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Super Sailor Pasiphae grunted as her heeled boot sank into the freshly fallen snow, and she was certain that she looked a little silly pulling her foot out of the newly formed whole and shaking it to remove the excess. She probably should have stayed home, given the weather, but since meeting Keren she felt more... inspired to go out on patrol. Some part of her felt guilty for allowing her duty to slip as it had when she was recovering from the events of the Surrounding and balancing her school work, but now she vowed to make up for it.

So far she had seen nothing, aside from a few cars passing by the closing shops and even fewer people hustling down the snow-filled streets with whatever purchases they had nestled safely beneath their coats. The Shame Senshi pulled her own coat closer against the wind as she moved as quickly as she could across the street and towards the dog park where she often took Minotaur to excercise. There would probably be just as few people there, but it was not that far out of her normal patrolling area. She could always go home again afterwards.

Pasiphae felt Remarque before she saw him. When she had first awakened as a Senshi, she had not been able to tell the difference between the energy given off by those chosen by Order and the energy of those corrupted by Chaos. She had been able to feel energy, yes, but not tell the difference between them. Multiple run ins had taught her to differentiate between the two, and she put the knowledge she had gained to use now as she redirected her path towards where the energy signature was coming from. When she scanned the area, however, all she saw was a vagrant, one of the many less-well-off of Destiny City's citizens, but certainly not someone who deserved her protection any less.

Her muscles tensed as she thought about what to do in this situation. If she had been in the park alone with the as-yet-unseen enemy, she would have ducked for cover and phoned for help. She was growing increasingly wary of fighting alone, both due to her own lack of skills and the fact that she was growing... well, used to having a team to support. But that wasn't the case. Someone was in danger... if not now, then in the near future. She had one chance to take advantage of the situation for his benefit. The Shame Senshi took a deep breath and took the first move, calling on the power of her moon, "Pasiphae Social Pariah!"*

The marroon energy shield that settled around the older man probably startled him and certainly revealed her presence, but Pasiphae wasn't trying to hide. She rushed towards the person she was trying to protect, steeling herself for a fight that she was certain would come.

*Description of Pasiphae Social Pariah
A more powerful version of Shameful Isolation, Social Pariah allows the energy shield to exist for a longer period of time, anywhere from 30 seconds to 45 seconds depending on the amount and intensity of attacks absorbed. The energy shield can now activate around one ally; if Sailor Pasiphae chooses to do this, she cannot shield herself. Whoever Sailor Pasiphae shields will find their mobility restricted and unable to attack as long as the shield lasts.

In addition to shielding Sailor Pasiphae or one companion, whenever the weapon/her attacker comes into physical contact with her shield, it induces a deep sensation of shame which can actively affect the enemy for as long as the shield lasts.

NOTE: How each opponent experiences this shame differs based on their personality. For example, a proud warrior might feel shame at attacking a purely defensive opponent, whereas a chivalrous guy might feel shame for attacking a girl.

Pasiphae's eyes widened in surprise as the shield settled around a person other than the victim; she had intended for the shield to protect the civilian while she lured the enemy away. She hadn't even known her shield could go around an agent of Chaos. She mentally filed away the information for future consideration, but for now she was just grateful that the old man was hurrying away from the scene. The Shame Senshi had other things on her mind... particularly in reviewing her opponent.

He was clearly corrupted by Chaos; she could feel that much. But, unlike Carnelian... this man had no hole in his chest or his head, where a Starseed would be. He had a black top much like any other Corrupted Senshi... but he had a strange tiara with an eye on it and a strangely flowing top. Something was different about him, even if she could not immediately put her finger on what it was. She wanted to ask, to find out, but she still had a civilian to get off the scene. Pasiphae placed herself between the retreating civilian and this strange... she hesitated to say "Senshi," but lacked a better term, but answered his question clearly, "I just want to keep him safe. The shield won't hurt you."

The Shame Senshi did not want to start a fight, if she could avoid it... but she kept her guard up, just in case.

[OOC Note: I'm assuming this conversation has taken the amount of time that the shield would be up, so if Remarque wants he can attack next post. 3nodding ]

Pasiphae's immediate instinct was, as always, to go for her phone to call for more help. The Senshi had never been overly confident in her own abilities and would, perhaps always, be more comfortable following the lead of others like her than taking the lead herself. But her hand paused on the way to summoning the phone and instead curled into a determined fist. No. She was strongest with her team, but... she had more power, now, from her moon. She needed to be able to stand on her own; if she couldn't protect herself... how could she hope to protect the people of Destiny City, or her fellow Senshi?

Standing her ground was not an easy, especially when her opponent cracked his knuckles. A clear sign of intimidation, and an effective one given the teen's insecurities. She didn't even know, really, what he could do, what powers or fighting skills he had. Pasiphae was not a great fighter, as her track record of battle encounters showed. Still... she could not run, not until the civilian was completely safe. She did instinctively take a step back, being very careful given the snow that could easily make her fall. Her words were a bit stronger than her position... but not much, "I... am not going to pay back anything; I don't owe anything. I've seen what leeching energy does to people... and I won't let you hurt him."

The compliment rolled off of her easily, especially since she could hear the condescending tone in his voice. Whatever he was, he was confident and had a plan, which was more than the Super Senshi could say for herself. He took a step forward--she took a half-step back in response.

Her insecurities tied knots in her stomach, but Pasiphae raised her fists against the doubt that gnawed at her. The offer seemed nice, on the surface. Especially with bringing the man to a homeless shelter. But how could she trust that he would do what he said? How could she trust anything he said, when she knew that energy draining could be deadly? That conviction bolstered her words and kept her from running, even if she couldn't keep a tremor out of her voice, "I... don't want to fight you, if I don't have to, but I can't let you go after him. So... we'll both do what we must."

Pasiphae squeezed her eyes shut and could not keep her hands from trembling, the jangling pearls and beads on her wrist a clear give away to her fear. It was like he knew exactly what to say to open her freshly covered doubts and make them bleed anew.

You can't win.

No, no she couldn't win... she was no fighter. She had never been a fighter. The only battles she had ever done well had been with other Senshi... alone, she stood no chance.

I'll just have to hurt you.

Again. Like she had been by that Negaverse agent, like she had been in the Surrounding and in the battle leading up to it. She had already ended up in the hospital once... would she have to meet her parents there again?

Get him anyway... I'll drop him off there when I'm done with him...

If not for the threat, then the solution would be fine. If not for the energy draining... if she hadn't seen someone almost die from it... but there would be energy taken and it would be dangerous.

"The lesser of two evils... is still evil," she finally whispered. She opened her eyes again and gazed steadily at him. Though fear and apprehension remained in her expression, her voice took on an edge that could not be denied. "You may be genuine, but... I can't risk believing you. I don't have pride... I'm certain you'll win, but I have to try... I swore I would try. To protect them. To save them. So... I can't back down. No matter what you say or do."

Remarque's words washed over the Senshi like a tidal wave, and her gloved fingers twitched. She tried to keep a strong face, but each of his statements was a blow. Talk? He wanted to... talk? She had heard that before, and it had been true. Carnelian, however, she had been able to deter from his mission. He had not been this mixture of gentleman and ruffian, one moment soft and pleasant and the next minute chiseled stone. It unnerved her and left her momentarily unable to respond. Yet, in a moment of clarity, it occured to her that that was his intention. Distraction. He wasn't going to give up, and she had to act!

She leapt to strike at the male Senshi as he was calling forth his power--so the face full of snow came as a complete and unwelcome shock. Her arms and legs felt strangely... heavy. She struggled to raise herself from where she had fallen, but even the motion of pushing herself up on her hands was awkward and painful. Pasiphae turned her head to see thin strings attached to her elbows and her knees, and her stomach lurched. What... what was this? His power? It was holding her in place!

'No... no! I can't fail! His life is at stake... I have to keep trying!'

Pasiphae kept struggling. She kept struggling even when the Dark Moon Senshi had gone from her sight. She kept struggling even when she felt the wire bite through her uniform and down to the skin. Eventually, either because she had struggled enough or beecause the magic had worn off, she was freed.

She ran in the direction she had seen her opponent go, but she found... nothing. She could see two pairs of footprints in the snow and then they just... disappeared. She could think of only one thing to do at that point. As her heart thundered in her chest, she ran towards the homeless shelter. Maybe... just maybe...

And there he was. Unconcious, but alive, at the shelter. Just as the Dark Moon Senshi had promised. All of the conflicting emotions built up inside of her again as she turned away, desperate not to be seen by anyone who would call the police on her. Why? Why had he done that? Why had he kept his word? He was corrupted, filled with Chaos, and yet?

She bit her lip against the cold and pulled her coat around her. Trudging home, she tried to keep back the doubts that the entire encounter had raised... and what it would mean when dealing with the Dark Moon Court in the future.