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 Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:21 pm
The later the year got, the lower the temperatures dropped, though it wasn’t enough to stop Remarque. There had been a period of time he had questioned dropping the Dark Mirror Court for a few weeks in favor of not freezing his a** off, but he hadn’t been able to follow that plan for more than a night before he was back out on the streets.
The upgrade to Super Sailor Remarque came with sleeves, of which his previous form had been devoid of, and now—more than ever—was he grateful for it. Tonight wasn’t even that cold, but he wasn’t a fan of the chill and was glad to have the extra bit of protection against it.
Tonight had been very productive already—in addition to two already inebriated homeless men he’d found sleeping on a bench, he’d run into a small group of partying teenagers that made for ridiculously easy prey. To say the least, he was feeling a big cocky when he sensed the aura of an order aligned senshi nearby.
He’d sought it out, not out of belligerence, but out of curiosity. He wasn’t necessarily looking for a fight, but if he found one, he at least knew he could handle himself. Tonight, instead of desiring the adrenaline rush of a fight, he just wanted to know who was crazy enough to be out in this cold.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:09 pm
Acubens. Acubens was easily that crazy who was out during this weather. And she knew she was crazy. She shivered, hugging herself against the cold as she walked in the darkness. This is stupid, she kept saying to herself through chattering teeth. This iss tupid, why am I even out here? What am I supposed to be doing? What does patroling even entail. This is stupid. Everything is stupid. But Micah was too cold to even both being angry. She kicked a clump of snow to try and coax her familiar temper from it's hiding place. It only shook it's head from the warm, smoldering coal it usually sat in. The wind blew all the kicked snow back in Acubens' face. She sputtered and cursed, stumbled backwards and trying to wipe it from her face. This is stupid.
Thens omething strange happened. Well, that was odd. It was like Micah's whole body just recieved an electric shock. She stopped sputtering and cursing, hands still up around her face. What in the hell was that? She looked around, wiping her hands on her skirt. Youma didn't give off that kind of feeling. They just sort of... tingled. This was... a whole body shock.
Crunching behind Micah caught her attention. She spun around, arms up and ready to attack with the one lesson she'd learned from Jett. She may not be able to use much, her shoulder still tender from her injury, but damned of she'd just sit by and be attacked.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:37 pm
“Hey, hey,” Remarque held his hands up as if to show he meant no harm. He tossed the scout a curious look. There was still a fair bit of distance between them, and a part of him cursed himself for having been so lost in thought that he hadn’t actually realized how close he was to the girl. “Don’t prove my theory of all senshi being belligerent bullies right. I’m not looking for a fight.”
Not that he would hesitate to engage in one; there was always the benefit of being able to string her up if she got too rowdy and he could just walk away, though Remarque was somewhat starved for conversation with any of the white moon senshi—over the age of ten.
This girl was foreign to him, but this was not necessarily a bad thing. He was suspicious of her, but as long as she didn’t try to whack him, he wasn’t going to have to worry about grinding her face into the ground. She looked scrawny enough that he wasn’t worried about her kicking like Celsus but—then again. Celsus was just a page; she was a senshi and he hadn’t a clue what her power was.
He didn’t mind fighting Pages. He didn’t know if there was any hope for them.
There was always hope for the white moon senshi, though. They just needed to be corrected.
“What are you doing out here in this cold? You can’t be comfortable, you look freezing,” he said in a tone that implied he expressed concern for her.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:53 pm
Oh thank god. Acubens was too cold to fight. Once reassured that she wasn't going to be attacked, Acubens wrapped her arms back around her. "Looks like we both have similar theories," she confessed through chattering teeth with a small smile. She took a small step towards him, head down to try and preserve what little body heat she had left. Damn this tiny fuku. She stopped a fair distance away. Reassuring as he was, Acubens wasn't certain he was true. There was little about this world that she could trust. Except Leto. She could trust Leto. Acubens whispered her name, as though it would call her friend to her side. She could use her guidence. Or at least a face she could trust.
Acubens laughed at the next question. What was she doing? She was just asking herself the same question. She had no idea.
"Isn't that my job? Regardless of weather, I have to patrol? Looking for n'er do wells?" She shrugged again, wry laugh dying away as wind whipped at her face. Her cheeks were already wind burned from the cold and she could no longer feel her fingers.
"This is stupid," she sighed, pushing a clump of snow with her toe as she spoke. "I hate winter. I hate everything." Her frown was severe, partially from her depression, but mostly fromt he bitter cold.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:30 pm
"Seems like a pretty harsh job. Do they always work you like a slave?" Remarque asked, suddenly more grateful at just how clothed he was as he gave the girl a look over. He glanced over his shoulder and eyed a line of buildings that would have served as a fantastic block against the cold wind before looking back at the girl. He gestured to it, "Do you want to get out of the wind of a few minutes? Promise I'm not going to jump on you or anything. Though, a pretty girl like you ought to be careful of what goes bump in the night. I'm sure there are plenty of creeps out here who would love to take advantage of you. Not that you don't look like you can't handle yourself, but."
He shrugged and pointed, "I'm going to take a break from this wind and you're welcome to join me if you want the company." He did something he wouldn't have advised--he turned his back to the girl and started walking.
She looked like she was cold enough that she wouldn't attack, and he hoped his words of flattery would have kept her placated enough that she would have thought twice about picking a fight. He didn't like having her in his blind spot, but if he could work on convincing her that the white moon was evil, it was worth the risk.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:22 pm
Following a stange man into an alley. It just sounded like a sketchy idea. Still, Acubens was a sucker for sweet talk, and sweet talk he did. Pretty little girl. Acubens grinned to herself, wind, thankfully, keeping the blush from her cheeks. She drew her pointer finger to her lips and chewed on the nail for a moment while she contemplated the situation she was in. Oh hell, worst case scenario she used her super powers to run the hell away, right? Sure, that seemed like a perfectly half assed plan.
Besides the shelter from the wind, company sounded good. Huddled over, Acubens scittered over to Remarque, catching up to him easily, even without her powers.
"Thank you. For not attacking, I mean. It's too cold for anything but hot chocolate and a fireplace." She grinned up at Remarque, teeth still chattering. The second she was done patrolling that was what she would be getting. Hot cocoa, a book, and a seat by the fireplace. That sounded lovely. "I'm Acubens, by the way. Sailor Acubens." She held out a shaking hand to the stranger.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:09 pm
Remarque blinked. "Hell, you really are freezing. I wish I had a jacket or something to give you, but I don't think this outfit comes apart. Super Sailor Remarque," he introduced, taking her hand and giving it a firm shake. "And you, Acubens, are by far the most civilized White Moon Senshi I think I've ever met. Most of them are out for blood. I was starting to think there wasn't even one of you with any sort of dignity or respect for life."
He flashed a charming smile, though it was somewhat faded from the cold. The blonde seemed a bit unwilling to drop Acubens' hand; his fingers were very cold and her hand, albeit chill to the touch, brought a warmth that he was still struggling to find in this weather.
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:53 am
Hand. He held onto her hand. Acubens blushed this time despite the cold. The same thing inside of her screamed for this strange man to let her go, to stop touching her. Then there was that girl, hopelessly feminine, who reveled in the show of percieved affection. She thanked god for the cold again, as it kept her firece blush at bay. Acubens chewed harder on her finger.
"Well," she said, fighting with embarassment and cold for her voice, "it seems like all of the Chaos senshi I've met are far more kind than any White Moon senshi I've met. I've never met anyone outside of a fight." She reflected on Kallichore, who she met while fighting the slender man. "Never fighting them but... fighting the monsters that seem to appear wherever they are." Acubens looked over at Remarque with a furrowed brow. "And every Chaos senshi I've met by chance... and always in peace." She shook her head in thought, wild curls ticking her face.
"Maybe you can tell me if I'm on the right side or not." Another small grin.
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:21 pm
“Well, now.” Remarque donned a casual smirk as he looked the girl over once more. “I’m a little biased. But I definitely think you’re on the wrong side. In my opinion, the senshi of the white moon are nothing more than menaces. Self righteous, pretentious, misled miscreants. No offense,” he said, though didn’t seem very apologetic. “I’ve met my fair share of bad people—and that’s what happens when you hang out in all the wrong places well after curfew—but White Moon Senshi? My least favorite. But—do you want to know the worst part about it, Acubens?” he asked, leaning up against the wall he was using to shield himself from the wind.
”…It’s not even their fault. I mean,” he glanced at her. “…Do you even know who you’re fighting for, or did someone just show up and start bossing you around?”
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:44 pm
Acubens raised her eyebrow amusedly. She'd spoken passionatley against certain things to people associated with those things before. She knew how it went. Still, she laughed when Remarque "apologized" and shook her head. "None taken," she assured, continuing to listen to remarque as he spoke.
"And I suppose you and your... Dark Mirrow Court... have taken it as your responsibilities to... 'save' us?" Acubens turned to Remarque once they were sheltered behind the wall with a half smile. "Isn't that a little hypocritical? I mean... who told you that this was your duty? And how do you know you're 'saving' anyone? Who gave you that right? Self righteous, you call my kind," the phrase sounded strange on Acubens lips, "but... aren't you just the same? Self righteous enough to 'save' all of us." There was no malice in her voice, and no mockery in her face. Only curiousity. Unadulterated and unfaltering questioning.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:49 pm
“Ah, don’t get me wrong, Acubens,” Remarque said, a small smile flitting to his face. “I never said I was trying to save you. Only provide you with an alternate, less diabolical lifestyle. I mean, yes, given the course you’re going down now, one day we’ll eventually become enemies and I’ll have to fight you to prevent the tyrannical rule of the woman you serve, but that’s not really me being self righteous, that’s me fighting for the general good and well being of the people of this world. I know what I’m fighting for,” he said, gesturing to himself. “But you still haven’t answered—do you know what you’re fighting for? Where is your leader, have you ever spoken to her? Does she even care about you at all, or are you just some mindless face in an army of drones, manipulated to do her bidding…?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:16 pm
Acubens gave Remarque a look of feigned shock when he spoke of her situation. Diabolical? Tyrannical? The words seemed very harsh, even for Acubens who knew nothing about what she was doing. Still, she laughed as he spoke, mussing up her hair in the same manner as whenever she was trying to figure something out. “Well, seeing as to how the only senshi I’ve spoken to at length are Dark Mirror senshi…” she ventured playfully, reaching out and punching Remarque’s arm gently, though with a whisper of her new found strength from Jett. “But if I had tried to hang out with any of the other senshi, it wouldn’t be hard to find a princess. You have to remember that the white moon court is much larger than the dark mirror court.”
When it came to her orders though, Acuben’s face fell a little. “Well… I sort of think we’re all just… left to our own devices. Like I said, I’d probably have a better grip on what I was doing if I got into contact with more white moon senshi.” She shrugged and plopped down onto the ground, deciding that she’d rather sit. It was times like these that she was grateful for her pants. He was able to cross her legs and sit as she was comfortable instead of having to hide from prying eyes. "If I found one and asked her, I'm willing to bet that she would tell me what I am supposed to do. Trouble is I just feel... more at home around Dark Mirror Senshi." She grinned softly at Remarque. "Seems like I keep running into them."
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:29 pm
Remarque mimicked Acubens and dropped into a crouch next to her, back against the cold bricks of the building. “Might be a sign, huh?” he prompted, a small smile quirking onto his face as he glanced at Acubens. “Haven’t spoken to many White Moon senshi, fit in with the Dark Mirrors. And," he noted, "there are far more White Moon senshi, so you've either gotten lucky with us or there's a reason you find us more than them. Might be something to put a little thought into. I mean,” he shrugged slightly, looking up into the sky again. His vision was only partially marred by the buildings shielding them from the wind and still gave him a good view of the flashing stars. “Do you believe in that sort of thing? Fate. Destiny. Or do you just think of every little thing in life as coincidental?”
Remarque had no intention of sharing his own view on things since his logic didn’t particularly apply to the persuasive measure he was currently attempting. He was a firm believer in coincidences if only because he was refused to think that any higher power was dictating his life.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:25 pm
It did make sense. Of course it did. It made Acubens look over at Remarque, golden eyes glittering curiously. “Yes,” she ventured cautiously with a nod. “Yes, it does tell me something. But it speaks in a language I do not understand.” She looked away and mussed up her already tangled curls. “Everything seems to be cryptic these days. I don’t know what I want, who I am, or where I’m supposed to be.” Acubens sighed and pushed her legs out in front of her, shivering as the cold wind flitted over them. “But I was awakened as a White Moon senshi. Doesn’t that tell you something? It tells me a great deal. Another thing that tells me a great deal is that, if I am to convert into the Dark Mirror Court, I will lose what I am. Not just Acubens, but as a civilian, I will be lost.” She looked at Remarque purposefully. “That’s a sacrifice I need to think about for a while.”
She followed his gaze up to the stars, as he spoke, and thought for a long moment. “I believe that… that I make my own destiny. But that my destiny has a predetermined outcome based on my choices. Like there are x amount of outcomes based on whatever choices I make, and each choice rockets me towards that predetermined outcome.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:11 am
A small smile flickered onto Remarque’s face. “All right, that’s a fair way to think about it. Still, though. I think it was wrong that the White Moon got to you first. You’d have made a great ally. The Dark Mirrors would have accepted you willingly. Like you said, we’re small in numbers. We have few allies and fewer members. Maybe you’ll change your mind, though.” Remarque shrugged nonchalantly. “You seem like a smart girl, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Maybe you’ll be able to see what the White Moon is really up to before it’s too late to save you.”
It wasn’t just about saving Acubens; growing in number would be good for the faction. At the very least, it at least seemed like she had time to change her mind, and he might still be able to gain an ally from the White Moon if he kept up this civil tone. He didn’t have any desire to fight her; she didn’t seem hostile and appeared to hold favor with the Court—it was just disappointing that she wasn’t willing to leave her civilian life behind in order to move on to a better, brighter future.
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