Welcome to Gaia! ::

The meeting within the Rift was a part of Caleb's memory whose description he blunted with the best of his ability. It definitely made his skin crawl and he didn't ever want to go back there again if he could help it. He didn't care where they stood in the eyes of the Negaverse at large. Obviously there were more corrupt senshi than just he and Makayla, which was good. He was a lover, not a fighter, but being pulled into this war made him realize he had to tip the scales to balance both. And boy he didn't want to.

It was late in the evening and Caleb was curled up on his bed with the latest catalog for the salon. He'd have to learn what the celebrities where wearing so that when customers flooded in after seeing an awards show, he could replicate the style somewhat. Thank god he was only part time at DCU, otherwise he'd have to juggle a job, coursework, his girlfriend, his family and his duty to the Negaverse. That sounded like way too much work. As he flipped a page, his cell phone went off - a familiar ringtone (Candy, which was recognizable by most people) sounded and he knew exactly who it was. The young man snatched up the phone and pressed it to his ear.

"Hello, you." he practically purred. Whenever Makayla called him, it was a cause for excitement. He simply loved to hear from her (and was a little bit more than obsessed with her, but whatever.) "What are you up to this fine evening?"

"Ohhh don't say that." came his reply. Caleb rolled over onto his back and let his long ponytail fall to the floor. She knew exactly how to push all the right buttons, and usually he loved it. Actually, he always loved it, but he had to pretend to have some semblance of self-control when it came to his girlfriend. He didn't want any accidents happening, but Makayla was certainly making it hard! Sure, she was much more gung-ho about the whole Negaverse thing, and truth be told, he only followed her because well... she was Makayla. Caleb didn't think he had an ounce of fight in his whole body, but he couldn't let her patrol on her own...

Or maybe... "You could just make it worth my wild by coming over here instead. Much safer, you know, without anyone out and about trying to kill you. We could watch a movie or just sit and talk... You know me, but I can't deny you look positively radiant when you power up, my dear."

His own uniform was fairly impressive and certainly his style. It was like someone distilled his soul into a wardrobe and out popped that velvet coat of his. How luxurious was that? No senshi that was trying to take over the planet would have that sort of style, no sir. "I don't remember them giving us a quota or anything, so just relax. You can come over here instead of running around downtown in heels and getting sweaty, hmm? Doesn't that sound like a much better idea?"

Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Makayla knew he was only human, that his body was subject to wants and desires and that tone of voice was just killing him right then. He tried to focus on the most important thing - protecting her while they were out patrolling. He had to think of the positives. She would be there, he wouldn't be by himself just waiting to get shanked by some ninny in white, he'd get to see those lovely sandals on her lovely legs... so really, what was the harm? He'd just have to take a cold shower before any cuddling went down or he'd be in a mess of trouble.

It was a few more moments while he gained composure before a reply was made. "...alright, you win. I'll be over there in just a bit. But you promised! One hour of patrol just to say we did and then we head home and watch a movie. Popcorn and everything, and no injuries." Down in the Rift, it seemed like death really was right around the corner, and Caleb wanted to think that if he stayed clear of it, death would stay down there. The place gave him the creeps.

Crunching on the nearby roof signaled his arrival. Carnelian, as he came to be known, but still learning the delicate art of being quiet when he moved around in powered form. To him, it was like wearing jeans that were three sizes too big - he felt uncomfortable and out of place. His velvet coat furled in the wind and he prayed that Makayla's father couldn't hear him up on the roof like some rugged, three-legged reindeer. He could faintly recall that as powered individuals, they could sense one another at a distance of several yards or something. He didn't really understand it, but Carnelian didn't even need a sixth sense to know she was there. He could smell her perfume, his favorite.

The redhead leaned over the edge of the roof to make sure she was down there before dropping down himself. Once he was righted, Carnelian leaned in on Euclase with a sly grin on his face.

"You sure you still want to patrol?" he teased, taking in the full scent of her perfume. It was like heaven. The young man nestled his way into her hair and lightly kissed her neck just below her left ear. "The night is still young. We could still make the theatre, you know. My treat?" He chuckled, using one arms to lean against the fence next to her. Another hand idly played with her hair.

He would have been more than happy to simply stand in the alley and show Euclase how sexy she was, but no. She was stubborn. Carnelian's shoulders slumped when she walked away and he followed behind her like the whipped boy he was. Thank god he loved being whipped. Rowr. He stifled a chuckle. "You know how much I adore you in that outfit, and it's not even fair to bring it up." The corrupt senshi pouted a bit. "Should I have asked for a midriff-bearing shirt just so I could keep up with your teasing?"

Carnelian walked slightly ahead of her and dropped her a wink. Now he had to decide what movie to watch and how on earth he could keep control of himself later that night. He and Makayla had discussed their intimate lives at length before, but that didn't stop her from teasing him just to see him squirm. And oh how he squirmed.

He turned around to face his counterpart as they walked. "What do you think? Maybe I should just go shirtless instead, but..." Carnelian trailed off, placing a hand gingerly over his chest. "...the hole's a little creepy, wouldn't you say?" If they could just walk and chatter for the res of the patrol, he'd be in hog heaven. No bad guys to deal with, no intensive running, no having to collect energy for... whatever reason they gave the new recruits. He didn't even remember. Now, how did they say to scan for the enemy again?

"Just because it's common doesn't mean it's not kind of creepy. I mean, I think like I should be able to feel wind or something blowing through it. Like I've got a gunshot wound or something." Sure, he saw Alkaid and Alunite and all the other A-named corrupt senshi at the meeting. They all possessed holes in their chest, but the mere sight of it made him uncomfortable. Maybe that was part of the reason for the other Negaverse agents disliking corrupted senshi to begin with. Carnelian did feel rather creepy, and he didn't like it.

At the question of trying his powers, he shook his head. "I can't exactly try them out on a customer or one of my sisters, no matter how much I would like to." The redhead frowned in thought, one hand nestled within hers as they walked. So far the coast was clear, and he wanted to keep it that way. "I don't know what they do but... I'd rather save it for an emergency, you know? Same with fighting. Only if I have to. You never know! Maybe we can convince one of them to see things our way like umm... what was her name... Ah, the girl who looks like me? In the pigtails. I guess she came over after a while, so it can be done."

They continued to walk in silence and Carnelian breathed in the night air as if he'd never done so before. "Have you tried your powers yet?"

Carnelian wasn't sure what he thought of the idea of fighting a senshi. In truth, he knew he was the Senshi of Pain, and that was rather frightening. What would his power do to someone if he used it on them? Obviously make them hurt, but he was just as curious as Euclase in this case. But unlike her, he was too much of a coward to seek someone out to use as a guinea pig. What if he lost? What would happen to him then? Once his partner spoke up and pulled away from him, Carnelian stopped walking and turned to her.

"You'd do plenty of damage if I know you at all." he encouraged, a jovial laugh coming to his voice. The corrupt senshi smiled just thinking about how Euclase would go all Mama Wolf on someone like she did if provoked otherwise. She was something else, that Euclase, and didn't he know it. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, using his coat to keep them warm. Ah, now it had a use!

Carnelian rested his chin on the crown of her head. "Don't you go worrying about whether or not you're good enough. I can hear those thoughts buzzing around in there like an angry swarm of bees." Tilting his head, the young man's cheek lay in her hair then. "Just think about whether I'll be good enough. Who knows, maybe I'll break a nail and cry. Then what will you do?" He ended that question with a laugh, the vibration filling her as well.