|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 11:28 pm
Natron was definitely more than a little panicked when he found Astrophyllite. Her report had left him afraid - both for her and for Kerberos, who he'd asked her to meet with. If they couldn't do what he'd asked, that meant something had happened to, or with, one or the other.
Astro was alone, when he tracked her aura to her, which meant that somehow, the problem likely lay with Kerberos.
"Are you alright?" He asked the Lieutenant. She didn't look injured, but she didn't look okay, either. "Did something happen? Where's Kerberos?" It was a barrage of questions and he knew it, but they were all laced with concern. Astrophyllite was his Lieutenant and his responsibility. Kerberos had been one of his best friends since they were little. Neither was someone he wanted to see hurt or in danger.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 12:11 am
Astrophyllite looked up when she felt the general approaching. Natron's signature was unmistakable, a comforting rush of bluedarkflamecoolearth. She relaxed her hands, glancing briefly at the line of tiny red half-moons she'd pressed into her palms, and peered out from her nest beside the packing palettes. "I'm okay," she said, getting shakily to her feet. "I- I had to leave him behind. He would have hurt me if I stayed." She'd seen the look in Kerberos's eyes. She'd felt his spellwork once when he'd cast it with only good intentions. It had been terrible then, and he was stronger now, and angry with her. She could only imagine that it would be like having her heart carved out. "He killed a page," she said, not sure of where to look. Natron's eyes seemed too difficult. She settled for the collar of his jacket. "He was - he was writing in blood. On the wall." Her hands were shaking too much, she thought. She should be harder than this. She should be a better soldier. But Kerberos - beautiful Kerberos, his hands stained red, and the dead boy, bleeding out... "Avalon. He was writing Avalon's name. He said he's been doing it for months, sending a - a message. I didn't understand what he was trying to say." Maybe she would have, she thought, if she'd just been smarter. Astrophyllite shrugged helplessly. "He was going to hurt me," she said quietly, hoping that would be enough of an explanation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:36 pm
"He would have..." It seemed impossible to even think about. Kerberos, Alex, had always spoken of Astrophyllite with affection - what could be so wrong that he'd want to hurt her?
Ah, but if she hadn't been aware of the murders - there was the crux of what was probably the issue. Alex had confessed those to him and Des long ago, proud of his "work," and it was still difficult to reconcile Cait's upbeat, flirtatious, playful brother with someone who thought it was a good idea to murder someone and use their blood for a message. He couldn't even be surprised Kerberos had never told Astrophyllite. Wanting to shield her from the nastier aspects of what he did was...well, Natron sort of wanted to do it too.
"I don't think he knows what he's doing," the General said, "but I'm glad you're alright - he's always had a temper, I suppose it's only gotten worse." He would worry about Alex later, though. "You made the right decision, running and calling me. I won't let him hurt you, I promise."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 6:26 pm
Astrophyllite looked nervously at Natron, not sure whether to smile or frown or... what, exactly. The general's reaction is significantly less than she expected, but then, perhaps she was the one who was overreacting. Murder... was just par for the course of being part of the Negaverse, wasn't it? She shouldn't be so upset over something like that, not when she'd... She'd seen the lights in that man's eyes go out, but he was a bad man, and pages could be made perfect and pure in Chaos. They didn't have to die. Avalon would be disappointed in Kerberos if she knew what he was doing. But Avalon was dead and gone, and that was the root of the whole problem, wasn't it? "I know you gave me a mission to take to him," she said, wringing her hands, "But I just didn't see a way... He was so angry. If there were someone else you could send in his place, I might still be able to finish it. I know.... how important it was." Astrophyllite still wanted to be a good lieutenant, even if she'd had a setback, and getting all her work done despite hardships was important.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:37 pm
"Don't worry about that," Natron said, shaking his head. "I'll find someone else to take care of it." Maybe he'd ask Fangite, that would be the easiest way to get things handled. He was more concerned about what was going on with Kerberos - and with Astrophyllite. Kerberos's murders had been...brutal, over the top, attention-drawing, but for the most part useful. If he was letting whatever rage was driving him turn on other officers, well. That was dangerous for everyone around him.
But mostly he worried that this would be some kind of turning point for Astrophyllite - what if it frightened her away from the Negaverse? Losing her to Order when they would likely just let her fall apart further was out of the question.
"I...think we need to go speak to General-Queen Laurelite. She's been interested in your progress, and I think she needs to hear about this anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:26 pm
Astrophyllite breathed a bit easier once she knew she wasn't in trouble for abandoning her mission. Natron wasn't Avalon, but he was a good commanding officer. Avalon had put her into good hands. (Of course Avalon had. Avalon cared about Astrophyllite and wanted her to be safe and happy.) She would follow Natron to the end of the earth, she decided, as long as she knew that he was doing what was best for her. "General-Queen Laurelite?" she asked, her voice rising in pitch. "I... why would she be interested in me?" Astrophyllite wasn't anything special, she thought, and yet - there were all these people interested in what she was doing! She'd only ever been brought into the Negaverse as punishment for Bischofite- Ha! she thought triumphantly. She'd sure shown him. "Okay," she said, reaching for Natron's arm. "Let's go see her."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
