoped made it clear that this was his last step in a long process that had taken years. If it didn’t he didn’t notice though as he had turned and left quickly, he needed to make two more stops before he could purge himself of these things - these reminders.
The first stop was to a gas station for a gas can and the gas to fill it up. He had snuck a book of matches out of the house, he kept them for his candles and incase the stove decided to ever be a pain in the a** and not light.
The next stop didn’t occur for some time as he made his way through the city towards the industrial area, that was thanks to a bit of traffic which thinned as he drew closer to the abandoned part of the cities industrial warehouse area. Finding a warehouse that was empty wasn’t hard, a lot of them were, too many jobs and industries had left the city due to all the terrorism. It left a lot of empty places behind, which at the moment was good for him as he was able to park his suv right inside of the abandoned warehouse.
Stepping out he closed his door as silently as he could and pocketed his keys, he didn’t want to lose them and have the car lock itself on him. He wouldn’t be able to explain to Aiden why he was in this part of the city with his keys locked into his car.
Powering up was easy enough, it was something familiar and not needing much thought from the ashen blond. Teleporting also didn’t require a whole lot of effort on his part, for which he was glad as he had thing son his mind.
Down into the Rift he traveled, calling for a humanoid youma to follow him, he had need of their services, he had them grab the things from Bazzite’s former nest. He had them bring him everything, neatly bundled into the blankets that filled the nest. With the nest clean and everything in his possession he had headed back out of the Rift. His footsteps strong and his head held high with confidence and strength. He was not going to show weakness in front of the youma - he wasn’t weak anyway.
Held in his arms, pressed to his chest, the bundled bedding and trinkets made it back to Destiny City with him before being set down so he could power down once he was sure no one else of power was near to his area. He was not about to allow someone, anyone, to interrupt what he was going to do. This was private and needed, just as he’d told his cousin and his partner. He had to do what he had to do...it was for himself that he did this - he needed to let go.
The blankets were unbundled and for a moment he could pick up a trace of lavender...the oil he added to the others wash. This bedding had only been washed, and brought to Bazzite, two days before he purified. The other hadn’t told him then, hadn’t even hinted at the betrayal he had been going to commit!
Anger, red hot, filled him for a moment as he tossed the blankets away from himself. Trinkets fell and scattered across the ground. Various items the other had collected. It was with quick and sure movements that he grabbed up all the items and placed them on top of the blankets before moving to unlock his car and open the back doors and the trunk.
Boxes were yanked out and dragged close to the blankets, three feet away, before they were opened and fabrics were pulled out and tossed onto the other items. A pile, a nest, was forming as more shirts and pants and other things were tossed into the heap. Finally, deciding there was enough to get started, the blond went back to his car and grabbed the gas can from the trunk. Uncapping it on his way to the pile he doused it - all of it. Everything in the pile he’d made was covered in the gas, the smell filling the air, the can was put back into the car, keeping it far away from the fire he was about to start.
It was when he returned, match book in hand, that he struck the first match and threw it at the pile and watched as it caught fire in one big show of light and heat. As items burned, melted, and were destroyed he felt himself smiling. Hands going to the boxes and grabbing more things to add in, to feed the fire, he didn’t feel bad about what he was doing. This was something he needed. He needed to purge himself and his home of the reminders of the other - it all had to go.
This wasn’t the last thing he needed to do, there was one more thing, but that would come tomorrow. Tonight was this big step - this giant leap. He sat there for hours feeding the fire and watching it consume everything, removing it all from his life as it burned away all that had belonged to the other. Things the other had taken, things he’d owned, and things he had given to the other. It didn’t discriminate - it devoured.
There were points where tears came, he knew they would, he sat there on the filthy ground watching the fire till it died out and the boxes had run dry and the boxes themselves were nothing but ash. Little embers left but nothing else. He had sat there for he didn’t know how long, he hadn’t looked at his phone, he knew though that he was getting chilly and he needed to get home. Word count: 1,252
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 12:05 am
August 29, 2017 (Back dating a bit) The last remnants of Jonathan, the last thing tieing the other to this house, and he was prepared to remove it - finally. The guest bedroom the other had lived in all that time ago had not been inhabited by anyone else. Not Alois and not his cousin. The walls were still painted the color Jonathan had wanted but that was about to come to an end.
Earlier he’d gone out and bought paints and wood stains and stripping products. It would take all day, and the smells were going to be bad, so the windows were open but the door was mostly closed. He had brushes, rollers, trays, mixing sticks and everything he could possibly need, and maybe a bit more. He even had a box of candle holders, ones he hadn’t been using in any other room, set aside so once it was all done he could decorate and open this room up - finally.
Dressed in simple sweats, he didn’t even know he owned a pair of these things, and a t-shirt his hair was tied back as he worked. The wood of the dresser in the room, the bedside table and the bed frame for the bed were already stripped down and waiting for him to restain them to a lighter wood color. Since he was going with a light color on the walls he needed a light color for the wooden furniture in the room. The candle holders were a copper color, with a sort of old look to them, they would look good with the pale off green color he was doing for the room.
Hours into things, which included two breaks for food and several breaks for the bathroom, and Alexandre sat in the middle of the room on the paint spattered plastic. His clothing ruined, there was no way all the paint was coming out of it, his hair needed a good washing as he had spots of paint here and there in his hair. His arms were spattered here and there with dots of pale green while a few drops sprinkled his face as well - the ceiling had not been easy.
He had gotten it done though, but he hadn’t had the time to start dinner.He’d had a lot to do and the fumes from the all the products he’d used filled the air and likely filled a good part of the house but he didn’t care. He had gotten it done.
The windows were left open as he finally climbed to his feet and made his way to his, and Aiden’s, personal bathroom in order to shower. His legs nearly gave out twice as he was tired, he’d been standing and moving around all day, he really considered just skipping dinner and curling up to sleep on the living room couch. Maybe just a small meal if he had to eat? The idea of eating was rather...unappealing.
Stripping his clothing off he dumped it in the trash, there was no way he was saving it from the paint stains, and set about grabbing two towels shampoo, conditioner, and everything else he needed for a shower. He would make it quick, he didn’t think he could handle a shower of any sort of length. He was too tired and his legs didn’t wanna keep under him for long.
It was after the shower, and pulling on some slightly over sized bed clothing, despite what time it was, and headed down to the living room to curl up on the couch with a pillow in his arms and one from his and Aiden’s bed under his head. Word count: 605
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:07 pm
August 29, 2017 (Back dating a bit) He’d done it in the past, the first time on impulse and the second time he’d planned it. Hours had been spent in a chair and a lot of money, especially the second time around. The pain had been something to focus on and the decoration had, for a time, soothed him and given him a focus - a reminder. It kept him from forgetting and from repeating himself, repeating his mistakes. This time though he sat in no chair and decorated himself with no ink.
There was nothing he could put onto his skin which could properly show what he was feeling and he had already decorated himself enough. Already engraved himself with his mistakes and reminders, with warnings to himself. He had done it all before and there was nothing left to do.
He had boiled and seethed with anger, he had taken the time to think and reflect - to figure out what he wanted. Things had been burned, a lot of things, as memories which only he now held in his mind were burned and left to the winds.
He had mourned, he had gone through it all in a short time. He wasn’t chained to Bazzite nor was the other chained to him. The other had severed their bond through betrayal and already ivy marked his body in stark black curls of thorned vines and leaves. A reminder to be loyal, to show fidelity - something the other had shown for so long...till now. It was something he had shown to the other and to the Negaverse. Something he would continue to show to the Negaverse because he was loyal. He would see this war through to whatever conclusion it reached.
The other spot of darkness marring his once perfect skin reminded him of his rank and that he had obligations - many of them. He couldn’t just shirk them at a whim. He had a rank and with it game obligations and they were noble, they had a purpose - a greatness to them.
So no new ink would decorate his skin, not now and not ever again. There was no need for more ink to remind him of things, to remind him of lessons learned. He had no need for them. He had learned and he had grown. He was moving on as he had to, as life continued on without care for a person's needs for time to stop and just pause, he would not step backward or try and pause what could not be stopped. He would move on, remember what he bore on his skin. No more would be added though.
It was not needed.
He had what was needed already, he had it all right now...or he would soon enough. Alexandre was working on it, working today to acquire things which he needed. He’d explained the need for his bank card, as Aiden still kept a hold on it in order to curb his spending habits. He’d explained that it was needed today, but hadn’t said why. He needed to make a few purchases...he had something to do - something he should have done already.
And that was what he was doing. He was working towards gaining one of the first things he wanted for himself, the one that was closest to his reaching hand. Word count: 553
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:55 am
October 18, 2017 It was well known, at least by those who knew him, that he didn’t like spiders. In fact he had a phobia of them which caused panic attacks, his phobia was that strong, so when he’d gone out early in the evening to do some grocery shopping he was shocked and alarmed to see spider webs everywhere. There were no spiders, thankfully, but the webs were covering various parts of the city as he headed for the closest grocery store.
He saw one woman trying to break some webbing from her car, as it seemed to be keeping her from opening the driver's side door, it was very alarming and with all the webs he wondered where the creators of the webs were...and if they weren’t around now...when would they be? There had to be some giant spiders behind these webs. The shudder which went down his spine at the thought was visible.
Reaching the grocery store he wasn’t surprised by the fact most of the people were talking about the mysterious webs. No one, and he did engage people in conversation, had seen any spiders just the webs. He wondered, while he was reaching up on tip toes for the cinnamon, if the spiders were there in fact and just invisible. The thought was terrifying for the ashen blond, and almost sent him into a panic right there on isle three - cinnamon contained in hand and cart at his side.
It was only when some older woman, old enough to be his grandmother, nudged him that the blond found himself snapping out of whatever he’d wound up in. Moving out of her way, as he was indeed in her way, she needed to get to some of the spices as well Alexandre put the cinnamon into his cart and continued on his way. He was buying more spices, in an effort to silently tell his elder cousin to bake some nice fall perfect desserts, but that wasn’t the only thing which had him here at the grocery store.
Normally he went shopping late at night, when it was nearly empty and store employees were stocking shelves and had boxes of new products on various aisles waiting to be placed. Today was, obviously, different as it was still fairly early in the day. He needed a few things for dinner tonight though, plus he really wanted to get Hudson to bake something, so while Aiden was out he was filling up the cart with various needed items.
Down the aisles he went loading up on things, even a stop to the meat section, as he grabbed beef and pork as he figured he might as well get for tomorrow night as well. The chicken didn’t look too bad, as he was considering it, but he figured on something which could be made into something more….hearty. Tonight he was planning on pork with a nice glaze and mushrooms and small red potatoes - it would be good.
With the cart full Alexandre made his way to the self check out and started to ring up his times, bagging things as he went, it was rather annoying as the system kept telling him to place items in the cart or back in the bagging section - it couldn’t make up it’s mind. While it was quicker, in his opinion, than dealing with a cashier it was more annoying. It was his want to get home faster, and avoid a possible run in with whatever was creating webs about the city, that had him opting for the self check out - never again.
Once his things were bagged he headed off, carrying bags on both arms since he had gone without the car today as Aiden had it. The walk was slowed due to the weight added to his arms but he kept his pace as quick as he could, slate eyes moving about as he looked over the webs - as if expecting a giant spider to suddenly appear - he sort of was.
When nothing had turned up and he was letting himself in the front door he locked it behind himself and toeing off his shoes he headed for the kitchen. The baking goods left out, another strong hint to his elder cousin, as he went to get the recipe out for dinner tonight. His cell phone also was pulled out and a message sent to Aiden to watch out for all the webs and that he was personally staying in the house till they vanished...at least he hoped so.
He really hoped nothing Negaverse related happened….he didn’t want to be out with the webs, and possible spiders, all about the city. Word count: 782
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:25 pm
September 3, 2019 Fall was on its way, you could feel it in bits and pieces in the air. A bit cooler in the evenings, less heat in the day. It was coming - slowly. It was coming though and Alexandre was already preparing for it as he decorated the house from top to bottom.
Walking downstairs, a box in his arms, the ashen blond went about changing the pillows on the couches. From the summery colors, blue and gold, to some darker fall toned colors. A medium blue colored pillow went into the box and from the box came a nice deep red color. A gold one went away and a copper pillow replaced it. He left some of the gold pillows but some were replaced. Gold worked in the fall but he needed the copper tones also.
Thankfully the couch was black and worked with any color he tossed at it, if it was almost any other color he couldn’t pull this off, but he’d been smart in picking out furniture for the house. The throw blanket he kept over the back of the couch was changed, for something a bit warmer and darker in color, because for the summer it was more like a sheet than a blanket.
As he replaced things he pulled out the new, heavier, curtains that were a deep red brocade with gold stitched designs and tassels, to match, to hold them back. The curtains were nice and heavy to keep the heat in and the cold out. Soon the living room would be set and he could move onto other rooms, he had stuff for each and every room to give it a nice fall feel.
Aiden was at work, it was his own day off, and it gave him time to just do things. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do things with Aiden around, he could, but it just felt off in the house as of late. It felt like something was hanging in the air and it wasn’t a good feeling, it left him on edge waiting for something. He just didn’t know what he was waiting for.
Moving through the house at a much slowed pace, his thoughts and feelings weighing him down, the slate eyed male found himself tugging at his hair several times. As he worked through the kitchen, adding in festive decorations including some pinecones, fake leaves that looked and felt real, cinnamon sticks in a glass jar that was left open to fill the room with tier scent. Alexandre tried to lose himself in the world but he couldn’t, the feelings plagued him as h e finished in the kitchen some time later. Moving upstairs he randomly picked rooms to work on, no longer having a set course to go by.
Candles holders, ones from previous years, and candles went out and about throughout the house. All manner of fall scented candles that would when lit fill the house. Maybe a nice movie night was in order? Dinner and a movie? Or maybe something outside the house? Maybe doing something with Aiden would shake the feeling? He didn’t get it while powered up, at least not once he got past the guilt of leaving the house and leaving Aiden asleep, so it had to be something focused around his civilian life and home.
As it drew closer to when Aiden would be home his decorating was coming to a close. The house looked, and smelled, like it was ready to welcome the fall and all it’s rich and wonderful colors. Alexandre himself...he wasn’t so sure. He still, even after hours of work, couldn’t shake the feelings gripping him. Already he’d sent a text asking Aiden what he wanted to for dinner, he was willing to do take out or go out shopping though he said neither thing, he was ready for whatever his partner wanted. He just wasn’t feeling it himself, he didn’t know what he wanted to eat, he’d worked himself into a bundle of nerves that he needed to contain and hide from Aiden. He couldn’t tell him how he was feeling, it would just go down a path he couldn’t allow it to go - ever.
Looking around he spied Katya, not for the first time, watching him. “I know…” She could read him, he knew it.
“I can’t talk to him...I wish I could. I promised myself once, a long time ago, I’d never date outside of the Negaverse...and then I go and do it again.” And it just causes issues, he knew it would. It was unavoidable.Word count: 765
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 9:17 am
September 16, 2021 It had been a long time since he’d been here. Not to the rift as he’d been here often enough, but rather it had been a long time since he’d been to the place Bazzite had called home while down here. Bazzite had found himself something of a nest and had turned it into a home of sorts, a place he could squeeze into and not be bothered. It was a place where he stored trinkets he found all about the rift. He wasn’t even sure about half the items the other had kept, really more than half, he knew of one item though and it was the one item he wished he didn’t know about - wished Bazzite had never found.
He was happy the other was no longer a youma but he was not pleased with the other becoming a knight. Bazzite was now the enemy and he didn’t like it, wouldn’t accept it. He would fix things one day, whenever he next ran into him, he’d start laying the groundwork to fix things and bring Bazzitge back into the fold where he belonged.
It wasn’t that he was obsessed, shaking his head as he crawled and climbed his way into the empty nest, it was the simple matter of needing to right a wrong. It was something he needed to see to the end and it needed to be a proper ending - one where he was a Negaverse agent again. He may not have corrupted him to start with but he had helped in training him and shaping him, he’d let the other live in his home, and he’d made him into a monster. He needed to fix this last part and make things right in his mind.
As he entered into the nest he marveled at it, it was far too small and cramped for his liking, as he caught sight of all the items the other had gathered. It was a wonder they were all still here but he figured youma didn’t have much need for such trinkets and items and no officer would know about this little stash.
Inside were gemstones, rocks, all manner of things which had been found here. Most of it seemed fairly useless and mundane, aside from the jewelry which he did wonder about. It was tempting even to grab a few of the pieces but he did refrain. Something else however caught his attention. It was a roll of paper, which he’d have expected to be rotted and near destroyed with age, but it was intact and crisp as it even appeared new. That was unusual to say the least and it was why he grabbed it.
As he worked his way out of the nest, so he could get some space in order to unroll the scroll and read it, the General landed on his feet rather harshly and stumbled. Catching himself as he summoned his spear, using it to balance himself, he shifted his weight and moved to unroll the scroll so he could read it over.
The problem was that nothing written on it was in English, or anything remotely looking like a currently spoken or written language. It was a mess of what looked to be symbols, some repeating themselves, but it certainly conveyed some message and formed sentences of some sort. Useless - utterly useless. Until it wasn’t useless.
The scroll seemed to glow an icy sort of cold blue color as it came into contact with his spear, something he didn’t even notice it doing, before being absorbed into his weapon and transferring that glow to his spear. It was cool to the touch, he could feel it through his gloves, but it wasn’t unpleasant. A hum of something he felt from his weapon before it seemed to vanish, as if nothing had happened. Something however had happened and he would find out what.
Deciding to head for where tournaments had been held in previous years he felt it the best place to test out whatever had just happened, because whatever it was might need space, but he needed to know whatever had happened before the next entered a battlefield. He could not do so, in good confidence, if there was something unknown going on with his weapon. He relied on it in a battle and needed to know what had happened so he could use it, or avoid it, as needed.
Word count: 737
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