Welcome to Gaia! ::

Pasiphae shivered as she walked against the wind despite the layered fabrics of her fuku and the light jacket she had added to them. Clearly it was time for her to start wearing her larger winter coat. Even that might not have helped; her face would continue to be exposed as Jack Frost nipped all over it. The sight of the first Christmas decorations appearing around the park comforted her somewhat, despite the association they had with Carnelian... but she could not focus on him or his dark lady now. Now, she had a mission. One that she had actually decided to take on for herself... mostly after fretting about bothering someone else. Everyone was surely on top alert these days, dealing with their own situations that they found on patrol.

Taking the lead position was still new and somewhat difficult for her. The experience with Vanadis had proven to her, however, that now that she had an additional obligation as a Senshi: to give back and help those as she had been helped. The Shame Senshi had been blessed to meet kind Senshi and Knights when she had first awakened and to continue to work with them. Others had not been as lucky... and none of them could afford to be alone. That was why she had responded to the lone energy signal coming from the park. Better for her to approach than no one... and she could always refer them to the more knowledgable, better Senshi!

As much as she had braced herself, however, turning the corner and seeing a girl dolled out in vibrant pinks and gold enjoying... a burrito? She stopped in mid-stride before moving one step closer. Brushing some of her hair behind an ear, the Super Senshi tried her best to cover any doubt with geniune kindness as she asked softly, "Um... I'm sorry to interupt but... I don't think we've met? I'm Sailor Pasiphae."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interupt your dinner!" Pasiphae immediately raised her gloved hands and waved them in front of her a bit, as though to dispel any inconvenience or tension. She was minorly repulsed from the page's table manners, but she did not judge the pink-clad woman too harshly because... well, she had come in rather unexpectedly.

"It's just... it can be dangerous, patrolling alone." The Super Senshi didn't want to scare the page, but she felt like her companion needed to know that first and foremost. "So... um, if you like, I can stay with you? I mean, I certainly understand if you want to be left alone, too, but... well, that's why I came. Because I felt you here alone."

She hoped that any redness in her face could be explained away as a reaction to the wind. Her hands folded self-conciously into her lap.

"It's not any trouble, really," she hastened to assure the page. Her welcome, flustered as it was, was genuine. She made no move to hasten the older girl's meal or to indicate anything other than friendliness.

Pasiphae smoothed her gray skirt beneath her hands. She didn't want to sit; if they stood still for too long, it increased the chance that a Chaos member would find them. There was no Guardian Cat to help hide them, and the events of the ambush were still too fresh in the Shame Senshi's mind for her to not take every precaution. And it sounded as though Aventine had already had her fair share of the same experiences, which led her to ask softly, "Do you mind if we walk, while you eat? I'll happily answer whatever questions I can while we do." She might not be the best emissary that Senshi had to offer, but she was the only one currently present. Much as she been for Vanadis. If nothing else, she could see about introducing Aventine to one of the Knights that she knew could help the page more.

The last question that Aventine had asked remained unanswered for a few moments. Pasiphae picked at the lace detailing of her gloves, her eyes shifting down as she confessed, "I'm not sure I'd say I'm 'comfortable' with it, but... it became much, much easier when I met my friends. When I was alone, it was confusing, and I was much more afraid. But... lots of people have helped me, even when... I didn't deserve it. So, I think that makes easier."

A look of horror appeared on Pasiphae's face at Aventine's interpretation, and she stopped in mid-step before hastening to clarify, "OH, no! I didn't mean... I'm sorry, that didn't come out well at all." Rather embarrassing, particularly for an active member of Crystal Academy's debate team! She tried again, clearer if a bit more flustered, "No one I know would ever deny someone help--especially if he or she was inexperienced."

While the page continued to eat her burrito, the Senshi chewed on her bottom lip as they walked. She did understand what Aventine was saying, and it reminded her of ********* words at her awakening. At the time, Pasiphae had not understood why the fluffy, gray cat would not explain the 'why' along with 'what' she was and 'how' her powers worked. After more than a year of acting as a Senshi, the teenager still would not claim to know everything--not by any stretch of the imagination--but she felt she was beginning to truly understand why ********* would remain ambiguous.

She rubbed at her arms and, more certain that she would not put her foot in her mouth, replied gently, "I understand. I still have times where it all feels... surreal." After a pregnant pause, she continued, "But... it is. It's all real. People, even Senshi and Knights, get hurt, and die, and corrupt, and purify. We really fight monsters to protect the people of Destiny City as well as one another. We can really travel among the moons, planets, and stars. We really have magic, both as individuals and as allies."

The Shame Senshi may have had many weaknesses, but her genuine belief in the forces and mission of Order was one of her definite strengths. Her nervous hands stilled, and for once there was no hesitation or wavering in her voice, "I feel like it's my duty to protect everyone.... even if, sometimes, that means I have to fight the people I'd rather save." Now she looked a little self-conscious, even as she offered Aventine a supportive smile, "But... that's my 'why.' I think... we all have to discover our own motivation?"

The page seemed pleased enough with the Senshi's response, and that helped settle her nerves a little. The conversation was naturally evolving, and if anything she was stunned to see that she was getting better at opening up, relatively quickly. Talking with Aventine now was easier than it had been with Vanadis--which had been easier than when the Shame Senshi began her career at all. She nodded at the idea of an avatar--she did not play many video games herself, "It is... sort of like that, always. I am Super Sailor Pasiphae--but I'm not, really. I'm..." Here she paused, Chaonis's words echoing as ever to be careful about to whom she revealed her identiy. Yet, as she did only too often, she could only trust in her allies, and she continued without much of a hitch, "I'm Penelope Seneca, just a high school girl. I can't... always make the two fit together well either."

The second question made them move away from her confiding of her civilian identity, much to her relief. "They can be saved... but unfortunately it's not something that happens often." Pasiphae, ever honest, could not soften the blow that she felt herself at such an admission. "I know only one person we've saved, a Negaverse officer, but... we had a meeting not too long ago about planning how to save more!" Enthusiasm and hope were evident in her tone and her expression as she nodded. "I even... well, I try to talk to them to get them to turn. They try to convince me to do the same. Something of a stalemate."

Then, her smile evaporated into a thoughtful frown as she murmured, "But the Dark Moon Court... I don't know, Aventine. None of them have ever been saved, and if the corruption process is different... I just don't know enough to say. But I believe they can be saved--we just have to discover how."

The word hovered between them for a second before an earnest question chased it away, "The Dark Moon Court... you know to be careful of mirrors?"

The Jovian looks over earnestly, taking the page's burrito filled hands so that she will know her sincerity. If she hadn't been told... if she hadn't known, she would've thought it was crazy too. "They travel through the mirrors. The Dark Moon Court... that's not what they're called anymore, it's just what they used to be. They're the Dark Mirror Senshi now."

She bit her lip, adding, "That's how they got into the Surrounding. You can cover your mirrors, put something heavy in front of them... or break them. That should protect your house."

"To be honest, I don't know exactly how the mirror travel works." The Shame Senshi hated to admit ignorance, and apology was evident in her tone. "I only know that they can travel through them, and I always try to keep a covering over my own. Just in case."

Pasiphae could not stress caution enough, and perhaps she was comiing off as a bit paranoid. She truly did not mean to do so. She thought of Remarque, of Virtus, and she released a shaky breath, "Some seem... friendly. They think they will save us if they take us. But they will fight you and hurt you in a battle, when they must. You must be willing to defend yourself."

She did not say hurt or any variant thereof because Pasiphae truly wished to harm no one. But she could not deny that defense wasnecessary, and sometimes that meant having to hurt. To attempt to brighten the suddenly sullen conversation, she added quickly, with a smile, "But other knights, other Senshi... will be there to help you, too. You don't have to face any of this alone."