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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:07 pm
When Castor had arrived at the outpost, greeted by the faces of civilians hurt battered and broken, his gut felt that cold fist slamming into him. Innocents dragged into their world. A world which they didn't belong. His brother hadn't hesitated oddly enough. And for once Castor felt envy in Pollux's cold efficient nature. He didn't hesitate to throw the medical kit onto a bed, going to the aid of a civilian, ordering them to hold still as he dug out antiseptic and bandages. Pollux might have been cold, but in his own way he was more a soldier than Castor. Then again, Castor wasn't supposed to be the soldier. He was supposed to be the prince.
The beds were fast filling and realizing that the zodiacs were still in need of supplies, Castor had one good idea. Returning to earth, it was a quick enough plan. He'd gather a mass off supplies and stockpile them on Castor while Virgo guided other senshi to the Surrounding. When he'd gathered a good amount, he'd take Virgo to the stockpile, and from there, they would ferry the supplies to her outpost where they might be made of use.
Thank god for Walmart.
Bedding, bath supplies, food, anything and everything they might need. He'd even gone so far to offer to get a generator. But in the end, a good amount of fresh, clean supplies had been taken, and Castor was left feeling slightly better about the situation. And now, Virgo was also free. Which meant he could finally get some answers.
"Virgo." He had just finished telling Pollux to move to Leo, after all, his brother's skills would be more use there. "Or rather, Captain Virgo." His eyes held the weight of what went unsaid. "What is the full situation here? This is-" He sighed. "First those damn dark moon go and take out a chunk of the city- now we not only have injured civilians, but-"
There was no blame or suspicion in his tone as he rubbed his head. "How did this even happen?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:06 pm
Virgo looked miserable, there was no denying that. Castor hadn't been there when she'd gashed open her hand to jump-start her Outpost's healing properties; but there was a bandage wrapped neatly around her left hand, and the color slowly returning to her cheeks. She was not ready to discuss this, but she was the Captain; she had to be. She shifted over on the cot she'd sat on; she was going to go find Leo and maybe cuddle up to him and cry once this was done.
That sounded nice.
She smiled a little at Castor as he approached, ran her thumbs along her cheekbones under her eyes to swipe the tears away. Remembering, after a moment, that Chronos had told her he was a Prince now, she stood and curtseyed--a little bit wobbly, because she was tired.
"It's a terrible time to live in Destiny City," she agreed, softly. "...Prince."
She sat back down after a moment, as if the bones had gone out of her legs. "We have fifty-nine civilians present on the Surrounding at this time, ranging in age from fourteen to forty-four. Aquarius is working on finding a common thread but from the stories I heard, some people were in their bathrooms at home. I thought... maybe the Negaverse, but..." She shook her head and pulled her knees up to her chest.
"We don't know. Aquarius is working on that, too. We're healing, here. Because of my magic."
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:54 pm
While he wished things could be better, Virgo's testimony that this wasn't something to do with the negaverse, or worse yet, with a rogue senshi, had Castor a little less on edge. Still, fifty nine. Just as the papers had reported. Better they be here alive then lost to the unknown. Walking towards her, the flash of power and eternal Castor was in the form of Prince, a soft smile Virgo might recall seeing in the face gracing his features. "Prince or not Virgo, I've always been an ally to the zodiacs. More than that-" He walked over embracing her in a soft hug. "I am your friend. Chronos's as well. Whatever you need of me, I'll be here ready and willing to help."
Sitting next to her, a wing folding over her, a small attempt at comforting. "You holding up alright? I don't need to make a midnight ice cream run do I?" A tiny nudge. "But honestly, any idea how we can handle this? Even if we send them home...they might all be alive, but this might as well be another coma. The public doesn't trust us already. Compound this-" Castor didn't want to say it, but things looked grim. They were stuck in a rock and hard place.
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:23 pm
Even if she'd heard of Castor's ascent to Prince, she had never seen him in that form before. It was breathtaking; the wings, impressive. Her green eyes went wide, eyebrows disappearing beneath her bangs--the circlet and veil had been discarded at her side--at the sheer wonder of Castor's appearance. After a few moments of sitting agog, she shut her mouth. Relatively speaking, Virgo pulled herself together quickly. She interacted with a Princess every day, her own Princess, and in the end Chronos would always be the most impressive of any Royal she'd ever known.
Still. Those black wings...
She felt very secure with one of his wings folded over her, closing her eyes in the darkness. "I'll be okay," she said, knowing she couldn't tell Castor how she felt. But if she didn't tell anyone, she thought she might explode. Or cry.
"We just take good care of them and try to find out what did this." She bowed a little, and rubbed her face in her palms. "If we can find out, we can make up for this. At least... at least the Negaverse doesn't have them..."
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:10 pm
Half hugs given, and Castor hoped that the senshi who he'd once teased of his lewd jokes might feel a touch better. This would be a trial for the senshi. They were broken enough, and the zodiacs had their fair share of problems, they didn't deserve yet another. her reaction to his form did made a small part of him smirk. He almost wanted to ask if he dazzled her. But, figured that would be a joke for another time, a less serious time.
"I hope so Virgo." He alays hoped. That was easy enough for him to do. After all, it was his duty in a way, have hope when others might have none. It certainly had worked with Lina had it not?
"True, they are not in the hold of the negaverse, but still; I wish there was a way we could get the message out on earth that we've found the missing civilians -that they're with us- alive and accounted for. But, our luck the media would say we've kidnapped them, and I can't see all fifty something civilians trusting us overnight to collaborate the fact we know as much as them right now." Dilemmas, dilemmas.
Sighing, he rubbed her arm. It was just as much to comfort him as it was her. "I might have a small idea. A wreath of flowers perhaps, a letter saying that we will bring them back, signing it only as 'the senshi'. While it wouldn't state that we have them in our care, it might help the families and loved ones of those here. think that might be a possibility?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:04 am
Her fingers trembled on the laces of her greaves; the armor fell away as she fussed with it. She didn't need to wear shoes to use the Surrounding, and she'd been wearing them for so long the skin just under her patella was becoming red and inflamed. Meant for combat, not stair-climbing. Not carrying more than twice her body weight...
"They'll think it's a taunt," she said, hopelessly, staring at her exposed, bony knees. Her olive skin changed shade just a little. Had she been patrolling that often? Running that often? It wore on you, being a captain and a schoolgirl and an employee; she couldn't balance it. She was failing. A shitty captain, a shitty student, and a failing employee, flirting with the pink slip every day. Did Castor know that? "We need someone in the media, someone who can say... that the senshi are looking for the missing..."
She took a deep, shaky breath. "But all of them say we're terrorists. I'm not. I only ever help people, I only ever destroyed a car once and it was already gone, a tiger youma was eating it..."
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:03 pm
Castor could only watch pained as she removed her armor. "For starters, you need rest. But in any case you're probably right, we lack a voice in the media. The internet is risky as s**t, and I have no intent of letting one of our own become the target for the negaverse. They've had painted us as a dark image with their antics." That was just scratching the surface.
The senshi had been flouted as terrorists for a long time, yet the negaverse had little bad press to their name. "When I head back I'll see what I can do on the civilian side of things. Senshi as well. Heck Lina might be able to reach out to the knights for assistance." It was a small shot in the dark, but it was better than nothing. He smiled still doing his best to hide his worries and concerns.
Virgo was the zodiac he'd known longest really, and she was somewhat still in his head that young innocent girl he'd teased while her princess remained utterly in the dark to his comments. She was still the girl who laughed, smiled, asking for piggyback rides and sprinkles on her ice cream. She was Virgo, one of his time tested and true friend and ally. To see her in pain pained him. It pained his heart.
"Don't give two shits what the idiots say in the end Virgo. They can brand us whatever they like, but when all is said and done, our souls -our hearts- know the truth. We save people. We do what others can't. We put our lives at risk so they can live their's. We're the hidden heros Virgo." Castor gave her a small squeeze. "A bunch of Batmans in Dest-ham City, fighting the good fight. Just lacking in fancy cars and private butlers."
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:06 pm
Being a senshi gave you plenty of odd tan lines, but at least they were something to think about while acknowledging terrible truths. There was no way to convince the public that what they'd come into had been through no design of their own. That Virgo would have never allowed civilians into Virgo Outpost if she didn't have to. They would never believe that of a senshi because the Negaverse's smear campaign--and the hands lent to it by other senshi, more destructive senshi--had been too damned effective. Virgo would never hurt anyone who didn't deserve to be hurt. That was the truth. She just wished people would believe that. "We already asked Lina," she said, a little nervously. The only reason she'd spoken to Lina was her close bond with Castor; she didn't trust the converted Knight that quickly, but they'd needed an in. Lina was it. "You're not mad, are you? She was the only knight we knew of to reach right away, so we asked her to help us spread the word…" She shook her head. "I wish that were true. But it does matter. Castor, what if one day we eradicate the Negaverse, we end all of them, and then they put us on trial for what we've done? What happens to the first senshi whose identity becomes public knowledge? That arsonist senshi, the one they call Run--Gunn--something. Say she gets caught. What does that look like for us?"
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:52 pm
That was a future they very well could face with time. Even if the darkness was gone, another darkness would still exist in the hearts of the civilians. They had reached a point of no return in some ways. The senshi had fallen into such disfavor that only time and a lot of work would win back civilian trust. If any could be won.
Castor gave aclick of his tongue as Lina was mentioned. "Why would I be mad? I want you guys to go to her and ask for help. She's on our side now. After all she puts up with me doesn't she? How can she be evil if she managed to fall in love with my stupid a**?" A tiny shake to Virgo's shoulder. "Buck up Virgo. The civilians will know in time. And I won't let them catch us." It was spoken with a fierce conviction. "Part of my job isn't just protecting civilians, it's protecting the senshi too. If someday that will mean from the public so be it. It's a balance. And it's not a what if Virgo." Standing, he offered her a hand up.
"It's when we defeat the negaverse. That day will come. I know it." He didn't want to consider otherwise. Simply because he just wouldn't let it happen. Such was his mindset.
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:34 am
She smiled a little and nudged Castor in his ribs. "I dunno, I think it might take a diseased mind to fall in love with Prince Cas." A teasing smile crossed over her face and she brightened for just a moment. Then the subject turned from silly things, like Castor's love life, to more serious things. Civilians... and the possibility of their defeat.
Right then, Virgo thought it seemed impossible. She knew later she'd agree, and help Castor plan with a happy heart, but for now she just put her head back in her hands. "I'm going to go see the grave trees," she said suddenly, stringing her hair through her fingers. "And then... maybe go to bed..."
After a long moment, she took his hand and stood. "Thank you, Prince," she said formally. "I appreciate your kind words."
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:29 pm
While he knew he couldn't fix everything in a day, Castor at leats thought he'd helped somewhat. "She's got a sickness that only love can cure Virgo." Castor's goofy grin was there, and for a second it felt like the past. Less worry some, and less fearful for the future.
"Aw, well, if you think you'll be alright." She was Virgo, and he'd never quite completely see her as the 'badass zodiac captain'. Memories of ice cream and piggyback rides didn't exactly help. A simple hug before he pulled away with a bow. "I endeavor to help the zodiacs in whatever they need Captain." Before he turned to leave, he gave Virgo a small thumbs up, his hope still present.
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