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Eternal Sailor Pasiphae considered the distance between the roof on which she currently stood and the roof to which she wanted to leap. If she was still in the boots she was used to doing so would not have been difficult. However... she was not as she once was. Her fingers nervously traced the curve of her new mask, the gray-gloved hands another aspect to which she needed to become accustomed. Could she make it? With the lone signature of Order energy that she was seeking... could she afford to stop?

TThe answer was no, and with a deep breath she made the leap. Her wings required a balancing act on their own, but the thigh-high boots only added to that difficulty. She might have had greater power, greater sttrength, but that apparently did not come with greater balance! The Shame Senshi landed solidly enough, but when she tried to take her first step she felt her footing give way. In a tumble of puffed skirts from her new dress, Pasiphae promptly slipped on the icy rooftoop.

She just hoped the ally she was seeking out didn't see it. Hard enough for her to embark on her own to greet newcomers; harder still to try and do it when she flopped around like a flamingo.

The Eternal Senshi noted that the energy signature was coming closer to her as well, and for a brief moment she worried that her ally was rushing for help. But the movement was too meticulous, too slow to be fleeing. Not to mention that she could feel no Chaos energy. No, it just seemed that they would be crossing paths--but she still did not hesitate. After meeting Vanadis and Aventine, it seemed apparent that there were people now who needed questions answered. Better her than no one at all, and at least they would know they were not alone.

When she heard someone walking beneath her, she jumped down from the roof. Pasiphae landed in the alleyway with a clack of heels, but this time she managed to maintain her footing. She straightened up to look over at the hooded figure, quickly taking a step back in an attempt to look unthreatening. Gloved hands rose in the universal sign of peace as she spoke, hastening to get introductions out of the way "Hello. I'm Pasiphae."

Then, feeling awkward, she added as explanation, "I felt that you were out here alone, and... that can be dangerous."

The Shame Senshi looked as the page removed her hood, keeping a comfortable distance. She did not want to seem invasive or exert any pressure on her ally, not knowing her personality. The page--Delphi, as she identified herself--seemed well suited for the chilly night with her pants and long coat. Pasiphae was slightly envious, as her own attire had become... flimsier with the most recent upgrade. As a result, she rubbed at her arms as introductions were made.

When Delphi took control of the conversation, Pasiphae smiled sheepishly, moving to coil her hair around her fingers reflexively. Her fingers hit metal and recoiled. She was still getting used to this new, larger mask with its Valkyrian wings. She answered the very fair question asked of her, "Um... yes, it's dangerous for me too. But... I'm willing to take the risk. I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

It was natural for a newly awakened page to have questions. Pasiphae had certainly had questions--still had questions--about many aspects to her powered life. Vanadis and Aventine had somewhat prepared her to act as a reference resource. However, neither encounter had prepared her to be examined in this manner! If the winged adornments at her waist could move on their own, they'd definitely be fluttering, even as Delphi took a step closer.

The Shame Senshi only wanted to come across as friendly and open, particularly since the page seemed concerned for her well-being, despite being relative strangers. She licked her made-up lips and explained, "I'm sorry, you're right, of course. It's just... I'd rather get hurt myself, then ask anyone else to be hurt." Pasiphae had never been one to shy away from the truth, no matter how unpleasant. Her own insecurities were further fueled by her memories of seeing others in pain, and her voice dropped as she confessed, "It just seems... better me than no one? I have been helped so much that I wanted... to help, too. Even if only a little."

She smoothed the skirt of her dress, forcing heself to put a bit more volume to her tone. She couldn't afford to look weak--even if she was, had always felt she was--whenever she was meant to be the reassuring one. "Some people go out in pairs and groups; I normally go out with my team, for example. But... I'll go to any Knight or Senshi that needs help. I think it'd be better if everyone worked together but... some people just seem to prefer working alone."

"Oh, they would come, if I asked!" It was all going wrong! Pasiphae could feel herself coloring under Delphi's words, despite how kind they were. The Eternal was messing it all up. She was making it seem like no one else cared, when they most certainly did. It would give the new page the wrong impression!

The truth was that, yes. She was that giving. If it meant keeping another safe, the Shame Senshi would gladly take the blow or lay down her life. It was her duty to protect the innocent, to support her allies--no matter the cost to herself. "I don't mean to make it seem like they don't care--they do, they care very much! They're... more than just allies. They're my friends, and I know they would do anything for me."

Which was precisely what the selfless girl could not allow. Kallicore covered in blood. Chaonis throwing himself into the fight as a distraction. Ganymede splattered with tar. Valhalla tossing his compass at the Great Youma. Tallulah and Harper burnt by terrorist flame. She could continue the list forever, describe the injuries she had seen inflicted upon those who fought beside her. The injuries of those who fought against her were equally terrible, of course, but nothing tore at her heart more than seeing her friends harmed. Delphi was much more take charge, in Pasiphae's view, prompting her desire to allow the page to assume command of the conversation.

All the same... she wanted to make sure she didn't lead her astray. "So, it's not that I feel endebted as such." Nodding, she started to be reassuring on a different track, "I don't take any offense. I'll gladly answer any questions you have, either tonight or another time. I can also ask others to come... if you'd rather talk to them." She would certainly understand that; the other Senshi were more capable. "Whatever works best for you!"

On some level, Pasiphae would have felt more comfortable referring the page to another. Kallichore, maybe, or Ganymede or Valhalla... someone who knew so much more, had been doing this longer. Still, there was some comfort to be had in Delphi's willingness to interact with her. The Eternal was ever eager to please.

Her garnet gaze stayed on the page as she thought of how best to answer. 'Why' was a very difficult question, not the least of which because the answer depended on who was asked. Pasiphae had never wondered too deeply the 'why' beyond 'why me?' The enemy, and the war, existed before her. There was certainly history, more than even she knew, but she had dedicated herself to the present. Whatever the cause of the war, she would work to end it now. Whatever the sins, or virtues, of her moon, she was of the Earth and dedicated to protecting its citizens.

Another part of the page's speech made her hesitate as well. Pasiphae had never felt 'dragged' into being a Senshi. She had been chosen, and she had accepted it as her duty. Even if she doubted her own value, she could not abandon her responsibilities. The time that she had avoided donning her mask had been hard and, ultimately, proven this fact to her. How, then, could she explain to Delphi, who did not feel the same?

The Senshi smoothed the front of her dress, unpursing her lips from their thoughtful position. Just because the page's questions were hard to answer did not make them unworthy of an answer--it just meant that she had to try hard to explain. "As far as I know... Chaos and Order have always fought. Something happened between the Moon Princess and whomever headed the Negaverse and... we have been fighting ever since." A short, and perhaps unsatisfactory history, but the ancient past of the Senshi and Knights was not Pasiphae's area of expertise. "I'm sorry I don't know more... but perhaps other Senshi do. I can try and find out! Or... or bring you to the moon?"

Then, wondering if she had perhaps misinterpreted the question, Pasiphae hastened to add, "But I don't fight because of that. I don't know anyone on our side who does."

The rest was a little easier for her to explain because it was the present, and the Senshi tried not to fidget over much as she continued. "There are two groups who are dangerous... both forces of Chaos. One is the Negaverse; they have weapons, sort of like Knights do. They also have Corrupted Senshi who... you'll know because they have holes in their heads and at their hearts." The rememberance of her first glimpse of one such dark void made her breath catch in her throat, but she could not... concentrate on Carnelian now. "And then... there are Dark Mirror Senshi, who used to be like us, on the side of Order until Ares betrayed them."

Pasiphae's mouth was dry after speaking for so long in the chilled air. She took this opportunity to swallow and to give Delphi a chance to ask anything else or to seek clarification. Or to walk away because everything sounded rather frightening, but the Eternal rather hoped she wouldn't do that.

The Eternal Senshi shook her head, apology clear in her voice, "I don't know if there was ever a lull. I was chosen to be a Senshi, to use whatever power I had to protect people from Chaos. That's all I've ever fought for--to protect people. Even those corrupted... but I can't let my guard down anymore." Under the responsibility, and the memory, of the battles in which she had fought, Pasiphae seemed to half-wilt, "I have to always be willing to fight because... they can attack anytime, even when unprovoked. But still... I am trying, to save them." Trying and failing, but she wasn't sure she could bear to tell the page any more negative news.

Pasiphae couldn't help but smile as topic shifted to space travel. Like Delphi, she had a difficult time wrapping her mind around the basic "facts" of life being turned upside down. No, planets and moons should not have gravity or a breathable atmosphere. One should not be able to teleport to the moon--much less the moon of another planet! Yet, she had been herself, to both locations. "I know it seems fantastical, but... it's very beautiful, too. Especially Earth's moon. It's... ancient and safe. No Chaos forces can reach you there."

At the suggestion of powering down, the Shame Senshi immediately obliged. In her mind, their continued ability to communicate uninterupted was proof enough of their safety. She wanted to show Delphi that she had full trust in the page, and revealing her civilian identity was the ultimate sign of that trust. Pasiphae breathed a sigh of relief as her finery melted away. As always, ornate mask revealed the comparatively plain girl underneath. Revealing herself always brought to mind Chaonis, but the Shame Senshi knew--as she had known then, however instintively--that her allies should be trusted. Could be trusted. Penelope Seneca was as safe as Sailor Pasiphae could ever be.

The teen brushed some hair behind her ears, uninhibited this time as she made the second introduction, "I'm Penelope Seneca, and... and I'd definitely like a cup of cocoa."

The girl nodded as Delphi became her civilian self, and there was no hint of her normal reservedness as she baldly stated, "They can be saved. Some of them are good and just... misguided." But that could wait for another time.

"Anytime you call, Winterlynn... I'll come," Penelope reassured her new friend as she wrapped her coat tighter around herself. "I'll be sure to give you my number while we get that drink." And maybe next time... she'd bring a few friends along for Winterlynn to meet.