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 Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:21 pm
Mintaka had been floating on a cloud. After talking to Aurostibite, and now Amytis and Nysa, the origami senshi could feel herself returning slightly normal...ish.
She still felt the rush of memories, and sometimes she would get glimpse of others that mattered to her. Remarque, Merlinite....Acrucis. There was so many that she had yet to see since the future visions came to her.
But more then that, she was almost halfway through her senior year of high school, and it was going swimmingly. Her classes for lady skills were dwindling and that left her more time to patrol at night.
As such, she was out tonight, but this time, with her usual set up of tea on the rooftop. A new table and set placed out since Meggido had ruined her other one, and she was pouring her first cup of chai as she over looked the city.
Perhaps tonight, she would be grace with a presence to join her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:05 pm
Unfortunately, as much as Aurostibite had tried, thoughts of Mintaka had resurfaced throughout most of the days and weeks following their first encounter. He had tried to calm them; had tried to pretend that it didn't matter to him, that he had merely told her he wasn't running away from her because he hoped to capture her and give her to the Negaverse - but that would have been a blatant lie that shamed him.
After that, he'd given up trying to ignore the memories. Sometimes, when it was late at night, and he was alone in his apartment, Magiore Carpenter allowed himself to think of Super Sailor Mintaka; of the bright, brilliant smile that had blazed across her face, the way her hand had felt so gentle and soft in his gloved fingers.
He both longed and didn't long to see her; it was an ache deep within his heart he couldn't seem to control.
Patrolling helped to clear his head, which Aurostibite did nearly every night. Sometimes he hated himself for wishing he would run into her on these outings, and sometimes he wondered if it would be easier to just give in and allow himself to feel.
No, he told himself firmly, no.
It did not help that, several days and almost two weeks after their last meeting, Aurostibite found her again, on the rooftop of a building. He'd detected the power signature a block away, and had followed it carefully, not knowing it would lead to the one person that he both desperately wished to see and desperately wished not to see.
His footsteps were light as he landed on the rooftop behind her, several feet away, and Aurostibite straightened, smoothing a hand down the front of his coat.
"Good evening, Mintaka," he said quietly.
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:07 pm
The aura, coated with a lighter Chaos was welcome and appreciated. Soon enough, the owner would find her and make it's way to her, as they often did. She just hoped it was a civil and polite sort.
As the aura got closer, her chest tightened, as if in anticipation. She knew this aura, she knew it well.
She didn't move from her spot though, and as he joined the rooftop, and he spoke, she tried to remain calm and diginified, though she wanted to leap with joy. It had been weeks? Days? Months? What was time? Couple of weeks, she cursed herself, and sometimes, like Aurostibite, She had hoped the negaversers she had met with were him.
"Hello Aurostibite." She smiled, setting her cup down with a gentle clink and standing. "It's been awhile?" Did you miss me? Think of me? Do you think of me?
"Would you like to join me for tea?" She gestured to the table, "If you aren't busy? We can chat...."
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:44 pm
He had to work incredibly hard not to run across the rooftop towards her. Besides being very unprofessional, it would have been ridiculous; and so, Aurostibite forced himself to walk at a more reasonable pace, his hat tugged low over his face, his dark hair free of its ponytail and waving about his shoulders in unruly curls.
She was smiling. He'd missed the smile. He'd missed her.
( No, he told himself, no I haven't missed her, I haven't, I haven't - )
Aurostibite came closer, and his hands itched to reach out to her. He forced them down and carefully manuvered his way around to the other side of the table, hesitating only a moment before he took a seat across from her, carefully folding the tail end of his coat beneath him.
There was a moment's pause, and then,
"Have you been well?"
A little stiff, but not too bad. Aurostibite lifted a hand and tipped the brim of his hat up a little so that he could see her more clearly.
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:54 pm
She waited, as he walked over to her, watching his movements, watching him carefully. Everything he did gained her attention. The slow deliberate shuffle.
The brim of his hat that would hide his eyes just a little, the hair that brushed at his jawline.
She couldn't help her hand, and before he even sat, she was reaching up to the black tendrils, shifting them just a little, so she could see his eyes. The pretty cobalt blue.
The moment was gone in a instant, and she was sitting down and smiling at him again. A slight flush across her cheeks, but she managed it well, she hoped.
"I've been wonderful really?" She breathed out, "School is almost done, I have bright prospects for college, my teacher for my lady etiquette classes says I'm almost nearly perfect and that soon I won't need to be tutored anymore either." She said that, but she didn't want him to worry about her run in with not one or two, but three corrupt senshi in sequence of each other. The bruises had finally faded, and the cuts healed. Really she had nothing to complain about. "Is there a sort of tea you prefer? I have a wonderful earl grey, Or if you want some like mine? Chai?" She had no idea how to talk to him, so relied on fussing over him.
"And you? How have you been Aurostibite?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:25 pm
He felt her fingertips against the side of his face - just briefly, a touch so delicate that it felt almost fragile. Aurostibite stiffened immediately, his eyes cutting across towards her, his heart in his throat, and there was a moment where he almost reached out and took her hand in his, threading their fingers together.
Stop.
But before he could make a decision, she'd already lowered her hand, and Aurostibite's shoulders eased a little, some of the tension ebbing away. He watched Mintaka from where he sat, noting the flush to her cheeks and wanting to reach out and brush it away.
Or maybe make it deepen.
Focus, he told himself.
"Ah, yes." Aurostibite lifted a hand, settling it on top of the table as he looked down at what was in front of him. "I had forgotten you were still in school. I'm glad to know that you are doing as well as you are; you are very collected, as a lady."
He lifted a hand and touched the brim of his hat, pulling it off carefully and smoothing down his hair before setting the hat in his lap. Aurostibite folded his hands over it and looked up at Mintaka.
"Chai is good enough for me," he said, a little stiffly, and then added, a little quieter, "I have been...well."
Close enough to the truth to not be an entire lie. He ran a hand over the brim of his hat. "I have been focusing on my brazing, mostly."
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:16 pm
Her smiled would never fade while he sat across from her, and she poured the chai as requested, pushing gently if he wanted, cream and sugar as well. Then she sat back and paid attention to him in the best possible way she could.
Because she could and he was letting her.
And because she wanted too. And it was hard not to want to keep touching him, and explore the planes of his face and wonder if his kiss was as soft as it was in the memories and oh dear, why was she thinking these things. Proper ladies did not think of these things.
"Yes! But graduating soon." She gave him a raised brow before relaxing, "And I'm sure I'll be right into college soon after that, I am looking forward to it actually. Crystal academy has its benefits but..." She shrugged.
"Is it still awkward?" She blinked as she reached over for her cup, "Are you still having the dreams...memories? I think mine are slowing down. I'm getting the last glimpses. Death, tar and fire. Those sort of things." She watched as he took of his hat and pretended that seeing him like that didn't make her heart race just a little. Aurostibite was certainly very handsome, in the brooding dark sort of way.
"Brazing?" It took a moment for her to 'remember' before she gasped and then snapped her fingers. "You're metal work! You made our rings! I remember that you are very well crafted and skilled! What sorts of things have you made?" She leaned closer, clearly interested and excited to hear about it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:52 pm
This was turning out to be harder than he'd thought it would be. Aurostibite shifted in his seat, absently running gloved fingers along the brim of his hat where it sat in his lap, and it wasn't until Mintaka gently nudged the tea towards him that he seemed to relax a little. He reached out and took it, adding a small bit of cream and only the tiniest bit of sugar before lifting it to his lips and taking a sip.
It was soothing - tea was always soothing - and Aurostibite's shoulders lost a little more of their stiffness.
"What do you wish to study in college, then?" he asked her, pleased with himself for how casual the question sounded, how simple and normal. He took another swallow of tea. "I studied literature before I graduated, but it has yet to do me any good, really."
But then she had to go and mention the dreams, and Aurostibite's hand shook a little as he set the tea down on the table, trying to look as unfazed as possible as he said quietly, "Not as of late. I have...been getting similar as you said; brief glimpses, flashes here and there, more fog than anything or real substance."
He was not going to mention that he had had another memory of her, and that it had been filled with warmth and laughter and familiarity.
You made our rings.
Aurostibite accidentally overturned his teacup. Dark liquid spread out over the table, and he hastily reached for a napkin, trying to dab it up as a sharp flush crossed over his cheeks and spread out over his face. His shaking fingers were hastily hidden beneath the table, and he glanced up at Mintaka, inhaling a breath.
"...my apologies," he said stiffly. "But yes, it is the silver work, metal work. I have mostly been making pendants as of late."
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:21 am
On the other side, Mintaka was doing her best to be very normal and polite about all this. In her mind, she would like nothing more to throw her arms around his neck, quietly snuggle up against him and ask him of everything, and anything. It was selfish teenage delusion, but she couldn't help it.
Every second he was with her, was a second he wouldn't give to her again. Every minute that went by was treasured and valued, because at any moment? He could stop and she'd have nothing after. She wanted these memories, to go with her future memories.
“I'm still debating. There is a lot of options that could provide for a fruitful life. Doctor, lawyer. Politician.” She hesitated, “But I actually...I'd like to go for teaching. Children specifically. Perhaps kindergarten to third grade? I adore children, and teaching? And learning? It's like...” She started to flush, “It must sound terribly silly though...”
She ahemed, clearing her throat, sipping her tea. Shyly averting her gaze just a bit.
“I'm glad they are dwindling down at least. It's been terribly uncomfortable a couple of times, especially when I had dreams of...” She gnawed on her lip, “A certain Ascended general senshi took...special attention to me.” Ate's memory was one of the few that truly haunted her.
His drop of the cup, as well as the tea splattering, had her eyes widening and moving to reach for napkin.
“No, Oh dear, are you okay?” She moved over to his side, wiping it up with him, not paying attention when her hand landed on his and she was staring at it, and then it was gone and he hid them under the table and she was pursuing her lips next to him.
“D..Don't worry! I can pour another cup, I didn't mean to startle you.” She tried to smile at him again, to ease his worries. Focus on something else, rather then the mention of the rings that had bonded them. Ones by his own hands.
“I bet they are fantastic, do you sell them?”
Totally normal.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:47 pm
The stubborn part of him that kept resisting any and all advances made by Mintaka were still at war with the part of him that had inherited the memories. Aurostibite's conflicted inner emotions kept a certain sense of anger and frustration buried within him, and it made it difficult to concentrate.
But he forced himself to, however, because otherwise the result would be Mintaka leaving, and even if he could not and would not see her the way that he had in the dreams, the way that she wanted him to, he was still relatively certain he could not handle her leaving.
"That is certainly a lot of options," said Aurostibite, and for a minute there was the faintest hint of a smile that tugged across his lips. "And children...that would be very nice, I think. There is always a need for more teachers in the world. But no," he added, and the smile had gone, replaced by a quiet stoicism. "It is not silly."
He regarded her silently, taking in the sincerity of her voice, and it made his heart ache. Aurostibite inclined his head in her direction and said, "I am not certain of which general you speak of, I'm afraid." Which was true, but by the sound of it, the encounter had been less than pleasant, and it made his blood run cold.
The tea was seeping into his napkin already, soaking the napkin he was using to attempt to clean it up. Aurostibite was trying not to focus on Mintaka - this, however, was made all the more difficult, seeing as how she'd stood up and moved next to him, and for a brief moment he felt the warm touch of her fingers against his own gloved ones.
A jolt of something slipped through him. "I - yes - sometimes - " Aurostibite managed to get out. The brief contact had made his head dizzy.
"I sell them - " He cleared his throat, his head. "At the mall, sometimes. Though they are not particularly popular, at least not yet."
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:14 pm
"Those are the most appropriate titles should a lady every inquire about a job. That's what my parents would say. I know they sound stiff and such but..." She sighed, "They have only me, and thus want the best." But she assumed that teaching would be accepting, and even if not well...she would try anyways.
"I'm glad you don't think so. I have been flip flopping, and you're the first I've spoken too about it." She breathed out, "It does me good, I appreciate it."
"I don't know her name yet." She sighed, her hand resting on his for just a moment, "But she had dark raven hair, and green eyes." She didn't want any more then that, "And cracks. a lot of cracks."
"Do you?" She exclaimed, her eyes widening, "I would love to come see them and buy some! I am sure I could give them to close friends as gifts. Perhaps even find one for myself!" She breathed out, "Would that be okay?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:58 pm
Aurostibite contemplated her silently before a moment before he said, "You should do what it is that makes you feel content, rather than cater to the wishes of your parents. They clearly want the best for you as your parents, but that does not give them the right to choose your path in life."
He probably shouldn't have been giving her advice, Aurostibite looking away from Mintaka, his face flushing a little. She was so close to him now, close enough that she was reaching out to touch his hand, and he was sorely tempted to turn his hand over and lace their fingers together.
Resist. Don't give in. Don't let it in.
Aurostibite was woefully unfamiliar with those in the Negaverse, a fact that made the flush of embarrassment on his face grow deeper and more pronounced. He said nothing about the general anymore, instead focusing on the enthusiasm practically radiating throughout the woman next to him.
He opened his mouth to answer and then promptly shut it again, because it was not so easily answered as he had initially thought.
"...that would require," he said haltingly, and then he paused, his eyes rising to meet hers without trying to, as though his gaze automatically wanted to be drawn towards hers. For another moment, Aurostibite seemed quite at a loss for words; but then he cleared his throat.
"...certain...things of us both," he finished stiffly, and the unspoken words that died in his throat were like revealing our civilian identities to one another.
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 9:38 pm
"You're right. Yes you're very much right." She smiled, "I've been so used to them making the decisions, that when I became a senshi, I felt the first real taste of freedom." She laughed.
"Ah....Sorry, There is so many in the negaverse, I thought I'd subtly ask if you knew of such a woman, and briefly realize that it was in the future, I would have no idea what she would be like here." She sighed again, "Anywho..." She made the mistake of looking at his face, and the expressions he made.
It was hard not to feel something, see it reflected on his face and pretend it wasn't there, and becoming increasingly much more so the closer she was to him.
"Oh." She murmured dumbfounded, as if his hint was foreign and new to her. She was having a real hard time getting the sapphire blue eyes, the closeness...the idea that she would and could in a heartbeat, give him her civilian identity.
But they had agreed to be friends and to take this slow and go from there. Pushing him would not be wise. The smile came fast, and it was easy to tell it was fake, but she would do anything to make sure it wouldn't jeopardize what they had.
"You're right! That's not possible, and too bad! I would've loved to get a piece from you." She absently minded played with her finger where his ring had sat in the future, without really realizing she was doing it. Instead she moved away. "Do you have any other things that keep you busy?" Perhaps she could keep the conversation going if she focused on something that didn't remind her of just how close her and Auro had been.
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:49 pm
He knew what she meant; being in the Negaverse had made him much more aware of just how much was out there, how much he could still yet accomplish. The freedom from moving about the city without anyone knowing who he was had been liberating.
And now Mintaka was looking at him with those eyes of hers that expressed so much, and Aurostibite had the sinking feeling that he would not be able to hold out for much longer.
He could not pretend that he was ever going to walk away now. He was already in too deep.
She was smiling, but it wasn't real, and it made his heart ache to even watch it cross her face. Aurostibite felt something twist inside of his stomach, and without thinking, he reached out and grasped her hand before she could move too far away, his heart hammering against his ribs. He was half standing up now, raised out of his seat to stop her from leaving.
There was a pause. He didn't know what to say, or what he was even supposed to say. Aurostibite stared at his gloved hand around Mintaka's and took a deep, shuddering breath. He closed his eyes briefly, as though trying to steady himself.
"One day," he began roughly, haltingly. "One day I will...I will show you."
Wait for me, was the unspoken plea in the depths of his heart, and it scared him how much he was willing to put forward for her, how much he was willing to risk. Wait for me, don't give up on me just yet. Let me figure out my head and wait for me just a little longer.
Aurostibite's fingers slowly slid away from Mintaka's.
"What is your favorite flower?" he blurted out, the question completely random and surprising even himself.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:35 pm
She stared down at his hand, a move he had made on his own and felt the nerves and her heart leap in her chest and throat. It was such a deep thud and echoes of thuds that she could barely hear his soft whisper. his soft plea.
"Oh." Her smile faded, and she gave him all of her attention. The pounding quickening. She could almost feel like what he was saying in those words.
Wait for me.
She'd wait forever.
Don't give up on me.
She'd never give up, she was in this for the long run. She clutched a hand up to her heart and knew, realized that she was far too in deep. She closed her eyes.
"White roses. They are elegant, simple, plain, smell fantastic. Have the softest petals." She breathed out, "I like simple elegant things." Like you. Like this, like everything.
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