She hadn't spoken to Parthenope since that night he broke the rules. It made sense since she had been passed out for approximately a week since that night. Yet, when Ellie finally had the energy to move about like normal again, she sent her teammate a text.
Get your a** to the park by 9pm
It was probably not a good sign for Waylon by any means.
At approximately 8:30 pm, Ellie had already claimed herself a spot under a tree. The plant she leaned against hadn't quite recovered yet from the winter weather, leaving plenty of empty branches to peer through to see the darkened sky.
She might not have had enough energy to do anything for the past week, but she did have the ability to think about what had happened. There were aspects she didn't like, but the one that got to her more than the issues with her crystal was about to meet with her.
For Waylon's own good, it would have been wise to show up on time.
Desukyun
Walking to the park wasn’t normally as difficult as it was tonight. Every step got harder and harder as he made his way there. Even seeing it on the horizon was worse than he could have imagined. The sinking feeling in his stomach was fighting against the butterflies that hovered in there as well. It was unpleasant to say the least.
He looked down at his cellphone.
8:50pm
He had 10 minutes until he had to face everything that had gone wrong. Terribly, horribly, unpredictably wrong. Well, maybe not unpredictably but certainly not something he could have thought would go that badly. The park seemed even darker as usual even for that time of night as he weaved in and out of a patch of trees.
8:57pm
3 minutes until he had to face reality. There was almost nothing that could be said on his part. He screwed up and badly. Shuffling his feet was getting him nowhere in a hurry. Not matter how much he tried to will himself to go faster, his body seemed to be weighed down by stones. If felt like forever before e spotted her, waiting under a tree. One that looked dead. How appropriate.
When he finally reached her, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped, it was 9:00pm on the dot.
He looked down at his cellphone.
8:50pm
He had 10 minutes until he had to face everything that had gone wrong. Terribly, horribly, unpredictably wrong. Well, maybe not unpredictably but certainly not something he could have thought would go that badly. The park seemed even darker as usual even for that time of night as he weaved in and out of a patch of trees.
8:57pm
3 minutes until he had to face reality. There was almost nothing that could be said on his part. He screwed up and badly. Shuffling his feet was getting him nowhere in a hurry. Not matter how much he tried to will himself to go faster, his body seemed to be weighed down by stones. If felt like forever before e spotted her, waiting under a tree. One that looked dead. How appropriate.
When he finally reached her, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped, it was 9:00pm on the dot.
His approach was quiet, but not noiseless. She could hear footsteps, and eventually her eyes lowered themselves to Waylon's seemingly burdened form.
She could have torn him a new one. Ripped right into him, yelling about how he broke team rules, how he blatantly ignored her warnings about the dangers of taking on Labyrinthite, and how he generally f*cked up. In all honesty, it's what she did want to do, but she held back. Yelling sometimes got the results, but it wasn't exactly going to be as effective.
Eventually she stood herself up and reached into her hoody's pocket, pulling out her obnoxious pink henshin pen with the multicolored gemstone at the top. Her instructions were clear as she practically growled them out.
"...Henshin up..."
Desukyun
He’d honestly been expecting much worse than a harsh order. Maybe a long speech lined with profanity about how monumental of a screw up he’d been. Maybe a fist to the face as an flourish. Maybe even taking his pen away for obvious reason. Could she even do that? At this point, he wouldn’t be all that surprised nor did he have any room to argue if she’d decided something that drastic as a punishment.
The pen was heavy in his hand as he pulled it from his pocket. The was obvious hesitation as he stared down at the henshin pen. He hadn't even looked at the thing since the week before let alone transformed. Even then, in an instant, Parthenope stood before her.
The pen was heavy in his hand as he pulled it from his pocket. The was obvious hesitation as he stared down at the henshin pen. He hadn't even looked at the thing since the week before let alone transformed. Even then, in an instant, Parthenope stood before her.
With the brief cry of "Iris Eternal, MAKE-UP," soon enough Sailor Iris was also standing before her teammate. Now that her hand was freed up of the henshin pen, she shifted stance.
Her hands both came up in loose fists and she spread her legs out a bit to brace the ground better. Parthenope was probably familiar with the stance, since it was the tomboy's fighting stance whenever they sparred.
There was only one rule she stated.
"...no magic powers..."
Desukyun
“Wha’ do you mean no powers?...”
At first he thought she might have been toying with him, giving him a chance to back down and run away. Her stance was obvious. They sparred enough for him to know that. The same thing every time. Though it was normally him learning how to dodge incoming projectiles or erratic magical beams of whatever rather than using it himself. He learned fairly quickly that his powers had rapidly been outmatched by nearly everyone around him. Even those in his team. His matches were always about magic powers. Everything was about magic powers or lack thereof.
At first he thought she might have been toying with him, giving him a chance to back down and run away. Her stance was obvious. They sparred enough for him to know that. The same thing every time. Though it was normally him learning how to dodge incoming projectiles or erratic magical beams of whatever rather than using it himself. He learned fairly quickly that his powers had rapidly been outmatched by nearly everyone around him. Even those in his team. His matches were always about magic powers. Everything was about magic powers or lack thereof.
Apparently she hadn't made herself clear, though the reality was that Parthenope was being an idiot.
Rather than explain herself, she narrowed the gap rather quickly (she was an eternal senshi, after all), and thrust out a hand to flat out slap him across the face.
She wasn't going to repeat herself.
Desukyun
It had been honestly years since he’d been slapped in the face. Punched? Sure. Kicked? Of course. Slapping wasn’t something that senshi encountered very often. They were more suited for cheating spouses and wandering hands. Not whatever this was. Still, he was more than certain that he deserved to be a human punching bag after he put them both in danger like that.
Parthenope was sent a few step backwards with the force before was able to root himself to the spot. A fist fight? That’s what she wanted? After all that happened earlier? This was looking less like a sparring match and more like a punishment.
Parthenope was sent a few step backwards with the force before was able to root himself to the spot. A fist fight? That’s what she wanted? After all that happened earlier? This was looking less like a sparring match and more like a punishment.
His lull in action was going to cost him.
With another flat palm, she once more swiped at him for another loud slapping sound against his cheek.
"Act like a b*tch, get slapped like a b*tch..." Iris warned.
Desukyun
So it was a punishment. Iris was stronger than him in almost every way and this is how she approached the situation? Slapping him? Not even treating it like a proper fight? She might as well have just sent him to his room without dinner like a 5 year old. Parthenope reeled back from the force of the second slap, making it obvious that he hadn’t expected it. The somber look had melted away into anger when he met her eyes again, hand curling into a fist.
“You’re jus’ gonna keep hittin’ me until I do somethin’? Huh? Is that what you wan’?” Against his better judgment, he swung in her direction. He wasn’t even sure he was trying to hit her. He just wanted to prove his point.
“You’re jus’ gonna keep hittin’ me until I do somethin’? Huh? Is that what you wan’?” Against his better judgment, he swung in her direction. He wasn’t even sure he was trying to hit her. He just wanted to prove his point.
She had said her piece already. She remained standing straight, eyes intently looking to Parthenope's face, trying to get a reading as to his emotion. He had clearly known coming in that he had f*cked up, but now his expression had melted into a sort of humiliated rage.
It wasn't necessarily what she was aiming for, but this lesson wouldn't be an easy one to get across without some work.
He swung at her. It wasn't the first time he had ever swung at her. They trained together before, sparring to better each other. In those instances, she would try to still test him, but keep things relatively fair. He had his strengths and she had hers.
Tonight, she wasn't going to let his strengths shine.
His punch would just whiff the air as she easily moved her head out of the line of his moving fist. It was simply a fact she moved faster than a basic senshi, even considering the fact she wasn't known for being particularly agile.
Her body rather quickly seemed to snap closer to the ground, and rather than use a leg to sweep the senshi off his feet, she struck with her arm to knock him down. Iris never liked using her legs in fighting for anything other than keeping herself steady.
She didn't linger and soon enough was standing up again at her usual height. There were definitely lulls in the action, as if she was blatantly waiting for Parthenope to continue pursuing her.
Desukyun
Not landing a hit normally wasn't something to worry about. He hadn't even intended on hitting his mark but something about how easily she dodged, as if it wasn't even enough to phase her, wasn’t easing his mental state. He just wanted to prove that he could do anything at this point. Hit her. Catch her off guard. Maybe even catch himself off guard. The skills were there but Parthenope was slowly unraveling, unnerved by how far he’d fallen behind.
A grunt was the only response to the impact of her arm. He put his attention into using the momentum., catching himself on a his hands as he swiped at her with the back of his heel in one fluid motion.
A grunt was the only response to the impact of her arm. He put his attention into using the momentum., catching himself on a his hands as he swiped at her with the back of his heel in one fluid motion.
A hit had finally been made. It had taken a drastic pause and for him to practically fall on his a** to get said hit, but a hit was a hit.
However, she stood there firmly like the base of an ancient oak tree. There was still a point to be made, and though the heel hurt, she didn't let any sign of pain appear upon her face. She didn't let herself get unbalanced.
Following his one fluid motion, she swiftly took action. Within an instant, she had leaned down, arm swiping for his leg like a bear might swipe at the water for a fish. She was easily able to lay claim to the appendage, and as she griped his leg, she aimed to throw him away from her.
"...that all ya got...?"
Desukyun
A hit finally landed. He would have grinned at the feeling if it hadn't been akin to hitting a solid wall. Iris barely moved. She didn't even make a noise. Even in sparring, the more powerful senshi would at least show some kind of discomfort. A grimace. A nervous laugh. Anything. She had absolutely no reaction. He barely realized that he was off the ground until his hands were already off the ground. She’d thrown him so easily. Like a doll that a child had grown bored with. Parthenope righted himself with a half cartwheel, landing on his feet in a fighting stance a few feet away from her.
“What are you tryin’ to do here?” His voice was a noticeable growl, tone growing darker with every word. “Get a good laugh for few hours just by standin’ there and lettin' me make an even bigger fool of myself?”
“What are you tryin’ to do here?” His voice was a noticeable growl, tone growing darker with every word. “Get a good laugh for few hours just by standin’ there and lettin' me make an even bigger fool of myself?”
He clearly was growing more upset with her, but Iris snapped back sharply in response to his insecure complaints.
"Do you think I am f*ckin' laughin', Parthenope?!"
In seemingly calm steps, she began to circle her teammate, eyes focused upon him as he held his fighting stance. There was a chance he'd attempt to strike her as she began to speak and she needed to be willing to lash back.
"Senshi aren't designed to be brawlers... there are some exceptions, but ultimately our strengths are in magic."
She continued to circle him, like a hunter preparing to pounce upon the prey.
"...Captain Labyrinthite and I are physical equals when I am in this form. You, fighting me right now, is about as much damage as you are going to do to that Negaverse Captain in a battle..." It was true that she was physically a bit stronger than some senshi, and Parthenope had a similar quality to him as well. However, the Negaverse had the upper hand in a fight.
"...what were ya tryin' to prove that night?"
Desukyun
He shrunk back when she snapped at him, the sharpness of her tone momentarily catching him off guard. There wasn’t any use being going after her. She tossed him around easily. Even being on the defense was almost useless. All the senshi could do was hold his ground and hope that his insecurities didn't get even further beaten into the ground. It was well known that senshi were more magic based. It was rare to see a senshi in a fist fight. He’d made it work or at least made it work for as long as he could. Physical strength was becoming obsolete and there was little room in the realm fo the living for people that couldn’t keep up.
“That’s what I’m designed to do.” His stance faltered, arms slowly falling to his sides as he stared at the ground. “I only have fightin’. If I can’ do that then I’m useless. ” Unless he was. At least alone if the hadn’t made that clear enough. Most of the time he was just a distraction while the real members of the team did the heavy lifting. He couldn't get past the first step no matter how hard he tried. Everything about his senshi life felt stuck as if he was trapped wading through the element he was named for. “I wasn’ tryin’ to prove anythin’. I didn’ think it would end that way…”
“That’s what I’m designed to do.” His stance faltered, arms slowly falling to his sides as he stared at the ground. “I only have fightin’. If I can’ do that then I’m useless. ” Unless he was. At least alone if the hadn’t made that clear enough. Most of the time he was just a distraction while the real members of the team did the heavy lifting. He couldn't get past the first step no matter how hard he tried. Everything about his senshi life felt stuck as if he was trapped wading through the element he was named for. “I wasn’ tryin’ to prove anythin’. I didn’ think it would end that way…”
She could have kept stalking about him like a lioness about to pounce on the prey. However, the eternal senshi straightened herself up, glanced to the side before spitting to the ground. Their spar was over for now it seemed.
"Yer not useless... yer better than this..." She shook her head out of frustration.
"I honestly have no f*ckin' clue what's keepin' ya from rankin' up t'a Super Senshi in all honesty. I mean, have ya even talked to th'cat? She's kinda in charge of that department an' all..." Maybe he just hadn't bothered to talk to ********* about boosting him up in strength. It would be convenient if that was all that was stopping him. However, based off his words, she suspected he might have had similar issues to what Irene dealt with a while back.
There was one correction that had to be made with the final statement Parthenope made.
"...No... you just didn't think. Period!"
Desukyun
“I’m not better than this. I can’ be better than this...” He wanted power. He wanted to be stronger. But there was nothing that could be done about it. Their glaringly one-sided fight had easily proved that. No matter what he did, it hadn't helped. “I haven’ talked to the cat. I figured she would jus’ come to me or somethin’. Isn’ that how she found me before? Because I was ready to be Parthenope? I don’ think she could help me.”
He absentmindedly began to wring at the cuff of his sleeve, eye darting between the ground and the trees around them. Anything to keep his gaze away from her. Going after a stronger opponent by himself had been a complete and total lack of judgment. Lack of judgement being fueled by equal parts anger and insecurity. A dangerous mix. He sighed heavily. “I wasn’ thinkin’. At all” I almost got us killed because I couldn’ get my own s**t together. If you’re gonna punish me then let’s get this over with. I have it comin’ anyway.”
He absentmindedly began to wring at the cuff of his sleeve, eye darting between the ground and the trees around them. Anything to keep his gaze away from her. Going after a stronger opponent by himself had been a complete and total lack of judgment. Lack of judgement being fueled by equal parts anger and insecurity. A dangerous mix. He sighed heavily. “I wasn’ thinkin’. At all” I almost got us killed because I couldn’ get my own s**t together. If you’re gonna punish me then let’s get this over with. I have it comin’ anyway.”
Iris was not a fan of the attitude she was getting at the moment. Rather quickly she rushed him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. Her eyes, though they held an angry heat to them, seemed to also hold some sort of sympathy to them.
"I'll b*tchslap you again if ya keep talkin' like that, jack*ss!"
With that, she shoved him back, releasing his shirt so he could stumble back.
"...so ya want a punishment? Alright, let's go! Yer not allowed t'patrol anymore or henshin up until yer a f*ckin' Super Senshi! Get yer head in th'game or yer jus' gonna be sittin' on the bench til yer f*ckin' wrinkled and gray!"
With that, the yellow suited senshi's fuku vanished, shifting back to the day clothes of Ellie Spectre. Rather than sit around and wait for more excuses, she was already marching off.
It was all now in Parthenope's hands.
