Welcome to Gaia! ::

Winter is here Hannah mused as she stared outside, watching as rain poured from the sky in waves. It had been a constant mind numbing white noise since she woke up a little over an hour ago; just in time to say goodbye to her father before he left for work.

What had started out as a light drizzle now pelted the window as if someone had turned the shower head on and pointed it at the sliding glass door. It was both noisy yet hypnotizing, mind numbing in the way it seemed to cancel out thoughts before she could even form them in her mind. Perhaps it was for the best since dwelling on past events, things she had no control over or ability to change, would do her no favors.

There had been so many in the parking lot when the building was finally cleared and emptied. Thraen had taken stock of what faces- dirty, bloodied, sallow eyed and exhausted, if not passed out, there were before taking Penthesilea to help and safety. Acrucis had been among them. The benefit of his own hospitalizations had been Delilah and Hannah’s names, their association as friends. He’d been confident that information could be gotten, and wasn’t disappointed. Since he wasn’t planning on a hospital stay of his own, arrow or not, it would be easy enough to make rounds in visit to others. So he found himself, wet with rain, hitching his bike outside of a hospital. He left his jacket and scarf on one of the lobby coat racks, dabbed off his bag with the sleeves and then paper towels from the lobby men’s room, and made his way along the sick-sterile halls with reflective floors.

The walls always felt like they breathed.

A quick check of his phone confirmed the room number that he’d already lost among other thoughts, and he paused outside the door. She has been through an ordeal. You may live trying to divorce life from life and emotion from judgement, but that doesn’t go for practically any other human being. This isn’t business. Business isn’t important or going to help right now. It will hurt, and cause problems. The goal is recovery.

Then he stepped in softly on his battered shoes. She looked away, though that could be a trick of medications. Gravel voice broke through the rhythm of the rain, “Hannah?”

At the sound of her name her gaze shifted from where they had been fixated unblinkingly on the tree just outside her window to the transparent reflection on the smooth glass. Quenton? Her eyebrows knitted slightly in minor disbelief and confusion. Was she so lonely in this sterile white walled room that her mind saw fit to play games with her?

She turned her head slowly, fully prepared to be disappointed when nothing but air lingered at the door as doctors and nurses passed by on their way to visit with other patients. Hannah’s features softened however when blue eyes met gold and in that moment she felt the sting of tears p***k the corners of her eyes, yet none fell, as a torrent of emotion washed over her. Relief mixed with concern as happiness from seeing a friendly face walked hand in hand with the worry and embarrassment of him seeing her as she was.

Silence lingered for a few seconds as her eyes drifted from his face to his shoulders down to his hands. Even with the rolls seemingly reversed it was a hard habit to break, worry was second nature especially since, though they did not actually meet up at the masquerade, she knew he had been there.

A small semblance of a smile tugged the corner of her lips as she moved her feet a bit to the side, a task that took little effort since it was her ribs that were injured not her legs. “Hi,” she whispered softly waiting for him to take a seat.

He came first to the foot of her bed- it let him be seen full and plain to searching eyes. What bandaging he had was well hidden even with the usual holes in his clothes beneath turtleneck, vest and hoodie. They layers helped to fill out what wasn’t there for body mass as well. He was just wet, and bore the usual darks under his eyes as had been there for a year and more. “I didn’t know what condition you’d be in, but I’ve been in the hospital enough to know how fatigue and boredom both loom. Too tired to do anything, but wanting for something that isn’t tv or taking another set of pills and blood pressure. So I came to visit and bearing gifts.“

Questions like ‘How are you’ are probably in the hundreds heard by now. And how should she be, after a week of torture and ill-keeping? It took a moment of fishing in his bike-messenger bag, but out came a small leather fold over. From inside that he pulled out two old ipod Nano 2’s, one in silver and one in lime green. “It isn’t much, they’re only two gig apiece. They both have the same loaded on them, one for you and one for another I’m going to visit. Do you prefer a color?”

He leaned over, well tall enough and with long arms, to set the ipods with their neatly coiled, matching earbuds on her lap for consideration. “There’s 17 hours about of audio books- the complete Cadfael collection of mysteries by Ellis Peters. And that’s only 500MB of the space. I filled the rest with playlists...whatever I could curate from the library’s stock of CDs. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, but maybe anything new and different will be welcome and entertaining. There’s even some of the University Medieval Chamber ensemble on the medieval playlist. Recordings from our performances...so you’ll hear me introducing some of the pieces to the audience. “

“And whichever color you like is to keep if you want, or can be passed forward.” The Nano2 had been discontinued years before by Apple, but it meant that they were in the $20 range and always by consignment. “I can visit more than just today...if there’s ever something you’re wanting. And I don’t have to stay now if you’re tired. “

I sound like I’m rambling. I should stop.

Hannah shook her head slightly, “I’ve been asleep long enough” she replied, tracing her finger around the perimeter of the silver Nano. In all honesty she had no idea exactly how long she had been out, how many days had slipped by between the scream that had forcefully pulled her from unconsciousness and their rescue? Only Benitoite could answer, or Mica, but thankfully neither were here.

Curling her fingers around the silver one, Hannah brought it up and held it next to her heart as if it were a precious treasure. “Thank you,” she said as she raised her gaze to look back up at him, a soft smile spread across her face.

What more than the object she held in her hand was the fact that he had come at all. Aside from Delilah or Doctor Jacobs she wasn’t even sure anyone would notice her absence let alone come see her. Friends were kind of kept at a distance this past year despite the number of people she had helped while powered up and with good reason; at least that is what she had convinced herself.

Worrying her lower lip it was clear there was something on her mind by the way it seemed she was searching for the words she wished to say. There were questions she wanted to ask, explanations she wished to give, a secret she would like to share. None of this was something she could speak to her parents about, they wouldn’t understand; and Delilah, bless her heart, was worried enough as is. It wouldn’t be fair to unload her burden onto him, no matter how brilliant he was or that he would probably figure it out over the course of her stay here at the hospital, it wouldn’t be right.

“Your friend, where they…are they…” Hannah let out a frustrated sigh at her inability to finish her sentences. “Did you save them?” There had been very few times in which she would have had the opportunity to ask Dr. Jacobs of the other captives considering most of the time either one or both of her parents were in the room or at the very least another nurse.

Quenton finally came around to the side of the bed, pulling over the obligatory uncomfortable chair to the edge to sit in. It hardly seemed the sort of question to gnaw lip over. A stall of others? She can take her time to work around to it or not. Whatever it is. “She’ll pull through. We have a sad sort of tradition of me getting her to hospitals and her getting herself back to needing them in a few months. “


“I guess that is a tradition for a lot of us. Has Delilah been by? Are you going to be able to make up work? I can remember my cousin bringing me worksheets from school when I had pneumonia when we were young. I at least had the luxury of my own blanket and stuffed companions. “ It reveals a bit, maybe, that I didn’t have friends to bring over work to home from school. Or that I still had my stuffed animals and security blanket as a nine year old. But it is easier talk. Maybe happier than other topics.

The thought of stuffed animals brought to mind the elephant that sat on her bed at home, a prize once won from happier times spent at the fair. “I spoke to her for a little bit yesterday. According to my mom she was here till I woke up.” Having basically grown up together, it didn’t matter how hard Delilah tried to hide her emotions, the worry and sleepless nights were written all over her face. A knowledge that made it hard to open up to her about what had happened while being held captive at the funhouse.

“Mom’s going to swing by my school on her way back here to pick up my missed assignments and lessons for the next few weeks.” Back to homeschool… kind of, not that the hospital room was any replacement for her own home; but if she had any hope of actually graduating this year it meant doing what she could without falling behind though there was the distinct possibility her attendance record would end up being what held her back when it came time to accept their diplomas. “Most of my friends are either in college now or still back at Crystal Academy.”

“If I make it out of here, and get my pen back, would you introduce me to your friend?” Her mouth twitched in a half smile. “Maybe… maybe I could help break the tradition?” Redirecting her thoughts on others as a means to not think about her current situation seemed to be the best way to cope with what was going on.

There was a bitter reality in knowing that she had the ability to heal others but was unable to save herself, perhaps that was one of the unspoken reasons she sought out injured individuals; to prove to herself that her magic was not useless or to simply use it as a way to forget what it was she could not do.

“I would be glad to. Though by way of warning, she isn’t the classiest lady out there. She’s often loud, impulsive and too sassy for wisdom- but her banner is War. The sort who might often have need of your help. She and I met out in the active field. Most of the hospital staff usually assume she and I are dating, at least that was what came of it the first time around. You might be more her dish, on that account. “ At least some warning is due. Penthe can be a lot to handle. But that doesn’t preclude they could become good allies.

‘If I make it out of here’... It was a curious statement for someone who didn’t look to have and externally obvious life-crippling injuries. With the hospital system as it was, where bed censuses were taken into account of efficiency as much as patient satisfaction, only severe cases were kept on site as opposed to being transferred to specialized rehabilitation centers where long-term care was also administered. Mostly dentures and recovering amputees…?

Hannah didn’t particularly look like she was waiting for a limb removal. “You’re probably sick of people telling you to ‘take your time.’ You’re wise enough to know your own pacing, to balance bodily need against emotional. Will you be allowed a cellphone? The hospital can’t say anything about that, really, but your parents might. If you do, and you need any help in tutoring, or just company feel free to text me. I’m a graduate student now for my masters, so I still have some classes, but it means a lot more of my time is just reading, studying, and taking notes for my thesis. Sometimes its nicer and faster to do studies in company. Or I could bring sheet music and play for you.“

In all honesty it would be nice to be needed, or at the very least feel useful to someone. His friend sounded like quite the character, but that wasn’t a bad thing in the least.

Since powering up for the first time as Acrucis, the Senshi of Prayer, there really hadn’t been very many opportunities to help people; then again in hindsight perhaps that was a good thing. However from time to time, if she were to truly concentrate on the horrific dreams and not wake up prematurely, she would on occasion see a glimpse of herself in a reflection holding some object that had lines of light fanned out around it. A curious thing that made her wonder if that might help her since memory didn’t really reveal what it did exactly.

“Yes please, I would enjoy the company. My parents can’t take any more time off work so things will be pretty quiet,” though the Nano he had brought would do well in filling the silence. “The ringer on my phone is usually turned off but I do check it throughout the day for texts.”

A bit of that heavy weight that had nestled itself upon her chest lifted realizing this time would be different than last; where as before visits were almost exclusively family only, this time… this time she had friends.

“Hey Quenton? I have a question.” she paused for a brief moment the continued. “With how busy you are, how do you keep from getting overwhelmed.” Things were rough enough as is, balancing a dual life while trying to keep up in highschool and yet he’s going for his masters not to mention the extra curricular activities outside of school. Hannah had no idea if he had a job on top of all that or not but truth be told she wouldn’t be completely surprised if he did.

“Honestly, I don’t.” Had she asked this question before, long ago? He couldn’t remember clearly. He imagined that the initial part, that part just given, was probably the same. It was the summer, and subsequent seasons, however that changed any juggling answers from general anxiety and not quite managing into a slog through poor health and medications. “My body has started giving out on me, from time to time. I used to just….not sleep. Sleep still is the first sacrifice, the first thing that time would usually be allotted to that I pay over to other activities. Then sometime last year nightmares started. I stopped sleeping almost altogether, keeping a ‘schedule’ like any diagnosed insomniac. Maybe a few hours of rest in a week. It’s no way to be. My focus is still somewhat shot, but with medications I’ve been able to start sleeping again. More importantly staying asleep. The nightmares would wake me, usually, after some 30 minutes. I still just fall asleep sometimes, but over the last few months, the doctors I’ve been working with have been massaging the cocktail and dosage to try to avoid that. It’s dangerous. Not just for being freezing and winter, but because it’s happened while I’ve been out on patrol. “

“I don’t suggest myself as someone who’s example you should follow. The answer isn’t for everyone to do everything. That was the hope I had with the Watch, was that there would be enough people actively stepping up to take some reins. As much as people don’t want a leader, however, they’re just not proactive enough to do anything without being told to do it and offered a reward for doing it. There’s just not been much action. So it goes.”

“Listing out what your obligations are, what your choices for personal enrichment are, and the hours you have to be able to give to anything in a day is a good start. You have to be real with yourself about time constraints and health- if your health fails from doing too much, then you can’t do anything at all and fail all the tasks instead of just choosing to set aside one or two. It doesn’t have to be the same every day, or every week. Things can rotate. It’s basic scheduling, or using ‘spoons’.”

There were a lot of things he said that she could already relate to especially when it came to nightmares; that was why she had been out on patrol when she met Newgrange. It was concerning though, learning how much all of this had been taking its toll on him. Since the first time they had met, which if she were to be honest with herself was a bit rocky, Hannah had seen him as kind of like a rock; someone who was strong and somehow able to keep it together, kind of like Maia in a way.

The image, however, was hardly shaken upon learning all he had just shared. Even with everything going on he seemed to still have a goal in mind and a plan of action; You always know what to do don’t you? A thought that caused the corners of her lips to upturn for a brief moment.

As he spoke, something he had said caught her attention like a cat and a laser pointer, okay maybe not that intently but enough to make her tilt her head curiously. “What’s… what’s the Watch?” she asked while simultaneously looking past his shoulder to see if the door was shut.

Enough time had passed since she saw him last. Nevermind the seemingly endless chore of juggling school and home; not to mention the declining weather conditions, all of which made it harder for her to power up as much as she use to while it was warmer out.

Outside of Lily and Xander, Hannah really wasn’t sure who would be the most connected person in her contacts list to get updates from. Plus, neither Delilah or Dominic had mentioned anything about a Watch to her before which made her wonder if this was a relatively new group that was being formed.

“Midsummer last year I finally got around to calling a meeting. There were blasts sent out to literally every senshi phone notifying that there would be ferries set up to take people to it on the moon. Your phone would have got them. They were some of first through the blast-system that Mauvian Ash set up. It is a coalition effort focussed on providing communication, food, housing, support and whatever aid people need in a pooling and distribution set up. Also to help with fielding manpower for likewise peaceable efforts like research and exploration. Leadership was done by vote of a council system. I’d directly asked all volunteers wanting to be a part of it to see about their personal finances and holdings so that regular donation and pooled funds could be determined. I’d also asked for everyone to explore their personal ….locations...to determine low, middle, or high priority for group excursions to start forming a stellar lexicon. So far, only Athene has responded on the latter. Radio silence from all other parties.” He hoped that her ignorance on the subject was a matter of forgetting rather than one of literally just not checking her messages. Not checking pointed towards a flaw in the hopes for the blast system at its core. Lack of affect, positive or negative, at least kept all hints of emotion towards the general and pervasive failing of all efforts to be more than lip service internal. She didn’t need his disillusionment with the other senshi and knights. Or even with himself.

“There’s not been any other meetings, since there’s been no funding available to kick off any of the shopping, stocking, or distributions. “ And this all feels jargony, but keeping it that way at least makes it vague enough that if anyone does just walk in it won’t cause suspicions.

“It’s a work in progress. It’s my butt that needs to get more in gear with it.”

A small smile lifted the corner of Hannah’s lips. In truth she had no recollection of such a message, then again by the sounds of it, it was quite some time ago when it was sent. Chances are if she did look at it she was either busy and unable to attend or had thought the message was sent to her out of error. No matter though, those were not the reasons for the the look on her face. Someone’s finally trying to get order to work together. Hannah mused, and that someone was him.

“I’d like to help out” she finally voiced; though in her current condition there was little to nothing she could do but that was besides the point. “I don’t have much in terms of money,” an understandable situation considering she was still a senior in highschool; holding down a job at this point in time was not exactly plausible. “But with the other stuff maybe?”

Hannah shrugged her shoulders, the smile on her face became lopsided at best almost as if she were testing the waters, unsure of what his reaction or opinion would be. Delilah had commented how disorganized and separated order had become and now that she knew, though severely late, that someone was actually trying to fix that problem, she wanted to be a part of that. Even now, over a year later, she still felt like a newborn lamb seeking her shepard. Maybe… maybe this was it?

“When you’re better. Or...really even if you aren’t for a while, there’s things that can be done. If supply can be arranged for, someone who could keep an accurate and up-to-date listing in Excel or such would be a help. Or running books and budgeting estimates, researching where to buy necessities for digs and when in order to space things out between people and time of purchase to limit trackability. All very espionage, but not requiring more than access to the internet, regular updating and awareness of pattern recognition. Ideally, there’d be research work to do as well- archiving photographs safely with help from one of the tech team, comparing glyphs or working on decoding lexicon and languages, analyzation of dig information to try to make cultural conclusions and studies... “


“There’s this incorrect assumption that the only way to be successful or heroic involves the frontline and the battlefield. In reality, its everything behind that too that can make the difference on whether the ‘line’ is trained, supplied, familiar with each other, and cohesive enough to win on grounds more broad than just whose gun is bigger. “

“The Watch wasn’t really meant as a ‘war effort’ so much as a community one. There’s too much disparity in opinions of war, how to conduct it or even if to conduct it. Maybe that will come once people are just used to working together regularly, and have built up enough interpersonal relationship to start trusting one another. “ Quenton lifted his palms, half apology, half submission to the necessities of process and training. “If I’m stopping by, you can keep me updated on your condition and maybe we can work out a way to bring you things to pass the time with other than regular school work. Ash can probably help in the tech part of that. “

Naming Mauvian’s at all wasn’t ideal, but at least didn’t outright reveal the subject as a talking space cat rather than just another nerd human who liked computers. “There’s also Delilah, since she stayed with you? I expect she’ll be visiting you from time to time as well. If she doesn’t mind carrying things from time to time between people. “

Or becoming a part herself as well would be more ideal. Grilled cheese and friendship can’t always speak for that sort of commitment.

“Trust is one of those things that is hard to come by but easy to lose.” It took time to break down a persons walls and effort to show that you’re not all words. “I have faith people will start to come together.” Especially since he seemed to be doing the one thing nobody else really cared to do, unite order. Yes Maia had been working on expanding their small group but it had been quite a while since they had all gotten together to do any sort of team building. Truth be told she wasn’t actually entirely sure who was in Resonance.

“Next time I see Delilah I’ll ask her if she wouldn’t mind helping out.” With her college courses it might be hard for her raven haired friend to find time but Hannah had a feeling she wouldn’t object. If anything she should be quite happy to help out since lack of unity was the one thing that left her sister feeling at a loss and at times hopeless or irritated.

“I’ll text my mom and ask if she’ll bring my laptop with her when she comes back tonight. If you have a list of things you need I can at least look up where to find them.” The task itself seemed simple enough and would require hopefully little direction other than gathering links and possibly look up coupons online incase some of the necessary items were on sale. “I can try to help with Excel, but I’ll need help.” Making lists and simple formulas were one thing; running estimates and doing budgeting were a bit over her head but it didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to learn.

“I know you’re busy with everything going on, but I really do want to help.” She looked up at him and offered a lopsided smile. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere anytime soon.”

A lifetime to build and exactly one mistake to tear completely to the ground, yes, in most cases. Most are not very forgiving. Always expecting it from others, but not offering it. “I don’t right off the tip of the tongue, but I can make it a point to text lists of things to you. And hopefully remember….hopefully not weeks from now but actually tonight. “


The note about ‘not going anywhere’ was worrisome, other than in a general sense where one might consider one or two weeks for dehydration, starvation, and stress complications. It will be a matter of waiting, seeing, and visiting- how long does she expect to have to stay? Am I missing some piece of information? I might have forgotten something. What I need is an excel sheet in my brain of all the things I need to be doing or remembering.

“Whether I’m busy or not precludes the point of having founded the thing- ‘Many hands makes for a light load. ‘ You’re willing, so we’ll get things set up so you can help. It needs everyone it can get. Truly, thank you, Hannah. And speaking of being here a while, I should leave you to explore your gift or rest, and get the other delivered to its new owner. Be well, finding oft content, and do as good of work as your hands are able. “ The last words a more formal phrase of farewell, but Acrucis-Hannah had known him long enough, he hoped, to recognize it as genuine meant and friendly.

“Thank you,” two simple words that barely touched the breadth of sincerity she felt. “Please take care of yourself and I hope your friend gets better quickly.”

With a smile on her face Hannah watched as her friend exited the room. Though it seemed circumstances had been reversed, it truly was a pleasant, yet unexpected, surprise to see him.

Backdated to Mid-January.