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 Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:53 pm
Senri was used to brushing aside distractions and moving on. The same applied to people -- Senri established easy relationships that held nothing other then superficial meaning that could be discarded or broken without suffering any consequences. He hadn't talked to Kaatje or Gunn for days, staying away from the senshi part of Destiny City.
He had continued his daily life, using the time for his jobs and occasional amusements. But then, why was he dressed in his senshi persona? By no means was he actually doing any senshi work, holding a cigarette between his fore and index finger. The lit end burned brightly within the darkness of the night. Sailor Zephyr didn't exactly execute daily night patrols, although he took care of youma when he encountered them. Not because of the moral value, but leaving it alone tended to cause more trouble then it was worth.
Senri had better things then to be up late in the night but after an hour of being unable to sleep, he took a breather outside. And while Senri didn't easily accept his senshi persona, he was wary and distrustful of anything.. or anyone that wandered this late at night. As most senshi were these days. He was dressed to avoid trouble if it happened along his path.
Why was he so bothered? Was it because of the recent events? These events had nothing to do with him. If he invested himself any further, things would become more complicated then to Senri's taste. Oh gawd, why was he worried about some idiot? Senri kicked the trashcan in the near proximity, upturning it, his annoyance manifesting itself in a large dent in the side of the metal trash can. The cap rolled off to the side, Senri exhaling a puff of smoke at the same time.
"s**t."
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:42 pm
Plans were afoot in the Blood Moon Court, and those plans would require an army. The ISS had already assembled what they thought to be an elite fighting force prepared by hours of training and strict guidelines for battle strategy and maneuvers. But it wasn't enough. Ares herself had gone toe to toe with Tanzanite and had almost lost her life. The more senshi who they could bring to their cause, the stronger they would be. If they wanted to conquer the Negaverse, then they would need the numbers.
With that in mind, the Super Senshi of Smoke had dedicated every night to pursuing the objectives of the BMC -- first and foremost, recruitment. The senshi she sought out that night was a stranger to her, but not to others within the ranks of the Blood Moon. The suggestion had come from Gunn, and so here she was, trolling the area that Zephyr had been regularly seen in the hopes of a run in. She had done this for the past three nights, and tonight, at last, she found him.
Hidden in the shadows, Ares watched him kick the trashcan and then frowned. He was putting himself in a vulnerable spot, clearly distracted. A part of her wanted to sneak up on him to teach him how easily he could be killed, but her recent hospitalization was still affecting her. Despite her rapid healing, Ares still bore the marks of her battle with Tanzanite. The wounds on her face had healed, but there was a large blackened bite mark hidden, thankfully, by her bracers. The other cuts and stabs were hazy red marks obscured by the pink lace of her fuku.
Instead, Ares settled for just stepping out of the shadows. "Sailor Zephyr," she said. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure before. I am Super Sailor Ares of the Blood Moon Court. I believe you are familiar with my comrade, Sailor Gunn." She waited quietly to allow him to enter into the conversation.
Through trial and error, the Senshi of Smoke had learned to be better when recruiting people. Her first attempt included her chasing down a terrified senshi and screaming, "WE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IF YOU JUST LET US! INDOCTRINATE! INDOCTRINAAAAATE!" Needless to say, she was better now.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:23 pm
Any surprise that Zephyr felt at her entrance took the form of a defensive stiffening, and a wary look. There was something distinct unsettling about a person knowing of you, yet you didn't know them. Yeah, Zephyr definitely didn't like being on the other side of the mirror.
He pulled the cigarette from his mouth to speak clearly. "I hesitate to call it a pleasure yet, Super Sailor Ares." There was no sarcasm, merely a fact that Zephyr wasn't inclined to trust her. He didn't know her. Sailor Zephyr turned around, leaning against the railing, letting his gaze rake over Ares. It was purely assessing, without any of whimsical interest that he normally entertained when it came to the other gender. Unfortunately, he had no desire for that sort of female company tonight, leaving Zephyr in one hell of a mood. "I am." He answered her statement with a nod. He knew of her Blood Moon Court as well.
Despite not knowing her, her stance, her demeanor, and even her speech belied the senshi's ability. It wasn't merely because of her title as super senshi, but as a person, he would have to take care not to make an enemy out of her if he could help it.
The mention of Gunn's name caused his lips to turn into a broad smile. Still, the emotion, humor or amusement that normally belied smiles, didn't reach his eyes. It was a smile used when Zephyr still hadn't decided what position to take. Sailor Gunn, huh. Would she know of their altercation as well? He couldn't tell, but if not, he had no intention of revealing the current state between the two senshi. Aside from that.. Both Arres and Gunn were super senshi, weren't they? "What could you want with me?" She knew his lower rank, coupled with the fact he wasn't exactly an ideal senshi with an exemplary record. He regarded both the senshi and negaverse as his enemies, or at the very least, not always his allies. He didn't save people. He didn't patrol. He didn't go out of his way for the youma he defeated, they happened to come across him.
It was fortunate that Sailor Ares had learned otherwise when recruiting people. If Zephyr had been faced with that... well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. But even he had to sympathize with the terrified feelings of the senshi and her inclination to run. But it was a certainly guaranteed reaction that no matter the reaction, Zephyr wouldn't have stayed around while thinking, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS? Probably a number of things considering his not so decent personality.
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Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:35 pm
Ares held her ground. The only movement came from the gentle stirring of icy wind that curled her long, cinnamon hair up into the air. The chill brought goosebumps to her skin, but she didn't shiver. She waited. In all her time working on recruitment, she had learned that the mystery of the Blood Moon Court was one of its more engaging aspects. People liked secrets; they liked being a part of them.
"It is not what I want with you," she said calmly. "It is what we can offer each other."
For a moment, she paused to concentrate on the area surrounding them. There was no buzz of dark energy. They were safe for now. "I represent the Blood Moon senshi, Zephyr. We are... not like other senshi. Some people don't like this. Some senshi believe that we should hide behind the legs of invisible princesses and wait for them to save us. Some senshi believe it is wrong to kill, even wrong to kill those that would kill us without a moment's hesitation." She took one step forward. "The Blood Moon senshi believe that we should save our own asses. There is a war going on, and people have to choose sides. I do not choose the White Moon senshi and their princess, and I do not choose the Negaverse either. We forge our own path, and we fight not only to survive this war -- but to win."
A car far off in the distance honked its horn. The sound diffused strangely in the air thick with gray clouds. When its noise disintegrated, Ares spoke again, "So I offer you an alternative tonight, Zephyr. There is more to it. We train, we hone our skills, we help each other when something goes wrong -- but I just want you to ask yourself: do you want to sit around and wait for death to come to your door, or do you want to fight back?" It was impossible for Ares to preach about the BMC without slipping into pomp and circumstance, but an honesty rang in her words. The full weight of her passionate conviction rested on each syllable, each emphasis directed right at Zephyr.
And yet, there was another reason that Ares wanted to ensure that Zephyr was on their side, and it was a selfish one: his attack was wind-based. The choking effects of her own attack could be dispersed by magical wind. If there was a known senshi out there who possessed the ability to render her power less effective, then she wanted to have him in her corner, not on the opposite side of the battlefield.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:41 pm
"I can't say that I disagree with your point of view." Zephyr's views were directly in line with the Blood Moon Court's in their independence and will. Sailor Ares easily learned his respect, even under these unflattering circumstances.
As her true intent was revealed, Zephyr chuckled, although the laugh was devoid of humor. "I see." He should have realized. But of course, Zephyr hadn't thought that they would approach him, merely a pawn in this entire game. Out of dozens of senshi that existed. He supposed that he could contribute this honor to Sailor Gunn.
But it didn't feel like an honor at all. Zephyr lowered his bead, briefly, his gloved hand covering his eyes while a forced smile remained on his lips. And he wondered if they even knew about his feelings of being a senshi. His bitterness into taking a role forced upon him by destiny. And he found himself wondering if they felt the same way about their fates as well. It was his weakness, Zephyr wasn't strong enough to embrace this predetermined role. He couldn't understand Ares, her mindset, to devote herself whole-heartedly to the cause of the senshi.
He had treated this like a game despite knowing the consequences. He had tried to stay out, remaining an observer -- or was it a futile attempt for ignorance for the entire situation? But no, Sailor Gunn -- and now Sailor Ares continued to involve him further. Why couldn't they leave him alone?
He could see why Gunn had joined them. The Blood Moon Court was formidable, providing a purpose even amongst the lost. The other senshi's words pinpointed the weaknesses of senshi -- they offered the senshi everything that they had lacked from the beginning of this war.
But Zephyr had to clarify one thing. He lifted his head to stare directly at Ares."If it had been necessary, would your court have required Gunn to kill those civilians?" He was referring to the arson attack that they had been responsible for several weeks back. It wasn't exactly clear why, but it was obvious that this was a pivotal question.
A dark energy was slowly creeping upon them. It was still a distance away, but with every passing moment, advanced upon the two senshi.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:04 am
Arson attack? Sailor Gunn had been responsible for many arson attacks. No one knew about their assault on the police parading as Negaverse agents, except perhaps the Negas themselves. But Gunn's power... Zephyr was familiar with it. When the news broke in the papers, perhaps he noted the descriptions of the red-headed assailant who "shot fire" at them. Perhaps he had simply put two-and-two together. It was not like the Negaverse to purposely leave witnesses behind.
A smile crossed her lips. So he had figured it out. "I am not certain what you are referring to, Sailor, but I can assure you that any actions taken by the Blood Moon Court have been 100% in defense of the city and in the name of the greater good." The ponytail hanging from the back of her head caught the wind, whipping wildly.
The dark energy moved closer. "Maybe I was wrong," Ares said idly, turning to the side. "I thought you had the strength to do what must be done to save this city from the forces that would see it destroyed." Her eyes caught his sharply. "Was I wrong?"
The youma was there, unseen -- a nasty one, a cameleon type. It blended seamlessly in to the pavement under their feet with each step, creeping closer. Ares only had a moment's notice; the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She spun suddenly to face her foe, but an invisible tongue latched around her ankles and pulled. The Senshi of Smoke fell face-first onto the ground and then began to move away from Zephyr, pulled by the invisible lizard youma even as she kicked and struggled for escape.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 12:57 pm
"And... you merely expect me to believe that?" Defense of the city and greater good? Sailor Zephyr wasn't to be easily manipulated by words, seeing the truth beyond them. The greater good that Ares believed in was not one that Zephyr could believe in. He hadn't agreed back then with Gunn, and he wouldn't agree with Ares now. Combined with Ares insinuation that he was a coward, Ares caused his eyes to spark dangerously. "Don't take me for a fool." Despite his tone remaining cordial, there was a cold undertone beneath it. His eyes, no longer the blue it was, seemed to have changed to an icy hue.
This conversation would remain pointless. "If you--" Ares's fall interrupted his words, overcome by the wave of dark energy.
Zephyr reacted immediately, his hand wrapping around Ares's wrist to pull her back. "...s**t!" It was difficult, moreso with a human in the midst of tug-o-war. But it was clear that he couldn't leave Ares there. His blue eyes quickly observed the surrounding area, finding nothing despite the dark energy in the air that belied the negaverse.
If they continued this way, both of them would be pulled in. He aimed towards Ares's ankle, "Break Wind!" The powerful force knocked the chamelon several feet away, the tongue abruptly releasing the senshi. The attack had caused disorientation on the chamelon's part, as it shifted between camoflauge and its natural appearance several times.
Zephyr hadn't prepared for the abrupt departure, his forceful grip pulling Ares back further than he had thought -- most likely sending her back a few feet backwards.
".. Sorry about that." He apologized, and stood up warily. The chameleon was now fully visible, showing both senshi what they were up against. The youma was easily the size of a dog, at least several feel long. And it had the angry expression to match as well, its anger aggravated by both senshi.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:16 pm
Skin scraped against the uneven cement beneath her, carving angry red burns into her soft flesh. One boot struggled free, and Ares began kicking blindly at the invisible youma. Sometimes she struck it, and sometimes she sent her boot flying out into empty air. Zephyr grabbed her wrist suddenly, and she let out a grunt, eyes flashing up to the Senshi of Wind for an instant.
The tug-of-war between man and youma was making Ares' ankle and shoulder hurt simultaneously. Before she could free herself, Zephyr did it for her, and the senshi went tumbling toward him. She rolled up from the ground, falling into a defensive stance. "You did what you had to," she said quickly, taking a few quick steps away from Zephyr. He didn't need to apologize to her for anything.
The Ares that was there now did not have time for pomp or circumstance. Whether Zephyr liked it or not, they were now allies, and she planned on trusting him to hold his own. So far, so good. Her hands twirled above her head, lips shouting, "Ares Smothering Blast!" Twin columns of black smoke erupted from her wrists, sailing straight toward the youma.
It flashed invisible just before the impact, but its outline was clearly visible as a tornado of choking, eye-burning, hallucination-inducing smoke surrounded it. Ares pitched to the left where her captain's torch had fallen. She picked it up and crossed to the tunnel, slamming a decisive blow through the tunnel. From within, the youma made a yelping noise. Ares moved to strike it again, but the tongue lashed out, locking onto the torch.
The senshi wrapped her arms around the slimy appendage, tugging and pulling until it ripped clean off. The youma let out a howl of pain, and Ares fell to the ground, tongue still in hand. The funnel of smoke dissipated, leaving one very disoriented, tongue-less, and pissed off youma running straight for Zephyr.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:19 pm
Zephyr covered his mouth to prevent himself from breathing in Ares's attack, jumping backwards to avoid the youma's vicinity. The senshi of smoke indeed. And thanks to Ares's battle skills, Sailor Zephyr had enough time to prepare himself for the youma.
Once more, Zephyr held out his arm and attacked, "Break Wind!" in the youma's direct path. The surrounding wind blew away particles of Are's attack, casting most of the crushing force on the overgrown lizard's open mouth. If there was one pivotal way to attack, it would be from the inside. It was blown off its feet and high above into the air. Upon landing back upon the ground, already damaged from Ares and Zephyr's attacks, the impact would be the youma's final death.
As the negaverse agent faded into dust, Zephyr stood up. Now that the youma was gone Sailor Zephyr no longer had an obligation to stay. Ares was a desirable partner but their purposes laid in different places. He had heard enough of Ares's talk to know that his purpose did not lie in the Blood Moon Court. To say otherwise would disgrace the both of them. Zephyr's loyalties would never remain with the court, even if he joined. "Thanks for the invitation, but I'll have to decline."
"Because taking orders and teamwork aren't really my style either." Zephyr smiled, a practiced smile with little meaning. Gunn had mentioned that she served the Queen of the Blood Moon Court. Aside from his senshi role, Sailor Zephyr had no intention to follow somebody else's orders.
"Let's meet under better circumstances." He waved casually over his shoulders, planning to head back to his apartment.
He doubted that they would ever would.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:05 pm
The Senshi of Smoke straightened up just as the youma exploded into dust. Wind and smoke -- it was a good combination. She turned to say as much to the lower-ranked sailor, but Zephyr was already making his exit. Her lips gave away the disappointment. "You may find yourself reconsidering that decision," she said calmly. Ares wasn't one to lose her temper when people refused her invitation to join the BMC. In her mind, they would all learn to follow her logic, one way or another.
Ares raised her voice after the sailor's departing form and shouted, "A senshi who stands alone dies alone!" But the words echoed in hollow lulls across the empty street. "Until next time, Sailor Zephyr!" But he was gone.
Damn, she thought, eyes narrowing.
The air was electric with the whispers of war, and yet some senshi still resisted militarization. "Fools," she whispered, her eyes darkening for an instant. It had gotten late, and Ares had to go back to the meeting place to wait for the BMC senshi to get back from patrols with reports. With a flip of her hair, Ares disappeared off into the night, running in the opposite direction.
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